Aurianna’s breath hitched. ’I’m scared... I’m scared... I’m scared...’ Her thoughts spiraled out of control as a primal instinct urged her to run, to escape, but there was nowhere to go. No one else seed to notice what was happening—no one except Azarath and Barbados, who appeared to be watching them curiously.
’Why? Why is my body screaming at to run?’ she wondered, her eyes darting around the room.
"Do not be afraid, child," the High god said, "I shall not harm you." He released her face gently as his hand moved to pat her head. "There would be no point in killing you, anyway. You’ll just revive or be reborn in another world... and I wouldn’t want that at all."
Aurianna’s heart dropped as his smile grew wider, almost too wide. "After all," he continued, "I will need you in the near future."
"Umm, High god, what are you doing there?" Paige asked, her voice trembling as her wide eyes locked onto the hooded figure. Everyone nearby froze, their heads snapping toward him.
Azarath clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. ’Damn you, Paige. You just had to ruin it.’
Paige, oblivious to Azarath’s inner fury, felt her stomach churn. Her thoughts spiraled into chaos. ’Why is the High god standing next to that awful human? Has she bewitched him? No... no, that’s impossible! He loves ! The High god loves ! So why—’ Her expression darkened as jealousy seethed within her. ’Why is he next to that annoying human instead of ?’
The High god turned to Paige with a faint smile. "Well, I must greet my family properly, mustn’t I? My cousin... or should I say my little niece?" he said, his voice laced with amusent as he leaned toward Aurianna and tugged her cheeks playfully.
"Niece?! What does that an, High god?" Paige asked, her voice rising in disbelief.
Aurianna, caught between shock and fury, scread inwardly, ’Who the fuck is your niece? Leave alone! Everyone is staring, you absolute asshole!’
The High god’s eyes slid coldly to Paige, freezing her in place. "You wouldn’t understand, Paige," he said coldly. "After all, you’re just an inferior race."
Paige flinched, her lips quivering, unable to muster a response.
Turning back to Aurianna, the High god’s playful deanor returned, though his words were anything but lighthearted. "So, tell , Aurianna Vanluad... did you eat your mother?"
"W-What?" Aurianna stamred.
The High god’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he tilted his head. "You must have devoured her alive to be born. Or perhaps she ripped you from her womb herself. Which one was it?"
"I-I don’t know," Aurianna blurted, her voice cracking.
A low, manic laugh bubbled from the High god’s lips before erupting into full-blown hysteria. "Hyuahahahah! It’s been millions of years since your race disappeared. Not a single one of you left, not a trace! I searched the dinsions, yet here you are, standing before ." He reached out, tracing a finger along her cheek, sending an icy shiver down her spine. "One of the rarest creatures in existence. A masterpiece even I could never replicate."
"But..." His voice grew darker, the playful edge vanishing. "You’re incomplete. The other half isn’t here. She’s not on my planet?"
Aurianna’s stomach twisted as her heart pounded in her chest. ’Leila... Could he an her? This is bad. He knows too much.’ Her gaze hardened as she forced herself to et his face.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she said, her tone flat but firm.
’Ahhh, why the fuck did I co here?’ Aurianna scread internally. ’And did Paige seriously say High god?! What the hell?! Why does the universe want dead so early?!’
The weight of every nervous gaze in the room pressed down on her. Even those at her table were paralyzed, trembling in their seats, unable to utter a word under the High god’s presence.
"Oh, you definitely know," the High god teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Your face betrays you, little one. But fear not—I’ll overlook your poor attempt at lying." He chuckled.
Azarath, clutching her trembling hands to steady herself, dared to speak. "H-High god, may I ask... what do you an by ’a race you could never replicate?’" she asked cautiously. Her eyes flicked to Aurianna, confusion lacing her tone. "And how is she able to understand the language of the gods?" Everyone stared at Azarath confused because the entire ti the High god was speaking to Aurianna he wasn’t using the normal language of their world but rather an entirely different language which no one could understand apart from the High god and a few gods and a few mortals.
