Athena

"Mother?!, what are you doing here?!"

" You didn't think my only daughter would head towards the frontier, by herself, and I wouldn't worry?"

" After our last conversation I'm surprised you do."

" You may have screamed some terrible things before leaving, but you'll always be my Katie, I wouldn't let a temper tantrum change that. I see your opinion on that argument hasn't changed if your armaments are anything to go by. "

" That would be correct, and please don't call me that, I go by Kay these days."

" I'm sure you do but I named you Katherine so it's either Katie or Katherine. So what are you at the temple for? Planning to abandon your pact and try to form one with another God"

"Ugh , you are so stubborn! And no I'm not, I'm here to ascend, I was planning on visiting you afterwards, didn't expect to not have to travel all the way home. "

"Pot , kettle dear. Good to hear you planned on eventually visiting. I guess it's a good thing I came out here to keep an eye on you dear, since you don't write I've had to get all my updates via gossip."

" All good I assume considering your daughter just finished her first mid-tier mission."

" I hadn't heard about that yet, but I had been hearing was you were still insisting on fighting frontline, but had somehow found and corrupted two nice young women into letting you. I'm assuming these two are the women I was told about"

It was at this point I decided enough was enough.

I cut in. " Ma'am your daughter is the love of my life and if you continue to besmirch her good name in front of me, I will become a problem you cannot handle."

" Oh to be young and foolishly In love again, -" her eyes glowed, her clothes started to flutter in the still air, "and what, pray tell, do you think you can do to The High Priestess of Athena? "

" Keep a civil tone with Kay and we won't have to find out,"

"Mir, Roxy, calm down, we aren't here to fight,"

I can feel Roxy dispelling some ability she had readied up.

My eyes and my intent remained locked on her mother for a moment longer, "Fine but don't expect me to be happy hearing someone talk to you like that. "

"Well daughter if nothing else, you found loyalty on the frontier, for that I am happy for you."

" And they have mine, I love them in a way I could never explain."

"Them?"

" Yes both of them and I was going to ask for your blessing in taking their hand, after I finished ascending.

Now are you going to let us through to the temple proper, or do you want to keep grilling me about every life choice you don't approve of?"

"Of course I'll let you, we can talk more later, I honestly expected you to one day dennounce this Temple and try to form a new pact even with the drawbacks."

" I refuse to be the weakest member on this team." Was the only answer her mother got as she marched towards the altar.

Having a proper Temple established had a lot of benefits, chief among them was not having to draw the ritual Circle.

Her mother turned to us not wanting to interrupt but still having questions, "Despite the hard time I give her, I know my Katie is the one of the best healers of her generation, you two seem about the same age, if she's the weakest what are you two?"

Me and Raquel shared a look, we didn't have many opportunities to make a good impression, but here we might be able to,"Knight Captain to the war god my family has followed for generations. Trained in the art of war since childhood. I lead our team on the battlefield, we have yet to be defeated by any foe."

Any questions about the details I left out were washed away by Roxy's answer.

"My name is Raquel Freyasdottir, Adopted Demigoddess of House Freya, Storm Maiden to the lost Goddess Freya."

My beloved's mother stood their stunned.

" You really would have fought me over just my words wouldn't you?"

" I know she pretends otherwise and I know you can tell, but you are one of the few people whose words can actually hurt her, I do not know have a habit of letting those that hurt her live in peace. "

" Good because if he continues to walk the path she's on she'll need you. "

With that surprising comment we all turn to watch the light show of the ritual begin.

Like with Raquel and Freya, Athena, appears before her.

Her mom is immediately on the floor bowing.

Athena pays us no mind, 'My most precocious child, you finally stepped up to the mantle placed upon you by Family expectation, and I'm sorry to say I'm about to place a burden on you as well. Will you accept this burden if it lets you stand besides your betrothed? '

"Yes" no banter and no posturing just a simple answer.

' Then rise my child and join them on the field of battle as death's handmaiden. '