Ramiel And The Divine Priestess' Curse

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(Where We Last Left Off)

Taomin followed Ramiel's lead this time, waiting as he made an opening in Nyake's shadowy form. "There!" Taomin cried out, etching into the sky an incantation that would take the form of a Talisman. She pointed at the skull and directed the Wind to guide the slip toward the skull so that it would hopefully attach to it and begin to siphon its power -- a Siphon Talisman. "Ramiel!" Taomin cried, etching more Siphon Incantations in the sky, forging them into Talismans, "Distract Her!" He should be able to take care of that for her, and then the Talismans would be allowed to do their work.

Taomin was busy listening to the story to notice that her top was askew. "Bad Ideas?" she inquired, then realized that before Ramiel adjusted her kimono's shoulder, it was hanging loosely. "Oooooh, Because You Could See My Tits--" Tao stopped herself, trying to remember that a Divine Priestess was to have a more proper and less vulgar speech. "... I Mean, My Bosom." Taomin's kimono snapped tightly around her body, hugging her curves vivaciously; each one now more prominent than before, Taomin's breasts bounced about with more intensity and her pear-shaped hips were now completely visible, as were her long, smooth legs; even her well defined abs showed their definition through the now tight-fitting shadowy kimono. "Well, Now, Problem Solved!" Tao said with a chuckle, knowing nothing would slip off now. "I'm Just A Little Too Casual Sometimes, But This Should Do It." Tao smiled, fangs apparent.

"Oh, But It's Terrible To Hear About What Happened To You," Taomin went on to say after resolving the issue, "I Am Glad That You Are Well." It seemed odd that losing a part of the ear could do something like that, but Taomin had her share of injuries in her day, despite being protected by supernatural beings pretty much all of her life. "Well, As A Divine Priestess, I Will Be Happy To Heal You If You Need It, Just Like Before!" Taomin randomly stood up, inspired and invigorated.

"Yeah! You're My Friend, And If You're Going To Be My Friend, You've Gotta Be Healthy!" That may have come out wrong, but Tao was fired up and not particularly monitoring her speech anymore. "So I'll Heal Ya! I've Got More Than Enough Energy To Do So! I Just Need To Learn To Use It!" Taomin really remembered mostly destructive things, and her healing powers -- though severely increased nowadays -- were mostly forgotten about due to lack of necessity. Taomin was a Goddess; she barely got injured, if at all. Gods don't bleed, as they say. "So You Just Come To Me Anytime You Are Sick Or Wounded. Better Yet..." As Tao kept talking, the wind began to stir because of her heart being pumped by the friendship bonds that they shared, "I'll Come To YOU And Heal YOU! I Can Cure Just About Anything, And If I Can't, Someone Here In The Veritas Can!" Which led her to another sentiment...

"Would You Like To See More Of The Veritas? Or Meet New People?" Tao's eyes seemed full of childlike innocence -- something she hadn't had in a long time since her innocence was taken from her.

There was a shift in the wind.

Tiamat's eyes opened quickly, her head sharply turning to Taomin. She said nothing, but the winds definitely changed. Because of it, an island was about to crash into another just because of Taomin's excited recklessness... yet again. Tia could not help but yell out, "TAO!!!" as the girl made herself more and more stimulated by the moment. "What Did We Speak Of About Your Self Control? You Are Moving The Islands That I Just Got Back Into Their Proper Rotation Without Thinking!!!" As powerful as Tao was, she was really irresponsible with her power. Such is why Tia was there to restrain her and discipline her. "And Fix Your Kimono, You Look Like A Chinese Prostitute."

Tia adjusted the winds to their normalcy, still glaring at Taomin... but mostly Ramiel.

Ramiel hoped up onto his feet to get away from the edge. They were warned of the collision, and that meant it was probably a good idea to act. Then the island lurched when it bumped into the other, and knocked the bunny off balance, and his arms wheeled in the air cartoonishly before tumbling over the side. He yelped in surprise, and the sound faded as he fell into the depths below.

It took him maybe a couple seconds to recover, flip over, and spread his limbs out like a sky-diver. Landing wasn't an issue, if he had something to land on. Provided it wasn't too far down, he could get back on his own, though he wasn't going to turn down an assist.

"Oh Crap," Tao said as she noticed Ramiel's tumble over the edge.

