In that whole week, fever of preperation had fallen again in the mansion of the Renrink. But this time Persephone was taking no part in those preperations. Despite she persuaded her girls to give her back the maid outfit.

"No mother. No more maid outfit for you!"

"You refuse to take place in the same page as us those past few years."

"Not fair!"

"Besides we've told Trileea (the monster head maid) that you will not be working today."

"And tomorrow."

"And the day after that."

"And most likely for the rest of your li-."

"Girls!"

Persephone had been completely at shock. Her own daughters were discharging her from her duties! Had Hades taught them that?!

"No."

"This should have been done long ago anyways."

"Don't be a workaholic mother, it's not needed anymore."

"Yeah, it's our turn to take care of you!"

"Girls..."

And despite still bewildered and shocked from all this, Persephone tried little by little to accept this situation, to wander around the mansion dressed with anything except the maid's clothes. Ludífimo and his friends were for just a little while surprised to see Persephone being well-dressed even around the house.

They had been used all this time to see her like that only when she wanted to go downtown with her daughters. But it wasn't something that was unpleasant, if anything they were glad and fine with it. Lately, they had been bringing to Persephone gifts, mostly from the monsters she had helped around Valencia.

Like the mulberry agronomists and everyone she had ever helped with their plants, sending their blessings and regards to her for all she did for them and for making Valencia a little more beautiful just because she existed.

"Because kindness gets repayed!" The golden monkey monster stated.

Hades was clearly not happy seeing the gifts his monkeys were bringing, all for Persephone. You could say that after earning her love and trust, it was the first time in his existence that he felt what jelly tasted like-.

Or rather openly showed to anybody.

"Who are these faces that send you gifts?" He had asked Persephone on one of their night meetings. Persephone simply explained to him that the gifts were from monsters she had met in town and had helped them in the past with plant matters. She was clueless as to what was Hades really feeling in that moment, but when he gently pulled her closer to him, still staring at her serious, it would soon hit her. "Meu." He said quietly, gazing intensively at her, seemingly almost angry. Something in his expression and statement caused Persephone to remember herself being like that with her own parents, just little inoccent jealousy of then.

She loved them both equally, but sometimes, like the toddler she was then, if she was spending time with one of them and the other parent tried to take their spouse away or show the slightest form of affection, she would hold onto the parent she was with and declare things like,

"Niuuu! Mommy is mine!"

"Go ayay, dada is mine!"

She wasn't doing that if she was seeing her parents already together or if they were both with her.

"Are you... are you jealous?" Persephone asked hesitantly.

"Whαt are they trying to earn by gifting you?" Hades asked back, never breaking eyesocket contact with her. Oh dear. But Persephone laughed and after a few seconds with the necromancer staring at her confused she cupped his face.

"The monsters only show me their gratitude with those gifts. They don't ask for anything, just return my services to them. And besides if they did ask, I don't think I could ever get attached to anyone else in the same way I'm attached to you." She said more serious. Hades seemed to approve that answer and soon relaxed.

Others weren't so happy to see Persephone away from the maid duties. Specifically, like always, the flesh bags, aka human maids. From complaining and drowning in jealousy because the skeleton woman was better than them at the chores (and generally), now they were insulting her for not working at all.

There are just some who are never satisfied with anything and live only to find flaws. Persephone was ignoring their cruel comments, still pretending she was retarded after all those years. Did she really need to keep that act up anymore?

She wasn't sure, but it had helped her so far to gain information without anyone understanding. Like how she had managed to hear from the rumors spread around about the new guest 'The necromancer' as they would call him with sarcasm in their voices, had invited.

She had learned very little, but better than nothing. The guest was some monster woman was said. She was the leader of a team helping and treating humans and mainly monsters with heavy illnesses. Basically some great healer with residence in Seville, but with no other information of where she was really coming from.

She was a face of much importance and respect, having saved thousands of lives from certain death. And she would be coming in Valencia. Ludífimo was saying that the whole town had learned the news and they were preparing for her arrival as if one of the human Kings was to make appearance.

Anyways, having being withdrawn from her maid duties, Persephone was met with harsh comments from the human maids, who wouldn't shut up thinking that the skeleton woman couldn't comprehend their words.

They had no shame at all to even consider her being the mother of the triplets, under the training of the Renrink and that they were lucky they weren't dead yet for being disrespectful. Persephone had learned being numb to the comments directed to her, but when it came to her daughters she was reacting, discreetly.

However when she focused to hear comments directed towards Hades, for the first time after recognising and admitting her feelings for him, she had almost betrayed her acting, at the very last second actually holding herself back from doing something similar to what she did to Cypross...

She hadn't done anything except nail her look at the 2 maids trash-talking her necromancer, causing them to feel awkward. For a while at least, before they act offended Persephone was staring at them like that.

"What are you staring at freak?"

"Go back to cleaning."

"Has the idea of your daughters being favored by the necromancer actually gotten to your head and now you act all proud too?"

"Go clean up some trash and stop just standing there." One of the maids purposely threw down a spoon.

Persephone could faintly feel Hades' aura in the same room as she was with the humans. However she simply smiled widely and walked towards the direction of the human maids, ready to start smirking, expecting to see her bending to grab the spoon.

