CHAPTER 96
"Yo, Arin-san!"
A familiar voice that Arin always knew, a voice that broke through the silence..sharp, yet friendly.
The sudden sound startled the still night. A few birds scattered from the nearby tree, their wings fluttering like pieces of the dark sky.
Arin turned from the doorway. Her silver-white hair shimmered faintly beneath the moon, falling in gentle waves across her shoulders. Her amber eyes caught the light like molten gold, soft yet piercing.
"Eii, Tadashi-san… what are you doing here at this late hour?" she asked, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.
A figure stepped out from the mist a tall man clad in travel-worn armor and a long dark cloak. The man's face bore the marks of responsibility: deep eyes that had seen far too much, a jaw lined with age and duty.
Tadashi, the village chief.
Even in the dim moonlight, his presence carried the calm weight of leadership.
Kael, who had been by the hearth moments before, turned at the sound of his friend's voice. His strong hands were still blackened from work, his tunic slightly torn at the shoulder.
"Yeah… what are you doing here, Tadashi?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.
Tadashi laughed heartily, the sound echoing softly through the night
"You crazy?? Ehhh, is it bad to visit my old friend?!"
Kael blinked, then smiled. "Huh? No, no, no! You're always welcome here."
He scratched his head, his grin crooked but warm. "We don't usually get visitors, as you know… but as for you, you're always welcome."
Arin smiled faintly, a softness returning to her tone. "Don't just stand outside, please… come in."
Tadashi chuckled and stepped closer, removing his cloak as the faint warmth of the home embraced him. "Thank you."
He sat down slowly by the low table. The wood creaked beneath him, worn but sturdy.
The scent of herbs filled the air as Arin poured water into a simple clay cup, her movements elegant, every gesture graceful without trying.
"Here you go, please drink this."
Tadashi took it with both hands and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you." He sipped slowly, exhaling with satisfaction. The water was cool and clean and refreshing after a long, uneasy day.
He looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Ahh menn I needed that....
Kael smiled saying yeah you look like you fought a bear
Arin chuckled slightly... And tadashi noticed the sarcasm!
Shut up!! Wait?
"Where are the boys?"
Kael leaned back against the wall, his gaze drifting toward the narrow doorway that led to the small sleeping room. " huh well they're fast asleep."
Arin nodded, her voice soft and full of maternal calm. "Yeah, they just slept not too long ago."
Tadashi smiled, though the expression didn't quite reach his eyes. "Good…"
He placed the cup down and sighed, his tone lowering. "But there's something I came here for."
Kael's brow rose slightly. "So, you heard what happened, huh?"
At those words, Arin's expression shifted. Her gentle smile faded into worry.
"wait let's take this conversation outside," she said quietly.
Tadashi nodded in understanding. "Agreed."
The door creaked open.
The cold night met them with a breath of frost. The grass shimmered faintly under the moon, and the soft hum of crickets filled the silence like a distant song.
The three of them stood outside Tadashi's cloak fluttering in the breeze, Kael's silhouette tall and firm, Arin's presence calm and unearthly. The wind carried the faint echo of the river beyond the forest, whispering through the trees.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Tadashi exhaled and broke the silence.
"kael-san .. he paused for a moment then continued.. an unknown man named Hajime came today." His tone was low and deliberate. "He said things… about one of your sons."
Arin's eyes widened slightly, though her expression remained composed.
"But," Tadashi continued, "I stopped him before he could say anything more." He turned toward Arin. "Arin-san… have you told them already?"
Arin shook her head slowly. "No, I haven't."
Ehh wait are you serious right now! Tadashi barked ..
Kael crossed his arms, his voice steady but thoughtful. "We're waiting for the right time to tell them."
Tadashi frowned, his tone sharpening. "Right time? Are you serious!! C'mon, both of you don't you think this is the right time?"
He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "They're teenagers already… and they're showing signs, Kael."
His voice softened, filled with concern. "You're my friend. We both know the truth needs to come out eventually."
The night seemed to listen. Even the crickets fell quiet.
"You're married to a god, Kael."
The words landed like thunder an invisible weight pressing upon the world around them.
Kael's hand twitched, but he didn't speak.
Arin's gaze remained on the horizon. Her expression didn't waver only a faint smile lingered on her lips.
Tadashi exhaled, as if reminding himself that this was no rumor. "Your children are demi-gods."
A long silence followed.
Tadashi's tone turned reverent, almost whispering. "Sometimes I still find it hard to believe that Arin-san… is a god."
Kael finally spoke, his voice quiet but resolute.
"Not just a god," Tadashi said before Kael could continue, his tone deepening. "The God of Erasure carrying both Destruction and Corruption. She's the strongest of all the Gods of Creation."
Arin chuckled!! Well.... when you put the way it's sounds bad...
A faint pulse of unseen power rippled through the air..as if the very world shuddered at the mention of her true title. The air grew colder; the leaves rustled softly.
Kael turned toward his wife. Her golden eyes met his calm, endless, filled with both sorrow and love.
He smiled faintly. "I know… but with all that power… she chose me."
He took a step forward, his voice trembling not with fear, but with pride.
"She chose this life. When we first met you know she could've killed me, killed you too but she didn't. She became our friend."
He looked at Tadashi with conviction. "And I love her you know I do and I love my family."
You know the sacrifices she did to be here and we knew the cost!!
The silence that followed was thick with sincerity.
"It's big news, Tadashi. We'll tell them, but not now."
Kael reached out, taking Arin's hand gently. Her fingers intertwined with his, soft yet strong.
"I'll choose you over and over again, no matter what anyone says," Kael whispered.
Tadashi looked down, a shadow falling over his features. He sighed, the sound of an old friend who knew he could not change fate.
"It's okay, I believe you… but.." He looked toward the small house behind them, where faint light seeped through the cracks. "Watch your sons, Kael. Arin. Both of them are special. No god is born mortal, but they both are."
Kael laughed softly, his tension breaking. "You worry too much, Tadashi-san."
He stepped closer, lightly tapping Tadashi on the forehead. "Come, join us."
Tadashi blinked. "Join you?"
Arin chuckled softly. "C'mon, Tadashi. I'll cook something. You're passing the night here."
Tadashi raised his hands defensively, backing away. "Ehh, no, no! I need to go to my wife!"
Kael grinned wide, his voice booming with laughter. "Yes!!!! Then it's settled...you're passing the night here!"
"Wait, wait, wait—!" Tadashi protested as Kael grabbed him by the shoulder, dragging him toward the door.
"C'mon! It'll be just like old times, my friend!"
Arin laughed quietly, shaking her head as the two men entered the house. The door slid shut, muffling the sound of their laughter as the night settled once again.
Outside, the moon drifted higher, the mist curling across the field like the breath of ancient gods watching from afar.
The laughter inside was bright and human—but beyond the mortal veil, unseen eyes watched.
The heavens whispered.
The fate of two brothers the sons of Kael and Arin, the God of Erasure was just begging..