Infinity: Rising of the Soul Weavers

* Marshmello ft. Bastille - Happier *

***

"Mom," called Raven to Maria who was sitting next to her in the luxury limo, "Thank you so much for the trip... but I have some questions if you don't mind."

"Yes for sure, what is it?" Maria replied with a smile.

"I get that you wanted us to have fun and relieve stress, but did it have to be something so expensive?"

Raven was worried since Maria had basically paid for everything: the expensive resort with the premium stay, the limo, and other luxuries they used along the way.

She had previously refrained from saying anything during the vacation itself, but now that they're basically done, she had to mention it.

"How are you feeling?" Maria asked casually in reply.

"Eh? I'm ok... better than before," Raven said with a warm face. Understanding that Maria loved her so much meant a lot to Raven.

Her trust wasn't something she'd give casually, but the Maria and the others had earned it.

"Then I didn't waste a penny, did I?" Maria said with a soft smile to her two daughters sitting by her side.

Both girls only smiled warmly in response, as they deeply appreciated everything Maria's done for them.

"I think the trip was so much more than just relieving stress and having fun," Camilla said and Axane nodded happily, "it was basically the first activity we do that's not related to EDA or monsters...

"Plus, Axane got to enjoy our planet for the first time with baby Rituxi and the rest of the group." Camilla said and Axane followed with another intense nod.

With her body moving up and down that fast, Raven had to look away to avoid burning her cheeks.

Axane would have never expected that a random group of 'aliens' she met back in her home planet, would end up being her family. And for that, she's always felt safe around them, especially Raven.

For Axane, it seemed as though the little girl would burn the world asunder if it was for the sake of her family.

"But say," Camilla continued, "why did it have to be so expensive? We could have went to a 'less expensive' place and I can guarantee we would have had the same amount of fun."

"You're stingy..." Maria said after blinking twice at her unthankful friend. Camilla had a silly embarrassed face afterwards as she hadn't expected such a reply.

"I'm sorry it's not that-" Camilla stumbled with her words.

"Catch!" Maria cut her off as she threw her a cold energy drink. Camilla had no trouble catching the cold can, but she couldn't open it since it would explode in her face.

"Well, I've accumulated a huge sum of money because of the nature of my job. Being a genius doctor does that you know," Maria said as she opened her own drink, "and I don't have anything in particular to spend that money on, so why wouldn't I at least make sure my family is well taken care of?

"After what we've been through and the dangers we have faced, I realized that I have a lot to lose. But money isn't one of them."

Camilla looked at Maria and only nodded. She didn't disagree with her one bit there.

"Thank you..." Raven said as she was really embarrassed she's never given Maria anything, but rather, she was always at the recieving end. 'I should buy her a gift...'

"Hey, don't you even think about it," Maria said with a frown to which Raven only responded with a confused expression, "you're overthinking it, aren't you?" she said to her daughter.

"You're probably thinking how I always pay for everything and maybe you should give me something in return?" Seeing Raven's cheeks getting redder, Maria knew she was right.

Getting a hold of Raven's tiny chin, Maria looked her in the eyes while patting her head gently, "Raven, you know that our relationship doesn't require any gifts and whatnot..."

Maria didn't care how much she spent on her two daughters because they've both given her a life that she had no way of acquiring before. A life that she enjoys.

...

After some graceful silence, Rain spoke, "It's a shame we didn't bring Joey with us..."

"Hm, true," Camilla replied, "but he had stuff to do so it's all good I suppose."

"Yeah we'll get him with us next time." Maria said and smiled as the limo came to a stop.

Looking outside through the windows, the group had their guard up as they realized they weren't in Maria's mansion.

"Hey relax it's alright," Maria said to the tense group, "I asked the driver to make a quick stop here. Me and Raven have some business to attend to."

Raven hadn't arranged anything with Maura before, but looking at her real mother's house outside, or rather the mayor's house, she understood what Maria had in mind.

Nodding silently, Raven followed Maria to the house.

"I'm sorry I haven't told you before," Maria had an uncomfortable expression on her face, "but you know we had to do this eventually..."

"It's ok, I'm ready." Even though she said that, Raven had her expressionless face on, the same face she had worn many times while killing criminals across Torinto City.

The Mayor's house was also her office. It was a three story building that was painted blue and with a colourful beautiful garden outside.

Normally the gates are open since many people would visit the mayor at her office.

Walking through the gates made Raven's aura travel away from her body and alarm the guards.

"Raven, your aura, please!" Maria noted.

"Ah, sorry I was spacing out," Raven shook her head and retracted her aura.

"Hello," one of the guards, Mr. Lopack greeted with a nervous tone as he had recognised the girl as the SS ranker he saw on TV, "how can I help you?"

Since the transformation scene was only caught via satellite, only the EDA had access to it. So naturally, the guard didn't know the girl was the mayor's son, even though he could see the similarities.

