The laughter eventually softened into a warm hum—like the entire merged primordial void was exhaling with them. Plates were half-empty, Lysera was teleporting in small sleepy hops, Lexus was telling Arios insane stories about his battles centuries ago, and Kaelith kept rubbing the bruise on his cheek while muttering:
"I swear I'm suing that glass."
Lucien stretched his back and then—without warning—lifted Lysera into his arms.
She giggled, grabbing at his hair with her tiny fingers.
Selene's expression instantly melted.
"You're taking her somewhere?" she asked.
Lucien kissed Lysera's forehead.
"Yeah. She's been drifting to the World Tree in her dreams anyway. Might as well take her while she's awake."
Selene nodded with a soft smile.
Guru and Vaelion lounged on obsidian chairs nearby, waving lazily.
Kaelith took one step forward—
"Can I come—"
"No," Lucien said without turning around.
Kaelith froze like he'd been Flash-Stepped out of existence.
Everyone snorted.
Lucien walked with Lysera in his arms, each step bending the void under his feet as a path of silver-white petals formed. The merged realm parted naturally for him, opening a corridor of starlight that led directly to the colossal silhouette of Ydris—the World Tree, whose branches spread across dimensions like veins of creation.
The tree glowed faintly, pulsing in recognition the moment Lucien approached.
A deep, feminine voice resonated.
Not loud.
Not demanding.
Warm. Ancient. Alive.
"Dreamveil… you return so soon."
Lucien smiled softly.
"Yes. My daughter wanted to see you."
Lysera babbled and reached her tiny hands toward the glowing roots.
Light rippled through the trunk—
and the spirit of Ydris fully manifested:
a towering woman of silver-leaf hair and eyes of emerald constellations.
She lowered herself, kneeling, smiling at the baby.
"She carries my resonance," Ydris murmured.
"A piece of my heart. A child of void and root… destined to walk where even I cannot."
Selene stepped up beside Lucien, her fingers brushing Lysera's cheek.
"She was drawn to you from birth," Selene said.
"I felt her before she opened her eyes," Ydris replied gently.
Lucien stepped forward, raising his hand toward a low branch.
A single crystal fruit grew instantly—light swirling inside like a living aurora.
He plucked it effortlessly.
One became two.
Then three.
Then four.
Each one forming in his palm like stars condensing into life.
He turned and distributed them.
"To Lysera," he said first.
She grabbed the fruit and immediately tried to eat the entire thing in one bite—but the fruit melted into starlight, entering her gently.
Ydris smiled.
"She will grow fast."
"To Selene."
She bit into hers—eyes widening slightly as cosmic sweetness filled her senses.
"To Arios."
He caught his with Void-Step reflexes, smirking.
"Tastes like power," he said after a bite.
Lucien rolled his eyes.
"You're dramatic."
"Wonder where I get it from," Arios shot back.
Finally—
Lucien faced Lexus.
"To you, gramps."
Lexus held the fruit with trembling fingers, staring at it as though it were a miracle.
"This… this is life from Ydris itself. This fruit…"
His voice cracked softly.
"This is something our ancestors dreamed of."
Lucien stepped closer, placing Lysera gently in Lexus's arms.
"Hold her for me," Lucien said.
"She likes you."
Lysera touched Lexus's nose, giggling.
Lexus almost broke again.
Lucien turned to Selene.
"Walk with me."
She took his hand without hesitation.
They walked under Ydris's vast canopy, drifting into a small clearing bathed in silver roots. Selene leaned against him; he wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I missed you," she whispered.
Lucien exhaled, forehead touching hers.
"I know."
"You always leave…" Her voice trembled—not accusing, only aching.
Lucien kissed her gently.
"And I always come back."
Her fingers slid through his hair.
"I'll never get used to the way you look at me," she whispered.
Lucien smirked.
"You started it."
She flushed, then rested her head on his chest.
For a moment, the chaos of realms, wars, gods, plans—
all went silent.
Hours slipped past like minutes.
By the time they returned to the others, Lysera was asleep on Lexus's shoulder, Arios was sparring with Seraphyx using toothpick.
"Everyone ready to go home?" Lucien asked.
There were nods around.
Dimensional portals shimmered open—one for each of them.
Arios bowed.
"I'll protect Aetherion until you return, father."
Selene kissed his cheek.
"Don't be reckless."
Seraphyx saluted silently before stepping through her portal.
Lexus stopped beside Lucien, placing a hand over his heart.
"I… have a home again. Thank you."
Lucien clasped his shoulder.
"Go settle into the Dreamveil estate on Aetherion. I'll visit soon."
Lexus nodded, eyes full of a hope he hadn't felt in eons.
One by one, they stepped through their portals—
Arios.
Seraphyx.
Selene with Lysera.
Lexus.
Kaelith (after trying to act cool and tripping over a root).
Until only Lucien remained.
The merged primordial void quieted, bending in respect as he approached his throne—
a monument of living Black Light and shifting cosmic runes.
He sat.
The void bowed.
Lucien rested his chin on his knuckles, eyes narrowing with a new determination.
His voice echoed through every unseen corner of existence:
"Elyndor… Unobserved Eye of Paraxis…"
The void shuddered.
"…I have yet another reason to visit your domain."