New Game

It is done.  The task we've come this far to complete is over.  New York is no longer threatened by the artifact.  I suspect it came closer then any of us will publicly admit, as well.  I suppose I should tell some of the tale, if for no other reason then to have it written down.  It is harder for the tale to drift when it is recorded.

Nothing we tried to shut the artifact off had worked.  Aren, however, even with her weakness was able to...cast for the solution.  It had to be submerged in it's opposite.  As an artifact of darkness, it was left to me.  Vincent wished to take it to the Statue, but...there wasn't time.  If it was to be done, it had to be done at the Empire State Building.  Remembering how I dealt such damage to the shinobi, I returned with the artifact to the elevator.

Vincent gathered many mirrors, and everything else reflective that he could find.  It was, in the end, enough.  I find it difficult to put the feelings into proper words for what occured.  It was simply as if I was the sun, for a few moments, as I turned all of my divine power on the mirror my mother gifted me.  I did not see the results myself - such 'light shows' are difficult for me, as my eyes cut through such glare.  Gossip from those who had been watching the building, however, leads me to believe there was a simply massive wave of light shooting up and out from the building.

I stood when the light finally faded and walked outside.  The sky was clear, the black dome gone.  We'd won this battle, at least.  Even a temporary victory is something worth rejoicing in.

Victory

The beast lies slain.  The deathblow was not mine, but justice has been served.  When he evaded both my blow and Vincent's after he was stunned, Aren dragged him over the edge of the building.  Her bravery is to be saluted, but that may wait until she is recovered.  She did not come through the experience unscathed.

The artifact itself houses a powerful kami.  Amenable enough, but my divine bloodright is not enough to compel obedience.  It has been easy enough to find a container for it, however, until we can discover fully it's usage.  It will hopefully not take long, I would prefer to fully power it down before transporting it home.  Mother will know how to handle it, and while he has aided us, I would prefer not to simply give it over to Loki.  That seems...inherintly unwise.

We will be moving out soon.  Hopefully, it should not be difficult to slip away from the building to somewhere Aren may rest before we move on.  I will spend the time trying to discover how to disable entirely the artifact, or at least what I can about it.  Unfortunately, I did promise not to say anything negative about how Aren handled the beast.  I may, however, think it.