Tao spun around, whipping her long, wild hair in the process and caused a gust of wind to bring forth a string of clouds from the higher layer of the Cloud City over to his aid, where he should comfortably fall straight into the fluffy cushions. He would not pass through, for the clouds were bound together in their thickness and compressed like mesh to solidify under the weight of whatever was atop them.

"GOMENNASAI!!!" Tao shouted, the strength of her voice causing the islands to burst away from each other, now each repelled from the central point that was Taomin. "Damn, I'm Going To Have To Work On That..." Tao spun around again and withdrew the clouds up to the Sky Garden like a staircase, allowing for Ramiel to hop his way back on up to the Sky Garden, if he so chose to do so.

Otherwise, the two of them could check out the Cloud City, Kumo Q, where the Skybreeze Homes were, as well as a great deal of other things.

Tia now had extra work to do because of that reckless Taomin. She now needed to readjust the winds for the islands once more so that they would each float in orbit and not fly too far away from each other and become obnoxiously far to come across. She had to think of all of the beings that could not fly which came to the Sky Realm from the Dawn, after all.

This time, no words were spoken as she adjusted the air in the area to become stagnant.

She simply stopped, and all with her.

With one short, quick breath, however, Tia sent the islands slowly into rotation once again, revolving around the Sky Sanctuary, as they normally did.

Tia was displeased with Taomin, but decided that she would let Taomin know the suffering of her own actions first hand rather than continue to correct them.

And so, Tia disappeared...

Before too long, a large bird rose up from one of the islands. It fluttered and screeched about as it struggled its way through the winds, yet also with the great flapping of its own wings did it stabilize the air current in assistance with the Wind Spirit, Tiamat.

It was an enormous eagle of proportions like that of a building or larger, and it swooped down unto the area where the cause of the commotion was after noticing that it was coming from the Priestess -- whom everyone knew.

The great eagle fluttered a bit as it landed, perching itself upon the edge of the Sky Garden and suddenly began to undergo a change. Its wings raised up behind its head as it raised its claws up to become arms. In that same moment, humanoid legs sprouted out and took the position of sitting just as soon as the eagle's first legs -- now arms -- were lifted up. Those talons functioned as hands, yet the face and chest of the eagle remained the same. It was a genuine bird man.

"Why have you done this?" The eagle asked both Taomin and Ramiel, "I was minding my own, resting my wings when suddenly, I nearly fall from my perch! What is going on here that I must suffer such not once, but twice?" Earthquakes did not happen in the Avisora Paradisia unless islands collided or the winds changed... or there was a storm.

*fwumph*

Ramiel made a little puff of cloud as he landed. He got to his feet, and looked up the stairway made by Tao. He hopped, covering the vertical by the dozens of yards with each footfall.

When he got back to the top, he looked back down and say the staircase had been 'reset' by Tia, though he didn't know it was her. At least she waited until he was back up.

The rabbit faced the eagle, and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry. I distracted Taomin."

Tao was about to apologize with a strong and forceful shout of embarrassment, but instead saved herself and everyone else the turmoil by catching herself by the lip with her fingers.

"Gomennasai..." Taomin practically peeped out as a whisper, unsure of herself.

One of her Haiku floated before eagleman.

"Oops." As she spoke, more life came to the Veritas with another Haiku passing by Ramiel's face. This time, it would almost be audible.

Seemed like something was going on with Taomin's power whenever she spoke. She decided to remain silent for a moment and her kimono reset itself to its original proportions as she did so.

Eagleman sat up straight, outstretched his talon hand and said, "Goddess, will you please be more careful? You almost made a terrible mess of things. Aren't you supposed to be studying to be a Divine Priestess? Is that not what you promised the Avisora?"

What Ramiel did not know about Taomin is that she and the birds here -- known as the Avisora -- were all counting on her to learn how to use her powers so that they could live peacefully. "With your predecessor, we were much SAFER."

The eagle man gently flapped his wings, lifting himself into the air before withdrawing his humanoid legs and shedding his anthropomorphic form so that he could fly more properly. He hovered in place for a moment and said, "And try not to put your little friend in harm's way, to put in my two cents." He glared Taomin in the eyes and said, "I wouldn't want my son to fall victim to a person like that."

With that, Eagleman took off.

Ramiel stood in a stunned silence until the eagle left.

"What did he mean by that?" He couldn't quite figure out if he'd been insulted or not. Even if he was, he'd not do anything about it, in his eyes, everyone's allowed to have opinions. His conflict was more on what he'd done to offend the eagle, or give him the belief that Ramiel was somehow a bad influence.

