Jason stood unyielding before the abyss, his presence a stark contrast to the dark void that swallowed the world below.
Solevia stood behind him, her heart pounding with both unease and curiosity as she processed what had just unfolded.
The mysterious figure, a man whose presence radiated divinity and supremacy, knelt before Jason, addressing him as 'Father.'
Jason's expression remained calm, though his melancholy seemed to deepen as he regarded the youth. With a faint sigh, he turned away from the abyss, his gaze landing on the young man.
"How has life been treating you?" Jason asked, his voice heavy yet steady. "You've always coveted my position, always wanted to sit on the throne. So tell me, now that you've had eons to experience it—how does it feel?"
The youth hesitated, his divine eyes shimmering with emotions that seemed out of place for someone so imposing. He stood, his movements deliberate, and looked at Jason with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Lonely," He admitted, his tone soft yet echoing with the weight of countless years. "Utterly lonely. Only after sitting on that throne did I finally understand how isolating it is. And only then… did I realize how lonely you were, Father."
Jason's lips curled into a sad smile, his gaze distant as though lost in memories.
"Lonely, huh?" He murmured, almost to himself. "Hahaha... finally, so you finally get it, huh? It's a lesson every child must learn. I told you back then, didn't I? Power demands sacrifices—sacrifices you weren't ready to comprehend."
The young man clenched his fists, his head lowering slightly.
"I was unfilial," He said after a long pause, his voice laced with regret. "I was arrogant and reckless. I failed to see the burden you carried, and instead of helping or understanding you, I only added to it. I wasn't worthy of being a son."
Jason let out a hollow laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly. His mouth smiled, but his eyes betrayed his true emotions—an unending sadness that seemed to pierce the very air around him.
"Perhaps you weren't," He said, his tone teasing yet tinged with sorrow. "But at least one of my children understood. She gave her life to give me another chance... I miss her every day."
At the mention of 'her,' the young man flinched visibly. His divine aura wavered for a moment, and his composed expression cracked, revealing a glimpse of raw emotion.
Solevia, observing the exchange, felt a strange pang in her chest. She didn't understand who they were talking about, but the weight of their grief was palpable.
"She was everything to me too," The young man whispered, his voice barely audible. "My light… my world…"
Jason's smile softened, and for a brief moment, a rare understanding passed between father and son.
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken words and memories. Solevia watched the exchange with wide eyes, her curiosity and confusion growing with each passing second. But before she could speak, Jason broke the silence.
"Enough reminiscing," He said, his voice regaining some of its usual firmness. "I have a question for you. Did you save her?"
The young man's expression hardened, his divine eyes glowing faintly as he raised his hand. With a snap of his fingers, the space before them shimmered, and a portal materialized, its edges crackling with golden light. From within the portal, a figure emerged—a woman, beautiful beyond words, her presence radiating an otherworldly allure.
Solevia gasped audibly, her hands flying to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Mother!" She cried, her voice breaking. Without a second thought, she ran to the unconscious woman, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace.
Amarantha, the Goddess of Life and Death, floated serenely, her body limp yet glowing faintly with divine energy. Her beauty was otherworldly, her features flawless and radiant, as if she were a being carved from the essence of the cosmos itself. Solevia buried her face in her mother's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Mother… I thought I lost you," Solevia choked out between sobs. "I was so scared… so alone…"
The young man watched the scene silently, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke, his voice steady but carrying an unmistakable warmth. "Amarantha is one of her descendants—of my beloved's clan. I could not allow anyone to harm her."
Jason nodded slowly, his gaze softening as he looked at the young man.
"I knew you wouldn't," He said. "That's why I entrusted her safety to you."
The young man turned to Jason, his divine aura flaring slightly as if responding to the gravity of the moment.
"I would never let harm come to her," He said firmly. "Not to her… or to any part of her lineage."
Jason gave a small smile, his eyes filled with a rare glimmer of pride.
"You've done well," He said simply.
The young man inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he conjured another portal—a swirling gateway that seemed to lead to an entirely different realm. He stepped toward it but paused at the threshold, turning back to face Jason.
"I miss her," He said softly, his voice carrying an ache that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of the universe. "And I need you to grow stronger, Father. Quickly. You're the only one who can bring her back."
Jason's expression didn't change, but Solevia thought she saw a flicker of determination pass through his eyes. The young man lingered for a moment longer, as if he wanted to say more, but then he stepped through the portal and vanished, leaving only the faint hum of energy in his wake.
Jason stood silently for what felt like an eternity, his gaze locked on the spot where the portal had been, as if willing it to reappear through sheer force of will. The faint shimmer of the portal's fading energy lingered in the air, a cruel reminder of something both precious and unattainable.
Solevia, still clutching her mother with trembling arms, lifted her tear-streaked face to him. Her wide, sorrowful eyes searched his expression, hoping—praying—for answers to questions she couldn't yet find the strength to voice.
But Jason offered her nothing. Not a word, not a glance. He was a statue carved from grief and resolve, his silence louder than any cry.
His silhouette against the eternal void was haunting, the outline of a man who had seen too much and carried it all within him—a vessel for memories too sharp to touch and wounds that time refused to heal.
The wind whipped around them, cold and biting, its mournful howl piercing the air as though the mountain itself shared in their despair.
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