Neo gave up resisting when Caeliora insisted, "Come, sit. Eat."
With a heavy sigh, he flicked his wrist. The living room snapped clean instantly, wrappers and chip bags vanishing as though they never existed. Avon just leaned back with his trademark grin, his great black crown leaning over his eyes as though mocking Neo's neatness.
"You're probably wondering how she walked into your Soulscape," Avon chuckled as he noticed Neo's questioning stare, flicking a crumb from his hoodie. "This realm? Soulscapes fall under Caeliora's domain as they are formed from Soul imprints. She can open, cancel, hijack, or reshape any Soulscape she likes."
He winked toward Soul with boyish mischief.
Neo's eyebrow twitched before he sighed again. Of course it would be that simple for her…it was literally made of her element.
Caeliora only smiled gently and gestured toward the dining table, her voice soft but commanding. "Avon asked me to join him on his 'official visit', as it was important."
Neo gave Avon a long, flat look. "You? Official? Please, those words don't belong in the same sentence."
Avon spread his arms, smirking wide. "Ouch. You wound me, kid. Can't a guy drop by without it being about games, snacks, or breaking heavenly rules?"
"…No," Neo said flatly, earning a laugh from Celeste, who was still sulking about her reset saves.
Reluctantly, Neo took his seat at the table. Plates of roasted meats, bread, fruits, and steaming soups covered the surface — a far cry from the mess Avon had left behind in the living room. Avon piled his plate high, eating like a ravenous teenager. Celeste ate quickly too, sneaking glances at the desserts like a greedy dragon.
Between bites, Avon leaned toward Neo. "Gotta say, kid. You really performed splendidly back there, standing against Moira like that."
Neo rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh, exasperated. "You mean basically pissing off the most uptight angels in existence? Yeah, real splendid."
Avon only smirked wider. "Still worth it. After all, you're my Paladin. I've got your back."
The table quieted after that, a comfortable silence hanging in the air. For a moment, Neo actually felt… normal.
Then Caeliora stood. Her chair shifted back softly, her figure radiant in the glow of the white walls. She walked around the table and stopped behind Neo.
Before he could turn to look up at her, her hand descended gently onto his head and patted it gently.
Neo froze. His eyes widened slightly as her palm rested there, warm, steady, protective.
"…What—"
"You'll never be alone," she said softly, her voice like sunlight through clouds.
Neo went blank, a flicker of color rising to his cheeks. "…Where'd that come from?"
Celeste immediately broke into uncontrollable laughter, slapping the table and nearly falling off her chair. "You're blushing! You're actually blushing!"
Neo shot her a flat glare, which only made her laugh harder. Avon smirked knowingly. Caeliora, however, was unbothered, as if his reaction was precisely what she had wanted. She withdrew her hand and returned to her seat with quiet grace.
"When you were in the Council chamber, you seemed lonely," she said simply. "No—you are lonely. I felt it. I couldn't ignore that level of sadness, especially in my own Paladin."
Her smile was soft, almost motherly. "So I want you to remember. These are the moments you fight for. Not Heaven's expectations. Not titles or ranks. You fight to protect those with whom you share these memories. I and Avon shall support you, always."
For a long moment, Neo stared at her. Then, slowly, he exhaled and raised his head.
And for the first time in years — since his death, since his reincarnation — he gave a genuine smile. Warm, unguarded, real.
"Thanks," he murmured.
Celeste froze mid-bite, her eyes wide. Internally she panicked: I'd forgotten how handsome he looks when he smiles like that.
Then Neo turned to her abruptly, his expression shifting back to his usual detachment, his eyes narrowed. "You're thinking something weird, aren't you?"
Celeste nearly choked, coughing and sputtering as her face turned red. Avon burst out laughing while Neo smirked smugly.
The rest of the meal passed in strange harmony — laughter, banter, and the faintest spark of family warmth.
Afterward, Avon immediately went back to the console, flipping the controller in his hands. Celeste leapt up, pointing at him like a knight declaring a duel. "I challenge you! Game on, old man!"
Avon grinned, settling into position. "Try me, brat."
Neo sat back, exasperated, as their avatars clashed onscreen. Caeliora quietly took a seat beside him. She coughed lightly, her calm voice drawing Neo's attention away from the chaos at the TV.
"…It's time."
Neo tilted his head. "Hmm?"
Her eyes shone softly, but her tone was serious.
"To choose your skill."
The air around the table shimmered faintly, then fractured into glowing shards of light.
A sprawling golden interface unfolded in front of Neo — the Paladin System.
[Paladin Starter Gear]
[Choose one random Skill]
[This selection has been tailored by your Pillar Angels for optimal performance.]
The menu split neatly into two shimmering tabs.
[Chaos Skills]
[Chaos Tempest—A-tier] – An AOE attack which unleashes a storm of chaotic energy that distorts reality, causing unpredictable elemental destruction in a wide radius. Extremely lethal but immensely unstable.