Taomin lowered her head. She knew what all of that was about and what it meant.

Looking up to Ramiel with rather sad eyes, Taomin began to explain. "As The Goddess Of This Place, I Am Tasked With Keeping This Realm Safe And Stable, And To Do So I Must Use My Holy Power From Being A Divine Priestess To Keep The Islands Linked Through A Holy Magnetic Bond To The Sky Sanctuary." That explained what her responsibility was, but not her promise that was made to the Avisorans.

"When I First Became The Wind Goddess, I Said I Would Protect Them In Place Of My Predecessor, Who Ascended On High After Leaving His Spirits To Deal With The Universe He Created... And He Took Care Of This Place. He Was The One That Made It The Way It Is Right Now, And Also Who Made The Inhabitants Happy." Taomin looked sullen by this point, crestfallen that she could not live up to her predecessor's name and power. "My Relearning To Be A Divine Priest Keeps The Avisora Paradisia Stable And Also Teaches Me To Control My Power Instead Of Run Wild And Let Anything Happen To Anyone, Like I Used To..." She thought of it as punishment for all the fucking around she did as a demon. "I Am Supposed To Be In The Sky Sanctuary Right Now Because It Suppresses My Power And Allows Me To Practice. Tia Is The One That Usually keeps Things In Order Out Here, And Barely Anyone Except Those From The Sanctuary Know That."

Rami mulled this over, and nodded, "Then let's get into the sanctuary, before we discover more distractions."

He hmmed, "Of course, that means you don't get to show me around. At least for right now." He hugged her to his side, "But I'd rather that than to jeopardize your purpose here."

It wasn't that Taomin's purpose could ever be jeopardized, it was just that she wanted to pursue it without being tyrannical, as she could and would be if she let herself go. She remembered the days vividly of her wild and reckless, murderous days of parading her power around and destroying things, but after finding a greater power that lifted her curse, she was back to how she was when she was a virgin priestess at seventeen -- well over two thousand years ago.

But it didn't change that she had actually become that demon, and it was still part of her.

Taomin smiled halfheartedly, seeming sunken as she spoke, "Yeah... Let's Go To The Sky Sanctuary." It was the central of the Avisora Paradisia and hovered in the midst of all of the islands that orbited around it. It was a high and tall cathedral with the entrance to the being a large monument-like door located on a vast island surrounded by giant stone figures in the image of the Wind Goddess, watching over and protecting this world.

Taomin raised herself into the air effortlessly, ready to take off. Fortunately for Ramiel, the islands that floated midair were actually already aligned for travel across the Avisora Paradisia, so he could hop along toward the Sky Sanctuary as he felt fit. "Okay, It Is Just Over There, So This Shouldn't Take Long." Taomin swooped off like a ghost toward the Sky Sanctuary, hoping Ramiel would follow.

Ramiel watched her go, and then bent his legs deeply, and launched himself. She didn't seem to realize how far he could cover with his leaps, a mile was easy, and if he built up a good clip, he could cover entire leagues without issue. To match her speed and arrival time, he took a high angle, like a living artillery shell.

On the downswing he flipped himself in midair so he'd land feet first, using his arms to the sides to steer his descent a bit better. He landed on the island with the Sky Sanctuary on his feet, legs bending deeply again as he used muscle tension to slow down. It wasn't the typical "hero" landing with the fist and knee to the ground, that was a good way to wreck joints. One could almost hear the muscles stretch under the strain, but this didn't seem to affect him one bit. Honestly a tumble would have been best, but his way was better in his eyes, as he was quicker to his feet, and needed less open area to land. The landing did kick up swirls of dust around him if there was any there to be stirred up.

The very moment that the two appeared before the monumental gate into the Sky Sanctuary, Tia was already appearing from thin air, thickening her presence. Her eyes were closed and her hands were in her sleeves, as usual. Without saying a word, she opened the gate to the Sky Sanctuary with a powerful gust of wind, which moved the slate-like doors inward and toward the sanctuary's relatively empty hall.

The floor was a checkerboard pattern and relatively nothing was within save for the exceedingly tall carved structures that kept the entire sanctum upright. Its walls did not seem to have a ceiling, for it was too dark to see that high.

However, there was another opening near the back of the main hall that seemed to bear light and agriculture, a lush green pasture hidden behind the facade of a cathedral.

Yet...

