Infinity: Rising of the Soul Weavers

Getting closer to Raven's face, Avavia gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead as a single tear ran down her eye and dropped over Raven's cheek which startled her.

Opening her eyes, Raven could only see a glimpse of an azure light that was already gone by the time she was aware of it.

Shaking her head, she looked towards Black whilst tilting her head. "Mhn, what were we doing here?" She asked weakly before remembering.

"Oh, you were talking about finding me and stuff," she shook her head again as if to keep herself awake. Looking into her mind space, she found Kayla greeting her with a smile on her face. 

'Say, Kayla,' Raven called. 'What do you think the Voice of the World wants with me? And do you think I could have destroyed a planet? I don't have such powers do I?'

'Hm, not now, no,' Kayla said with a shrug. 'But I can imagine why someone would think you're a danger to humanity, don't tell me you don't?' Kayla chuckled.

'Hehe!' Raven chuckled back before taking a deep breath and redirecting her attention towards Black. "Um, Black, I had some questions for you, but to be honest I forgot for some reason, so err, I'll go check on my friends that are back to the Human Plane, before taking a nap. 

"Once I'm back, be ready for your naming rituals!" She said with a smile as Black widened his eyes in surprise.

"Truly, Lady Raven?" He asked. Not that he didn't believe her, he just hadn't thought it would happen this soon.

"Aye, aye," Raven said with a smile. "Anyhow, I'll leave an anchor here, so I'll be seeing you soon," she said before disappearing from her spot.

Recovering quickly, Black looked around and didn't know what to say since her friends hadn't actually returned to the Human Plane.

Keith and Calcer knew of his plan and thus they had informed the rest. Meaning that Black just let his mistress cross to another Plane for no reason whatsoever.

Obviously, Raven realised as soon as she was in the empty mansion. Massaging her left shoulder tiredly, she decided to take a nap here before going back. 

'Hm, so they're probably still in the Demon Plane, meh, let them sleep there I guess…' Raven said as she jumped on her bed. Closing her eyes, she didn't last long before falling asleep.

'She has been through so much… must be tiring', Kayla thought before focusing on matters that have been bothering her for a while.

'So, something happened before I was with Raven,' Kayla muttered with a sad smile. 'And as of now, she has no memory of it. 

'Furthermore, the question remains what happens if she gets that memory back? Will she be in danger? Or will she be the danger to others? Or maybe both…' Kayla sighed while shaking her head.

'I remember clearly that Joey had mentioned how Soul Weavers are aware of their surroundings and able to make rational choices at three years of age, so Raven should have a recollection of her mother and the events that have unfolded before being sent here.

'What could have happened? Why is her mother trying so hard to stay away from her?' She was so confused and irritated that she couldn't just outright ask her.

'I guess I will just do my best to be her best friend and help her with everything she needs. But, I also need to get stronger, far stronger…' thinking that, Kayla decided to enhance her training schedule.

Using her skills Thought Acceleration and Parallel Processing, she let part of her attention focus on increasing her understanding of each skill she has. 

'I will have to force an evolution if I want to get stronger… Once I'm strong enough, Raven will get to focus on one task at a time. 

'Instead of facing everything on her own, she will have someone she trusts to cover her back…' with that thought in her mind, Kayla smiled while observing Raven's calm and rhythmic breathing as she slept.

***

"Good morning!" Liz greeted Ian and Raykun as she stretched her body. She had just woken up and wasn't actually surprised to see them in her room already.

Ever since she was in the hospital, these two would always be the first faces she'd see in the morning that they became her comfort.

As a result, there was a good chance that she'd get anxious now if she didn't see themq the moment she woke up.

"How was your sleep Ian?" She asked while fighting against a yawn.

"Hm, it was ok," he simply said. His sleep was by no means comforting or special. For him, sleep was a period of weakness where he is forced to lose consciousness, and he wasn't a big fan of that.

"Hehe, glad to hear!" Liz replied with enthusiasm, unaware of the thoughts roaming his mind. "How about you Ray?" 

Although her subordinate's name was Raykun, she had decided to go with Ray as a nickname.

"My sleep was alright too, mistress," he said while jumping off of Ian's shoulder and standing on top of Liz's who instantly patted him with a smile.

Normally, Raykun would not even require sleep. But in his state now, he couldn't function without getting his sleep.

Moments later, the group was all awake and ready for a new day of training under the instructions of Calcer and Keith.

Axane and Maria were making some pretty impressive progression in their mana control and mastery of their relatively newly found talents.

Axane has known about her very rare affinity with bones since she was young, and now, she finally had a chance of practicing that special talent.

She was able to create an armour of bones around her body and reinforce it with mana which makes it harder than metal. Additionally, she could create weapons or small minions that would help her distract her enemies.

She was quite happy that she was finally getting the chance to hone those skills that would give her the strength to help Raven, Maria, and everyone else she cared about.

Maria herself has also been practicing with mana control to increase her mastery over the special soul weaver's mana that was granted to her by Raven.

Unlike Raven, her racial powers didn't center around soul devouring or such, which meant that she wasn't at risk of needing souls for her development. 

While souls would definitely help her, they weren't necessary.

Instead of soul related powers, she was able to feel something strange within her body that she still wasn't able to grasp. It was as if something was caged inside her and waiting for the right moment to get out.

Nonetheless, she was making some interesting progress in her training as well since she was able to summon her aura and manipulate it at will.

"Yo!" Raven greeted everyone as they entered the training hall in Black's castle. "How was your sleep?"

"Rave! Good!" Liz and Axane shouted at the same time while running towards her for a hug.

Maria smiled, seeing Raven being choked to death by the two that were trying to supposedly hug her.

"Hi sweetie," Maria greeted Raven who suddenly flickered next to her, in her attempt to run away from the duo. "Our sleep was good, but why didn't you come back? 

"We were told to tell you we're safe once you or Kayla contact us. While we weren't at the mansion, we were indeed safe in the castle." She explained.

"It's ok, but I'd have appreciated it if you were more transparent about that, you know," Raven shrugged while evading the two girls who were starting to get impatient and wanted their daily dose of Raven.

"I mean, we were told it's a plan and all…" Maria sighed. "But I understand, I'll make sure to let you know the exact location and situation next time you ask. How's that?"

"Perfect!" Raven said with a smile. Taking advantage of her being distracted, Axane clenched her fists then raised them upwards while releasing her mana.

A cage of blindingly white bones shot out of the ground, trapping Raven inside, leaving only one side open which was where the two girls stood waiting for her; their prey.

Smiling, Liz jumped forward with Axane just a step behind. Looking up, Raven didn't see any bones so she thought it was her way out. However, just as she tried to jump, she sensed a familiar aura that was blocking her last escape route.

"Mom!!" She shouted at Maria as if she had just been betrayed.

"Oho~ what is it honey?" Maria faked a cold smile. "Did you think we spent yesterday for nothing? We have learned quite a bit you see, hehe!"

Looking at them all happy and excited, Raven felt warm inside since she felt that they were all making some good progress together while having fun at the same time.

And above all, their happiness meant a lot for her.

Suddenly, and before she could even realize, Raven felt three sets of arms wrap around her as the three girls surrounded her in a tight hug.