Chapter 221: His essence

"Do you take him as your husband?" Noras asks Ari in a smooth tone. "You can still rethink it."

Adira glares at Noras. "Nobody asked you to be a witness."

"I do." Ari grins at Adira. "I don't have to rethink this anymore."

"That's a pity." Noras turns to Adira. "Do you take her as your wife? I am sure that you wouldn't say no."

"Yes." Adira leans toward Ari with a smile, resting his forehead on hers. "My Ari is my wife."

"Mother, Father," Little Ai chimes in, "I am also here."

"How could we forget you?" Ari takes Little Ai in her arms. "Little Ai seems taller than before."

"I want to be taller than Father." Little Ai kisses Ari's cheek. "Sending my strength to you."

Ari blushes when she realizes why Little Ai is kissing her cheek. She scowls at Adira. "You shouldn't do strange things in front of kids."

"Only adults can do that." Adira pulls Ai away from Ari. "Mogrok, take care of him. I will be busy for some time.���

"No, I want to stay with Mother," Ai screams. 

"Don't mind me," Noras grumbles, feeling that he's being ignored by everyone. He decides to disappear. It's not like he's that free. He has to investigate the Qeshaya matter. 

"More people are adding." Mogrok wraps his one arm around Little Ai who is protesting. "I am turning into a babysitter."

He won't mind having his all arms carrying Master's and Dark God's children. Mogrok takes Little Ai away, wanting to teach the boy a thing or two about how to grow up. 

***

The gods of Iravan come back after three days. Mirinae and Sion go straight to Noras with Rilyah. They lay her down on the bed in the guest room provided by Ea. 

"She hasn't woken up." Mirinae implores Noras, "Please help her. She was naive back then. I am sure that she is punished enough for her mistake. Noras, I can't continue to see her like this."

Noras is also puzzled. This shouldn't be happening for sure. He checks Rilyah's eyes. They have lost their colours. The god essence is still missing. "Have you tried sending her your essence?"

"I did." Sion replies quickly, "Both of us tried it. But her body can't keep it. It's like something is broken inside her."

After some deep thoughts, Noras says, "Maybe she can't return to the way she is until her true essence is given back to her."

"But why?" Mirinae cries. "She's a goddess."

"If all of her essences were taken out forcibly, it's possible that her godhood was damaged in the process." Noras places his hand over Rilyah's forehead. "Unless it's returned to her and her vitals are fixed again, she will remain like this."

Mirinae holds her daughter close to her chest, sobbing softly. Sion places his hand over her shoulder. "Noras, is my daughter like this because she was still in Qeshaya when the time was turned back?"

"That…" Noras hesitates. "Qeshaya is also acting strangely."

"How?" Mirinae questions him.

"Qeshaya didn't appear on Iravan again." Noras pauses for a moment. "Adira wants to turn Ari into an immortal before he tries to summon Qeshaya. As you know, Chaos is also inside Qeshaya."

"It's Chaos." Mirinae's face contorts in anger. "She must have done something to Qeshaya. That's why my child is like this."

Noras exhales. There's no confirmation. After Kresi died, she would have turned into Chaos or Kresi's soul. It depends on how things play out this time, although it's highly likely that Kresi would become Chaos because something similar happened last time. "I will try to find out what's going on."

"We will also do it." Mirinae wipes her tears. "I will find out who did this to my daughter. If it's Chaos or Kresi, I will make sure that she regrets it."

***

Aren arrives at the dark castle. 

The dark castle is quieter than usual. After Mogrok identifies him, he's allowed to enter the dark castle. Mogrok takes him straight to Little Ai's room.

"Dark Lord and Master are busy." Mogrok giggles, "They won't come out until Master is immortal."

Aren purses his lips. He didn't need that information.

However, Mogrok continues to talk, "Master is carrying. I heard that she's going to have daughters. That's why the Dark Lord did the naming by himself."

"Ai's true-naming?" Aren furrows his brows. Weren't gods supposed to keep out of this matter?

