The morning was golden, filtered through the trees like a blessing. Birds chirped without fear of falling ash or shattered skies. For once, the world felt calm beneath the shadow of a man who had conquered gods.
Lucien and Selene spent the day like any ordinary family, though nothing about them was ordinary. Their son, small and quick with curiosity, ran through the fields laughing, his tiny hands brushing against flowers and rocks alike. He had inherited more than just his father's pale eyes — a subtle shimmer in his aura hinted at something extraordinary, the first spark of the White stirring beneath the surface.
"Careful, Arios," Lucien said, watching his son trip over a root. He caught him mid-fall effortlessly, his hands soft but firm. "Your strength is impressive, but control matters more than raw power."
Arios, already full of life and fire, grinned. "I'll be careful, Papa! Like you!"
Selene laughed, brushing her hair back, watching them both. "He's your mirror," she said softly. "Your patience, your… everything, in miniature."
Lucien knelt, gathering Arios into his arms. The boy pressed his tiny face into his shoulder, giggling. Lucien's gaze softened as he whispered, almost to himself, "He's ready… but not yet. When the time comes, he'll awaken it himself. The power of the White… it's his choice, his journey."
Selene's hand rested on his chest, warm and grounding. "Lucien… what are you thinking?"
He sighed, long and low, the weight of eternity threading through his bones. "The planet… it cannot handle me for long. With the power I hold now—the White, the Outer God—it's only a matter of time before my presence becomes a danger. I can't risk it. I have to leave."
Selene's eyes glistened, but she nodded, understanding without words. She placed her hand over his cheek, her voice steady. "Then go. Protect what you've always protected. Just… come back when you can."
Lucien kissed her forehead, then crouched to Arios' level. "Listen carefully, Arios. Everything I am, everything I've faced… it's so you can live without fear. Be patient. Learn, grow, and when the time comes, you'll awaken the power inside you. But until then… keep it sealed. I trust you."
Arios nodded solemnly, his small hand pressing against his chest like he understood more than a child should. "I'll wait for the right time, Papa."
The day faded with laughter and quiet moments of play — running through fields, skipping stones across a river, and Selene resting her head against Lucien's shoulder as they watched the sunset together. But as darkness fell, the truth of what had to be done pressed in.
Lucien stood at the edge of the village, cape fluttering faintly, a pale glow tracing the edges of his aura. He looked back at Selene and Arios, their forms etched into his memory.
"Goodbye… for now," he whispered.
Selene's hand reached out instinctively, but she knew better than to call him back. Her voice was steady, full of both sorrow and strength. "We'll be here, Lucien. No matter what."
With one last glance at the family he had carved from war and pain, Lucien stepped into the void of space and distance, leaving the planet behind. His steps were certain, his resolve absolute. The Outer Gods still lingered in the dark corners of the universe, and now, armed with his full power and mastery of the White, Lucien would seek them out — not as a weapon, but as a guardian, carrying the weight of his family and the planet on his shoulders.
Even as he vanished beyond the horizon of stars, the promise remained: the Sole Exception would return. And when he did, the world would know peace… or war.