The next day dawned, and Nova found himself in a cramped apartment, courtesy of Marcus, who'd tossed him the keys with a grunt and no mention of rent—for now. Marcus had dubbed him the "Chosen Child," a title that made Nova's lip curl, given he was eighteen, a young adult by any measure.
But to a grizzled forty-year-old like Marcus, even Nova's sharp crimson eyes and lean frame screamed kid. The Vice Guild Master's D-rank sigil, with its single diagonal line, still burned in Nova's mind, a reminder of the power he needed to chase.
Nova sprawled on his lumpy bed, the thin blanket barely keeping out the morning chill. He stared at the cracked ceiling, but his gaze drifted beyond, to Freya, as if he could see her through the mortal veil.
His golden circles itched, pillarless and mocking, but his thoughts were on her golden chambers, not this dingy room. The city outside hummed, a gritty pulse of car horns and shouting vendors, but Nova's heart tugged toward High Heaven.
---
In her celestial chambers, Freya lay on her stomach, her golden hair spilling over silken sheets. A shimmering portal hovered above her bed, a window linking High Heaven to Nova's mortal world.
She couldn't cross to Earth, her duties as Goddess of Creation chaining her to the Celestial Realm, but Nova could return, could step through and join her in that radiant space. Her lips curved in a smile, too wide, too bright, her golden eyes glinting with a secret that made the stars in her room flicker.
---
Nova felt her presence, a warm pull in his chest, and his own grin spread, rough and real. She's up to something, that sly goddess, he thought, his mortal heart racing with excitement.
The portal's glow cast faint shadows on his ceiling, a bridge between their worlds, and he leaned toward it, as if he could reach her through sheer will. The apartment's peeling walls and musty air faded, replaced by the promise of her laughter.
"Hey, Freya," he said, his voice soft but gritty, bouncing through the portal like a stone skipped across a pond. "You lookin' all cozy up there. What's the deal? Miss me already?" His smirk was pure bravado, but his eyes softened, drinking in her radiant face.
Freya's laugh echoed, sweet as honey but with a mischievous edge. "Oh, Nova, you're not that hard to miss," she teased, her voice floating through the portal, angelic yet laced with a playful jab. "This mortal shtick suits you. All scruffy and lost, like a stray dog in that dump of an apartment." She propped her chin on her hands, her smile widening, almost too much, like she was hiding a damn jackpot.
Nova chuckled, scratching his neck, the blanket slipping off his shoulder. "Yeah, real luxurious down here. Smells like old socks and regret. You gonna invite me up, or just keep grinning like you stole the Universe's favorite toy?" His tone was light, but her relentless smile gnawed at him, too bright for a casual chat.
She tilted her head, her golden hair catching the starlight in her chambers. "Maybe I did steal something," she said, her voice dropping to a sultry purr. "Or maybe I'm just happy to see my favorite god-turned-mortal making a mess of Earth." Her eyes sparkled, and the portal shimmered, as if her mood was juicing it up.
Nova's brow furrowed, his grin faltering. What's with that smile? he thought, his gut twisting with a mix of curiosity and unease. "Alright, spill it, Freya," he said, sitting up, his voice rougher now: "You're smiling like you just tricked the Universe into a bad bet. What's going on?" His crimson eyes locked on hers through the portal, searching for the truth behind her glow.
Freya's smile softened, but her eyes held a secret, warm and heavy. She shifted, sliding her body forward until her belly pressed against the portal's edge, the silken sheets slipping to reveal the gentle curve of her form. "Touch it, Nova," she said, her voice a whisper, almost tender, but with a weight that made his throat tighten. "Go on, don't be a coward."
Nova hesitated, his hand hovering over the portal, confusion knotting his brow. What the hell's she playing at? he thought, his pulse quickening. He reached out, his fingers brushing the portal's surface, warm and tingling, until they met her belly.
A faint heartbeat pulsed beneath his touch, steady and strong, like a star flickering to life. His eyes widened, his breath catching as realization slammed into him. She's pregnant. Holy shit, she's carrying my kid.
His mind reeled, the gritty apartment fading as the weight of it hit him. Freya, the Goddess of Creation, was pregnant with his child—a spark of divinity born from their night together.
His mortal heart pounded, a mix of awe and panic, but something fiercer surged within him: conviction, raw and unyielding. He was no god now, but he'd be damned if he wasn't there for his kid.
"Freya," he said, his voice low, almost a growl, "let me come back. I'll return to High Heaven, for the baby. I need to be there." His words carried a fire, a promise forged in the core of who he was, a good man, mortal or not, ready to step up. His hand lingered on the portal, the heartbeat under his fingers anchoring him to her.
Freya's smile softened, her golden eyes glistening with something like pride, but she shook her head, gentle yet firm. "No, Nova," she said, her voice steady, cutting through his urgency. "You chose this path, this mortal life. Enjoy it, live it. Our child will be here, safe with me, until you're ready to return." Her tone was warm, but it carried the weight of her divine will, unyielding as the stars in her chambers.
Nova's jaw clenched, his instinct to argue flaring, but her gaze held him, calm and certain. She's right, damn it, he thought, frustration mixing with respect. I wanted this—Earth, the struggle, the chance to be something new. But a kid? That changes everything. He exhaled, his shoulders slumping, the portal's glow reflecting in his eyes. "You're gonna be a hell of a mom, Freya," he said, his voice rough but warm, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Just… don't let the kid grow up too fast without me."
Freya laughed, a sound like bells in a storm, her hand reaching through the portal to brush his cheek. "I'll keep the little star in check," she said, her tone teasing but soft. "But you, Nova, better not get yourself killed down there. I'd hate to drag your sorry ass back just to scold you." Her smile was playful, but her eyes held a fierce love, a reminder of their bond across realms.
Nova leaned into her touch, his grin widening. "Deal. But if I do get in deep shit, you better come yelling." He winked, the gritty humor masking the ache in his chest.
The portal flickered, its light dimming as their connection wavered, but the heartbeat lingered in his mind, a promise tying him to High Heaven even as he faced Earth's chaos.