The morning sun illuminated the Imperial Palace of the Veyris Empire.
Kael Veyris sat on his balcony, enjoying breakfast while several luminous birds flew between the crystal towers. Everything was peaceful, and for once, Shalya had not placed an enormous pile of reports on his table.
He considered that a small miracle.
Then a golden portal opened beside the balcony.
Neferet Raemora stepped through.
Her long crimson hair flowed behind her, while her golden-amber eyes reflected the sunlight. Her elegant black-and-gold dress carried ancient symbols associated with the Egyptian Pantheon, and a golden ornament rested above her forehead.
Kael looked at her.
"Good morning, Neferet. You're visiting early."
"Good morning, Kael."
She glanced at his breakfast.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Only breakfast."
"Then I apologize."
"You don't need to. Would you like some?"
Neferet looked at him for a moment before smiling.
"You really do offer food to everyone, don't you?"
"Food is important."
"Even to beings who have existed since before the birth of civilizations?"
"Especially to them. They've probably missed a few good meals."
Neferet laughed softly.
She had met many powerful beings throughout her existence. Most spoke about authority, destiny, or the obligations of the divine.
Kael, apparently, was more concerned about breakfast.
After accepting a cup of tea, Neferet sat opposite him.
"I came to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
"Would you accompany me to Aaru?"
Kael tilted his head.
"The Egyptian Pantheon's divine realm?"
"Yes."
He looked toward the golden portal behind her.
"Is something wrong?"
"Several things," Neferet admitted. "The sanctuary beneath Draktharion has begun responding to ancient symbols connected to the First Covenant. I believe the answers may be hidden within our oldest temples."
"Our?"
Neferet paused.
She had almost revealed too much.
Then she met his gaze.
"Within the oldest temples of the Egyptian Pantheon."
Kael noticed her hesitation but didn't comment.
He already understood that Neferet was hiding parts of her identity. He had no intention of forcing her to reveal anything before she was ready.
"All right," he said.
Neferet blinked.
"You're agreeing that easily?"
"Did you expect me to refuse?"
"I expected you to ask more questions."
"I can ask them after we arrive."
She shook her head with amusement.
"Very well, Architect. Welcome to Aaru."
Kael stood.
"Lead the way."
And just like that, the most powerful being in the Veyris Empire agreed to visit an ancient realm because a mysterious traveler had asked him for help.
The moment Kael stepped through the portal, he found himself beneath an enormous golden sky.
Aaru was unlike the universes of the Veyris Empire.
A magnificent celestial river flowed through the divine realm, its waters shimmering like liquid gold. Vast temples stood along its banks, their towering columns decorated with hieroglyphs and images of ancient gods.
Obelisks stretched toward the heavens.
Floating islands carried gardens filled with luminous flowers.
Far in the distance, a magnificent city stood beneath a radiant sun, surrounded by enormous walls of pale stone.
Kael stopped to admire the scenery.
"This place is beautiful."
Neferet looked at him.
"You've visited countless realms, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Then surely you've seen places like this before."
"I have."
"Then what makes Aaru special?"
Kael smiled.
"Because this is Aaru."
Neferet fell silent.
He continued walking beside her.
"Every realm has its own history. Its own people. Its own reasons for existing. Just because I've seen other beautiful places doesn't make this one less interesting."
Neferet looked toward the celestial river.
For generations, the gods of Aaru had protected their realm, but they had also become accustomed to outsiders viewing them through the lens of their power.
Some feared them.
Others worshipped them.
Very few simply appreciated their home.
"Perhaps," she murmured, "you understand more than you let people believe."
Kael glanced at her.
"I hear that quite often, too."
They continued toward the city.
Along the riverbanks, divine beings walked among ordinary inhabitants. Merchants sold enchanted jewelry, scribes recorded ancient histories, and children chased small golden creatures through the streets.
A group of young apprentices stood outside a temple, arguing about the meaning of a particular inscription.
One of them noticed Kael.
"Excuse me, sir!"
Kael stopped.
The apprentice hurried over, carrying a stone tablet.
"Do you know what this symbol means?"
Neferet looked surprised.
The boy had just approached a being who stood beyond the boundaries of ordinary existence to ask for help with his studies.
Kael examined the tablet.
"It means that knowledge should be shared with those willing to learn."
The apprentice's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"That's the general meaning. The exact interpretation depends on the symbols surrounding it."
The boy grinned.
"Thank you!"
He hurried back to his friends.
