The council chamber had never been this crowded.

Nobles, priests, military commanders, and foreign envoys filled the long circular hall, their voices blending into a restless storm of speculation.

Silk banners representing allied kingdoms hung beside Athlian’s golden crest, but the atmosphere felt less diplomatic and more like a battlefield waiting for its first strike.

Mason entered without announcement.

Conversation stopped instantly.

He still wasn’t used to that.

Every head bowed. Chairs scraped. Even visiting monarch representatives lowered their eyes.

The instinctive reverence toward Athlian’s body remained overwhelming no matter how many times he experienced it.

Inside, Mason muttered, I need a casual entrance setting.

Athlian chuckled softly. ’You command nations. Casual is no longer available.’

Draca walked one step behind him, silent as always, presence steady enough that Mason barely noticed how often he relied on it now. Saleem hurried forward carrying scrolls stacked almost dangerously high.

"My Goddess," he said, voice tight, "representatives from Valmere, Orenth, and the Western Isles demand clarification regarding divine disturbances."

Mason took his seat at the head of the table.

"Demand?" he repeated.

Saleem hesitated. "...Respectfully demand."

"Better."

He gestured for everyone to sit.

The moment chairs settled, chaos began.

A silver-robed priest stood first. "Sacred temples across the continent report celestial observation phenomena."

A diplomat followed immediately. "Our astrologers recorded fractures in the sky."

Another voice added, "Pilgrims claim judgment has begun."

Mason raised one hand.

Silence fell again.

He leaned back slightly, adopting confidence he absolutely did not feel.

"Let’s establish something first," he said calmly. "If heaven planned to destroy us, we would already be gone."

Murmurs spread through the chamber.

Logical reassurance worked surprisingly well on frightened politicians.

Athlian hummed approvingly. ’You calm mortals better than most gods.’

"I specialize in crisis management," Mason replied internally.

An elderly envoy narrowed his eyes. "Then Your Divinity admits heaven is involved?"

Mason paused.

Careful territory.

"Yes," he said finally. "Heaven is watching."

That much could no longer be hidden.

Uneasy whispers followed.

Draca stepped forward slightly, voice firm.

"Panic benefits no one. The Goddess remains in control."

The room steadied immediately.

Mason noticed it again; people trusted Draca almost as much as they trusted Athlian herself.

Political capital.

Before more questions could rise...the air changed.

Every candle flame bent simultaneously toward the ceiling.

Magic pressure descended like invisible gravity.

Priests gasped.

Soldiers instinctively reached for weapons.

Mason didn’t need Athlian’s warning.

He already knew. "They’re here," he said quietly.

The ceiling above the council chamber shimmered.

Silver light poured downward in perfect silence.

Unlike before, this was not a distant observation.

This was the arrival.

Figures began forming within the light; tall silhouettes wrapped in radiance, faces hidden behind shifting halos. Their presence felt orderly, precise, emotionless.

Heaven’s representatives.

No thunder or dramatic explosion.

Just undeniable authority.

The entire chamber fell to its knees.

Everyone except Mason and Draca.

Draca hesitated only briefly before remaining standing beside him.

Athlian’s emotions surged with complicated recognition.

’The Tribunal.’

Three luminous beings descended fully into view.

One stepped forward.

Its voice carried everywhere at once.

"Athlian. Deviation confirmed. Evaluation phase concluded."

Mason crossed his arms.

"Great," he muttered. "You skipped scheduling again."

Several nobles nearly fainted at his tone.

The celestial figure paused.

Confusion flickered faintly within its aura.

Gods were still adjusting to Mason.

"Proceeding to the Intervention Phase," the entity continued.

That word was wrong.

Mason’s expression hardened. "Define intervention."

The second figure spoke, voice colder.

"Correction of divine irregularity."

Athlian’s anger flared instantly.

Golden light rippled beneath Mason’s skin.

’They intend to restrain me again.’

Mason felt it too. This wasn’t a conversation.

This was containment.

Draca stepped forward half a pace.

"You stand within sovereign territory," he said calmly. "State your intent clearly."

