The mansion was bustling with Divine energy, tension and the subtle excitement that only came before a massive expedition. Each of the eight Enlightenment members who had remained at the estate were handling preparations in their own way.
Adelasta was at the center of the lounge, commanding attention and coordinating logistics with the poise of a ruling Duchess. Her eyes scanned dozens of gear, Divine supplies, rations, weapons, and even diplomatic items they might need once they reached the Islands of Inexpelcae.
Farrynelle's eyes darted toward the holographic maps of the ocean routes as she double-checked the storm patterns along the Asmaphaeri edge. She was dressed down in casual gear, which was odd for someone like her.
Elyonari meanwhile, was inspecting the Blessing mark on her palm, her emerald eyes glowing faintly. Her mood had mellowed since the battle with Vastarael, but seeing Narisva happy... well, it had her on edge. She sat on a couch, her white-and-gold robe shifting gently.
Xander and Eldrigan were sparring lightly in the courtyard, their strikes casual but calculated. The former was more defensive, laughing off every blow while Eldrigan kept testing stances and weight shifts. They weren't training so much as passing the time, letting their Divine auras flex and stretch.
Peroncerea sat close by with Denisia and Natalis, casually braiding her hair as she skimmed through a book on Asmaphaeri myths, obviously doing last-minute prep. Denisia offered commentary, and Natalis threw in side-notes like "we're going to die, by the way" with a dry sarcasm only the Andelaris twins could perfect.
That was when they arrived.
Narisva strolled in first, humming like a little girl, spinning her new twin-blade scythe. Her outfit shimmered slightly from the leftover sunset glow and the joy on her face looked downright dangerous. Behind her walked Vastarael, hands in pockets, looking exactly like someone who definitely knew the chaos he left in his wake. He gave a casual wave.
"We're back."
Adelasta didn't look up from her floating holograms.
"You think?"
She waved her hand and several hologram screens shifted to reveal them. Dozens of digital videos and clips from across Anqerise were playing: Narisva smiling beside Vastarael, him hugging her on the street, her holding his hand while a whale swam by them, basically the ultimate Divine power couple date.
"I had to override four news broadcasts myself. Half the continent is convinced you two are dating."
Vastarael gave her a lazy shrug. "It happened because I planned it."
Everyone froze. Even Narisva blinked in slight surprise. That was when realization hit like a thunderclap. All eyes turned to Adelasta.
"Ohhh. You two never made your marriage public, did you?"
Adelasta exhaled and leaned against a desk, her eyes glinting with faint irritation.
"No. The political climate's already unstable. If word got out that the Grand Duchess of Richinaria was married to the Dynasty Monarch during the collapse of the Nexuses, I'd have half of Spheraphase ready to riot or worship."
"I don't mind being the scapegoat," Narisva said with a shrug and a coy smile. "But I do get some benefits, right?"
Then she winked at Vastarael and casually swung an arm around him, tugging him close in front of everyone. Elyonari raised an eyebrow.
"Since when did you get flirty?"
"Since I started dating the hottest, most emotionally unavailable man in the world."
Vastarael actually choked. Elyonari folded her arms, looking only slightly annoyed.
"Yeah, well be careful. He bruises organs when he's affectionate."
In the back, Eldrigan leaned against a wall and smirked.
"You know, some men would kill to be him. Three beautiful women in love with him, and all three can fight gods."
Peroncerea gave him a narrow-eyed stare. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm just saying, Peron. If I had three beautiful, brilliant women who could burn cities for me, I'd stop believing in religion. That would be my divinity."
Xander burst into laughter. "He's not wrong."
Farrynelle gave Xander a death glare. "Careful, love. You're on thin ice."
"Hey, I didn't say I wanted three. I'm happy with one, who is terrifying enough."
Peroncerea narrowed her eyes at Eldrigan. "So you want more women?"
"No, I have the perfect one. I'm just saying Vastarael's situation is impressive. That man walks a tightrope between three... no, four divine women every day and hasn't died yet."
Farrynelle rolled her eyes. "Men are insufferable."
Denisia muttered, "You all need therapy."
Adelasta finally stood and gestured toward the large ocean maps.
"Can we get back to the fact we're crossing the most dangerous oceans in the world? Vastarael, Narisva, welcome back. Go change and come back."
With Vastarael and Narisva having gone upstairs,, a wave of curiosity settled over the remaining eight members of the Seventh Enlightenment. Peroncerea was the first to speak.
"So… Adelasta, serious question. Why do you let him have other women? Like you're married. It's not as if polyamory is bad but knowing you, you would rather have him for yourself, no?"
The room fell quiet.
Adelasta, still leaning over the digital schematics of their voyage, froze for a split second. She didn't look up right away, but her lips pressed into a thin line.
