— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR: 7294. SEASON: COLOR FADING.

  Lawruthian nodded in satisfaction, taking his attention away from Atlas as he projected the offer to become a Hero to the three chosen individuals.

  He looked back at Kubrat and the tablet she fiddled with. The demigoddess’s eyes shone like eternal torches, the spark she once held fully returned. Her entire demeanor altered before Lawruthian’s eyes. A witch’s hat was conjured, and Kubrat’s half white and half black painted nails reached up and clutched at it. Ash black runic tattoos emerged on Kubrat’s beige skin as the Demigoddesses of Illusion’s presence lit the entire room.

  “This is the demigoddess I met back then,” Lawruthian whispered, watching Kubrat actively change.

  “HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA,” Kubrat cackled. A witch’s laugh resonated, spreading from this room into the next and the next until it eventually covered the entire mountain.

  Two hands emerged from underneath her arms, but the demigoddess quickly stuffed them back in. Lawruthian activated a shield, knowing things could get wonky when the demigoddess’s power was out of control.

  “You’ve done it! You’ve solved my problem! This… this… HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA.”

  Kubrat continued to cackle, and her body began to rise, the tablet Lawruthian had given her still in her hand. Lawruthian sent a glance at Minerva, and she one at him. He shrugged as if to say, I didn’t do anything.

  “Pffft,” Lawruthian attempted to hold back a laugh, but it escaped anyway. A goofy, but joyous demigoddess floated in the air; the smell of lilacs and lilies emanated from her in waves.

  “ I am the stars, the moon, the sea, and the glimpse of shadow. I am the fish, the birds, the ants, and the touch of life. I am the missing feeling and the vision that is truth and untruth. I am Illusion and Illusion is ME! ”

  The emanating magic suddenly calmed from Kubrat’s words, but the large, joyous smile on her face remained present. Slowly, she landed, her bright magenta eyes locked onto Lawruthian. Then, she bowed low and remained in position for several long seconds. When she next stood, her voice seemed to have changed, become lighter as if a heavy weight was removed from her shoulders.

  “Thank you! Thank you! This invention of yours… the Illusion-net, quite a fitting name if I may add, has evolved my Law of Illusion. HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA,” Kubrat cackled. “And my mind has once again stabilized!”

  Lawruthian looked at the illusions in the air, chirping birds, and crawling ants. He found the entire room transformed from the white lab it once was into a bustling forest. He looked around, hesitant. Even the ground underneath him had changed as if his shield held no effect.

  “This…,” Lawruthian questioned as a fawn walked up to him and nuzzled his leg.

  “That is when Illusionary becomes real—a side effect of my outburst,” Kubrat answered, seemingly finally noticing the jungle around them.

  Madria laughed, moving forward and extending her arms as several chirping birds landed on them. “This is real…? It’s lovely!”

  “Well then,” Lawruthian chuckled, gently petting the animals that came up to him. “It looks like my end goal has a chance after all. Minerva, I think you’re best suited for this next part… It’s time to make an app.”

  *****

  Things moved quickly from that point; things that I didn’t expect to happen happened. And, things that I felt were necessary came through. Building an empire from the ground up couldn’t rest on the shoulders of one man, no matter how broad they were.

  Kubrat’s method was just one I casually thought of to help the Goddess rise. There were so many that it’d be impossible to explore them all concurrently. She could use her powers to create movies, TV shows, anime, and things of that nature, or she could use them for trials and tribulations, as Edryani Honey did when swallowed—grand illusions so powerful you’d gain a level from it. Kubrat’s powers of illusion were limited only to the imagination, and hers happened to be battle-focused.

  I couldn’t blame her, but I could blame the society built by the followers of Goddess Madris. I looked up at the night sky, stars and constellations of the Pantheon of Imperius, bright enough to see by. Three full moons radiated their light, allowing me to see the grassy hill whose appearance turned brown as the seasons changed. I’d always loved the grassy rolling hills of the Royal Farms. One of my core childhood memories stemmed from here, and it was what became the basis of my Sol space.

  Tell me your dreams, and I will help you fulfill them!

  “A Edri for your thoughts?”

