Veylonar Mintheris was sitting alone on a wooden chair. His elbows were braced on his knees and his fingers laced together so tightly the knuckles had gone pale. His Divine Presence was subdued but to Elyonari's senses it trembled like a storm forced into stillness.
"Ely!"
He was on his feet in an instant, crossing the room in long, urgent strides. He stopped himself just short of grabbing her. His eyes inspected the bandages.
"Are you alright? I felt your Presence collapse and then—"
"I'll manage," Elyonari cut in dryly, waving her hand. "I've had worse mornings."
That did not reassure him in the slightest.
"You killed a Forgotten Rank Krepsuna by yourself. Do you have any idea how absurd that sounds when I say it out loud?"
She gave him a sideways look. "You're... welcome?"
He huffed out a breath that might have been a laugh if it didn't sound so strained.
"That's not an easy feat, Ely. Even for us."
"I noticed," she muttered, then promptly dropped into the chair he'd just vacated with a long, pained groan. "Ah by the Tree... I regret everything."
Celadille stepped forward instinctively. "You shouldn't sit so suddenly—"
"Too late. If I stand again right now, something important will snap. Oh. I have something important to say."
"Then I'll—"
"No, stay. This concerns you too."
That made both of them tense. Veylonar frowned. Celadille's hands folded together nervously. Elyonari didn't look at either of them at first. Instead, her gaze was very specifically onto Celadille's abdomen. There was silence for a long few seconds before Elyonari chuckled.
"How long were you planning on hiding it from me?"
"Hiding… what?"
"Wait."
She stared at Celadille. Then very slowly, her eyebrows drew together in complete amazement.
"You don't know?"
"Know what?"
Elyonari turned her head toward her brother. "Veylonar."
He sighed.
"I knew the moment it happened. Believe me, I was shocked as you are."
Celadille turned her head to stare at him.
"You what?"
"I didn't say anything because you never did. I assumed you were aware and simply hadn't told Elyonari yet."
Celadille's confusion deepened into something bordering on panic.
"I—I don't understand. What are you both talking about? Did I do something wrong?"
Elyonari stared at her as she leaned back in the chair.
"Wow. You really are oblivious."
Celadille looked like she might faint.
"You're not even a Divine yet and your body is already doing this much work. That's honestly impressive."
Celadille's voice wobbled. "My Lady, please—"
"Vey. You tell her."
Veylonar hesitated only a second before turning fully to his wife.
"Celadille, you're with child."
The room went dead silent. Celadille's eyes widened.
"I'm… what?"
"Pregnant."
Her expression went through several stages of confusion, surprise, disbelief and then shock. Her knees nearly buckled.
"I—what? That's—no, that can't be—I would have noticed—wouldn't I have noticed?!"
Elyonari watched the entire progression with blatant enjoyment.
"Oh, this is priceless. I don't think I've ever seen you make that face before. Well, since you're pregnant, I'll obviously have to kill the child."
The color drained from Celadille's face. She made a strangled sound that might have been a scream trying not to exist.
"WHAT?!"
"Ely, do not tease my wife like that."
Elyonari burst out laughing.
"Oh, relax. It's a joke."
Celadille stared at her. Her hands hovered protectively over her abdomen as realization crashed down on her all at once.
"I—I'm—this—how—when—
She looked like her entire world had just tilted sideways. Elyonari sighed, stood with a wince, and gently placed both hands on Celadille's shoulders.
"Breathe. Stress is terrible for the child. Though, a small part of me still wants to kill your child."
"El—"
"It's just a joke, dear brother. I'm not a monster."
Celadille looked seconds away from either crying or laughing or collapsing.
"Honestly, watching you panic like this has absolutely made my day."
Celadille let out a shaky breath. "You're cruel."
Elyonari let herself sink back into the chair with a long, tired exhale with one arm draped over the armrest.
"Alright, Veylonar. Explain the situation properly."
"I've already spoken with the Priests and Priestesses of Mintherenia. They confirmed what I feared. In her current state, she can't give birth."
"I—what do you mean I can't?"
"You'll die."
Celadille froze.
"You're a Third Phase Ascender carrying a child of Divine Origin. Your body isn't built to withstand the gestation period. Your soul will destabilize first, then your core. You'll die and the child will die with you."
Celadille's hands trembled as they pressed against her abdomen.
"I—I don't feel anything wrong."
"That's the problem," Elyonari replied. "Your body hasn't realized it yet."
Veylonar reached for his wife's hand, squeezing it firmly.
"That's why we have to turn you into a Divine."
"That's… possible?"
"Yes. And no."
They both turned to her.
"Ascending to Divinity is already dangerous. Doing it while pregnant? One wrong fluctuation in Divine Energy and you won't just fail. You'll take the child with you."
Fear was finally settling in properly but this time, Celadille was calm.
"So what do we do?"
"We consult Mintherenia herself."
"The World Tree?"
"Yes."
"But only the High Priestess can—"
Elyonari groaned and rubbed her face.
"Yes. Me. I'll have to connect with Mintherenia and organize an audience for you. Just know that it will be you speaking your wishes, not me. You're part of the Mintheris family now. I'm not letting my niece or nephew die. And no, before you ask, it's not because of duty."
Celadille stared at her.
"I… I don't understand. Why would you—"
"Because I like you and annoyingly so. And, I promised someone I'd try to get along with you. I'm not breaking that promise."
Celadille was speechless. Veylonar watched them both for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"She does care about you."
Elyonari shot him a glare. "That's a lie."
"It's not. You're the one who dispelled the rumors about her when you returned from the First Epoch Cycle. You shut down the discrimination. You made her life easier."
Elyonari's eyes widened by just a fraction. Celadille turned to her slowly.
"You did that?"
Elyonari clicked her tongue. "It was strategic."
"You threatened three Elders and restructured half the social hierarchy."
"Still strategic, Vey."
Celadille's lips parted slightly with emotion flickering across her face.
"I never knew."
Elyonari sighed. "Veylonar, if you say one more word—"
He hugged her hard.
"Thank you."
"Vey I'm injured—"
"I'll never make you feel pain again," he said solemnly and then hugged her tighter.
She yelped.
"YOU LIAR!"
"This is payback for protecting my wife behind my back instead of asking me."
"LET GO—"
When he finally released her, Elyonari stumbled back, panting and clutching her ribs.
"I will end you, Divine or not."
Veylonar chuckled, then grew serious again.
"Ever since Mother destroyed the Temple of Mintherenia, you've been distant. You stopped talking to me like you used to."
Elyonari froze.
"I don't need you as the protector of the Dynasty. I need you as my twin sister."
For a moment, Elyonari almost told him about the truth Acidia had told her but she swallowed it. There was a chance that he wasn't like her and even though they were twin siblings, admitting it to him didn't feel right. She forced a small smile to mask her distress.
"I'll be there. That's enough. First things first, we hold a welcoming celebration."
"A celebration?"
"A new member of the Mintheris Dynasty is coming. That deserves proper acknowledgment. Also, we need good news, considering that an entire Dynasty and a fee hundred thousand elves were teleported here."
Celadille looked down at her abdomen. One hand resting there gently. Then she embraced Elyonari. She was shaking nr
"I really underestimated you. You're kind. Just like your brother."
"Don't insult me like that."
But she didn't pull away when Celadille smiled.