What they didn't see coming was Persephone grabbing the maid that threw down the spoon, like a sack and walk out with her screaming at her to let her go. Persephone ignored until they reached the stables. She stopped in front of a pile of cattle sh*t, to say it impolitely and threw her in it.

"HaaaAaAAaha." She did supposedly unstably, her way of laughing as retarded.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" The maid screamed at her while crying and yelling in disgust.

Persephone went back inside the mansion as if nothing had happened, still smiling widely. All humans around, having seen the scene were staring at her shocked. The maid that was with the other one that Persephone threw in the sh*t went up to her ready for a hit.

The skeleton woman was prepared for her and allowed her to approach. What she wasn't prepared for was Athena popping out of nowhere in front of her and grabbing the human maid by the wrist. Soon after the other 2 sisters had appeared too.

"You will not harm our mother." Athena death-stared at the insolent woman in front of her and the grip on her wrist tightened. When she let go of the human, she fell backwards holding her wrist. Then said woman started swearing and insulting Persephone for acting like an uncivilised freak and that her bastard daughters were just like her.

"Much rather we take after her than from someone with such rotten behavior as yours." Artemis spoke.

"Thank stars you don't have children, they'd end up be like you." Aphrodite added fuel to the fire further.

"At least we don't start the problems first. What you started with your friend, I'm certain of that."

"JUST BECAUSE WE TOLD HER TO CLEAN UP SHE OVERREACTED!" The human maid kept going.

"Sorry, I can't see the problem. I think that our mother did exactly as you told her to and she took out the trash to keep this place spotless."

"Even so, you have no authority, nor any right to tell her what to do."

"Our mother deserves rest from all the years of hard work she has done around here."

"We didn't just sit down waiting for knowledge to come by itself, we worked to have this position in which we are now. We didn't stay maids by complaining, we put effort to claim what we are today."

"Something you've never won by trash-talking and complaining."

"Our mother has done all she could do for us all those years."

"She birthed us and raised us by herself for the biggest part."

"She tolerated everything for us."

"And it's our turn to repay her."

"This 'retarded' skeleton woman has done for years a far better job than you could ever do because she stayed silent and listened, unlike you, who just don't know when to sew your mouth."

"All you ever do with all other women of your kind is complain and gossip."

"You waste oxygen just by existing."

"So how about instead of insulting our mother you go do some actual work around here in case you become less useless than you've proven to be in the past?"

"And take a bath, like your friend who rests in the cattle waste."

"Alongside put pepper in your mouth to learn next time talking proper Catalanic when you address our mother and us."

"If you were gone, no one of much importance would miss you and the sorry excuse of humans you're supposed to be."

"For the rest of your stay to serve, if you ever again command our mother around, you will be cleaning this mansion and picking stuff up with your tongues. That goes to all your other human friends in this house."

"So, keep your opinions to yourself and shut. Up."

The triplets looked all around at the human maids, glaring. Even Aphrodite wasn't happy and cheerful anymore.

Much to Persephone's surprise, she just listened to her daughters roasting the living out of the human maids, while praising and supporting their mother. Hades was simply standing to the distance, listening seemingly indifferent but in reality enjoying what was going on tremendously.

"That was a bold move you did with that maid." He would tell Persephone when they met up later again. "I almost didn't recognise you. Why did you do that?" He asked, of course not mad at all, just curious. Persephone looked up to Hades smiling sweetly to confirm.

"You see, for old times' sake, I decided for one last time to do as I'm told and simply accepted to clean by taking out the trash." She replied, causing Hades to raise brows.

"Well, that was savage." He said, seemingly almost ready to smile. But then he held Persephone's face in his palms and looked at her again serious. "But I don't think you simply did that because she told you to clean. That maid did something more for you to act like that. What happened?" He asked. Persephone looked at the necromancer serious too.

"... I never cared if they badmouthed me, but the moment they dare to say the slightest for my daughters, they ask for trouble." She looked away, almost pouting. "That time however I didn't just throw the maid on the pile because she spoke about the girls. Or just because she commanded me to clean by purposely littering. Her with that other maid then were badmouthing you and well-."

"A typical day in the mansion." Hades cut her off quietly. "Pay no heed Persephone. Their opinion about me is as valuable to me as dirt. It's all weak people can do, talking behind others' backs. Anyone's opinion is nothing, because they don't matter to me in any way. But you do, you're all that matters to me, what you say and how you feel... after you it's your daughters' opinion. They've grown to be extremely intelligent and they don't say nonsense." Speaking of them...

"Hades?"

"Sí?"

"... The girls have told me that they think high of you and they appreciate your knowledge, the support you've given them. They are already aware of us being, well... in love and they're fine with it. They're happy for me and in fact, they keep telling me that if I really love you, to just marry you already."

"You shall decide that after your closure." Hades reminded.

"Yes, I know..."

"And? There's something else you seem you want to say." Persephone nailed her look at Hades.

"... Well, what do you think of them?" Hades looked away thoughtful for a moment before looking Persephone in the eyesockets.

"... They're brilliant and hard-working, whatever it is they want to learn they don't hesitate and in so little time they have improved tremendously. They've taken the chance of education to the fullest when I offered it those 5, almost 6 years back and even if I haven't say it until right now, I'm impressed with them and have gained my utmost respect with what they've managed, with their own worth and dedication..." On the necromancer's expression there seemed to be a hint of awkardness as he paused for a moment. "... I'd feel... satisfied and honored if they were becoming part of this family... no, if they were accepting me to be part of your family through our unison. And... if they think they can see me as a parent, I won't mind."