The High god turned his gaze to Azarath, his smile amused. "Oh, her race?" He gestured toward Aurianna, who stiffened under his scrutiny. "She’s not like you or anyone else here. No, she’s sothing entirely different. Though... she seems to be sealed." His smile faltered montarily, a flicker of sothing unreadable crossing his face.
"As for why she can understand us?" He tilted his head, his hair cascading over his shoulders and that was Aurianna’s first glimpse at his space coloured hair that was hidden underneath his hood. "It’s simply in her nature. Her kind is born with the innate ability to comprehend all godly languages. Isn’t that right, little one?"
Aurianna blinked, her brain struggling to catch up. ’Huh? What?’ Her face contorted into a dumbfounded expression, her thoughts a jumbled ss.
The High god’s laughter rumbled through the room. "Did you really think the races I created on this planet were the only ones to exist? How disappointing." He released a sigh, shaking his head.
"No, there are countless races across the universe—each unique. I have created the best among them, perfecting every detail. Yet..." His eyes darkened as they fixed on Aurianna’s. "Her race eluded . Their power, their beauty, their very existence—I could never replicate it, no matter how hard I tried. Failure after failure after failure..."
He paused, his lips curling into a subtle smile as he cupped Aurianna’s face, his thumb brushing her cheek . "...Until she appear on my planet."
"Hyahahaha!" The High god’s laughter echoed through the room. "Finally—finally, I’ll ascend! Those arrogant fools in Ranks 3 to 1 will regret it. They’ll regret leaving here to rot!" he stated coldly as he released Aurianna and began biting his nails.
’What is he even blabbering about?’ Aurianna thought, her expression twisting into one of annoyance.
The High god’s gaze shifted back to her, a smirk curling his lips. "Hmm... but I can’t claim that power, can I? Since you gave it away to soone else."
"What power?" Aurianna asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"The power of a Jewel," the High god replied, his tone laced with bitterness. "You gave it to ’her.’"
’Is he referring to Eva?’ Aurianna wondered, her expression darkening.
"Oh, now you’re paying attention," the High god said with a chuckle, his eyes gleaming as he leaned closer. "So, tell , Aurianna. Would you kill your Jewel and give that power instead?"
"No." Aurianna’s response was firm.
"How dare you refuse the High god!" Paige shouted, her fury erupting as her aura surged, pressing down on everyone in the room. The weaker mortals gasped for air, their bodies trembling under the oppressive force. Yet, Aurianna’s defiant glare never wavered.
"Shut up, Paige!" the High god roared, his voice thunderous. Paige’s aura vanished in an instant as she shrank back, her entire body trembling.
"I’m sorry," she stamred, her head bowed low.
"If you dare touch her," she threatened, "I’ll never forgive you. Even if you’re the High god."
The High god’s lips curled into an amused smile. "Aren’t you bold, little niece? Is it because she saved your life?" His tone was mocking, though his eyes glinted with curiosity. "Perhaps I should’ve been the one to save you that day. But, to be honest..." He paused. "At the ti, I thought you were utterly pathetic and not worth saving."
Aurianna flinched, but she quickly steadied herself, her glare intensifying.
"But in this tiline," the High god continued, stepping closer, "you’re much more interesting, Aurianna."
’It was dumb of not to expect the god of this world to not know that ti was reversed.’ Aurianna thought.
The High god’s gaze sharpened as he studied her. "How did you even manage to reverse ti? I’m certain you don’t have that skill—’yet.’ So, how?"
Aurianna remained silent, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"Oh, yes..." His expression lit up as he realized. "It wasn’t you, was it? She did it. Your Jewel. She reversed the entire world’s ti to save you while you were dying."
Aurianna’s eyes widened slightly before narrowing into a cold glare.
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