Capes, Celestials, and the Quest for Parental Guidance

Arion stood there, feeling the awkwardness gnawing at him like a persistent itch he couldn't scratch. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, glancing around as if the trees might offer him some sage advice on how to handle the situation.

Finally, he took a deep breath and asked, "So, who are you actually?"

"My name is Shera," she replied, her voice smooth and confident, as if she were announcing her title at a royal ball.

"I'm an avatar of one of the Celestials who govern the 13 realms. I represent the Celestial of Nature, Kyshera, who created all the plants, trees, herbs, flowers, and fruits that you see or learn about across the 13 realms. Even in the Underworld, with its Nether and Avernal regions where plants are supposed to be impossible to germinate and bear fruit there. My real self is also the one who personally created the second realm called Vysha'ra – a realm where ancient forests whisper secrets and the essence of life flows through every leaf and branch."

She delivered this grand introduction with a smugness that could rival a cat that just caught a mouse.

Arion couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, skepticism bubbling beneath the surface.

"You mean… you are a god?"

Shera shook her head, a look of mock exasperation crossing her features.

"A god is a stretch, to say the least. My real self and the other Celestials are not gods. We are simply beings given a little bit of the Power of Creation and ordered to govern Ra'ma. The other twelve realms, including the 14 Primordials and the 13 Primeval, are what we created afterward…"

Arion blinked, trying to process this cosmic corporate hierarchy.

As the conversation unfolded, Arion couldn't help but notice how every time Shera mentioned a God, her tone dripped with respect and adoration. It was as if she were discussing a celebrity rather than a divine being.

Curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "Aren't those the same? It means you are a god, or perhaps like a fragment of a god."

"None of us Celestials dare to claim we are gods," she replied, her voice firm.

"For us, a god is a great Lord who represents all things: Creation, Destruction, a Beginning, an End, the One and Only, All and Everything. Without a god, there would be no Existence because he – himself represents all that exists. Besides, you mortals are the ones who insisted on worshiping us and argued that we are your gods."

However, she abruptly paused her words. Looking to the side, a sigh escaped her lips, filled with an emotion that Arion interpreted as lamentation and sadness.

"Maybe there is one who dares to claim himself as a god," she continued, her tone shifting suddenly.

Anger flickered in her eyes, and Arion felt a wave of heat wash over him – as if the air itself had ignited. It was a calm rage that reverberated through the atmosphere, filling it with smothering flames that seemed ready to burn an enemy to oblivion.

Arion trembled under the intensity of her aura, now fully convinced of her claims. She was perhaps indeed a part of the Celestial Nature, a being who had created the world. Not only had she resurrected and healed him from death, but she also had the power to make him use magic instantly, despite his complete lack of talent.

He knew that those who weren't attuned to Ether were doomed to live as ordinary humans, forever unable to wield magic.

Gulping nervously, Arion decided to tread carefully.

"So, Your Highness…"

"No need for formality. I don't like it. Call me Shera," she interrupted, waving her hand dismissively.

"Uh, okay. Lady Shera."

"Now you make me sound old. Just Shera is fine."

"Oh. Okay. La… I mean Shera," Arion stammered, suddenly struck by a thought that he desperately tried to suppress. But Shera, with her celestial powers, caught the thought before he could hide it.

'You are a part of a Celestial. With today's year since the estimated recorded creation, doesn't that mean you are old? Ancient, to be exact?'

His face paled as he realized the implications of his thought. Yet, he still couldn't help but add, 'Lady, your attractiveness for me has just been slashed by more than half at least.'

Shera's fist clenched tightly as she struggled to suppress the urge to give Arion a playful smack on the head. With a sweet smile still plastered on her face, she thought, 'He is indeed just like his mother. Even their thoughts are similar. So infuriating!'

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," Arion blurted out, his eyes wide with a mix of concern and embarrassment.

'No, you mean it,' Shera thought internally, her smile wavering slightly as she fought back the urge to roll her eyes.

"It's fine. I'm indeed… Oo… Oo… Oo…" Shera began, but only for her to lower her head, unable to finish the sentence. The word "old" hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and she felt a pang of frustration.

'This must be because I keep mingling with the others in Vysha'ra. Now, I'm already influenced by the modern terms they use. It hurts when the others call me old.'

…

Arion then scratched his head, a bemused expression plastered across his face.

"So, what do you want my help for, Shera? I mean, I'm just an ordinary man with an even more ordinary life. I'm not even attuned with Ether. So yeah, I'm afraid I can't do much," he said, a hint of self-mockery creeping into his tone.

