Tera blinked, trying to process his words as she adjusted the twins in her arm. The idea that she had passed into a place only accessible to gods and immortals was overwhelming. She felt a cold rush of realization as the magnitude of where she was began to sink in. She had stepped beyond the world she knew, into the realm of something far greater.

"Then... why are we here?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. She was a queen, but no goddess and her babies were only a few months old. What could possibly warrant them crossing into such a place?

The Emperor strode ahead, his silhouette framed against the gracefully arched Chinese-style bridge that stretched across the shimmering water below. Its stone guardrails, intricately carved with elegant patterns, lined the smooth roadway on either side. The bridge, with its sweeping curves and symmetry, perfectly embodied traditional Chinese architecture. Crisp white lines marked the highway's edges, guiding travelers along the flat span, simple yet profoundly beautiful.

He paused, turning to face Tera and extending his hand. "Would you like to find out? If you cross this bridge, you and your children's mortal vessels will die, and you will no longer be the Sun Queen. They will no longer be a prince or princess. Or, you can return to Yruf and face Slogan in your current form."

Tera stood frozen, her heart pounding as countless questions filled her mind. What did he mean by her mortal vessel? Was he leading her to her death? And what of her children? What would become of the legacy she had worked tirelessly to secure for them? Instinctively, she tightened her hold on her sleeping children, her heart torn between fear and the unknown.

Time seemed to slow down, her thoughts spiraling until a distant memory surfaced.

It was many years ago, but she vividly recalled her first husband, Sol, advising her to always have faith in the Emperor. If he ever appeared to her, she was to trust him, for the Emperor was a wise and just ruler. His words echoed in her heart, calming the turmoil inside.

With a deep breath, Tera stepped forward, walking toward Nero. She reached out and took his hand, her grip firm but trembling. "I trust you, Emperor," she whispered. The Emperor's eyes flickered with a glint of pride, and he gave a subtle nod as he began to lead her across the bridge. Tera forced herself to steady her breathing, bracing for the unknown. Was this what it felt like to die?

As they reached the other side, Tera blinked in confusion. Nothing had happened. Her children were still peacefully asleep in her arms, and she felt no different. Furrowing her brow, she looked at the Emperor. "Emperor—I... I don't think anything happened," she whispered, her voice uncertain.

A fleeting, tight smile crossed the Emperor's face. "Death is but a blink, Tera. Your old body passed in an instant. You are now immortal—Goddess Tera, Mother of all Nature."

Those words ignited something deep within Tera, like a dam breaking and unleashing a flood of memories. She gasped as fragments of her past life in Yruf came rushing back—her birth, her rise as queen, and then the distant, almost forgotten memories of her existence before reincarnation. Her true form as a Goddess, the Mother of Nature. 

"Nero!" she cried out, gripping his arm with trembling hand. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she sank to her knees, her children still safely cradled in her left arm. Her heart overflowed with emotion, joy mixing with a deep sense of relief as the weight of her forgotten identity lifted from her soul. She let out a choked sob, burying her face into the Emperor's chest as he gently wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you, Nero... Thank you for everything, my old friend," she whispered, her voice trembling with gratitude. Her body shivered, not from cold, but from the sheer intensity of the moment, as every forgotten truth returned to her.

The Emperor, his expression soft but wise, held her close for a moment, allowing her to process the tidal wave of emotions. He then gently offered, "Here, let me hold your children, Tera. You need a moment to steady yourself."

With care, Nero lifted her children from her arms and nestled them securely under his, his strength reassuring. Tera looked up at him, still overwhelmed, but a sense of peace beginning to settle over her. She nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks as she stood on shaky legs. 

She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her Goddess form returning, her power awakening once more. As she stood tall, her once uncertain gaze now shone with the confidence and wisdom of her true self. The fog of doubt had lifted.

Nero watched her with a knowing smile. "Tera, I have someone waiting to meet you." 

Her eyes grew wide.