It was Natalis who added, "Yeah… I'm not judging or anything. We've all seen the way he looks at Elyonari and the way Narisva and you act around him, but... it's normal for that?"
Adelasta finally straightened, brushing her braid behind her shoulder. Her expression was too calm.
"I allow it because it wasn't just a personal choice. It was an order."
Eldrigan raised an eyebrow. "From who?"
"From Vastarael's parents."
"Wait hold up. His parents?" Farrynelle asked incredulously. "What kind of parents order their son to have multiple women?"
"They're Nexuses," Xander said slowly, "aren't they…"
"Yes, Nexus Dilasyus, the Nexus of Apathy, and Nexus Lysameria, the Nexus of Oceans. They were the last Nexuses to leave the world before the forced exile of all Nexuses. Before they vanished, they handled a lot of things like, distribution of key blessings and instructions for the continuation of their lineage. And one of the final instructions they gave…"
She paused again, her voice lowering.
"…was for me to allow Vastarael to have multiple lovers."
Everyone sat in stunned silence.
"You see, the Richinarias are the last of the Royal Aeterium bloodline. One of the Four Ancient Races that once kept balance in the world. Now… they're gone."
"I thought the Aeterium were extinct," said Denisia quietly.
"They were, except for five. Vastarael and his siblings—Anamorsia, Milliania, Leones, and Leon. All of them born from Dilasyus and his three wives. They are the last Royal Aeterium."
Farrynelle frowned. "So… they're rare. That's why the parents told him to have multiple women?"
"Not just that. They also knew he would be different. Unlike Dilasyus, who only managed to sire five children before his fertility was completely consumed by Aeterium genetics, Vastarael is… something else. He's a full-blooded Royal Aeterium who inherited Divine genes from his mother, a Hydroborn Goddess. A being born of two Divines from two completely different bloodlines."
"..."
"His other wives, Opera and Caresse were all human before they became Primordial Goddesses through the process of the Divine Enlightenment Stages. Only Anamorsia and Vastarael are different. The other three are still Royal Aeterium but compared to the two..."
"That's a miracle," whispered Peroncerea.
"More than that. It means their bodies are not bound by the usual fertility constraints of their race. Veneri and Anamorsia might be the only Aeterium in existence capable of having multiple children… with multiple races."
Xander leaned back. "That's heavy. So what happens if he gets someone pregnant?"
"Depends on the race. For Aeterium women like his sisters or if he ever chose to be with another of his own kind, which is impossible now apart from me, the gestation takes five hundred years. That's how long it takes for the fetus to fully form. But with other races, it varies. Elves, for example…"
Elyonari, who had been quiet till now, looked up.
"I know. Elves are… different. Fertility is very high. It's a blessing among our people to bear a child, especially with someone powerful. With Vastarael? It might take… months. A year at most."
Farrynelle blinked. "Months? That's insane. Like… from five hundred years to months?"
"That's the risk. Which is why if Elyonari intends to ever bear Vastarael's child, she needs to do it after the wars after the gods are handled and the world finds peace. Because if it happens before then…"
"It'll put her out of commission," Natalis finished grimly.
Elyonari nodded slowly, but her emerald eyes didn't waver.
"I already planned for that. The moment I decided I wanted him for real, I knew the risks. But I'd consider it an honor."
There was a moment of stunned silence again.
Adelasta sighed and leaned against the table.
"And don't think I agreed to this just because it was ordered. I allowed it in Erna Isles because it was inevitable. Look at him. A Dynasty Monarch, beautiful, powerful, kind to a fault and immortal. We'll be alive for millennia. It's not realistic to expect one woman to tie down someone like him."
Xander gave Eldrigan a look. "Honestly? She's got a point."
Eldrigan nodded. "I mean, almost of his siblings are women. That alone is a bottleneck for their race's survival. And with how their gestation works, five centuries per birth, repopulation is almost impossible."
"Which is why they're extinct," Adelasta added. "After an Aeterium woman gives birth, her fertility increases for a single decade. Then, it becomes dormant again. Meaning at best, two children. Three, if the partner is lucky. Dilasyus got lucky and had four."
Peroncerea frowned. "No wonder the race died off."
"That's why Vastarael matters," Adelasta said quietly. "Not just to me but to the entire race. He's the last vessel of an entire legacy."
"And yet," Elyonari added softly, "he still never lets that responsibility show. He never talks about it. He never acts like he's owed something. It's just… who he is."
Peroncerea grinned.
"You can't be mad. The guy's holding the balance of generations, gods, politics, and women… and he still hasn't exploded."
Adelasta finally gave a small smirk.
"That's why I married him."
They all chuckled, some in admiration, others in slight disbelief, and some in quiet understanding.