Arin woke up with a strange realization.
He wasn't afraid.
That alone surprised him.
There was no sudden jolt of panic, no confusion about where he was. His eyes opened naturally, as if this glowing, endless world had already been accepted by his heart before his mind could question it.
The Realm of Goddesses greeted him with the same gentle light.
Still.
Warm.
Unchanging.
He sat up slowly, stretching his arms.
"Okay," he muttered, looking around,
"this is officially my new normal."
The surface beneath him responded softly, the glow brightening just a little—as if amused.
Arin smiled.
Yesterday had been overwhelming.
Too many faces.
Too many emotions.
Yet, strangely, he hadn't felt small among them.
He stood and began walking without any particular direction in mind.
The Realm seemed to allow that.
Paths formed naturally beneath his feet, guiding him gently rather than forcing him forward. Floating gardens passed by, their colors shifting lazily. Streams of light-water flowed nearby, humming softly.
"Good morning."
Arin froze.
He turned.
Aelira stood a short distance away, hands folded calmly before her. Her expression was serene as ever, but there was something new in her eyes—something warmer, more familiar.
"Oh—good morning," Arin replied.
"Do goddesses… sleep?"
Aelira blinked once.
"No," she answered.
"But I waited."
"…For me?"
"Yes."
That simple answer made his chest feel oddly tight.
They walked together, side by side, their steps naturally syncing.
"You are adjusting quickly," Aelira observed.
"Guess I don't have much choice," Arin said lightly.
"Besides… this place doesn't fight back."
She considered that.
"The Realm responds to intention," she said.
"Those who resist it feel isolated."
"So basically," Arin smiled,
"it likes people who don't panic?"
Aelira paused for a fraction of a second.
"…Yes."
He grinned.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
As they walked, laughter echoed ahead.
Sylvae came into view, sitting atop a floating stone, legs swinging freely. She waved the moment she saw Arin.
"There you are!" she called.
"I thought maybe you vanished."
"I'm still very much here," Arin replied.
"Unfortunately."
Sylvae hopped down, landing lightly beside him.
"Oh no," she said dramatically.
"You're staying. I've decided."
Aelira's gaze sharpened slightly.
"That is not your decision."
Sylvae shrugged.
"It is now."
Arin chuckled under his breath.
"I feel very included," he said.
They continued walking, Sylvae filling the air with endless chatter—about trees that sang, flowers that responded to emotion, and clouds that sometimes drifted just because they felt like it.
"So," Sylvae asked suddenly, leaning closer to Arin,
"what do mortals do for fun?"
"Uh… lots of things," he replied.
"Music. Food. Talking too much."
"Talking?" she repeated thoughtfully.
"I like that."
From the shadows of a nearby archway, Noctyra appeared.
Quiet.
Unannounced.
Arin had learned to recognize her presence by the way the light softened around her.
"You speak often," she said calmly.
"That a bad thing?" Arin asked.
"No," Noctyra replied.
"…It's different."
Sylvae smirked.
"She means she likes listening."
"I do not," Noctyra said flatly.
Arin noticed she didn't walk away.
They reached a wide terrace overlooking a luminous sea that stretched endlessly below. The waves didn't crash—they pulsed gently, like breathing light.
Chrona was already there.
She stood with her hands behind her back, gaze fixed on the horizon.
"You arrived earlier than expected," she said.
"I try not to be late," Arin replied.
"Bad habit."
Chrona turned her head slightly.
"You are becoming predictable."
"That sounds… dangerous."
"It is comforting," she corrected.
They sat together near the edge.
No hierarchy.
No thrones.
No distance.
Just beings sharing space.
Sylvae sat closest to Arin, leaning forward with excitement.
"So," she asked,
"do you miss your world?"
The question landed softly—but directly.
Arin thought for a moment.
"I think… I miss people," he said.
"Not places."
Aelira listened carefully.
"And us?" she asked quietly.
He looked at her.
"You're… hard not to notice," he said honestly.
Sylvae beamed.
"I told you he's sweet."
Noctyra watched him with quiet intensity.
"You do not fear attachment," she said.
"I do," Arin replied.
"I just don't run from it."
Something shifted in the air.
Not tension.
Understanding.
As time passed—if time could even be said to pass—the conversation drifted naturally. Sylvae teased him. Chrona asked thoughtful, careful questions. Noctyra listened in silence, occasionally offering quiet observations that lingered long after she spoke.
And Aelira—
Aelira stayed near him.
Always close enough that he could sense her presence without looking.
At one point, Sylvae stood suddenly.
"I want to show him something!" she announced.
Before Arin could react, vines of light gently wrapped around his wrist—not tight, not forceful—just guiding.
"Hey—!" he laughed.
"Where are we going?"
"Trust me."
They stopped near a small clearing where glowing flowers floated gently above the ground.
Sylvae crouched and touched one.
It changed color instantly.
"These respond to emotion," she explained.
"Try."
Arin hesitated, then reached out.
The flower brightened—soft gold.
Sylvae's eyes widened.
"Oh."
Noctyra tilted her head.
"Interesting."
Chrona smiled faintly.
Aelira said nothing.
But her gaze never left him.
As the moment stretched, Arin became aware of something important.
They weren't watching him like a curiosity anymore.
They were watching him like someone… familiar.
Someone who belonged.
As they began to part ways, Aelira lingered.
"You may walk freely now," she said.
"No one will stop you."
"That sounds dangerously like trust," Arin replied.
She met his gaze.
"It is."
She turned to leave—then paused.
"…I am glad you came here," she added softly.
Arin watched her disappear.
His heart beat a little faster.
Surrounded by goddesses.
Known by them.
Accepted.
And for the first time—
He didn't feel like a visitor.
He felt like someone they were beginning to wait for.