As the two would step inside, the opening to the outside that was visible upon entry would seal shut by great enchanted stone doors. There was no way to enter that area nor were there any other exits; the entire Sky Sanctum was closed off at the entrance hall.

"Taomin," Tiamat spake, extending an arm to guide Tao inside, "Your Chambers." The way Tiamat said it, it almost sounded like a prison, of sorts.

Unto Ramiel, she would explain, "This Is The Enchanted Sky Sanctum, Where All Of The Most Holy And Mythical Creatures Gather In The Area Outside To Discuss Matters Of The Veritas Involving Their Kind, As Well As To Rest And Refresh Themselves With The Holiness Of The Sanctuary." Tia's eyes suddenly burst open, gleaming red, her eyes darting to Tao, "However... Because Taomin Is Such An Unruly Character, She Is Sentenced To Be Confined Here Until She Learns To Control Herself, As Well As Clean Up All Of That Negativity That She Spreads In Here When She Is Alone And Feral."

It seemed like Taomin had much to do, and her living situation was not exactly the best, either. Though that was part of training and discipline -- she needed to learn self control in a confined space, and also how to purify an enchanted location, because as it stood... It reeked of negativity.

Tiamat began to grow with the sheer amount of negativity emanating from within the chambers, and she yelled "COME!!!" to the both of them, drifting backward as an apparition that faded away just as much as she grew larger, leaving only her beaming red eyes to illuminate the now darkened Sky Sanctum.

Taomin knew that this was coming from the beginning. "See, This Is Why I Don't Like Coming Back Here..." she mumbled under her breath, yet also to Ramiel and Tia simultaneously, "YOU'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO RUIN MY FUN!!!"

Tao's shout, though powerful and ferocious, did not jar nor damage the Sky Sanctum in any way. In fact, it almost looked like the Sky Sanctum absorbed the blow, remaining steadfast and strong.

"What Happened To You, Shadow? You Used To Be Cool! Now That You Can Talk, You're All, 'Read The Grimoire' This, And 'Discipline Yourself' That! Why, I Remember--"

Tao cut herself off, remembering that at that time, she did actually enjoy herself doing those things. Killing. Having free sex. Partying. Cursing up a storm. Using her Divination for selfish purposes. Tricking people. She loved it all, and knew that her Living Shadow was the one encouraging it. But now, the Living Shadow seemed to have different goals in mind, and Tao knew that it had everything to do with power. "I Mean, I Can Still Have Fun Without Doing All Of Those Sinful Things, But I Cannot Be TRAPPED IN A CAGE ALL MY LIFE!!"

Just the thought of being back in the Sky Sanctum made Tao very uncomfortable. She hated not being able to run around freely or interact with anyone. It was just she by herself and Tia, who was either silent or disciplining her. Tao needed more freedom.

"You Know What?" Taomin said, "I Won't! I Will Not Go In There And You Cannot Make Me!"

It seemed like Tao was going to be on the run again... For the thousandth time.

Suddenly, her nine fox tails sprouted from her rear and engulfed Tao, the reality paint and the tips of them smearing in an inward spiral as to warp Tao in an inverted fashion to a different location. Where she went could have been anywhere -- the Veritas, another universe, another dimension, or even her own created reality made up of the special power of Creation that she had.

Wherever she was, there were nine layers to it, at least, since she used her nine tails to conceal herself -- a reality for each tail.

Ramiel realized the place was a sort of prison after the explanation, and regretted having asked Tao to come here. He was about to say something to Tao when she had her outburst and warped herself out.

"Tao, wait..." She wasn't there. "...Please..."

He bit at his lip. "Fuck."

He took a deep breath, and looked around for the red eyes that would show him where Tiamat was, "You still have some connection, right? Can you help me catch up to her?"

"Smart, Aren't You?" the Living Shadow quipped immediately as the rabbit asked about her connection to Taomin. "Of Course I Am Connected To Her! I Am Her Living Shadow." What that meant to Ramiel was probably very little, considering the little he knew about the Living Shadows, but he at least knew the basic sentience and connection between they and their hosts.

"But The Question Is," Tiamat went on, her eyes still gleaming from up high as she extended her shadowy sleeve from the edge of the darkness and out into the light, where it shaped into a pointing claw, "Why Should I Help YOU? You Have Failed Your Purpose To Me! Taomin Is Going To Run Wild Now And The Veritas, Itself, Will Restrain Her, If She Is Even Still Here." The eyes narrowed. "Do You Know How Long We Have Been Attempting To Restrain That Child Only For Her To Have The Same Or Similar Reactions Every Time?! We Might As Well Let Her Tire Herself Out And Then Apprehend Her When She Is Worn Out." Being the collected one, Tia did not act so rashly anymore. If she did, she would revert to Nyake in the same way Taomin would revert to being an Oni.