Hades had said all that with an almost serious straight face, only ever slightly breaking from awkwardness, but if Persephone's inner mood was an image hearing all that, it would be something like,

As faintly mentioned before, that was another of her concerns about accepting the marriage proposal or not, if Hades could accept the triplets.

"That sounds... lovely Hades." She smiled gently trying to hide her emotion. "Should I let them know of this?" She asked. The necromancer shrugged his shoulders.

"Just like how I've come clean with my intentions and emotions for you, they should know of my thoughts about them. Though you're the one I want and need the most in my existence, they're part of you and can't be left out."

~

The day had finally arrived and the luxurious carriage had just stopped out of the mansion.

Persephone's soul was basically pounding aggressively in her ribcage as she stood with lowered head while fiddling the skirt of her beautiful purple dress, one of Aphrodite's most recent wonderful work of art, made just for her mother on this important day.

The triplets were silently giving her support by looking at her in reassurement, holding her hands gently, indicating that they would be close to her. The whole staff of the house was waiting for the guest to make appearance and enter the mansion, whispering in awe and impression for her, even the human maids.

At last, she was seen entering the house, walking next to the Renrink.

And everything felt like it froze in one place for Persephone.

Her attention focused only on the goat woman about as tall as the necromancer, walking with calm power and head up high, looking forward with a stern face, serious eyes of quiet authority, her green dress almost airy, floating with her movements.

The skeleton woman's eyesockets stayed wide open, her bottom jaw started shaking first, slowly her whole body too. Not in fear. Nor in panic.

The tall goat woman and Hades were talking in Greek, as he seemed to explain to her something, showing with his hand around. But the guest wasn't interested to look around. Instead she nailed her look at the maids who were gathered and admiring her glorious light, she stared at all of them with that strict expression of hers. Her eyes were traveling to each and every single one of the maids, as if looking for someone specific, as if...

"Πού είναι;" She asked suddenly as she looked at Hades with a slight glare. Who actually gave a smirk as he stared at the staff.

"Maids, you forgot your manners? Why don't you bow down to greet the guest?" He asked in Catalanic.

All women, except from the 4 Sófrons, lowered heads and bended forward. Persephone almost fell forward too, but not because she had forgotten she wasn't quite a maid anymore. Because of the deep emotions that were rushing through her and made her knees feel weak.

Her girls luckily were still holding her. As the maids had lowered, Persephone and her daughters were more visible. Now they had attracted the goat woman's attention, who stared at the 4 with an expression that was clearly showing surprise.

Suddenly the skeleton woman's feet started working again and they moved towards the guest. The maids looked at her approaching the goat monster and started whispering, mainly in confusion. Persephone stopped about 4 steps away from Hades and the guest as she kept staring at her with wide open eyesockets.

Her mouth struggled for many seconds to say anything, but when she did, only one word managed to come out. A name.

"Γαία;"

She wasn't seeing a skeleton woman. She felt as if she was seeing for the first time years back that 8 year old happy, curious, cheerful girl which her parents had brought on the temple of Life she once was to visit. She felt as if she saw in very quick motion 12 years of interaction.

Memories of laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, she saw the day where they parted ways, they had entered different ships. It was the last time she saw her, her little friend. It had been so many years, but she never forgot that face.

"... Περσεφόνη;!" The goat said out loud as she took a step forward, just one as the shock was almost keeping her in one place.

"GAIA!" Persephone suddenly yelled and a sob was heard next, tears following closely behind.

"Περσεφόνη στ' αλήθεια ζεις!"

The skeleton woman almost dived forward and wrapped her arms around the guest's waist at the same time she was opening arms to hug her back. They stayed like that with Persephone mainly crying tears of joy, surprise and relief, sobbing and hiccuping.

As if her parents themsleves had been brought back to life and reunited with them. She never thought she would see anyone from her homeland ever again, more over anyone from her days as a Life priestess. Her friend and mentor, almost sister to her was right here, alive and mighty, in Valencia.

The maids looked at the 2 monster women surprised and confused as they kept holding onto each other, talking almost at the same time in enthusiasm and joy. Why did these 2 seem to be this familiar and emotional with each other? Since when? From where? Why and how was 'Morana' talking?!

"GaiAaAaA!" Persephone sobbed again after the first wave of enthusiasm and from her happiness started kissing Gaia's hands.

Grateful, relieved, ecstatic to see a familiar face here with her, almost unable to believe this wasn't just an incredible dream. The goat woman stopped Persephone from kissing her hands and held hers tenderly, smiling at her maternally.

"My eyes are blessed, my heart and soul truly soften after so many years of our exile seeing you here my dear sweet Persephone. Oh, how I wished to see you alive and well." Gaia cupped the skeleton woman's face smiling sweetly and kissed her forehead warmly and gently. "I'm grateful I accepted to come all this way here and choosing to believe him..." And she quickly glanced back at Hades momentarily serious, who just nodded. "... when he told me that he had in his house a past follower of Life." It was Persephone's turn to look at Hades surprised, who kept his unphazed expression. Then she looked back at Gaia. Then back at him.

