Inside the temple's prayer room, Nathan sat on one of the old wooden chairs, Lilo perched on his shoulder. They faced the statue, the one Vorthakar used to speak to them.
"So... what is this place?" Nathan asked.
"It's the last fragment of my power, the world ... before I was killed by the other gods for interfering with the human realm."
"You were killed?" Lilo asked, suprised.
"Indeed, little nymph. I knew what awaited me, but... I was blinded by the loss of Keylys."
"You really loved her."
"I did. From the first moment I heard her prayer and appeared in that tower."
"Hey can you tell us your love story?" Lilo asked with curiosity.
"Lilo!…" Nathan shot her a look.
"Hah. It's fine. I'll tell you. It's the least I can do after all the trouble I caused."
Despite the question being painfully personal, Vorthakar chose to share his story, his and Keylys, as a form of forgiveness.
"After I appeared in her tower, her voice... it captivated me. I told her I could make her immortal."
"You could stop her from aging?" Nathan asked.
"I was the god of time, after all. But she refused."
"She refused?" Lilo tilted her head.
"She said eternity wasn't something she wanted. That a love lived forever wouldn't mean anything to her."
"…That's… true." Nathan muttered.
"She was right. The night before she was burned was the best night of my life. We talked, we laughed, we embraced our bodies…"
"Huh? What does 'embraced your bodies' mean?" Lilo asked innocently.
"..."
"A child took root in Keylys' body," Vorthakar said, "Her father found out. Killed her in disgust."
"So the real reason he didn't let you be together was…" Nathan started.
"Yes ... maybe if I hadn't done that… maybe she'd still be here."
"…I'm sorry, Mister God," Lilo whispered,
Nathan felt it, the weight in the room. The silence. And yet, despite how somber the air had grown, his curiosity pressed forward.
"What happened? Why don't we know about this? About the Aurelion Empire?"
"…After I was killed, the other gods erased it all."
"Erased?" Nathan leaned forward.
"They wiped out both the Empire and the Crusaders. Deleted every trace. Every memory."
"They… changed history?"
"No one could stop them. The Empire followed no god. And I was outnumbered."
"That's not fair!" Lilo snapped.
"Little nymph, the world is rarely fair. The powerful decide. The weak suffer."
"F*ck! Two entire countries gone because of fear. Power really is everything in this world…"
"Child… don't be consumed by fury. There's no need anymore."
"Who gave the gods the right to do this?"
"Most of those gods died in the Demonic War."
"…Wait-what war?" Nathan asked.
"This all happened 1,200 years ago. The Demonic War broke out 1,000 years ago. It destroyed almost every old god… so, don't chase revenge. There's nothing left to avenge."
"Old gods? There are new ones, then?" Lilo asked.
"I believe so. A world like this… it can't survive without gods."
"So how do we know they won't erase us one day?" Nathan said, staring at the statue's eyes.
"It was... a complicated time," Vorthakar said.
"What do you mean?" Nathan pushed.
"The bloodline of the Kaelen royal family carried immense magical talent. Potential to manifest aura. When a child was about to be born, a demigod born from such power…"
"The other gods didn't want to take the risk," Lilo said, finishing for him.
"Because a demigod wouldn't follow the rules," Nathan added.
"…I'm impressed you figured it out," Vorthakar said.
It made sense. Terrifying sense. Nathan could see how the other gods acted out of fear, but that didn't justify the bloodshed. They escaped any consequences. For two hundred years.
"Vorthakar... I assume it's okay if I use your name?" Nathan asked.
"Please. Be comfortable. I'm only a memory now."
"Then... why does this place still exist?"
"I wanted someone to hear this story. You were the only ones able to enter."
"Why us?"
"I'm afraid... I don't know."
"What's gonna happen to Mr. Butler when we leave?" Lilo asked.
"This fragment of time will disappear. Its purpose will be fulfilled."
A sudden surge of energy pulsed from the statue. A white crown shimmered into existence, floating, full of precious stones.
"Take it, child, I will send you back to the king's chamber."
"Then what?" Nathan asked, stepping forward.
"Place it on that man's head, and you'll return to reality."
"That's it?"
"After all you've been through... it's enough."
"…Thank you."
Nathan placed the crown in his bag and stood up. Lilo climbed to his shoulder again, but before they could move-
"Then as for your reward for living this story…" Vorthakar said,
Nathan froze.
Looked like he wouldn't walk away empty handed after all.