When I opened my eyes, the world came back to me in fragments, first light, warmth, the faint scent of rain. My head rested on something soft, and for a second, I thought I was still dreaming. Then I felt fingers comb gently through my hair.
"Welcome back, dear husband" Ramona whispered above me, her voice carrying that blend of relief and reprimand only she could pull off. She made sure to emphasise the "husband" as if she was making air quotes.
I blinked, focusing on her face, the storm in her eyes had calmed, but there were undercurrents in them. She looked like she hadn't moved from this spot in days.
"How long was I out?" My voice was hoarse, dry, like I'd swallowed sand.
"Three days," she said softly. "Three days of silence from you. The city, no the kingdom nearly fell apart."
I stayed where I was, too tired to move, just listening to her over my heartbeat. "What happened?"
Her hand paused for a moment before she sighed. "Your statue started cracking. People panicked, priests, nobles, even the soldiers. They thought you'd abandoned them. Some prayed until they passed out, and… some like some curse even didn't wake up when they went to sleep. This curse has claimed many victims, just like the Purple Queen."
That last part hit me like a stone. "How bad is it?"
"Hundreds, in each city" she murmured. "They're alive, but trapped in a sleep like death. The angels tried to intervene, but your divine link was gone. The world was unraveling, Adam. If you hadn't woken up soon…"
She trailed off, and I could feel the tension in her voice, the fear she'd never admit outright.
I turned my head slightly, still resting against her lap. "And you?"
She gave a quiet laugh that was almost bitter. "I sat here, holding your stubborn head. If I left, I think I would've torn the world apart myself."
That actually made me smile. "You're terrifying, you know that?"
"And what was it supposed to do?" She asked arching her eyebrow
I chuckled weakly and raised my hand. My palm glowed faintly, and before she could stop me, a burst of golden light radiated from it, flooding the room. The glow seeped through the walls, through the streets, and then, like threads reweaving themselves, I felt it.
The connection.
The statue.
It was whole again.
Through its eyes, I saw the city bathed in sunlight. People were on their knees, cheering, crying, shouting prayers of thanks. The air was thick with relief.
"All praise be to the father!"
"Glory to the Guardian!"
"Praise the wall, praise the shield!"
A smile crept onto my face. "Guess they missed me."
Ramona rolled her eyes, but I could see the corner of her lips curve up. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," I muttered, lowering my hand and feeling the exhaustion crash back down. "But at least I fixed it…"
Before I could drift off again, something sharp bonked the top of my head.
"Ow! what the hell, Mona?" I groaned.
She glared down at me, cheeks slightly red. "Don't you ever scare me like that again, next time, I'll hit you harder."
I couldn't help but laugh quietly. "Duly noted."
"Sleep," she said, her voice softening again. "Your mind's still recovering."
And so, I did. The last thing I felt before the dark took me was her hand gently stroking my hair again, and the faint hum of thunder and the downpour of rain outside, like the world itself was sighing in relief.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing upon the soil of my own divine realm, the Kingdom of God.
Golden fields swayed in a quiet rhythm, their glow spilling across endless green plains that stretched far beyond the horizon. The sight eased something deep within me. My soul, long strained and weary felt whole again.
When I raised my gaze to the heavens, I could see the land of the First Heaven shimmering faintly in the distance like a crown set upon the sky.
As I wandered, my steps carried me to a river, its waters glimmering like a path of stars, flowing gently into the roots of a great tree.
"That wasn't there before," I murmured.
Drawn by its quiet majesty, I approached. The tree was vast and sturdy, its bark gleaming faintly with a silvery hue. When I stood beneath its shade, the fatigue that clung to my spirit melted away like mist. My mind grew clear and serene.
I laid my hand upon the trunk. It was cool to the touch, smooth and alive. A faint pulse brushed against my palm, as if the tree itself were gently asking to know me. I let it in.
At once, my consciousness widened. I felt the whispers, the thoughts, the dreams of every creature beneath my dominion. They flowed through me like distant songs.
When I opened my eyes, I noticed faint runes carved along the upper trunk of the tree. Every time a mortal dreamed, spoke, or thought of something that brushed against my attention, the runes pulsed with soft blue light. The energy traveled upward through the branches, glowing briefly at their tips before fading back into silence.
A thought struck me.
I focused on the dream of a young boy. He dreamed of soaring through the clouds on the back of a creature, something between dragon and serpent. Its wings were lined with fur, its eyes bright and playful. The joy on the boy's face stirred something deep within me.
As I watched, the runes pulsed brighter. The blue light snaked up to one of the branches and gathered there. From its tip, a sphere of light formed, pulsing, then hardening into a crystal orb. Within it, the creature from the boy's dream slept peacefully, curled in starlit mist.
