★133
Two days after the marriage, I decided to visit Towa.
"Hinata, I'd like to visit Raja. I want you to come with me."
"Oh, why not since I have nothing to do?"
"Get ready, it'll be a long ride."
"We aren't teleporting?"
"No, a carriage has been prepared for us. Let's walk together, like the old days."
She nodded. It'll be a long ride and I might as well end up breaking the trend but not after I've finished a week of ritual..
Hearing this, Scarlet King and Majo decided to accompany me but I rejected them.
'Alone with Lady Hinata.'
'And a whole week in Raja. Wouldn't that disrupt the cycle?"
'Why are you worrying, it's his cup of tea. Leave him be.'
Atlas and Elaine spoke telepathically knowing I was also linked to that network but I didn't interrupt them.
"He'll be gone, finally. We'll be alone for a while just you and I."
Atlas who got off the link found the current situation amusing. A wry smile was plastered on his face..
"The island will be in your care, Shinn, Atlas, Elaine, Scarlet, and Mago. Once I've arrived, I'll send back Eto and the remaining demons, I don't want anyone disturbing my precious time."
"Safe journey, Young Master."
"I'm deeply saddened I won't get to be by your side. But rest assured, I'll shut myself down in my room and won't cry."
Scarlet spoke.
"You fool. Have a nice trip, my Lord and Lady."
"I won't (cough) miss you. We'll be waiting for your return."
Of them all, Atlas came out different. All eyes were on him but he simply ignored them.
"Hmm, I'll see you guys later then. Let's see if the island can survive without me."
I waved, exiting the first hall. I took the stairs making my way to the second floor when I met Lady Fourth.
"I heard you're leaving. So I came to say goodbye."
"Don't worry, won't be gone for long."
"Hey, what do you plan on doing in Raja?"
She asked as she closed the distance, the events of that night in Elafria still fresh in her mind.
"Just a little business trip."
"Annie and I are present."
"Something political I guess—"
"Lord Shinn."
"Um—military.."
"Tokito, Raiden and Lord Atlas are all free."
She pressed.
'Shit."
'Oops, the groom cornered."
"Don't worry it's nothing serious. Just a long trip, get some rest, and come home."
"Oh."
"Yes."
"So… I could really use a quickie right now,"
She said, voice intimate, her finger tracing lightly along my arm.
"I… I, um…"
"Tell me."
She pressed me into a corner, gripping my wrist to stop any chance of escape. Her body was impossibly close, her chest pressing against mine.
'Ah… Sweet Stars.'
I felt myself melting from the inside, helpless under her touch.
'You pervert.'
"Fine. You want to know what I'm going to do in Raja?"
I asked, my hands lifting to her long ears.
I rubbed them gently between my fingers, giving a light squeeze. Colour rushed across her cheeks, spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.
"Un… touch me… more…"
Her voice wavered.
I leaned in, close enough for my breath to brush her skin, and whispered into her ear.
"I just want to remember the scenery from my first day in this world. Hinata was with me. I only want to see it once more."
"H… huh… take me now… quickly, before you go…"
The words slipped out of her in a haze. She'd never believe she'd said them once her head cleared.
"Stick to the flow of time and wait. Your turn will come."
I murmured.
My finger trailed from her neck, slowly, down to where she was most sensitive. She jolted at the touch—and in the same instant, I teleported her back to her room, leaving her sprawled across her bed.
'Damn she's craving already."
""I won't be long. Besides, I'll teleport back and give you what you want. Just… wait for me,"
I said as I took my leave, leaving her clinging to her pillow.
I stepped out of the building to find Hinata waiting for me, already surrounded by the children.
"Mama I want to go too."
"I want to follow Asteri too."
"Don't worry, we won't be long,"
I called out, revealing myself.
"Asteri!"
They all screamed in unison, startled but delighted.
"You've all grown up since that day. What, fifteen now?"
"I'm seventeen."
Issei shot back, a proud edge in his voice.
"I… I'm fourteen."
Another piped up shyly.
(I don't have time to write all their ages but they range from 13 to 16.)
"Alright, how about this?"
I said, folding my arms.
"I'll set a few spies to keep an eye on you lot. If the results are good enough—if you prove you're grown enough—I'll take you all on an adventure with me. Sound fair?"
"I can't escape your watchful eyes anyway."
One e of them muttered.
"But I'll try my best."
"So, if I'm isn't around, you won't behave yourselves?"
