Lachrahan reluctantly withdrew his hand, and Vercheria inserted her fingers between his, intertwining them.

“I can’t handle the power. I’ve been adapting to the human body for a long time.”

“Is that true?”

Unable to believe Lachrahan’s words, Vercheria continued to scrutinize him with a face full of worries.

“If you can’t believe it, should I show you?”
When Lachrahan raised his hand, the fluttering sound of wings came from somewhere in the sky. Soon, the screams of those who discovered the phenomenon followed, and the trees that had obscured the two disappeared.

Lachrahan wrapped his arms around Vercheria’s waist and lifted her up with a swift motion. He whispered in her ear.

“To do that, we need to go somewhere without people, right?”

Before Vercheria could respond, Lachrahan, still holding her, began to move. His trees were crossing like stairs, supporting Lachrahan’s steps.

In an instant, the two soared into the air where Muha had been flying. Lachrahan stepped on the farthest branch and climbed onto Muha’s back.

As Muha flapped its wings, the people below looked up with astonished faces. About a dozen imperial senators who had rushed in upon hearing the news discovered the two and gestured while yelling inaudible sounds.

“Those people seem to have something to tell you.”

Lachrahan looked at them and shook his head nervously.

“I’m not interested.”

As Vercheria smiled between her lips, Muha flapped its wings even more vigorously. The silhouettes of people on the ground instantly shrank to tiny dots and soared upwards, disappearing into the clouds.

Passing through the dark clouds that sprinkled fine rain, the bright sunlight poured down. Lachrahan raised his hand to shield Vercheria’s eyes from the blinding light.

Waiting for her to adapt to the surroundings, Lachrahan removed his hand. When he did, Vercheria’s lips burst into admiration.

The vast and serene blue sky surrounded the two without a trace of clouds. Vercheria looked up, and Lachrahan looked at her.

“Vercheria.”

As he turned his head at the low voice, Lachrahan’s face was so close that it touched hers.

In an unexpected interval, Vercheria’s face abruptly rose.

“Since when were you watching?”

Lachrahan’s cheek dimpled.

“Rather than asking since when, you should ask if I’ve ever looked elsewhere.”

The sound of the wind echoed in their ears, and despite the stinging eyes due to Muha’s rapid speed through the air, Lachrahan maintained an impeccable appearance.

Lachrahan pulled Vercheria’s shoulder, drawing her even closer into his embrace.

“We’re going north.”

He whispered into her thin neck and took a deep breath.

The sweet scent filled his lungs, and even amid the rushing wind, Lachrahan flawlessly maintained an exquisite appearance.

Lachrahan pulled Vercheria closer, embracing her even more tightly.

“We’re heading home.”

He took a deep breath, and Vercheria responded with a sense of anticipation.

“Home, we’re going home.”
Lachrahan’s cloak fluttered and swirled in the air.

“Lachrahan, look over there.”

As Lachrahan lifted his head at Vercheria’s voice, he saw a crowd of people swarming like ants, and in the center, a collapsed portal.

Lachrahan looked down at the scene and swept his thin hair.

“It seems the saying that all portals are connected by a single force was true.”

Memories of reading the records left by the first Edkins in the library came to him. The child he adopted in the era when he was a god, born with black hair and the attribute of ice.

Lachrahan brought the child and bestowed upon him the name Edkins, intertwining their fates through the cycle of reincarnation. Shortly after, he married a beautiful wife, establishing the foundation of the current Edkins family.

Since then, Lachrahan continued to reincarnate as Edkins. In the next life, he was born without memories but could still retain his identity.

“The first one who created the portals left a diary. According to him, by now, all portals in Pheriat may have collapsed.”

“The part that Emperor Gerard was most proud of has disappeared.”

“Now everything will disappear and be rebuilt.”

The two briefly contemplated the changes in Pheriat within their own thoughts.

He was the owner of the northern part belonging to the Pheriat Empire, and Vercheria was the guardian deity protecting this land. Neither of them could be free from Pheriat, regardless of who became the emperor.

“Lachrahan.”

Vercheria tightly held onto his arm. When Lachrahan turned his head following her gaze.

“……?”

In the middle of the desert, walking with a miserable appearance, was a person neither of them could have imagined. Vercheria and Lachrahan, both transcending humans with the eyes of gods, could recognize the insignificant movements clearly as if it were dust.

“Please land Muha for a moment.”

At Vercheria’s suggestion, Lachrahan reluctantly whispered in Muha’s ear.

“No need to treat an unwelcome guest kindly.”

Of course, Vercheria couldn’t understand the language.