"Yes." Mogrok opens the door to Ai's room. To Aren's surprise, Gabriel is already here. 

Gabriel is sitting beside Little Ai who is wrestling with a small furry yellow spirit beast.

"His father arrived a few days ago." Mogrok tells him, "I have explained to him that Ai is adopted by the Dark God and Master."

Adopted? Aren creases his forehead. What about his permission? He wouldn't have opposed it but Ai also belongs to his mother's bloodline.

"Arenyr." Gabriel waves at him. "You are here."

"Are you here alone?" Aren walks to him. "Where's Raye?"

He had already heard about Kresi from God Noras. Kresi is no more.

"He went to see Pebby." Gabriel sighs. "Pebby is also carrying."

Aren understands, but Pebby and Mirai are humans. Ari would have demi-gods. It doesn't matter to him. He wishes well for Ari, but he feels a pang of sadness for Kresi. Aren hugs Little Ai who squirms in his embrace. 

"Elder Brother, let me go!" Little Ai yells at him. "You are squeezing me."

"Let me hug you." Aren hugs Little Ai tighter. "Don't you and I look alike?"

"We don't." Little Ai frowns at him. "You are red. I am black."

"I can also turn my hair black." Aren chuckles when Little Ai makes a face at him. The boy's eyes are also dark. But Aren sees the shadow of his mother and Gabriel on Ai's face. "We do look alike."

"We are brothers." Little Ai lets out a sigh. "We have to look alike."

Aren laughs when he hears that. He's thankful to Ari and the Dark God. Because of them, he's able to hold and see his brother like this.

***

Two months have passed.

Sitting opposite Ari, Adira watches her gouge down the food.

They have successfully managed to turn her into an immortal through interesting ways. However, she hasn't turned into Abyss yet.

The God essence inside her is still asleep.

In any case, he's not keen about seeing her as Abyss. It's better if Ari remains like this.

But Ari's wishes couldn't be completed.

Even after she has turned immortal, Misaki and Misumi haven't turned immortal yet.

Their daughters are growing strongly in Ari's belly. Both Misaki and Misumi are near-immortal. 

But their hearts are still human. It's a weakness. 

He did assure her that Misaki and Misumi can attain immortality after they are born. He will find some ways.

Ari is calm after hearing that.

"Can I have more?" Ari looks at him with watery eyes. "This is delicious."

After Ari turned immortal, they have lessened the bed activities. One of the reasons is that Misaki and Misumi are grown in her belly. They might be born one of these days.

Ari is healthy. Their daughters are healthy. Adira is relieved to see that.

"I will bring more." Adira glances at the empty plate. The rare fruits from Niela's garden are Ari's favourite. His wife is craving for something new every day. It makes him happy when she squeals in happiness after seeing her favourite food.

The days are happy. He doesn't need anything more. Even the thing about Qeshaya is forgotten. 

Nothing is more important than his wife and their children.

"He's here." Adira creases his forehead when he senses Noras in the Dark Realm again. How many times has he told Noras that he shouldn't come to his realm? They are still looking for the essence stealer. Honestly, Adira doesn't want to care about anything else other than Ari at the moment. These days are crucial for Ari. The previous time, Ari had suffered a lot during the pregnancy. 

"Don't be like that." Ari slaps his arm. "Meet him. He's also worried about something."

Ari doesn't know about the essence stealer and Qeshaya yet. He wouldn't tell her now. Knowing her, she would try to find out what went wrong with Qeshaya.

Noras might ask her to try summoning Qeshaya since she's still the Renasir.

"I will send Little Ai to see you." Adira climbs off the bed. "Don't walk around."

"I won't" Ari beams at him. "Come back soon."

"I will." Adira heads toward the throne room. He sees Noras standing next to the throne with a grim look on his face. These days, Noras is never here with any good news. Adira asks Noras, "What happened?"

"Cina is found." Noras answers him, "His essence is also stolen."