"So you're Lady Gaia our mother was talking about!" Aphrodite was heard and Hades, Persephone and Gaia turned to look at the triplets as they approached, staring at the tall goat woman in awe and interest. Gaia did seem rather interested too to see them, but not surprised.

As if she already seemed to know of who they were. Or rather have been told. By Hades? Probably he had explained to her some things about Persephone's situation. And considering Gaia's previous words, that seemed most likely the case, he talked about Persephone to convince her come here.

"Oooh, would you look at them! Your daughters are gorgeous." But seeing them lowering heads and bending their knees, her expression turned strict and serious. "But what do you think you're doing bowing down? Raise your heads." She sounded so cold suddenly, the 4 Sófrons looked at her surprised and confused.

"But... we're showing you respect Lady Gaia?"

"After all our mother told us of the high position you had earned back in Athens as high priestess of Life."

Hades scoffed quietly and crossed his arms, already knowing Gaia was messing with the triplets. The goat woman's eyes daggered.

"Lady? You, of all, you dare address me as Lady?" She asked even more serious.

"Uuummm..."

And then, the moment the awkwardness was becoming way too thick, Gaia laughed warmly and opened her arms.

"I had Persephone like my baby sister back in Athens! High position or not, no need for such formalities! Come here and give aunt Gaia a hug!" She said and all awkwardness vanished. The triplets laughed too and approached the goat woman closer.

"Welcome to Valencia auntieee!" They said at the same time and them with Gaia hugged tightly. Persephone felt a great warmth in her soul. Gaia hadn't changed much, still bright and outgoing. A small part of her still couldn't believe she was right here. Hades had brought her here! But how had he find her? What had he done and how did he move on his trip to locate her?

"Miss Gaia..." The Renrink called quietly. Gaia turned to look at him and her expression slightly toughened. Hades didn't budge. "There is a lot to discuss and you 2 certainly have a lot to catch up to, but let's go do that somewhere else." The necromancer said and waved with his hand for the skeleton women and the goat monster to follow.

Right after he commanded in Catalanic the maids to just keep doing whatever they were assigned to and go about their day. The triplets walked close to him first. Persephone and Gaia looked at each other for a few seconds before deciding to follow, leaving all the maids staring at them in surprise and utter confusion like,

As the 6 of them walked through the corridors, on the first minute Gaia was staring intensively at Hades as he seemed to quietly discuss with the triplets. Persephone was seeing her this serious and the concern was growing little by little.

"He told me you were a maid here. Yet, I see you like this."

"Is it bad?" Persephone asked slightly concerned.

"Of course not my dear child." Gaia smiled softly. "You look refreshed and wonderful." The smile dropped as she stared again at Hades. "He just told me otherwise and I got slightly off guard."

"Ah, well. Truth to be told, only recently I stopped working as a maid. Ever since my girls started being trained, as their mother I could rid myself off the maid duties too, if I wanted. I chose not to, but I got persuaded and convinced to stop working."

"By your daughters?"

"Well, yes." Persephone replied and thanked her luck that Gaia was still staring intensively at Hades, because she was struggling very hard to not get flustered and stop remembering the necromancer praising and complimenting her for whatever dress she would wear, simply encouraging her to dress like that more often, like a Goddess. His Goddess. "Shush!" The skeleton woman turned her head completely away from Gaia.

"... They're not his, right?" Gaia asked suddenly and she sounded heavily serious. Persephone forgot her state and looked at the goat woman, surprised by her question. But a few seconds later, she simply shook her head left and right.

"No. They're not his. And... if you imply that you're concerned he forced me into contact, I was already expecting when I arrived in Valencia." Persephone said lowering head. Gaia's expression turned pained and bitter.

"I know it is sudden I ask this kind of question, after barely getting to see you again. I only want to hope and make sure he didn't cause you any more trouble than what you already had arriving here, to get that out of the way."

"No, Gaia." Persephone replied. "It actually took him 15 years to finally make a proper move and interact with me." She sighed. "If anything he has tried to be more of help to me, but mostly to my daughters." Gaia huffed.

"You've been through a lot I assume my sweet child. After those men gave to you and most of our temple such torture, oh. I haven't stopped feeling guilty for being unable to be close and protect you all." She exhaled from her nose and small fires came out of there. "I'm sorry." She said then with less anger and more sadness.

"Gaia." Persephone held the tall goat woman's fluffy hand gently, causing her to look down to her. "We... had no choice. And while we all had to get exiled from Athens in such way... while... I..." She huffed. "... I arrived in here with little to no hopes at all in me, nostalgia and pain for leaving Athens. But while I started with difficulties, adjusting and preparing to accept the triplets in this world, things got better. I... am better. I made friends." And she talked a little about Cerdia, then about the monkeys, all the aid and help and support each had given to her, all comfort needed to raise better the girls, bringing up the subject of the garden!

"A garden? In this house?" Gaia asked confused but interested. Oh yeah! Persephone suddenly got excited and seemed to try hard not to run ahead and drag Gaia with her, urging her to go see the garden.

"Oh you will see Gaia, it's incredible! I started off small at first, further inside the garden, but the beginning area, me and the girls brought it back to health and life!"