However... Now that they were split up, something devious came to the crafty mind of Tiamat, whose thirst could be photographed in her eyes. She withdrew her claw. "You Don't Get It Yet, Do You?" That's how it always starts. "She Has Been Running Away From Responsibilities Since She First Came To Your Dimension. That Is Why We Sent A Group Of People To Bring Her Back." Hopefully things about Taomin and her personality were starting to make more sense to Ramiel, for Tia had much more to say. "I Was Too Weak To Stop Her, Since I Feed From Her Negativity And Still Obey Her Every Command," something that Tia was indifferent about, for the record, "... And I Took That Time To Relieve A Little Stress Of Mine Own By Playing With You Mortals And Your Lives, As I Used To And Am Accustomed." Truly, it was all that Nyake ever did in the past, and even as Taomin's Living Shadow, that's what the two of them liked to do.

But that was when they were of one mind, and Tia knew not to mention that to Ramiel.

The towering giant mistress of darkness widened her eyes as she finally said, "You Should Let Her Go. She Is Just Going To Lead You Into Her Trouble And Get Locked Up Again." It was always the same thing with Taomin. "Our Powers Are Equivalent, So The Stalemate Of Our Match Would End In Perhaps Another Placement In Another Realm, Such As That Location You Are From." Though Tiamat had just absorbed all of Taomin's negativity that was lingering in the Sky Sanctum, she -- the Living Shadow -- was someone that Taomin had to face by herself.

"Rabbit, I Warn You Now -- You Will Only Get Yourself Killed By Being Involved With Taomin." Tia gave a wide, sharp, toothy grin whose gleam could be seen even in the darkest shadows, "And We Wouldn't Want THAT, Now Would We?" The smile widened. "Because If You Do..." The shadow darkened. "... I Will GLADLY Assist You."

The eyes gleamed.

Rami leaned on a wall and crossed his arms as he lowered his head to weight his options. Well, more mentally kick himself for his part in making this mess.

"I know I'm in way over my head. But I just can't stand walking away when I was part of this."

He squeezed his eyes closed. "But I probably can't win. I barely survived sealing you, er, your darker half." He looked over at her, or at least the direction she was casting her voice. "And I know you were softballing that fight. At least a half dozen moments you could have had Shiyoko bury a blade between my ribs."

He sighed. "I feel like I'm being played at this point. Suckered in by a pretty face with a sad story, and something dangerous to run from."

He stood up, "If I couldn't keep her centered when she was calm, I won't have a chance if she's on a row. I'm sorry if I made anyone's lives more difficult. But..." He closed his eyes again, tearing up. "...I should get out of this... I should go home."

He went to the door. "Please let me out."

"IS THAT HOW YOU REALLY FEEL?" a voice shouted that commanded the entire Avisora Paradisia to tremble, before a wipe of a fox tail smeared itself from out of thin air, something like a cheshire cat. "THEN WHAT WAS ALL OF THAT BEFORE ABOUT US BEING FRIENDS?! I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOU!!!" The face of Taomin could only be seen with eyes flashing red and markings growing upon her face from beyond eight separate tails all fanned out in nine different realities, Taomin at the heart of them.

Taomin, who ruled over the Heart, was actually very emotional, and was in a time of peril. To be left so suddenly after acquiring a true friend was painful to her... as painful as a normal heartbreak.

"WHY WOULD YOU TAKE HER SIDE, ANYWAY?!" Tao practically screeched, knowing that Tia was just testing Ramiel. She was like that as a being. "YOU SHOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN LISTENING TO ME!!"

Not that what Tia was saying was untrue, but it was definitely not a means to lock Taomin up like that. At least, not in her eyes.

A storm began to brew in the Avisora Paradisia, and all knew to silence and protect themselves from the Goddess' wrath. A vortex churned in the midst of the holy Sanctum, it being generated by Taomin's rising emotional tension.

She was about to slip into Demon Mode.

