With a beautiful woman inviting him home, Lucian naturally had no reason to refuse.
He had originally been looking for an opportunity to visit Mortis’s home and make contact with Tribios.
Now, that opportunity had come.
The two entered the altar of the Titan of Law, then walked to the left and entered the ritual grounds—the “Prophecy Archive.” There were quite a few people working here.
Mortis operated a device nearby, unlocking a hidden door.
A spiral stone staircase leading downward appeared in the floor.
Lucian remained calm on the surface, but secretly complained to himself: Coming home this time is way too complicated.
The two walked down the stone stairs, and a large door appeared before them.
The wind chimes hanging above the doorway collided wildly, ringing out in a chaotic clatter, like a flock of frightened metal birds.
Mortis pushed open the door, and the noise immediately poured into the spacious room without restraint.
She stepped aside and softly said, “This is my home.
Come in.” Lucian stepped inside, and the sound of his footsteps seemed to quiet slightly.
All he could see were stone pillars and bookshelves.
There was absolutely no atmosphere of a “home.” It could practically be called an underground warehouse!
With just a little decoration, they called this a sleeping chamber.
It was obvious that the Saint’s living conditions here were truly miserable.
Just as they reached the middle of the room…
“Mom!” A clear child’s voice, filled with endless affection and joy, suddenly rang out, instantly drowning out the clamor of the wind chimes.
A tiny figure came flying out from the warm yellow light deep inside the room like a fledgling returning to its nest!
Her bright-red hair was slightly fluffy, with several playful strands falling against her forehead as she ran.
Like a little cannonball, she charged straight into Mortis’s arms.
The impact made Mortis instinctively take half a step backward, followed by a short, affectionate laugh.
The layer of fatigue that had been impossible to shake from Mortis’s face vanished the instant her daughter threw herself into her arms, like thin mist dispersed by sunlight.
She bent down and naturally opened her arms, tightly embracing the small, warm body.
A pure and gentle smile blossomed across her face.
“Slow down, my good girl.” Mortis’s voice was as soft as melted honey, carrying a hint of laughter.
“Be careful not to fall.” Lucian recognized her at a glance.
This adorable little girl was none other than Tribbie.
No—more accurately, she was Tribios during her childhood.
Tribios buried her little face against her mother’s chest, rubbing against her affectionately and making a satisfied little hum.
A few seconds later, as though she suddenly remembered something, she abruptly raised her head.
Her large blue-violet eyes were as clear as a lake in early autumn.
Looking past her mother’s arms and waist, they landed directly on Lucian standing beside her—a stranger.
There was a child’s natural curiosity in her gaze.
There was no hiding, no shy hesitation.
Only the purest, undisguised curiosity and scrutiny of a child.
Her little hands remained wrapped around her mother’s waist, but her body turned slightly toward Lucian, carrying the innocent quality of a small animal.
It was obvious that Mortis had protected her very well and had never allowed her to learn about the darker side of human nature.
Lucian’s heart softened slightly.
Without hesitation, he took a small step forward, allowing himself to become completely illuminated by the warm light flowing from the room.
Then he slowly crouched down in front of the mother and daughter.
His eyes were now level with the little girl who was pressed against her mother, examining him with curiosity.
His lips curved into the gentlest smile he could manage, completely free of any aggression.
His calm gaze met those pure yet scrutinizing blue-violet eyes.
“Hello, Tribios.” Lucian’s voice was very soft, like a feather landing on a still body of water, carrying a sincere smile.
“My name is Lucian.” The girl’s long eyelashes fluttered twice like startled butterfly wings.
Her little mouth remained slightly open, revealing a hint of pearly white teeth.
She looked at Lucian, then instinctively looked up at her mother.
Mortis gently placed a reassuring hand on the back of her daughter’s head and softly said, “He is the Divine Envoy.
He was sent by the gods to help us.” She hadn’t expected Lucian to be so approachable.
He was actually willing to lower himself down and speak to Tribios face-to-face.
Tribios’s gaze returned to Lucian.
“Are you the Divine Envoy of Yanis?
Or Talanton, or Oronix?” Lucian smiled and shook his head.
“None of them.
I come from beyond this world.
And above the Titans, there are gods known as ‘Aeons.’ I am the envoy of the Aeon of Abundance.” Tribios’s eyes widened.
“Really?
Then can you make the Black Tide disappear?” The little girl blinked her large eyes, which were filled with curiosity.
“Of course I can.
But I’ll need your strength.
When you grow up, come help me drive away the Black Tide, all right?” Lucian smiled.
Of course, he was only saying this to amuse a child.
Amphoreus had Emanators behind it, and perhaps even an Aeon.
He didn’t believe that the power of Abundance alone could solve the problem.
Besides, he had never intended to save the entire world.
