The training grounds refused to calm Mason’s mind.

Steel clashed, soldiers shouted, dust rose beneath boots striking packed earth.

Everything looked ordinary... yet nothing felt normal anymore.

He stood at the balcony overlooking the arena while warriors sparred below.

Draca remained beside him... observing.

Mason pretended to focus on the soldiers.

But Inside, however, his thoughts raced.

He noticed every glance now. Every pause in conversation. Every subtle reaction from

Athlian’s former lovers and palace officials.

Something had shifted after the divine visitation...people weren’t just revering the Goddess anymore.

They were studying her.

Athlian stirred uneasily. ’They sense change.’

"Yeah," he muttered internally. "And I’m running out of believable excuses."

Below, two captains finished sparring. The surrounding soldiers applauded, energy high after surviving what everyone now called Heaven’s Confirmation.

The kingdom believed divine approval had arrived.

Mason knew better.

They were being evaluated.

Draca finally spoke. "You’re troubled."

Mason glanced sideways. "You say that like I’m normally peaceful."

"You are calculating," Draca corrected. "but today you are distracted."

Mason leaned against the railing. "Hypothetical question."

Draca waited.

"If someone changed drastically overnight... but became better at protecting the people... would you question the change?"

Draca didn’t answer immediately.

He considered carefully; exactly the reason Mason both trusted and feared him.

"I would question it," he said at last.

Mason’s stomach tightened.

"But," he continued, "I would judge the intention before the difference."

Mason looked at him. "And if the intention was good?"

"Then the change deserves loyalty."

The words settled heavily between them.

Athlian’s emotions warmed softly.

’He has always chosen heart before doctrine.’

Mason exhaled slowly.

He’s a dangerous man...too perceptive and sincere.

Before the conversation could deepen, hurried footsteps approached.

Saleem arrived nearly running, scrolls

clutched tightly.

"My Goddess! Urgent developments."

Mason straightened instantly.

"Please tell me this isn’t another former lover."

Saleem blinked. "No, My Goddess."

Pause.

"...Worse."

Mason sighed. "Of course it is."

Saleem unrolled a scroll.

"Three neighboring kingdoms have mobilized envoys simultaneously. They request an immediate audience."

Draca frowned. "That is not diplomacy. That is pressure."

"Exactly," Saleem said. "They believe divine judgment weakens our defenses."

Mason’s expression sharpened. "So they’re testing us."

Athlian’s voice hardened.

’Predators smell uncertainty.’

Mason nodded slightly.

"Prepare the Grand Audience Hall."

Saleem hesitated. "My Goddess... they arrive with military escorts."

Draca’s hand moved instinctively toward where his weapon normally rested.

Tension rose instantly.

Mason smiled faintly. "Good."

Both men looked at him. "We’ll welcome them properly."

Grand Audience Hall

The hall transformed into a controlled spectacle.

Golden banners unfurled. Guards lined the marble pathway. Priests lit ceremonial flames meant to emphasize divine authority.

Mason entered last.

The atmosphere shifted immediately.

Three delegations waited at the center.

Each ruler represented power hungry enough to challenge a goddess... but cautious enough not to start war openly.

A tall woman wearing crimson armor stepped forward first.

Queen Velmira of the Western Coalition.

Her gaze was sharp, unapologetic. "We greet the Returned Goddess."

Mason sat upon the throne casually, crossing one leg over the other.

Athlian approved. ’Confidence unsettles them.’

The second envoy, Lord Harven, bowed slightly.

"Rumors claim heaven intervened personally last night."

The third; a priest-king draped in silver robes added, "Such events often precede divine instability."

There it was.

Not diplomacy but Investigation disguised as concern.

Mason rested his chin on his hand.

"And you traveled across continents to confirm whether I might explode?"

Silence followed.

Several nobles nearly choked trying not to react.

Queen Velmira smirked faintly.

"You speak more directly than before."

"I value efficiency."

Draca watched from Mason’s side, expression unreadable.

The envoys exchanged subtle glances.

They noticed it too...the difference.

Lord Harven stepped forward carefully.

"The Goddess Athlian was... passionate."

Athlian huffed indignantly inside Mason.

’I was decisive.’

Mason suppressed a smile.

"And now?"

Harven studied him. "Now you are... strategic."

The hall grew quiet.

Mason understood the real question.

Are you still the same being?

He rose slowly from the throne.

Divine power flowed naturally through him, gold light flickering along his skin.

Gasps spread through the chamber.

Authority filled the air like pressure before a storm.

"I protected this kingdom before," He said calmly.

His voice carried effortlessly across the hall.

"I will protect it now."

Power pulsed once.

Not threatening but controlled and intentional.

The envoys felt it; Strength, stability and

something new.

Queen Velmira nodded slowly.

"...Then our concerns are satisfied."

Political tension dissolved instantly.

They hadn’t come seeking weakness.

They came searching for instability. And Mason had given them certainty.

The meeting concluded.

Victory without violence.

Exactly how Mason preferred it.

...

The palace quieted after sunset.

Candle light flickered along stone corridors as servants retreated for the night.

Mason walked alone toward his chambers.

Or at least... he thought he was alone.

Draca stepped from the shadows ahead.

Not surprising but almost expected now.

"You dismissed the guards,"he said.

"I wanted quiet."

Draca studied him carefully again.

Closer now and more personal.

"You negotiated like a ruler," he said softly.

Mason shrugged. "Isn’t that my job?"

Draca didn’t smile.

"The Goddess I knew ruled through emotion."

A long pause followed.

Mason felt the moment tightening.

The question is approaching.

Draca took one step closer...cose enough that formality disappeared completely.

His voice lowered. "When you woke... your eyes changed."

Mason’s heartbeat slowed.

Draca’s gaze held his...searching deeply.

Trying to understand someone important to him.

"I know Athlian," He said quietly.

Every word is careful and measured.

"And sometimes... when you look at me..."

He hesitated. "...it feels like someone else is looking."

Silence crashed over the corridor.

Athlian froze inside their shared soul.

Mason said nothing.

Because for the first time...

Draca wasn’t suspecting he was seeing.

Footsteps echoed suddenly at the far end of the hall.

Saki’s voice called lazily,

"My Goddess! Emergency entertainment update..."

He stopped mid-sentence upon sensing the tension.

His eyes moved between the goddess and Draca.

Understanding flashed instantly. "...Oh."

The interruption broke the moment.

Draca stepped back slightly, restoring distance.

But the question remained hanging in the air.

Mason exhaled slowly.

"We’ll talk later," he said.

Draca nodded but his eyes said one thing clearly:

Later will come.

As Mason turned toward his chambers,

Athlian whispered nervously,

’He is closer to the truth than anyone.’

Mason’s jaw tightened. "I know."

Behind him, Draca watched silently.

Not as a guard or commander.

But as a man who had just realized the Goddess he loved might be hiding something impossible.

And somewhere beyond mortal sight...

The silver tear in the sky reopened.

A voice beyond heaven murmured faintly...

"Host divergence increasing."

Mason stopped walking.

He felt it...they were observing him directly now.

And this time...the divine presence began descending toward the palace again.