I blinked, startled, and instinctively pulled my hand away from the trunk. The orb detached and floated down to rest upon my palm.
"Oh… well then." I exhaled softly. "That's new."
The orb's surface shimmered with faint blue light, a delicate thread connecting it to the river of stars at the base of the tree. My curiosity overcame me. I descended to the riverbank and placed the orb upon the surface.
The moment it touched the water, the orb glowed intensely. A warmth radiated from it, not the warmth of light, but of life. The creature inside stirred faintly, as if breathing for the first time.
I stood quietly, watching as the light settled. A strange feeling welled in my chest, a quiet pride, tinged with wonder.
When I turned my attention back to the boy's dream, the same process occurred again: another orb, another spark of life, gently laid to rest in the river's flow.
As I observed the two orbs drifting side by side, the sound of wings filled the air behind me. I looked up to see my angels descending from the skies, their faces radiant, eyes gleaming with joy.
They landed softly before me.
"My Lord," said Michaelos as he knelt, his wings folding neatly behind him.
The others followed suit, though a few of them, Michaelos and Angelos especially, wore visible fatigue beneath their smiles.
I frowned slightly. "What happened to you two?"
Michaelos sighed, exchanging a knowing look with Angelos. "It's… a long story, my Lord."
"I have time," I said, conjuring seats of smooth stone beside the river.
They sat, and Michaelos began recounting what had transpired while I had been locked in battle with the Authority of Dreams. As he spoke, the others filled in the details, their voices soft and reverent.
When he finished, silence hung in the air. The only sound was the river's gentle murmur.
I studied them for a long moment, these beings who had stood their ground, not because they were commanded, but because they had chosen to protect what I held dear. No one had ever done that for me. Not once.
"…You did me a great service," I said finally, my voice quieter than I intended. "Michaelos. Angelos. All of you."
Michaelos lowered his head. "We only did what we must, my Lord."
"Perhaps," I said softly, "but it means something to me."
Golden light welled from my hand, gentle and warm. It spread to the angels, flowing into their forms like sunlight filling glass. Their radiance deepened, their divine essence doubling in strength.
They knelt again, wordless in their awe.
"You are the first Archangels," I declared. "Founders of the Aegis Order. Decide among yourselves who will lead it."
Michaelos bowed his head deeply. "We are unworthy of such grace, my Lord."
Angelos followed, his voice trembling. "We don't deserve this… yet you give it freely."
I smiled faintly. "Because I wish to. Because it warms me."
They looked up, confusion flickering across their divine faces.
"For so long," I said quietly, "I have given life, light, and law, but no one has ever given back to me. Until now."
The silence that followed was not one of reverence but of shared understanding. Michaelos lowered his gaze again, his expression soft.
"Then let this be our offering, my Lord," he said. "To stand by you, not because we must, but because we wish to."
I nodded once, swallowing the emotion that rose in my throat. "Then rise, Archangels of the Aegis Order."
They rose. Their wings shimmered brighter than before.
Turning to Aladrielos, I spoke gently, "You shall oversee the First Heaven. The souls who come to dwell in this world will be in your care."
He blinked, startled. "I… I am undeserving of such a charge."
"Then prove it by being worthy of it," I replied with a small smile.
Finally, I looked to the last two, Raphaelos and Sarayelos, both of whom knelt silently, hands over their hearts.
"You have served well," I said. "Tell me, what do you desire?"
Raphaelos shook his head. "We require nothing, my Lord. To serve you is all we are."
Sarayelos nodded. "Our purpose is your will."
A soft quiet laugh escaped me, genuine. "You humble me, truly."
I turned toward the Tree of Dreams again, its branches alive with faint glimmers.
"Sarayelos," I said after a moment, "you shall tend to this tree. Watch over the dreams of mortals. When a vision of wonder or greatness blooms, nurture it. Guard it."
His eyes brightened, and he bowed low. "Your trust will not be wasted, my Lord."
"I know," I said simply.
With that, I continued down the riverbank, the starry water flowing beside me. The orbs drifted gently downstream, glowing softly in the light of an almost newborn world.
For the first time in a very long while, I smiled, not as a god, but as something simpler, human with real friends,
Though one who had ones that worshiped him. Revered him a little too much. Well truly weird..."
When I woke again, the world no longer felt heavy. On my bidy, the hum of divine energy coursed through every fiber of me, whole and entirely mine. The air shimmered faintly with gold, and Ramona was no longer in her violet dress of mourning but one that seemed alive, the folds of it rippling softly like clouds beneath a storm. She stood by the window, the morning sun bending around her.
