Divine Ascension: Reborn as a God of Power-Chapter 38: Back to the Garden

The morning sunlight streaming through the window woke me up to my misfortune. Once I opened my eyes and regained consciousness after being at the mercy of Morpheus, I realized that I was in a bed and not on the grass or under the shade of a tree, which was where I usually woke up, so I wasn’t in the garden.

It took me a few seconds to fully orient myself. The high white stone ceiling, the golden linen curtains, the soft scent of incense floating in the air... I was in the main sanctuary of Kaeron. Themistios had offered it to me as a gesture of honor, and although I felt out of place sleeping within walls that should house prayers and not dreams, I ended up accepting. The priests had insisted so much—"the protective god must rest in his temple"—that it was easier to give in than to argue.

It was then, as I sat on the edge of the bed and rested my bare feet on the cold marble, that the memories of the previous night began to return. Not all at once, but in gentle waves, as if my mind were cautiously bringing them to the surface.

I remembered the laughter, the wine, the applause. The victory celebration had lasted until very late. There was dancing, singing, and so much joy in the air. But what lingered most in my memory was her. Harmonia.

I didn’t know why, but there was something about her presence that disarmed me with uncomfortable ease. It was as if she carried a secret she was hiding and didn’t want to reveal, as if the world spun slightly differently when she walked nearby. Her beauty was serene, but what impressed me most was the way she moved. She didn’t just dance, she glided with an elegance that seemed to be written in her bones.

We ended up dancing together. The music guided us without haste, and for a few moments the rest of the world disappeared. When the last note faded away, neither of us was in a hurry to return to the hustle and bustle. We walked a little, away from the music and the lights.

She spoke calmly, with a voice that didn’t seek to impress but compelled you to listen. She told me about her childhood, about a mother she described as equally charming and demanding, about a father who, in her words, was as strong as he was absent. But she didn’t name them. And although something in her tone told me it wasn’t out of forgetfulness, but by choice, I preferred not to ask.

"My parents... are complicated," she said, staring at an undefined point in the starry sky. "They each bring chaos in their own way. And I... I’m the gift they never asked for. At least that’s what my mother once told me."

That phrase left me thinking. Perhaps it was the way she said it, with a mixture of resignation and pride, that made me understand that there were things about her that she didn’t reveal easily. Besides, I felt a kind of energy in her, one that didn’t seem mortal. And although this could have been fixed with a simple scan, to be honest, I didn’t see the point in doing so. She hadn’t given me any reason to distrust her yet. After all, we all had our secrets.

She also told me that she didn’t usually stay in one place for very long, however she had been in Kaeron for a year. That she enjoyed parties, but not ties. That she liked moments like this, where no one asked her to be anything more than she chose to be.

"Sometimes I think I don’t belong in this world," she whispered. "But that’s okay... there’s beauty in not quite fitting in, at least that’s what my mother used to say."

And then she simply said goodbye. A fleeting smile, a light touch on my arm, and she vanished among the dancing figures and lit lanterns. As if her passage through my night had been nothing more than an illusion.

The party continued, but I was no longer there. I stayed a little longer, pretending to listen, pretending to drink, until Themistios approached and offered me the room in the sanctuary. The rest was a blur of kind words, shuffling footsteps, and a deep sleep that overtook me before I could even take off all my clothes.

But now it was dawn. And I had to go back.

Aegle must have been worried. I had been gone much longer than usual and hadn’t told her why, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she greeted me with a reproachful look when I returned. I could already imagine it.

Besides... I had something to tell her. Not about Harmonia, there was something more urgent that needed her attention. About the war and perhaps... about what I had done with Athena.

At that point, however, my mind entered into an internal debate. Should I tell her what I had done? I mean, this was more of a moral debate. On the one hand, I was consumed with guilt over what I had done, but on the other hand, it had only been sex. Yes, I had sex with her, but only because she tried to blackmail me with it. I had no relationship with Athena beyond that.

Still, deep down I knew she probably wouldn’t see it that way, and if I told her, it would break her heart. I couldn’t allow that. So there was only one thing left for me to do, and it wasn’t something I would be very proud of... say nothing, and if she asked, make something up.