Neferet watched him go.
"You could have told him the complete meaning instantly."
"I did tell him."
"You know what I mean."
Kael shrugged.
"If I explain everything, he'll never have a reason to study the rest."
Neferet smiled.
Perhaps the Egyptian Pantheon could learn something from this unusual visitor.
As they approached the central temple district, Neferet grew quieter.
The buildings became older.
Their walls were carved with images depicting the creation of the world, the journey of souls, the power of the sun, and the eternal struggle to maintain balance.
At the center stood a magnificent temple crowned by a golden solar disk.
Neferet stopped before its entrance.
Kael looked at the structure.
"Is this where we're going?"
"Yes."
She hesitated before continuing.
"There is something I should tell you first."
Kael waited.
Neferet turned toward him.
"I haven't been entirely honest about who I am."
"I suspected as much."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You suspected?"
"You're remarkably knowledgeable about the Egyptian Pantheon. You also seem familiar with the sanctuary beneath Draktharion, and the guardian there recognized the importance of your presence."
Kael smiled.
"But I thought you would tell me when you were ready."
Neferet stared at him.
For several seconds, she seemed unable to decide whether to be relieved or annoyed.
"You could have confronted me."
"I could have."
"You could have examined my history."
"Yes."
"You could have discovered my identity without asking."
"Probably."
Neferet folded her arms.
"Then why didn't you?"
Kael's expression became gentle.
"Because your identity belongs to you."
The words settled between them.
Neferet had spent ages dealing with rulers who believed that knowing someone's secrets gave them the right to control that person.
Kael possessed the ability to uncover histories that entire pantheons had forgotten.
Yet he had deliberately chosen not to use that ability against her.
She lowered her gaze.
"Thank you."
Then she took a breath.
"My name is Neferet Raemora. I am the Goddess of the Solar Throne and Sacred Dominion, a deity of the Egyptian Pantheon."
Golden light surrounded her.
The simple traveler disappeared beneath a radiant aura.
Her crimson hair shone like the light of a distant sun, while the golden symbols upon her dress illuminated the surrounding temple steps. Behind her appeared the faint image of a solar disk.
She stood before Kael not as an ordinary traveler, but as an ancient goddess returning to her own divine domain.
"I have concealed my identity because I wished to investigate the First Covenant without the interference of divine politics."
Kael nodded.
"That makes sense."
Neferet looked at him.
"That's all you have to say?"
"What else should I say?"
"I don't know. Perhaps you're surprised."
"I knew you were hiding something. I simply didn't know the details."
He glanced toward the temple.
"Besides, you're still Neferet. Your title doesn't change that."
For the first time since their meeting, Neferet laughed without restraint.
"You truly are impossible, Kael Veyris."
"So I've been told."
Inside the central temple, the Egyptian Pantheon had already assembled.
At the far end of the enormous hall stood Ra, the ancient solar sovereign, surrounded by a radiant golden aura.
Beside him stood Isis, whose calm eyes reflected the depth of her sacred wisdom.
Osiris waited near a pillar carved with symbols of renewal and the afterlife.
Nearby, Anubis stood quietly, his jackal-headed figure adorned with ceremonial ornaments associated with the passage of souls.
And at the center of the hall stood Sekhmet, the goddess of divine war and protection, whose presence carried the unmistakable authority of a guardian prepared to defend her people.
Several other divine figures occupied the surrounding seats.
When Neferet entered, the conversations stopped.
Ra rose from his throne.
"Neferet Raemora. You have returned."
"I have, Ra."
His golden eyes moved toward Kael.
"And who is your companion?"
Neferet glanced at Kael.
"This is Kael Veyris, the Architect of Existence."
Silence filled the temple.
Isis slowly stood.
"Kael Veyris?"
Anubis turned his head.
"The Architect himself?"
Sekhmet's eyes narrowed with curiosity.
"I have heard stories about the Veyris Empire. They claim its knights can dismantle entire structures of reality, yet often choose to help civilizations rebuild."
Kael offered a polite nod.
"Our knights are expected to protect those who need help. Power is a responsibility, not an excuse to rule everyone."
Ra studied him.
"You speak as though you have never desired dominion over others."
"I have an empire to govern. That's enough responsibility for one person."
For a brief moment, even Sekhmet seemed amused.
Isis approached.
"Welcome to Aaru, Kael Veyris. You stand within one of the oldest divine realms."
"Thank you for welcoming me."
Ra gestured toward the seats.
