Safire felt the warm tingle run down her arm from the magic coursing through her directly, guided by Ruby's hand. Although in that moment, Safire wanted nothing more than to get rid of the decay, there was something more pressing that left her sacrificing her own wish. "I wish that all present could speak one another's language fluently."
Ruby pulled her hand away with wide, stunned eyes, her jaw hanging slack in shock. "Why would you do that?! That was a complete waste of a wish! I can't believe that you would do that!"
Safire merely smiled weakly, pulling her hand back to slide her glove on once more. "It's alright, Ruby. The decay isn't going anywhere. That trinket seemed important to you, and I don't want to feel indebted to the other half of my soul. So I used the wish to benefit all of us."
Ruby furrowed her brows, shaking her head weakly. "I would have never made that a debt you'd have to pay back. I did that so you could get rid of the decay! We all have an individual way to communicate. It might be messy, but it works!"
Safire stepped closer, wrapping Ruby in a tight embrace with no warning. "Nothing comes for free. This way, everyone can communicate cleanly. I didn't think this would be such a big issue. We have time to repair the decay."
Ruby sighed in defeat, burying her face into Safire's shoulder. "While I'm pissed off that you didn't wish for something practical like sleeping bags, or cooler clothing... I guess I can see where you're coming from. I'd never expect you to be indebted to me."
Odeen sighed, leaning back against his palms. "Well, that sorts out the communication issue, at least. I didn't think something I gave you would be something important enough to make a wish come true."
Ruby felt her cheeks fluster, turning her head away to fight the smile that dared to pull against her lips. "It wasn't something that important to me, I just liked it. Perhaps it is because receiving that duck was the moment that I realised you're not a total jackass. Just half a one."
Jasher whipped his head back to stare at Ruby with wide eyes, filled with panic. The silence that fell over the group lingered a beat too long before Odeen burst out laughing. The relief was palpable and washed over all, aside from the cocky Ruby. Odeen returned to his feet, approaching Ruby to loom over her, wearing a proud grin. "You really have no filter, do you?"
Ruby leaned in closer, standing on her tiptoes to leer at Odeen. "You knew that from the beginning, didn't you? Jasher's scrambled explanation of my words being filtered through pleasant phrasing didn't land."
Odeen smirked, shifting his gaze to Jasher. "Not once. I knew she was being rude, and the explanation that sneers were a form of respect did not land well. But I wanted to see how long he'd rephrase your words to be more palatable. It was amusing."
Jasher scrambled to his feet, breaking out into a cold sweat. "You knew this entire time and never told me?! Why'd you go along with all that crap I was saying if you knew that it was a lie?"
Odeen merely shrugged, wrapping his arm around Ruby's shoulder. "I must admit, I never told you because it was fun to watch you scramble for a more acceptable translation. Fear not, I've loved Ruby's wit since the day we met."
Ruby scoffed, brushing Odeen's hand off her shoulder. "Right. That's why everyone was so scared to insult you. Because you're such an understanding guy, right? If anything I said hurt your feelings, you would have killed me."
Vatic fumed, approaching suddenly. He halted when Odeen raised his hand back toward him. "That rumour took off better than I thought it would. It's kind of a shame that it worked so well, because it made its way to you."
Ruby stared at Odeen with a look of utter confusion. Vatic sighed, hanging his head. "Alright, sire. If you trust them enough to tell the truth, I will step back. But you know that the princess of Cyrus is here, so be careful of your words."
Odeen sighed, turning to Ruby to take her hand delicately. "I announced that as the reason, but it was nothing more than a façade. The man I sentenced to death was a Cyrian spy. I announced that he had offended me and ensured that he was killed days later to avoid a war, but the reality of the situation was that he was infiltrating my kingdom to find weak points for the Cyrian army to attack. That is why I had to hide the real reason for his murder."
