CHAPTER 375: PAST-1

The deities, or immortals as some liked to call them, looked after the worlds that summoned them.

Most of them only existed because mortals had prayed for them to be real. It was the devotion of those fragile hearts that brought them to life.

In return, the deities were forever bound to these lands, or worlds — sometimes even to a particular group of people.

Myrthia was no different. She was the goddess of Eldoria Lunerith, a small world brimming with mana and people who adored her.

From that adoration and devotion came little angels who always stayed by her side, carrying out the tasks she gave them.

Unlike others, who dutifully dedicated themselves to their assigned roles, little Xion was... rowdy.

With his tiny wings, he would stubbornly fly up to the cat angel’s chambers, peering curiously into the big, watery mirror floating in mid-air.

The water curtain showed the people of Eldoria, and if he stared long enough, sometimes he even caught glimpses of other worlds.

Today was no different.

"Mr. Cat." Little Xion stood on his tiptoes to poke the fluffy belly of the sleeping cat.

He would have flown up if not for the magic spell this creature had placed to restrain his wings.

It was definitely not because Xion nearly set the entire chamber on fire while messing with the stones shining at the ceiling.

Yup! Entirely Mr. Cat’s fault.

The cat angel, pretending to be asleep, refused to reply to the little angel.

But Xion was equally stubborn. He poked again and muttered, "Answer me or I won’t give you a treat."

Treats were distributed by their mother — a special food to maintain their vitality.

Xion, being the youngest, didn’t need much. So he hoarded his share, and most of them ended up in this cat’s belly.

Tempted by the mention of delicious treats, the fluffy cat finally cracked an eye open and glared at the little angel. "What?"

Xion blinked his innocent blue eyes and smiled, "Take me there with you, please. I will give you three treats."

The cat gave a mocking laugh, his slit pupils narrowing into a dangerous glare. "Don’t even think about it."

"Why?" Xion whinnied, pouting at the senior who was free to travel between different worlds. "Just take me with you. I promise not to mess up."

"Run back to your chambers, little one, before I tie you up."

Even the elder angels, who watched over mortals, weren’t allowed to just stroll into the human realm, let alone this silly little one, who could barely walk straight.

"But," Xion muttered, rubbing his tiny thumb over the other, "I’m already 150. Just two weeks away from 151."

The cat scoffed, lazily flicking his tail before closing his eyes again. "In human terms, you look about five. Come talk to me when you’re 500."

The wings that had been fluttering so excitedly drooped.

Sulking, the little angel dragged himself to Myrthia’s chambers.

"Mother! Mother!"

Xion jumped on the sofa and then stared at his mother with twinkling eyes.

Myrthia chuckled. That was the look she could never resist.

The sofa floated higher into the air, along with the whole pavilion. Books and teacups lifted off the shelves and danced around them.

The sight made giggling Xion clap his hands.

Myrthia could never understand why he liked floating things so much. But if it made him happy, then it was fine to let the pavilion just hover in the air.

"Say, Mother... why am I the only one not allowed to visit the mortal realms?"

There it is. Myrthia gently patted his tousled black hair, smoothing it back into place.

"Because, my little sweetheart," she said, "humans are not like us. We speak what’s in our hearts. But they hide theirs. And you are far too young to understand their deceptions."

Xion tilted his head, puzzled. "Why not just teach them to be good and honest?"

Myrthia sighed faintly. "We try, my child. But not all of them learn."

"Is that why we punish them?" he asked, his small hands clutching her sleeve. He had seen mortals in pain before, and even brewed a special potion to help them.

But Mr. Cat had taken it away before he could use it.

"Yes. After they die, we punish them. But we cannot interfere while they are living."

Xion seemed to understand. But also... not quite.

He plopped down into her lap anyway, rubbing his head against her until his hair was a mess again. "I want to see. I really, really want to see."

Xion was her youngest child. But unlike the other angels she had created herself, this one... was different.

He was born from the spirits of unborn children who had never lived to see the world they were meant for.

That fierce curiosity for the living — it was his instinct. And being an angel had only purified it into something higher, something gentler. Now, little Xion was constantly thinking of saving the lives he couldn’t live.

Myrthia had done everything she could to keep her baby safe. But perhaps... perhaps it was time.

She couldn’t always keep Xion locked up like deranged spirits. He had his own fate to fulfil, his own path to walk on.

"Fine," she murmured at last. "You may go."

Blue eyes widened. The little angel shot to his feet.

His tiny wings fluttered madly in the air, nearly sending the cups flying out of the pavilion. "Really? I can go? Yay!"

But Myrthia caught his tiny hands in hers, giving him a warning.

"You will come back to me once you are done exploring. And I will give you only six months. Do you understand?"

Xion bobbled his head up and down, a silly smile spread on his puffy cheeks. "Okay!"

The next day, the excited Xion used a potion to hide his wings and flew down to the small town in Eldoria Lunarith.

In his excitement, he even forgot to inform Mr. Cat about his departure. The very angel who was supposed to supervise his trip.

Well, I’ll be fine without him, Xion mused to himself as he reached closer to the lands he had only seen in the water curtain.

With colorful wares stacked on wooden shelves, the bustling bazaar drew all his attention.

His blue eyes sparkled like a night sky holding countless stars as he walked through the crowded bazaar.

Humans laughed and bartered all around him. The smell of sweet bread and spices filled the air.

This is even better than I imagined!

He trotted further, inching closer to the tiny glass bottles that held strange shapes in them.

Tiptoeing, he picked up one. Inside swirled a fake depiction of morning sky, with hues of pink and orange.

Although it was nothing compared to the sight he was used to seeing, the novelty still thrilled him.

Xion shook it, giggling at the shiny dust churning inside.

"What are you doing?!"

A yell startled Xion, and he accidentally dropped the bottle to the ground.

Without warning, the glass shattered into tiny pieces.

"You brat! Look at what you have done!" The shopkeeper grabbed Xion’s collar and lifted him off the ground. "Pay for it!"

Xion blinked up at the man, utterly bewildered.

Why was he shouting?

Back in heaven, if someone broke something, they would simply apologize for causing trouble. They would even laugh while fixing it together.

After all, no one would deliberately harm anything.

He hadn’t meant to break it. So... why was the human so angry?

"Pay what?" He asked.

"Coins, of course. You look like a ..." The shopkeeper finally noticed Xion’s tender face that resembled that of a pampered noble, and his scowl transformed into a greedy smile.

"Not much. Just ten gold coins."

He even put Xion back on the ground. "Because you are a kid, I’ll give you a discount. Nine will do."

Luckily, Mr. Cat gave him a pouch filled with human money.

Xion, realizing what it was all about, fiddled with the sling bag, and in front of the shopkeeper, he opened the zip and grabbed a handful of coins.

After pouring two handfuls on the cart, he stared at the shopkeeper.

"Is it enough?"

It was clearly more than nine. Twelve gold coins were grabbed by the shopkeeper, who laughed happily. "Enough. Enough. This is for the things you broke. If you want to buy something, come again."

Seeing the man’s smile, Xion beamed back.

He made a human happy. Sure, his mother would be very pleased with him, right?

He gave the pretty bottle a lingering glance.

As the shopkeeper had said, he decided he would return tomorrow to buy it.

Humming to himself, he walked forward under the evening sun, not noticing the shopkeeper’s subtle nod at someone hidden in the shadows.

That shadowy figure ended up tailing Xion until he reached a desolate place.

The night had fallen, and all he could see was the house, which was much bigger compared to others.

A black kitten mewed at him before dashing into the garden.

Like a curious baby angel, he made sure that no one was looking at him before floating over the gates and paddling inside.