Olivia Alexanderia and Adeline Alexanderia sat together in a private train compartment speeding through the relatively safe territories of the West. The rhythmic clatter of the rails provided a steady backdrop to their tense silence. Mother and daughter did not share a particularly talkative relationship. Adeline often questioned Olivia's motives and by extension, those of her uncle Kurana, since the two siblings were deeply intertwined in their decisions.
"Will we be safe?" Adeline asked suddenly, her voice quiet but pointed as she stared out the window at the passing landscape.
Olivia remained outwardly calm, but inside her mind raced with heavy thoughts. *That person may harm me, but she won't ever harm you.* She turned to her daughter with a gentle, reassuring smile. "We'll be fine, honey."
The train eventually slowed and stopped in the middle of an abandoned wasteland. The area looked desolate cracked earth, scattered ruins, and a perpetual gray haze hanging over everything. In the distance stood an old theme castle, its towers weathered but still imposing against the empty horizon.
Adeline picked up her suitcase, gripping the handle tightly, and walked alongside her mother toward the castle. "So that's the place you guys talked about," she murmured, taking in the eerie structure.
Olivia's mind was flooded with countless thoughts memories, regrets, calculations, and worries she dared not voice. As they approached the grand entrance, they were stopped by several figures dressed in black clothes resembling assassins. The guards did not attack. Instead, they demanded a password.
Olivia did not know the specific code, but she knew there was a name that carried weight everywhere in certain circles. She spoke with clear respect, "All hail Tian Hao!"
The moment the words left her lips, the guards stepped aside and allowed them to pass without further question.
As mother and daughter walked deeper into the castle, the immense power of the people present pressed down on them like an invisible weight. The air felt thick with energy, and every corridor seemed to echo with the presence of formidable individuals. They eventually reached a main hall furnished with several large chairs arranged in a formal council style.
Several elderly-looking figures sat around an elder table a council of some of the most powerful people in existence. Even the weakest among them would likely be at least level 80. Olivia suspected that many of them did not rely on the standard system granted by the universal will. Their power felt older, deeper, and more refined.
Even Olivia, who was confident enough to take down level 90 to 95 hunters in most circumstances, felt uncertain. She wasn't sure she could handle all of them if things turned hostile.
At the center of the room, on the most prominent throne, sat a woman with one leg crossed over the other and her hand resting elegantly under her chin. Her golden hair and striking facial structure carried an undeniable resemblance to Adeline. Her aura was overwhelming ancient, commanding, and regal.
The woman on the throne spoke first, her voice smooth but laced with complex emotion. "So, you have revealed yourself… What should I call you? A stepmother?"
The woman's name was Tianya the first daughter of Solarius Knight, one of the earliest outer gods to reach the planet.
Olivia Alexanderia was very old, yet she still appeared young and vibrant. When she had first married Solarius Knight roughly seven hundred years ago, their union had been one of passion and power. They had tried to conceive children together, but the blood flowing through Solarius Knight's veins was too potent for a human like Olivia. Over time, her body slowly adapted to his essence, and as a result, Adeline Alexanderia was born.
Adeline was the second daughter of Solarius Knight.
"You do realize, even though you are technically my stepmom, you are too young compared to me," Tianya spoke, a faint, almost mocking smile playing on her lips.
"And as for you…" Tianya turned her gaze toward Adeline, her expression more complicated. "I don't have words."
"To be honest, I don't have any hate toward you, Tianya," Olivia said carefully.
"Neither do I," Tianya replied, "but I just don't like the thought of my father with another woman besides my mother."
"Dongji is a very good man. Even in his last moments, he never forgot about you and your mother," Olivia told her softly.
"Dongji… So that's the name he changed into after abandoning the world he was born into," Tian ya murmured.
"He didn't abandon the outer world. The outer world abandoned him," Olivia stated firmly.
The hall fell into a heavy silence as the weight of history, family ties, and old wounds hung between the three women. The elders watched without speaking, their ancient eyes taking in every word and gesture. The meeting between stepmother, daughter, and the powerful firstborn had only just begun, and the air was thick with unspoken questions and unresolved legacies.