I asked, raising a brow.
"N—"
A chorus of awkward sighs followed, the answer dying in their throats.
"Behave all you want. All that matters are the results. Now scram, the longer you stay with us, the more your points are deducted."
"Heh? Not fair!"
"Of course not!"
"Start with that next time."
They all exclaimed and ran away.
"Well take good care of them, my Lord and Lady."
"Zara, you don't listen do you?"
"Heh?"
"They'll be living on their own for now as a test. Our interrupting will be considered cheating."
"Ellie is right on point."
"Thank you, Asteri."
"That's great, calling me by my name. I'm happy now. Take care of your guys."
I turned towards the lady who was waiting for me.
"Sorry I've kept you waiting, if you may, my Lady."
I teased, giving her a hand as she made her way into the carriage.
It wasn't an ordinary carriage, it was indeed made of riches, a blend of gold and white. It is best to call it a royal carriage or something better. I followed after her, closing the door.
"Is it a magical horse?"
She asked.
"Everything's natural except for—"
Poof. A coachman appeared in the driver's seat and flicked the reins, setting the carriage in motion.
"He's not a clone or anything."
I added casually.
"His sole purpose is to drive us and look after the horse.".
"It's rare for you to use natural stuff. Knowing you, you'd prefer to use magic to create them."
"The horse had been brought from the Eastern Empire, while Rimuru had assisted with constructing the carriage itself."
"That Rimuru. He's grown rapidly in such a short span."
"He's different. He'll be the dawn of a new age in the Cardinal World. I stand to be corrected, he's changing the world already."
"Yeah."
"Even in my absence, he'll carry on my will."
We crossed the bridge linking the island to Ingrassia, meeting the army stationed at the gates. Two wyverns, each with a rider, soared overhead, trailing us until we had passed safely beyond their territory, then veered back.
"They're doing their job."
"At this rate, no eyes can walk past this bridge undetected."
"What do you mean?"
"The two riders, a demon and a human. Perfect combo, sensory and backup."
"Sharp."
"Judging from the number of wyverns I've seen in the base, I'd say you've finished your experiments."
"I did. There's no one left in the lab. But I'm working on something new."
"Airborne. That's too selfish and good of you."
"You think so?"
"I know so. You're trying to mutate us so we can live longer right?"
"Yes. You got me."
I sighed.
"This journey may take us a day or two."
"Probably."
We sat quietly, observing nature as we made our way to our destination.
"Ah, how are the dragons? Almost forgot about them?"
"Forgetting about your children?"
"They have you. I'm pretty sure they've dumped me after everything that happened."
"Yin has developed hatred for you. You broke her horns and they're not growing for some reason."
"Yin's developed a bit of a grudge against you. You broke her horns, and for some reason they're not growing back."
I let out a small chuckle.
"You could help him heal."
I added lightly.
"But… please don't."
"I never planned on healing her, it'll be a scar he should never forget. Plus, Yin is a she and Yang is a he. They don't need gender but this is probably a way to show their opposites."
"That's the whole point. Boy and girl, sun and moon, light and dark, love and hate, etc. That's why they're called Balance Dragons. What about Yang?"
"Cool as always. He also seemed to know you were playing the villain that day, yet still went all out to test his limits."
"He's clever. Oh… and when did they grow that much? I'm sure they were still babies. There's no reason they'd grow this big in such a short time."
"It's a borrowed power."
She explained.
"It lets them use it for a limited time."
"Borrowed power?"
I asked, glancing at her. She simply nodded.
""Yes. I helped them release that form. With the runes, I can replenish my magical energy, so my supply is effectively limitless—but they can't sustain it for more than five minutes."
"You seem to be doing good with Energy."
I said, looking down at my hand. She just awakened but she has surpassed me in terms of Energy manipulation.
"I'm still receiving knowledge from the past so I know a few details."
"Care to tell me? I can also interact with Energy."
She nodded before explaining.
"Existential particles that make up anything and everything, unbound by nothing but itself. They give meaning to all while existing on a plane of their own."
"Etherium."
"Correct. The only plane where Energy can be perceived."
Etherium isn't a place you "use." It's a view, like standing behind the world's blueprint, where everything exists at once, both the solid and the abstract.
However, seeing a thing doesn't mean touching it. Even in Etherium, Energy and its Fragments stay untouchable unless you already have the right authority.
