The Guardian gods-Chapter 449

"And now?" Flowua asked, her voice soft and gentle. "What do you see now?"

Xerosis looked around at her cousins, their forms bathed in the warm light of the hearth. "Now," she said, a sense of belonging settling in her heart, "I see family."

Ursula’s figure took hold of her hand as she walked towards the hearth. "I have invited our parents and a few others. For now, we are discussing the changes that came with our ascension."

Xerosis, hearing that their parents were also invited, had her heart skip a beat. Finally, she would meet him, her uncle Crepuscular. A wave of anticipation washed over her, quickly followed by a chilling dread. She thought of her new form, the form without eyes. Will he detest me? she wondered. I am no longer the woman he fell for. The trial has changed me, but it never changed the way I felt about him.

Ursula, perceptive as ever, seemed to sense the turmoil within Xerosis. She placed a reassuring hand on hers and offered a warm smile. "My father isn’t so simple that a mere change in look will change his feelings."

"Meet him with confidence," Ursula continued, her voice gentle but firm. "Your confidence, and not fear of him, is the best he could ever hope from you."

Outside Ursula’s realm, not too far away, a red star pulsed with a fiery glow, the realm of Björn. Björn paid no mind to the addition of the ascended gods. Instead, his attention was consumed by the reform his country and people were undergoing, and the temples in the distant lands that were being systematically dismantled. He observed the shifting tides of power, the subtle changes in the fabric of his realm, with a focused intensity.

He was then abruptly distracted, letting out a soft, "Huh?" in confusion. He initially dismissed it as a trick of his mind, but a thorough mental check revealed nothing amiss. Then he felt a pull, a subtle nudge on his consciousness.

"An invitation?" Björn spoke aloud, his voice a low rumble. A lost look crossed his face, a flicker of hesitation warring with an undeniable sense of curiosity. He was a creature of action, not contemplation, yet something about this invitation resonated with him. With a decisive movement, he stood up and walked out of his realm, heading towards the realm of Ursula. He moved with a purpose, a sense of duty guiding his steps.

As he traveled, Björn pondered the reason for the summons. He was not one for social gatherings, preferring the solitude of his realm and the tangible results of his work.

He approached Ursula’s realm, the small star growing larger in his vision. The warm glow of the star’s corona beckoned him forward, promising answers and perhaps, a confrontation. He was ready, as always, to face whatever challenges lay ahead. He had a feeling that his world was about to change, and he was determined to be a part of that change, to shape it, to control it.

While Björn was on his way to Ursula’s realm, three portals opened directly within Ursula’s realm, and Jaws, Crepuscular, and Mahu stepped through.

The newly ascended gods, seeing their parents for the first time in hundreds of years, were caught in a strange paralysis. They didn’t know how to react, the familiar figures now imbued with an aura of immense power.

If they were still children, they would have rushed forward, leaping into their parents’ arms without hesitation. But they were grown now, gods themselves, and the weight of past experiences, the long years of separation, created a barrier of unspoken emotions.

Even the origin gods seemed momentarily stumped, unsure of how to bridge the gap that time had created. There was, however, an exception. Flowua squealed like a little girl seeing her father, Jaws.

She threw herself into his arms, a whirlwind of pure joy. Jaws caught his daughter, his booming laugh echoing through the palace. "It’s good to see you haven’t let time change you, daughter," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

Flowua said nothing, burying her face against his chest, her emotions overwhelming her. Jaws raised his head, his eyes meeting Tide’s. Tide walked towards him, his chest puffed out, his gaze unwavering. Lightning flickered in Jaws’ eyes as he stared at his son, who was silently showing him how far he had come.

Carrying Flowua with one hand, Jaws walked towards Tide, placing his other hand on his son’s head. "You did well, son," he said, his voice a deep rumble of approval.

Tide felt a torrent of emotions rise within him, a thousand words clamoring to be spoken. But in the end, he simply nodded, accepting his father’s praise with a quiet dignity. Jaws then walked away, his two children by his side, settling near one edge of the palace.

Crepuscular, meanwhile, found two figures occupying his line of sight: his daughter, Ursula, and Xerosis, a presence he was beginning to understand and, perhaps, even appreciate.

Xerosis’ figure was veiled, but that meant nothing to Crepuscular, who possessed the ability to perceive beyond the physical. He sent out a thought, a silent communication unique to their kind.

The response he received prompted him to shift his attention to Ursula, who now stood directly before him. Looking down at his daughter, Crepuscular found himself at a loss for words. He had never truly harbored any grand expectations for her.

Her safety and well-being were his primary concerns. Yet, she had accomplished much, far more than he had anticipated. Before he could speak, Ursula broke the silence. "I would like to visit home after this gathering," she said, her voice laced with a gentle request.

Crepuscular was about to refuse, his paternal instincts urging him to protect her from any potential danger. But looking into her pleading eyes, he relented, nodding and saying a simple, "Okay."

In response, Ursula made a move that triggered an unexpected reaction from him. In his perception, time seemed to slow to a crawl, everything but the other origin gods becoming a frozen tableau. He watched, in heightened awareness, as Ursula’s arm reached out, clearly intending to embrace him.

His first instinct was to step back, to create distance. But he quickly realized the futility of such an action. His current state and form posed no threat to her. Relinquishing his heightened senses, he allowed himself to be enveloped in the tight embrace of his child. He reciprocated, wrapping his arms around her, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that connected them.

Compared to the other two origin gods, Mahu was unrestrained in her display of affection. She had Ikem and Maul enveloped in a powerful hug, squeezing them tightly. The two newly ascended gods, attempting to maintain an air of dignified composure, found themselves thoroughly embarrassed, especially under the watchful eyes of the other gods.

It took a considerable amount of time before Mahu released them, her cheerful energy filling the space. Ikem and Maul exchanged a weary glance, realizing that this was likely to be a long and emotionally charged day. "Nice seeing you too, Mom," Ikem managed, his voice a mix of affection and resignation.

Just then, Björn made his presence known. A wave of silence swept through the palace as all eyes turned towards him. The air crackled with unspoken questions and a palpable sense of anticipation. Only one figure moved to greet him, a warm smile gracing her features. Ursula walked towards Björn, taking his hand, which he instinctively tried to withdraw. "This is one of the guests who will be joining us," she announced, her voice clear and welcoming, as she introduced him to everyone present.

Ikem sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation evident in his expression. Observing Ursula’s enthusiastic welcome, he decided to take a more direct approach. Walking towards Björn, he extended his hand for a handshake. "Welcome to the family, buddy," he said, his tone friendly and sincere, though a hint of playful sarcasm lingered beneath the surface.

Björn, hearing Ikem’s greeting, took his hand in a firm grip. His eyes, sharp and observant, roamed across the assembled gods, taking in the scene. When he saw Mahu, he inclined his head in a respectful bow, acknowledging her presence.

He then turned his attention to the other origin gods, their gazes fixed upon him. Suppressing his inherent pride, he offered a gesture of respect, a subtle nod that conveyed his acknowledgment of their power and authority.

Weirdly, Björn found himself experiencing a sense of unexpected comfort, particularly drawn to the warmth emanating from the hearth at the center of the palace. Even the gauntlet on his hand, usually a source of constant pain and agitation, was unusually calm, its fiery energy subdued.

Finding a place to stand, Björn observed the surrounding gods. He noticed the familial bonds that connected them, the unspoken understanding that flowed between them. He realized he was the only outsider, or so he initially thought.