"Say," I muttered, glancing down at Anathasia as she lay across my lap, one eye lazily opening. "Today's the reunion, yeah?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
We fell into silence, the only sound being Francesca's pen scratching across the paper in front of us.
"…We should probably check on Rania and Roselia."
"Agreed," she replied almost instantly, pushing herself up from my lap.
Her gaze shifted toward Francesca, who was still focused on her notes.
"Fran, wanna come?"
Francesca paused for a moment. Then continued writing.
"I still have three more subjects to review," she said, glancing up briefly. "I think I'll stay behind."
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Besides… I think Mom and Dad need some time for themselves too, right?"
Anathasia froze.
Then slowly turned to me, wide-eyed.
I just shrugged.
Her expression flattened almost immediately before she turned back to Francesca with a smile.
"I see…"
Without warning, she grabbed my wrist and yanked me up beside her.
"—Hey, what—?!"
"There's food in the fridge," she said casually, waving at Francesca as we began to fade. "Heat something up if we take too long. Make sure you eat, okay?"
Francesca simply smiled, still holding her pen.
"Mhm. Take care, Mom. Dad."
—
The next moment, we stood in front of the beachside house Rania had made centuries ago in Aegea. Though only twenty years had passed back on Earth.
"Hoh… the place still looks well-maintained," Anathasia remarked, hands on her hips as she nodded.
My eyes swept across the surroundings before settling back on the house.
Strangely enough… it looked new.
Almost like it had been built just a few years ago.
"We barely even come here…" I glanced at Anathasia. "Did Rania or the others take care of it?"
She paused, scanning the area before giving a small shrug.
"Who knows… Kagariel rarely leaves the Ruins. And Rania and Roselia…"
She trailed off.
We both nodded.
The sound of footsteps crunching against the sand broke the quiet, drawing our attention toward its source.
An old man approached.
His back was slightly hunched, a cane supporting his weight.
Probably in his nineties… though I wasn't entirely sure.
"Oho… visitors?" he spoke, his voice carrying faint amusement as he came to a stop a few steps away.
"And you are…?" Anathasia raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly as she studied him.
"The caretaker," he replied, his gaze shifting briefly toward the house.
"Of the Augthoria household."
Then he looked back at us.
"I was personally chosen by the Divine Merciful Equilibrium herself. As such, I have devoted the entirety of my life to ensuring that no one tarnishes this home."
We both glanced back at the house.
Anathasia crossed her arms.
"The Augthoria household… huh."
She looked back at him.
"Who exactly are the Augthoria family, old man?"
I immediately shot her a look, pinching her arm.
"Ow—! I was just asking!"
"Did you really have to say it like that?" I said flatly.
"Well, I don't know his name. What else was I supposed to call him??"
A rough laugh suddenly cut in as the man tugged lightly on his beard.
"Yes, of course… I am Kuragu."
"The caretaker of the Augthoria household."
We both looked at him, then nodded.
"Mr. Kuragu… nice to meet you, sir."
"Kuragu, huh…" Anathasia muttered. "What a weird name."
I groaned, letting out a sigh.
"Girl…"
"What? I was just saying," she shot back, eyes narrowing, arms still crossed.
Thankfully, Mr. Kuragu didn't take offense. If anything, he laughed even louder.
"What an honest young woman you are," he said. "And I suppose the black-haired woman is also your—"
I raised a hand, forcing a small smile.
"Sir… I'm a man."
Mr. Kuragu's half-lidded eyes snapped wide open as he stared at me.
"A man…?"
"Her husband, yes…"
He froze.
Then slowly pointed at Anathasia. At me. Then back at Anathasia.
His jaw dropped.
"Is—is that so…?"
I nodded.
Mr. Kuragu let out a shaky laugh, tugging at his beard again.
"I see…"
"Anyway," Anathasia cut in casually, "what do you know about the Augthoria family, Mr. Kuragu?"
He hesitated, glancing at the beachside house before finally speaking.
"The Augthoria family… the very lineage from which the Divine Merciful Equilibrium descended…"
"…are a family of creators."
"Outer Gods, to be precise."
My gaze sharpened slightly.
"The Supreme Being herself—the one whom the Divine Merciful Equilibrium answers to—is also part of that family."