The Tribunal regarded him.

"A mortal addressing heaven directly," the third figure observed. "Unusual."

Draca did not lower his gaze. "I protect my Goddess."

Silence followed.

Then...the first entity turned back to Mason.

"Dual consciousness detected within a divine vessel. Unauthorized existence."

The room erupted into whispers.

Mason’s heart dropped.

Too close...way too close.

Athlian’s voice tightened. ’They push deliberately.’

The Tribunal continued.

"Secondary presence must be isolated for examination."

There it was.

They wanted him separated,studied and removed.

Mason smiled politely. "No."

Shock rippled through the chamber.

Even the celestial figures hesitated.

"Refusal noted," the entity replied.

"Good," Mason said. "Write it down."

The light around the Tribunal intensified.

Pressure increased until several nobles struggled to breathe.

"This matter exceeds mortal negotiation," the second being declared.

Mason stood slowly.

Authority radiated naturally now; not forced, not divine performance.

Just certainty.

"You entered my kingdom," he said evenly. "You frightened my people. And now you’re requesting access to my mind."

He tilted his head slightly. "That’s not intervention."

A beat passed.

"That’s trespassing."

Athlian laughed inside him, delighted.

The Tribunal’s light fluctuated again; not anger but adjustment.

They were recalculating him.

One entity stepped closer. "For stability of existence, separation is required."

Mason felt cold fear brush his spine.

If they forced it...he might disappear.

Athlian might weaken.

Everything could collapse.

Draca suddenly spoke. "You cannot take what she refuses to give."

The Tribunal turned toward him fully now.

"Mortal attachment influencing divine deviation," one observed.

Draca didn’t retreat. "Call it what you wish."

His voice lowered. "But you will not harm her."

The chamber held its breath.

Then something unexpected happened.

The Tribunal did not retaliate.

Instead...they studied Draca.

Longer than necessary as if discovering a variable they hadn’t predicted.

One figure spoke softly. "Emotional anchor confirmed."

Athlian stiffened. ’They recognize the bond.’

Mason felt danger rising rapidly.

If heaven realized Draca stabilized both him and Athlian...they might remove him too.

The first entity raised its hand.

Silver energy gathered. "Preliminary extraction authorized."

Power surged downward.

The air fractured.

Mason felt something pulling at his consciousness; probing, searching for the human presence hidden beneath divinity.

Athlian fought back instantly.

Golden light exploded outward.

The chamber shook violently.

Nobles screamed as magic collided.

Draca grabbed Mason’s arm. "Stay with me."

His voice cut through the chaos like an anchor dropped into storm waters.

Mason focused on that voice.

That warmth and certainty.

The pulling slowed.

The Tribunal reacted immediately.

"Resistance escalating."

More light gathered.

Too much this time.

Mason realized something terrifying.

They weren’t negotiating anymore.

They were escalating force. And if he resisted fully...

Heaven might declare Athlian corrupted.

Which is war...

Divine war.

Athlian whispered urgently, ’We cannot fight them openly yet.’

Mason’s mind raced.

Think.

Think.

Then he did something none of them expected.

He stepped forward willingly into the light.

Gasps filled the chamber.

Draca grabbed his shoulder. "No."

Mason squeezed his hand briefly.

Trust me.

He looked directly at the Tribunal.

"You want an examination?" he said calmly.

"Fine."

The celestial figures paused.

"But," Mason continued, smiling slightly,

"We do this my way."

Curiosity flickered across divine awareness.

"Clarify conditions."

Mason’s eyes sharpened. "You examine both of us."

Athlian blinked internally. ’Mason...’

He continued. "No separation. No extraction. No harm to my people."

The Tribunal processed rapidly.

Silence stretched...then...high above the palace...the sky cracked open again.

But this time...Something else looked down through the fracture.

Not orderly or part of Heaven’s Tribunal.

An older, wilder presence.

Watching the gods themselves.

The Tribunal froze mid-motion.

For the first time since arriving...Heaven hesitated.

And a voice echoed faintly across reality itself.

"Interesting..."