Zeus insisted on going with her to a distance before he would turn back.
That way his mind would be relaxed.
Raven and Zeus walked on for a long time trudging through the snow, with silence as their company.
Raven was in the front walking with assurance, but Zeus did not know where they were headed, and he was lost in his own thoughts about the others who had been in there that he could not save.
Their silence was interrupted by a faint aggressive sound.
Raven looked up to the sky, and smiled, before she glanced back at Zeus.
"We are almost there."
They walked faster, leavingbehind the snow covered land and walking on frozen ground.
Light glowed from whatever was ahead, its brightness increasing as they went on.
"Raven." Zeus called suddenly, halting.
He suddenly remembered what this place was, they had been taught about it since they were little.
She was heading to the spiral wheel.
It was believed that if any high god came to the end of their rope, going through the spiral wheel ensured another life, another rebirth to satisfy them.
"You can't." He told her as soon as she turned to face him. "We were taught that its not safe, don't you remember?"
She smiled soullessly, her eyes looking empty of all feeling.
She had already accepted that this was the better option.
"This is my choice. Won't you accompany me till I get there?"
It was wrong. All of this was wrong.
But he nodded, and walked on with her, the sound of ice cracking filling his ear.
This was her last journey in this life.
In front of them were large pearly portals. The aggressive sound was loud now, coming from behind the portal.
From up in the SK it seemed like a vortex was what was behind it.
Raven and Zeus both stopped instinctively, and she turned to look at him.
They both stood there, not talking about the others that died in the dome, or those that faded away in the cell,but it stayed between them like an elephant.
"What if I came back as your daughter?" She asked laughing, her eyes shining with tears that she held back.
"That would be weird." He replied as his Adam's apple jumped with restrained emotions. "But I would not mind it." He smiled.
They both had tears in their eyes that they held back.
"Thank you for saving me back then." Zeus knew that what he said sounded shameless and somehow wicked, but her decision -even though he had been against it- had saved his life during the final bout.
Raven accepted his thanks by inclining her head. "But you should know that I did it for myself. I know it sounds absurd, but I really did."
She said quickly, pausing to blink back her tears.
"Thank you too. For saving me."
She turned to go in, and he stretched out his hand unconsciously, retracting them when she turned back to him.
"Everything is a gamble, right?" She asked, trying to convince herself.
They both knew that she was stalling, but he was fine with that.
He closed the distance between them and enveloped her in a hug.
"I've never liked hugs." She whispered.
"Neither do I." He replied.
Her tears finally fell silently, seeping into the fabric of his clothes as she hugged him back.
"Good bye to you." She said and freed herself, walking through the portal before he could hold her, or she could change her mind.
"Good bye." Zeus said quietly.
Raven walked on ice, light and shadows dancing inside the ice beneath her feet.
The wheel was like a whirlwind of light that went up and down simultaneously.
Raven was afraid, but she kept on walking.
Snow and red rose petals began falling slowly. It looked like it was leading her to freedom.
She smiled genuinely as she stretched out her hand and opened up her palm to catch one.
Everything was beautiful.
Birds from the sky came down and placed a thick fur robe around her shoulder.
"To keep you warm on your way." A voice spoke from behind her.
She turned around, but saw empty space where the voice came from.
She saw crystals cluttered on the ground shining as bright as ever.
'Hector.' She thought.
The roses, the snow, the robe, and now the crystals.
She knew him from her false life in the dome.
Raven laughed, her face lightening up.
She flung the rose petals, and snow in her palm to the sky as she looked around, mouthing the words. "Thank you."
This was a grand farewell indeed.
She fastened the neck button of the robe, and then picked some crystals to take along with her.
'This was the end.' She thought, a tear falling down her eyes as she walked into the wheel.
She did not look back.
Minerva watched her leave, and sent more rose petals with her.
"May your next life be as beautiful as this." She whispered.
She and Merva had walked into Zeus dream and witnessed everything.
Ever since when the Dogan had begun separating from the realms, Merva's dreams had become a variety of past, present and future. She saw the lives of everyone, and could choose whichever one that she wanted to see.
Merva had even dreamed of everything that happened in the dome, but she kept quiet about it all.
And Merva had dragged her here today.
She felt pity for Raven, but tears and sadness was not her forte.
Minerva walked out of the portal in her spirit form, and saw Merva squatted before Zeus, her palm on his face wiping away his tears and caressing his cheeks.
She walked away, leaving them to their moment.
Minerva paused and looked up at the sky.
She had dream walked.
Her chest heaved, as she glanced at the pair behind her.
A smile graced her lips as she watched Zeus wrap his hand around Merva's palm on his face, stroking it gently.
She was Merva's elder sister by sense, and she loved it.
She swore that no matter how life dragged them both she would protect Merva.
Merva would be the good beloved queen who loved the people, and she would be a weapon that will end anyone who tried to take Merva's smile away.
And she loved it that way.
She disappeared from the place, going to wherever she wanted.
"How did you get here?" Zeus asked Merva.
They both stared into each others eyes, lost in their own bubble.
"I couldn't watch you be hurt." She answered, smiling at him. "And so I came to you." She added, drawing him closer.
His tears fell silently to the ground as he hugged her tightly.
They stayed in each others arms, until the sun rose and it was time to go.
He woke up from his dream, everything fresh on his mind.
'It had all been real.'
Merva watched the landscape from her window.
Things had been going wrong, the systems, lights, and many other things not working.
She had tried to call Lena, but was then informed by the butler of the official mansion that they had returned back to Edigor some days ago before the call was cut abruptly.
She had tried calling home, but the calls were not going through.
In her dream she had seen chaos in Edigor, and she feared that it was the reality, but she did not know for sure.
The sky still shone with the fire from explosives that bursted into flames once they came in contact with the barrier.
The enemy was very persistent in trying to destroy Olympus.
She walked away from the window, and picked up her satchel. She had to go and submit her form testing result physically in the military academy since everything had basically shut down.
Minerva appeared behind her.
"Let's get going." She said following Merva to the door.
"Going where?" Merva asked, pausing at the door.
"Aren't you going to the military academy to submit your firm testing result?" Minerva asked.
"Yes." Merva replied.
Minerva bobbed her head at Merva's answer. "I am going with you, and so is Serine."
"What?" Merva exclaimed.
"After you are done submitting the result, both of us will have flying lessons, because you don't know how to fly.
And you know you need it.
Serine also said that she is bored, and so I invited her to watch it."
As soon as Minerva was done speaking, there was a knock on the door.
Minerva smiled. "She is here. Let's go."
The three of them walked out of the building and nodded the tram, Minerva as a spirit between them.
The long ride to the academy was good. Merva watching out the window as the sun shone on her face. She closed her eyes, dozing off without knowing.
Serine patted her on the shoulder and woke her up, when they got near the academy.
"I will wait out here." She told them as soon as they got down. "So hurry up, and then come back."
Merva and Minerva made their way into the academy, and then the receptive building where she submitted the result.
As they headed out of the building, Merva looked around at the places that Minerva pointed out.
She looked at it all with wonder to not look suspicion to anyone when someone suddenly bumped into her, using his weight to knock her to the floor.
She looked up to the person, and saw a face that was identical to Odin's, only older.
He looked at her with contempt before walking away.
She was in trouble.