The garden behind the family wing was one of the few places in the Celestial Realm that still felt untouched by the weight of everything else. Soft grass gave underfoot, flowers bloomed in colors that shifted gently with the light, and a small stream wound its way between ancient trees whose leaves carried faint traces of starlight. Aurora had always loved this spot. It reminded her of quieter days, before thrones and pantheons and the endless shadow of what might come next.
She walked slowly along the path, her hand resting lightly on Eon's shoulder. Her son was still small enough that she could do that without it feeling strange, though she knew those days were numbered. Eon moved beside her with the careful steps of someone carrying more than his eight years should allow. The training from the past few days had left faint bruises on his arms and a tiredness in his eyes that no amount of healing light could fully erase.