[Disorder Cannon—A tier] – Fires a condensed beam of pure chaos essence. Overwhelmingly powerful but drains nearly all Chaos energy reserves.
[Chaos Blade Summon—A tier] – Summons a sword forged of condensed Chaos energy, capable of cutting through most materials and enchantments. Unstable at long use.
[Greater Fire Manipulation—B tier] – Advanced affinity and mastery of flame; capable of shaping and controlling fire at an advanced level, even extinguishing other flame sources.
[Greater Lightning Manipulation—B tier] –Advanced Affinity and mastery of lightning; grants near-instant casting speed, extreme destructive potential, and enhanced reaction time when channeling.
[Iron Body— C tier] – Temporarily reinforces the body with elemental energy, increasing durability and resilience far beyond natural limits.
[Chaotic Regeneration—B tier] – Infuses body with Chaos essence, capable of rapidly repairing even grievous wounds. May cause mutations if overused.
[Soul Skills]
[Soul Copy—A tier] –Create an perfect Spectral clone of a person or the user to aid in battle. The soul copy can use the user's own abilities and a random ability from it's life.
[Absolute Soul Blade—A tier] – The perfected version of [Soul Strike]. Creates a blade of concentrated soul essence capable of cutting through spirit, body, and enchantments. Fatal to most entities if it strikes true.
[Soul Tether—B tier] – Links your soul to another for a duration, sharing pain, energy, or attributes and can be used to mark friend or foe. Dangerous if misused.
[Soul Blade Summon—B tier] – Summons spectral weapons formed from fragments of your soul, bound to your will.
[Greater Healing—B tier] – Calmer than Chaos's version; steady, efficient soul-driven regeneration. Heals wounds without side-effects.
...
Neo studied the glowing lists silently. Avon leaned forward with his usual smirk, tapping the air above Chaos Tempest like an impatient gamer.
"Come on, kid. You see this? Look at it! My old skill Chaos freakin' Tempest. Ha! I remember when I last used this, wiped out armies with a thought. Or, hell, take Disorder Cannon—one-shot anything, boom! Instant bragging rights. Don't be boring."
Caeliora, on the other hand, spoke softly, her voice like calm waves against Neo's ear. "Neo… Soul Copy, or Absolute Soul Blade. These are rare gifts. With them, you would not only defend yourself—you would transcend limits."
Neo leaned back in his chair, arms folded, expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he shook his head.
"…No."
Avon blinked. "…What do you mean, no?"
Neo exhaled, rubbing his temples. "I've got limited Chaos and Soul energy. These flashy nukes would eat me alive and leave me vulnerable the second I fire them off. Besides…" His eyes narrowed, turning sharp. "Chaos and Soul don't exist in Novarion's history. If I start throwing around unseen elements, I'll be painted as a monster before I can even walk freely in the clan."
The air grew still. Even Caeliora's calm expression flickered with surprise.
"So I'll start with something practical. Something versatile. Something I can actually use without exposing myself."
He reached forward.
[Greater Lightning Manipulation]
A chime rang through the Soulscape, the glyph collapsing into him as arcs of lightning crackled faintly across his skin before fading.
Avon stared blankly for a second as if still trying to grasp the fact that Neo had picked Lightning. He slammed the table with both hands, his chair nearly toppling. "You WHAT?! Lightning?! Over MY element?! NEO, YOU TRAITOR!" His voice was full of mock heartbreak, his grin twitching into dramatic devastation.
Neo rolled his eyes, raising a hand like he was pacifying a tantrum-prone toddler. "Relax. I can still learn the skills later, using [Hacker's Eye]. It'll just take longer."
Avon froze mid-pout. "…Wait, you can do that?"
"Yeah." Neo smirked. "So stop sulking."
Caeliora's lips quirked upward, a rare amusement slipping through her serenity. Avon, however, slumped back into his chair, still murmuring and glaring at Neo from under his black crown as if Neo had committed the greatest betrayal in celestial history.
"Unbelievable. My own Paladin choosing lightning over glorious chaos…" he muttered darkly.
Neo just gave a short laugh, scratching his cheek with a hint of respect in his tone. "Don't take it too hard. You two showed up here and cheered me up. That's more than I expected. For that… thanks."
Caeliora inclined her head, her smile warm, while Avon grumbled something about "ungrateful brats."
The two Pillars shimmered faintly, their forms beginning to dissolve in silver and black light.
"Until next time, Neo," Caeliora said gently.
Avon, just before fading, jabbed a finger at him. "I'm watching you, lightning traitor."
And then, the Soulscape was quiet again—except for the faint hum of Neo's new lightning energy running beneath his veins.
Neo leaned back on the couch, sighing with a small grin. "…Practicality wins every time."
Celeste puffed her cheeks, staring at him. "Still, you totally broke Avon's heart. He's never gonna let you live this down."
Neo smirked faintly, electricity sparking across his fingertips as he flexed his hand. "Meh, he'll get over it in a week. This power however..."
"I'll master it to the max."
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Hey guys, support me with collections and power stones so I can stay motivated.