Greyashe chapter 288 is entitled 'Strict rules and regulations. XII'.

Previous chapter 287: Strict rules and regulations. XI

Next chapter 289: Reasonable risk.

Summaries page.

-Short summary-

Claire catches her friends up on her exploits since they last met, as the triad do their own revelations.

-Long summary-

When she was no more than a mere weapon for the Challengers of Eternity she was just a flame without a name, doomed to incinerate her enemies until she too became ash. Rather than succumb to such a sad destiny, she escaped from them with not even a shirt on her back. After the escape was wandering and reflection spread thin between bouts of depression and the desire for salvation, as undeserving as she feels. Through all of her trials and tribulations, the last thing on her mind, no..the last thing she thought she deserved was friendship.

Yet, it had come to her, and en masse. If bad things happen consecutively, Claire is proof that good things can also occur this way as well. Perhaps though, it had been because of Van that she had been so fortuitous? Angel remnance provided luck for those around the angel, but no one had ever tried to find out if the remnance works on other angels. Considering that she's actually been an angel her whole life, maybe her good luck had been in extension the good luck meant for Van, and she was just enjoying the residual effects. Either way it's more than she could have ever hoped. Friends, retribution, and the chance to protect those she cares deeply for had all been given to her after she met him, and for that she is truly grateful. Ironically however, it is because she has those things that she cannot see him now. She has much more to do to ensure that the 'World end scenario' doesn't happen, and there is of course the threat of 'angel fall' if she should get too involved and influence any human's free will.

For now however, Claire pushes these thoughts aside and beams at the group she calls 'friends'. Guy smirks and asks her to stop smiling like that. He's never seen her manage more than a half hearted grin most of the time, so seeing her all happy is creepy. Without her smile fading she requests him to mind his own business, and glances over at Anna Rose who without missing a beat walks over and gives Claire a thumbs up. She remarks that she's heard from other mothers that it can be hard to motivate boys to do more than make mischief, though it's usually a girl that makes the difference. Most of the time that 'girl' is 'mom', but since the two had only met once in the fourteen years he's been alive, she has to thank Claire for acting in her stead. It is because of her that Van left home and is making something of himself isn't it? Claire blushes and curtsies, thanking Anna Rose for her kind words; but it is Van who influenced her, not the other way around. Anna Rose grins and delegates the fair share of responsibilities to the two of them; stating that they both make a cute couple. Before Kani can glance over in annoyance, Anna Rose adds 'but he's going to need a girl around his age' with a wink. Claire is bright red now, and sputters that she's never had those kinds of feelings for him, they're just good friends, and that's all.

The group gets a laugh out of this, and Kani asks Claire what she's been up to since they last saw each other? Claire nods and begins with being a '5th goddess' of sorts, under the care of the four seasons. She had been there when Anu had lost her power, and traveled around with Aine and Aimend after Ancasta the winter goddess had been killed. Aicha who is with them is shocked to hear this, as Ancasta had been one of her supporters, and major reasons that she had been able to live to the end of the Witches war. Moreover, she had heard of means of killing goddesses, but they all sound like myths! To think that someone could actually do it....

Claire nods and reveals that she was at one time the 'goddess killer', so she knows of means to kill them. Aicha steps back, but Kani assures her that Claire is beyond that now. She's a good friend of their group, and can be trusted. Claire thanks her, and continues by surmising Ancasta's death was supposed to feed into the unease and unrest of magicians that would give the 3 sentinents power, by allowing them to use the very magic that the humans think they are in love with. Although she thinks this is the reason why she was killed, she's not sure who would have the power to pull it off. For now however, stopping the sentinents would be first priority, which is why she brought him along.

The group stops to look over at Candle who is staring up at the stands where the goddesses are manhandling Dio. Her eyes are bulging out of their sockets, and her mouth hangs open. Kani asks her what's the matter, and Candle can only point and stammer out the word 'Deus'. Reid and Guy look at each other for a moment, until realization hits them, and they both share the same expression as Candle. The two whirl over to face Claire and ask if she's saying she brought God with her?! Claire shakes her head and points out that he only used to be Deus. Aicha and Kani crane their heads to see him, and then balk as well. Kani asks Candle if she knows him, and she nods quickly. He looks a bit different, but he's definitely the 'Deus' that ruled back when humans first came in contact with magic, the one who had made the 'deal' between the sentinents, angels, and humanity. The one who had mandated Ivan stay with their group.....

