The Realm of Goddesses had never felt this… lively before.
For countless centuries, everything in this divine world had moved with elegant balance and calm harmony. The goddesses were powerful, ancient beings whose emotions rarely disturbed the natural rhythm of their realm.
But now—
Something subtle had changed.
And the center of that change was walking calmly through the floating garden paths.
Aerion.
He stretched his arms slightly as the soft breeze of the Realm brushed against his face. Golden light from the drifting sun-crystals above filtered gently through the silver leaves of the celestial trees.
Normally, he loved mornings here.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
But today…
He had a strange feeling.
"…Something's definitely going to happen today," he muttered.
As if the universe heard him—
A familiar voice appeared behind him.
"Talking to yourself again?"
Aerion turned.
Lyria stood a few steps away, leaning casually against a glowing tree trunk. Her long blue-silver hair shimmered like moonlit waves, and her teasing smile was already forming.
Aerion sighed.
"Good morning to you too."
Lyria walked toward him slowly, her gaze studying him with playful curiosity.
"You look relaxed."
"That's because nothing chaotic has happened yet."
"Oh?" she said softly, tilting her head.
"That can be fixed."
Aerion narrowed his eyes.
"That sentence worries me."
Lyria laughed lightly.
"You worry too much."
Then she stepped closer—closer than usual.
So close their shoulders almost touched.
Aerion immediately noticed.
"…What are you doing?"
"Standing."
"You're standing suspiciously close."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
She smiled slowly.
"Maybe I wanted to."
Aerion blinked.
"…Okay that's new."
Before he could say anything else—
Another voice appeared.
"Aerion."
Both of them turned.
Seraphyne stood at the end of the garden path, elegant and composed as always. Her midnight-blue hair moved softly with the breeze, and her sapphire eyes focused directly on Aerion.
But there was something different today.
A small spark in those calm eyes.
Lyria noticed it instantly.
"Oh look," she said with a grin.
"The observer arrives."
Seraphyne walked toward them calmly.
"I was looking for him."
Lyria crossed her arms.
"Of course you were."
Aerion looked between them.
"…Why do I feel like I'm about to get dragged into something again?"
Seraphyne stopped in front of him.
"I wished to continue our conversation."
"Which one?"
"The one about art."
Lyria raised an eyebrow.
"Art?"
"Yes," Seraphyne said calmly.
"I wish to understand how he sees the world."
Lyria chuckled.
"Oh that's adorable."
Then she leaned slightly closer to Aerion again.
"But I was already talking to him."
Seraphyne looked at her.
Not angry.
Just… determined.
"That is fine."
"…But?"
"But I will speak with him now."
Lyria's smile widened.
"Oh this is getting interesting."
Aerion slowly rubbed his forehead.
"…Why does this feel like a duel?"
The tension between them was subtle.
But undeniable.
Two powerful goddesses standing near him.
Both calm.
Both smiling.
Both clearly not planning to step aside.
Aerion exhaled.
"Alright, pause."
They both looked at him.
He raised his hands slightly.
"One at a time."
Lyria chuckled.
"Fine."
She stepped back slightly.
"But I'm not leaving."
Seraphyne nodded once.
"Acceptable."
Aerion pointed toward a nearby floating bench.
"Let's sit before someone destroys the garden with divine tension."
They sat beneath a glowing tree whose leaves shimmered like tiny stars.
Seraphyne sat beside Aerion.
Lyria leaned against the back of the bench behind them.
Still very close.
Aerion noticed.
Of course.
Seraphyne spoke first.
"I have been studying your sketches."
"You have?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"They contain emotion."
Aerion smiled slightly.
"That's usually the goal."
Seraphyne looked thoughtful.
"Your drawings do not capture power."
"They capture… life."
Aerion shrugged.
"I draw what I feel."
Seraphyne looked at him for a long moment.
"…Then how do you feel when you draw us?"
Aerion blinked.
"…That's a dangerous question."
Lyria laughed behind them.
"Oh I want to hear this."
Seraphyne didn't look away.
"Well?"
Aerion scratched his neck awkwardly.
"Honestly?"
"Yes."
"You all feel different."
