The strange ripple in the sky slowly faded.
For a few moments the celestial garden remained silent.
Aerion kept staring upward nervously.
"…Please tell me that wasn't something dangerous."
Aelira watched the sky carefully before relaxing slightly.
"The disturbance has passed."
Seraphyna nodded.
"Perhaps it was simply a fluctuation of cosmic energy."
Lyria stretched her arms lazily.
"Good."
She grinned at Aerion.
"Because the game was getting interesting."
Nythera chuckled softly.
"Yes… we cannot allow such a delightful game to end so soon."
Aerion groaned quietly.
"…I regret agreeing to this."
Lyria leaned closer to him.
"Too late now."
Nythera clapped her hands softly again.
"Let us continue."
Her glowing violet eyes looked straight at Aerion.
"You were about to answer my question."
Aerion immediately shook his head.
"Nope."
"You cannot refuse Truth."
"I absolutely can."
Lyria laughed loudly.
"Oh come on, we all want to know."
Seraphyna added calmly,
"It is statistically relevant."
Aelira crossed her arms.
"…Answer honestly."
Aerion stared at the four goddesses surrounding him.
"…This is a trap."
Nythera smiled.
"Perhaps."
He sighed deeply.
"…Fine."
Four pairs of glowing eyes watched him carefully.
Aerion rubbed his neck.
"…They were all different."
Lyria raised an eyebrow.
"That's not an answer."
Seraphyna nodded.
"That is evasion."
Aelira looked unimpressed.
Nythera leaned closer.
"Choose."
Aerion closed his eyes dramatically.
"…I plead the fifth."
"What is the fifth?" Lyria asked.
"A human law that lets you avoid answering."
Nythera laughed softly.
"How fascinating."
She leaned back slightly.
"Very well."
Her eyes glowed mischievously.
"Then you must take a Dare instead."
Aerion froze.
"…That sounds worse."
Lyria grinned like a villain.
"Oh it definitely is."
Nythera thought for a moment.
Then her lips slowly curved.
"Aerion."
"…Yes?"
"I dare you…"
She paused just long enough to make him nervous.
"…to sit between two goddesses of our choosing and allow them to show you which kiss is truly the best."
Aerion nearly fell off the platform.
"…WHAT?!"
Lyria burst out laughing.
"Oh that's perfect."
Seraphyna looked thoughtful.
"A fair experiment."
Aelira sighed softly but didn't object.
Aerion stared at Nythera.
"You are evil."
She smiled sweetly.
"I prefer the word curious."
Lyria immediately grabbed his arm.
"Oh come on."
Before he could resist, she pulled him toward the center of the platform.
Seraphyna calmly moved to the other side of him.
Now Aerion sat awkwardly between them.
He looked like someone about to face execution.
"…I hate this game."
Lyria wrapped an arm casually around his shoulder.
"You say that now."
Seraphyna leaned slightly closer.
"But you do not appear unhappy."
Aerion's face turned red.
"That's not the point."
Nythera smiled from across the pool.
"You may begin."
Lyria didn't waste a second.
She turned his face toward her.
And kissed him.
Bold.
Playful.
Confident.
Just like before.
Aerion's brain instantly melted.
When she pulled back, she grinned triumphantly.
"There."
Seraphyna watched quietly.
Then she gently placed her hand on Aerion's arm.
Her kiss was completely different.
Soft.
Slow.
Curious.
Like she was studying every reaction he had.
When she pulled back, the air felt warmer somehow.
Lyria crossed her arms proudly.
"Clearly I win."
Seraphyna tilted her head.
"That conclusion seems premature."
Aerion covered his face again.
"…I'm going to die."
Nythera laughed softly.
"Oh this is delightful."
Aelira shook her head slightly.
"You are all ridiculous."
But there was a faint smile on her lips.
Lyria suddenly pointed at Aerion again.
"Your turn!"
He groaned.
"Fine."
He looked around the circle.
"…Aelira."
The Sovereign met his eyes calmly.
"Truth or Dare."
She considered the question for a moment.
"…Dare."
Nythera's eyes sparkled instantly.
"Oh this should be interesting."
Aerion thought for a few seconds.
Then he smirked slightly.
"Alright."
Everyone leaned closer.
"Aelira…"
He tried not to laugh.
"I dare you to hug someone in this circle… for a full minute."
Lyria laughed.
"That's easy."
Seraphyna looked curious.
Nythera looked amused.
Aelira sighed softly.
"…Very well."
She stood up slowly.
Then walked toward Aerion.
He blinked.
"…Wait."
Before he could react—
She gently pulled him into a hug.
The Sovereign of the Realm holding him close beneath the stars.
Aerion froze completely.
Lyria's jaw dropped.
Seraphyna watched quietly.
Nythera smiled knowingly.
Aelira rested her head lightly against his shoulder.
"You chose this dare."
Aerion's heart was beating ridiculously fast.
"…I didn't expect you to pick me."
Her voice was soft.
"Why not?"
He didn't know how to answer that.
The minute passed slowly.
Almost too slowly.
When she finally stepped back, Aerion looked like his soul had left his body.
Lyria laughed again.
"Oh wow."
Seraphyna nodded thoughtfully.
"That was effective."
Nythera clapped once.
"Excellent."
Then she pointed suddenly.
"My turn again."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed directly at Aerion.
"Truth or Dare."
Aerion sighed.
"…Dare."
Her smile grew dangerous.
"Very well."
She leaned forward slightly.
"I dare you…"
The wind shifted suddenly.
The stars flickered again.
Nythera's glowing eyes lifted toward the sky.
"…Interesting."
Aelira frowned.
"That presence again."
Seraphyna whispered,
"It is getting closer."
Lyria stood up slowly.
"…Okay now I'm concerned."
Aerion looked between them nervously.
"…What's happening?"
Nythera's expression became serious for the first time.
"…It seems our little game…"
She looked up at the dark sky.
"…has attracted an audience."
High above the floating islands—
The shadow returned.
Larger now.
Watching.
Waiting.
And suddenly the next Dare felt far more dangerous than anyone expected.