Aman barely understood what had just happened.
He was far too drunk to make sense of it. He turned toward Aeren, who looked just as dazed, still staring at the empty space where Nalini had vanished.
"What… what happened, Aarav?" Aman slurred, struggling to keep his balance. "Who were they?"
Aeren blinked once, then shook his head lightly.
"Hm. Maybe we're just too drunk," he said calmly. "Let's forget it."
He placed an arm around Aman's shoulder and began walking, guiding him forward. The conversation faded as they leaned on each other, staggering away—leaving the valley, the moment, and the strangeness behind them as they made their way home.
****
Far away—
"Nalini! What happened to you?"
Rud knelt beside her, panic flooding his voice. Nalini lay on the ground, barely able to keep her eyes open. Tears slipped silently down her cheeks.
Rud scanned her body frantically, then began healing her with everything he had—pouring energy into her without restraint. His own tears fell as he worked, forcing himself to stay calm even as fear threatened to overwhelm him.
Her body is burning.
Rud could feel it clearly.
He had been with her for many centuries. As twins, their bond ran deeper than words. He could sense her pain as if it were his own.
"Rud…" Nalini whispered hoarsely. "Stop. I'm fine." He hesitated. "I'm not dissolving into the world," she continued weakly. "I can feel it." She took a shallow breath. "Just… find a place for me to rest."
Despite her condition, there was certainty in her voice.
She believed this—whatever had happened—would benefit her. Rud swallowed hard, nodding as he gathered her carefully into his arms, fear and resolve burning equally in his heart.
****
Aeren slowed as his house came into view.
I have gained everything, he thought. I have achieved everything. And yet—There is still one thing left.
Something beyond Nothingness. Beyond Pause. Without stopping, Aeren walked past his own home and turned toward Dipti's house. The door was closed. He stopped.
That thing… is me. To understand it, I must first understand myself. Without knowing myself, I will find nothing. I will lose my consciousness—fade—just like Nothingness… just like Pause.
His eyes hardened slightly.
I never thought reaching such a height would demand this much awareness. Without consciousness, I will be lost—I have reached a place no one has ever imagined. To reach me will be impossible for others. That is why I must remain active within myself. Even if it takes an eternity to stay in my original consciousness, I must stay. Or I will lose myself.
Aeren stepped closer to Dipti's door. He paused there, standing silently for a brief moment, staring at the wooden surface as if it held an answer.
Then—
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Aeren had recently realised something terrifying—If he wished to awaken his consciousness fully, he would have to live through eternity. And even now, he was still searching for a way—one where he wouldn't need to remain here for all of it.
"Who is it?" The voice that came from behind the door sounded strangely like his own.
Aeren snapped back to himself. He understood cruelty well. Even after reaching heights beyond others, cruelty still existed—everywhere. Even within him.
"It's me," Aeren replied softly. Hearing Dipti's voice steadied his thoughts, and he gentled his tone. "Please, open the door. I want to talk."
From inside, he heard hurried footsteps. She ran toward the door. Aeren caught the sound clearly. She was going to open it—he was certain of that. But then she stopped.
Through the door, Aeren could sense her presence. He could almost see her—standing there, breath slightly uneven. She looked… excited. That reaction confused him. She had never said she loved him. Never shown anything so clear. And yet now, she reacted as if his presence alone stirred something deep within her.
"No," Dipti said suddenly. Aeren blinked. "I won't."
There was a smile in her voice—a teasing one. Aeren could hear it easily, catching the faint curve of her lips as she watched him from the other side of the door.
He hesitated, uncertain whether he should stay or simply turn back to his own house.
"Why would I open the door?" she asked again. This time, her tone was serious. The smile was gone.
Aeren didn't understand her sudden shift—how her mood swung from light teasing to sharp seriousness.
"Because I care about you," he said quietly. "Because I loved you. Because I thought about you." He spoke honestly—at least, honestly enough for what he felt was right.
He sensed her reaction immediately. On the other side of the door, her presence softened. She seemed more relaxed, a faint smile tugging at her lips, though she was clearly trying to suppress it.
"You're lying…" Aeren's eyes lifted slightly. He sighed.
So she saw through it. Should I just read her mind? he wondered briefly. It would be easier.
No… he dismissed the thought just as quickly. She's not worth it. No one is.
