AfterDuo: Children's tale

Chapter 14: Goddess And Her Paladin Talk, Then Father to His Daughter

The Paladin tore into the bread, ignoring Tomala's eyes. The temple was silent except for the small dripping of gold blood hitting the stone from the altar and the sound of tearing bread. Spencer finished his bread and sighed, his face having regained its normal color. He turned to his cousin and sighed,

"I have some explaining to do, huh?" He asked, scratching the back of his head.

"Yes, and not just to me." Mokali said as she crossed her arms, looking cross. Dragice noticed, and knowing she was with a powerful being that is stronger than her she walked out with Kami. Tomala held her hands up and walked out as well.

"Don't die, Amelia still needs to kick your ass for leaving her without a sparring partner." The goddess said and left leaving Mokali and her Paladin.

"Why?" Was all Mokali asked, but her voice broke and it held all the pent up remorse, guilt, fear, and self hatred she held.

"Tricked..." Spencer sighed, "You know the guy who tried to steal the sacred treasure?" Mokali nodded, that was the mission Spencer had been sent out on. "Well, he wasn't the idiot we thought he was. I chased him through the entirety of Kami Lectulo, then all of Earth. Finally, the bastard escaped into Defuhu. I chased him down and eventually caught him. I cut him down near the temple where they found me. That's where things got weird. I sent the twins back to warn you and give you the treasure, but I had a bad feeling. My thoughts were fuzzy, and I kept forgetting who I was. The twins left. I decided to see whether it was this stupid ruin. I wasn't more than three steps inside when I was ambushed by those creepy black things. I couldn't hurt them, so I kept running. I eventually killed one by dropping a pillar on it. I was exhausted, so I sat down and built myself a campfire inside the temple." He paused a moment, gathering his thoughts, "I dozed off and fell asleep. In my dreams, I met something. They were like a flickering flame, always shifting and crackling. I'd never met them before. They spoke to me, like a sputtering flame." Spencer coughed and continued,

"They said that I had broken my vow. I swore I didn't know what they were saying. They cackled, or rather crackled, and said that I could not leave until I'd mended the vow. And apparently I did, since I am here now. But for the life of me, in that entire year, I still don't know. I have no idea what they meant, or who they are."

Mokali nodded, but then shook her head.
"There is why you never came with me when I was visiting family." The goddess said as she looked at her cousin with cat like eyes, holding the same curious emotion as her tone.

"The vow to return. You said you would visit, but never did. Arachne needed you and you were never there for her. I visited more than you think, making sure my family was fed." Mokali asked as she hopped off the altar.

Spencer shook his head, and sighed,

"If that's what it is, then it's stupid. I'm not welcome there." He rubbed his face, which was turning red. "We divorced. Ages ago. I just never mentioned it. It was too embarrassing. Anyway, she said it was because I was never home. I said she was being unfair. She said I'd have to quit being a Paladin, which I flatly refused. Anyway, she got mad, and I got mad. Words were said, I broke a table and stormed out of the house. Things didn't get better. I tried to reconnect, but the spark was gone. We'd been lying to ourselves all this time. I mean, come on. I was 15 years old when I met her. We were dating the day after we met. I don't understand how you and Sans stayed together, but Muffet and I can't. So, she kicked me out of the house and won full custody over Arachne. And I couldn't return. She claimed I was 'An unstable and violent man who would pose a danger to Arachne's health and sanity.'" He said the last part with as much disgust as he could.

Mokali looked at her cousin in surprise, then caught his arm and pulled him into a hug. She seemed to trying to make sure he was okay, and sharing some of her power.