  I chuckled, looking over at my mom, who lay next to me, also gazing at the sky. I’d created Atlas in hopes of freeing myself, and for once… it actually worked. Only for a small period of downtime. Kubrat was still in the middle of comprehending how to demonstrate her powers to a wider audience, while the new heroes were still getting an introduction to their powers. It was late autumn, the final day in fact. Snow would hit the ground in the next day or two, but I wasn’t cold. My attributes were too high to be affected by basic weather. It’d take quite a while for freezing conditions to affect me now, if ever. My dragon body didn’t seem to hold the elements in much regard.

  “An Edri is expensive, I’m not sure my thoughts are worth that much,” I chided jokingly.

  “Nonsense,” my mom responded. “Your thoughts are worth the world.”

  I smiled but didn’t immediately respond… for I knew she wasn’t joking. My mom, Queen Titiana, the Demigoddess of Love. It was funny, her Law that is. An outsider may expect her to have anything related to war, given her history, but in actuality, it was love.

  Just Love .

  A domain that developed not in the traditional sense of love between a man and woman, but a love between a ruler and her nation.

  “Mom, what are your dreams?”

  She frowned, sitting up and looking up at me. I glanced at her, an eyebrow raised. We were as alone as the rulers of a nation could be. Enough that I felt comfortable truly being no one but myself. No Chosen of Madris, or figure that needed to be strong. Just Lawruthian, Titiana’s son .

  My mom lay back down and stared up at the sky. She pointed, her head leaning inward and connecting with mine. I traced the route of her finger, but already figured out what it was pointing at.

  It was of herself, the constellation that represented Titiana Verlio Koltius Edryani. In one hand, she carried a spear, Heavenspear , I could recognize it no matter what. And, in her other hand? My mom carried a heart, while she herself seemed to be the scale that balanced them. The heart itself was real, magi, not like the cartoon drawn hearts. The stars of it twinkled, as if it beat.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  “I know about that dream…,” I said, laughing. “And the one to help the Goddess carry her burden of protecting the magi. I mean, what are your dreams? The far-out imaginations that you always wanted to complete? What did you dream of when you were a girl still growing up in the palace before…? ”

  My voice trailed off, not saying the final words that were still somewhat of a taboo in Edryan.

  Greed .

  The Sin that nearly ruined the nation. The Sin my mother fought so hard to eradicate. The Sin that gave birth to the Iron-Blooded Queen.

  I wanted to know what that little girl dreamt of before her world changed. It was… important.

  My mom allowed her arm to fall and her eyes closed. She remained silent, seemingly thinking and gathering her thoughts. I patiently waited, still staring at that constellation that represented her. The Demigoddess of Illusion wasn’t the only one I held a plan for. Only, Love was a much harder law to manipulate and come up with methods of use for.

  She opened her eyes as a shooting star passed across the night sky, its light a brilliant but instant white that quickly disappeared over the horizon. My mom spoke then, telling me of her dreams. Dreams, a young girl who knew not what her future held.

  “I wanted to be an Adventurer. Not the type associated with the Association, connected to God El, but the type that went on grand adventures, drinking the tastiest drinks, eating the sweetest foods, and laughing the loudest laughs. I never had aspirations for the throne, which would have gone to Eldest Brother if not Second Brother,” my mom said, addressing them formally.

  “I wanted to travel past the high mountains of Edryan… Great Edryan ,” she said with a smirk, glancing at me.

  I rubbed my nose sheepishly, but continued to listen. I could tell she was far from done.

  “I wanted to be a dancer, a singer, my voice is quite pleasant, you know,” she said in triumph.

  “Pffffft. Yeah, ok, mom, if you say so,” I laughed, responding. My mom’s voice was pleasant, but only if you were used to receiving commands without input or thought. Queen Titiana orders people around, even when it sounds like a request. I couldn’t imagine her singing in any sort of classical manner.

  “I do have a pleasant voice,” she argued. “I would have made a fantastical Singer .”

  “Yes, yes, I believe in you,” I teased.

  Tell me your dreams, and I will help you fulfill them!

  My mom lightly bumped her head into mine, and we shared a look before laughing. This was nice. This was a rare moment; we were both completely relaxed with nothing to order or do.

