In a pulse of cerulean shimmer, reality folded around itself and Vastarael materialized at the base of the Obelisk of Nyramith.
The southern coast of the island greeted him with the scent of salt and a summer sun. The waves lapped gently on the shoreline as birds wheeled overhead in slow arcs. He exhaled slowly through his nose, a slight grimace tugging at his lips.
"Still sunny, huh?"
Despite everything he had done, everything he had handled back in Amaniya, he had only been gone for three hours. Here, on these islands where the Sacred Trials took place, teleportation was common. Each island was tethered to sacred mechanisms. And within that sacred system, there was a blessing bestowed by the architects of the Trials themselves.
If a Divine in training knew a place down to its memory, name, and purpose, they could instantly go there from Inexpelcae. And when they were done and their task outside the island had been fulfilled, all they had to do was speak the name of the island where their current Sacred Trial was being undertaken, with intent to return, and they would immediately be pulled back, reappearing at that island's Obelisk.
Vastarael had spoken the name "Nyramith" not even a heartbeat ago and the mechanism had brought him here instantly. It was designed to save Divines from wasting days, weeks, or even months traveling across continents and oceans. Sacred Trials weren't meant to be interrupted by the logistics of movement. They were meant to test Divines, not their endurance for bureaucracy or weather.
Vastarael stepped away from the obelisk. He looked out toward the jungle inland.
"Three hours. I wonder if Narisva can do this when she becomes a Goddess."
He began to walk to their mansion by the cliff side without even any thoughts of running. He hadn't heard from Narisva in four days, not even a flicker of her presence through the Sapphire Bond they shared as Sentina Erideae. But he wasn't worried. He knew exactly what she was doing. Vastarael trusted her more than anyone else to handle whatever she set out to do. And if she needed a few extra days to make sure everything was taken care of, then so be it. She would return when she was ready.
He exhaled through his nose, not quite a laugh, but close.
His mind briefly floated to Elyonari. Four days ago, she had passed her First Sacred Trial. It had only been the beginning of what would be the longest year of her life. She was still bedridden though. She was probably curled under her sheets, sleeping like a flower. Her Ascension to the Second Enlightenment had gone smoother than most. Recovery for her was less of a climb and more of a nap. And for Adelasta, she was submerged in lava pits, her skin likely screaming with each second she endured, rebuilding itself only to be torn apart again.
He knew how hard that trial was. It wasn't physical pain that broke most. It was the mental strain of knowing every second one could leave but chose not to. She had to choose suffering again and again until the year ended. Adelasta wouldn't flinch. If anything, she'd thrive in it. He was happy for her. She deserved it. But today or the next few days wasn't about any of them.
Today was about Eldrigan Hanabas. And his Gecisia Two Ideation First Sacred Trial was... hard?
He had to train under someone more powerful than them for one uninterrupted year. And then he had to challenge the Seventh Hydrangea. If he held their own for just fifteen minutes, they would pass. But that fifteen minutes was hell incarnate. And Eldrigan had chosen him to train him.
Vastarael still wasn't sure how to feel about that. He wasn't exactly the teacher type. He didn't believe in holding hands or sugar-coating mistakes. His style was refined through agony, isolation, loss and war. And Eldrigan, for all his stoicism and power, hadn't been someone he truly knew. Sure, they had fought side by side, talked a few times and discussed strategy, maybe even debated on the philosophies of Divine kinship. But real conversations? Real connection?
No.
They had always stood at opposite ends of the battlefield, both strong, both respected but never close. So why him? Why not someone Eldrigan trusted more deeply like Xander?
Maybe because deep down, Eldrigan didn't want someone he was comfortable with. Maybe he wanted someone who would push him beyond what was familiar. He wanted someone who wouldn't hesitate to strike him down in training if it meant forcing growth. Vastarael wanted to see how powerful Eldrigan was. He was technically stronger than Xander right now. And besides, part of him... was just curious.
How far could Eldrigan go?
Vastarael stopped at the first step of the stairs leading to the beach. He looked up toward the beach where he could already sense Eldrigan's presence. There was calm ahead but it wouldn't stay that way for long. No words would need to be said when he arrived. He was going to understand Eldrigan Hanabas, not as another Sentina.
Vastarael walked across it, the grains of sand. He saw him.
A few meters ahead, Vastarael spotted Eldrigan and Peroncerea locked in a kiss so long and deep it was almost ceremonial. Her fingers curled softly in his dark hair. His hand cradled the small of her back with a tenderness that betrayed the hardened expression he usually wore in battle. Her demon wings fluttered idly, almost purring from the satisfaction of the moment.
Vastarael cleared his throat loudly. Nothing.
A louder throat-clear. Still nothing.
"Should I come back later or are we forgetting someone here has a Trial to prepare for?"
Eldrigan immediately pulled away, blinking as if jolted back from a dream.
"Oh. Uh... Vastarael. I didn't see you there."
"Clearly. I mean, if I waited a few more minutes, I'm pretty sure you two would have started reciting wedding vows."
Peroncerea chuckled, not even slightly embarrassed. She turned to face Vastarael. Succubi really were built different.
"Don't be so grumpy. We were celebrating. I was doing my First Sacred Trial."
"Yeah? Let me guess. Something intense and terrifying?"
She laughed, placing a hand over her heart as if preparing for a dramatic monologue.
"Oh, it was so excruciating. I have to drain Eldrigan's vitality three times a day for an entire year. If I skip even one time, I will fail."
"You what?"
She beamed. "Every day. Morning, noon and night."
Eldrigan rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks tinged with faint color. "It wasn't exactly easy for me, either, mind you."
"You poor, poor soul," Vastarael said dryly, patting Eldrigan's shoulder. "Truly, no one has suffered as you have."
Peroncerea giggled and draped herself casually on Eldrigan's arm.
"Not all of us are burning ourselves in lava like Adelasta or killing a clan like you. My Divinity falls under Mortanis. Succubi operate through vitality transfer. It was designed for me."
"You got the easiest Sacred Trial I've ever heard of," Vastarael muttered, half amused, half annoyed. "You practically got a one-year honeymoon."
"I don't make the rules. I'm just glad I get free food."
Eldrigan gave her a brief kiss on the temple, and Vastarael groaned.
"Alright, alright, save the sweetness for after training. Eldrigan, you ready?"
"Yeah. I've been training for a month since you fell in a coma. I'm ready to learn."
"Good. You're going to be challenging the Seventh Hydrangea. That's no small feat."
"And I have to hold my own for fifteen minutes," Eldrigan said, repeating the Trial's criteria.
"Exactly. And that means I need to beat the living hell out of you today. Because the Seventh Hydrangea won't go easy. You'll need instinct, improvisation and resilience. I'm not just here to show you what to do. I'm going to break those habits you've clung to."
Peroncerea raised a hand like she was in class. "Can I watch?"
Vastarael gave her a side glance. "You planning to interfere or distract him?"
She laughed out loud. "No. He's tapped out for the day. I'll be quiet, I promise. Besides, I kind of want to see how my man fares when he's not kissing me for once."
Eldrigan gave her an incredulous look.
"You watched me train by myself for a month."
"And none of them hit like Veneri," she said with a grin.
"Then let's not waste time," Vastarael said. "Show me what the defense Divine of Sentina Erideae has learned."
Eldrigan glanced at Peroncerea once, and she gave him a wink and a thumbs-up. Vastarael cracked his neck, stretched his fingers once, and walked toward him, knowing full well that this wouldn't just be training for Eldrigan.
He also wanted to know how strong he was as a Second Enlightenment Divine.