“Well yes, aha… Chane, I believe you have me stumped.” The disguised god returned a laugh to the baker once more, he too continuing his work cheerfully.
As the baker began organize loaves of bread to be put into the oven, a knock came from the door. Before he could even turn around to greet whomever had entered, a much taller woman clad in armor stepped into the bakery. Chane quickly set down the loaves in his hand to greet the Demigod with a folding of his hands and a quick bow. “Madam Vespira, I didn't ex-”
“Pardon my informality but I'm afraid I might have to take Ospira with me outside of the city. I'll be sure to make sure my mother can make up for my rudeness and my taking your company.” The demigod was somewhat slouched over due to the height of the ceiling, as her gaze shifted to her disguised mother. She gave her mother a slight look of disappointment before turning to Chane.
The humble response of the baker was swift, somewhat of respect to one of the guardians of the city. “Of course. You don't have to, Ospira here was just helping me pass the time.” Chane looked over to Ospira with a bit of a questioning expression, then quickly speaking up, “You know Vespira?”
“Yes, pretty well actually. I mentioned I travel a lot, I often encounter her in Valas.” Ospira, as she was known to Chane and other people in the capital, stood up. Sword sheathed and slung over her shoulder, Ospira headed to the door. “Anyways, I'll be back, Chane. It'd be rude to keep a demigod waiting!” The goddess exclaimed cheerfully, before taking steps out of the door. Vespira followed closely behind, giving the baker a wave as the two exited the bakery.
“I'll have something for you ready next time!” Chane turned back to his bread, wondering how much adventure Ospira had left to share.
“You didn't have to pull me away, Ves.” Di’Myria looked up at the demigod, shaking her head ever so slightly. It was likely a bit of a far guess that this form actually was the Goddess of Time herself, though Ospira had a striking resemblance to Vespira.
“Yes, well, if leaving me to be late would be rude, how rude would it be being late to a family meeting?” The two of them were continuing their trek to the Sanctuary, which would give them enough time to talk.
“If they haven't changed that much within the past four hundred years, I think we might be some of the first to be there. Okay? Great! And besides, Ves, give it a break. We’re going to be stressed out for about a month for these meetings.” Ospira pulled her hair back before looking up to the skies. “Let me have my time away from my thoughts, is that alright child…?” The Goddess’s true emotion of mourning had slipped through the guise of Ospira, and her daughter noticed.
“Yes mother. Kiroas awaits us.” Vespira had enough respect for her mother not to criticize her in a moment like this, though internally had her distaste. Her mother’s timeliness had always been an issue, her mother’s constant amalgamation with the mortals… Though now that she was here, it was time for a bit of respect.
“Thank you. One your aunts always tries her best to remind me to take time off, and one of your uncles always comes to me for assistance in doing so. Now, we head to the Sanctuary, then to The Heavens.” With a quick flash into her own time-sphere, Di’Myria shifted into her proper goddess form, though instead of instantly returning back into real time, Di’Myria took a moment to breathe. She thought it suiting to take a moment to think before properly heading to the Sanctuary, although now she was stuck for a moment of a loop.
Her father and several of her siblings had always mentioned to her that taking too much time to think was what was going to end up killing her in the end. For the last half of her lifetime, she had been working on taking much, much more time to herself and enjoy her people. Thanks to most of her siblings, she had changed for the better, but now felt the strongest solemnity tied closely with her mourning. She could spare these strong emotions for when she was next to her father’s death bed.
Now was the time to continue on, as Di’Myria flashed back into real time. The Goddess continued her step, looking down to her daughter as the two of them continued their steps upward. The Sanctuary was about a quarter of the way up the path, though their home was up on the top of the path, yet not at the top of the mountain. Just high enough to overlook the interconnected cities.
“Are you alright, mother?” Vespira looked to Di’Myria’s eyes, which somewhat expressed a short bout of pain. She didn’t quite want to address the fact that she noticed her mother taking a slightly extended second to change appearances, though at this point it didn’t matter.
“Yes, I’m fine.” The rest of the walk was taken up quietly, as the two of them had only a handful of steps. Their pace had shifted from Myria matching her daughters to the opposite, Di’Myria then turning to her daughter as they stepped into the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary’s basic design was as of a very large marble gazebo with a relatively small floor clock in the center of the floor, with the words ‘In Tribute to our Goddess, Di’Myria’ engraved around the clock. This clock in particular had much smaller pillars but still worked perfectly fine, as was designed my Di’Myria.
Awaiting their arrival, Kiroas stood up on edge of the Sanctuary, gazing down into the cities below. “Mother, Sister, you’re late.” He turned towards the two of them, bowing his head as the sound of his armor’s movements was the only thing heard for the moment.
“Glad to see you in good shape, Kiroas.” Di’Myria acknowledged her son without acknowledging the lateness, pulling the necklace off of her neck. The several rings began to spin around each other, before Di’Myria closed her eyes for a few seconds.
“Somewhat, though you can’t blame me for Mother.” Vespira stood next to her brother as the two of them share an expression of both irritation and understanding. That is that they both understood each other, not Myria. As the air shifted slightly, the Clockwork Medallion started spinning, the three stepped to the center of the Sanctuary, Kiroas on her Right, Vespira on her Left. The large pillars holding up the roofing had a faint glow around them, with the breeze kicking up and a small sphere of distortion engulfing all of them.
The rings around the sphere disappeared promptly, with the sphere itself dispersing and leaving only the three in it’s place. Di’Myria prepared herself for the overwhelming formalities which approached her, knowing that this would be a solemn few days as things were sorted out between all of the gods. She took her steps forward as she glanced around at those who arrived. Other than siblings, she saw them as friends, allies. Of those present, she saw a constant punctuality, a sibling argument or two, a spell left unchecked, a dangerous inheritance, and a lighthearted joke. Distinct memories she kept close, something about all of her family. There were a few she would like to greet specifically, though after her dues are paid to her father.
Her two children stood at their respective sides of Di’Myria’s throne, which was marbled and with gold outlines, distinct pillar designs making the edges of the throne. On the top two corners were similar rings to the Medallion, though static as Di’Myria wasn’t sitting down. An oddity presented itself, on the foot of the throne was a clock which seemed to be both flat yet working perfectly fine, illustrating its own shadows on the flat surface.
Di’Myria stepped to the coffin, though waiting behind those who had shown up before her. She would have her turn. As she stood there, Myria muttered a quiet ‘thank you’ under her breath, then addressing the gods around her. “Good day to you all. I hope you all have been well.”
“Ferrum, brother, I think you and I should spare a minute or two during an intermission.” She looked one of the taller siblings, with a gentle nod of compassion sent to him, before she turned to Ahru. “Sister, pardon me if I might be less energetic for the time being, and I shall do the same for yoou.” A smile turned to her before Di’Myria stepped back from the coffin. Others will have their moments now, but Di’Myria would have her time given enough space. She only would need a few seconds, but she could easily turn that into half an hour. For now, Di'Myria shifted her gaze on the other chairs, seeing who would approach next, and giving those surrounding the coffin their time and space around it.
