I've seen a lot of things in my time but even I can't help but marvel at the complexity and sheer subtlety of Darling's Divinities. Among all of them, his Love Divinity is something that defies ordinary understanding.
A Divinity, in general, is a power that allows one to alter reality according to their will. It's a manifestation of the universe's selection to influence the world in ways mortals or even immortals can barely comprehend.
Veneri originally has two main Divinities, Love and Water, though the Thyrexxa gifted him some as bonuses. His Protection Divinity is the most practical in combat, forming shields and barriers that are nearly impervious, capable of absorbing even devastating attacks that would obliterate lesser beings.
His Water Divinity allows him to manipulate water with precision, bending it to his will. Time, though limited in its present form, lets him slow its flow, which is a trick he uses sparingly because it uses a lot of energy. And his Justice Divinity… well, that one is complicated and honestly, it's one I'll save for later.
But the crown jewel, the one that dwarfs all the others in its subtlety and scope, is his Love Divinity. He paired his Love Divinity with Peony Creation.
With this, the Divinity releases a peony scent so delicate and intoxicating, that it gently relaxes anyone nearby the moment he activates it. The scent isn't overpowering or vulgar. It's almost hypnotic in its tranquility with the ability to calm and focus the mind simultaneously. Veneri doesn't treat this lightly. He has learned over the years to control it in multiple ways, but primarily, it manifests in two distinct applications.
The first application is the most immediately impressive and potentially dangerous: he can compel someone through the peony scent.
It's not arbitrary though. It's tied to his Boon, Ethereal Beauty. Boons are essentially amplifiers of one's inherent abilities and in Veneri's case, this particular Boon makes him exceptionally attractive to almost anyone who can perceive him. And when his Love Divinity combines with this Boon, the effect is startling. A person who encounters him, who has some latent susceptibility or attraction, can suddenly feel compelled not only to love but desire and adulate him.
The peony scent itself is a marvel of subtlety. On its surface, it seems almost innocuous. But what makes it extraordinary is how he layers it with his Aeterium power, Body and Soul Reconstruction, and his intrinsic Boon, Ethereal Beauty.
With the scent activated, anyone who inhales it enters a state of heightened receptivity. Their mental and emotional faculties relax, their defenses lower almost imperceptibly and their focus shifts subtly toward him. This is what I like to call the first stage of the Divinity's compulsion. In this stage, it doesn't make someone act against their will. It simply calms, soothes, and amplifies vulnerability, essentially preparing the mind and body for the second stage, should he choose to proceed.
Now, the first stage can also include healing, but only if he consciously infuses it with his Body and Soul Reconstruction. The scent itself doesn't automatically heal but with the right tuning, anyone inhaling it can have physical or spiritual injuries mended almost without realizing it.
Oh, once, he attempted to combine Divinities for more complex effects, such as merging the Protection Divinity with Love. That attempt, as disastrous as it sounds, nearly crippled him. The backlash of two potent Divinities clashing in the same construct was enough to inflict severe injury.
He spent days recovering and Adelasta, who somehow always had perfect timing for dramatic lectures, delivered a scolding that apparently still haunts him to this day. The lesson was clear: Love, as a Divinity, is versatile but it does not mix casually with others. The energies required to bend it into multiple forms simultaneously are immense, even for someone of his power.
After the calming stage, there's the second stage, which is the actual compulsion effect. This is where the Divinity truly becomes dangerous.
Once someone has inhaled the scent and has been eased into a relaxed, receptive state, he can exert a gentle but unmistakable influence over their emotions, thoughts and even actions. It can escalate to outright compulsion if he desires, bending their attention, affection or even loyalty in his direction. He can make someone complete tasks, perform gestures or act in accordance with his will, all framed within the perception of love or devotion. What's astonishing is that the compulsion doesn't need verbal commands. The scent alone, combined with his mastery over the emotional resonance of the subject, is enough to align their behavior with his intent.
Of course, this is where limitations come in, because no Divinity is without checks. The compulsion only works on beings who are of a lower rank than him, which is logical, given that it is essentially a mental or emotional attack, not a physical one.
Anyone at his level or above, anyone with equivalent or greater mental fortitude, is essentially immune or highly resistant to it. So mortals, low-ranked immortals, or beings who have not yet ascended to Divinity are affected, but beings equal to or above his rank cannot be compelled, which means he cannot use this Divinity as a weapon against his peers or rivals at high levels. It's an exquisite tool for influence and subtle control but not for outright dominance over those on equal footing.
For Asenane, he didn't need the compulsion stage. The first stage did the job entirely. Her fatigue, her residual physical stress, even the migraine from exertion the night before was eased purely by the peony scent's gentle diffusion. It was enough for her body and mind to begin repairing without her consciously realizing it.
Why did he use it instead of his Body Reconstruction? As he said, she was his first test subject to test this on.
The versatility of the Divinity is what makes it so remarkable. Stage one is nurturing and soothing. Stage two is undeniably manipulative and yet it doesn't feel like coercion. It feels like an irresistible alignment of the subject's desires and actions with his will. It's easy to underestimate its danger because it appears subtle but the reality is that someone unprepared could have their thoughts, emotions and loyalties reshaped without any awareness that it's happening.
And the fact that it's paired with his Boon, Ethereal Beauty, amplifies the effect, because those who are naturally susceptible to attraction or devotion are far more likely to enter a receptive state the moment they sense him, making the second stage significantly easier to enact..
The second application, which is more personal, is perhaps even more delicate and intimate. Veneri can amplify the sensitivity of someone's natural love toward him, not by forcing them artificially but by enhancing the very emotions they already feel.
He can translate that emotional resonance into a physical form, which acts almost like an aphrodisiac, intensifying sensations, emotions and even their body. This one is highly controlled. It only works on someone who already harbors genuine affection, someone who trusts him and has naturally opened their heart. When he uses this on someone, their mind, heart and body respond more vividly to him. Their attentiveness is heightened and their senses are subtly sharpened to the nuances of his presence.
He experimented with this during the five years he spent with Adelasta, refining its potency and precision. He can heighten desire, pleasure and emotional responsiveness but only in those whose hearts are already aligned with his. So, this second application can be used only on his beloveds.
He has other applications of this too. He can sense love of all forms in other beings. His understanding of love is better than most. Also, he can use the concept of love to buff himself, though this is an experimental phase he hasn't tried yet.
I often think that among all his Divinities, this one is the closest to capturing the essence of Veneri himself. I know what you're wondering. Why am I telling you this?
It's because this information is essential as to why I'm explaining this flashback.