———

Rain sat impatiently on the wide, ornate stairs leading up to the palace. Their father had ordered them to wait until his return, but the silence and stillness were wearing thin. She exhaled loudly, her boredom seeping through as she side-eyed Kloud and Keanu, who were yet again deep in conversation about Lyra.

Rain rolled her eyes in annoyance. Kloud's obsession with Lyra was exhausting, and Keanu, ever the enabler, only fueled her brother's infatuation.

Keanu was tall and imposing, with smooth, brown skin that gleamed in the sunlight, his arms covered in intricate tattoos that stretched the length of his colorfully inked sleeves. His brown dreads, tipped with a fiery red, framed his sharp yellow eyes. Scars from countless battles crossed his body, adding to the air of danger that surrounded him. His leopard-printed fur jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, paired with tight black skinny jeans, leaving his chiseled chest on full display. He wore his warrior status like a badge of honor—and he was undeniably hot.

"Dad said she isn't my mate," Kloud muttered, still visibly disappointed. His eyes flickered with frustration as he spoke. Lyra was everything he admired—graceful, poised, and incredibly beautiful. It stung that she wasn't meant for him.

Keanu scoffed, folding his arms across his muscular chest. "Bruh, are you serious? She's smoking hot, and now you're telling me she's your uncle's mate? Dude, isn't he, like, dead?"

Keanu leaned back, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all. "Man, what a mess. Uncle or not, you've gotta admit she's something special. I don't blame you for being salty."

Rain groaned internally, her patience thinning as the conversation dragged on. "Can we talk about literally anything else?" she muttered under her breath, resisting the urge to smack Keanu upside the head.

Kloud, still lost in his thoughts about Lyra, barely registered Rain's growing frustration. His mind was trapped in an endless loop of what-ifs and missed chances. It didn't seem fair that the one person who captured his attention was destined for someone else, someone who was not only long gone but also his uncle. He furrowed his brow, struggling to recall anything substantial about his mysterious relative. "I don't even know much about my uncle Khan," Kloud said, frowning. The stories he'd heard were sparse and vague, like shadows of a legend.

Keanu snorted, lips pursed as he searched his own memory. "Yeah, dude, I was in the Underworld for a while, but I never met him either. He wasn't exactly easy to find. From what I heard, though, he was a total player. Cocky as hell, too. A girl like Lyra? Nah, she wouldn't have been his type. Your dad is buggin."

Rain's expression tightened at the casual mention of her father. The Emperor's decisions were never up for debate, and hearing him dismissed so easily made her bristle. She opened her mouth to snap back at Keanu when her gaze shifted past him, catching sight of a familiar figure approaching from the distance.

"Dad!" Rain's mood flipped in an instant, her heart leaping with excitement as she shot up and bolted toward the Emperor. But as she closed the gap, something else grabbed her attention—the woman walking beside him. Rain slowed, her feet faltering as her wide eyes locked onto the woman's face. Recognition hit her like a tidal wave. 

"Mom?"

Tera's eyes welled up with tears, mirroring her daughter's as she hurried toward her. Both girls collided in a tight embrace, overcome with emotion. Tera clung to her daughter as though afraid to let go, her voice trembling with love and relief. "Oceana... my sweet Oceana. I've missed you so much."

Rain—no, Oceana—felt warmth flood her chest as her mother's words sank in. She pulled back slightly, wiping at her own tears while a gentle smile tugged at her lips. "It's Rain now, Mom," she whispered. "The Emperor gave me that name."

Tera blinked, her eyes shifting from her daughter to the Emperor with a mix of reverence and gratitude. "Rain..." she echoed, touching her daughter's face again, as if to memorize every feature. "A beautiful name for my beautiful girl."

Rain glanced up at the Emperor, who stood watching them with a silent, knowing gaze. She smiled softly, the weight of her new identity settling in her heart as she embraced her mother again, feeling whole for the first time in what felt like forever.