Chapter 38

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

HACO

A s it had been before, so it was once again.

We were twisting, twirling, and screaming with no sound. A vortex of nothing and everything, the beginning and the end, pushed and shoved until all we collectively felt was pure, utter bliss.

Euphoria was the only way to describe the perpetual feeling encompassing us.

One moment all we felt was the rushing force of our powers combining and combusting, and then it was gone.

We were gone from the realm, but no longer lost.

Looking into the bright clouds, my golden eyes began to water at the beauty before me. Stone pillars were filled with glittering jewels of soft pinks, emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. The eternal sun illuminated our home, showcasing the purest white temple that sat upon the mountain range. Reaching out a talon-tipped hand, I traced the words carved in the stone of the marble steps.

Caelum.

Of our language—once forgotten by mortals eons ago—only that single word remained within their realm apart from Ille Liber Divinus . Purple scales glistened in the light of day as Reombarth stepped up to my side and laid her claw over mine. Turning my head, I looked into her golden eyes and smiled. Our children were still down within the living realm, enjoying the freedom we thirsted so badly for. We would miss them dreadfully until they reunited with us in the heavens.

Nevertheless, they deserved that peace, that happiness we had yearned for.

With our past sins, I never imagined we would be welcomed back into the Divine. We had betrayed our Creators, the makers of all. We went against the Laws of the Divine they'd set in place when we bound our souls with the King Ulric of Menodore many years ago. We were selfish and greedy, wanting more than what we were blessed with. But they had made us with thoughts and emotions, they had given us humanity and expected us to not yearn for more .

And that want was our sin.

We weren't created to experience that freedom, to experience humanity . We weren't exactly sure why we were made, or what the expectations beyond overseeing the mortal realm truly entailed. But maybe we weren't supposed to know. And maybe that was why no memories of the Godly Wars that took place eons ago came rushing forth.

That knowledge and history of us, the mistakes and deals we had made, were washed away by the Creators. There was a reason for that memory wipe but that reason was one the Fates would surely never divulge, especially to its Caelum-bound Gods. But those reasons could be damned—no questions lingered in my mind as we stood before the gates of our eternity, the Divine forgiving and accepting us once more.

We had returned the balance to the realm of the living. Had extinguished that darkness and the Infernal Crown, making way for light once more. And now that balance was restored, we could finally return home.

"What are we waiting for?" Aither chuckled, her joy so palpable that I could taste it in the air.

Samael, ever so quiet and reserved, grinned, and I could not recall a time when I saw such a look of pleasure on his face. "Haco," his black and white tail flicked in impatience as Evander shook his horned head.

"We've waited centuries for this and I am not waiting another moment." The God of Lightning started moving up the steps that led into the clouds and further into our Realm of the Divine. He turned his head as he reached the halfway point and looked to Eirwen, the Goddess of Ice. "Well?"

She chuckled, her white scales glittering in the sun, matching the gem-covered pillars as Bomris walked ahead of her. His golden gaze met my own and instead of his usual closed-off demeanor, I saw the light and hope in his eyes. Ragnar and Kano trailed behind, practically bouncing up the steps and taking three at a time.

The karma of the stars was a beautiful yet delicate phenomenon. We had spent so many years within the living realm and felt every emotion that was possible. We had endured hardships, fought in countless wars, and lived a thousand lives, but nothing compared to the euphoria that was waiting for us.

Hand in hand with Reombarth, we ascended the large staircase, and it was as if our souls were answering a call. Vibrations carried through our bones with every movement as the seven other Gods disappeared through the veil and returned to the Divine.

"Are you ready?" Reombarth checked, her scale-covered hand tightening its grip on my own.

Before the final step into Caelum, I looked back down at the mortals below. Even with our memories still unreturned from the Creators, I knew that we had fought long and hard for this peace for eons. We had made mistakes in our selfishness, and defied the laws set in place by intermingling within the Living Realm, but we had finally rectified that past.

And I felt nothing but pride and joy and bliss and hope for that realm.

I smiled with my answer, looking into my sweet goddess' swirling golden eyes, and dipped my head. "Yes."

Our sins had been forgiven, and at long last, we were home .