Well, I tried connecting with a noble god. If she's not interested, then forget it.
"I'm leaving," Aeren said calmly. He turned away, heading toward his own house just a short distance away.
"What?" Dipti's voice cracked with disbelief. "Wait!" she said quickly. "Stay outside—talk to me here. I won't let you inside my house."
There was panic in her voice now.
Aeren stopped.
He stared at the door for a moment, surprised by her reaction. He hadn't expected that. He hesitated, weighing his options. Then he turned back.
Aeren returned to the door and lowered himself to the ground, sitting with his back against it.
Dipti noticed immediately. On the other side, she slid down as well, sitting opposite him with only the door between them. She clenched her fist, pressed her hand against her chest, and took a slow breath to steady herself.
"What do you want to talk about?" she asked quietly.
Aeren leaned back against the door, his gaze drifting upward—toward the nothingness above his head. His mind was calm, resting in a deliberate pause. "I want to become stronger," he said at last. "And I want to travel this world." His voice was even, unhurried. "Come with me. Let's grow stronger together. Can you?"
What he didn't say was just as important—he needed a connection, something real, to let his consciousness awake in the Endless Truth. To do that, he had to move. To walk the worlds of gods and demons alike. And he needed her with him—someone real, someone who could ground him in consciousness itself.
Dipti froze.
She had often thought about becoming stronger—but she had never imagined traveling the world itself. Her pulse quickened as images filled her mind: herself and Aeren, alone on distant roads, facing unknown lands together.
Excitement stirred in her chest. Pride followed. A smile crept onto her face before she realized it. She didn't answer immediately.
"…I was thinking about the same thing," she said after a pause. Then she smiled again, more openly this time. "Alright. Let's travel the world." She knew she couldn't say no. His words were too tempting.
Aeren smiled faintly, still staring at the void above. "I never thought you'd agree," he said with a quiet laugh. "Haha."
He stood up as he spoke. On the other side of the door, Dipti paused.
"Aarav," she said, gathering her courage. "There's something I want to ask." She stood as well, opened the door, and stepped outside for the first time. Aeren turned halfway toward her.
"Go ahead."
Surrounded by the cosmic breathing that all gods inherit—the very essence that keeps them alive, that sustains their existence from birth—Aeren stared directly into her eyes. In the City of God, this cosmic breathing was the foundation of all life. When a god's cultivation fell below the Breathing Foundation, they would dissolve into nothingness itself.
She slowly lifted her head and looked at Aeren. His face—handsome, calm, carrying that faint, effortless smile—made her pause. For a brief moment, she was completely mesmerised. Then she shook her head, not outwardly, but within her own thoughts, forcing herself back to reality.
"There's something I've been thinking about," she said softly. "If… if we ever find a Mythical Coin—would you descend into the mortal world with me?" Her voice trembled. "And live with me… forever." Her gaze dropped to the ground.
Aeren stared at her, and she kept her head down because, for a god, descending into the mortal world—choosing to live among mortals—was considered shameful. A betrayal of divinity. Aeren knew this well. Yet he also knew the truth.
Every god desired Mythical Coins for the same reason Dipti did. Even though gods who felt the warmth of escape still feared Pauseness—the world within Pauseness held shadow, but it was still a world apart from the divine. Every god feared that shadow might one day reach even the City of God. That fear alone drove their choice to descend.
Aeren stepped closer. A slight irritation crossed his features—not at her, but at the reality of what she was asking. Mortals were greedy. He knew this well. He had seen their nature, their endless hunger for more. The thought of descending, of facing that greed again, of repeating mistakes—it grated on him.
"Why would you want to live with an ugly pig like Mortal?" he said lightly, his tone carrying both irritation and something like dark humor. But even as the words left his mouth, he saw her tears fall. His expression changed immediately.
He closed the remaining distance and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"I will," he said quietly.
Though Aeren could create Mythical Coins—though he could go wherever he wished—he had no desire to see the abyss of greed that ruled the mortal world. And yet, for her, for this connection, for the consciousness he needed to stay awake in eternity, he might go.
Dipti clutched the back of his robe, tightening her grip as if afraid he might disappear. She buried her face against his chest and cried, hiding herself from him, from the world, from everything.
Aeren held her without moving. Above them, the Nothingness remained vast and indifferent.