"FINE!!" she shouted, nearly pouting, "If You Want To Leave, Just Go!" The outermost tail slapped a portal on the ground for Ramiel to hop into at any given time, and he could leave this place forever. "BUT DON'T EVER CALL ME YOUR FRIEND!!" Somehow, that all meant something to the lonely, wild, forsaken Taomin. "Everyone... Everyone...!!" she cried, "Everyone ALWAYS LEAVES ME!!" She was on the verge of tears, but they looked like enraged pain more than sadness.

She was slipping fast...

Tiamat smiled big and wide, letting her sharp fangs show. "That's Right, My Dear..." Tia said affectionately, something like a mother, "Everyone Else Out There Will Hurt You. See How Fickle? See How Feeble? He Did Not Even Try."

Tia extended her darkness out to Taomin, who was only partially visible, before snatching her by her tails with her shadowy claws, each one linked to one of Taomin's nine fox tails and also to Taomin, herself. "NYAHAHAHAHA!! AND NOW YOU MUST SUFFER YOUR PUNISHMENT, MY CHILD!!" Literally ripping Taomin out of nine different realities -- simply because an opening was made to the true Taomin -- Tiamat dragged Taomin into the Sky Sanctum by her tails and her shadow, which was overbearing now. "See What I Did For You, Girl?! I Showed You What Happens When You Deal With The Outside World! How Many Times Does This Make? When Will You Learn?" Tiamat seemed to be enjoying the lecture more than anything, her smiling face unchanging as she reprimanded Taomin.

"NOW STAY PUT, TAO!!" Tia shrieked, "This Will NEVER Happen Again As Long As You Do Not Allow Your Heart To Be So Open. Remember The Old Days..." Tia snickered, "Yes... The Old Days... Would You Not Rather Be Back There Then, Where Our Minds Were In Tandem? Look At Us Now... We're Barely Even Friends Anymore." Tiamat's smile became a deep frown, then disappeared altogether, "You Are Not Heeding My Instruction Anymore, Especially Like I Heed Yours. You Believe This Is A One-Sided Relationship? Use This Devastating Heartbreak To Remember Our Roots..."

Tia's eyes flashed.

"Let's Go Back To Those Days, Demon Priestess."

Ramiel watched this mess unfold further. His face twisted up with hurt at first, but then he turned away from them for a moment to stare at where the door used to be.

He facepalmed and let out an agitated sigh. Then he turned and shouted, "Enough of this, BOTH OF YOU!" He looked sternly at both of them, and motioned with his finger at them to punctuate his points. "You two have been bound together for how long?, and you still bicker and squabble like sisters, using me(he jabbed at his own chest there) as a tool to screw with the other. You're both over 50 times older than me, but you act like you're kids, throwing a tantrum the instant things don't go your way."

He now points to Tao, "You don't seem to have any idea what friendship means. No wonder you have a hard time finding it. You're spending more time trying to tempt me into jumping your bones than trying to be my friend, or let me be yours. You had just vanished into who-knows-where, and then get pissy when I choose not to immediately engage in a fruitless search for someone who has every ability to make sure I can't find them." He holds up his hands, "Excuse me for knowing I had no chance there, and was at her mercy to even have a chance to start looking."

He shot a glare at Tiamat, "And don't tell me you weren't thinking of fucking with me a little, just to get under her skin... again." He steps closer to them, right up to the edge of the floor portal. "And must you be such an overbearing bitch? How long have you been trying that method to change her? It's clearly not working. I'm not even sure you care, half the time you seem more intent on letting her turn away from her duties just for the chaos it brings. Whoever put you in charge of her reformation was a fool. I feel sorry for all the creatures in Avisora, hell, the entire Veritas, stuck with your madness. I've known other dragons, succubi, and demons. None were even half as capricious and mercurial as you!"

He threw up his hands and spun around, walking back to the doorway. "I'm just a mortal. I don't have time to be caught up in this moronic cycle with you two. If you want to keep doing this, I have zero chance of stopping you, and I'll be dead and gone in what feels like a blink." He slapped at the door, "But if you aren't willing to try and change, please, let me out." He waved at the floor portal, "I'll find my own way back when I'm ready. I can't trust that portal won't do some twist to my returning home, done out of misguided spite."

He stood there for a moment longer, then sank to his knees. His head thunked against the stone door, and remained there.

His heart hurt. Not that there was anything wrong with it physically. But it hurt just the same. Partly because he felt used, and part because he was sure he'd just gone crazy, telling off goddesses Either of them could end him with ease, especially while in their demesne. He started to cry. He felt powerless, weak, useless. After unloading on them, he didn't find catharsis, just pain.

