Varian didn’t expect Aurora to take five years to recover. But back then, he didn’t even expect her to survive. It’s a miracle that her origin was repaired.
So, five years or fifty years, the fact that she woke up broke the limits of what was supposed to be possible.
"God’s Eye?"
They had a small walk together after lunch. Aurora held his hand and swayed it back and forth, hopping like a rabbit.
Looking at her bubbly, energetic state, Varian found it hard to associate her with the lifeless girl he found after returning from Heaven tribe.
"What are you going to do there, brother-in-law~?" She stressed the address while pressing herself against him.
"Still calling me that?" Varian said with a helpless smile.
"Hehe~" Aurora laughed like a little devil. "It’s more exciting."
"They’re not wrong for wanting to beat you up."
"What?! You want this cutie to be beaten?" She exclaimed with mock pain.
Varian paused for a moment, then shook his head. "No, they shouldn’t beat you."
Aurora’s face beamed. Patting her ample bosom, she said. "Of course, I know you can’t bear to see me bea—"
"Only I can spank you."
"I..." Aurora’s face turned red and she beat him playfully.
As she wanted to turn away, he pulled her hand and slowed down. "I’ve been searching God Emperor for the last five years. If not his main body, then clues to it. I’ve checked every empire, every secret realm, every region of inner and core space. Nothing."
"Only God’s Eye is left?" Aurora narrowed her eyes, breath halting.
"I wanted to learn about him before fighting it out. There is another enemy I have to fight. It’d be better if we worked together, at least temporarily.
But I found nothing about him. The only thing I can do is confront him and hope things work out."
Aurora looked at his determined face and interlocked their hands. "What if he’s not willing to listen?"
"That’s what the five years are for." Varian released a tiny bit of his aura.
It’s just an infinitesimal piece.
Whole of Hortus came to a standstill and Aurora’s body, mind and even soul froze.
Varian withdrew his aura, returning to a state of pure harmony, appearing ordinary unlike an awakener.
"You..." Aurora’s pale face slowly regained color and she looked at Varian with a dumbfounded expression.
Varian had a smug smile. "I can pluck down the stars and make a necklace for you."
"You can..." Aurora swallowed heavily before asking. "Split the galaxy?"
Varian only smiled. It was a supremely confident smile.
Aurora felt that she was falling for him all over. "That smile is not fair!"
"Do you want to go somewhere?" He asked nonchalantly.
"Where?"
The space shifted and they appeared in a dark space.
Aurora couldn’t make out anything other than a stairway.
The stairs built of shining crystals led to a grand throne, which glowed with a soft light.
Varian took the throne while Aurora got on a smaller and elegant seat to the left.
"Any findings?"
With a snap, a throne hall came into view.
The walls appeared to be dark glass, but it was not built of any materials. It was pure space itself, folded over and over to form this grand hall. Stars were stringed together, lighting up the place.
The chairs built from primal tree of life in the hall and the holy flowers were hanging in the hall, filling it with beauty and fragrance.
Over ten powerhouses were seated. Asherah, Aridam and Primula were the only familiar faces for Miss Calamity.
’They all look so powerful...’
"After sneaking into the God Emperor’s palace once five years ago, Equilius didn’t appear again." Asherah reported with a gloomy expression.
Varian waved his hand.
Primula stood up confidently. "Ophion seemed to be hiding in a satellite galaxy. He killed a divine ranker recently and made it seem like a natural death. But I confirmed the tampering with my power. He should be on the run now."
"Keep searching for Equilius. I’ll take care of Ophion." Varian stood up and everyone followed.
Aurora also rose, still bewildered by this court.
"Dismissed."
With a snap, all of them transformed into beams of light and vanished, except for Primula.
The girl jumped to Aurora and hugged her. "I never thought I’d see you alive!"
Aurora held her gently. "I...I didn’t think I’d be alive either."
"Primula, how are the nightmares and calls?" Varian asked, concerned.
"They’ve significantly decreased." Primula answered with a tinge of sadness.
Aurora looked at her in confusion.
Turning to her, Primula sighed. "I feel like my mother...is calling. Like a part of her is still there somewhere.
Maybe it’s because of my racial talent that lets me relieve that feeling, but it’s as if she keeps calling me. I’m getting over it and focusing on Eden."
With pity, Aurora hugged her gently and consoled.
Varian let the two have their time and vanished to take care of the small matter.
A moment later, he appeared in a satellite galaxy. As expected, Ophion was no longer here. He must’ve fled right after the murder.
But it didn’t matter.
Varian’s eyes glowed and the river of time seemed to turn back, if only in a phantom realm.
Through that phantom, Varian noticed Ophion’s actions and locked onto his aura.
"Caught you."
A second later, he appeared in a desolate space, where a great snake was coiled and resting.
Varian deliberately released his aura and the snake’s eyes snapped open.
Those eyes were larger than the sun. And the snake was so long it could circle entire star systems.
Yet, such majestic body trembled at the sight of Varian.
"D-Don’t! We were allies! I no long—"
Varian shook his head and raised a finger.
Ophion didn’t even try to fight back. Unleashing all its power, he turned the whole region into a bed of chaos and tried to flee.
Varian tapped the void in front.
A blindingly brilliant light erupted before vanishing.
All the chaos was frozen, turning back into order. And the huge snake was vanishing, as if it’s being erased.
"No! No! Nooo!"
Varian didn’t even give it a second glance and returned.
A high rank 2 divine ranker, a veritable powerhouse of Eden, Ophion, the Snake of Chaos...
Varian didn’t even have to launch a casual attack. Just a thought and a brief glimpse of his power ended it.
"Brother, I’ll take Aurora around. Good luck with God’s Eye." Primula said upon arrival.
Varian ruffled her hair and waved goodbye.
Aurora looked reluctant to part with him, but after a kiss, she left hopping.