The return to the palace should have felt normal but the moment Vastarael and Phaenora passed the threshold of the courtyard, they stopped walking. The pressure in the air shifted in an unmistakable way that only one being in Spheraphase could cause just by existing.
Everyone was on their knees.
Narisva, normally too proud to kneel even for the concept of a deity, bowed down. Adelasta knelt perfectly still with her eyes lowered. Elyonari's serenity didn't crack, but her posture betrayed reverence. Asenane's hands were trembling. Vastarael's siblings — Anamorsia, Milliania, Leon and Leones — were kneeling with heads down, shoulders stiff. Standing in front of them, back turned, radiating a presence so ancient, heavy and absolute was a woman with long dark curly hair, draped in a gown that shimmered like water waves forming and reforming.
Vastarael felt his heart stop.
"Mother?"
Lysameria Richinaria, the Ocean Nexus, the second strongest Nexus in the world, the woman whose presence once caused entire sea creatures to kneel smiled softly when her eyes fell on him.
"Oh, my son…"
Phaenora immediately knelt so hard that her knees made a thud against the floor. It was against her will. Her absolute authority was too powerful for Phaenora to withstand. Vastarael didn't move as his mother wrapped her arms around his torso before he had time to react. He was two meters tall now yet somehow in her embrace he felt like the boy who used to cling to her sleeves.
"You've grown so tall. You're a handsome man like your father. All you lack is a beard."
Vastarael grimaced. "I hate beards."
Lysameria laughed. "Oh, you're still the same as ever."
Phaenora didn't even dare look up. The sheer pressure of standing this close to a Nexus was overwhelming. And Vastarael couldn't tell anyone to rise, because she outranked every damn thing in this world. He finally found his voice.
"Mother, I didn't expect you to come here. Especially now."
"I arrived because the timing demanded it. You've been through too much alone."
Her hand cupped his cheek briefly before she turned her attention to the four kneeling siblings.
"Anamorsia. Leon. Leones. Milliania. Rise."
Their heads shot up instantly with relief washing over their faces as they stood. They each bowed respectfully once more before approaching her to greet her formally.
But Lysameria didn't tell the others to rise and Vastarael understood why. It was the typical Richinaria way of greeting the ones connected to her son.
He didn't interfere. He didn't dare. No matter how powerful he was, even with Divinity restored, Lysameria was Nexus-level. He couldn't question her motives and challenge her decisions. He couldn't even think of disobedience.
She finally looked back at him.
"How have you been, Vastarael?"
He exhaled. "Actually… perfectly timed. I needed to see you."
Her expression softened. "I know. I came because of that."
"Then… you know about—"
"The deaths of my half-sisters. Yes. Every one of them gone but my true sister still lives, hidden for now."
"And the Pantheon…" Vastarael began.
Lysameria's face hardened. "The Mopherian Pantheon has overstepped. Removing Divinity from all of Spheraphase and cutting their own in half to gain an advantage? Foolish. But if you are asking me to aid this world, I will not. The world cast us out, remember?"
Vastarael shook his head. "I'm not asking that. I know you don't owe them anything."
She studied him before nodding once.
"Good. Because I will not lift a hand for them. My priority is only my children and the ones they have chosen."
She glanced at the kneeling beloveds.
Narisva's jaw tightened in silent pride. Adelasta bowed even deeper. Elyonari's serene eyes remained lowered. Asenane trembled but held the posture. Phaenora practically melted into the ground, praying her spine didn't snap. Lysameria finally addressed the siblings again.
"Opera and Caresse send their greetings."
Milliania lit up. Leon grinned. Anamorsia bowed. Leones squealed quietly. Vastarael's fingers twitched.
He wanted to ask why she hadn't allowed his beloveds to rise, why she separated his lovers from his family and why she always made distinctions between blood and bond.
But Vastarael Richinaria didn't open his mouth. He knew better and Lysameria smiled knowingly, as if she heard the unspoken question and rejected it with a single look. The moment she stopped in front of Adelasta, Phaenora, Narisva, Elyonari, and Asenane, their bodies turned stuff.
"Rise."
They obeyed instantly. Lysameria's eyes landed right on Adelasta first.
"I am delighted, Adelasta, that you took matters into your own hands and married my son. He has always been… too cautious? Hesitant. Honestly, he's too polite for his own good. What I do not understand is why you chose to share him."
Adelasta's heart stopped. Phaenora blinked. Asenane took a tiny step backward. Narisva's arrogance evaporated like water on molten metal. Elyonari folded her hands in front of her. Lysameria then turned her gaze toward Phaenora.
"You, Phaenora, make sense. You've been with him since you were both seven. Childhood bonds matter."
Phaenora exhaled in relief.
"But you three," Lysameria's eyes slid to Narisva, Elyonari, and Asenane, "a Celestial, a Mintherenian High Priestess and a.... Progenitor Dragon? I am curious. Why?"
Adelasta swallowed hard.
"L–Lady Lysameria, I— I thought— I mean— we all— he deserves—"
"No, no." Lysameria raised a hand ever so slightly. "Do not twist yourselves into politeness. I truly want to understand your reasons. You share my son. Admit it openly. Why?"
Silence fell. And then Adelasta bowed deeply and said:
"Because we love him. And because we love each other enough to not turn that love into a battlefield."
Phaenora nodded, "Also Veneri is stupidly lovable and all of us are obsessed."
Narisva clicked her tongue, "He's fun. Strong. Hot. And he puts up with me."
Elyonari smiled serenely. "His soul is gentle. We chose each other mutually."
Asenane folded her arms. "I like him. He likes me. I don't overthink things."
Lysameria muttered, "Progenitor Dragons never do…"
She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose as if this was somehow more stressful than fighting the Mopherian Pantheon. Then she straightened and said:
"We will be having a private conversation. Now, follow me."
The beloveds exchanged looks like soldiers being marched to execution. They followed her inside. The courtyard fell silent. The moment they were out of sight, Anamorsia leaned slightly toward Vastarael with a smirk.
"They're doomed."
Leon crossed his arms. "Utterly."
Milliania nodded, "Mother's lectures are worse than training."
Leones quietly added, "Yeah, they're getting… educated."
Vastarael just stared at the door with the expression of a man who has seen war but still fears one particular person: his mother.
Leon nudged him. "You gonna bail them out?"
"No." Vastarael said immediately. "If I interfere she'll kill me."
Leones: "Yeah. True."
Anamorsia: "Absolutely."
Milliania: "We wait and pray. They're not coming out for a while."