Taomin was the one to hear the words of Ramiel in her heart. They resonated with her very soul, and though he didn't have the entire situation correct, he had several valid points and was indeed entitled to his feelings... Just as Tao was. "Ramiel..."

The only issue was...

... Taomin was still being bound by her Living Shadow, who was not as kindly nor emotional as Tao was. As much as Taomin wanted to give a heartfelt speech that had just as much weight and passion as Ramiel, she was currently about to be sealed away for quite a bit of time, and quite against her will.

"I...!" she started to speak as she were being dragged off into the darkness, claws scraping against the ground, "... Would NEVER Let You Get Hurt!" Somehow, those were the words that came out. Instead of something like 'Save Me' or 'Don't Tell Me I'm No Friend,' instead, she said just what she did.

By this time, Tia would have certainly swallowed her up mostly... Yet, Taomin continued, for her heart was filled with passion for Ramiel's pain. "It Was My Fault For Reacting... So Quickly, But..." Tao struggled, "... That Pain..." she wriggled, "... Inside Of You..." she writhed, "... Is No Different From MINE!"

Tao was up to her neck in her Living Shadow. With her final breath, she said, "I Love You, My Friend!" And something inside of Tao burst with the power of a great tornado -- her Heart. Something that had long been blackened by the Living Shadow that bore down on her for all those years. Taomin suddenly sprouted those invisible crystalline wings again, spreading out the Living Shadow from around her torso with a gleam of light refracting from every feather, their iridescence matching Tao's spectrum of emotion. She was not completely free, but at least her upper torso was, and equipped with the Crystal Wings.

"Out Of All Of The Veritas Gods And Goddesses, We May Be The Worst." Then again, there was Meiun... and Titane... But they weren't important at the present. "But Remember, I'm Still One Person, Unified With My Shadow... So..." Tao flapped, pulling a bit more of herself free, yet with a terrible struggle -- something like a Chinese finger trap. "... If You Remember How To Touch My Soul, I Will Always Be With You." This held true for everyone that knew of Taomin -- rather, the Heart of Khrona. The love was immeasurable, which is what made her a Goddess and Khrona the God.

"Don't You Remember What I Said Before About Our Love Overpowering Nyake? Well, It's The Same!" She spread her Crystal Wings, flapping gently toward Ramiel, wanting to touch him, but also not wanting to invoke any negative reaction. "My Crystal Wings Are Active Because You Opened My Heart Up, And Now That I Can See Clearly Again... I Can See That You Don't Need To Be Here."

Taomin made a decision now, using the strength of a single swipe of her crystal wing and the heat of her anger to scorch Tiamat, likely to burn her into letting go of Taomin's legs. "You... Are Right. This Place Is Dangerous, And It Shouldn't Be. The Veritas Was Meant To Be A Place Of Peace, But We Have Our Own Problems..." Tao took that time to swing her other wing at Tiamat, releasing a wave of light that was like that of a Divine Priestess.

"But I See My Problem Now."

Taomin knew now that it was her Living Shadow that she had to discipline and subdue with her Divine Priestess power, not herself.

"Thank You, Love," Taomin uttered as she flapped both wings at the same time, unleashing a concentrated tornado of rainbow light at Tiamat, "I Know How To Be A Good Divine Priestess Now. And It's To Make Sure That My Living Shadow Does Not Rule Over Me."

If Ramiel had done nothing else, he'd solved the long time problem of the Avisora Paradisia -- the taming of Taomin.

"I Have To Bind Her To The Sanctum," Taomin decreed, "And By The Time I Am Done, I Will Be Able To Practice Disciplining Tia Very Strictly." Tao placed her arms into her sleeves, letting her wings shine, "Just As I Have Been Taught By Tia, Herself, To Do." It took only one good push for Taomin to mature, and she was acting the part of the Goddess she was. "I Will Restrain Myself -- THAT Part Of Myself." But could she really be the Goddess she knows she is on the inside on the outside?

Only this battle with Tiamat, the Living Shadow, would tell.

The Living Shadow hissed at the light of the Crystal Wings, for they were the special attribute of the Veritas that she did not possess -- only Taomin and anyone above her could access the Crystal Wings. Tia fell silent for a while, retracting into the corners of the cathedral as a normal shadow would when exposed to light -- especially after Taomin released the powerful blast of wind and light at her.

"So..." Tiamat growled, "... You've Awakened..."

For some reason, Tiamat did not seem too pleased about the awakening process Taomin underwent, and naturally, being the 'Voice,' Tia would speak on it.