"And that's where we're going anyways." Hades said then, having heard the enthusiastic talking of Persephone's, the edges of his mouth struggling very hard not to turn up. The 5 skeletons and the goat monster arrived in front of the door leading to the garden.

The necromancer opened it and they all headed outside. Gaia could sense before even seeing, the immense life gently hitting her and properly being shown the beginning area of the garden only increased the surprise. She looked around her silent and interested, the skeleton women looking at her reactions.

"Well this is incredible!" She commented after the first surprise. And then after looking for a fleeing second at Hades in disbelief she looked again at Persephone and the triplets. "How in the world did you even convince him???"

"Weeell... Kind of didn't." Persephone said awkwardly.

"Mother revived the heart of the garden, there! Behind those walls! Barely after arriving in the mansion, she worked on it with her own hands and magic!" Aphrodite said.

"While we were still soulings inside her, by the time we were born she was almost done." Artemis said.

"So we could have a nice and safe space." Athena added too.

"And at first, well, Sir Hades didn't ever tell me anything about it. He just tolerated the revived part of the garden. Then he allowed me and the girls to revive the beginning area..." Persephone said and then stopped looking away thoughtful. "Agh! There's a lot that happened all those years back and I'm saying them randomly! I must take it from the beginning and... will you tell me too what were you doing all that time?" Persephone asked hesitantly. Gaia nodded.

"Yes, you're right. Each of us must take it from the day we took separate ways and entered different ships."

"I will leave you ladies alone to say all that you have to say and hear." Hades excused himself dissapeared under the cover of a dar cloud and drifted away, leaving the 5 women alone.

After quickly discussing and agreeing, Gaia was given a first turn to speak.

The day the priestesses of Life left Athens, her and the highest members in hierarchy were put in another ship. Unlike the rest of the priestesses, they weren't touched, nor violated, at least yet. They would be send to Ιstanbul straight up to be sold at harems. Eventually go through the same type of humiliation as the priestesses that would be send to Crete.

But for much longer, until they reached old age, only to be put in a bag and be send down into the sea of Bosphorus, having no other use. However Gaia and the other 8 high members didn't just wait on the ship with crossed arms to meet their fate without a way to fight.

They conspired and tried to think of ways to escape, because one mistake the Ottomans had done, was not separate them at all and let them stay in the same big room. And they decided that the only way they could do that would be once they were out of the ship and they ran away.

If they were able to get away from their destination and Athens, as they knew they wouldn't be welcomed there anymore, they would have their first success. That meant however that they would have to prepare for a very big roadtrip. They would have to go through and wander paths they didn't know and fend off possible dangers in the wild.

But eventually they all chose that they much rather stick together and go through days and nights in the unknown with the only help coming from themselves. They wouldn't end up in harems to let any brainwashed monster violate them any day, whenever they wanted.

So, as long as they were on the ship, whatever food they were given from the Ottomans, which was plenty because after all they had to keep in healthy shape the 'products', whatever would last for long and wouldn't rot or catch mold in just a few days, they would store it in their little bags.

The ones they were allowed to carry before leaving Athens. Supplies for the long run and in case the lands from which they would walk through were unwelcome and dry. And so, when the ship arrived at the port of Selanic and the priestesses exited, Gaia was ready to act already.

Her with her Life powers could sense from the nearby houses plants, which would be excellent help to the escape plan. She had hoped for plants to be near and she wouldn't waste her chances to use them. Because another grave mistake the Ottomans had done was not put on the priestesses magic blockers.

Underestimating them, not just as monsters at disadvantage, but simply as women, that they would be too scared to do anything, resist, or fight back. The Ottomans might were geniuses when it came to making weapons or training, but their sexism towards monster women had costed them.

And so, before they knew it, the plants at the proximity Gaia could sense them started acting wildly under her silent command. Her magic caused them to grow big extremely fast, rush towards the Ottomans and send them in a panic to all directions.

Of course and she hadn't killed the Ottomans then, just made the plants punch them, wrap around them to keep them motionless and throw a few men at the sea. Having caused havoc, the priestesses managed to run away without anyone running after them. They ran through the streets, one team, one family and didn't stop.

Not even Gaia who had used too many of her powers to command the plants and seemed ready at any second to collapse. But she stayed awake, their plan was going great, she didn't want to slow down her companions now that they had found the right time to escape.

"We ran for long, maybe hours and only when all of us stopped seeing houses, leaving them far far away, we stopped to catch our breaths. Only then we started cheering for escaping, even though we weren't sure where to go exactly. The sure thing was that we needed to go somewhere with no Ottomans."

For 5 months Gaia and the other priestesses traveled through the lands, they passed and climbed mountains, overcame hills and canyons, forests and fields. The earth most of the time was providing them with enough to eat and even take for their journey further. There were enough bodies of water from which they could drink and store in their flasks.

In the nights they would sleep on the ground, on hidden areas or caves. They met other towns and other kind of people and monsters. But they wouldn't stay for long, nor did they say that they were priestesses, afraid that if the Ottomans would hunt them down, they would ask around about them.

Again, they needed to get as far away as possible from them. Of course the journey was tiring and exhausting. A few times they all had gotten desperate from not finding food or water, luckily not long enough to drive them on the verge of madness and complete despair.

