Chapter 464: No Star

|To Blue_robin...it will not be a goth girlfriend.|

Ruka POV

My brother and his lover are quite...ferocious, the former was even more so, at least...more than how I remembered him. At least, Dad has now put them in an isolated enchanted room instead of chaining them up.

They are waiting on their chances for us to go in so that they can break out, they even suggested doing inappropriate activities to have us stop them from any indecency, but our parents' presence deterred them from such thoughts.

"Seriously?! Do I look like Perseus to you?!" Tanner shouted as I did my daily visit

"I'd rather not, that would mean I'm pursuing a guy who looks like my brother in the first place."

"Then why are the fuck are you trying to screw me?!"

"Why say fuck and end it with screw?"

"Ok, let me correct myself, your extraordinary dingus. Why the hell are you trying to fuck me?!"

Dingus? Who still uses that as an insult? If anything, I'm seriously holding my laugh.

"I wouldn't really have to try with Perseus, I'm just giving him time."

"Release me, at once!" he demanded

"Hah, what about no?"

*****

Perseus POV

As I stepped into the...I think it's the 6th trial now, the resounding rush of water enveloped me in a feeling of tranquility. The ambient light danced across the glistening walls...why are Lucifer's trials like this?

The focal point of the chamber was a breathtaking waterfall, a magnificent torrent of crystal-clear water plummeting from a considerable height. Its waters descended with an unrestrained force, creating an atmosphere charged with a potent energy that seemed to pulse through the air.

With a waterfall, I should be having a training or time skip arc for character development.

Approaching the base of the waterfall, the air thickened with the invigorating spray. I felt the water's presence before even stepping into its embrace and it sort of gave out this revitalizing energy that seemed to beckon, promising both cleansing and renewal.

The reflective pool had images flickered across its mirrored surface, scenes from my past, moments of triumph, and scenes of sorrow. Each reflection held a fragment of my story, beckoning me to confront the chapters I'd written and those left unfinished.

Well...it's technically the chapters that the author's written...but let's not ruin the moment more than I already have.

"Maple, are you sure you want to keep staying in here? You must be bored just watching."

"I like watching." she replied quickly

"Huh? Wow."

"...Not like that! You've been spending too much time with Lilith!"

"No, I was surprised at your kindness for staying with me...not thinking of anything else."

"Shut up!"

"Woah."

I can still see her bashfulness, that never gets old.

With a steadying breath, I approached the pool of water that led up to the waterfall. My reflection stared back, a silent witness to the choices I'd made and the burdens I carried. I locked eyes with myself, acknowledging the joys and pains I've experienced.

Approaching the waterfall, I closed my eyes, allowing the water to wash over me as I sat in this super cool meditating pose, a gentle caress that soothed both body and soul. The energy pulsed around me, a palpable force that seemed to synchronize with the rhythm of my breath.

With each breath, I felt a sense of release, a letting go of the burdens that had weighed heavy on my shoulders. a sense of peace settled within me. The waters, once fierce and relentless, now cradled me in their embrace, guiding me to the quietude at the heart of the trial.

Time seemed to lose its meaning as I meditated beneath the cascade, enveloped in a trance-like communion with the energy that surrounded me. 

In the depths of meditation, a voice resonated within me, a whisper. It was Lucifer's voice, an echo carried on the currents of my thoughts.

"Accept yourself," the voice urged, "Embrace the truth of who you are, for only then can you wield the strength that resides within."

"Fight for the throne," Lucifer's voice continued, "Claim your destiny, seize the seat of a conqueror. Let your spirit blaze with the brilliance of a sovereign. Eliminate your enemies, eliminate all of those who are above you, and take over the seat of the Almighty."

"Man, you sure are lousy and annoying. I rejected the seat of the chief, what makes you think I'll become a king?"

"Your destiny lies in ascension," Lucifer's voice persisted, "The throne awaits your rightful claim. Cast away your doubts and embrace the light that resides within. Eliminate your enemies, ascend above all, and claim the seat of the Almighty. With that power, you can protect your village, and safeguard your people from all threats."

|I've just learned the differences between insisted and persisted.|

"Nah, I ain't becoming no Almighty...but I'm doing to work my life my way."

*****

3rd Person POV

In that charged moment, the world sensed the birth of a powerful force, an entity that transcended understanding. It was a presence that resonated with familiarity yet also spoke of the unknown.

A ripple of unease surged through the very essence of existence. It wasn't the joyous dance of new life or the heralding of prosperity that echoed through the lands, instead, it was an unspoken, primal fear.

The creatures that roamed the enchanted forests and soared through the skies felt a subtle shift in their energies. It was as if the delicate balance that held their world together had been nudged askew, sending tremors of concern through their hearts.

As the newborn celestial opened its eyes to the wonders of this realm, there was a whispered fear lingering in the air, a fear that this radiant being might unravel the very fabric of their existence, steering their world toward an unknown and potentially perilous fate.

The power radiating from the newborn celestial being was undeniable, a raw force woven from celestial energies that surged and pulsed within its very essence. It wasn't just the shimmering brilliance that emanated from its form, but a resonance that seemed to vibrate through the very air, electrifying the atmosphere with an otherworldly might.

"That's it?" Perseus said as he got up and stretched, "There really is no 11th star...there's no star at all."