CHAPTER 221: VISITATION OF A GOD

It was almost sundown back in their world.

And the massive gates of the city were getting closed, by order of King Oberon due to the recent curfew imposed after the demon attacks.

Security had been tightened considerably over the past few days.

The gates were only to be opened at sundown if a ruler from one of the other kingdoms who had been rescued, chose to leave or if another ruler arrived to retrieve their ward.

Two guards stood stationed at the base of the gates while several others patrolled along the top of the walls above them.

They guards at stationed atop, saw a figure approach from down the road leading toward Dragonhold’s entrance.

He wore white robes, and in one hand he carried a long staff.

The figure continued walking until he was only a few dozen meters away from the gate itself.

That was when spaced seemed to distorted for just a second and in an instant, Aiden’s time variant stood directly in front of the approaching man.

The variant crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at the approaching man with narrowed eyes.

He had sensed this presence approaching from within Dragonhold.

The variant let out a sigh of frustration as he spoke aloud: "I’m getting tired of having to deal with you gods."

The man in white robes stopped walking immediately upon seeing Aiden appear before him.

His expression shifted into an angry looking one. "Thyrak’s vessel..." Va said slowly, and you could hear the annoyance in his calm voice.

Aiden’s time variant stared back and asked flatly "What are you doing here?"

"I have come to claim what is rightfully mine," Va said. "I am urging the dragon vessel to step aside and release the Amazon that he has bewitched."

Aiden frowned slightly, with genuine confusion on his face. "What Amazon are you talking about?"

Before Va could answer, Aiden activated his Future Sight.

"You’re here for Aeris?" Aiden asked.

Va’s remained expressionless as he immediately replied, "Hand her over at once. You wrongfully covet what is not yours."

Aiden looked at him strangely and shook his head. "Coveting is the wrongest word you could use in this situation."

He paused and gestured toward the gates. "If you’re here to see Aeris, then sure. Come with me."

Aiden understood that Amazons had a close relationship with the gods. He also knew that most of them were betrothed to deities from the day they were created.

As someone who had just gotten married himself, his mind genuinely interpreted this as a situation where a lover wanted to meet his betrothed.

He moved aside and called out to the guards stationed at the gate. "Open it."

The guards obeyed immediately, pulling the heavy doors open which made a groaning sound of iron and wood.

"Come with me," Aiden said.

Va’s expression remained the same as he stepped forward and followed behind the time variant without another word.

They walked through the streets of Dragonhold in silence, and eventually they reached Ravens Grave.

As they approached the front of the guild building, the door opened, and Aeris stepped out.

She had sensed the presence of a god close by.

The moment she saw Va standing there in his white robes with that staff in hand, her eyes widened slightly.

Without hesitation she dropped to both knees and bowed low until her forehead touched the ground.

"Divine one," she whispered.

Va said immediately. "Stand quickly. I will not have my betrothed bow to me in such a manner."

Aeris hesitated before slowly rising to her feet, though she kept her gaze lowered.

The time variant glanced upward toward the sky and felt that familiar sensation again.

Those unseen eyes watching from above.

He sighed and turned away, stepping back into the guild without another word.

Inside, several members of Ravens Grave had gathered near the windows in the main room, watching curiously as the scene unfolded outside.

Piers leaned closer to the glass with his arms crossed, wondering who that was. They all did.

The time variant walked past them on his way up the stairs, and Elena immediately turned toward him. "Aiden! Who is that man out there?"

She knew the one she was speaking to was one of "Aiden’s clones," as they all casually called them

"You don’t feel his presence even when he’s standing that close?" Aiden asked.

They all shook their heads.

The time variant glanced back toward the window where Va stood speaking with Aeris.

He remembered how no one had noticed Lucina during the meeting either.

A thought crossed then his mind. "Either gods are hiding their presence or humans simply can’t sense them the way I can."

He sighed and turned back toward them. "That’s a god."

The room went silent before erupting into gasps.

"A god?" Piers repeated, his eyes widening. "Like god god?"

Aiden nodded.

Innis asked, "What is a god doing here looking for Aeris?"

Before anyone could answer, Va’s voice suddenly rose from outside, loud enough to carry through the closed windows.

"You are to return to Yul’thera at once!"

Everyone immediately turned back toward the window and pressed closer to see what was happening.

Aeris had dropped to her knees again with her hands clasped in front of her chest. "Please, I don’t want to go back there."

Va’s expression contorted into annoyance once more, though he tried to maintain composure. "You would dare refuse my bidding? You would prefer to stay here with these humans instead?"

Aeris continued her plea, with her voice trembling. "For now, yes. I want a life outside of Yul’thera."

Van hadn’t said anything for a moment, then said "If that is your wish, then come with me to the City of Gods, Eden. It is the most beautiful place you will ever set your eyes on." He paused. "Moreover, it seems you have become mature enough for our marriage to finally take place."

The members of Ravens Grave watching from behind the windows gasped.

"Marriage?" Elena whispered in disbelief. Her thought drifted back to the letters she had been receiving nonstop.

Perhaps this was what it had been all about?

"Aeris is supposed to marry a god?" Innis added.

Va’s eyes briefly tilted in their direction through the window, and everyone immediately scrambled backward as Piers slammed the curtain’s shut.

The time variant standing behind them laughed slightly at their reaction.

"Did he just look at us?" one guild member whispered nervously.

"I think so," another replied quietly, fear written across their face.

They all looked slightly frantic now, though there was something almost comedic about how quickly they had scattered.