Confirmation to Answers

Selene’s voice echoed in Sophia’s mind, soft yet clear, as though she were standing beside her rather than existing within the light itself.

“I knew you would seek me soon.”

Sophia nodded slowly, her hand still resting upon the altar. The warmth of the sunlight enveloped her, and the radiant figure of the goddess remained steady before her. It was strange speaking with someone who was both present and absent at the same time. Selene seemed to exist somewhere between the mortal world and another beyond it, visible only because the sunlight itself had chosen to give her form.

“You were the one who said we would speak later,” Sophia replied.

Selene smiled gently.

“I did say that, didn’t I?”

Sophia met her gaze without hesitation.

“I have questions.”

The goddess inclined her head ever so slightly, as though she had expected nothing less.

“I know you do. That is why you are here.”

Sophia drew in a slow breath, steadying herself.

The questions had been building for weeks now. Every translation uncovered another mystery. Every answer they found seemed to raise two more questions. She had spent countless hours poring over the translations with Madam Tyler, Eldric, and the others.

“It’s about the answers we’ve gotten,” Sophia began. “About the translations. We’ve concluded a great many things and… honestly… we simply wish to know whether they’re true.”

Selene remained silent for several moments.

Her eyes studied Sophia carefully.

The shrine itself seemed to fall still around them. Even the wind beyond the open entrance appeared to quieten, as though unwilling to interrupt their conversation.

The sunlight surrounding the goddess pulsed softly, casting warm golden patterns across the ancient stone floor.

Dust drifted lazily through the beams of light.

Then Selene finally spoke.

“Everything you have concluded…” she said. Then a small smile touched her lips, or at least it looked like one to Sophia. “You are on the right path.”

Sophia felt her shoulders relax.

A breath she hadn’t realised she had been holding escaped her lips.

She felt relieved, not because every answer had been correct, but because they had not spent weeks chasing falsehoods.

Every hour inside the library.

Every debate.

Every disagreement and also every agreement… none of it had been in vain.

Selene continued.

“The writings carved into those stones served two purposes. They were meant to imprison Dolion. And they were also meant to warn those who came after.”

Sophia lowered her gaze.

“The warning failed.”

“It did,” Selene said. “But it was not your fault.”

Sophia looked back up.

“You alone possess the ability to translate the forgotten language.”

Selene’s expression softened.

“And you were not present when your people went into the heart of Nirvana. Had you been present, perhaps events would have unfolded differently.”

She paused, then added,

“But perhaps the writings fulfilled another purpose instead. Even though the warning was not heeded, the words eventually guided you toward understanding.”

Sophia considered that. There was truth in what she said. Some things would perhaps have been left undiscovered if not for the writings.

“So…” Sophia began. “Most of what we’ve translated is correct?”

“Yes,” Selene said to her.

Sophia’s fingers absentmindedly traced the carvings beneath her palm.

“But that is not the only answer you seek, is it?” Selene asked her.

“No,” Sophia replied. “There are still things that trouble not just me but every person involved with the translations. Things we could not find an accurate answer to.”

“Go on.”

“The line, ’the cage is life,’ does it refer only to Dolion or perhaps to us too, the Nightshade Pack?”

Her question was met with silence, which wasn’t surprising to Sophia. Selene always went silent whenever she asked her questions, even though Sophia did not doubt that the answers were quite straightforward.

“It referred to Dolion,” Selene said finally.

Sophia remained silent, allowing the goddess to continue.

“His cage was to be for life. Trapped in that cave, undead.”

Sophia nodded. At least they were clear on that.

“’To take is to die,’” Sophia quoted. “What about this?”

“You have already guessed the answer,” Selene said. “Anyone who would attempt to take Dolion away was meant to die one way or another.”

Sophia frowned thoughtfully.

“So… the warning wasn’t directed toward those wishing to kill him?”

“It was,” Selene said. “But only those who would attempt to take him out of the cave and kill him initially. Once out, then it did not apply to them.”

Sophia frowned at that.

“So what you’re telling me is that the innocents—though not so innocent—that would have been sent to take Dolion would have died one way or another, but if they had succeeded, then the people who planned to use Dolion wouldn’t face the same?”

“Yes,” Selene confirmed.

“That makes no fucking sense.”

“Perhaps to you, but the seal was enough that those who created it did not think anyone would be able to get Dolion out successfully. Hence why anyone who would have succeeded would not have been affected.”

“So the wording was just that straightforward, like, ’Beware, if you take what’s in the cave, you die?’” Sophia asked her.

“Yes.”

Sophia sighed and then shook her head. She was not impressed by what she had just discovered at all.

“’Power devours power endless,’” she said. “Explain this, please, because for some reason we still haven’t reached a conclusion. Is it just Victoria and Dolion, or perhaps more?”

The goddess’s expression softened.

This time… there was unmistakable sadness within her eyes.

Even the sunlight surrounding her dimmed ever so slightly.

“You have already gotten the answer to this one, and you are correct too.”

She looked beyond Sophia, as though seeing countless centuries unfold all at once.

“It refers to power itself. Those in power will forever seek greater power. Power consumes. It corrupts. It hungers. And when one source is exhausted… it simply seeks another.”

Her gaze returned to Sophia.

“And…”

A melancholy smile crossed her lips.

“I am sorry to tell you this, but I doubt your kind’s hunger and thirst for power will ever truly end.”