Orion hovered in space, contemplating the vast universe before him. Fragments of energy flowed between galaxies like rivers of light, connecting the most distant points of creation.
A slight nod, almost imperceptible, betrayed the nostalgia on his face as his eyes traced the grand structure sustaining that cosmos.
"Hm… this universe is called Thule." With a simple gesture, Orion conjured visions of Creation: the moment Thule was forged by entities that defied transcendence itself… and the inevitable ruin that awaited it trillions of eons in the future.
A soft smile touched his lips. "This place reminds me of something long buried in my memories… How about we enjoy it, goddess?" He turned to Selene, who stood at his side, her eyes reflecting distant constellations.
"My powers… are being repelled here, Orion" she murmured, her brow furrowing.
Orion smiled. "Ah, yes… I forgot to mention. This universe was conceived by half-transcendent beings. Any cultivated being that approaches has their power sealed—a measure to preserve the integrity of this reality."
"Curious… my divine body remains intact" she observed, moving a hand wrapped in a faint golden energy.
"The seal works to prevent our powers from affecting the universe, but it allows us to maintain our divine forms as a shield. That way, we can exist here without causing ruptures" explained Orion. "The humans of this plane possess exotic weapons, but nothing that can truly harm a cultivated being."
Both turned their eyes to a planet prominent in the firmament: Lumaria, a blue-green orb orbiting the star Arkinurs, on the galaxy's outer arm.
The planet emanated a primal energy, as if the civilizations there still groped their way through the first steps of cosmic understanding.
"This planet is perfect for our purposes" declared Orion, crossing his arms. "The civilization here is in its infancy. An ideal scenario to observe and… understand."
Moments later…
Amid the bustle of a busy avenue on Lumaria, humans hurried past, immersed in their routines, oblivious to the presence of two seated in a simple yet elegant restaurant.
They observed the world around them with eyes that had already witnessed the birth of stars and the fall of gods.
The man, a young fellow with long, wind-tossed dark blue hair like that of the galaxies, gazed out the window, attentive to the crowd. His pale blue eyes—deep and inquisitive—captured details with supernatural precision. He dressed simply: a white shirt, dark trousers—a disguise that rendered him invisible among mortals.
"These humans live in a strange era" he commented in a serene yet analytical voice. "In other universes, mortals facing such adversities would have destroyed themselves long ago."
Beside him, a young woman with pale pink hair softly tucked behind her ears was cutting her fillet with elegance. Her eyes, the same hue, radiated serenity. She lifted her gaze for a moment, pondering her companion's observation with a restrained smile.
"On the surface, they are organized" she replied introspectively. "But there is a silent chaos rooted in what they call the 'underworld.' In any world, at any time… there is always a path back to destruction."
Orion glanced at the wine in his glass and swirled it slowly between his fingers.
"Tsk… was the multiverse created for suffering? Or are we all blind to an essential piece of this puzzle?" he murmured, his words almost swallowed by the restaurant's murmur.
Selene tasted a bite of her meal before replying, reflecting. "Orion… as the Goddess of Feelings, I can tell you: there are more good people than bad."
She paused, evaluating his expression.
"But these good people do not lift a finger to transform the world around them. They do not even try to influence the lives of those they love."
Orion raised an eyebrow, visibly intrigued by her reflection.
Selene continued.
"And we must not forget that the line between good and evil is thin. Fragile. What truly moves the world are desires. A single uncontrollable desire can change everything."
He remained silent, absorbing her words as he watched the mortals on the other side of the window.
Deep down, Orion knew: it is feelings—with all their strength, contradiction, and fragility—that shape beings and also unite them, no matter how different their natures.
As humans continued their existence, ignorant of the invisible forces that surrounded them, Orion listened intently to the goddess beside him.
"Look around" said Selene, gesturing subtly. "This city belongs to a so-called 'organized' country. Its leaders are chosen by vote, placed in office based on hope… but almost always without real discernment of consequences."
She brought the juice glass to her lips and sipped leisurely.
"They live in frenzy. They work themselves to exhaustion to meet basic needs. But they do not realize that the true controllers—the rich—manipulate every gear. They adjust the world to their own interests."
Orion listened silently, his eyes half-closed, reflecting the complexity of the human world. There was a tragic beauty there, a constant struggle between chaos and harmony—between freedom and manipulation.
With a sigh, Selene resumed.
"Many, over the ages, have tried to break this cycle. Tried to shatter the selfishness that consumes the hearts of mortals. But time… ah, time changes everything. Those who once resisted eventually surrender. They yearn to be part of the very elite they once despised."
