*
She traces the heat leaving her skin, digesting the pain she experienced. Invalidating someone's existence, obviously that was wrong. Her few months of school with Arin and Sariel had taught her almost all the common sense people need to blend into society. Arin even takes the time to help her internalise it, making her feel how embarrassment is invoked, how different emotions can motivate different actions.
The fact that Sariel was mad after crying, says that she said something wrong. Then what was she suppose to do...? Why did she have to... Go through all of this suffering? Because her creator is dead? Because her creator's closest friend is the same person who casted the curse and was so unbearably shady? Unfair, unjust, the world bears its weight on her shoulders countless times over. Her body quakes as if it had given up supporting anything weighing down on her psyche.
What was she doing all of this for? Why has she been working hard, putting her life on the line? All for nothing, all for not even a single thank you. Let's say she miraculously blows over the apocalypse, what then? Will someone give her a medal? Will someone bring awareness and credit to her name? All of it will go to her creator, to Lastia. So... When will it all end? Where is salvation? Where is... Arin?
She grits her teeth unconsciously. She couldn't handle the facade any longer, couldn't hold back the tears. Sariel stared dumbfoundedly before panicking.
"I-I'm sorry! You... You were just trying to help! And yet... I..." (Sariel)
Yggdrasil was furious, it was like boiling lava bubbling through her head. Everything was pointless, nothing mattered. Was that really the state of reality? Why was it so cruel? She just wanted to save her master, to live quiet days with her master. After learning the joys of the human world, her wish had taken a more human form. A more comprehensible and humble form.
"Tell me... Sariel. Was everything I did... Futile? Was it all so desultory, that you saw no hope in me?" (Yggdrasil)
"T-that's not it... I... I'm the one who's useless, while you did everything for me. I'm the failure of a senior, who can't even save her junior without sacrificing one or the other. I couldn't stop Arin... I couldn't stop her from changing places with you... " (Sariel)
Despite the anger, the despair crushing her ego, she never bore hatred. She only bore love, Yggdrasil hadn't noticed but in that way she was a flawed being just like her master was. She was similar, yet different.
"I... I don't know what Arin {Bartered} away, but... If anyone believed in you, it would have to be her. She put her life on the line, believing you would be able to solve everything." (Sariel)
If Yggdrasil couldn't have faith in Sariel, she could at least have faith in the Arin that believed in her. In that case, did Arin foresee the future in her? It was oddly... Reassuring.
"... I got it. I understand. Let's beat the shit out of Ledaine together." (Yggdrasil)
She extends her fist.
"... You got it, partner." (Sariel)
Sariel returns the gesture, their resolve rekindled, they promptly decided on their next step.
" I'll hide the tree. I'm incomparably weaker than before, I need to remain discreet instead of attracting Ledaine's attention.
It looks like the switch out by Arin didn't alert a single person, as long as we stay careful, we might still find a way to take down that heavenly king. A head on fight is near impossible now that he has all of Eterna's authority. " (Yggdrasil)
Their situation was slightly better or worse than before. While Yggdrasil was more suited to fighting a stronger enemy, the trump card that Arin was hiding was likely what she just used to 'revive' Yggdrasil, or more accurately switch their places... Only Yggdrasil had some idea to what state Arin was in, and... It wasn't death. Yggdrasil having ascended and stolen Eterna's authority had 'died' in real time, by all accounts she was a dead person 'in the present'.
However for Yggdrasil herself, she crept into the oblivion of eternity, an inescapable horizon that time could not escape much less light. By perpetually accelerating her perception, she can perceive the world moving at a fraction of the previous speed, continuously until it did not end. An infinite series, she became stuck in the 'present' even if her perceived time is infinitely long. At the end of that infinity, she perishes, which was what the rest of the world had observed as the tree containing her main body vanished.
Rather than revive the dead, what Arin has achieved can be concluded as 'switching places' instead. It's a difference between bringing a soul back and travelling in time. She achieved a miracle, and she saw another in Yggdrasil.
"I see... We're not completely blind. There's still a chance, as long as it's not zero, we'll win." (Yggdrasil)
"How..." (Sariel)
"It's gonna be midnight soon. In less than an hour, we shatter the basis of Ledaine's power. Eterna. The goddess of the garden." (Yggdrasil)
The garden of the goddess. The goddess is the garden, and the garden is also the goddess. The world is under Ledaine's control, Yggdrasil doesn't have dimensional isolating abilities like Ledaine's subordinates, she'll be found instantly the moment Ledaine is in this world. The sentinels are unmanaged, they prioritise the elimination of the stray vampires. The only way to connect back to Eterna is through the government. Would the government let her kill their deity? What did it mean to eliminate a deity? Her authority has already been wrestled by another being, how much of a fight could she even put up now?
That's right... Sariel was here. The key was in their hands the whole time. They simply couldn't arrive at this awful decision so early, there was a definite psychological barrier to concluding that deicide was necessary. At the moment, she was a husk of what she once was.
"Sariel, take us there. To the core of humanity, the administration zone next to 1A." (Yggdrasil)
Believing that Ledaine's forces had run out because Yggdrasil raided one bunker was foolish. If they could make one transdimensional bunker, they could make a lot more. Rather this was not an enemy that could have their threats quantified.
"... I'm not just convenient transportation, am I?" (Sariel)
"Of course not. You're strong. Arin and I are stronger, but only because we've technically cheated.
You got here on your own strength, and you still have much further to go. If Arin and I are gone, you would have beaten Ledaine by yourself!" (Yggdrasil)
She flashed a crooked smile, who knew where her boundless faith came from?