That evening, the Altavis family, along with their respective spouses, gathered around a lavishly set dining table. Laughter and the clinking of silverware filled the air, a familiar warmth settling over the distinguished group.
Thud!
Without a word or a sound of warning, Kazien's head slammed onto the polished mahogany table. He was instantly unconscious, his untouched glass of wine rocking slightly beside him.
"What happened? Why is he unconscious like that?" Duke Elgard's voice boomed, sharp with panic, as he surged from his seat.
A moment of frozen silence was broken as Davin, Kazien's brother, rushed to his side. He pressed two fingers to Kazien's neck, his brow furrowed in concentration. Then, a sigh of relief escaped him.
"I still feel his pulse! He's alive!"
"Davin, take your brother to his room, quickly!" the Duke commanded, his face still pale with shock.
Davin scooped up his older brother with surprising ease, carrying him out of the bustling dining room and towards the quiet solitude of his chambers.
Meanwhile, in the depths of his subconscious mind, Kazien found himself standing in a place of ethereal, blinding white. Pillars adorned with intricate, beautiful gold carvings stretched up into the unseen ceiling, radiating a soft, ambient light.
Then, from above, descending with a graceful, almost silent flutter, came a figure of impossible beauty. A woman with hair like spun gold and six magnificent, shimmering silver wings. Kazien's eyes widened; he recognized her instantly. It was the Goddess Nirfelia, whom he never expected to encounter again.
He immediately dropped into a formal salute, his voice respectful. "Why have you summoned me here, Goddess Nirfelia?"
Her voice was like distant chimes, melodious and serious. "I am going to entrust you with a task of monumental importance."
"What must I do?"
"In ten years, countless dungeons will breach the surface and infest this world! Your mission is to destroy every single one of them!"
Kazien stared, reeling from the sudden, terrifying scope of the command.
Dungeons? What bizarre and terrible catastrophe was about to befall our world?
"This is all the doing of the Evil God, Lunarias! He plots the destruction of everything!" she explained.
"The Evil God Lunarias?"
"Indeed. If the dungeons are not eradicated swiftly, the world will soon be consumed by the monstrous hordes spilling from their depths!"
Kazien took a deep breath, the gravity of the situation settling upon him. "Very well, I shall carry out your command! But first, I wish to ask for a few boons!"
A gentle smile touched her lips. "You do not need to ask. I know exactly what you desire."
Kazien was momentarily speechless. The sheer power of a Goddess to know his deepest, unspoken wishes was awe-inspiring.
Besides being incredibly beautiful, she knows what I want! Goddess Nirfelia is truly amazing! And seriously, why didn't my past self just ask her to be my wife back then? She'd look so incredibly cute as a man, hehehe.
Unbeknownst to Kazien, the Goddess Nirfelia had already heard his last thought and, with a subtle shift in the pure white light, had changed her gender to male. As Kazien turned, he gasped, utterly surprised by the handsome, yet undeniably cute figure standing before him.
"Wow! You are so incredibly cute! May I touch and caress your adorable face?" he blurted out, losing all sense of decorum.
The male Nirfelia chuckled softly. "Feel free to touch my face, if it brings you satisfaction."
Overwhelmed by a rush of joy, Kazien reached out, his fingers gently tracing the delicate contours of the Goddess's (now God's) face.
This is the first time I've ever seen a man this cute. Alvin's cute face doesn't even compare to the beauty of the Goddess Nirfelia.
However...
Slap!
Kazien slapped his own cheek, a sharp sting bringing him back to reality. The image of Alvin, his high elf partner—loyal, precious, and equally cute—flashed through his mind.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! I was tempted by the Goddess's cute face. Ah... I betrayed him again. Alvin, I am so sorry!
Hearing his inner monologue, Goddess Nirfelia burst into clear, ringing laughter.
Kazien flinched, immediately questioning her. "Why are you laughing like that, Goddess Nirfelia?"
"You are hilarious! Even I conceded defeat because of that high elf. You truly love Alvin, don't you?"
"Of course, I love him dearly! Weren't you the one who granted my wish for an elf to be my partner?"