"Is the mayor at her office or the town hall?" Raven said with her cold face.

"Mrs. O'Bannon is in her office," the guard replied while wiping the cold sweat forming on his forehead, "she has no guests, so if the matter is urgent I can guide you there"

"Thank you, but I know the way" muttered Raven under her breath as she walked towards the office. The guards didn't move an inch.

Getting into the office itself didn't take much time especially since her mother had no guests.

Looking up from her desk, the mayor took but a second to make the connection and realize that her newly arrived guest was her 'son' Draven.

"Draven?!" she had a surprise expression as she had never expected her son to turn into a girl.

She had seen the girl on TV and saw some similarities, but now that she was looking at her in person, there was no doubt about her identity.

Running towards Raven with already blurry wet eyes, the mayor hugged her tightly.

On the other hand, Raven was shaken to her core as she had never expected herself to let the mayor hug her again, after what had happened three years ago.

Usually she wouldn't let her touch her, but now, her body would not obey her orders. She wanted to move, push her aside, or do anything to keep her away.

Yet, her body was unmoving still. Something inside of Raven's mind had awakened after three years of slumber.

All of the previous memories of her mom, the mayor, pampering her as Draven came back rushing, overwhelming her senses and making her heart ache.

Especially now, her touch was just like that of Maria... motherly and caring. She couldn't bring herself to avoid it this time.

"I'm so sorry," her mother said between sobs, "I've always thought that by working hard and being a good mayor, I'd be a good mother. But that's not the case."

"But you were working just now..." muttered Raven, against her best judgement.

"No," said the mayor while shaking her head, "since I gave my speech a while ago, I've been here looking for clues about your location.

"I almost had a heart attack when I realized you were missing for two weeks now, I just took it for granted that you were safe in your friend's house.

"To make matters worse, the EDA had refused to give me any intel about you. The one thing they said after a week of me begging was that you were one of the only group that had returned from the portal... you have no idea how worried I was.

"I'm so sorry for being a terrible mother. Please, come back to me! I've lost you and your dad three years ago, but unlike your dad who can't return, you're still breathing and here with me.

"Please, Draven, come back to live with me. I can't take it anymore." At that, the mayor started crying again.

Ever since the accident, Raven had kept mostly on living at Maria's house. Although she slept home occasionally, she mostly never saw her mother.

'Kay, do you think she's faking?' Raven asked Kayla as her mind was currently a mess.

[I doubt it, she sounds so sincere. I know it's hard to ask, but I think you should give her a try...]

'But even if she's not, how can I explain what had happened three years ago, or even the fact that I'm not human...'

"I- I have a question," Raven said after some hesitation, "please be honest with me, am I your real daughter?"

"Yes!" the mayor replied with a genuine expression, "you're not adopted, or a result of an accident. You're my one and only child and I- I really really love you."

"I see..." even though her reply was dry, she believed the mayor. Even though she was cursing herself for trusting her, she couldn't stop herself this time.

'something isn't right, is she a soul weaver? But this can't be.' Raven was struggling to understand.

[No, I can confirm that your mother is a normal human with no powers.]

'But how did I come to be? How am I a soul weaver- unless-' thinking that her dad was a soul weaver, or rather that she's inherited something from him, made her almost throw up.

He was the man who had sold her away and gotten himself killed. He was the reason for Raven's trauma and mess of a childhood.

"Honey, are you okay?" the mayor asked since she's noticed her daughter spacing out.

"M- mom..." Raven had never expected to call the mayor 'mom' again since she's thought she had a hand in her dad's actions. "You can call me Raven..."

...

Spending about an hour with her mother, Raven eventually came to the agreement that she'd spend at least three days in her real mother's house.

After some resistance, the mayor gave up on negotiating with Raven to spend the night in her house.

Mostly because she was exhausted from many days without sleep while searching for clues for her daughter's whereabouts.

"Promise me you won't leave me," the mayor said as she hugged Raven tightly.

"Uhm," Raven nodded sincerely, "I promise I'll be back soon."

"Thank you," the mayor struggled to keep her eyes open as the adrenaline had already faded away.

Noticing that, Raven activated her "Special Skill: Angelic Touch" and restored some of her mother's energy while healing her mental exhaustion.

Without another word, she walked her to the bedroom and watched her fall asleep peacefully. Making sure she was safe, Raven had a warm smile on her face as she left the house and went back to the limo.

...

"How was it?" Maria asked as she saw Raven come out of the house.

"Why did you disappear!?" Raven asked, feeling betrayed.

"Aw, don't give me that face it makes me feel bad..." Maria was already feeling bad but since she had seen the happiness in the mayor's eyes while hugging Raven, she had decided to let them be.. "Anyway, we have guests at home so we better get going."