It had only been two days since the failed Revolution, and things around the Cathedral were rather quiet. No services had been conducted, only confession was done for those that really asked for it, and even then it was only within the remaining Clergy and faithful. The wounded were being tended to and many would make full recoveries, at least physically, the mental scars would likely remain for some time. Otherwise the Clergy where going about their business as normal as they could given the circumstance. But every time they stepped outside and saw the gap where the statue used to stand it was a reminder of their failure.

For her part Sirona had been seen now and then among her Clergy, helping with the wounded and trying to keep peoples’ spirits up. But even after the talk with her big sister this clearly wasn’t the exact Sirona that they were used to. Instead of her usual armour she wore simple clothing and slippers, her top and bottoms made of a heavy white material so she was still modest in her dress, but not covered like she would be in her armour. Sirona had been quiet otherwise, and no one had asked her since Arti’s visit what the next steps would be.

With some time to herself Sirona was sitting up on the top of the Cathedral, having flown up there to be alone for a bit. She was sitting, thinking, the wound on her arm from Serafina was slowly starting to fill in and heal, while she stared off into the distance while sitting in the sun of the midday.

She wasn’t alone, Lume, her pet owl griffon, was curled in her lap, his wings tucked up as he napped. Sirona gently petted him as she leaned back with her wings folded and sighed, trying to comprehend how things had come to where they stood now.

Until a familiar presence could be felt and Sirona sighed again.

There were a few times that she could recall where the most unholy of creatures lent their prayers to her churches. Gathered outside they had begged and pleaded with the Mother to save them from certain destruction. She had managed to shelter those who needed it and had made it clear that if any funny business happened under her roof that there would be punishment. Things had been busy between the world trying to off itself and her upcoming wedding to Nemesis Volkov.

Fresh were the wounds from losing her young avatar Correa. The girl had made a sacrifice to save a world that might have eaten her alive if she were anyone else. It was that sacrifice that made Angela pause when she was watering her gardens. Her eyes looked down to the filigree watering can that somehow still held water. “What will you do?” The words left her lips quietly. “When failure fills your veins and you can’t breathe?” Her green and red eyes turned up to the clear skies of Elysia. “When no one else joins your side anymore?”

None of the other gods had moved to be with Sirona on her mission. There was a starch difference between her and the rest of them. Surely, Sirona must have thought Angela would have joined her on her conquest but Angela always had one face for the world and one face for herself. She had a reputation to uphold and what she did in the shadows never surfaced. Even now Nemesis had no idea of the moves she made by herself. A secret wasn’t a secret if everyone knew about it or anyone really.

Setting the can down she did the only thing that she thought she could do for the angel, get upset. Kanisa Kuu la Malaika was no different from any other temple and Angela merely appeared. “Sirona!” Angela’s voice boomed and the earth shook. “What you have done is outright unforgivable,” there was a wave of anger to her voice as she stalked up and took hold of the angel moving to strike her across the face with her open hand. However, the anger melted from her face, and what would have been a slap turned to a head pat.

“Is what I should say,” Angela moved the skirts of her dress and sat next to her. “I’m more disappointed than I am angry, really.” Her eyes turned to the angel as she took in the sights of the defeated. “Do you remember your visit to my temple?” Her eyes turned back to the skies now. “How, even when the most horrible thing happened to me that I did not falter from my path? Multiple times in the past few months I just want to add,” she lifted her finger and chuckled.

She waved her hand after a second, “Gods. Mortals. Rocks. Shit. The sky.” She lifted her arms up in the gesture. “The smallest child. The largest animal. So on and so forth…” Her voice sounded a bit exhausted. “We’re all stuck together. In one giant piss pot that someone keeps forgetting to dump out.” She folded her hands in her lap and tilted her eyes. “As a god it is our responsibility to lead at least a bit but we are also blind to everything before us. Some of us see in white and black but the world is very much gray Sirona.” Finally, she took a look at Sirona.

“If you had actually erased sin or even the evildoers of the world… Do you know what I think would have happened?” She tilted her head. “More sin and more evildoers would appear. Those that weren’t before would become so. It’s the way of the world. A balance like trees to a fire. When a forest burns down the ashes give birth to the life below it. You can’t wipe something out without something replacing it. It’s noble of you to try but also fruitless. All we can do with what we are given is lead the path we’re on. For Nemesis, it is leading the creatures of the night. The murderers, the villains, what have you. For me, it is keeping the earth healthy, people healthy, and making sure there is a future. We are two different people and yet what we do makes sure the world doesn’t collapse below us. But it isn’t just us… It’s Shiloh, Serafina, Raith, and yes, even you. It all blends together to create a balance. I truly believe without that balance the world would simply not be.”