"So you realized it, huh? But I have one more vital task for you!"
Kazien tilted his head, his gaze curious and cautious.
"All the high elves on the continent of Reavel and, indeed, in this world, have been completely wiped out! Your task is to ensure Alvin gives birth to three high-elf children!"
The request was a profound shock to Kazien. He found it utterly preposterous. "You know I like guys, right? Even if you are a Goddess, I won't do that!" Kazien firmly rejected the command.
"If you agree, I will grant you the three abilities you desired so desperately." she countered.
Kazien was more confused than ever. I wanted three abilities? What abilities? Living as Kazien, I've been content with everything I possess.
"Those three abilities are: Creation Magic, which allows you to manifest things that never existed; the Eye of Truth, which enables you to see the malicious intentions of anyone directed at you or your loved ones; and Teleportation Magic, which allows you to instantly move to any place you have ever been."
Kazien was utterly flabbergasted, hearing the names of three such powerful, unheard-of magics.
Seriously! Did I really wish for those three absurd magics? No! No! No! Goddess Nirfelia must be playing a joke on me!
Then, a faint memory stirred. The Goddess had erased certain parts of his past memory.
Ah... That's right! Those must have been my wishes before my memories were wiped. But truly, I'm perfectly content with what I have now.
Kazien grappled internally with his thoughts, while the Goddess Nirfelia struggled to contain her laughter, having heard his every fleeting thought.
"Goddess Nirfelia! I still refuse! If you want a high elf, why don't you simply resurrect Alvin's parents?"
"Because of the Laws of the Gods, I cannot! I am forbidden to directly interfere with the lives there!"
"But... you have already interfered," Kazien pointed out simply.
The Goddess was momentarily silenced, left without a reply.
But suddenly...
"If you refuse, I will be forced to cancel your contract! You know what will happen to Alvin if the contract for immortality is voided, don't you?"
Threats—that was all she had left. Goddess Nirfelia knew that Kazien could never bear the thought of losing Alvin. Kazien instantly fell silent, his fear of losing his beloved partner overriding his resolve.
"If I accept, will you allow me to gaze upon Alvin's cute face forever?"
"As the Goddess of this world, I swear I will never interfere in your relationship again once you have three high-elf children."
"One more thing I want!"
"I understand! I will give you a photo album," she declared.
"Photo?" Kazien asked, baffled.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Several large photo frames materialized near him, resting upon the ethereal cloud-like floor. Kazien approached and looked at the first images. There were photos of his parents, surrounded by Selena, William, Virena, Rosalia, Davin, Raliana, himself, and Ritalia.
So this is what they call a photo? My entire family seems to be in here. How cool!
The next photo made Kazien gasp in surprise: it was Alvin with his parents.
Wow! His father is so handsome and his mother is so beautiful! Alvin's face is clearly so similar to his mother's. No wonder he is so cute. And that background... is that the Latreess kingdom's throne? I'm sure this will be the best gift for Alvin!
The final, most surprising photo was a wedding picture.
What is this? Who is Ritalia's husband?
"Her husband is the son of your father's best friend, Hubert Guartav!"
"Really? He's quite handsome! I'll definitely give this gift to my most beautiful little sister later! Hahaha."
"Don't celebrate yet! You can have all those photos if you agree to my condition!"
"Will Alvin turn into a girl?"
"By my power, Alvin will only be a girl from one month before the birth until your child reaches the age of five! After that, he will return to being a boy! But after the three high elves are born, Alvin will be completely male and will never be able to give birth to another child!"
Goddess Nirfelia knew exactly what Kazien was planning, but she allowed it. And what Kazien did next was lunge forward and wrap the Goddess in a fierce, joyful hug.
"You are truly the best Goddess! Thank you so much for all your kindness. I am more than willing to do everything you ask of me!"
Goddess Nirfelia stroked his hair lovingly. Kazien felt a profound sense of peace and comfort under her gentle touch.
"All the power you desired, I have now bestowed upon you. Once you return, you will remember clearly how to use it."
And suddenly, on his back, a pair of magnificent silver wings, identical to the Goddess's, unfurled.
"W-What is this??????"