Part 1

Vordea observed the rest of the Gods and Xellma quietly as they looked around in confusion at where they were. Of course, it wouldn't do them any good, as they were inside a very old memory.

"Where are we?" Sargon asked, as he looked around.

"Hell. 890 Kalpas ago. Don't worry, nobody else can see us or perceive us. This is a memory." Vordea answered. "This is where it began."

"Where what began?" Vaust asked, following Vordea as she began to walk.

"The end." Vordea said, a sad tinge to her voice. "Come on, over to the palace."

Vordea said nothing else as they all walked along, letting her silence do the talking for her. As Hell was a private plane closed off from the other Gods save Agbus, the others spent some time inspecting their surroundings as they walked along, having never gotten the chance to visit this plane before. If they began to linger, Vordea's tentacles gently pulled them along, reminding them to keep pace. As she walked, her emotions at reliving this moment began to leak out of Vordea in the form of psychic energy. In particular, the others could feel the sadness emanating off her, but Xellma was most affected, and starting crying. Agbus took note and came closer to her.

"You're feeling her emotions, aren't you?" He asked. She nodded. "I know exactly what we're about to witness, and it's a very painful memory for her."

"What is it?" Xellma asked, but Agbus refused to answer, instead just shaking his head.

Sargon and Zalas quietly talked along the way, their voices barely above a whisper. Zalas seemed to be shifting between his male and female forms, and looked nervous, or possibly scared. Sargon looked resolute, as if he was trying to prepare himself for what they were about to witness.

Vaust for his part didn't say much, and outwardly seemed to be entirely unbothered about what was going on. Inwardly, he wondered why Vordea was showing this to them. She had always been so taciturn even to the other Gods, what's been changing her mind in the past few decades? For that matter, why was she so sure Xellma was going to ascend? There was no doubt she was already an extremely powerful demigod yes, but something about it felt wrong. Like it was being forced. He made a note to discuss this later with Eigengrau when she returned from her withdrawal, for all the good that would do.

As they neared the palace door, Vordea stopped and motioned for the others to do the same.

"Inside you are about to witness the second most painful memory of my entire existence." Vordea said, her voice cracking and on the verge of tears. "Just..."

Agbus nodded, and opened the large door, and gestured for everyone to proceed inside.