Safire merely nodded in agreement. "Yes, that's why my father wanted me to marry you, so that I'd be able to assassinate you when you least expected it. That was always the plan, up until Jasher helped me escape."
Odeen let out a small, amused huff while Ruby was left as shell-shocked as Jasher, both assuming that Odeen was some kind of warlord tyrant. Ruby soon began to sputter, squeezing Odeen's hands in her own. "I am so sorry. I thought that you killed that man because he insulted you."
Jasher shook his head, stepping forward. "You do not need to apologise. I was the one who was misinformed, and I led you to believe that Odeen was a heartless killer. I should have known better. He was the one who took me in when I was captured."
Odeen felt a small smile pry against his lips, ruffling Jasher's hair up. "They said that you were working with Rufus, said you were dangerous, and that I shouldn't keep you by my side. Look at you now."
Jasher grinned, swatting Odeen's hand away. "I seriously misjudged you. And who is this 'they' that said I was the bad guy?" Jasher mocked. Vatic felt his form stiffen as he turned away, beginning to descend the boulder slowly.
Odeen shifted his gaze down toward Vatic with a wild grin. "The man who's currently in the midst of a daring escape down the boulder. As I said, look at you now." Jasher chuckled, chasing after Vatic, who bolted toward the ground, running into the open field.
Ruby laughed at the absurdity of the scene before feeling Genis wrap his arm around her shoulder, leaning his head against hers. "Ah, all's well that ends well. I'm glad you two have figured out this gift. It makes our lives a hell of a lot easier. Considering Nexus and I will be taking that magic."
Safire stared at Genis with stunned awe as Ruby pulled away from him suddenly. Too suddenly for Genis to regain his footing. Genis crashed helplessly to the ground as Ruby yelped in shock. "You're going to allow Nexus to take our magic!? Have you gone mad?"
Genis groaned in pain, lying against the boulder while the blunt stinging ripped through the impacted area. "Yeah. It can't be that bad. I'll have the same power, so if he tries anything, I'll just subdue him. Maybe if I tie him up and wish for a little dimension of his own, I can leave him there to cool off for a few centuries. Regardless, as long as I have the power too, he can't do shit."
Safire shook her head, beginning to pace. "This is an absurd plan. You want to give our gift away to the man who killed Rufus? How could I ever allow such a thing to take place? I'm not going to give him my power!"
Genis nodded in agreement, slowly shifting up onto his hands and knees. "That's right. He specifically requested Ruby's portion of the gift." Ruby stepped back. "Easy now. Remember, this power can't be unlocked unless both halves are touching. And I really don't want to be the one to bring up old news, but... should we be wary of Nexus when it's Serina that's the cold-blooded killer? He might be under her influence – but he has no idea who she really is. I've wanted to save my brother for centuries, but Serina forced him to hold the portals after I knocked them out of place."
Ruby's brows knit together as she leaned down to be eye level with Genis. "You were the one who knocked the portals? You understand that doing that would have destroyed Earth and Teralu, right?"
Genis sighed weakly, running his fingers through his hair. "Yes, I know that. It would have destroyed the Inbetween, too. But I had hoped that Serina would have grabbed the portals instead of Nexus. Her plan would have destroyed all three worlds regardless. I had to do something to ensure that she was kept put. But my brother had to suffer because of her greed for power."
Genis sat back, blinking in confusion as he now had an audience. Odeen, Safire and Ruby sat right in front of him, leaning in curiously and absolutely captivated. Genis snickered, nodding his head weakly. "Alright. Let me set the scene for you, then."
Genis joined Serina, standing against the platform that floated in the empty nothingness, the two dimensions hovered with a foot between them, nothing holding the portals in place. Neither deity looked at one another, yet their intent was clear. "I won't let you do this. You understand that, don't you?" Genis spoke coldly.
Serina chuckled dully, inhaling deeply. "You don't get a choice in that, Genis. The Inbetween gets its power from the dimensions. We exist because of the portals. I'm simply trying to ensure that we can grow and thrive."