But they had made it. There came the day where their journey lead them eventually to the Kingdom of Aragón and they could finally relax. This land and the biggest part of Hispania, as they learned soon enough, it was unwelcoming to the Ottomans.

Word about 9 monster women travelling by themselves on foot reached the Aragonese authorities soon enough and though they were accepted in the land, it was just to investigate them. The women didn't have anything that could indicate of what and who they were.

Like, in what they were specialising and proving it with documents or something. It wasn't much of a problem however, because before entering, the priestesses had come up with a backstory and intentions for which they could convince everyone of what they claimed to be and why they wanted to enter the land.

And so, when asked where were they coming from and what did they want in the Kingdom of Aragón, with Gaia taking mainly the lead of the conversation, they said that they were wandering healers born in Selanik, traveling through the lands in the name of their sacred duty to heal and take care of anyone in need.

That, unoffically and without exchanges. And that story was not so made up, because indeed, from all lands with people and monsters living on them, the priestesses would out of kindness heal the sick and hurt if there were, the most they would do to show off themselves.

The little reputation they had made as backup in case somebody investigated further, the fact they were all excellent healers and the fact the conversation was in Turkish, because as mentioned the monsters of Athens were obligated to learn the language and Selanik was area with Greeks dominated by the Ottomans, became all that was needed to sound like truth.

The priestesses managed to convince the authorities enough to let them stay, so long as they proved that they were indeed healers and help around the Kingdom. They would have to stay for a whole year, not allowed to leave, until they completely proved their work.

But they would be provided with supplies and other stuff to help in the healing, even give them their very own space, sanitarium-like and personal small houses to rest. Though still treated with some suspiciousness, although monsters there was high respect for the ones who could offer valuable services, like healthcare.

In less than 2 weeks they had blend in their new environment, gaining love and respect from both humans and monsters, jealousy too, especially from other doctors and healers, because they were giving their splendid service almost for free.

Managing to convince everyone around them that they were healers, when the year closed the authorities called them and announced that the whole Hispania already knew about them. Their services would be useful for the other towns. But they wouldn't stick together.

Each 'healer' would be send to different parts of Hispania so they could aid more people and monsters at once. Of course they would still be allowed to see each other sometimes. Like that Gaia had been send to Seville to serve the community there and the areas closest to it.

"Though that decision eliminated the purpose of 'wandering healers', ultimately we agreed for reasons which I'll explain further. And I stayed to Seville for the biggest part of those years after our exile."

And honestly, despite far away from home, she had been used to the rhytms of that town. Seville was peaceful, there wasn't much conflict between humans and monsters, getting along well enough and she was doing her job without problems. For 17 years it went like that.

At the same time, her and the other priestesses were trying to gain information and learn about what had happened to the other members of their temple. Had they reached Crete? Were they really dead?

Was there the slightest of hope they had somehow survived or never went there? It was difficult to do so by asking the humans to help them. Because asking for a group of priestesses of Life exiled from Athens was going to raise questions and eyebrows.

Why such interest? Certainly not only because they had friends from the exiled ones. And by showing such interest, they could possibly attract one way or another the Ottomans' attention if word reached them that somebody was way too interested for such cases.

Perhaps there was no way to investigate and search for the fate of those priestesses and the methods Gaia and the other 8 priestesses were taking were very slow and offering almost nothing. But as the goat woman would be advised later, there were 2 ways to know quietly if the priestesses were dead or still alive.

And those ways, she didn't really like them when she heard. For long she didn't want to attempt any of them. She had hear that many monsters who didn't know the fate of their loved ones, if they dissapeared or left for another land, they would go to the temples of Death and ask for the high priests to connect with the monster afterlife.

By giving the name and description of the one they were asking for, the high priests, trained and disciplined to emerge and tolerate the aura of the monster afterlife, would connect and look into there to call. If somebody was responding to the name, their essence was appearing and matching the description, then they were dead.

If not, they were still alive out there, wherever they were. Another way was to find actual necromancers, for whom although it was a lot easier and almost effortless to connect with the monster afterlife, they were very few and most of the time unwilling to help.

Gaia was distrustful enough with both ideas, she never had a great liking with anything related to death and necromancers, but again, she needed to know, even if it hurt her to find out what happened to the members of the Life temple. And so, she took a trip to another town near Seville where there was a temple of Death to ask for help.

The priests there, although typically cold and seemingly unwelcoming, they approved for her to enter their temple and ask her of what she wanted. Gaia explained in short that she was trying to find out if old friends of hers she hadn't seen for long were still alive and gave their names.

She started with a few at first to see if this would work. Amongst those few names she asked for Persephone's too and waited. Hours later, the priest who had taken a dive in the monster afterlife said that none of the names he called had anyone responding to them.

At least with the right description and appearance-wise. The ones who had mainly replied to the names he was calling out were in fact the parents. Bittersweet answer, of course and the essences of the dead were looking for their children too.

But the priestesses weren't in the monster afterlife and that gave Gaia hopes. A month later, having informed the other 8 priestesses of what had happened, being encouraged to go and ask again, she returned and asked the high priest again to seek for her friends, this time all of them.

She was ready to wait however long it took to hear if all of them were still alive. The sun had almost dissapeared beneath the water when she took her answer: only one of the priestesses had passed away, 2 years ago in fact, no other was in the monster afterlife.

