CHAPTER 516: SACRED

Chapter 516 – Sacred

Lullaby hugged her plushie tighter, voice soft and trembling.

"Pretty..."

Then again, quieter.

"So, so pretty..."

Lux didn’t move.

Couldn’t.

His system chimed gently.

[Divine Harmonic Blessing Detected]

[Wards Strengthened: +280%]

[Property Protection: Tier Ascended]

[Host Attributes Permanently Increased]

[+5% Physical Defense]

[+5% Magical Defense]

[Household Blessing Applied: All residents receive permanent buffs]

Lux’s breath hitched.

Permanent.

Even mortals.

He looked at Naomi, Rava, Mira. Their bodies glowed faintly, eyes shimmering. Stunned. Changed. Their spirits touched by something that didn’t belong to this world.

Even Sira had tears.

Just one.

She blinked them away, furious with herself. But her hand shook.

The final note rose.

It was soft.

Long.

Like the world tilted toward it.

And then...

Silence.

Not awkward silence.

Sacred silence.

The goddesses lowered their hands, shoulders rising and falling with slow breaths.

Their magic faded, leaving the room brighter somehow.

Like the walls remembered the song.

Celestaria bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you for having us."

Selena spoke next, voice still warm with magic. "This blessing will never fade."

Solara smiled. Not her sharp, wicked smile. A real one. "It is our gift. For you. For your home. For those who live under it."

Lux couldn’t speak.

He tried.

Failed.

His throat was tight.

He was a demon.

He had no heart.

Not a real one.

But something inside him cracked anyway.

Naomi wiped her cheeks. "I... didn’t know angels could sing like that... not here."

Rava looked dazed. "That was beyond enchantment..."

Mira sniffed, then glared at her own tears. "It was... beautiful."

Sira stared at the table, breathing shallow, trying to regain control. "I hate holy magic," she whispered, voice shaking. "But that... was something else."

Lullaby just hugged her plushie tighter. "My heart feels warm..."

Lux swallowed.

Finally, he found his voice.

Soft.

Quiet.

"...Thank you."

Celestaria’s eyes softened, like the moon slipping from cloud cover. "You gave us a place at your table. A place in your home. We could not leave with empty hands."

Selena smiled at Lux with gentle sadness. "We know you stand between realms. Between debts and expectations. Between mortals, demons, and us. We wanted to lighten that burden."

Solara smirked, but her voice was softer than ever. "And maybe, for once, give you something you didn’t have to earn."

Lux lowered his gaze to the table.

That hit harder than it should.

He always earned everything.

Fought for everything.

Bought, bargained, negotiated.

Nothing in his life came free.

But this?

This wasn’t bought.

It was given.

He looked up, eyes sharp but warm. "Then I will treasure it."

Sira exhaled. "Lux—"

He touched her hand under the table.

Just once.

"I’m still me," he whispered. "Don’t worry."

She nodded stiffly.

Eyes still glassy.

Celestaria watched quietly.

She saw it.

The fear. The love. The unspoken war Sira was prepared to wage.

The goddess didn’t say a word.

But she understood.

Maybe more than she wanted to.

The plates were mostly cleared. Dessert was done.

Lullaby was licking the last trace of whipped cream off her spoon with sleepy bliss.

Mira was sipping her tea like a calm aristocrat hiding a poker hand.

Naomi just leaned back, watching, silent but present.

Rava tapped her nail on her glass, thoughtful. And Sira?

Sira was still ready to go feral.

It was obvious.

Even now, as the goddesses stood from their chairs, Sira didn’t move. Didn’t blink. Her back stayed too straight, too sharp. Like she was one celestial hymn away from launching a war crime.

Celestaria gave a polite nod toward Lux. "I believe we’ve stayed long enough. Thank you for your hospitality, Lux Vaelthorn."

Selena smiled gently, folding her hands. "Yes. We don’t wish to overstep."

Solara tilted her head, gaze flicking briefly to Sira. "And warmer than our realm allows. We’ll take our leave."

Still, Sira said nothing.

Not a nod. Not a breath.

Lux raised his hand slightly—calm, controlled.

"Wait," he said softly.

The goddesses paused mid-step.

"I want to ask a few things," Lux added. "If you don’t mind."

Celestaria turned slowly, brows rising in quiet curiosity. "About the investigation?" she asked. "The bounty?"

Lux nodded. "Yes. If it’s alright to talk here."

The room stilled. Mira looked over. Naomi adjusted her posture. Lullaby perked up, sensing something shifting in the air.

Then Solara, silent until now, flicked her fingers gently.

And the world... slowed.

The mortal mansion froze. Utensils hovering mid-air. Juice drops hanging like little stained glass pieces. The wind outside stopped. The moonlight seemed thicker. Like syrup. And only a few could move.

Lux.

The goddesses.

Sira.

Lullaby.

That was it.

Time hadn’t stopped completely, it bent. Folded into a dome of celestial silence.

Solara’s voice was calm. "Just in case your home has ears you didn’t plant yourself."

Selena crossed her arms. "We destroyed some of the celestial beings who contributed to your bounty. Or at least lowered their reach."

"But they weren’t the main ones," Celestaria added.

"Pawns. Small ones who thought they were playing big," Solara said.

Selena nodded. "The core culprits are still in hiding. But the price keeps rising, Lux."

"Especially since you made that... stream," Solara added, glancing at him.

Lux raised an eyebrow. "You watched?"

Selena looked away with a cough. "It was educational."

Solara smirked faintly.

Celestaria smiled, calm as always. "You beat up one of Pride’s lords. That shocked more than one pantheon."

"And you did it casually," Solara added. "That scared them."

Lux sighed, leaning against the edge of the table, fingers lightly tapping. "I see. And... what about you three? No regrets coming here?"

"We wouldn’t be here if we had any," Celestaria said simply.

Sira scoffed under her breath. "Yet you brought all your divine tools like we’re at a diplomatic summit."

"Force of habit," Selena said with a shrug. "Besides... you looked like you were ready to snap our necks the moment we touched your man."

Sira didn’t deny it.

Lux reached over and brushed a knuckle against her hand. That was enough to get her to lower her metaphorical hackles. A little.