AIA STAYED SILENT.

“No one knew where you were until now,” Klaus added. “Whatever you did earlier could be pardoned since no one spotted you in your goddess form.”

“So you were there.”

“Yes. But I can only wait for their demise as always.”

“They were not humans, Klaus. You will not gain anything from their demise.”

“Agreed. That was not my interest. Our kind were concerned if you truly died because you hid well, my dear.”

“But you knew the truth.”

“Only that we failed with our experiment and that you disappeared. How am I supposed to know where you were hiding?”

Klaus was astounded by a sudden realization.

“You expected me to tell them you are not in my kingdom,” he declared.

Aia felt satisfied while smiling at Klaus. It was a smile of triumph.

“Is it not better to uncover the truth yourself?”

“That is absurd! You are the only one we trust to tell us the truth! Why would you want us to search for it by ourselves? What nonsense would make you believe—” Klaus paused again. “Was this more than just curiosity? Did a human hurt you this much? Tell me, and I will burn his soul in my realm.”

“No,” Aia answered to pacify Klaus.

“No? You do not want to hurt the one who hurt you? Or… No. My statements were wrong?”

“It was not a human who made me feel like this.”

“Feel like what exactly?”

“To feel like I am nothing,” Aia said sadly.

Klaus was shocked to his core. Before he could ask again, Aia explained.

“No one is to blame for how I felt, Klaus. I was dissatisfied. I understood how I treated the humans and how they reacted. But they did make me realize we all have the power to choose.”

“Then let us go to the otherworld. This was why we must leave the human world and start anew in another realm.”

“We are asked to abandon the humans while they were in a state of war? Is that the order?”

“Did you not say so yourself? Everyone has a choice. Now, we must decide.”

The shapeshifter flapped his wings to get the attention of the goddess. Aia looks at the other being. He was usually a silent observer. Now, he refused to stay quiet. If only he could speak. But words were not something he could utter.

Yet the deities could understand them well.

“Hroc wanted me to stay.”

“That is because he has other concerns.”

“How are you, Hroc?” she asked while walking towards the silent creature.

Hroc looked down. He was hoping for Aia to pat his head.

She did. And that surprises Hroc. He could not say it, but his actions were enough for Aia to understand him. The eyes of Hroc were the color of red wine. And the expression he had made her worry.

“Did Klaus did anything to you?”

“That was insulting,” she heard Klaus respond behind them. “He was the one who asked me to hunt you down.” Hroc looks at his master as if telling him he was being impolite. “I mean he asked me to find you.” Klaus glared back to his pet as soon as he corrected himself.

“And how did Hroc ask for it?”

“By following me around. Hroc refuses to follow my orders unless I find you. You know I have a soft spot for the eyes that pleads.”

“And yet you still fetch the souls of those not yet ready to die.”

“That was different. I give high value when it comes to my job.”

She had never heard Klaus appreciate his abilities and responsibilities before. Something had changed him. And Aia knew who made that change.

“Will you go with me now?”

“Why would I do that?” she asked Klaus.

“Because... you no longer have a purpose here. You have proven that we cannot die. The Departure of Deities states that immortals should no longer stay with the mortals. We were also forbidden to show ourselves to them and let them know about our existence. We were hiding for so long. But now we have the chance to start again in the otherworld.”

Aia ignored his words and focused on his other concern.

“Tell my sister I will go to her soon.”

“How disappointing, and here I thought of having a small family reunion.”

“Are we now a family, Klaus?”

“Oh... you have hurt me,” he said dramatically while touching his chest. If only there was a heart beating behind it. But Klaus has always been honest with whatever it is he was feeling. It was why she appreciated him despite his work.

“I have always seen you as my younger plaything,” he said. This time it sounded sincere.

“I do not see you as anything other than a god of death,” she said in her usual flat tone as she stroked the feathers of the shapeshifter. “A god so eager to bring me to the otherworld to please my sister while humans die.”

It was the truth.

Aia promised herself she would stay silent as often as she could. And she will avoid knowing the truth while pretending to be human. But Klaus insisted that she leaves. He was eager to take her away, and she sensed he was hiding something. So she dares risk his anger.

“Was there anything else you wish to tell me, Klaus, or should I find them out myself?” she asked without looking at him.

And just like before, the truth that Aia says offends another.

“Do you think I am hiding something?” Klaus asked, sounding insulted.