But that dead one had given important information, that when still alive, her and most of the other girls she was with had moved to the land they call Barcelona. Some other ship had attacked the Ottomans and took them there. A few others had moved in Zaragoza. Gaia could barely hide her excitement.

At last, she had in her hands more information about where to search for the other priestesses, without having many involved to that. Only the priests of Death had understood the seriousness and secrecy of her search but they would stay as the only other ones to know that.

"What and who you seek stays as confidential information amongst us. It is not our job to spread the word around."

For almost 3 years Gaia and the other 8 high priestesses searched for their members. Quite many of them hadn't stay permanently in Barcelona and Zaragoza and they were more difficult to locate, because after all they were scared and hiding.

They were scared to be recognised or targeted. But the search was all worth it. The reunions were full of excitement, emotions and tears for the once priestesses of Life. Sad also because they couldn't return to their old ways.

But the high priestesses couldn't care less. Pure or not, untouched or violated, they were all back together, keeping contact. In fact they told them that they could have a fresh start, a career as healers, or even simply as helpers.

But despite this, Persephone was nowhere to be seen and found.

Gaia was greatly concerned. It was no secret she adored a little more than the others the young then skeleton, their friendship was strong and sweet. But anyways, all priestesses were fond of her and were sad too that no matter where they searched and asked, no one could tell them about a female skeleton named Persephone.

A few more times Gaia had gone back to that temple of Death and ask for the high priest to check again if she was alive or not. But after 6 attempts, with all of then ending up in the same answer that Persephone wasn't dead, all that would stop abruptly.

Gaia was waiting for the priest to return to her and announce her, casually. But not even half an hour later, suddenly a loud scream echoed through the whole temple, causing many other priests to ran where their high priest was doing the ritual.

They brought him out physically alright, except from the fact he seemed to have gained some white hair from terror. He was unable to form any words for many minutes, but when he eventually spoke, he was staring at Gaia with wide open eyes, almost glaring at her.

"Woman... never again ask for that name. It is cursed. Take your leave while you still can and hide on another land, you and your friends."

"Why?"

"He read my memories. My mind. He knows now what you look like and that you're the one looking for that woman, he was disatisfied."

"Who???"

"Just leave! I can't do anything more than warn you!"

This brought distress to Gaia, not understanding what had happened and what did the priest see. But as if that wasn't enough, a second problem was going to knock the door on her soon, as after so many years, the Ottomans had finally found and recognised the priestesses.

They started demanding from the Aragonese authorities to hand them over. They were runaways, technically criminals and their punishment had been decided to be death long ago. The Ottoman Empire had the responsibility to treat their own criminals.

Somehow, after so many years of serving around Hispania, after doing so many favors, having done nothing wrong and having saved so many lives, the Aragonese authorities were actually ready to simply hand over the women without much of a fight.

Something about having been allowed in Hispania, but that didn't mean they had the absolute protection from the Government. Since they weren't legal, only if somebody was willing to defend them they could stay. The simple people didn't count sadly.

But when all seemed hopeless and without any chance for reasoning, an unexpected presence would appear and take the side of the priestesses. On the 3rd week the Ottomans had come once again to pressure the authorities of Aragón, who had first accepted Gaia and the 8 high priestesses.

The goat woman was by herself, having been the one who had lead the fake backstory, investigated as representative for the priestesses both by the persuadors and the Aragonese who had accepted her and the other monster women to stay on their land.

Not 5 minutes in, then, a human, young gentleman he was, entered the room the investigation was taking place. He had announced that there had come somebody dressed in dark clothing requesting to take part in the investigation.

At first the humans in the room dismissed that request, ready to keep discussing, especially not knowing of who else wanted to take part. They thought somebody was just trying to waste their time.

And it was then when the temperature in the room dropped while it was a hot and happy day outside.

The door swung open abruptly and a tall threatening figure of skeleton invited himself in without talking, without introducing himself. He sat with all of his chill and all of his cold attitude on the chair next to Gaia, took off his hood and stared at the Ottomans intensively for many seconds. After making them feel as awkward as possible, he finally spoke.

"I await for no invitations, certainly for this case. Describe to me what seems to be the exact problem, humans." He had said. The authorities seemed to recognise him, indicator were their pale faces of shock and slight terror. "Don't look at me like that, I didn't come to kill somebody, bυτ mıghτ αs well I do so if somebody doesn't fill me up about the case."

Eventually the humans told the skeleton what was going on. Him, being none other than Hades, listened silent and focused, while Gaia was staring at him surprised. Of course she didn't know him. Where had he come from and why was he here?

Once the humans stopped talking, Hades started laughing quietly, which unsettled everyone in the room. Many seconds later he stood up and clapped his hands.

"S-Sir Renrink? Why are you clapping?" One of them asked.

"For the stupidity of your simple human brains of course." He started. And before the humans could feel offended he kept talking.

So what if those healers were not what they said they were? They had brought almost throughout the whole Hispania nothing but health, happiness in the faces of the citizens and saved so many lives which in any other case would be considered hopeless to be saved.

The agriculture had improved greatly too, because aside being healers, some of the women had taken direction for the earth and plants too. By accepting them to stay in Hispania they had done a big favor to the humans and monsters.