She began to kick her feet lightly. “I was the Goddess of Death once. Do you know how many people hated me? I was the biggest drama queen, worse than Sera,” there was a chuckle as she finished the thought. “I tried to take out my frustration and anger out on those who didn’t deserve it… The thing that I learned was… Well, the most important thing I learned was that no matter who I hurt, it didn’t make me feel better about the world. I was very young you see. I was still a child compared to most when I ascended and killed my first child. I hate a lot of hate for the world. I wanted to punish those who I deemed a problem. In doing so, I spawned more problems. It’s been a long road and gods forbid that there are still some people who remember that very dark time.”

Thinking silently for a few moments she closed her eyes, “I took everything in the old temple and threw it into a giant pyre the day I took Fertility and lost Death. I burned that motherfucker to the ground. Because what I hated the most was actually myself… and that is the hardest fight of all. You have a lot of deep regrets and problems. Maybe Sirona, it is time to handle yourself. To fight yourself and take victory over that instead of the world. In order to make the world a better place we must first make ourselves the best versions of ourselves we can be.”

She reached over and patted her on the head. “Also, maybe you just need a hug too. I’m still disappointed but I’m easily won over with good tea and conversation. The others? Meh, let them stew they will come around eventually.” Angela winked a bit and opened up her arms. “Now come here and don’t be stubborn about it.”

The booming voice of the Life Goddess didn’t phase Sirona when Angela had appeared, even when Angela stalked over and raised a hand to strike Sirona, the angelic Goddess didn’t react to it. The pat on the head, however, put a confused look onto Sirona’s face, but she said nothing as Angela sat down and continued to speak. Of all the Conclave Sirona did have the most respect for Angela, next in line would have been Shiloh, so Sirona was more apt to listen to the elder Goddess than anyone else.

Sirona was listening, but when Angela looked to her Sirona was looking down at Lume who was still asleep in her lap. This little creature had become a bright spot in Sirona’s life, unable, or at unwilling, to love other people, Sirona had diverted all her love to Lume and he had come a great companion to her. She petted his head as she listened to Angela and eventually Sirona did turn her bright eyes to Angela when she mentioned that she had been the Goddess of the Death at one time.

When Angela swore Sirona did flinch slightly, at the same time Lume had woken up once he had picked up the unfamiliar voice. As Angela spoke of Sirona taking victory over herself, and her regrets and problems, Sirona was again looking down at Lume who was looking up at her as she scratched his head. A thin smile spread across Sirona’s lips for a moment as Lume’s attention was then turned to Angela, who he hadn’t met yet. Large eyed looked up Angela as she patted Sirona on the head again and offered a hug with open arms.

Lume had looked like he was about to pounce on Angela for some scritches when Sirona moved and wrapped her arms around Angela, her wings opening and they wrapped around to. This was a rare thing for Sirona to do, the only other she had hugged like this was her big sister Arti. ”I’m sorry.” Sirona finally spoke in a heavy exhale as she hugged Angela tight, Lume squeaking and managing to get out from between them with an annoyed hoot.

Sirona broke the hug after a few moments and collected herself, folding her wings back down again. ”I’ll be right back.” Sirona flashed away and in the few moments she was gone Lume hooted at Angela before bumping his head into her leg wanting attention from the Goddess.

Sirona appeared again and she had a tray with some tea on it and poured a cup for Angela and handed it to her. Sirona could have had an emotional break down, but since that had happened with Atri already Sirona was a little more composed than one might expect. Grinning at Lume’s attention seeking, Sirona spoke, sitting down again next to Angela as she did. ”I suppose I could blame everything on the Revolution Aspect that I had within me from my home world, but, that wouldn’t be fair. As the Voice said, Strength just enhanced the beliefs and emotions I had within me to start with, perhaps in time without Revolution, I would have done the same thing? Who knows? My big sister, Artiya’il, was here right after everything ended and we spoke for a long time. The world that we come from is gone, destroyed, totally. I was banished here before that by Gabriel, another Archangel, because I started to ask questions, about him, his motivations and where some of the other archangels had gone to. So Gabriel banished me, because he didn’t like being questioned.

Arti and I agreed, though, that if I had been there nearer the end of things, I could have stopped it, I could have stopped the end. I’m stronger than Gabriel, really, only Arti is stronger than I, if I was still mortal.” She sighed. ”But that Revolution was still in me while I was here, dormant until I ascended, add in what happened to me before that and, I guess it led to everything that happened. But it was still me, I know it was, it’s not something I can, or will try to, deny. The others can think what they will, the Clergy and I will rebuild what we have lost, and start over again, we know we won’t be trusted by many, but we’ll work on gaining that trust back.”

Looking down for a moment Sirona sipped her own tea. ”Personally, I know I have a lot to work on, I’m not blind to what I am like, like some might think. Angela, I don’t even have mirrors in my own private quarters.” She gestured to the tattoo work on her face. ”These tattoos? They aren’t only on my face, from my wrists up to my neck, and around my midsection, but I can’t take time to look in a mirror to figure out what they mean, because…” She trailed off and gave a heavy sigh and wiped a tear from her eye. ”Suffice to say, I know what I am like, and I will try and work out my issues as best I can.”