Vastarael woke with a low, irritated groan. His eyelids felt heavy but his instincts were sharp. He sat up immediately, scanning his surroundings.
Broomshaven's inn was pristine.
"Yeah. Figures."
Even if a meteor fell and cratered the entire borough, the Broom God's blessing would piece it back together by dawn like it was just fixing a sloppy desk. It was annoying, but predictable. He swung his legs off the bed and noticed her.
Asenane was asleep in a chair next to him with her head resting on the mattress. A single lock of shadowy white hair was stuck to her cheek. Her fingers were still curled toward him. He placed a hand on his own chest and activated Body Reconstruction. The damaged tissue, bruises, torn vessels, all of it rewound like the aftermath of a broken vase reforming into its original shape. Moments later, he felt normal.
He leaned forward and brushed his knuckles gently across Asenane's cheek.
"Hey, wake up."
She stirred instantly. Her eyes snapped open and relief washed over her face so quickly it almost knocked the breath out of her.
"Darling! You're awake!"
She grabbed his arm, checking his pulse and his breathing. Before he could say "I'm fine," the relief shattered like glass.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?"
"Good morning to you too-"
"Don't you 'good morning' me! Do you understand what you just did? You fought against a divine expulsion! You used a Divinity in an anti-Divinity zone! You could have-"
Her voice trembled.
"-you could've died, Vastarael."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hey, it wasn't that serious-"
"DON'T. That's what you always say every single time."
He opened his mouth but she interjected.
"No, I'm serious this time, Veneri. You knew the risk. You knew the curse would tear apart anyone who used Divinity here. And you just pushed through it anyway like your life is disposable. Its like losing you wouldn't destroy us."
Vastarael's expression softened, guilt creeping into the edges.
"Asenane..."
"No, don't you dare pretend it's fine just because you can reconstruct your body. If someone like you gets damaged to that extent, then what do you think that means? What do you think that says about the force hitting you?"
He lowered his head.
"You're not invincible, Darling. And trying to act like you are is suicidal. And I'm not losing you to your own recklessness."
The room fell quiet. Vastarael let out a long exhale, and for once - he didn't deflect.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want any of you in danger. That's all."
"I know. That's why it hurts. If any of us used our Divinity, we would have died from it. Thanks to your Aeterium constitution, you barely survived."
He looked up at her and in his gaze was that rare, quiet honesty he never showed anyone else. She crossed her arms, but her voice softened.
"I swear, Vastarael, now I understand what Adelasta and Narisva go through every day with you. They must feel like they're babysitting a suicidal maniac."
His jaw dropped dramatically.
"Oh wow. Comparing me to Adelasta's stress migraines?"
Asenane didn't even crack a smile.
"So you're telling me they don't scold you? You're telling me Adelasta hasn't threatened to snap your spine at least twice in the last year?"
"In my defense, the second time was definitely an overreaction."
"And Narisva? Does she not chase you around the palace telling you to stop doing 'idiotic protagonist stuff' every time?"
"Well... okay, yes. They do that a lot."
"That's because you need it."
He reached out slowly and cautiously. When she didn't pull away, he spread his arms a little wider. She stared at him for a long moment and then, with a shaky sigh, she stepped forward and pressed herself against him, her arms sliding around his slim waist. He wrapped both arms around her fully, pulling her into his lap, holding her with a gentleness that didn't match the power he wielded.
"You're still mad."
"Furious. But I'll take furious over the alternative."
"I can't promise that I won't scare you like that again but I wil not die."
She pulled back slightly, cupping his face between both hands.
"If you die, I'm dragging you back from the afterlife just to kill you myself."
"Heh. That's a dragon's possessiveness for you."
She leaned into him again, burying herself into the crook of his shoulder.
Suddenly, door swung open with enough force to bang against the wall.
"Dad!"
Shimmer stormed in first. Runner followed behind her. They hurried straight to the bedside.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine, Shimmer. I'm fully reconstructed. Not a scratch."
Runner exhaled. "Thank the Primordials..."
But Shimmer wasn't convinced at all.
"Then why do you always have to risk your life like that?"
