Three days had passed.
To humans, it would feel like seventy-two long hours.
But to Aetherion—who now walks the path of immortality with each passing moment—time felt… lighter. Strange.
As if the day bled into night and back again without him noticing.
He had spent those three days in near-constant motion, refining every aspect of his Divine energy.
Not simply raw power, but control and precision.
He stood in the garden he had crafted himself—a living space of vibrant flowers and silver-lit vines, right before the entrance to Gaia's nature-like palace.
The air shimmered with the scent of star-petals and moon-kissed grass.
A small fountain glowed faintly behind him, powered not by water, but by the energy of his own creation.
He moved his arms in a slow, practiced rhythm.
Moonlight gathered at his body covering it in a layer, while faint golden particles of starlight started dancing around him, putting another layer on the soft moonlight layer.
Then, with a smooth, rapid burst of movement, he launched forward and vanished—reappearing a dozen feet away in less than a blink.
Using Star Divinity to boost his body's speed along Moon Divinity to make himself even faster.
After all, both the moon and stars are counting to the element of light.
Making Aetherion able to use the moonlight and starlight to make himself even faster than normal.
Divine energy flowing through his veins, enforcing his body with power.
He exhaled, steady.
" The techniques have gotten a bit better, but I still need better control over it,"
he muttered.
This was what he had focused on: reinforcing his body with divinity.
Not just surrounding himself with power, but integrating it into his flesh, muscle, and spirit.
His Divine energy had to become second nature. As easy as walking.
As instinctive as breathing.
And he was getting there.
But still… his heart wasn't entirely calm.
He stood still, eyes lifted toward the sky.
'I'm nervous,'
he admitted, chuckling under his breath.
"Which is quite annoying."
Because today, finally… he was going to meet her.
His mother.
Rhea.
The very thought sent something fluttering in his chest—a feeling he couldn't quite place.
Half anticipation.
Half anxiety.
A breeze drifted through the garden, gentle and warm.
And then, the air shifted.
He felt her before he saw her. A presence, familiar from birth, foreign in memory.
And then—she stepped into the garden.
***
Rhea's breath caught in her throat the moment she saw him.
He stood tall beneath the arch of moonlight, his hair shifting with golden and green hues.
His silver eyes carried not only divine light—but her light.
Her blood.
Her past.
Her son.
'He's… grown,'
she thought to herself, hand instinctively pressed to her chest.
'But not fully. He still looks… young.'
Rhea was glad for that.
Divine beings grew differently, some grew exponentially fast, while some slower.
Aetherion turned toward her and stood still.
Not knowing what to do from nervousness.
He waited for her to respond.
Rhea took a hesitant step forward, and then ran towards him, throwing her arms gently around and brought to a tight hug.
'Finally.'
She thought, tears streaming down from her golden eyes.
Her head resting on his shoulder. Making it wet from the tears.
Rhea was so… happy.
A joy she hasn't felt for quite some time.
She could feel her son stiffened as her arms wrapped tightly around him.
he simply stood there, unsure what to do.
But then she could feel her son's hands resting on her back, moving up and down trying to comfort her.
She couldn't help but chuckle at the act.
Wasn't it her who was supposed to comfort him, her own son? Yet it was him who did the job instead.
It was quite a comical thing when you thought about it.
Her son was only seven years old, yet so thoughtful. She couldn't help but feel a little proud of that.
Yet Ria stopped herself to think more of it.
Slightly, she started to raise her head and look her son in the eyes.
Her lips started to stretch, forming into a breathtaking smile.
She was silent and finally reunited with her son, her first lost son that disappeared seven years ago. One of those many forced diving means.
" Look at you. You're already as tall as me in normal height." she said softly. "But I am a bit relieved that you haven't grown fully yet. You still have that boyish charm to you, my son…"
She smiled through the tears streaming down her face.
"It must be because of your nature. Deity's… we all grow differently. Some bloom in a year. Some take longer."
Her lips spread even further.
Rhea, the mighty queen of the cosmos was smiling brightly and yet… tears were flowing down from her eyes.
She even started trembling in his embrace, tears streaming freely now not stopping.
"I thought I lost you," she wept. "I thought you were gone forever."
Aetherion didn't speak. He just held her tighter, grounding her, steady.
From a distance, Gaia stood watching—arms crossed, a gentle smile curving her lips.
Her amber eyes shimmered as she looked at the reunion, her expression quiet but glad for them.
Aetherion felt the weight of the moment, but also… joy.
There was so much he wanted to say. So much to plan. So much to share.
Not now. He would let his mother and him have this moment for a bit.
But soon.
About how his training has been going and how much progress he has made.
He liked to share about how he's been with Gaia and what she has taught him.
He also wanted to know more about her, his own mother.
Aetherion knows she may have been going through many things, especially hardship with a husband like Cronus, but he would like to know more about her, even about her younger days.
But most importantly, he would like to make a plan with her.
So how to free his siblings and take down Kronos.
But for now, he will enjoy this moment.
But for now, all he did was hold her.
And above them, the moon looked on—glowing brighter than it had in centuries.