The world tumbled violently around them, colors and shapes blurring into one another until suddenly everything stilled. Leo, Arachne, Adam, Lily, Luna, and Aria hit the ground with a jolt, dust and debris scattering beneath their feet. The portal of purplish-black light that had swallowed them moments before collapsed silently behind them, leaving only the lingering shimmer in the air.

Before them, a vast table stretched across the chamber, impossibly long and carved from black, glassy stone that reflected their distorted forms. Sitting atop it was a figure cloaked in an all-black dress, wings of pitch-black feathers arching wide behind her. Her eyes were covered by a black blindfold, and she tilted her head ever so slightly, a mischievous curve to her lips. Beams of radiant purple light extended from her fingers, each one connecting to the floating forms of Leo's friends. They hovered in midair, perfectly still, eyes closed, appearing as if in peaceful slumber.

Leo froze, his stomach dropping as his gaze darted across the scene. Fury bubbled instantly beneath his skin, searing through him like molten iron. His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms as he stepped forward, voice sharp and trembling with outrage. "What have you done to my friends? Tell me right now!"

The figure tilted her head further, as if amused by his eruption. "Your friends?" she asked softly, voice melodic and light. "Do you mean these ones?"

Leo's glare did not waver. "Yes, these ones! You have them suspended in midair like some… some experiment. What have you done?!"

Her smile broadened faintly, wings shifting slightly as her aura pulsed with dark light. "Ah," she murmured, realization dawning. "You are concerned for their well-being. They are alive, Leo. Every one of them. I merely had to put them into stasis in order to act as anchors for you."

"Anchors?!" Leo's voice rose, trembling with anger. "You call this stasis anchoring? They look like they are trapped in some nightmare!"

The Goddess of the Void waved a hand lazily, the beams of purple light shimmering faintly but holding their positions. "Anchors require stability. In order for me to pull you from the Hall of Judgment, I needed them to remain unchanging, unthreatened. Nothing in the time you all were away harmed them. Not a single scratch. Their bodies and minds were preserved perfectly."

Lily froze mid-step, her hand rising to her mouth as her voice stuttered slightly. "W-wait… how long have they been… gone exactly?"

The goddess shrugged lightly, her black wings rustling faintly. "It was not that long at all. Not nearly enough to matter in the grand scheme."

Lily let out a soft sigh, relief washing over her face, but it did not last long. The void where Discordia's eyes should have been seemed to glimmer beneath the fabric of her blindfold as she added, "In truth… it has been about two months since you left."

Two months. The words struck Lily like a bucket of cold water. Her eyes widened, her mouth parting slightly as she froze again, horrified. Two months. They had survived two months without knowing if any of them were alive. The enormity of it left her breathless and trembling.

Arachne's eyes narrowed into a scowl, her jaw tightening as her gaze swept to the Goddess of the Void. "Why did you do this?" she demanded, voice low and dangerous, yet edged with hurt.

Discordia's smile deepened mischievously. "I have no idea what you are speaking about," she said innocently. "Arachne, you should enjoy your mortal life for a while. Spend time with your family, your son. Appreciate what you have rather than worrying about what you lost."

Arachne's teeth gritted, her body trembling slightly from the intensity of her emotions.

Adam, sensing her anger and despair, stepped forward. His hand reached for hers, gripping it firmly. He looked up at the Goddess of the Void, his voice low but sincere. "Thank you… for helping us."

Discordia's head tilted slightly, caught off guard by the genuine sincerity. Her black feathers rustled as she studied him for a moment. After a brief pause, she gave a light shrug, as if dismissing her own surprise.

With a snap of her fingers, the beams of purple light dissipated in a cascade of sparkling motes. One by one, Leo's friends blinked awake, their eyes fluttering open.

Arachne, still gripping Adam's hand, took a steadying breath. The tension in her face softened ever so slightly as she let herself register the moment. Her mortal body, fragile yet alive, stood before the mischievous Goddess who had intervened on their behalf.

Leo stepped forward, fists loosening but expression still tense with lingering anger. "You… you didn't tell us any of this. You brought us here and left us in the dark about what was happening to them," he said, voice careful, weighing each word.

Discordia's smile did not falter. "I acted in the only way I could," she replied softly. "Your companions remained unharmed, and now they will wake soon now that you are back. That is all that matters. Sometimes the truth is less important than survival."

Arachne's eyes softened briefly as she regarded Discordia. She still had anger, still had frustrations, but she recognized the necessity of what had been done.

Adam squeezed her hand once more, a quiet reassurance between them, before letting go. His gaze returned to the Goddess of the Void. "I still do not understand everything you did, but… thank you."

Discordia tilted her head, black feathers rustling in the faint light. "You are welcome. Now, go. Enjoy your time together. Savor the lives you have reclaimed, even if only for a moment."

One by one, the group began to move, testing their bodies and muscles, feeling the weight of gravity and life return fully to them. Each step was tentative at first, cautious, but the relief in their movements was palpable.

Lily exhaled sharply, brushing at the dust clinging to her clothes. "I… I cannot believe it. Two months, and we are all here… alive." Her voice shook slightly, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Luna gave a soft grunt, shaking her head in disbelief as she flexed her arms. "I thought… I thought we had lost everything. I never imagined…"

Aria fluttered her wings once, settling beside Leo with a quiet nod. "We are not out of danger, but at least we are together."

Leo's eyes swept over the group, lingering on each face. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, letting the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. He still had anger, still had countless questions, but the immediate weight of the moment lifted.

Arachne turned back to Discordia, jaw tight, but eyes glimmering with something more than fury. "We will remember this," she said simply. Her mortal tone carried weight, promise, and acknowledgment.

Discordia's smile deepened faintly.

"I would hope so..."

Discordia didn't finish her sentence, only allowing the words to echo inside her mind

'After all, this is only a fraction of what I owe you...'