THOUGHTS on Erin after the Epilogue of EOD
cw: spoilers for the current season and latest story quest
Hypogeans are born out of the naturally occurring darkness of the world. As they did not specifically mention a creator behind them, I can continue to assume that Ygdris (or Annih) acts as their god, as much as Dura stands as goddess for the light. I can also continue to assume that Ygdris and the Great Will are one and the same.
Eugene and Erin were born from the same pool of darkness. Their major trait is curiosity and it keeps guiding their actions in many ways. Due to that thirst for knowing, they end up away from the other Hypogeans and often are in close contact with the races of Esperia.
They quickly pick up the morals and ethics of mortals and as the Twins explained, this soft lock keeps both sane and docile. In favor of the joy of discovery, they remain non-violent and aid the humans rather than the Hypogeans, thus becoming traitors to their kind.
Erin befriends Merlin during the First Divine War and gains Dura's trust. Originally Erin was blessed with her necklace to hide her Hypogean form and aura for a life in peace for her help in the war. Knowing now that this method also domesticates a Hypogean, this was possibly Dura's (and Erin's shared) attempt to test whether a co-existence is naturally possible.
Interestingly this also tells us that darkness is part of life and cannot be eradicated. BUT - it can be lived with and it mellows down when properly addressed. A very worthy little piece of wisdom, in my opinion.
Still, Erin's Hypogean nature shows from time to time, whenever she lacks consideration for human well-being and life. When she entrusted Cyran with some of the worst dark magic spells ever created, it was her Hypogean nature to see him try and succeed, whether he or his victims would survive or not. She still often has to be reminded that some things are not possible without damage, like using the acceleration spell beyond certain limits due to the fragility of the human body - and other similar small occurrences.
Her Hypogean pride also shows which can cause some issues. At the Lyceum the students once were tasked to use the acceleration spell to move through a parkour and their times were recorded. Erin wanted to go through the parkour at the minimum time required to pass and did so on the second. The examiner didn't appreciate that and they argued.
Teacher: No. I cannot accept that. Go again. Erin: Whatever for? I passed according to the rules, where is the problem? Teacher: I did not ask for a calculation in your spell, I want you to go as fast as you can without failing the parkour. Erin: That is how fast I chose to go. The task instructions do not exclude calculations to achieve the goals. Teacher: I do not know where you have learned to make such adjustments to your spell, but here you had no prior training in calculations. Thus this method is not valid for this task. Erin: ... So I shouldn't have voiced that out loud earlier, should I. Teacher: No. Now, go again. And no calculation this time. Erin: ... do you trust your recordings? Teacher: What do you mean? Erin: *points at the magical numbers floating in the air, showing the measured time per student* Teacher: Yes, absolutely. Erin: Excellent.
And she did so again, but at abnormal speed, causing jaws to drop and the teacher to doubt the numbers after all. Her pride made her forget that she shouldn't have gone faster than what is possible for humans. But she did. And ended up in the principal's office for an explanation, because they couldn't find their measuring spell being tampered with but also need to know why she broke physics. xD
Still. This soft cage around her slowly erodes. She never saw her most dire question answered to her satisfaction and that gnaws at her mind. Celestials continued to go after her when she wasn't careful. Humans kept turning away from her once they learned about her nature. She couldn't be herself even if she often was a better human than humans themselves.
This provides food to her and she grows more mature over time after all. And it is a very dangerous maturing as well, because she not only lived through all possible emotions herself, she also mastered magic beyond her own. Her greatest feat: being able, after centuries of trying, to wield the Divine Light. The very thing that is meant to destroy her is now bowing its head to her commands.
At the end, she wouldn't just have the raw power of her innate instinct and emotions... she also gains power from all those things she experienced and learned that other Hypogeans never could by their limited self-centered existences. She knows how to control herself and and that makes her dangerous.
The final breaking point is her relationship with Cyran and the following Second Divine War. Her strong initial attraction towards Cyran stems mostly from his so Hypogean-compatible aura/magic. The idea that maybe there might be another one like Erin herself, a Hypogean hidden among the light (indicating a similar mindset) and who could stay with her forever. But it wasn't so.
Instead, despite the strong bond they have, his alignment with the Great Will poses a threat to her. And in fear for her life, she leaves Cyran in order to hide from Ygdris. Amplifying her disappointment, knowing that something she loves dearly has a very real potential to end her despite all his assurances.
The Second Divine War solidifies her frustrations further. Despite wanting to help, humans fail to trust her and the Celestials make her participation as dangerous as her own kin, who don't take her actions in the First Divine War lightly.
Her injuries in the final battle force her to retreat. She is gone for 20 years (which is not a whole lot but it was necessary, as she lost one of her wings).
After her return she is caught up instantly in another battle, loosing her second wing. This time she cannot retreat, as if rejected (it is Ygdris's realm and he won't have her). She lives only because her brother is found and shares his magic and life force with her. She recovers enough, that she can join Merlin for COE.
At that time, she ends up in front of Ygdris. Her punishment includes a slow and painful destruction of her body and everyone expects an absorption of her soul. Now, according to the above, Erin's soul would have to rest until it can be reborn but this would mean an erasure of her memories and abilities. This was something Ygdris did not want.
So he took the broken body pieces to bring them back together and revitalized her body and soul. Her rebirth was a quick one. And while she was granted highest status and certain strength, her own maturity was sparked by the realization that after centuries of fears and hopes, the exact opposite happened. Instead of being cast away by her own kin, which she expected, she was welcomed back. And instead of being loved by the light, as she hoped, she was continuously trampled down on and forsaken by Dura in this final moment.
So finding herself back alive, in power and authority, her true awakening takes place.