"Well-"
"No seriously! Why? You knew the curse would annihilate you yet you still pulled a Divinity technique!"
Runner murmured, "We really thought you were gone for a moment."
Vastarael sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"Because I have to. Out of all of us, I'm the only one who can withstand the backlash from a Deity-level curse. You three would have died instantly. Those broom humanoids were too strong, even for Third Enlightenment Divines. If I didn't act well... none of us would be here right now."
The room went quiet. Shimmer's jaw tightened, but she looked away first, annoyed at how annoyingly reasonable he was being. Runner nudged her sister's arm.
"You know he's right."
"Yeah yeah. Still stupid though."
Vastarael smiled faintly and changed the topic.
"How long was I asleep?"
Asenane folded her arms again.
"A day."
"Only a day? Oh damn, I'm getting good at this. I usually pass out for a week or a month when I do something that dumb."
Runner pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Dad, that's not improvement. That's concerning."
"Hey, withstanding a Deity's curse is an achievement."
Asenane gave him the look again. He wisely moved on. He stood, stretching until his bones cracked to place.
"So, what happened with the civilians? Anyone traumatized? Confused? Emotionally scarred?"
Shimmer scratched her head. "Actually... they're sorry."
"What?"
"They apologized for attacking us. They said they don't remember anything. And the ones you um... sliced? They're all alive."
"Ah. The Broom God's blessing. No matter what happens, the people of Broomshaven can't die. Well, except from old age. But everything else? Wounds, decapitation, getting crushed by a runaway cart, they revive at nightfall like nothing happened."
Shimmer blinked. "Huh. That's... extremely convenient but also terrifying."
Vastarael shrugged.
"What we experienced happens a few times a month. That's why no one visits. The curse activates and they become unkillable monsters. Good for them but bad for tourists."
Asenane lifted a hand.
"Speaking of bad, we have a... problem."
"What now?"
Asenane looked strangely tense. Shimmer and Runner both grimaced. Vastarael narrowed his eyes.
"Okay, why do all three of you suddenly look guilty? What did you break? Who did you fight? Did Shimmer insult another civilian? Did Runner accidentally explode something?"
"HEY! I only insulted a civilian in Upper Rise and he deserved it. He asked if he can marry me!"
Runner sighed. "And I haven't exploded anything in two whole weeks..."
Asenane pinched her nose and walked toward the window.
"Veneri, about keeping your identity hidden? Ummm..."
She pulled the curtains aside and opened the shutters. All four of them looked outside.and instantly froze.
The streets were packed like a festival just erupted out of thin air. Thousands of Broomshaven citizens filled the roads except none of them were brooms. None of them were wooden. It was daytime yet they were fully human, present and conscious.
And all of them cheered the moment they spotted Vastarael in the window.
"HIS ESTEEMED HIGHNESS!!"
People bowed in waves. Some fell to their knees, arms raised. A few tossed petals. One threw a broom into the air as if offering a sacrifice.
Vastarael stared.
"What?"
Runner winced. "Dad-"
"No no. What is that? Why are they doing that? I didn't fo anything!"
Shimmer held up both hands defensively.
"We swear we didn't say anything!"
"Then who," Vastarael demanded loudly, "gave away my Divinity?!"
A tiny head popped out from behind Runner's legs. The Golden Fawn blinked up at him, cheerful and innocent.
Runner coughed.
"She did."
Vastarael slowly crouched to the fawn's level.
"You adorable little traitor-"
The fawn squeaked happily and nudged his knee, completely unashamed. Shimmer folded her arms.
"She kind of... broadcast your Divinity to the entire town when you collapsed. Everyone instantly recognized your identity because they can sense Richinaria Divine Energy."
Vastarael stared blankly at his daughters.
"I hate everything."
Shimmer patted his shoulder.
"Welcome back to consciousness, Dad."
Runner nodded solemnly.
"You'll never know peace again."
Asenane sighed softly.
"I hope you weren't planning on resting today."
Vastarael looked back out the window as the citizens screamed praises and banged brooms against houses like drums. He dragged a hand down his face.
"This is going to be a very long day..."