Claire nods, as Kani begins to realize the implications of what she's saying. If he's here with Claire, then...she's not the goddess killer, but...an angel? The little angel grins and remarks that she always found it cute that their group is so slow on the uptake. Anna Rose giggles, and remarks that her son truly is fortunate to be 'touched by an angel'. Kani proclaims that it all makes sense now...why no matter how much they had been hurt in battle, as long as Claire was there they never seemed to be in danger of dying. It's her angel remanence isn't it? Claire nods, and apologizes for her absence since without her, their lives have probably been fraught with peril. Guy asks Claire why she never told them she was an angel, to which she replies that she only realized it after Akariel had activated 'angel fall' and lost her physical body. The whole group is shocked by this, Claire wasn't with them so how would she know what had happened? She reveals that she and Akariel are technically one being now, as upon losing a physical vessel, her 'remnance' had gone looking for another 'angel', to inhabit. That's how she found out who and what she truly is, as Akariel's remanence had sparked her own memories to return...of angels, her past, and them. Kani remembers now that when they had left Claire, her mind had been slowly eroding, but yet now she seems more assured.

The angel sighs and says that while she did enjoy catching up, she needs to get to work. Dio is going to head back to the 'choir' to convince them to help on the 'scenario' front, but she has her own job to do. Guy stops her and asks if she's not even going to ask how Van is doing? Sure he's not here, but she could at least act a little concerned about him. Claire surprises him with a sad smile as she reveals she's forcing herself not to ask because she knows just how much she'd like to stay and hear about him. Time is of the essence though, and she can't stay. Once this is all over though, she will wait for him no matter how long it takes.

Guy looks into her eyes for a moment and apologizes. The angel waves it off, and tells everyone to take care, that they will in one way or another meet each other again. Everyone bids farewell to Claire who for a moment finds it difficult to move, (for reasons besides the dress this time.) After a few moments though, she gains control of herself and begins the slow walk from comrade to solitude, bearing with her the thoughts that 'this is for the mission'.

Delaney, Aithne and Willard approach Azha, but are stopped by Cayden, Damien and Harrow. Delaney sighs in a dramatic fashion and asks why they continue to be such annoyances. Cayden gets up in his face and asks if he remembers how he had people killed just to keep Iselia from becoming kaiser mage? Does he think that they're just going to let him and his blood thirsty siblings waltz over to Azha? Delaney sighs and points out that he isn't affected by magic, so there's not a whole lot they can do to him, and besides,  if Willard defeated them once what's stopping him from doing it again? Cayden rages, and looks to be preparing an icicle club when Azha warns him not to. She reminds him that they are still under the effects of the 'recall', and any use of magic could lead to a complete mental breakdown. As long as they keep their agape level at a certain point things would be fine, but even she can't guarantee what will happen with repeated use. Delaney smirks as he watches Cayden's ice dissipate, and the snow user makes no effort to stop his grumbling or change his expression. Azha bows and apologies for their discourtesy, and Delaney waves it off. She then asks if they intend to cause her trouble now that she's the kaiser mage? The three siblings glance over at Hydon who leans against the podium and glares at them with an eagle's focus. Delaney nervously asks Azha not to ask questions that could get them killed, especially when she already knows the answers to them. Azha nods and giggles mischievously, stating that she just wanted to have a little bit of fun. She can guess with a high degree of accuracy that they're here to swear their allegance to her, as they know she isn't at all interested in running things the way Acheron had. Delaney makes a game show ringer noise, and bows on one knee, his two siblings following suit.

Azha grins enigmatically as she puts her hands on Delaney and Aithne's shoulders first, and finally Willard. She acknowledges them as members of her 'administration', and while Hydon looks as if he wants to stop her, he only turns and taps his foot impatiently. Delaney stands first, and asks if she will swear to find a way around the 'recall' so that his siblings won't suffer, and with a nod Azha swears she will. Aithne and Willard trade glances, for the first time their actions seem to be of surprise rather than calculated apathy. The new kaiser mage then asks what they will do for her, and Delaney states that he has information on their enemy...the sentinents. Hydon whips his head over, as does Cayden and his group. Azha's smile has faded, her expression now serious; the very image of a powerful mage. She asks in a clear, eerie voice 'be you traitor or ally'?

Delaney responds 'both', and reveals that he, his brother, and sister have met with 'Butcher', and know his plans, as they are the 'human envoy' of the sentinents. Azha appears to be mulling this over, her eyes flicking back and forth between the three, and after a moment of pregnant silence she proclaims them to be telling the truth. Hydon and Cayden's group don't hide their shock, but Azha seems unphased, asking why she should trust the enemies of humanity?

Delaney crosses his arms, and defiantly states that unlike them, as a human he has something to protect. Azha closes her eyes in thought, and when she opens them again they are limpid pools of jet blue; unlike any other farseer seen so far. Her smile appears again, and she says in a clear voice that she did make a promise, and she abides by her promises. She does add however, that she has not made a promise for his own safety, so he should choose the words he uses to answer her next question prudently.

'Is what you seek to protect worth the life of another?'