Chapter 395 - Return to Ged

"We're almost there," Ivan announced, and five minutes after, all six of them could finally see the other end.  

With this, Perun, Gin, and Ryuu shed their mortal mask, revealing their real countenance. Their skin now had an iridescent quality into them, and the air around them was denser.

Bling-bling brothers…

Alinea snickered as she glanced at the three. But a frown marred her brows as she remembered something. A deity's aura was not really friendly to normal people. She was about to complain to her father about this careless act that would affect her mother, but when she turned she spotted Yuuka looking fine.

Ah…

She had forgotten that she's a blank soul. The simple presence of deities wouldn't affect her so much unless the deities chose to oppress her on purpose. She'd be alright.

Soon, all six of them reached the end of the tunnel and stepped out.

"Your Majesties!" An excited and worried voice quickly welcomed them, as a familiar bespectacled person came forward.

Fredek didn't rush towards them, but he could have with how swift he had moved and prostrated himself in front of them. His actions were mimicked by the men waiting behind. "Welcome back!"

"Rise," Perun said and the man stood up like all the others.

"It's been a while Fredek. Didn't you get thinner?" Ivan teased as he stepped next to the man and patted his back.

"Your Majesty, that's impossible. You've only been gone a day," Fredek answered.

"A day?"

Perun sighed. "We stayed in the other world for ten days. It's only a day here," he reminded Ivan.

Fredek didn't show much exasperation as if he was already used to the Emperor of Kres. He then turned his eyes to the others and they widened upon landing on Ali and he bowed.

"Your Highness!"

Alinea chuckled. The Fredek she knew hadn't changed much. "Raise your head, Fredek," she ordered and the man did her bidding.

"Kresnik, Stribog, this is Fredek, my right-hand-man, Grand Adviser to the throne" Perun introduced and Fredek bowed to both Ryuu and Gin.

The man's countenance didn't change at all. It was as if he already knew them, or even if he didn't, the presence of two more deities didn't bother him the least. It was a very rare but appreciated characteristic for someone to be very calm all the time.

Or so Alinea thought.

"And this," Perun said as he ushered Yuuka in front of him, "is my wife," he said, and the poor "calm" man stood frozen as he stared at the woman his king suddenly introduced him to.

Yuuka smiled awkwardly at the man, and Alinea knew the lady didn't understand anything as all of them spoke in Gedian language. Still, the effect Perun's words on Fredek was so amusing. The man looked like his soul had been suċkėd out of him.

"H-Hello," Yuuka greeted awkwardly, unsure if the man understood her.

But her clumsy greeting snapped Fredek out of his trance and he quickly bowed towards her as well. "Your Majesty, forgive my rudeness," he greeted.

"What did he say?"Yuuka asked the others and it was Ivan who answered.

"He said you're welcome. Ah, and that's your father-in-law. He takes care of Ritz," Ivan said in amusement, before placing a hand on his chin.  "Or should I say, mother-in-law?"

"Your Imperial Majesty," Fredek addressed Ivan with his proper title as the emperor for the first time, indicating that he's not happy with him.

"Yuuka," Perun suddenly called, and when the lady turned, he placed the tip of his finger on her forehead, surprising him.

Nonetheless, in spite of the sudden action, she stood still. She knew that whatever happened, everyone who came with her to this place wouldn't hurt her— most especially this man. She didn't know why, but she trusted him completely.

She first felt a cool sensation as soon as his finger touched the space between her brows. But warmth soon came and it spread inside her head before feeling a sensation akin to someone who had been washed by water in the morning.

Huh?

"Do you understand me?" Perun asked, and Yuuka looked confused.

"Er…wasn't I supposed to?" she asked back.  

"Fredek, say something to her," Alinea ordered, and Yuuka turned to the man.

"Your Majesty, welcome to Ged," Fredek said to Yuuka as he bowed.

Everyone watched as Yuuka's face reflected surprise, then realization. "I… I can understand you now."

Alinea giggled at how cute her mother was being. But she would not tease her anymore. She reached out and anchored her arm on hers again. "My father blessed you with the gift of language. You can now understand all the languages when you hear them."

"Wow. That's very… handy," Yuuka commented with a smile— but that was before she remembered something else. She whipped her head and looked at Fredek in question. "Er… Your Majesty?"

Not wanting this thing to drag on, Alinea leaned to whisper on her mother's ear. "I will explain everything later. But not to shock you further, in this place, Kazehaya Sora is a king named Alistair or Perun."

Yuuka's eyes nearly popped out of her head, but Alinea gave her arm an ȧssuring squeeze and she took a deep breath to calm herself. She turned to Ali with a nervous smile. "Fine. I won't think for now. I will just say yes to whatever."

Alinea grinned at her mother's words. Yuuka was really a trooper, willing to participate even in difficult and confusing situations. The fact that she knew that Yuuka trusted them unconditionally made her happy. "That's great!"

If only she didn't choose to forget everything after, Yuuka could keep all these experiences forever.

Soon, as all carriages flew towards the direction of Ritz, the news that the King of Heaven had Returned spread all throughout the lands. Also, the news that the late Princess Alinea was back and that both Kresnik and Stribog had also come, threw the entire Ged into a paroxysm of both excitement and unease.

The presence of the three major deities in Ged had never happened again after the first battle of the gods when Perun first sealed Czernobog in the depths of hell. They all wondered if their appearance now signified the end of the Immortal War.