Shera, with a twinkle in her eye, shook her head vigorously.

"No, you are not an ordinary man, Arion. You need to believe in yourself! And no one is useless. It's just that sometimes, circumstances make people think they are. Besides," she paused, a guilty look washing over her face, "I'm the one who has been repressing your soul from reacting to Ether. If you connected with that energy, you wouldn't be able to wield the power I'm about to give you fully."

Arion's eyes lit up, happiness blooming inside him like a flower in spring.

"Oh really?" he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face.

"So it means I'm not trash! I mean, I'm still quite talented at least, right?"

A thought lingered in his mind, nagging at him like an itch he couldn't scratch:

'Circumstances that made people believe others are useless? Sounds cool enough, but, what does that even mean?'

Seeing Arion's joy, Shera felt a warmth in her heart. After all, she was one of the reasons his confidence had been waning. She had read the memories of his life – how he had been alone, often wondering about his parents, and whether he was an unwanted child left on the doorstep of an orphanage.

She recalled the countless sleepless nights he had spent learning and training, sometimes shedding silent tears under the blanket, making sure no one saw his fragile side.

With a smile that was both happy and tinged with sadness, she said, "You are an amazing and extraordinary person, Arion. You need to remember that. Stop undermining yourself; it's just wrong. Besides…"

She paused and then stepped closer to Arion, their gazes locking in a moment of silence that felt like an eternity. Shera, slightly shorter than Arion, lifted her hand and gently rubbed his head, a gesture that felt oddly comforting to him.

"You are a pride and joy to your parents, Arion. And yes, you have parents. Loving ones at that."

Arion's eyes widened in disbelief as he processed Shera's words.

"So, you really knew my parents? Where are they now? What happened to them? Are they fine?"

His voice was a mix of excitement and nervousness, like a kid waiting for his birthday cake to be served.

Shera looked at him, her expression softening.

"I'm sorry, Arion. A lot happened back then. Your parents had to leave you with me, in the necklace, for your safety. They couldn't trust anyone else. So, you had to suffer alone all these years."

Arion scrunched his eyebrows, worry creeping into his voice.

"What happened to them? Are they fine? Are they in danger?"

He sounded like a worried puppy, and Shera couldn't help but chuckle softly at the image of a tiny dog with big, pleading eyes.

Sighing softly, Shera replied patiently, "I don't know what happened to them. When my avatar transferred into the necklace, I slumbered until you woke me up. We can only pray that they are okay right now."

She took her hand from Arion's head, her expression turning serious.

"About danger… yes, it was really dangerous at that time. One of the Celestials betrayed us."

Arion's jaw dropped, his mind racing.

"What? What actually happened? Don't tell me your real self is in trouble!"

Shera laughed lightly, shaking her head.

"No, my real self is fine! We Celestials are practically immortal. No one can kill us, except for the God who created us. If He ever decides to erase our existence, that is, only then can we truly be dead. So, no worries!"

Shera resumed, "About my real self. I don't know where she is right now. She is trapped in an unknown dimension that I – myself have no idea about. She's also forcefully kept asleep. I need your help in locating my real self, getting her out from that dimension, and then waking her up."

"Okay. But you will help my parents too, right?" Arion asked, his eyes wide with hope.

"Of course! You might not know, but your parents are the most famous and renowned people in the 13 realms. You also inherited their talents. Don't you find it weird how you are so smart and can easily learn anything your hands can get on?"

Now that Kyshera was telling him this, he subconsciously reminded himself of how he easily grasped all the martial techniques or knowledge that took others months or years to comprehend, while he – himself only needed half of that. No, even less than half!

It was like he had a cheat code for life.

That was why he was super popular in the academy, and everyone believed his talent was extraordinary.

But after the ceremony, everyone distanced themselves from him since Ether could enhance someone's brain and physique to a degree that no normal person could ever hope to achieve.

So, they all thought he was doomed to be a lonely genius.

Kyshera subsequently continued, "Your parents are… Their names are…"

Arion leaned in, practically bouncing on his toes. "Yes? Yes? Don't leave me hanging! Are they superheroes? Do they have capes? I bet they have capes!"

Shera chuckled again, shaking her head. "No capes, I'm afraid. But they are definitely legendary. And if you help me, we might just find them and maybe even get you a cape of your own!"

Arion's eyes sparkled with excitement. "A cape? Now that's a deal I can get behind!"