CHAPTER 130: SUPPORT

"I had my doubts...but it’s true. Samarella resides inside her." Kaelith’s voice was calm, yet her eyes lingered with weight as the two stood near the staircase.

Hades lowered his head, guilt shadowing his crimson gaze. "I am sorry for not telling you the whole truth."

He had admitted to Kaelith that Peri was rescued from Samarella’s temple, but never revealed the deeper reality—that their souls had become bound. He hadn’t known how she would react. A part of him feared that the mere knowledge of another Primordial dwelling inside Peri would make Kaelith distance herself from the girl.

And Hades did not want to choose between his mate and his mother. Even though, deep down, he already knew which side he would have stood on if it came to that.

Yet, unlike what he feared, Kaelith’s expression wasn’t one of anger.

Exhaling softly, she said, "She is not just anyone. She is the sworn enemy of the deity I and my people worship. Samarella’s rivalry against the Great One has been etched into the records of the Great War again and again."

Hades hummed. "I...know that she despises me with her very life. And I’ve come to understand why."

Kaelith tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "And what is your verdict, Hades? How do you feel, knowing the cause of her grief and anger?"

Hades didn’t answer immediately. His gaze drifted past her shoulder, lost in some unseen horizon. At last, he said, steady and unwavering, "Truth be told, I don’t care much about the past. What I do know is that I am the descendant of a being whom every creature of that era wanted erased. Perhaps they still do. But I will not let them dictate my fate, nor will I allow those old wounds to cloud my judgment."

Finally, his eyes locked onto hers, burning with conviction. "I live for my own path. To give the people I love a safe life. And if fate allows, once the dust has settled, I want to build a family of my own."

Kaelith studied him for a moment—her son, the one the world whispered about as a planetary threat. Yet his dream was so... simple. A small smile touched her lips. "For someone branded as a danger to the world, you carry a very ordinary dream."

Hades let out a wry chuckle, but her next words softened the air around them.

"But it’s sweet," she admitted warmly. "I like that vision of a serene life."

"If that’s so," Hades offered with a faint grin, "then you should be part of it too."

Kaelith’s smile deepened, maternal warmth flickering in her eyes. "Well...of course I would be."

A brief silence lingered between them, heavy yet intimate. Then Kaelith spoke, her tone steady but laced with concern.

"Son...I won’t force your hand. But you must deal with this matter soon."

Hades lifted his eyes, already knowing what she meant.

Her arms folded across her chest, Kaelith continued, "There are still many followers of Samarella within the dragon realm. The moment they learn their Goddess resides within Peri, they will come for her. Without hesitation."

Hades’s gaze dropped, his voice quiet. "I understand, Mother... I’m sorry for the trouble we’ve brought you."

But Kaelith only stepped closer, resting her hand gently atop his head like she had when he was a newborn. Her voice softened, warmer than ever.

"Don’t apologize, my son. As long as you are safe, as long as you are happy, I will stand against the world itself if I must."

....

Kaelith didn’t linger. She knew her son’s mates needed him more than she did tonight. Before leaving, she mentioned she would be away from the castle for a short while, and that their training would begin in a few days.

When Hades quietly stepped back into the room, the hush of the night wrapped around him. But then, Luna’s calm voice cut through, gentle yet deliberate.

"It’s okay," she said, her silver hair faintly glinting in the dim light. "I’ve placed a noise-cancellation barrier around the bed."

Hades blinked, momentarily surprised, before his eyes softened at the sight of Peri—her face serene in slumber, though traces of tears still lingered at the corners of her lashes.

Luna stood near the bedside, her gaze fixed on the sleeping elf, her posture protective yet tender.

Hades approached her slowly, the weight of the night still pressing on his shoulders. When he finally stood behind her, his hand came to rest gently on her shoulder, grounding them both.

"How is she?" His voice was low, cautious, as if afraid his words might disturb the fragile calm in the room.

Luna didn’t turn, her eyes never leaving Peri. "Traumatized," she answered simply, the single word carrying more weight than any long explanation could.

Hades’s shoulders slumped, "I knew this would happen...knew Samarella would protest once she noticed the growing closeness between us."

A part of him was hesitant and guilty when he was trying to reach Peri’s heart. He knew he would hurt her. Knew Samarella wouldn’t tolerate her host getting closer to the one she loathes the most.

Luna leaned her head on his chest as she said, "Well, you handled it better than I anticipated. I felt the rage of that deity through Peri’s fear. She hates you enough to give up on her life just to make you suffer with the loss of your mate."

Hades exhaled a tired sigh, "I am really hopeless here...I just don’t know what I can do to calm her down."

Luna turned to look at him and said, "You don’t need to prove anything to her, Hade. Trying to convince her is futile. She is blinded by rage and hatred."

Hades blinked and then asked sadly, "So...should I just..."

"No, I won’t say to surrender before her rage." Cupping his cheek, Luna told him, "I can tell that Samarella is solely angered at the death of those whom she wished to protect. That’s why, I want you to show her that you are not the one she hates. That you are not a power blind monster."

[...ouch.]

Ignoring the inner voice, Hades slowly nodded and wrapped his arms around her, "I understand...thank you, Luna. Without you, I don’t know what I could do."

Luna chuckled, "Well, isn’t this what depending on each other means?"

There come times when Luna feels helpless and cornered and at those times, Hades always stood before her as a shield.

She did the same for him.

°°°°°°

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