[ATTENTION!

THIS IS A SECTION OF THE PROLOGUE. EVENTS THAT OCCUR IN THIS CHAPTER GIVE CONTEXT TO SOME FUTURE EVENTS IN THE STORY, BUT IT IS NOT IMPORTANT TO START READING WITH THIS CHAPTER. ALL THE EVENTS THAT UNFOLD IN THIS CHAPTER ARE LEGENDS IN THE MAIN STORY.]

El's eyes narrowed to slits, his hand inching towards the blade at his hip. However, before the situation could escalate, Ea audibly cleared his throat, and the combative companions redirected their attention to the man. They were met with the sight of Ea covering his mouth with his left hand while holding the right up in mock surrender.

"I'll apologize for this in advance, ĝala dag," Ea's voice sliced through the tension, causing both companions to recoil. The sea below them seemed to solidify, and both El and Ao Jun's eyes widened with incredulity. Their bodies froze in place as if held by an unseen, inescapable force. The power Ea had so casually displayed was unprecedented, something they'd never witnessed or even imagined before. He could stop the world around him with a casual phrase. What level of power was this? 

Ea coughed into his palm, leaving a bloody speckle behind. Casually, he placed the bloodstained palm down on the raft to support himself and drew in a deep breath, wincing slightly from the exertion.

"El is right, Jun'er. You shouldn't disrespect your elders and never underestimate Tendo's might. The council may be full of cowardly birds, but there is a stark difference between gutless and powerless. Remember that lesson, or one day you'll find yourself as the main course at another's table." Ea's hand landed softly on the young boy's head, offering both comfort and guidance.

Motioning to the devastated world around them, Ea continued, "We deva are to blame for this mess, but your family has paid the price." His gaze shifted to El, holding a weight of solemnity. "There is no defense for those who refuse to defend the defenseless or help the helpless. Remember the suffering caused by inaction. Engrave this memory in your heart so that you never waver when called upon to act."

"Now, with that, let's consider this argument resolved, shall we?" Ea slapped his thigh, intending to rise to his feet, but he faltered as his strength failed him, and the world resumed its motion. He chuckled slightly at his body's frailty.

"As you can see, you'll never know when you will be the one in need. El, lend me a hand, won't you?" he requested, his shaky arm reaching out to his brother.

El warily regarded his brother, his mind still reeling from the staggering power the man had just displayed. Fear gripped him tightly, causing him to hesitate, unsure how to proceed, as he struggled to come to terms with the magnitude of what he had just experienced. A mere utterance seemed to have frozen time itself—Ea had strength that rendered the might of a divine dragon and a sage on the brink of empyrean insignificant with a simple phrase. Was this still the domain of a deity, or had his brother transcended into a realm beyond comprehension?

Ea began to retract his hand, the familiar pang of rejection echoing in his heart. "So, you were a frightened bird as well," he muttered in a forlorn tone. But before he could pull his arm back entirely, Ao Jun stepped forward. Gently draping the frail man's arm over his shoulders, Ao Jun assisted him to his feet. The unexpected gesture brought a flicker of warmth to Ea's heart, amidst the overwhelming sense of dejection. "I can always rely on you, Jun'er," he expressed with a mixture of gratitude and relief, softly patting the boy on the back.

"Of course, Ea'ge. Helping the helpless, it's not all that hard." Ao Jun smirked nonchalantly.

Ea smiled warmly and said, "No, it's not that hard at all."

Ea turned to his brother, his expression marked by clear disappointment. "El, snap out of it. Focus now. How many have we managed to save? Have you found any survivors? Did you reach anyone before the flood engulfed them?"

El's head hung low in shame as he replied, "I managed to save a pair of every species I could, Brother. They are all safely on the island under the Mountain Queen's protection, just as you instructed."

Ea sighed heavily. "So it's the worst-case scenario after all. Barely enough to repopulate."

"That may not be true," El interjected softly, his voice carrying a glimmer of optimism. "Other powers may have chosen to intervene, and there are still realms like Arcadia with an empyrean's strength to safeguard a group of survivors from the flood. In times like this, we can only cling to hope."

Ea shook his head, his eyes downcast with grief. "I know you're right, El, but at times like these, hope sounds so hollow."

"It may be hollow, but that doesn't make it any less real. Prepare for the worst, but believe in the best. You taught me that, remember?" El reminded his voice gentle yet firm.

Ea looked up to see his younger brother's head held high with determination. In those dark purple eyes, he recognized the flicker of resolve that had once stubbornly burned within himself. A small glimmer of pride welled up within him; this was the brother he knew. With a satisfied smile, he said, "You're not bad."

"Well, of course, I'm not... Wait, what do you mean by that?" El stumbled over his words, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"He means you aren't entirely hopeless," Ao Jun interjected with a playful grin.

Ea laughed as heartily as his body would allow. "You've done well, little brother. I feel confident entrusting matters to you while I'm away."

"Exactly how long do you intend to be away?" A captivating feminine voice, laced with a subtle threat, cooled the warm atmosphere, surprising the trio with its unexpected presence.