The conditions of their living had improved greatly and consequently they were given the fake impression that the high authorities and royalties of Hispania actually cared enough send to the peasants such incredible healers and not keep them for themselves. Consequently, they were looking at the royalties with more sympathy.

Which also meant that they were more willing to support them if they were so considerate towards the lower class, more willing to serve their country and most likely to stay calm, quiet and peaceful. He threw one argument after the other gracefully and carefully said, with confidence and real knowledge that what he was saying wasn't nonsense.

Next Hades had done the fair question of what would happen if the healers were leaving just because some religious fanatics couldn't tolerate the fact not everyone was a Muslim.

"I'm not sure another rebellion from the peasants is going to look good on the reputation of you so called important and high hierarchy people. I mean, I wouldn't care less if I saw the eternal struggle of you flesh bags trying to keep and take the power and rip each other. But triggering this for no reason other than religion will sound ridiculous. It will be an excellent political joke for the other countries, such as our neighbors, Lisbon. Or the Franks. Even I find it right now as an excellent joke. These monster women have done nothing but benefit you and the men facing us want to eliminate them. Imagine being arrested because you lied about being simple healers, who have served however so well the country and believing in something that ain't called Allah."

"S-Sure Sir Hades, but..."

"Let me guess. You are afraid of the Ottomans, are you not? You are afraid that they are going to declare you some war? You could almost piss me off if I wasn't laughing internally. So what if they do so? You will have the best healers in this country to heal your soldiers and get them back on their feet if the Ottomans dare to send armies here. Their powers over the earth are going to provide you with almost limitless food. You have by your side real treasure, dare I say Amalthea's horn and you're going to give them away."

"Well, I mean..."

"Besides, the Ottomans are not the ones you should worry about. I recall clearly, τhατ frøm τhə lαsτ τımə τhəsə mən hαvə cømə hərə, I gave τwıcə mγ løυđ αnđ cləær wærnıŋg øf whατ ıs tø hæρρəŋ ıf thəy stəp føøt øn thıs lænd whılə I'm stıll αlıvə." The room had gotten even colder and darker as Hades death-stared at the Ottomans, who seemed ready to hug each other. No homo, just in fear. "You τhıŋƙ I'm playing around? You think that just because I let your kind leave from this land with not one of you dying γøυ gəτ τø ƙəəρ cømıŋg ɓæcƙ?"

"The 2 times we send people at your home have no relation with this case! It has nothing to do with you this time skeleton!" The interpreter of the Ottomans tried to talk.

"Oh, but it does now. Dare to mess with any of these ladies, you mess with mə." Hades declared, causing Gaia and the humans to look at him surprised.

"Sir Hades? Why such interest?"

"Because this lady and her friends might not be simply healers from Selanik, but they are something a lot more important. Sure, they said a little lie, but is that now real reason to get them killed? They are, were I should say, followers and perceivers of Life from Athens. And you are about to let them at the Ottomans, who instead of at least using them for actual benefits, are about to kill them. You are about to let go of some of the most powerful healers, masters at plant and nature magic, the very ones who have benefitted Hispania so much."

"I had no idea then how had he gotten in his hands such information." Gaia said and took a slightly agitated sip from the tea the triplets had brought to escort their talk. "Only later he explained. And while one part of me didn't appreciate that he was revealing to the Aragonese authorities so bluntly all that me and the other women were, he had managed to convince them not to hand us to the Ottomans."

"From this day on, the priestesses are untouchable and under my protection. Whoever dares to disturb them will have to do with me."

"You can't do that!" The Ottomans protested.

"Oh, but I'm sure the fellow human citizens in this room won't have any objection to this, since I'm so willing to take these women's side. Rıghτ?" He asked as he turned to look at the Aragonese with a very intensive gaze which was literally indicating that even if they wanted to object, it was out of their choices.

Hades was very influential as said after all. Both in the reasonable and threatening way. At the end, the Ottomans left angry and with empty hands, since the priestesses had the defence and support of the powerful and rich necromancer.

Only then Gaia exhaled from relief. While still being concerned. Hades had given her from the moment he appeared really bad vibes. He clearly showed that when he entered a room, he had the upper hand.

Even after he had saved her skin and of the other priestesses, she couldn't stop thinking that he wanted something else from her and her friends. And indeed, after she was free to leave, she found Hades waiting for her outside, wearing a hood above his head. He clearly didn't like the sun. His presence in the public was certainly a sight.

"You're welcome. I just saved you and your priestess friends."

"How did you know the Ottomans would come?" Gaia did the first fair question.

"I didn't know. It just so happened that when I arrived, the one I was looking for was in trouble. You."

"Me? How did you know about who I really am and why are you hunting me?"

"Hunting you? That sounds exaggerated Miss. No, I just seeked to meet you."

"Hmph. Now I believed you. Why did you help me?

"My reasons for stepping up to help you might be or not be related to a certain someone I have in my house. Somebody you've shown a keen interest in trying to find, to the point asking even that priest of death to look into the monster afterlife. And not just once! A skeleton woman with life powers from Athens perhaps?"

9390 words. *pet pet*

yes, definitely cutting this off at a reasonable part

i might have gotten in my hands money by working, but BOY am i tired and i miss writting on wattpad more often😭

even though i preach you by not being done with this backstory

welp, whoever wants to stay will stay. see you some other time