"And alongside her… The Foundation."
He paused briefly.
"Or, as the scriptures call it…"
He looked straight at me.
"The Absolute Stillness."
Slowly, my eyes shifted toward Anathasia as she met my gaze.
[…He's talking about us, isn't he?]
[Yeah… looks like it.]
We both gave a small nod before turning our attention back to Mr. Kuragu.
"It is said…" he continued, "that the Supreme Being is the one who writes existence to be… while the Foundation is the one that simply is."
A faint roar echoed in the distance as he went on.
"While the rest of the Outer Gods act as pillars of existence—including the Divine Merciful Equilibrium herself."
"All of them capable of shaping worlds at their whim… or holding entire realities between their fingers. Like a marble to a human."
His gaze drifted toward the sea as the waves rolled gently against the shore.
"Every other god is said to be subordinate to the five of them… even the Demiurges."
[Who the hell wrote those scriptures?] Anathasia's voice echoed in my head.
[Why'd they have to put it like that?]
"The First Outer God of Continuity—and the Supreme Being—Anathasia Veridielle Augthoria, was once said to have declared…"
"…that she has no need for worship, nor does she care for such trivial things."
"That she would rather have us live freely… unbound by invisible shackles such as the concept of hell."
He turned back to us, a faint, almost imperceptible smile forming on his lips.
"It is said that The First does not rule… just as the Foundation does not."
"They simply is."
For a moment, we just stood there. Slightly dazed by what we had just heard.
"That's…"
"Definitely something—"
Before I could finish, a bright light suddenly burst into existence, forcing Mr. Kuragu to shield his eyes.
When it faded—
A girl stood before us.
Blonde-white hair, styled neatly. Dressed in formal attire. A deep blue blazer, green vest over a white shirt, and a black bow at her collar. Paired with a high-waisted black skirt.
"Sir Kyle. Miss Anathasia."
She smiled.
"It's been a while."
Anathasia suddenly started clapping, her eyes lighting up.
"Gosh… a jellyfish cut?" she gasped, hands flying to her lips. "So cute…"
She gave a firm nod and a thumbs-up.
"It suits you really well, Rania."
Rania froze for a moment before letting out a small chuckle.
"Thank you, Miss Anathasia."
Beside her—
"Divine Merciful Equilibrium… Lady Rania…" Mr. Kuragu whispered, lowering his head.
"I greet your Divine Grace."
Rania glanced at him, her expression softening.
"Please, lift your head, Mr. Kuragu. You've already done more than enough for me."
She tilted her head slightly.
"There's no need for that. You're quite old as well… you should at least take some time to rest."
Reluctantly, Mr. Kuragu lifted his head.
He met her gaze for a moment. Then slowly turned toward us.
"Wait…"
His eyes settled on Anathasia, who was still staring at Rania with sparkling eyes, one hand covering her lips.
"…Anathasia?"
—
The four of us moved inside the beach house, continuing the conversation there.
Mr. Kuragu, though—
"Anathasia… Veridielle Augthoria…?"
His eyes widened as they settled on her. She was just casually leaning against the couch, legs crossed like none of this mattered.
"The Supreme Being…"
He whispered it, like saying it out loud would make it more real.
Then his gaze shifted to me.
"Then… you must be—"
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
A single nod from me was enough.
Just like that, Mr. Kuragu shook his head and began lowering himself—
"Mr. Kuragu, please don't—!"
I stepped forward quickly, catching him before he could bow, guiding him back into his seat beside Rania.
"It's really not necessary, okay?"
I gave him a small smile.
That seemed to calm him down, at least a little. Though the hesitation… the reverence in his eyes didn't fully disappear.
Once I made sure he was settled, I let out a quiet sigh and sat down beside Anathasia.
"Right," Anathasia started, already reaching over to tug at my hair again. For some reason.
"How's Roselia? She's not being a pain in the ass, is she?"
Mr. Kuragu stayed completely still beside Rania.
Rania, on the other hand, gave a small nod.
"She's doing fine… at the moment."
She hesitated slightly before continuing.
"And…"
Her eyes met Anathasia's.
"As you asked—"
"I spoke with her."
A brief pause.
"With complete honesty."
"And I didn't allow her to make excuses."