"I Used To Rule This Realm In My Past Life..." For, she was a reincarnation of a different Tiamat and was slain in battle, "And I Did It Well! Just As You Saw Before, Did You Not, Little Rabbit? It Was Not I That Set The Entire Realm Ajar And Disturbed The Peace. I Set Everything Back Into Its Place!"

Tiamat was hanging onto Taomin by a thin thread of darkness, but holding on just the same. "You Will Not Leave Me Here And Destroy What I Have Made, Girl! YOU Are The One That Needs Be Taught By The Green Grimoire Of The Wind In The Wind Sanctuary, Not I, The Wind Spirit. I Am Already Well Versed And Learned In Such Matters!" Even Tiamat's speech was more eloquent than Taomin's.

However...

"Nyanyanya, It Seems Like You Two Are Just SO Close, Right?"

Her voice changed a bit. At least, for a moment.

Then, it returned to normal.

"But Taomin Deserves To Be Alone. You Said It, Yourself. I And I ALONE Am The ONLY Thing That Taomin Needs Other Than The Rest Of The Veritas! Her Place Is HERE Not Disturbing Anyone And Doing Nothing But Studying. She Is No Divine Priestess Yet! How Can She Be One If She Does Not Seal Herself Up And Be Chaste?"

Though Tiamat's words seemed correct, there was something... else hidden in the intent.

"Nyahahaha... That's Right. Then I Will Not Have To Watch Over Her Because She Is In One Place, And She Will Listen To Me Instead Of IGNORING ME When She Goes Out."

Tiamat thought a little bit more, a wicked smile appearing on her faces in the shadows, each one, though small and cornered, bearing sharp and gleaming fangs. The shadows continued to speak, the negativity of Tao's situation seeming to be the only words that were being spoken.

"And What About The People Of Avisora Paradisia? You Are Already A Menace! Without Me, You Would Certainly Be Even More Hated."

The shadows continued, now with distorted and overlapping speech.

"... And You Don't Listen To Them At All! You Do Not Even Know Their Issues!"

The voices started to blend together.

"AND..."

They were totally incomprehensible by now, but everything that came from them was something Negative -- like Taomin's very thoughts and feelings, of which Tia fed on. The little outburst from before gave her power, and she was able to continue to replicate that negativity until it bore down on Taomin's heart that she was just a wannabe Goddess with no concern for anyone nor anything else around her. This would be her heart's echo, and her brain's wave... thanks to Tia, that is.

Rami listened to Taomin's words, and heard her mature and gain focus and drive, and turned to look at her as she fought to pull herself from the shadow trying to swallow her and keep her in the past. Her sudden growth relit a spark of hope in him.

And He heard to voices of Tia and her Nyake persona... trying hard to resow those seeds of doubt and take control again. This was while he was getting to his feet.

Then she got to her big AND. He spoke, "You... talk too much." The bunny made a quick hop to plant he feet on the sealed door, took up his spear, and pushed off hard enough to send a spiderweb of cracks in the door, sending a chest-thumbing shockwave through the room. The bunny shimmered in the light of the crystal wings as he shot over Taomin, and right into the black heart of the Wind Spirit, and into the Living Shadow, spearpoint first.

"Ramiel..." Taomin uttered under her breath, awestruck that he had suddenly overcome his deep emotional pain and doubt for her sake. Normally, Tia would have gotten to her, but she didn't hear a word this time. All Taomin could think was, 'I Have A Real Friend Now...' and that was all she needed to keep going.

With her arms in her sleeves, she spread her Crystal Wings and let out a powerful downward flap, sending light shooting throughout the entire floor of the room, which should have forced Tia off of the ground and up into the darkness of the upper parts of the chamber -- where Ramiel was headed.

"This Time, I'll Seal Her Off For Good...!" Taomin said, drawing her hands out from her sleeves. A flurry of her enchanted Talismans shot out from her sleeves and laced the surface of the walls and ceiling where Tiamat had already been removed, preventing her from moving to those locations any longer. "... And I Will Purify Myself By Myself!!" Taomin spread her wings again and unleashed a bright light that amplified the light of Ramiel who had passed through the Crystal Wings' light before as well as engulfed the spread Talismans with the same holiness. "This Place Is Possessed," Taomin said, drawing forth one exceedingly large Talisman from her opposite sleeve and holding it outward, "And Needs To Be Exorcised!!"