Arin felt like his mind was breaking.
Too much.
Too fast.
Too heavy.
The Hollow Sovereign.
Ancient void.
Something that once terrified gods.
And that thing…
Was now his magic?
His thoughts spiraled.
His life.
From the moment he was born.
The pain.
The loneliness.
The way people left.
The way he died.
And even after death—
He didn't get peace.
He got dragged here.
Used.
Tested.
Thrown against dragons.
Forced to survive.
And now this.
The thing that once almost consumed heaven…
Was with him.
Inside his power.
He looked down at his hand.
Cutie flickered softly.
Small.
Weak.
Trembling.
This tiny light…
Was once something terrifying?
It didn't look like that.
It looked fragile.
It had saved him from the dragon.
It had apologized.
It had said sorry for not protecting him.
It felt guilt.
Something like that…
Couldn't just be a monster.
Yes, it was dangerous.
Yes, it could grow.
Yes, it could one day consume him.
But…
Arin knew something too.
He knew what it felt like to be alone.
To be feared.
To be unwanted.
To be treated like a problem.
If this fragment had lost everything…
If it had been sealed…
Broken…
Reduced to almost nothing…
Then wasn't it also abandoned?
He slowly closed his fingers gently around the faint glow.
Not trapping it.
Protecting it.
He took a deep breath.
Then stepped forward slightly.
"My Lady…"
His voice was quieter than before.
But steady.
"If I may speak."
The Goddess watched him.
Silent.
Waiting.
Arin swallowed.
"I understand the danger."
"I understand what it once was."
"I understand that it could erase me."
The air felt heavy.
But he didn't stop.
"But…"
He lifted his hand slowly.
The small light flickered.
"I want to keep it."
Caelum's eyes widened slightly.
Arin continued.
"I want to cherish it."
His voice trembled — just a little.
"But I don't want to abandon it."
"It saved me."
"It tried to protect me."
"It said sorry."
He looked up at the Goddess.
Even though her presence pressed down on him.
"Maybe it was something terrible before."
"But right now… it's just this."
"A small light."
"And I don't want to throw it away because of what it used to be."
Silence filled the hall.
Even the air felt still.
Arin lowered his head respectfully.
"If it becomes dangerous…"
"I will take responsibility."
"I will face it."
"But until then…"
"I wish to walk with it."
The words were simple.
But they were his.
For the first time since coming to this world—
He wasn't choosing survival.
He was choosing something from his heart.
The Goddess stared at him.
Long.
Unblinking.
There was no anger.
No disappointment.
Only interest.
Deep interest.
"You would keep a fragment of the void."
"Knowing it may devour you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You would protect what once sought to erase creation."
Arin didn't look away.
"Yes."
A long pause.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Not mocking.
Not cold.
But thoughtful.
"How strange."
"Even knowing fear… you choose attachment."
Caelum remained silent.
But inside—
He was shaken.
This human…
Was not logical.
Not cautious.
Not wise.
And yet—
There was something steady in his choice.
The Goddess stepped closer.
Her aura softened slightly.
"Very well."
Her voice carried quiet authority.
"I shall permit it."
"But hear me, Arin."
She spoke his name clearly.
"If that fragment begins to awaken…"
"If it moves toward its former nature…"
"I will erase it."
"And if necessary—"
Her gaze deepened.
"You as well."
The warning was not cruel.
It was absolute.
Arin nodded.
"I understand."
Behind him—
Cutie glowed just a little brighter.
As if… relieved.
The Goddess turned away slowly.
"Then let us see…"
"What becomes of a void… when given warmth."
The hall felt lighter.
But the future felt heavier.
And for the first time—
Arin wasn't just surviving heaven.
He was shaping something that once terrified it.