Twin Mothers of Ruin and Dawn
Two small shapes drifted forward.
Two rings.
One was black as night, edged in a faint crimson glow.
The other was silver, bright and calm, etched with gentle moon-runes that pulsed in a soft blue light.
They hovered between them.
Waiting.
Victor stared.
His mind felt like it was standing at the edge of a cliff — fog below, thunder in his chest.
Yua stepped forward.
Her presence changed the air.
When she spoke, her voice didn't float anymore. It pressed, resounded, filled the palace.
"These are not ornaments."
The chandeliers above faintly trembled.
"These are not gifts."
Even the floating dust seemed to hold its breath.
"This…" — she lifted her hand, and the rings began to slowly rotate — "…is the first Primordial Arsenal I ever forged."
Her gaze softened, but only slightly.
"They were once worn by the war god of Greek myth… Ares."
Victor's pulse skipped.
"…He died," she said calmly.
Not cruel.
Not mocking.
Just… factual.
"He could not endure their power."
The rings pulsed.
That faint red glow trembled.
"That is why this weapon became a forbidden name. Not because of fear… but because even the strongest war god was erased by it."
Her fingers turned upward.
"And that is why they are called…"
A slow breath left her lips.
"Twin Mother Rings."
The words fell like thunder.
The black ring slid slightly forward.
"Right Hand — Destruction."
The silver ring shimmered.
"Left Hand — Genesis."
Victor's hands trembled.
Yua continued, stepping closer, her voice low and intimate now.
"The black ring carries the spirit of Ruin Dragon Matriarch — the first Primordial of Destruction."
He swallowed.
"The silver ring carries the spirit of the Genesis Moon Empress — the first Primordial of Creation."
His breath hitched.
"…Former?" he whispered, confused.
Yua nodded slowly.
"Yes."
She walked past him, her silk robe whispering against the marble.
"When the universe was born… the first beings were not gods. Not demons. Not angels."
She lifted her finger.
"They were Primordials."
The hall shifted — like memory itself bending.
"First came Destruction. Then Genesis."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then came the trio known as the Heralds of Soul — beings who governed the souls of everything that exists."
She moved her hand slowly.
"The Cosmic Tree— the one who balanced worlds and maintained existence itself."
Her voice lowered.
"The Warden — the one who imprisoned threats that even gods could not kill."
She raised her gaze.
"Death — the one you mortals worship as the ultimate truth."
A pause.
"And Life — the one who bent existence around every living thing."
Victor's mind spun.
"And above them…" she whispered, "…Darkness and Light."
She exhaled slowly.
"And above even them…"
Her lips curved.
"Chaos."
Victor felt dizzy.
His knees almost buckled.
She continued.
"In the beginning, Destruction erased what the universe rejected. Genesis created what the universe accepted."
Her voice softened.
"And when the universe reached stability… they became unnecessary."
Her fingers clenched slightly.
"And because they had no purpose…"
She looked away.
"…the universe killed them."
The word echoed.
Not metaphor.
Not poetic.
Literal.
"When their vessels died," she continued, calmer now, "their souls were sealed in the Astral World."
Victor whispered, barely audible:
"Then how are they… in these rings?"
She looked at him.
A tiny pause.
"I made a deal."
She lifted her shoulder faintly.
"With the Heralds of Soul."
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Details are boring."
Her gaze sharpened again.
"I will not bury you under knowledge."
She stepped closer.
"I want you to discover it."
Her voice softened.
"And… it will be more fun that way."
Victor's head felt heavy.
Power.
Risk.
Fear.
Opportunity.
Everything tangled.
Inside, his thoughts started screaming:
If I want safety — I should run.
If I want survival — I should choose a simple weapon.
If I want to live — I should avoid power that killed gods.
But another thought whispered…
This world isn't gentle.
This world eats the weak.
This world doesn't care about fear.
And then another…
If I don't take it… someone else will.
Yua stood silent.
She didn't interrupt.
Didn't pressure.
Didn't smile.
She let him think.
Finally, Victor lifted his head.
His sapphire blue eyes met her rose-gold.
Something steady formed in his chest.
"Yua…"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Yes?"
"I'll take them."
A breath, slow and real.
She smiled.
And pushed the floating rings gently toward him.
"Then from this moment…"
Her voice softened.
"…Twin Mother Rings are yours."
Victor stared at them.
Then looked at her.
And stepped back.
He bent at the waist — a perfect ninety-degree bow.
"I, Victor Nyxford… am grateful."
His voice was low.
Earnest.
"One day, when I am strong enough…"
His fists tightened.
"I will protect you."
The air trembled.
"I will give you your freedom."
His voice didn't shake.
"I will make sure no god, no demon, no human can ever hunt you again."
Yua froze.
For a split second…
Her heartbeats turned loud.
Fast.
After millennia of stillness…
Her pulse moved.
She forced composure.
Then laughter escaped her softly.
"Oh my my…"
She stepped closer.
"You're a dangerous man."
He straightened slowly.
She moved first.
Before he could speak.
She leaned in.
Her soft, warm lips pressed gently against his forehead.
A single second.
Warm.
Light.
Real.
She stepped back like nothing had happened.
Victor's left hand burned.
When he turned his right hand upward—
A green-glowing sword-shaped tattoo ignited across his skin.
His eyes widened.
Yua smiled.
"That's my parting gift."
Before he could speak—
The space behind him twisted.
A portal bloomed open.
A pull like gravity ripping him free.
"Wait— what does the tattoo—?!"
He was swallowed whole.
The portal sealed.
Silence returned.
The palace was empty.
Only Yua remained.
She looked at the empty air.
And sighed softly.
"…Still unripe."
Her lips curved faintly.
"But I can wait."
She turned.
Ascending the grand staircase.
Music rose again.
Her soft giggle echoed:
"Fruits are sweetest… when fully mature."