She lowered her gaze, thoughtful.
"It is a cycle that has repeated for millennia. And on this world… it remains intact."
Orion frowned. The near-mystical resistance of this planet to change intrigued him. He knew that the human heart was an invisible battlefield—and perhaps that was precisely what made mortals so… singular.
The waiter approached the table. He was young, with disheveled hair and tired eyes. Despite a crisp uniform, his body betrayed the fatigue of excessive days, and his soul… seemed to weigh centuries.
"Would you like dessert?" he asked, trying to maintain a professional smile.
Selene looked at him with soft yet perceptive eyes. Instinctively, her abilities as the Goddess of Feelings activated, and a brief emotional reading revealed a whirlwind: sadness, anxiety, a sense of helplessness embedded in that young man's core.
She answered kindly.
"What do you recommend?"
"The black star mousse…" he smiled, almost guiltily. "We call it bitter cocoa mousse with a touch of celestial sugar crystals. Nothing special, but it's… pretty to see."
Selene nodded, her gaze seeming to soothe his soul wordlessly.
Orion, silent, watched as well.
When the waiter departed, Orion commented.
"What did you see in him?"
"A young man who carries the world on his shoulders… but still dreams" she said, crossing her hands beneath her chin. "And dreaming in this universe is already an act of rebellion."
"How many like him exist here?"
Selene turned her gaze to the city through the window. Pedestrians hurried by, their eyes absorbed in invisible worries.
"Billions" she replied. "And few will be noticed. Few will have the chance to rise."
Orion leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the city's silent dance. He remained silent, but his spirit stirred.
Selene's words echoed in his mind like ancient bells, reminding him of something he rarely dared to confront: humanity, even with all its imperfection, possesses a spark that challenges the laws of the cosmos.
"There is beauty in all of this" he finally said. "Even in chaos. Even in mediocrity. Perhaps especially in it."
Selene raised an eyebrow, curious.
"You, the great architect of higher realms, praising mediocrity?"
"Not mediocrity itself" he corrected with a smile. "But the struggle against it. The effort to be better, even if one never achieves more than one's own shadow."
She understood.
It was not condescension.
It was reverence.
The mousse arrived. A translucent cup held a dark, glossy dessert, decorated with golden sparks that floated like tiny suns.
"This planet… reminds me of the first time I ceased to be just a goddess" said Selene, taking her first spoonful. "It was when I allowed myself to listen. Really listen. To the innermost desires of mortals. Not as something to be manipulated. But as songs. As stories."
She tasted the dessert. And sighed, surprised.
"It's bitter… but finishes smooth. As life should be."
Orion let out a low laugh.
"Perhaps that's why I like you so much."
She glanced at him sideways, suspicious.
"Because I am bitter?"
"No" he said, leaning forward across the table, his eyes sparkling with cosmic charm. "Because even though you are immortal… you still feel as if you have something to lose."
Selene did not respond immediately.
His words struck deeper than she cared to admit.
She smiled, but not with her lips—with her gaze.
And that was enough.
There, in that humble restaurant of a civilization newly awakened to the cosmos, two gods allowed themselves a rare moment of humanity. No thrones. No divine auras. Just words, feelings… and shared silence.
Hours later…
They walked through streets lit by floating lampposts. Children played with semi-intelligent drones that launched controlled fireworks. A street musician plucked an ancestral instrument amid digital towers.
It was as if ancient cultures and impossible advances had made peace in that place.
Selene stopped before a glass bridge.
Below it, rivers of liquid light reflected the starry sky.
"Did you know that humans here fall in love with reflections?" she commented. "The artificial lights. The skyscrapers. The shining facades. Everything that glitters… seems real."
Orion looked at her reflection in the water. Even there, even distorted, her presence was sublime.
"And you, Selene? What is real to you?"
She thought.
And when she answered, her voice was almost a whisper.
"That which does not need to be explained."
He smiled and extended his hand.
She took it.
"You know…" she murmured, "I always thought I was immune to nostalgia."
"Until you remember what it is to be touched by something real" Orion completed.
"You are becoming a problem" she said, squeezing his hand.
"I am desire, Selene. I was always a problem."
They laughed.
The sound echoed through the invisible cosmos, and for a moment, the citizens of that world seemed to walk more slowly.
Hearts quickened.
Eyes sought something in the sky.
And a name unknown blossomed in humanity's collective unconscious:
In eternity…
...some days among gods last forever.