Within a hidden realm in a paradoxical region of the universe, a woman sat on the ground among the vibrant plants surrounding her in all directions. Their types and colours were varied in abundance, as though this was the heart of all life. The woman seemed not at all out of place in this vast field. Instead, she looked perfectly at home, right where she should have been all her life. There was a serene aura of comfort about her, as though her entire being was meant to prove one thing—that life is beautiful in and of itself.
Her hair was a long and lustrous masterpiece of pale gold interchanging with pastel green and white silver. Under the correct angle, the slightly metallic sheen of her hair would seem coated with cobalt blue. Her horns, now slightly longer than before, sported the same entrancing colours, glowing like mystical crystalline tree branches that carried a strange and unique power all to its own. Her pure white dress only further enhanced the aura of purity that she exuded, keeping all others from even daring to taint her with filthy thoughts.
Amidst this rare moment of serenity, another woman appeared within the secret realm seemingly out of thin air. Her long blonde hair draped neatly behind her, framing her delicate figure clad in a white ceremonial dress and shawl. Although she still looked a bit frail and sickly, she was no longer the same as before. She had already been healed completely. Even her former blank white eyes had been given new colours, a beautiful mix of emerald and gold. And yet those same eyes now contained anxiety and confusion. She knelt down as soon as she appeared, lacking any of the dignity associated with a leader and showing loyal servility instead.
"Mistress, I have seen things that I don't quite understand. I've come to report as soon as possible."
"Helena, I've told you many times. There's no need to kneel. Come sit with me and tell me what you saw."
The woman spoke gently, her eyes still remained closed as she enjoyed the soothing spring breeze the blew past the bountiful field. The Saintess Helena, knowing the unique temperament of this woman, quickly calmed down her anxious heart as she sat beside her. Staring at her mistress, she could not help but wonder at the strange twists that the world had taken. She once knew this woman to be the Divine Blade of Beauty. And then later. she learned of her identity as her Master's sister. But now, after all the things that happened, she had learned that before they were siblings, they were a married couple in their past lives. It almost seemed like a fairytale to her.
"Don't be nervous, Helena. You can tell me anything."
"Understood, Mistress. I've seen war on the other side of the universe. And surprisingly, at the heart of it all was that girl named Lily. I had once warned you about the dangerous feeling I get from her, Mistress. Why did you allow her to leave still? Would it not have been better to keep her here where we could keep a close watch on her?"
Asheya's eyes slowly opened, revealing their moonlit irises that seemed like the surface of a calm lake, faintly glowing with prismatic light. She stared into the distance with a faint smile as though she could see the other side of the universe where the supposed war was occurring. She could not truly see it, but her power allowed her to sense almost everything in this universe. It was a power she never had before as the Regina Alma, but she felt intimately familiar with it. It was as though she had been with it for her entire life.
"Did you know that dying twice has a tendency to awaken one's soul? That is only if you survive, of course. But still...."
Helena could only stare at Asheya in confusion. Why did she answer a question with another question? More importantly, what did her question have to do with the topic at hand? But still, Helena could not regain her focus quickly. Despite knowing the her Mistress had reincarnated into her current self, she still could not fathom how someone could experience death and yet still remain so alive. She wondered if she would ever be able to understand. Perhaps if she were to experience it....
"Don't even try, Helena. For most people, death is an ultimatum. Though it may not be the true end, it is still an end. Do not attempt to replicate what we went through for mere curiosity. We did not die for such whims. We died out of circumstance."
Asheya calmly chastised her for thinking such foolish thoughts. Who does not cherish life? Even Asheya and Yulaiah, who had lived again, cherished it. In fact, it is because they had already died before that life became even more precious to them. Because for all they knew, this could very well be the last life they would ever have.
"All I'm saying is that I've come to remember some things from the past. And I'm sure I am not the only one who's starting to recall. It is why Lily must go. It is why I must remain here and wait. And although I admit that her mission is more important than mine, it is only slightly."
Asheya muttered the last few words in displeasure, her eyes burning with competition. Despite being the calm and collected ruler that everyone knew she was, when it came to her family, Asheya also had her competitive side. But her competitiveness only confused Helena even more. What could Asheya and Lily possibly be planning and doing? And why was Lily shown to be at the heart of the war in this universe. By now, Helena had already learned about Ascendants and the Pinnacle War of Eternity, but that was precisely what confounded her even more. Asheya was the Ascendant. Lily was just a Deviant. Why were their roles seemingly reversed?
Asheya looked at Helena's confused face in amusement. She wondered how the girl would react if she was told that Eternity's Pinnacle War was different from other universes'. The primary and most glaring difference lay in the fact that while other Pinnacle Wars involved the battle between Originators of Cor Ena and Origins of Paths, the Pinnacle War of Eternity only had a war between the Originators. And the reason behind this was simply because there were no other Paths to Eternity. Instead, what Eternity had were Bridges whose Architects were currently leading their people on an all-out war believing that their victory would result in them claiming Eternity.
Asheya could only shake her head at their delusions. And just as she was wondering when these people would wake up from their futile dreams, the skies in the secret realm began changing. White flames that scattered brilliant golden embers began blanketing everything. The vernal fields seemed to stir as they welcomed the downpour of these gentle flames. But it was not just the secret realm that was affected as everything else bore witness to the emergence of these flames.
In the entirety of Eternity, there were two points of origin from which these white-gold flames began to spread. The first was the junction between Lua and Corrin while the other was on the opposite side of the universe, in a place that no one even knew existed. It was a hidden realm within the territory of one of the strongest forces in the universe, yet even with their power, they had never once discovered it. And even with the spread of the white-gold flames, no one could detect where they came from.
The white-gold flames burned brightly, spreading wildly across the entire universe. And once everything was burning in its gentle flames, the flames seemed to sputter out, leaving only an ethereal phantom of it lingering in the skies. The ethereal white-gold flames ebbed and flowed like the sea. Its presence did little to change anything in the universe besides add a hint of majesty and holiness to the Pinnacle War. Now it seemed like a holy crusade welcomed by the flames of Eternity. And yet that too was not entirely incorrect.
Within the realm of vernal fields, Asheya smiled happily as she cupped the flames in her hands. Only in this realm and the other hidden realm were the flames still existing in their full form and in great abundance. The plants were all lit and burnt, but rather than dying and turning into either char or ash, they instead grew more and more. They were each bursting with vitality and a hint of mystical power.
"Finally! The Vernal Fields have waited so long for this baptism! You've finally taken the first step, Yul!"
Asheya cheered excitedly, tears welling up in her eyes. It had been too long since she had last felt the touch of these flames. If not for some strangely ancient memories awakening within her, she would not have even understood what this all meant. Perhaps this was how everything was supposed to go to begin with, she pondered. But she shook her head knowing that whether it was as Fate decreed or not, what sins and crimes had been committed would not go unpunished. She would do her part here just as her sister would fulfill hers. And all that was left was to wait. As she gazed at the flames in the sky, she prayed.
"The Flamerite has begun. The grand chase shall consume us all."