Chapter 142: 2.19 Athena’s Realm (1)
"Ugh. Why can’t we find the secret realm Hades’ created where Lox traveled too?" Brie sighed in frustration as she rested her head on Sora’s shoulder.
"We’ve been looking for months but haven’t been able to track it down. I think we should focus our efforts on something else, babe. Learning to become gods and goddesses is exhausting." she continued.
"Lox didn’t even know where it was. It helped us identify where the four different Universes are though! At least we’re taking steps in the right direction. Visiting people in their dreams on Athena’s behalf is strange. I wish someone from our party would pray. It’d be nice to see one of them." Sora said while staring out into the Eclipsian universe.
"Brie, look! Vampires!" Sora shouted, causing Brie to jump.
They both focused on a planet that had the cursed vampires Xander discovered when they came to Paradise.
"They’re at war. They’re totally different from the vampires we know! Maybe we should ask for Athena’s permission to go check it out?" Brie asked excitedly.
Sora pondered the idea. They couldn’t go back to Exteria yet and everyone there seemed safe. If they left Paradise, they wouldn’t be answering prayers for Athena.
"Maybe in a year or two, beautiful." Sora said, kissing Brie passionately.
"As much as I’d love to spend time with you on another planet, I think we should continue to focus on answering the prayers for Athena and mastering our magic. Have you been able to create a spell of your own yet?"
"Awww. Ok." Brie admitted, happy how often they shared intimate moments.
"No, I haven’t! It’s so much harder than Xander makes it look. I swear our child just combines a bunch of skills into one, makes some new spell and moves on to the next like it’s no big deal." Brie exclaimed, mimicking Xander’s hand movements whenever he’d create a new spell.
Sora laughed. "I haven’t been able to either. Maybe we should work on it together?"
"That’s a good idea! Every time I think I have something, it ends up fizzling out. Maybe I should try something with my Reinhardt unleashed stuff. I don’t know. Someone’s praying to Athena again, we should listen." Brie said while smiling.
The prayer caused Sora to grab a notebook and pen from his dimensional void. They listened closely and Sora took notes, as this was an unexpected twist neither of them knew could happen.
"How the hell did Azazel get to an Eclipsian planet?!" Sora exclaimed.
"I have no idea. What a unique race. We don’t have anything like that in our Universe." Brie responded.
"I think this is one of those we should probably bring to Athena’s attention."
"I agree, Xander’s been gone for months, it’ll be nice to see him. Let’s head over to my parents. They should be able to help us get to her realm. She never explained that part."
Brie hugged Sora, kissed him, then looked him in the eyes with her arms wrapped around his shoulders.
"What’s up, beautiful? What’s running through that brilliant brain of yours?" Sora asked, confused why Brie was acting this way.
"I’m glad we’ve got to spend time together and it’s Xander’s 4th birthday next week. Last year Athena helped us create a present for him, but this year what do you think we should do? It’s not like we can get him anything here in Paradise. I can’t believe it’s been two years for us and two days for our party. I miss them, Sora."
Sora sighed and wrapped his arms around her, giving her a big hug.
"I miss them too. I’ve enjoyed our time together and I’m glad we still have 14 years before we go back! At the same time, I understand how you feel. They’re going to be practically the same. I’ve always known we’d be different people when we returned, but we’ve grown so much in two years. When we got here, we couldn’t tell the difference between planets, let alone visit someone in a dream. Now we’re answering prayers for Athena on different planets in different Universes while trying to create new spells."
"Well, let’s head to your parents." Brie said. "I love you babe."
"I love you too," Sora said while teleporting the two of them to his parents front porch.
******
Aphrodite and Cyrus were outside working on a garden and noticed Brie and Sora manifesting.
They stopped gardening and Aphrodite was the first to speak.
"Hey there lovebirds," Athena said with a chuckle.
"Really mom? You picked up on that from our party as well? We’re never going to live that one down, are we?"
"Nope," Cyrus laughed. "Thank Levi and Sasha for that one for us, when you get back of course."
Brie smiled and shook her head while shrugging. "Anyway, Athena has us answering prayers, and we came across one that needs her immediate attention."
"She didn’t explain how to get to her realm? Interesting. She really is challenging you both. That’s a good thing." Cyrus said with a grin.
"Why did you decide to come to us? Why didn’t you just ask Athena directly?" Aphrodite asked politely.
"You were there when we first arrived at her realm so I figured you must know a way to get there. I don’t want to bother her every time we need to get to her realm if there’s another way." Sora said to his Mom.
"Perhaps she opened a portal for us earlier like she did for you and your family Sora."
"No, that’s not it." Brie said confidently. "I can sense there’s a way to get there around here somewhere. Do you mind if we come in?"
Cyrus and Aphrodite looked at each other and exchanged a pleasantly surprised smile.
"By all means, you are our daughter in law." Aphrodite said sweetly.
"Brie, what am I missing?" Sora asked while following Brie, who quickly walked into their home and started looking in different areas.
"I know it’s around here somewhere, I can sense the portal." Brie said while stopping to think.
Sora focused and realized he felt a pulling sensation he didn’t realize before.
"It’s in their room." Sora said confidently. "Mom, I’m not walking into your room without your permission so can you please escort us in there?"
Aphrodite laughed. "Just go in. Once you find the portal you’ll need the password."
Sora and Brie looked confused.
"Are there other portals, or just the one?" Sora managed to ask.
"Just the one. You need to ask her to create one for you so you won’t have to come here every time. You could have asked when you left her realm the first time." Cyrus said with a small laugh. "Guess you still have a lot to learn."
"Well, what’s the password? She really needs to hear about this prayer." Brie asked and everyone could sense her nerves.
"You know she can hear the prayer too babe. I’m sure she’ll appreciate us coming to her about it but I’m also certain she’s aware of what we heard already. She’s probably training Xander or something."
"Oh, let’s try that!" Brie said, grabbing Sora’s hand and walking toward the portal.
"Xander Joseph Lockheart," she said and they watched in amazement as the portal activated.
"Great quick thinking." Aphrodite said with a small clap.
"Make sure you ask her to create one for you. It was nice seeing you both," Cyrus said while waving goodbye.
"Love you mom and dad," Sora said before following Brie through the portal.
They were surprised to see Skylar flying toward them. They only ever saw the great Phoenix sleeping.
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