Genis growled, clenching his fists as he turned to Serina. "You can't be serious! We don't know what creating another dimension would do! You were created after the worlds! You have no right to meddle in the creation of another."
Serina held her hand up toward Genis, shushing him with a content smile. "There's nothing that you can do to change my mind. It's been set already that the new world will be formed. I will use the souls of our strongest deities to create a new portal and feed our world."
Genis grit his teeth, the lines in his nose creasing as he sucked in a harsh breath. "The most powerful? That includes Nexus, doesn't it?! You're going to willingly kill one of our brightest because you want more power? I won't allow that."
Serina let out an amused chuckle, shaking her head. "He's the youngest. His cosmic potential is too high for us to just allow him be. You have always been so oddly attached to him, Genis. He will live on through me."
Genis growled, pushing Serina back. "I will not allow you to hurt my brother. Does he even know about your plan?" Serina's eyes darkened, causing Genis to take a few steps back. "He doesn't know you're planning to absorb him?"
In that moment, it seemed as though time slowed to a snail's pace. Genis's eyes shifted toward the portals, his heart pounding so loud that he feared Serina would hear it. His foot dragged against the platform as he turned. Serina's serious look fell into one of shock when Genis jumped from the platform suddenly, drifting down toward the portal. "Stop him! He's going to destroy the dimensions!"
All deities present turned their gazes toward Genis, panic passed through each like a tidal wave as they rushed down toward him. Genis never halted, running toward the portals with purpose. Once he was close enough, Genis disturbed the gravitational pull between the portals. Slowly, they began to drift apart. The planes inside started to turn grey, wilt, and die.
Genis never stopped running forward to leap off the platform. He turned mid-fall to find Serina at the portals, stunned into shock. He smirked weakly, closing his eyes as he drifted down into the abyss. "This is fine... I'm ready to die for this."
Genis opened his eyes, shock flooding his system when he caught Nexus pushing through. He grabbed hold of the portal to Teralu, pulling it closer to take hold of Earth, wrapping the portals in his signature blue chains to hold them down.
Nexus stared down at Genis with pain and betrayal as the deities began to rush to help him. Genis hung his head, tearing a portal further into the Inbetween to drift into, somewhere far from the deities, where he could drift aimlessly in silence. Safe from Serina, but tortured by the knowledge of what he'd done to Nexus.
Genis smiled weakly, recalling the memory that made his chest ache. "More than likely, Serina spun the tale to make me the bad guy. But I just wanted to stop him from dying. Knowing what he was left to suffer, perhaps death was the more appealing option. But I couldn't just leave him to be absorbed without ever knowing."
Ruby felt tears prick at her eyes as Odeen slid his hand into Ruby's to squeeze. Even Safire felt sympathy for Nexus in that moment, choking back a pained groan and turning her head away.
"Is... that true?" Genus jerked, turning his attention toward Nexus with wide eyes. He soon scrambled to his feet as Nexus climbed atop the boulder, stumbling forward with stunned confusion. "I was told that you went mad – that you threatened to kill Serina if she didn't heed to you."
Genis's expression softened as he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Nexus tightly. "I'm sorry that I left you, brother. I was selfish, and I believed leaving you trapped as a prisoner for all eternity was a better solution than just allowing you to die... Please forgive me. Serina isn't the goddess you think she is."
Nexus brushed Genis's hands off, backing away to shake his head. Ruby stood slowly, approaching Nexus with an expression of pity. Nexus couldn't explain the odd sensation of pain he felt in that moment as he backed away. "I – I need to not be here right now. Protect them."
Genis frowned deeply, trying to reach for Nexus once again. Nexus pulled away, turning to jump from the boulder. He vanished into thin air mid-fall, leaving Genis feeling immense guilt and shame. "I'm sorry, brother..."
-End of chapter 24-