"Finally awake," she said, her voice warm. "They've been waiting."
I stood, the red toga wrapping around me as if it remembered my form before I did. My steps left faint ripples of gold on the marble floor.
"Then let's not keep them waiting any longer."
Ramona's lips curved into a faint smile, and in a blink, we vanished from the room.
The cathedral was filled with chaos when we arrived. Paladins shouted orders, priests wept, and nobles argued among themselves. Dominic was on his knees, still in his torn vestments, whispering prayers through cracked lips. His wrists were bruised from the shackles, but his hands were still clasped tightly together.
He didn't see me at first. None of them did, until my essence rolled through the air like a tidal wave. Golden light washed over the cathedral, and all sound died. The torches flared, the chandeliers trembled, and every man and woman fell silent as their gazes turned toward the altar.
Ramona appeared beside me, her violet halo burning softly above her head, while mine, triangular and golden, glowed with blinding brilliance.
Dominic looked up. When his eyes met mine, he froze. His lips parted soundlessly.
"My lord…" he breathed, trembling.
I stepped forward, the sound of my feet echoing across the marble.
"Dominic Adatore," I said, my voice carrying through the hall without effort. "You prayed even when I did not answer. You believed when all others doubted. You were faithful when faith was the hardest to hold."
He broke then, tears streamed down his cheeks as he bowed low, forehead pressed to the ground.
I raised my hand, and divine essence poured from my palm like liquid sunlight. It wrapped around him, gentle at first, then fierce. His back arched, and light burst from his skin. His aura grew, swelling, expanding, until the priests had to avert their eyes. His body trembled, but he did not cry out.
When the light faded, Dominic stood renewed, his eyes gold, his voice steady.
"Rise, Dominic," I said softly. "From this day forth, you are no longer merely priest. You are Saint Dominic, the Steadfast. Let all who falter remember your faith."
The cathedral erupted in cries and prayers. Ramona watched quietly, her expression serene, though I caught the faintest smile tugging at her lips.
Then I turned my focus outward, far beyond the walls. My senses expanded, flooding through every street, every home, every heartbeat. I felt them: thousands trapped in sleep. Their dreams unfolded before me like paintings, some peaceful, others twisted by fear.
Dreams of oceans, of fire, of forgotten loves.
I whispered a single command. "Wake."
A wave of gold swept across the kingdom. In every bed, on every field, people gasped awake, eyes wide with tears and wonder. The cries of joy echoed across the city. The broken statue of me flared with new light, its cracks sealing as divine warmth pulsed from its heart.
Ramona's voice was soft beside me. "You've finally repaired what was broken."
"Not everything," I murmured, but I smiled. "Not yet."
Moments later, we appeared in the royal hall. Enoch and Alfonso were deep in conversation, their faces drawn with worry. The moment they saw us, they froze. My golden halo and Ramona's violet one filled the chamber with divine brilliance.
Enoch's lips trembled; Alfonso's eyes widened with tears. Then both men stepped down from their thrones and fell to their knees.
"My lord… my lady…" Enoch's voice cracked. "You have returned."
Ramona's hand slipped into mine as we walked up the steps. Her presence was steady, grounding. I guided her toward the throne and helped her sit, the silk of her dress catching the golden light. Then I took my own seat beside her.
For a moment, silence hung heavy. Then I laughed softly, the sound echoing through the chamber.
"Enoch," I said with a teasing smile, "I've seen your dreams."
He froze, eyes wide with horror.
"Relax," I chuckled. "Nothing embarrassing. Just that dream of yours—peace in the south, trade flourishing, children growing without fear. Noble dreams."
Enoch let out a shaky breath of relief, and I leaned back in the throne.
"And I intend to make them reality."
He straightened, nodding quickly. "My lord, there is… something else."
Ramona tilted her head. "Speak."
"There is a kingdom just beyond the northern ranges," Alfonso said
grimly.
"They are not human, my lord. Beasts that walk and speak like men. They call themselves the Thumas Dominion. Their scouts were seen near the border. They mean to enslave us."
I exchanged a glance with Ramona. A kingdom of beastmen… so this world wasn't as simple as it pretended to be. I felt a flicker of surprise but I hid it, smiling faintly instead.
"Interesting," I murmured. "Seems the world's been busy while I was asleep."
Ramona's silver eyes met mine, unreadable. "Then it's time we reminded it who still walks upon it."
I smiled, squeezing her hand gently. "Agreed."
The hall filled again with divine light, our halos burning bright. The mortals bowed low, their hearts trembling in fear and in awe.
And for the first time since awakening, I felt more whole, ready for what came next.