500th Time Reborn, A World Only Known By Women: The Karma System

"You are nothing more than the Spawn of darkness that gave birth to me! I am more Kadeon than I will ever be you!" I growled, and Nemoria started to laugh.

"Yes, I can clearly see that, but at least that one knows who he is and accepts that. He is the God of the Light, and I am the darkness, but what does that make you? The one that runs away? The God of indecision? Or are you just going to force your way until you have done what you need? That is your way, is it not?" Nemoria asked, her words cutting me.

I stayed silent, but I had made my choice, and I would live with it.

"I gave it all up for this. I care nothing for the Guides, tests, and games! I can't be good, but I refuse to become you, so I will leave it all and live a final life and join this revolution," I said.

"You think that. You think so much, but you know so little, my child. I have told you, just like your father has. Fate is going to find you, and when it does, the karmic retribution for your actions will be your own to bear. No one will help you now. You gave that all up when you came to this world, selfish child. I should kill her now and get it over with, but that is not how it will go. Live your life, Ophiuchus, but know this life has a timer, and when that time ends, so will hers," Nemoria said as she glared holes into me.

"You think that I will let you take her from me? Even if she dies, we will be reborn again!" I snapped, but I was done with this.

"Stop being delusional! If you refuse fate, you will never be allowed to die! You will walk this world until it crumbles, and only then will you be able to be reborn, but she won't be here! I will take everything that you hold dear from you, permanently. When fate calls on you, you had a better answer," Nemoria warned and then disappeared, leaving me alone with the dead Riftwalkers.

I would not let her take Tallia. I would become her guard and protect this world as I always did.

"Hello! Is there someone over there?"

That sound was like music to my ears, and thoughts of my bitch mother were driven from my head.

I turned around and ran to the voice, but then I was standing in the market.

"Come on! You are going to get stepped on, Galio!" Tallia called as she turned around to give me an unimpressed look. "You are always going so slow! We need to get to the forest to pick the herbs with Xena! She is going to call me a slow poke again, and tease me the entire time!" Tallia complained; her brown hair was flapping in the breeze, but her cat ear headband held it mostly in place.

"I am coming!" I called, running to catch up.

"Don't talk when we are out, or people are going to start asking you to talk again! We will never get out of here!" Tallia complained, and I smiled.

The first time Tallia had heard me talk, she had freaked out, but she had done the same last time, but her hair had been red. Not sure why it was brown this time, but it was still the same Tallia.

I ran and followed her until we got outside town where Xena was waiting for us. She was a cute black-haired girl, and she had a bright ab bubbly personality. She and Tallia argued, but that was just the way they were. Both girls seemed to like the banter.

"I thought the sun was going to get over the top of me before you two came out! Let me guess, Galio made you late again?" Xena asked, and Tallia frowned.

"It was his fault! Tell her!" Tallia complained, and stared at me.

"Bark," I said.

"I will kick you!" Tallia warned, pulling her foot back, and I didn't doubt her.

"Yes, I was lost in thought, and I was looking around. I can't help it; I am a curious cat," I said as I sat down to lick my paw and smooth the ever-rogue hair above my eyebrow.

"See?!" Tallia declared, and Xena rolled her eyes.

"You shouldn't threaten to kick Galio; he is your pet and a cute one. I wish I had a friend like that that was always around me," Xena said and looked away.

"You can borrow Galio. I might actually get my chores done on time if I wasn't always trying to find him. You can play hide and seek with him!" Tallia suggested with excitement.

"Hold on here! I am not a bag of nuts to be passed around!" I complained.

"You don't want to come with me?" Xena asked.

"I am Tallia's pet, but I guess it would be fine. It is true that I do cause her a good deal of problems, but are you sure that this is okay, Tallia?" I asked, looking up at Tallia, and she nodded.

I had met Tallia when she was six both times, but I had no idea the first time what she would mean to me when she got old. This time I knew how she would be, and I played games with her to keep her away from her drunk father. The man never hurt her, but he was rude and mean for no reason. I never liked him, but he would die in a monster attack in the village in a few years.

"I will be fine. I am sure that Xena could use a friend when I am not around, and it will just be for a bit. Anyways, we didn't come here to talk about you, cat! We have to go get the herbs, and you have to protect us from the creepy monsters!" Tallia declared.

She was twelve now, and Xena was the same age. I had been able to transform back into my human form for the last two years, but I had stayed a cat. I could defend her and the village like this, and I wanted to wait until she was older before I revealed myself.

"Yes, I will do my job. Let's get going," I said, but then I turned to look back at the village, and it was on fire, and monsters were attacking it as I ran back.

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