Everything we are, the Planes, Laws, beings, depends on those particles. They're the reason anything can exist or function in the first place.
Take magic. Most people think Mana is the source of spellcasting… but Mana is just a sub-fragment. A tiny piece. The real engine is Arcanocysts, the Fragment that carries the entire blueprint of magical systems. Elemental spells, healing, enhancements all of it runs on Arcanocysts.
And when it works together with other Fragments, it expands into the bigger stuff such as time manipulation, spatial folding, dimensional arts, and more.
"Mana is simply the part of Arcanocysts that mortals can actually access."
She sighed, understanding for them—but not for me.
As a god, when Lady Elara was told me about Energy and its Fragments, I was...curious. I wanted to know more and get my hands on it, but for a recent human like Hinata, it'll be strange.
All of reality and existence are shaped and governed by invisible particles. You're not you, you're what the code says you are. I don't get that because I've already digested them long ago.
"So, if we say someone can interact with Energy, it means they can harness one of its Fragments, not the particle itself. According to Lord Vajrako, those less than 1% who can interact with a Fragment are less rare than those who can manipulate two or more Fragments."
"What's the percentage?"
"Less than 0%."
She answered with a dead face, but I'm more interested in what that old dragon knows.
"No one was recorded to have achieved such a feat. Lord Veldanava himself can't interact with Energy at all. He made that clear himself."
'Forgive me but...I highly doubt that. There's just no way Grand Lord won't be able to manipulate the Energy Fragments.'
"The Supreme Star God on the other hand can but when he did, the particles destroyed all his layers of form but he survived. As of now, it has nothing that can be called a 'body', it's just there, a presence."
"So even the creator wasn't able to withstand its destructive power."
"No, that's because the Star God made use of something far stronger than Energy."
"What?"
"According to what I have, it goes by many names. Transparent Particles, Transpeon Essence, Crystal Magic, Great White Force, etc. It goes by a lot of names."
'She knows way too much. It's disrupting the Great Plan.'
Enta, the ever silent spoke. He seems to care mo4e about his plan than anything. He'd go silent and slightly mad whenever I do something against his plan.
'Maybe we can learn from it.'
I replied. I can use this knowledge to learn more than I already knew.
"How was it obtained?"
"Lord Vajrako stated that those individuals who can use the Crystal Magic don't have a percentage score. They're either chosen or got it through inheritance with the latter being HIGHLY unstable because the inheritors might not be able to withstand it."
"But yours isn't the Transparent Particles is it?"
"No. It's just Energy."
"It's safe to say yours was inherited, but what about mine?"
"Th—"
"That's an answer I'll have to seek for myself. Thanks for the lectures."
(We're just getting started:)
"Don't mention it, we've both benefited from it. In case you need to know something regarding them, feel free to ask me."
"The situation just turned completely. I'll keep it at the back of my mind."
He noted and the journey continued.
'What's this feeling? Deja Vu? Those names, Lady Elara never mentioned them but I feel like I've heard them somewhere else.'
'What can you remember?'
'It's foggy. A path waiting to be cleared without any tools.'
'Good.'
Entares replied as if it was the best thing.
'If you take too much at the wrong time, it'll be a big existential crisis.'
'There you go again. Is there something I need to know?'
'Don't wake up too early, Antares. It'll be really, really bad.'
'Talk to him, not me.'
The carriage buzzed with conversation, the topics shifting so rapidly that none of us noticed how quickly darkness had fallen.
"For the sake of the horse, let's take a rest,"
I said, stepping out first and offering Hinata my hand.
The coachman led the horse, tying it securely before summoning something to feed it.
"That's not natural,"
She remarked, watching as he fed the horse with synthetic food.
I waved my hand, conjuring a tent and a fire in front of it. We made camp by the river.
"Neither is this,"
She added, raising an eyebrow.
"I can't help it. We can't go looking for firewood when I can just do this."
I said, taking a seat facing the fire. In a heartbeat, she joined me. The coachman remained by the horse and carriage, while the river flowed quietly in the background.
(I love to connect with nature.)
"I almost forgot about dinner."
"I can live without eating now."
She said, tone flat but not unfriendly.
"Can't be helped. I've grown used to it."
I replied, using telekinesis to pull a few fish from the river. I cleaned and prepared them in the air before setting them over the fire.
"This reminds me of that morning we had breakfast. Just the four of us."
I said, watching the flames.
