The goddess and the Breed, one every inch an ethereal beauty, and one every inch a warrior.

They conversed lightly but Deila kept looking at him in a peculiar way. Then, suddenly, the garden ended, and facing them was a vast expanse of cloud from which rose a gigantic golden gate that reached high into the murky skies above.

“This is the Holy Barrier,” Deila said, and there was a sudden tinge of sadness in her voice. “Alas, I can’t transcend beyond this, for the other side begins the mysteries of Hades.”

Sena faced the beautiful Keeper.

“Would you have transcended with me, if you could?”

She breathed deeply and dropped her eyes from his.

“Do not bother your mind with things that are not meant to be, Son of the Halos,” she said quickly. “Therein lies your next destiny. I pray for the protection of the Spirits for you, and that may you fulfil your difficult destiny, for your life has been one of hardship, with nary a rest.”

“I thank you, dear Deila. Your prayers give me hope. But, alas, you’re aware that I might never come back from this, and that I might perish within this journey?”

She looked into his eyes then, and he was shocked to see great turmoil on her beautiful face.

“Do not speak of things such as that, Sena Kukah, son of Gus Kukah!” she said desperately. “I do not know what has come over me, but thoughts of you not surviving give me feelings I do not understand!”

Sena stepped forward and gently swept her into his arms.

She gasped and put her cold hands on his shoulders, her beautiful face filled with trepidation as she looked desperately at him.

“I gave you a warning, Breed of the Halos!” she cried. “Yours are Earthling Kharisa and Grace of the Skits, either singly, or both, if you desire! I do not possess anything you might need, and neither do you possess anything of use to me! I warn you that your breath will cease, and you will perish right here at the barrier if you do anything bordering on madness!”

“In a way, I do not think the Spirits will strike me dead at the barrier, knowing how much they’re relying on me to fulfil the writings of the Sacred Scrolls,” he said, and a moment later his lips claimed hers.

She gasped loudly, and her hands beat on his arms for a moment, and her lips became icy cold beneath his, so much that for a beat of time he feared she might be right, that his breath would cease.

Her arms went around his neck, and suddenly her tongue darted against his, and she began to warm up! It was quite the most powerful kiss he had received so far, and she melted in his arms so that when he tried to lift his head, she held him, and received his kiss until she suddenly moaned and took a step from his arms.

Her pale cheeks were now aflame with passion, and her eyes held a full light devoid of the anger he had expected. Her hand trembled when she raised it and touched his cheek.

“You give me alien feelings I can do without, Breed of the Halos!” she whispers.

“Forgive me then, Deila, for I could not resist the fire you stoked in my heart!”

“Ah, it terrifies me, but it thrills me to have experienced it, and for the rest of life, I will treasure it.”

“And I won’t die?” he asked mischievously. “The Keeper of Gleam didn’t lie, perchance, did she?”

She smiled tenderly, and a soft laugh actually escaped her lips.

“Perhaps, the Spirits deemed it wise to save your breath, Sena. But, do not tarry. Go with the Spirits!”

His eyes became bleak for a moment.

“I do wish I see you again, Deila.”

She dropped her eyes and spoke with sudden desperation and craving.

“Do not do this to me. Please, I pray, do not task me with thoughts that would make me stray from that which I am tasked to do! Do not let the rest of my days be restless!”

He hesitated, then he nodded.

He turned around and walked slowly into the thick clouds towards the gigantic gate. Sena fought the urge to turn around, but suddenly she was behind him, her hand on his shoulder, and he whirled around with a groan.

And this time he crushed the goddess to his chest, and their exchange was fierce, passionate, and tender.

“Don’t perish!” she whispered fiercely against his lips. “Return, and perhaps this anguish you’ve put into my soul will quieten, I pray!”

She left his arms then and glided swiftly into the garden without a backward look.