  I wish… I wish the world would freeze in this moment, to allow me to spend an eternity in this state.

  “I wanted to be a mother…,” my mom said softly.

  My brows scrunched, and I cocked my head to the side to look at her, my hair falling to the side.

  “A better mother to you…,” she said, voice growing softer and softer with each word. “And maybe more… I would like to not have wished for you… to not have been born, you with your faith already decided.”

  “You are a better mother,” I firmly said. “You are the best mother.”

  “Oh,” she said, raising a brow as she questioned. “Even better than the one in your previous life?”

  I paused, slightly smirking. She wasn’t going to trap me with that one. “You’re the best mother of this life of this man, while she was the best in that life, of that man.”

  My mom tilted her head straight, gaze back on the stars. A winter breeze entered the air, ruffling our clothes. We dressed casually—jeans, blouses, something Earth-like with an Edryan twist.

  I wore a matching set, with the large emblem of a chibi’s own head embroidered on my back and left breast pocket. A simple white shirt was underneath. My mom was in a matching outfit, except hers had the symbol of the country.

  “Do you know… during Omnipresence , you or Minerva cannot be seen, cannot be calculated,” my mom suddenly said. “Everyone else in Edryan can, but you cannot be.”

  I frowned. I understood Omnipresence from conversations with Demigoddess Kubrat. I wonder what this sudden change in topic meant.

  “However, we may not be able to see you exactly, but we can see those around you, depending on the distance, allowing us to know or realize certain future possibilities.

  “You asked me what my previous dreams were… and I told you them. Now I will tell you my future dreams.”

  My mom sat up, and I followed suit. We used our arms to support ourselves as we stared at the sky.

  “I dream of a throne, with you at its height, a council of Gods, Prestiges, and whatnot at your command,” she began, voice soft but growing with each word spoken. “I dream of the realm expanding, opening up new sites, new places to spread Love, to explore, to laugh together, cry together, and create stories. I dream of an endless blue sky, a connected, unified people, protected by the Edryani… I dream of grandchildren and generations of our descendants flourishing. I dream of your marriage, one I hope to see before I leave.”

  I smiled at her words, but continued to silently listen.

  “I dream of seeing the great beyond, to know all the secrets of our past. Who Realm Lord Elrunian was, our Goddesses’ story with him, and so much more. I dream of gaining the strength so that my son will not have to fight; he could stay my wondrous, adventurous, and curious little warrior forever. His eyes remain clear and bright, no matter how dark the future may be. He never loses himself, always standing tall and at the front, guiding those behind him. But… even if he stumbles, he will always make me proud no matter what. No matter his outcome as the Chosen of Madris. No matter his actions to secure his future and that of the magi-humans. I dream he is always safe, always smiling, always free. I dream that one day he realizes this position is not a restriction but an enhancement—a responsibility, a duty where he is free to choose any direction, no matter the price, no matter the cost.

  “I dream…,” her words soft as she turned to look at me. Her eyes were red-gold, matching mine except for the hints of pink within. Her smile was soft, gentle, motherly. It was one that said everything will be alright when her child ran up to her crying. It was nurturing, warm, and filled with pride for the one it was sent to.

  “I dream…,” she said again. “That you will always stay true, and no matter what happens, you will not regret your path or actions.”

  I smiled back. It was the smile full of a son’s love. One that desired to make his mother proud, to clear her path and give her a better chance at life. It was a smile of resolution, certain that its actions… my actions would not compromise my integrity nor would they be detrimental to the world I was building. It was a smile of acceptance that life would be lost, but life would be gained. It was a smile filled with uncertainty, for the future is always unknown, and this future would be a time of chaos.

  Tell me your dreams, and I will help you fulfill them!

  I didn’t say these words aloud, but every word, every action of our conversation expressed them. I was going to help my mom fulfill her dream. I was going to make sure she became a Goddess!

  *****

  — GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR: 7298. SEASON: NEW BEGINNING.

  “ MY NAME IS LAWRUTHIAN IMPERIUS KOLTIUS EDRYANI. I AM THE CHOSEN OF MADRIS! TODAY, I DECLARE THE GAME TO BEGIN! ”

  Marskidris Patreon and our new and improved !