"Please. We have much to discuss."
Kael sat down beside Neferet.
He didn't demand a throne.
He didn't ask for special treatment.
He simply accepted a seat like any other guest.
That small decision did not go unnoticed.
Among the assembled gods, several exchanged thoughtful glances.
A being who could stand beyond the boundaries of their entire cosmology had entered their divine hall and behaved as though he had come to visit old friends.
It was not what they had expected.
Once the introductions were complete, Neferet stepped forward.
"The sanctuary beneath Draktharion has begun responding to ancient symbols. I believe those symbols are connected to the First Covenant."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Osiris's expression became serious.
"The covenant has been preserved for ages."
"Preserved," Neferet replied, "but not fully understood."
Isis folded her hands.
"Explain what you discovered."
Neferet described the missing tablet, the guardian beneath the mountains, and the seven silver lines that had appeared across the sanctuary.
She also explained that the guardian had spoken the name Abyssara.
At that name, several gods reacted.
Anubis lowered his head slightly.
Sekhmet glanced toward Ra.
Even the ancient solar sovereign remained silent for a moment.
Kael noticed their reactions.
"You know the name."
Ra looked toward him.
"We know fragments of it."
Isis continued.
"Some of our oldest records describe a being associated with the Primordial Abyss. The records are incomplete, and many were damaged during ancient conflicts."
"Do they explain the seven thrones?" Neferet asked.
"No," Isis answered. "But they mention seven paths connected to an event that predates several of our oldest sanctuaries."
Osiris looked toward the carved walls.
"The First Covenant was not created to grant gods ownership over civilizations. It was established to remind us of our responsibilities."
Neferet nodded.
"Gods are guardians, not owners."
"Exactly," Osiris replied.
Ra rose from his throne.
"The covenant was formed after an ancient dispute concerning the relationship between divine power and mortal freedom. Its purpose was to establish that civilizations must be allowed to determine their own futures."
Kael listened quietly.
The principle was familiar to him.
It was one of the reasons the Veyris Empire had established laws protecting its many races.
Power could defend a civilization.
It could also become the very thing that prevented a civilization from growing.
Neferet looked toward the assembled gods.
"I want to reunite the scattered sanctuaries and restore the covenant's original teachings. But I will not force the independent divine houses to surrender their traditions or authority."
Sekhmet crossed her arms.
"And what happens if some of them refuse?"
"Then I will speak with them."
"And if they still refuse?"
"Then I will continue trying to persuade them. The covenant cannot be restored through the very kind of coercion it was created to prevent."
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Then Ra nodded.
"Your proposal deserves consideration."
Neferet exhaled quietly.
It was not a complete victory.
But it was a beginning.
After the meeting, Kael and Neferet walked through a quiet courtyard behind the temple.
Golden flowers grew beside a narrow canal, and small birds rested among the branches of ancient trees.
Neferet looked thoughtful.
"You barely spoke during the meeting."
"I was listening."
"Do you agree with my proposal?"
Kael considered the question.
"I agree with the principle behind it."
"Which is?"
"People should have the freedom to shape their own lives, provided they don't use that freedom as an excuse to harm others."
Neferet nodded.
"And the gods?"
"The same principle applies to them."
She looked at him.
"Even gods as powerful as Ra?"
"Especially powerful beings. The more influence someone has, the more carefully they should consider how they use it."
Neferet stopped walking.
"Would you apply that principle to yourself?"
Kael turned toward her.
"Of course."
"You possess power beyond the understanding of most gods. You could reshape Aaru, change its history, or create an entirely new divine realm."
"Yes."
"But you wouldn't?"
"Not without a good reason and the consent of those affected."
Neferet studied him.
"What if you believed your changes would make everything better?"
Kael's expression became serious.
"Believing something is better doesn't automatically give you the right to impose it on everyone else."
The answer remained with her.
For centuries, Neferet had watched gods struggle over the question of authority.
Some believed their power entitled them to obedience.
Others believed their responsibilities justified controlling every aspect of mortal civilization.
She had never entirely agreed with either position.
Now she understood why the Veyris Empire's reputation extended far beyond its borders.
Its strength was not merely in its ability to overcome enemies.
It was in its willingness to let others make their own choices.
Neferet smiled.
"I think I understand why your empire is respected."
Kael looked toward the courtyard.
"We still make mistakes."
"That surprises me."
"We're not perfect."
"Even you?"
"Especially me. Shalya has been explaining that to me quite frequently."
Neferet laughed.