"I was so naïve back then—completely fixated on becoming a Demon Lord."
(Character development?)
"Now look at you. All grown. You've achieved far more than you ever set out to."
"And that's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
I added softly. Both Antares and Asteri wise, this was the best thing that has happened to me.
"Was it really boring? I mean… back at home?"
She asked, tilting her head slightly.
I sighed, staring into the fire.
"In the Star Realm, there's no such thing as night or day."
Some worlds made their own suns and moons for the aesthetic, just so their stars could pretend to follow a cycle. But the truth is, it's all artificial. Eternal light or eternal darkness that's the natural state of the Star Realm.
Funny thing is, despite being the Race of Gods, most of us still follow time. We make schedules and routines. Some Supergods even bow to it like loyal servants. Honesty, it's kind of stupid.
When you can stand above the flow, why willingly drown in it?
But I get it, habits are hard to break, even for immortals.
As for me, my world was simple. Training, playing, wandering the endless halls of that palace, nothing beyond its walls mattered. I convinced myself I didn't need anything else.
"I wanted peace. A world without conflict.
But death and destruction… they started with me. Ironic, isn't it?"
"If it's okay with you, I'd like to hear it."
"Why not, there's no secret between us. Not after all that happened."
I took a deep breath before proceeding.
"Aya. An angel serving its creator, Lady Elara. She was one of my friends and she died at the age of 504. She died at the hands of her best friend, a 90-year-old star, Antares."
Hinata's eyes widen but the story has just begun.
"Elyvra was the peaceful part of the Star Realm since the rebellion. It was a Domain of fertility, growth and peace. But like I said, I broke that chain."
It all started with curious. What was behind the palace?
After struggling to see what's beyond the endless palace, we found an exit and left the building for the first time.
We experienced all the creations of my lady. It was among the most beautiful sights I'll never forget… and also the most brutal moments.
At that moment, Lady Elara prohibited me from learning anything no matter how easy it was. But that day, I pushed further and asked Aya to teach me something.
She was one of those 3% who can perceive Energy so he decided to teach me.
"It wasn't working. I tried everything— yet nothing. And just as I was about to give up, I saw them. The Energy particles in Elyvra. But I didn't realise… that was the moment I opened the gates for him."
"For who?"
She asked.
"He calls himself the other half of me, the evil part of Antares, Entares. He took control tried to killed Aya, who wasn't Aya anymore."
She told me my fate was sealed. I can either be the Saviour or the Destroyer.
Entares didn't take that prophecy well. He snapped and killed her, along with seven other Archangels.
Centuries later, I realised I needed a break from the Star Realm. I wanted to chase something simple—my dream of being an adventurer. So I left and travelled to the Grand Lord's favourite world, the Cardinal World. That's where I met you.
And… that's my past."
"It's so sad… and full of mysteries."
She said quietly.
"I hadn't developed any feelings back then. If I do, Entares usually devours them."
"That's bad."
"It's necessary to keep moving forward, my Lady."
A mouth formed around my forehead, and Entares spoke through it.
"You're still not going to tell me what happened that day?"
I pressed.
"Like I said, I can't disclose what hasn't happened yet. We'll just have to wait."
Entares replied evenly.
"Shut up."
I muttered, covering the mouth—only for it to reappear over my hand.
"But I'll assure you… you'll succeed."
He said simply before fading away once more.
"I've got a lot on my plate."
I said quietly.
"The war Magos warned about. All the mysteries wrapped up inside me.
Energy—how did I even obtain it?
Who's the First Ethereal Light, and why did she come to me?
Why was I chosen?
Who is Entares… and everything else.
Too many questions, not enough answers. At this point, I might as well be the Lord of Mysteries."
(Xd)
"I know you want to shoulder it alone."
She said, voice gentle but firm.
"But you can't do everything by yourself. Even Lord Veldanava needed his Holy Spirits to complete his world. And if you ever need anything—anything at all—I'm here for you. Always count me first."
"Same words as Lady Elara."
I replied with a faint smile.
"I'll keep that in mind. And… thank you for standing with me."
"No."
She said softly, stepping closer.
"Thank you for finding me."
She leaned in and kissed me—and the moment was promptly ruined by the unmistakable smell of burning meat.
"Oops. Looks like dinner's burnt."
I said, glancing at the fire.
"A fresh one's waiting for you."
She replied with a playful wink, then took my hand and slowly led me inside the tent.
To be continued...