The atmosphere turned very awkward, as I stiffly turned my head towards my mother standing behind me, Grace too having a set of complex looks on her as her gaze met mine.
"Mother, what do you mean?"
I asked, the extreme confusion filling my face, begging to get an answer from my mother, Grace's expression only going forth to get even more complex as Aria suddenly pushed in as she spoke.
"It's a long story."
Hearing so, I turned to look at Aria, my guard still not down, and I could see that it was hurting her and at the same time making her proud. I mean how many people would be out there that would be able to stand strong in front of Aria and protect someone they love, especially knowing the power that Aria wields?
"You're certainly different."
I suddenly spoke, my expression a bit down, after all, in a way I did lose my 'daughter' which once again was a small ploy, my words making Aria blush, her gaze breaking mine for a moment after which she focused back on me as Aria spoke.
"Cough...please forget that."
"It would be easy if it weren't for the fact that my daughter has suddenly turned to my mother."
I gave a snarky reply, making both Aria and Grace flinch, seeing so I started to look between the two of them, suspicion filling my eyes as I spoke.
"Seeing as how the two of you look similar, you aren't going to say something like the two of you being twins or something? but how does that even make Aria my mother?"
My question was directed towards Grace, who would only reply with a wry smile on her face.
"It's a long story."
"Well, I got time."
I replied, and before Grace could put in any words Aria spoke with a measured tone.
"For that first let's get out of here."
And before I or Grace could react, the two of us were completely moved from our position, the whole surroundings around me flashing such that, the next moment I blinked my eyes I was above a beautiful mountain overlooking a beautiful sky from the top, Grace being beside me, while Aria took my other side.
I kept my calm throughout all this, at least I tried to keep my calm, with several of the confusing emotions, anger, and unknown falling from me at times, enough for the two to catch up.
"Now tell me what's going on? what happened all day? why were we like that? what happened between the two of you? what's the connection?"
Rapidly, I shot many questions towards the two of them, the two smiles filling their faces being identical as Grace took the lead.
"I think it's better if Aria explains it."
Her wording received a nod from Aria as she soon stood in front of me, I could see her eyes waver for a second but she quickly hid that under her calm gaze, her face looking fully calm giving nothing off about any internal situation taking place within her mind.
'Got to give it to her, that's some tough mentality.'
Right now, the insides of Aria must be screaming to come and hug me, to spoil me, the maternal side of hers screaming for that, while the other side of Aria, the daughter's side begging for her body to be spoiled by me, it's a complete mismatch of emotions battling within her and once it's settled a new and improved Aria might arise, for I can't be sure, after all, Aria herself might find a way to deal with it all in her own manner.
'Though even then there are some things she won't be able to cut off from what I gave.'
Thus taking deep breaths, Aria opened her mouth, the story seeming to flow coming from her point of view, while I took a seat on the ground, Grace taking a seat beside me, she holding my hand as she kept nodding at the words that kept leaving Aria's mouth, the expression on Grace's face only turning more complex as the story went by.
I also went with the flow, my face only going forth to turn more and more surprised and awed as the story went by, pure astonishment filling my face with the story, though during the situation I made sure to be a good lover as I gazed at the complex emotions of Grace, hence my hand went forth to hold over Grace's waist, clutching them tight while I leaned her head to my shoulder, providing a powerful pillar for my mother to lean on.
Her gaze met my eyes for a moment, a certain spark lighting up as I spoke.
"This or any situation in the future will never change anything between us, my emotions of love and respect for you are eternal and never-ending, know that whatever this is, to me, this doesn't change who you are to me."
As I said my last words, I leaned in and placed a kiss on Grace's forehead, a warm and loving kiss filled with several emotions, due to which I felt Grace's body tremble in my embrace, while doing so I turned to look towards Aria and thankfully I didn't miss the immense jealousy that passed through her eyes at the moment, making towards what I need.
Thus after calming Grace done and earning a sufficient amount of affection points, I turned towards Aria who started to speak again, continuing the story from where it was left off from, the words only going forth to make my astonishment more and more.
"So my mother is the clone of the great Magic Empress Hero Aria?"
I asked, both of Aria and Grace nodding their heads at my question, the former of Aria beaming with joy at how I phrased my words.
"So that makes Aria my mother too?"
Once again the two of them nodded their heads.
"So the ones that I have been treating as my daughter all this while turns out to be my mother?"
This question of mine only brought light nods from the two women, the two of them having light blushes on their faces from the question.
"How does this make any sense?"
I asked out loud to which Aria spoke.
"It doesn't, the nature of powerful Gods is very erratic, they might do things just for fun."
Her words only made me frown, to which I once again asked out loud.
"I mean shouldn't there be a reason for doing such things?"
My words made the two of them silent, though through discreet eyes I could see both Aria and Grace make eye contact, the two of them definitely hiding the idea that perhaps it was all done for me to be born and that's better for me, cause that will give me more leeway when I use it for some guilt-tripping things into the future, after all, I do have a harem to bring to the light.
A moment of silence fell within this mountaintop, the winds blowing about, Grace sitting by my side holding my hands, while Aria still stood, her gaze turning down at me, whole just kept looking deep into the night sky, to which after a few moments I covered my face with both my hands.
"Sigh...this is messed up in many ways."
I simply spoke out, building the light tension, after which I turned to first look at Grace as I asked.
"Mother, what do you feel about this? are you angry? sad?"
Grace sighed softly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions as she squeezed my hand gently. "Darling, to be honest, I feel a whirlwind of emotions. Confusion, certainly. But mostly, I feel grateful."
"Grateful?" I echoed, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"Yes, grateful," Grace affirmed with a warm smile. "Because despite the complexities and surprises life throws at us, it led me to you, Nora, and Elda. You kids are the most precious gift I could have ever imagined, regardless of how our family tree might twist and turn."
Stopping here Grace turned to look at me, a smile blooming on her face as she spoke.
"Plus I am me as you said, I lived my life by my own choices and whatever it has led to has only made me the happiest mother and woman in the world"
The last of her words were filled with her immense love and affection for me, to which I smiled, my hand going forth to hold her right cheek, rubbing it lightly with affection as I spoke.
"True, my mother has always been true to herself, shinning beautifully than the rest and you will always be you, not a clone or copy"
Grace chuckled at the words, to which I turned to look at Aria with a lot of complex looks filling my face as I asked.
"What about you Aria, would you like to be my mother?"