Seraphyne tilted her head.
"Explain."
Aerion pointed toward Lyria first.
"When I draw her…"
Lyria leaned forward curiously.
"…it feels like drawing the ocean."
She smiled slowly.
"Unpredictable."
"Beautiful," Aerion added quickly.
She seemed satisfied with that.
Then he looked at Seraphyne.
"When I draw you…"
Her eyes softened slightly.
"…it feels like drawing the night sky."
She blinked.
"Because you're calm," he continued.
"But also deep."
Seraphyne looked genuinely surprised.
"…I see."
Lyria whispered dramatically,
"Oh he's good."
Aerion laughed nervously.
"Please don't make this weird."
Then suddenly—
A new presence entered the garden.
The air shifted.
Calmer.
Stronger.
Aerion turned immediately.
Aelira had arrived.
The Sovereign stood at the entrance of the garden path, silver hair glowing softly in the light.
Her eyes moved slowly between the three of them.
Aerion.
Seraphyne.
Lyria.
All sitting together.
Her expression remained perfectly calm.
But Lyria grinned immediately.
"Well well."
Seraphyne stood respectfully.
"Aelira."
Aerion also stood.
"Good morning."
Aelira walked toward them slowly.
The air felt heavier with her presence.
Yet strangely warm.
Her silver eyes rested on Aerion.
"I was looking for you."
Lyria whispered quietly,
"Oh here we go."
Aerion rubbed his neck.
"…Am I in trouble?"
Aelira stopped in front of him.
"No."
Then she looked briefly toward the others.
"But it appears you are busy."
Lyria crossed her arms.
"Not particularly."
Seraphyne added calmly,
"We were discussing art."
Aelira looked back at Aerion.
"…Art?"
Aerion sighed.
"Yes."
Aelira looked thoughtful for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"Then you should draw again."
Aerion blinked.
"Now?"
"Yes."
Lyria clapped softly.
"Oh perfect."
Seraphyne nodded slightly.
"I agree."
Aerion looked around.
"…You're all doing this on purpose."
No one denied it.
A canvas appeared in the garden.
Three goddesses stood nearby.
Watching him.
Closely.
Aerion sighed.
"…This might be the most pressure any artist has ever faced."
Lyria laughed.
"Just paint."
Seraphyne added,
"We are curious."
Aelira said nothing.
But she didn't look away from him.
Aerion took a deep breath.
Then he began painting.
Slow strokes.
Careful lines.
Color forming shape.
Time passed quietly.
The goddesses watched him work.
Sometimes their shoulders brushed each other slightly.
Sometimes their gazes shifted toward Aerion.
And sometimes—
They looked at each other.
That subtle competition still there.
Not hostile.
But undeniable.
Finally—
Aerion stepped back.
"I'm done."
They walked closer.
And stopped.
The painting showed the three goddesses standing beneath the celestial sky.
But the focus wasn't their power.
Or their divinity.
It was their expressions.
Different.
Unique.
Alive.
Lyria looked playful.
Seraphyne looked thoughtful.
Aelira looked quietly happy.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Then Lyria exhaled softly.
"…Wow."
Seraphyne nodded slowly.
"You captured truth."
Aelira studied the painting silently.
Then she looked at Aerion.
"…You see us clearly."
Aerion smiled.
"I try."
Lyria suddenly crossed her arms.
"Well this changes things."
Aerion raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
She pointed at the painting.
"Now I want another one."
Seraphyne added calmly,
"As do I."
Aelira spoke quietly.
"You already promised me one."
Aerion stared at them.
"…You're all serious."
Three goddesses looked at him.
Completely serious.
He sighed dramatically.
"I need a vacation."
Lyria laughed.
"In the Realm of Goddesses?"
Seraphyne added,
"That is unlikely."
Aelira stepped closer to him.
Her hand gently touched his sleeve.
"Stay."
Her voice was soft.
But sincere.
Aerion looked at her.
Then at the others.
Then he smiled.
"…Yeah."
"I think I will."
Above them—
The celestial sky shimmered quietly.
Because the strange, beautiful rivalry between goddesses…
Was only beginning.
And somehow—
Aerion had become the center of it.