Even within the Veyris Empire, where outer gods, primordial queens, and beings beyond reality moved freely, there were some things harder to understand than cosmic laws.
Feelings were one of them.Morrigan sat quietly beside one of the Empire's floating gardens.
For once, there were no training grounds.
No battles.
No sealed powers.
Just drifting lights moving through the air like stars.
Morrigan stared at her reflection in a crystal pond.
…Why does this keep happening…
…Every time I hear his name…
…Every time I see him…
She touched her chest lightly.
…My heart feels strange.
…I don't understand it.
She wasn't afraid.
That was what confused her.
She had lived with fear, isolation, and sealed power for so long
but this felt entirely different.Suddenly soft light spread across the garden.
Rose-colored petals drifted through the air.
Warm golden light shimmered gently around the trees.
A graceful figure appeared.
Aphrodite
Her hair flowed like liquid silk in endless weightless waves, shimmering with soft rose-gold, silver, and moonlit colors. Her eyes were warm golden-amber with faint starlight hidden within them, carrying a calm kindness rather than overwhelming beauty.
Her features looked perfectly balanced not in a distant divine way, but in a way that felt gentle and alive.
She looked at Morrigan and smiled softly.
…You're thinking very loudly.
Morrigan jumped.
…W-what?!
Aphrodite sat beside her.
…You're asking what you're feeling.
…And the answer is simpler than narrative structures or laws.
Morrigan blinked.
…Simpler?
Aphrodite nodded.
…Feelings rarely follow logic.
…You can rewrite stories.
…You can alter laws.
…But hearts don't always listen to power.
Morrigan looked downward quietly.
…I think about Kael Veyris a lot.
…He saved me.
...He didn't ask for anything.
...He gave me a place.
A small smile appeared on Aphrodite's face.
...Hmm.
…Now I understand.
Elsewhere
Kael Veyris walked through the garden path without realizing a conversation about him was happening.
Aphrodite looked toward him.
Then toward Morrigan.
Then smiled slightly.
…Interesting.
Kael looked at Aphrodite.
Then at Morrigan.
…What are you discussing?
Aphrodite calmly stood.
…Love.
Silence.
Kael blinked once.
Then simply said:
…Hmm.
Morrigan immediately froze.
Her face turned bright red.
Aphrodite quietly covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Far away, Wukong somehow sensed chaos beginning.
…Oh no.
…Something funny is happening.