By the time they reached the palace district, even Qalis had stopped talking. The outer gates alone looked less like something built by a kingdom and more like something grown by divine obsession. The guards who had met them at the entrance said very little. Once Veneri gave some strange half-smile to the captain, they were simply let through and escorted deeper inside. That alone was suspicious.
Peroncerea leaned toward Qalis while they walked.
"Why are they treating him like he owns the place?"
"Because somehow he usually does."
Eldrigan heard that. He didn't even argue. At this point he had accepted reality was warped around Veneri.
They passed through the palace walls and stopped. Inside the palace grounds was a lake.
It was clear as crystal, reflecting the sky like a mirror. In the middle of it rested a small islet and on that islet stood the true palace. A bridge of white stone stretched over the water toward it.
When they stepped onto the bridge, all the three Dark Beings felt a jolt of pain. Steam rolled off their bodies.
"What the hell—"
The Divine Energy radiating from the lake was so dense it felt like being immersed in burning sunlight. It crawled across their skin and sank into their flesh. Even their breath was hot. Dark Miasma spilled around all three almost instinctively, wrapping over their bodies to counter the burning pressure.
Eldrigan looked at the water.
"This lake is trying to purify us."
Meanwhile, Veneri just kept walking, completely unaffected. They eventually crossed the bridge half-shielded in Miasma until the pressure finally eased once they reached the islet. Inside, the inner palace grounds were even stranger. Everything was full of gardens and water channels. It looked less like a royal palace and more like some sacred refuge.
The guards led them through winding paths until they reached the shore of the inner lake again, beneath a massive tree whose branches gave a perfect shade for a picnic. One guard bowed at them before he left with the others.
"You are to wait here."
Peroncerea tilted her head back. The tree was enormous. Its roots curled into the lakeshore and its branches cast cool shade over everything. Veneri stepped closer to its trunk and placed a hand against the bark.
"No way."
Eldrigan looked at him.
"What?"
Veneri looked genuinely stunned.
"This is an oak."
"An oak?"
He turned toward them.
"From Earth."
Now even Peroncerea looked surprised.
"You're serious?"
"So far every tree species I've seen in this world has been different. I did not expect to see an actual Earth oak here."
There was something oddly quiet in his voice. Then, a woman's voice drifted through the air.
"It's amazing how beautiful the view is, isn't it?"
All of them turned. And for the first time since any of them had known him, Veneri looked shocked. It was so visible that even Eldrigan froze. Veneri rarely showed surprise.
The woman was beautiful. Long radiant blue hair spilled down her back and her eyes held the same blue hue as the lake water. Behind her floated a halo made entirely of moving water, shifting in elegant rings. She wore a flowing white gown and the pressure around her was that of a Major Deity.
The woman walked closer, smiling as if no time had passed at all. She stopped in front of Veneri and tilted her head.
"Do you remember me?"
He scoffed.
"How would I forget you? You're the one who made me who I am."
The woman giggled. Peroncerea looked at Eldrigan and whispered:
"Why does that sound intimate?"
"I don't know."
The woman smiled.
"When I started hearing about the Dynasties, I knew you were involved somehow. And thanks to you, I survived the Destras Cataclysm. Who would've thought we'd meet again after more than eight thousand years? Hey Veneri, how have my gifts been?"
Veneri's face softened.
"They've helped. Biolumine is God-Ranked now."
That made her eyes widen.
"She evolved?"
"With my Aeterium traits. She broke through in the Sinking Void."
The woman laughed softly.
"I knew she would."
Eldrigan finally stepped in.
"Sorry to ruin the emotional scene but who are you?"
The woman blinked. She looked almost surprised.
"Oh. I didn't even notice the rest of you. I am Sirithiele, Major Deity of Lakes. We met during the First Epoch Cycle and I gave him his Divine Creature. Oh, and two boxes of Fool's Copy. I am also the Reniatsus of the Gardens of Asphodelia for a few millennia now."
Peroncerea looked at Veneri.
"You charmed quite the ruler."
He shrugged. Then Sirithiele's smile changed.
"And fortunately, I finally got to see you before—"
Blood spilled across her lips. Her eyes rolled and she nearly collapsed. Veneri moved before he could think and caught her instantly.
"Sirithiele!"
It was the first time they had heard panic in his voice. He dropped to one knee with her in his arms and used Body Reconstruction immediately.
It didn't work.
He tried again but nothing happened. Sirithiele weakly lifted her hand and touched his wrist.
"It won't work."
He looked stricken.
"What?"
"It won't. I'm destined to die in a few days. It's a miracle… that I got to see you before my days were over."
Voices broke through the stillness agree a while. Several footsteps came fast over the stone paths.
"Mother!"
Two women and three young men were approaching at speed. They wore royal garments of white and blue. There was no doubt who they were. The first young man saw Veneri holding Sirithiele and his expression shifted immediately. His hand flew to the weapon at his side.
"Take your hands off our mother."
Another stepped forward protectively, putting himself partly in front of his sisters.
"Who are you?"
The atmosphere had changed so fast it was almost absurd. Peroncerea had to physically stop herself from reacting. Veneri, meanwhile, just blinked. Sirithiele laughed. Somehow, that made the entire thing stranger. She looked up at Veneri with open amusement.
"I have children now."
Veneri stared at her for a long second.
"Yeah, I noticed."
The lake behind them shimmered. Golden Divine Energy rose from the water and moved toward Sirithiele. She got up and wiped the golden blood from her lips.
"I'm fine."
Veneri frowned hard.
"You were coughing blood."
"And now I'm not."
Sirithiele stepped away from Veneri's support and stood on her own, much stronger than moments before. Her children still looked confused and suspicious.
"This man would have been your father if time hadn't separated us."
Veneri looked horrified when she said that to her children.
"That is not something you casually say."
"I'm glad you're worried about me, my dears."
One of Sirithiele's daughters looked completely lost.
"Mother?"
The eldest son looked like he was reevaluating existence. Sirithiele waved her hand.
"It was eight thousand years ago. Unfortunately, Veneri, you're only a Fourth Enlightenment Divine. If you had reached Deity Rank, you could have healed me. Your Body Reconstruction is too weak for this."
Veneri hated hearing that. Sirithiele saw all of it and smiled anyway.
"Don't look at me like that."
She turned to her children.
"All of you, leave us."
The eldest son blinked.
"Mother?"
"Go. I wish to catch up with my unrequited love partner."
Her daughters exchanged knowing looks..One of them smiled. The sons looked traumatized. Then somehow, they obeyed, bowed and withdrew down the path. Sirithiele watched her children disappear into the gardens and sighed. She looked out over the lake.
"They are all centuries old. Some are a few millennia old. All they want now is for me to surrender the throne and my power. Who would have thought the children who once swam happily in this lake would one day turn against me. Seriously… motherhood is cruel."
She turned toward the three dark beings.
Her gaze settled on Eldrigan first, Peroncerea and Qalis. Curiosity lit her face.
"So these must be your companions. I did not expect to see a Demon and descendants of Outer Gods. Either way, I'm glad you came before ruin befalls my realm."