After giving it some thought, I looked at her and nodded.
"Not a bad idea," I said, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.
"We'll also have to deal with moving our stuff eventually…"
Anathasia paused at my words, a flicker of recognition crossing her face.
"Oh… right."
"That too."
We both fell silent. Her gaze dropped as she looked off to the side, one hand holding her arm while she gently bit her lower lip.
Seeing her reaction, I shook my head and stepped closer, reaching out to ruffle her hair. My other hand turned the doorknob open.
"No need to feel guilty about leaving this place, alright?"
Leaning in slightly, I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, smiling softly.
"I understand that much, y'know. We're just doing our jobs as parents—keeping our family safe."
"Think of it as just moving to another house."
My hands moved to cup her cheeks gently.
"Besides, it's just to play it safe," I added. "I know we've lived here for years… and you feel guilty about making me leave it."
Anathasia stayed silent, her gaze softening into something almost melancholic.
"But you also know you and the girls matter way more to me, right?"
She nodded slowly, placing her hand over mine.
"I mean… I do, but still—"
Flick.
She froze immediately, her eyes widening before she frowned at me.
"What was that for?" Anathasia grumbled, rubbing her forehead.
"To make your stubborn ass understand that I don't mind?" I sighed, pinching her cheek.
"Seriously, you're absolutely terrifying as a god… but most of the time, you're like this."
"Stupidly stubborn. Fiercely protective. And a little too caring."
Her brows furrowed even more at my words, but I just smiled.
"But I'm not complaining."
"I think it's cute."
Her jaw slackened for a moment. Then she suddenly lunged toward my cheek—
"Mom?"
She froze instantly, turning toward the girl standing in the middle of the hallway.
White hair, just like Anathasia's. Brown-amber eyes, similar to mine.
"Fran…" we both muttered at the same time, her hand still hovering near my face.
"What are you and Dad doing?" she asked, tilting her head as her gaze moved between us.
Anathasia slowly pulled her hand back, clearing her throat as I casually withdrew mine from her cheek.
"Nothing…? We were just playing," she said with a small smile.
Fran looked at me, confusion still flickering across her face.
I simply nodded, ignoring how Anathasia had started pinching my waist every few seconds.
"That said," Anathasia continued, "where's your big sis?"
"She said she was visiting Apoche to check on Big Sis Egrathiel."
Anathasia nodded, exchanging a glance with me before stepping inside.
I gently patted Fran's head before following after her.
"Did you have lunch already? I can whip something up for you," I asked casually.
Anathasia, meanwhile, had already stopped to nuzzle Fran's hair. Occasionally pinching her cheeks while quietly squealing,
"Kyaa~ so cute~ you really took after your mom, didn't you?"
She buried her face into Fran's hair again.
"Big sis made sure to cook for me earlier, actually," Fran replied with a small smile, even as Anathasia hugged her from behind.
"But thanks, Dad."
I paused for a moment, glancing back at her before smiling.
"I see…"
With a nod, I turned toward the kitchen while Anathasia continued doting on her in the living room.
"Lena, that girl…"
I couldn't help but smile to myself.
"Every bit like an older sister."
"I should treat her to something she likes later."
—
Somewhere beyond the Laniakea Supercluster
Apoche.
A rocky planet situated within a distant galactic cluster, far beyond the bounds of their own. Nearby loomed a massive gravitational anomaly—something akin to a hypothetical quasi-ultramassive black hole.
Home to over five million species and six hundred million individuals, it was a world once torn apart by war… now unified under a single rule.
The Unified Theocracy of Yaigdrah.
Established by the Outer God of Balance, Carthanalenia, at the brink of the planet's collapse. An intervention that prevented a complete extinction event.
And now, in her absence, the one who led its people—
Egrathiel.
One of her subordinates. A local deity who resided on Apoche.
And currently—
"How have you been?"
Carthanalenia smiled softly as she gave a small wave.
Egrathiel, who had been sitting atop one of the tallest buildings in the city of Phobos, turned at the familiar voice.
