After everyone stared at me until I got self-conscious, I had no choice but to admit Byurik was right. I mean I had to admit that I considered heading there right away to thank them in person, but when Fala was granted permission to go there in an emergency with Valo as her guardian they were both given an ungodly degree of environmental protections that I haven't even begun to unravel.
In the end, all I could do was postpone our holiday to visit Quatal's newly appointed auntie, but I was also interested in the white origin wyrm. He knew it worked on feathered serpents which means he had met one of the two others, but the deva said they hardly ever left the divine realm.
Oriigin wyrms weren't divine beasts, but they were an embodiment of fusion between pure mana, nature and flesh. On the divine beast power scale I would rate them next to the deva, on the destructive potential scale they may even match the aspects.
"Sweetie stop thinking about visiting dragons, we're here and Halsan is the last one... Then we have to run you through everything wedding related before the rehearsal." Eve nudged me gently, she knew me to well to not guess the holiday I was planning.
"Fine, but I need to go to them sooner rather than later, a gift to make our daughter comfortable deserves an in-person thanks and a girl should get to meet her new Auntie."
"The way she picks up aunts, we will be travelling non-stop."
"Can never have too many Aunties, Mama." The declaration made us acutely aware of how large our extended family would be before she was satisfied.
As we finished telling Halsan the good news he was surprisingly tearful, which left me feeling awkward. I was used to him being overly practical, tempering my anger when he could and showing his own when I acted thoughtlessly.
Seeing him cry was alien and uncomfortable making me feel like my skin was crawling. Eve sensed my discomfort and set Quatal on him with her unique brand of aggressive consolation.
Watching her pull pilfered snacks from her dimensional pocket was both amusing and concerning, a fact that she apparently picked up on.
"Don't worry... Auntie Astra made me promise not to ruin meals with snacks when she taught me how to do it." We were both growing increasingly surprised at the usually laid back and Ever-esque Deva, her nanny-ing skills were undoubtedly good and she both cared for and educated Quatal effectively whilst remaining her lovable aunt.
"Should we be paying her?... Wait, how are our finances looking... I never really paid attention but I haven't been working as an adventurer lately."
"You have enough to get by, but in truth the temple you two conned us into building has put a heavy hit into it and so has your wedding. You should probably do some adventures work soon but after your wedding, you have the selection for party members, then the coronation-"
"Perfect! After the selection we can leave the coronation in your capable hands and we can go on a family trip monster hunting." Even as I was speaking we had collected Quatal and were leaving the office, saying the last few words through the smallest of openings.
We then went to the tanner to get the latest batch of skin the seamstress had requested released for the flower girl's reception dress, full divinity on display of course.
The meeting was, brief but impactful, then we went to deliver it to the seamstress who said the suits were ready ahead of schedule and I should take them for fitting tests.
"Why did you have their suits lined in red?" Eve asked, a little bit confused given the custom of colour representing station.
"Because the girls are kind of hard for humans to see properly... I think they feel a bit left out with no one commenting on their clothes or individual styles and figures. So the red will contrast the black of their natural form while the black is still a bit easier to see than they are."
"Oh, that was so clever, when did you think of it?"
"Celesael seemed a bit down when we first came, when I asked why she simply said "there's not much point in dressing differently since no one really sees us". So I told her to trust me, when she saw the prototype she was slightly opposed to the idea of white so red was the next boldest contrast."
With everything in tow we headed home and got the girls to try on their suits and do a bit of a showcase for everyone. We had never seen them so happy, despite their naturally condescending opinion of humans, they seemed to enjoy making the men squirm.
The only exception was cosmael. "Da-Adam, can I go change please I think I would prefer to go unseen until I'm seen as your daughter." I hadn't missed the fact she dropped any pre-tense of possibility, but we had already accepted it.
"Whatever makes you happy, I can have the embellishments removed from yours if you want, maybe a mantle or some kind of disfiguring overture?"
"I don't want to be a bother, I'll wear it as is if needed, but thank you." She gave me and Eve a hug and went to change.
"Of course little one, as long as you're by my side I don't care what you wear, you look lovely in everything." I spoke quickly before she left, making her giggle as she opened up a door to the other side.
While that was happening, I was oblivious to the drama occurring between some of the others, suddenly getting everyone's attention by laughing.
"So how long has this been happening?" I asked taking a seat.
"What do you mean?" Eve asked as she sat beside me looking at the others.
"Doran, Valo, why not move away from the overly emotional young girls and the men doing their best to hide their opinions behind tact and let your feelings be read?..." I let the question hang in the air for a moment whilst they shifted uncomfortably. "I'm a good actor myself Doran, I can spot melodramatic camouflage. Valo, don't be mad at him, he was doing his best to hide the truth and overcompensated, men have a tendency to over-correct."
Until I told Valo to not be mad, everyone remained confused, then were jolted by the sudden realisation of what I was suggesting.
"Sorry Valo, he's right, I'll gladly say this under truth glyph but I was just trying to keep our secret as planned." Doran spoke sheepishly, the voice of a man freshly whipped.
"Grr! How does he always manage to...know? He couldn't even feel affection until today." The frustration was genuine, Valo had been on the receiving end of my antics and observations several times, some of which happened during an infatuation with me.
"Annoying people, my dear, is a speciality of his." Halsan explained, ever able to empathise with someone I had irritated.
"I don't get it, why hide it?" Eve asked as she moved over to her friend to congratulate her.
"I jus- Look, it's no secret I had a crush on you in the early days, I didn't want anyone making fun of him or me, saying this was a "rebound" or something like that. I used to think he was a bit sheepish and immature, then I started seeing him in a new light when we were at the clinic. I really do want to be with him, there's nothing else to it."
"...And I really do like her, I used to think she was a bit bossy... and she is, but it's just that she genuinely sees things others don't... well apart from Adam, but he's not normal." After a brief pause so everyone could nod in agreement, he continued to add something that made Eve and I laugh. "...also we didn't want to take attention from you two with the wedding and all, we've only been official for a week."
"You do know Adam hates attention right? Unless it's me, Quatal, Fala or the deva that is and I had more than I could tolerate in my time as high-priestess. If it weren't for the fact we have so many friends, family and acquaintances we would have been married in the other side with just those here and my dad."
"I still need to go bring Tyrland, the generals and Kriel's old master over from the demon lands. I would actually be very grateful if you took some attention from me..." They laughed and reached out to hold hands. "My friends, you two were some of the first I called that in this world, not just this time. A wedding is a ceremony celebrating love, let us celebrate yours and if anyone dares mock you for it... well an angry feathered serpent, two angry deities and three angry deva will make an impression none soon forget."
I leaned in to hug them both, if only so I could whisper something the others didn't hear "Congratulations to you both, I will ask Kuronovus to add Doran to the limited refugee list, as soon as you request it Valo." Smiling as I released them.
"Kuronovus?" They asked, making Byurik swallow his drink down the wrong hole.
"I see, I'm going to have to get used to people casually referencing my most venerated kin." He managed to get the words out as he looked to Halsan. "Sorry, I should probably warn you. They managed to get the promised subservience of an origin wyrm... The queen of chaos and black dragonkin... Kuronovus."
The announcement was met by a sudden and violent silence... Apart from the laughter of a certain deva and commander, both known for their more mirthful personalities.
"In my defence... This one was all Quatal and Eve." I declared, trying to deflect the looks of utter shock, terror and exasperation.
"Actually, you made me big and fluffy and Mama all black-eyed and god-y, so it is your fault Papa."
I had been betrayed.