The only good thing about this is that the only other person who knows what happened isn’t a gossip, and I certainly doubt she knows Aegle, and even if she did, I can’t see the goddess of wisdom and strategy ratting me out, especially considering the look on her face when I broke up with her.

*Sigh* It’s decided.

I took a deep breath, letting the cool morning air fill my lungs. And as I got up, I knew that I wasn’t just returning to the garden or to my family. I was returning to myself, to who I was before I met Harmonia... and perhaps also to who I would be afterwards.

(A few minutes later...)

Once I had made myself presentable and said goodbye to Themistios, I finally returned to the garden. There, as usual, the air smelled of dew and the flowers that Aegle used to tend with such care. The sun was just peeking through the clouds, tinging the leaves with a soft golden hue. I walked steadily along the stone path until I crossed the threshold of the sanctuary. And there she was.

Aegle was waiting for me, sitting on one of the stone benches, wearing a light tunic and her hair pulled back in a loose braid. She didn’t seem angry, but there was something in her gaze that hurt more than fury: a mixture of concern and contained disappointment.

"Where were you?" she asked as I approached, without getting up.

Her voice was not judgmental, but there was a hint of curiosity.

"In Kaeron," I replied, stopping in front of her. "There was a threat... an army from a neighboring kingdom wanted to invade them, and I had to intervene."

Aegle looked away for a few seconds, nodding slightly.

"And why didn’t you tell me?’ she insisted.

"Because it was my problem and I didn’t want to worry you," I said, with the utmost sincerity I could muster at that moment. "Besides, it was a decision I made quickly, and I didn’t want to burden anyone else with it. It was foolish, I know."

She sighed.

"And... are you okay?"

That last question came out softer, like a caress. Not like someone demanding answers, but like someone who simply wants to know if the person they love is still whole.

"Yes," I said, smiling. "I’m fine. They were just mere mortals armed with spears and swords."

Aegle got up without saying another word, hugged me briefly, and then looked at me tenderly, as if she no longer needed any explanations.

"Just come back sooner next time. I don’t like being left alone with my thoughts. Oh, and another thing, you owe me a favor for making me wait for you." She said, half jokingly, half seriously. She caressed my arm and walked away toward the entrance of the sanctuary without another word.

That was her, she didn’t follow me, she didn’t question me, and she didn’t try to tie me down. She was like that: free and trusting. And that... that made me feel more guilty than I could have imagined.

I had barely taken a few steps further into the garden when two familiar figures emerged from among the trees. Hesperia saw me first and ran towards me with a broad smile, cheerful as always. Her pale blue tunic fluttered in the wind, and her long golden hair shone in the first rays of the sun.

"Akhon!" she cried, practically throwing herself into my arms.

I hugged her with a laugh, infected by her energy.

"What are you doing up so early?" I asked her.

"We were waiting for you, silly. We knew you were coming back today," she said, winking at me as she stepped back to look at me mischievously. ’Besides, my sister was so nervous she was unbearable. We had to make sure she didn’t pull her hair out."

"Don’t exaggerate!’ said a drier voice behind her.

Erytheia appeared, walking more slowly, her arms crossed and her classic expression of feigned indifference. Although her attempt to hide her concern was clumsy and obvious.

"I just came to see if you made it back in one piece or if we’d have to come rescue you... again," she added, though she couldn’t help but let out a slight smile at the end.

"I’m fine," I replied, looking at her with a knowing smile. ’And I appreciate the concern... even if you disguise it as sarcasm."

Erytheia snorted, but came over anyway and gave me a light push on the shoulder.

"Idiot." She muttered.

The three of us stood there for a moment, in silence, as the breeze rustled the branches and the murmur of the ponds filled the air with calm. There was something about that moment, something pure. As if, despite everything that had happened... peace could still exist.

"Well," Hesperia said suddenly. "So? Did you do anything interesting while you were playing the hero?"

"Something like that." I replied with an ambiguous smile.

New novel chapters are published on fr(e)ew𝒆bnov(e)l.com