‘Has Lovitara begun her ascension to godhood?’ Aurelion pondered silently. 

The path to godhood was a twisted and nearly impossible endeavor, requiring millennia of preparation. Even then, the slightest miscalculation or misstep could result in a fate far worse than death. Specially, Ascending through the authority of decay and disease will be treacherous one. 

Aurelion was intrigued. He was eager to see how Lovitara would navigate this perilous road. But for now, he would simply watch, waiting for the right moment to intervene.

“Accept the refugees. There should be no issue in accommodating them,” Aurelion commanded, his voice steady, as though he had already weighed the consequences of each decision. “As for Lovitara, keep a close eye on her movements. No more than that for now.”

Gods, contrary to what mortals believed, did not categorize themselves into good or evil. Those were mortal concerns. For the divine, it was all about personal interest and maintaining authority.

Orion nodded in acknowledgment and moved on to deliver the next piece of news, one that carried greater weight.

“There’s been a sudden influx of seeker of knowlege seeking protection and wishing to join our church,” Orion reported. “I intended to wait for your decision, but the Angel of knowledge, thiara , has already intervened. She personally accepted them.”

“They are defectors from the organization of seeker of origin.”

Aurelion’s eyes narrowed as Orion continued. “Most of them are showing early signs of madness. Their spirit are unstable, and nearly all of them appear corrupted by some unknown force. While they’re still salvageable, the situation prompted us to investigate.”

Orion took a breath before delivering the more crucial findings. “It turns out there’s a major issue within the Seeker of origin itself. The defectors revealed that a critical experiment had failed, but none of them could recall anything beyond that.”

“Thiara attempted to probe further, but she was met with resistance—interference from a higher power.”

Orion's voice lowered as he added, “The entity who blocked her was Aleric, Archangel of the Inovantion and Alchemy.”

Aurelion’s expression darkened as he processed the information. Despite their differences of brief, the relationship between the Aleric and the seeker of origin had always been a delicate one. The mere fact that the Aleric had intervened hinted at something far more serious brewing beneath the surface.

Aurelion’s mind raced with possibilities. If his suspicions about the seekers were correct, this could signal a dangerous unraveling of events—events tied to a future no one can predict.

“Proceed as planned,” Aurelion finally instructed, his voice unwavering. He did not issue further orders on the matter, leaving Orion to interpret the unspoken weight behind his words.

At the command, Orion snapped back to attention and continued delivering his detailed report on the state of the kingdom. Aurelion sat quietly, his hand resting on his chin as he listened to the flood of information. Occasionally, he offered strategic instructions, but his mind was still turning over the implications of what he had just learned.

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the horizon, casting a golden light over them, Aurelion’s figure remained calm and still. But within, he was already calculating the moves that would decide the fate of gods and kingdoms alike.

A white castle was present in the seemingly infinite space, as its outline was faintly visible from a distance.   

Aurelion casually sat in a chair on one of the castle's balconies, holding a white porcelain cup filled with coffee in one hand and a book in the other, reading it while taking a sip of coffee.

His expression were calm and peaceful, his handsome angular face illuminated by the sun's twilight. He was enjoying his coffee, while reading one of the popular novels at the time, which a believer sacrificed to him.

This mundane things he realized helped him to maintain his newly acquired humanity. The fact he had come to know after the fustion of two souls, the revelation other gods have yet to realize.

So to make good use of the knowledge, he had encouraged the beginning of the forms of entertaining like novels, theatre, museums, and art exhibitions have across the eastern continent. 

But he knew even bigger enenthusias than him, Cessian, the most loyal arch angel of the old sungod, as far as Aurelion remembered, he was an art nerd to the core. Despite the fact that the ideas for this originated from their lord himself, Cessian was the one who actively pushed everything behind the scenes.

After the fall of his lord though, there was less and less of such a activities remained. Only to pushed back up again by aurelios. Looking back, he was a little surprised at how Cessian single-handedly staged the Renaissance back then. 

His friendship with Cessian was actually quite good because he, too, enjoyed painting and they had gone on adventures specifically for this purpose.

However, everything between them broke, at the day of his betrayal.

And, the majority of his drawings are now in Aurelion’s castle walls; he will occasionally look at these paintings to reminisce about the past.

'Wait?' Aurelion rambling thoughts came to a halt as he remembered something. 'That painting?'

He had received a sacrifice near the beginning of the third era, shortly after becoming a god; it was a painting painted by Cessian himself.

The painting's title was "The ingrate" which is quite ironic now that he had gain more of his humanity and he didn't expect Cessian to have the courage and audacity to actually draw something like that.

The painting depicted him, standing before the the kneeling sun god. Aurelion tearing up the golden crystal from the head of the old sun god after thrusting the white flaming sword through his heart, while the background of the painting was completed dark. 

When Aurelion saw the painting at the time, he was furious, for no one will be calm and collected if their actions and stories are depicted in this manner.

This was exacerbated by the fact that he was still conflicted about his choices and hadn't fully accepted them at that time.

This caused quite a stir at the time, To top it all off, it was the younger of the twins- Damien was the one who orchestrated everything; stealing this painting from Cessian and sacrificing to him in the hopes of causing chaos.

Damien came severely close to achieving this goal, as war nearly broke out between the Azazeil empire and him. However, it was brought to a halt by the intervention of other gods, and Damien suffered the most as a result of his actions, while the painting was decided to be destroyed.

This was also when Damien was dubbed "The Blasphemer" for daring to provoke the god.

Looking back now, Aurelion didn't fell much anymore; he had completely accepted his own his actions and choices that he decided at the time.

He had no regrets about betraying his lord, and if he could go back in time, he would have do3ne the same.

He wasn't hungry for power and strength before, but everything changed after that day, the day he found out the truth of everything- about Nexus. Since then this had became his nature, to ascend higher and higher in chain of power. So he didn't question or feel guilty about his actions.

Aurelion sighed and placed the novel on the table, while drinking more coffee to calm his nerves.

Daimen was dangerous no doubt, but its the older one of the twins- Ichor the old, that make Aurelion warry, unlike Daimen he didn't make chaos ruscus of his actions, and had been hidden and silent since Old sun gods fall, but there's no doubt about it, he is preparing something, Something that even gods would fail to predict, he was like his father in that regard.

However, the past no longer matters; Aurelion can only plan ahead and achieve his goal. Having his humanity at its strongest is huge advantage.

It's the fact that there are numerous ways to pry on the future and destiny of the world. And while he has set his plans in motion; his adversaries will not simply sit back and watch, but will take their own actions.

Aurelion’s knew that if Ichor finds out about his actions, he will not let it happen. Especially if the divine artifact, the broken cross is what he is seeking.

So, one way or another, the future is uncertain for even gods, and he must be prepared to deal with any situation that arises.

Finally, Aurelion sighed again and decided to stop thinking about the complicated issues for which he couldn't find answers with his current strength and instead focus on the present.

However, Aurelion chaotic thoughts were interrupted when a blaze of light erupted directly in front of him, revealing a golden star that continued to pulsate.

Suddenly, the star's bright light began to dim, and it started to become static, as though it was dying.

When Aurelion saw this, his face became solemn, because he felt his connection with the Angel of knowlege weakening and almost serving. 

He immediately raised his hand to grab the star.

The dying star immediately emitted a blazing light that engulfed him, and he vanished from his kingdom.

In Antal Mountains, Aucuses gazed at the strange scene with his golden irises that glowed with rage evident in it.