The old God slowly closed his eyes.
"He had already decided that their existence was an offense against the laws he served. There was nothing I could offer him that would make him abandon that conviction."
His eyes opened again, carrying the weight of memories that seemed far older than the chamber itself.
"So we fought."
The words were simple, yet the silence that followed seemed to carry the weight of an entire war.
"I could not defeat him. He had been a God long before I reached that realm, and his understanding of his path was far deeper than mine. He was stronger, more experienced, and unlike me, he had nothing to lose."
His fingers tightened slowly around the armrest.
"I had a universe to protect. I had my family. I had everything I had spent my life creating."
His voice fell quieter.
"And I lost all of it."
I stared at him for several seconds before asking, "But you survived."
The old man nodded.
"Yes."
There was no pride in his answer, nor any relief.