Her eyes widened.
"Lady Carthanalenia—"
"Just Lena," Carthanalenia cut in gently, suddenly appearing in front of her. She pressed a finger lightly against Egrathiel's lips.
Tilting her head slightly, she stepped back, her gaze drifting across the sprawling metropolis below as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Looks like Yaigdrah managed just fine without me."
Her eyes returned to Egrathiel.
"As expected."
Egrathiel met her gaze, her eyes glistening before she blinked the moisture away and shook her head.
"It was only possible because of Lady—"
"Ahem?" Carthanalenia raised an eyebrow.
"—I mean… Lena's intervention made it possible."
She lowered her head, hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"And for that… you have my complete gratitude."
Carthanalenia's hand lifted slightly—
Then stopped mid-air.
"As well as my complete loyalty," Egrathiel continued.
"Lady Carthanalenia."
Carthanalenia's lips parted, but no words came out.
Despite that, Egrathiel went on, lifting her head to meet her gaze.
"You may not see it as something extraordinary…"
"But as someone who lives on this planet… I cannot possibly express my gratitude with words alone."
The distant hum of vehicles seemed to fade as silence settled between them.
Then—
"And so…"
Egrathiel placed a hand over her chest.
"Please allow me to remain by your side… as your aide."
"Lady Carthanalenia."
Carthanalenia's lips parted again, as if to respond. But no words came out.
Her gaze lowered as she slowly pulled her hand back, eyes narrowing slightly.
"I called you and many others my subordinates…"
She lightly bit her lower lip.
"But I never once saw any of you as beneath me."
Her eyes shifted toward Egrathiel. Just in time to see her expression falter.
Something in her chest tightened.
"It's not that I don't want loyalty… or even worship," she continued after a pause.
"I just… never did any of this with the goal of being worshipped in mind."
Their eyes met.
"I was just carrying out my responsibilities."
"Because that's what's expected of someone like me—"
"Lady Carthanalenia."
Egrathiel cut her off, her voice firm as she reached out and took Carthanalenia's hands.
Carthanalenia fell silent.
"Please," Egrathiel said, tightening her grip slightly as she pulled her closer.
"You don't have to measure your worth by what you've done anymore."
Her gaze didn't waver.
"I know my loyalty may have started from admiration… from what you did in the past."
"I've watched you for years. I've seen you cry… seen you sacrifice yourself over and over again."
Her expression hardened.
"But I've also seen how you only ever seem to value yourself based on those sacrifices."
"…Despite everything."
Carthanalenia's eyes widened slightly. Before lowering again.
But Egrathiel didn't stop.
"You need to understand this…"
"I'm not following you because of what you've done anymore."
A brief pause.
"I'm following you because I chose to."
"For who you are."
Her voice softened, just slightly.
"My lady… please."
"You don't have to keep sacrificing yourself just to be acknowledged… or to be loved."
"I need you to understand that."
A gentle breeze passed through, strands of their hair swaying softly with it.
But even after hearing Egrathiel's words…
Carthanalenia slowly pried her fingers away.
Her touch remained gentle as she forced a small smile.
"It's not like that, Egrathiel…" she murmured, shaking her head.
"I'm not sacrificing myself… like you said."
She could see it. The way Egrathiel's expression fell.
And yet—
She still pulled away.
Hands resting behind her back as she turned slightly.
"Just keep maintaining everything here," she said quietly.
"I think I'll visit again soon."
A small tilt of her head. A faint shrug.
"It depends."
As her form began to fade, Egrathiel reached out.
"Lena, no—"
"Be back soon," Carthanalenia whispered.
"Ethy."
Her hand passed through fading light, grasping nothing.
And just like that—
She was gone.
Egrathiel stood alone atop the building.
Her gaze lowered as her hands slowly clenched, fingers paling from the pressure.
"…Why do you keep running away…"
She lifted her head, staring into the vast sky above—
Filled with stars.
And at its center.
A massive, gaping void. Bending even light itself.
"Lady Carthanalenia…"