He only needed to focus on the protagonist of the script.
Mortis also smiled softly.
At the moment, she had no real understanding of gods beyond the Titans, so naturally she didn’t believe that Lucian could actually solve the Black Tide that threatened the world.
She was simply happy to see the kindness he showed toward her daughter.
“Of course she can!
Tribios is the greatest Saint of the Titan of the Pathway—of the Yanis Pathway…
a little Saint!” The girl quickly accepted this kind stranger.
She left her mother’s embrace and reached out to grab Lucian’s arm.
“Divine Envoy, can you tell me a story?
I want to hear your story.” Lucian wasn’t surprised.
Before crossing over, back on Earth, children had always liked him.
Especially little girls—none of them seemed able to resist him.
Apparently, that talent worked just as well in another world.
“All right.
Then I’ll tell you the story of the Medicine Buddha, the Loving Healer.” Lucian gently patted the empty space beside him on the carpet.
Tribios barely hesitated.
As though pulled by invisible threads, she released her mother.
Her tiny body carried an eager yet slightly tentative excitement as she ran over to Lucian and sat down beside him.
The little girl curled up her legs, hugged her knees, and kept her gaze fixed on Lucian.
Mortis watched as her daughter was so easily drawn toward him.
Her eyes flickered with complicated emotions.
Then she silently walked over and sat down beside Lucian as well, perking up her pointed ears, wanting to hear about the world beyond theirs.
“Beyond the sky lies the universe.
Amphoreus is merely an insignificant speck of dust within it.
Before an Aeon, a Titan is like a child.” “May all sentient beings obtain what they seek.
The Abundance is the nurturer of all life, the god of paradise, whose purpose is to make life flourish without end.
They are an Aeon who never refuses a prayer and cannot bear to witness decay, death, and suffering.” Tribios immediately held her breath.
Her little body moved slightly closer to Lucian, close enough that he could smell the faint floral fragrance in her hair.
…
For a long time afterward, Lucian continued telling stories to the mother and daughter, introducing them to the universe, Paths, Emanators, Aeons, and everything else.
Little Tribios kept asking questions, filled with curiosity about everything.
Lucian was extremely patient with children and answered each question one by one.
Although the stories were supposedly meant for the little girl, Mortis listened even more attentively.
She never interrupted.
She simply watched Lucian with her beautiful eyes, making it clear that she was listening.
She watched her daughter snuggling beside Lucian, that little face having shed every trace of caution, leaving behind nothing but complete smiles and trust.
She watched the unprecedented, sparkling light shining in her daughter’s large eyes.
Mortis’s gaze remained on her daughter for a long time before slowly moving to Lucian’s lowered profile, his face carrying a gentle smile.
She saw the focus and patience in his eyes as he told stories.
She saw how naturally he responded to every tiny reaction from Tribios.
She saw the unspoken affection and care that came straight from his heart.
Mortis’s chest felt as though something had suddenly struck her hard.
It didn’t hurt.
Instead, it carried a strange soreness that made her eyes grow slightly warm.
If…
if only this lamp, this ray of starlight, could continue warming and illuminating her Tribios like this…
The thought was enormous, carrying a weight—and a hope—that made even her tremble.
She looked at her daughter resting peacefully against Lucian.
She looked at the gentle profile of the man telling the story.
And her mind suddenly recalled the scene of Lucian holding her earlier that day.
That handsome, gentle, decisive, powerful sense of security…
Mortis felt as though something had lodged itself in her throat, leaving her unable to make a sound.
Only the long-silent heart within her chest continued beating in the quiet living room, once, then again, heavy and powerful, as though asking her for an answer to some crucial question about the future.
At that moment, an unprecedented thought actually appeared in Mortis’s mind…
Tribios needs a father…
Because Tribios had been born from the fruit of fate itself.
She had no father and had never experienced a father’s love.
Perhaps…
Lucian had just begun talking about Penacony when a weight suddenly appeared on his shoulder.
He turned his head and discovered that Mortis had tilted her head and fallen asleep against his shoulder.
Looking down, he saw that Tribios had also fallen asleep while clutching the edge of his clothes.
The mother and daughter were actually this relaxed, completely without any defenses.
They had invited a man they had met for the first time into their home, and now both mother and daughter were sleeping against him…
The important thing was that Lucian was currently wearing clothes that exposed his shoulders.
Mortis’s face was touching Lucian’s shoulder without anything separating them.
That delicate, warm sensation…
And her faint breathing…
“This script experience is seriously great.
Five-star review.” Although it was called a script, Lucian felt as though there was practically no difference between this and a real experience.
He couldn’t distinguish the two at all.
The warmth of this family atmosphere had drawn him completely in.
So he simply maintained this position until dawn the following day.
(End of Chapter)[Thanks for Reading!]