Ezra POV
Walking through the astral rainforest with Arya brought back emotions and feelings I had suppressed for many years. She was my first love—someone I once thought I'd spend the rest of my life with. Someone I believed might have been the mother of my children. Every step I took beside her felt like a dam slowly breaking, unable to hold back the flood any longer. In this case, it was my emotions. I was young and foolish back then, thinking two heirs from opposing clans could break through such deeply rooted barriers.
Glancing at her periodically, I could tell—and feel—that she was experiencing the same turmoil as she walked silently beside me.
"Did you love her?" Arya asked as her foot crunched on a fallen astral leaf in our path.
When I turned to look her in the eyes, I saw the same woman I once knew—brazen and vivacious—fade into a more vulnerable version of herself. Her emerald gaze softened under my own.
I took several deep breaths before answering. "I did. I truly loved Melena. She was a great and strong woman… a great partner. She was understanding of everything I'd been through—even knew about my past with you. She was patient through it all. She filled the void that was created when you and I were no longer together."
I watched Arya's mouth tighten as she absorbed the words—words she probably didn't want to hear.
"I'm glad to know you found some solace during those years," she said. "But it still hurts… that I wasn't the one to fill that role. I see your son, and it pains me… because he could have been our child." She looked into my eyes, her own beginning to glisten with tears she refused to let fall. "I would have given everything away for that to be true. You know that, right?"
"Back then, I didn't. I was fed so many lies and manipulated by others' ambitions. I didn't know what to think. I was young and easily swayed. And, honestly, I still suffer from it. I'm sorry I didn't fight harder for you."
I exhaled slowly, the memories surfacing like shadows.
"After everything came out… things escalated so quickly. My brother failed his astral trial to become an Astral Knight—lost his right to become the next head of our clan and ruler of Arthenos. Not long after, I was forced to take the trial in secret… on a different continent. That's when I met Melena. And when I returned as an Astral Knight, I was expected to rule. You know what happens when a new ruler is appointed. I was required to marry and produce an heir. And… they wouldn't let me choose you. So… I chose Melena."
"So that's how it went down…" Arya murmured. "All this time, I thought you hated me."
"I never could have. There was a time when I didn't know if I could trust you—or your family—after what happened. But I never hated you, Arya."
"I'm glad," she said, managing a small chuckle as we ducked under a low-hanging branch. "I suppose that's some kind of consolation prize. But your son… he seems different. Confident. Eager. Does he get that from his mother?"
"Cyrus has been through a lot recently—things I wish he hadn't seen. I understand how that might project outward to people who don't know him. Honestly, he's just a kid looking for answers to questions he didn't ask to have. If I had gone through what he has at his age… I'm not sure I'd have made it. He amazes me every day. In some ways… he's already stronger than I ever was."
Arya raised an eyebrow. "Stronger than you? The great Ezra Solaris?"
"Yes," I said with a nod. "His mental toughness… his perseverance… and his relentless drive for growth. If I'm being honest, I don't think I would've been his equal at that age. One day, I believe he'll be the strongest on this planet."
"Then the world will still have a sun to shine down on it. I'm glad," Arya said softly.
"Yeah… I'm afraid the sun will set with me."
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, Arya. Your sensory skills are top-notch. I know you can feel it—sense it. You've noticed he's different."
"I have," she admitted. "But I assumed it was something you wanted to keep to yourself. We haven't seen each other in years. I wasn't expecting you to lay all your cards on the table. Is something wrong with his core? When I looked into it… it was black, almost shapeless. I thought maybe he failed his Starbirth trial. I was surprised someone his age had so much cosmic energy to begin with."
"He didn't fail. He passed. And not only that, he connected with the Solaris constellation. But what I'm about to tell you is important. Can I trust you not to tell anyone? We're running out of people we can rely on."
"Yes, Ezra. If it takes the rest of my life to earn your trust, I will do what I must."
"Alright." I sighed. "Cyrus told me that during his trial… Solaris himself appeared before him. Spoke to him directly. That hasn't happened to anyone from our clan since the Pantheon still walked the physical realm. But that's not all. Solaris took his core… and replaced it. Connected him to a constellation I've never heard of before."
"That's… strange," Arya whispered. "Solaris is one of the few Pantheon members who's shown the least attachment to mortals. For him to get involved personally is… unprecedented. Are you sure the constellation doesn't come from his mother's side?"
"I thought that too at first, but no. Melena and her family had no connection to a constellation to my knowledge. That's why I need to get him off this continent and to my father. Whatever he's gained—it's powerful, but unstable. It works completely differently from our cores, and it has drawbacks that could cripple him—especially at this early stage."
"I understand, Ezra. I'll do what I can to help you both escape," Arya replied, her eyes suddenly narrowing. "But… I think we've been spotted."
"I sensed it too," I muttered. Then, with a smirk, I added, "You know, out of all the regrets I've had about our past, there's one thing I've always been disappointed about."
"Oh?" she asked, curious.
"I never got to meet the big guy. Is he really immortal?"
Arya nodded solemnly. "Yes. He is."
"Well… this should be fun, then."