The merged primordial void settled into a warm hum—something it only ever did in Lucien's presence. Lexus wiped the last tears from his eyes, and Lucien placed a gentle hand on his shoulder before turning to his family.
"Alright," Lucien said with a soft breath, a half-smile forming. "When I'm ready, I'll go to Paraxis… but not now."
Arios looked up at him instantly.
Selene's fingers intertwined with his.
Lexus straightened, newfound strength rising in his eyes.
Lucien continued:
"Right now? It's family time. And technically—"
He raised his hand, letting the entire realm shimmer under his control.
"—you're all standing in the safest place that exists anywhere."
Lexus chuckled under his breath.
Selene exhaled softly, leaning on his shoulder.
Seraphyx, who had been standing guard a respectful distance away, allowed the faintest smile.
Lucien snapped his fingers.
A massive obsidian table formed instantly, stretching across a floating platform of black-light crystal. Food appeared dish by dish—not summoned, but crafted, each plate shaped by Lucien's own imagination.
Golden-roasted astral boar.
Etheric fruits dripping silver nectar.
Primordial rice steaming with faint cosmic aroma.
A platter of void-fire noodles already being eyed by Arios.
"Yo," Arios said, grabbing chopsticks before anyone else could even breathe, "I've been craving these for months."
Selene smiled softly. "Some things never change."
Lucien nudged his son's forehead.
"Eat slowly. You almost burned a hole in the dining hall last time."
"That was ONE time—" Arios protested.
Seraphyx lifted Lysera gently, the baby resting on her shoulder while babbling happily. But every few seconds she would simply pop out of reality and reappear somewhere else, giggling like she was playing hide-and-seek with space itself.
Selene sighed.
"She doesn't even cry. She just… teleports when she wants attention."
Lexus laughed—an old, rusty sound finally finding life again.
"That's definitely a Dreamveil."
As everyone sat, Lucien created chairs with a wave—soft black velvet with silver lining, adjusting perfectly to each person's build.
He took his seat at the head of the table, settling comfortably for the first time in ages.
And for a moment—
It felt perfect.
Food passed around.
Laughter rose.
Lexus devoured an entire etheric boar leg with tears in his eyes.
Arios challenged Thariel to a chopstick duel.
Seraphyx tried to feed Lysera, only for the baby to vanish, reappear in front of Lucien, grab a fruit, and teleport back like a tiny gremlin.
Lucien caught her mid-pop and held her up.
"You're going to be a menace when you grow up."
Lysera giggled and slapped his cheek with her tiny hand.
Selene melted.
"That means she loves you."
"I'm sure it does," Lucien deadpanned, though he kissed her forehead anyway.
Lexus, watching the entire scene, whispered:
"This… this is what I thought I'd never see again."
Lucien leaned back, smiling at him.
"You'll see a lot more. You're not alone anymore, gramps."
Lexus placed a hand over his heart, swallowing the emotion.
Then—
A ripple tore through the void.
A shimmering, unstable portal blasted open on the far side of the platform.
Everyone turned.
And stumbling out—clutching a sack of snacks, hair windblown, facial expression aggressively offended—
Was Kaelith.
Lucien's best friend from Nax.
The idiot who would fight gods but cry over spicy noodles.
The guy Lucien forged a sword for.
Kaelith looked around, eyes darting from Lexus to Selene to Arios to Lysera to the Sole Exception commanders.
Then he pointed dramatically at Lucien.
"BRO.
NOT.
FAIR."
Lucien blinked.
Kaelith marched forward, every step radiating exaggerated betrayal.
"You introduce everybody else—you reunite with family—you're having a FEAST—"
He jabbed a finger at the table.
"A WHOLE FEAST—
And you didn't even introduce me? Your BEST FRIEND? The guy who bled with you? The guy you made a sword for?"
Everyone stared.
Kaelith spread his arms.
"Ain't I your family too, bruh?!"
Lucien held eye contact.
Deadpan.
Stone-faced.
Then he said:
"…I don't know you."
And threw a glass straight at Kaelith's head.
Kaelith screamed, ducking dramatically.
"HAA! MISSED!"
But the glass curved midair—
changed trajectory—
and smacked him in the side of the face.
Kaelith collapsed to one knee clutching his cheek.
Selene burst out laughing.
Arios slid off his chair wheezing.
Seraphyx hid her smile behind Lysera, who clapped because she thought it was a magic trick.
Lexus laughed so hard tears formed again.
Even the spirits of Lucien's parents and Selene's parents chuckled.
Kaelith stood back up, pointing angrily at Lucien with watery eyes.
"YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!"
Lucien shrugged.
"Did I?"
"Yes!"
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"Prove it."
Kaelith opened his mouth—then closed it.
Everyone exploded into laughter again.
Lexus held his stomach.
Selene covered her mouth.
Arios was flat on the ground.
Even Lysera hiccup-laughed.
Lucien finally let a smile tug at the corner of his lips.
This—
this was the moment he fought eternities for.
And as the laughter echoed through the primordial void and metaphysical realm…
The chapter ended exactly as it should:
With a family finally reunited.
And a best friend getting hit in the face by a magic cup.