"I would like to meet this Shalya."
"I'll arrange it. Though she may give you a schedule for your visit."
"How frightening."
"Very."
Their laughter echoed softly through the courtyard.
For a brief moment, the mysteries of the ancient covenant seemed distant.
Two people simply enjoyed a peaceful conversation beneath the golden sky.
Their peace did not last long.
Anubis appeared at the courtyard entrance.
"Neferet. Kael. We have discovered something."
His expression was unusually grave.
Neferet immediately stood straighter.
"What happened?"
"The central archive has responded to the symbol you described."
He gestured toward the temple.
"Please follow me."
They entered the ancient structure and descended a spiral staircase beneath the main hall.
The walls grew older with every step.
Eventually, they reached a chamber sealed behind an enormous stone door.
Seven silver lines were carved across its surface.
At the center was a circular symbol resembling an eye surrounded by a sun.
Neferet approached it.
"This wasn't here the last time I visited."
"It has existed for longer than our oldest surviving records," Anubis explained. "But it was hidden behind a barrier that could not be opened."
Kael studied the door.
"Now the barrier is gone."
Anubis nodded.
"Yes."
Neferet touched one of the silver lines.
The entire chamber illuminated.
A voice emerged from the stone.
THE FIRST COVENANT WAS NOT THE BEGINNING.
The three remained silent.
The voice continued.
IT WAS THE PROMISE THAT FOLLOWED THE FIRST BETRAYAL.
Neferet withdrew her hand.
"What betrayal?"
The stone door trembled.
A second message appeared.
SEVEN PATHS WERE CREATED. SEVEN THRONES WERE ABANDONED. THE EIGHTH WAS ERASED FROM HISTORY.
Kael's expression changed slightly.
The mysterious book.
The seven empty thrones.
The forgotten realm.
Everything was connected.
Neferet turned toward him.
"Do you think this is related to Abyssara?"
"It might be."
"Can you determine what lies behind the door?"
Kael could have opened it immediately.
He could have examined every layer of its existence and discovered every secret hidden within.
Instead, he looked toward Neferet.
"It's your investigation. Would you like me to open it?"
She considered the question.
Then she shook her head.
"Not yet."
Kael nodded.
"All right."
Neferet studied the symbols again.
"If this chamber was sealed deliberately, I want to understand why before opening it."
Anubis bowed his head.
"A wise decision."
As they turned to leave, the final silver line began glowing.
A new sentence appeared.
THE EIGHTH HAS ALREADY ENTERED AARU.
Neferet froze.
"Entered Aaru?"
Anubis looked toward the staircase.
"That is impossible. The realm's boundaries have not been breached."
Kael remained silent.
Then he glanced toward the distant golden sky.
"No," he said quietly. "It appears someone has already arrived."
Neferet looked at him.
"Who?"
Kael's expression remained calm, but his eyes had become thoughtful.
"That is what we need to find out."
Far above Aaru, beyond its golden sky, a figure stood upon an invisible platform.
Her appearance remained concealed beneath a veil of silver light.
Below her, the divine realm continued its ordinary activities.
The gods knew nothing of her presence.
The inhabitants of Aaru carried on with their lives.
Even the ancient guardians stationed along the celestial river had failed to notice her arrival.
The figure looked toward the central temple.
"So Neferet has returned."
Her gaze shifted toward Kael.
"And she has brought the Architect with her."
For a moment, the silver light surrounding her flickered.
"That complicates things."
She raised one hand.
A small black symbol appeared above her palm.
It was identical to the mark carved upon the seven thrones.
Then she closed her fingers.
The symbol disappeared.
"Still, the covenant must be restored."
She turned away from the temple.
"But before that happens, someone must remember what truly occurred during the First Betrayal."
The figure vanished.
Far below, Kael and Neferet emerged from the ancient chamber.
The Architect of Existence had come to Aaru to help a goddess uncover the truth.
He had expected ancient records, forgotten temples, and perhaps a few difficult conversations with the Egyptian Pantheon.
He had not expected an eighth presence to have entered the divine realm unnoticed.
Nor had he expected the First Covenant to conceal a history that even the oldest gods could no longer remember.
Kael looked toward the golden horizon.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Well, Neferet."
She glanced at him.
"Yes?"
"I think your investigation just became more interesting."
Neferet sighed.
"I was afraid you would say that."
Above them, the golden sun shone over Aaru.
But somewhere within the divine realm, an ancient shadow had begun to move.