"Cronac, did you get into a fight with Raqual?"
Nike's nose twitched twice as he stared intently at Cronac.
"Nope."
Cronac casually shook his head.
"I did not. Just a spar."
Nike continued staring at him.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Okay..."
He nodded slowly.
"If you say so."
Cronac said nothing.
Nike simply turned around and walked toward the portal he had arrived through.
Cronac followed shortly after.
Planet Centauri
The maidens stood silently around the portal.
Their expressions were tense as they stared at the swirling spatial distortion.
Nina and Eunice glanced toward it as well.
A silhouette slowly appeared within the portal.
The atmosphere immediately became quiet.
Nike stepped out.
His previous draconic form was gone.
His body was now covered by a simple blue robe, giving him an almost peaceful appearance despite the destruction he had just caused in another realm.
The maidens slowly made way for him.
Nike smiled.
He walked toward Nina.
Nina was holding the sleeping child in her arms.
The child was completely unaware of everything happening around her.
Nike stopped in front of them.
He opened his mouth.
"Nina—"
Before he could finish.
Nina leaned forward.
Her lips met his.
The kiss lasted.
And lasted.
And somehow seemed like it could have continued for eternity.
The surrounding maidens froze.
Eunice blinked.
Nobody dared say anything.
Then—
Cough.
Everyone froze.
Slowly, they turned toward the portal.
Another figure was emerging from it.
A familiar figure.
Cronac.
The King of the Gods of Crystdom.
He stepped out of the portal with an expression that was difficult to describe.
Nike and Nina slowly separated.
Cronac stared at them.
Silence.
Then Cronac's thoughts drifted back to what had happened earlier.
Cronac POV
Rage consumed me when I saw Nina covered in cracks and pale, holding a child in her arms.
I knew that was my grandchild.
Or my nephew.
Like I care.
But seeing Eunice bleeding told me enough.
They were in trouble.
And yet these fools wouldn't allow me to go and rescue them.
Cronac's eyes narrowed.
I knew Raqual and the others were stopping me.
Hmm...
I knew Nike was there.
But I wanted to go on a rampage.
A faint smile appeared in his mind.
I laughed inwardly.
"You forgot I am the skies!"
Then came the most annoying response imaginable.
"Herh. You forgot I am the earth itself!"
Cronac's expression darkened at the memory.
Raqual had transformed.
The playful and scheming younger brother was gone.
In his place stood the embodiment of the Abyss.
The Dark Neidan.
The Dark Abyss Dragon.
That stupid brother of mine.
"Raqual, you traitor!"
Cronac had roared.
The power within him surged.
His rationality began escaping him.
The Dragon of the Skies.
The Mad Neidan.
His transformation had begun.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion from the projection had broken through the madness.
Cronac's clarity returned.
Raqual, who had been inches away from restraining him, stopped.
Cronac looked toward the projection.
Mountains were collapsing.
Trees were withering.
Seas were burning.
The entire world was being torn apart.
Cronac immediately knew what it was.
Nike.
His twin brother.
The eldest of the Twin Lightning Gods.
Raqual slowly retracted his hand.
"Brother..."
Cronac glared at him.
His teeth were clenched.
He didn't answer.
Raqual glanced toward the projection again.
Then he spoke calmly.
"I think you're needed over there."
The fool disappeared into flames.
Cronac remained silent for a moment.
He knew the others had only been trying to help.
He knew they were preventing him from doing something reckless.
But that didn't mean he wasn't angry.
Before leaving, Cronac turned toward them.
He left them with one final threat.
Not because he truly wanted to hurt them.
He simply needed somewhere to vent his rage.
Then lightning consumed his body.
He disappeared.
When Cronac appeared again, Nike was staring at the destruction he had caused.
As always, Nike immediately assumed the obvious.
He thought Cronac had gotten into a fight with Raqual.
Cronac denied it.
Because if he admitted the truth...
Raqual would be in for a tourcher.
Or at least, that's what Cronac believed.
After gathering his thoughts, Nike disappeared through a portal.
Cronac followed shortly afterward.
And now...
Here he was.
Standing on Planet Centauri.
Watching his twin brother kiss Nina.
Cronac stared.
Nina.
Then Nike.
Then the sleeping child.
His eyes slowly narrowed.
So this is what I came back to.
He remained completely silent.
Then he remembered something.
If I hadn't coughed...
His expression became blank.
I would've been invisible.
Nike slowly looked toward him.
Cronac stared back.
Neither brother said a word.
The surrounding maidens remained frozen.
Eunice looked between them.
Nina's face slowly turned red.
The sleeping child continued sleeping peacefully, completely oblivious to the awkwardness surrounding her.
Cronac finally sighed.
"Well..."
He crossed his arms.
"I guess I arrived at an interesting time."
Nike's nose twitched.
Once.
Twice.
Cronac noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
"Don't."
Nike smiled.
"I didn't say anything."
"Your nose did."
Silence.
A few of the maidens struggled to hold back their laughter.
Cronac looked away.
I should have stayed in the tower.