Re:Awakening with Ultimate Power as a Cosmic God
Chapter 66: Ch 66: A Royal Visit - Part 3

Chapter 66: Ch 66: A Royal Visit - Part 3

In the cold, dimly lit dungeons beneath the royal palace, Queen Eleysa’s footsteps echoed off the stone walls like distant war drums.

The guards at the heavy iron door straightened as she approached but didn’t dare speak.

They knew better than to question the queen’s movements—especially when her eyes gleamed with frustration barely held in check.

With a wave of her hand, the door creaked open, and the queen stepped inside.

Her twin sister, Gorgon, sat chained against the far wall, her once-luxurious hair tangled, her pale skin marked with faint scars.

Despite her ragged appearance, Gorgon’s eyes glinted with something wild—something dangerous.

Eleysa folded her arms.

"You must have felt it too."

Gorgon’s lips curled into a smirk.

"You’ll have to be more specific, dear sister. I feel many things. Despair, boredom... oh, and the urge to throttle you."

Eleysa’s eyes narrowed.

"The outsider. The one who passed through the holy veil. Who is he?"

Gorgon leaned back, rattling her chains for dramatic effect.

"And you think I’d know that?"

"You’re the most blessed among us. Don’t mock me. You’ve spoken to the god directly before. Don’t pretend you’re clueless."

Eleysa hissed.

That earned a sharp laugh.

"Most blessed? Do I look blessed to you, Eleysa? If the god favored me, I wouldn’t be in chains rotting in your basement, would I?"

Gorgon shook her chains.

"You’re lying."

"No. You’re just asking questions you don’t want the answers to."

Gorgon replied with a tired smile.

Eleysa’s fists clenched.

"He humiliated me. I couldn’t even read his aether. He burned me without lifting a finger. He walks the temple grounds like he owns them, and even our god allows it!"

Gorgon tilted her head.

"Then maybe he does."

"Who is he!?"

Gorgon gave no reply—only silence and a gaze that bore into Eleysa’s soul like a mirror. And the worst part was, Eleysa didn’t see defiance or triumph in that gaze. She saw pity.

With a low snarl, Eleysa turned and stormed out, slamming the dungeon door shut behind her. She had no answers. Only more questions—and a growing sense of dread.

Meanwhile, above the palace grounds, Nova stood beside Malrik and the High Priest Riover under the midday sun.

They’d just exited the royal court and were heading down the temple’s wide marble steps when Riover gave Nova a soft smile.

"Don’t take Her Majesty’s behavior to heart. She often appears cold, but it’s her way of protecting her people. Her burdens are not light."

Riover said gently.

Nova glanced at him with a neutral expression.

"She didn’t seem the protective type."

Riover chuckled, the sound light and brittle.

"You’ll come to understand. This city has seen far too much bloodshed. Her walls may be cold, but her heart still beats for her people. I look forward to seeing what role you’ll play here. May the gods watch over you."

He gave Nova a small bow.

He turned and began his slow descent down the steps, his white robes dragging softly behind him like drifting snow.

Nova watched him go, expression unreadable.

Malrik’s voice broke the quiet.

"He’s either going senile or he’s trying very hard to keep his illusions alive."

Nova raised an eyebrow.

"That man is your high priest?"

Malrik’s expression darkened, and he glanced around before grabbing Nova’s sleeve.

"Not here. Come."

They slipped into a side path between the buildings and came to a quiet alleyway surrounded by temple walls and statues too worn to judge.

Only then did Malrik speak again, voice low and taut.

"He shouldn’t be the high priest. Everyone knows it."

Nova leaned against the stone wall.

"Then why is he?"

Malrik ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear.

"Because the real one vanished."

"Vanished?"

"Right before the appointment. The man chosen to be the next high priest—one who could command divine aether, one actually chosen by the god—disappeared without a trace."

Nova’s gaze sharpened.

Malrik continued.

"It was chaos. There was no time to search. We were already too close to the public announcement. So Riover, one of the backup candidates, stepped in. There were protests. Then more people disappeared. After a while, it all... quieted."

"You think he had something to do with it?"

"I don’t know. But Riover’s never shown even a flicker of divine aether. He smiles, he plays the role, but he’s hollow. You felt it too, didn’t you?"

Malrik clenched his fists.

Nova nodded slowly.

"He’s empty."

"Exactly."

The wind shifted, cold despite the sun.

Nova looked toward the temple gates in the distance.

"So this city isn’t as unified as it pretends."

"It never was. The temple, the throne, the priests... Everyone bows to the god, but they all want different things."

Malrik sighed. Nova pushed off the wall.

"Then I’ll keep that in mind. Especially during this so-called ’hunt.’"

Malrik smirked faintly.

"It’s not just a hunt. It’s a bloodbath. People disappear during that ceremony every year. Beasts. Accidents. Aether flare. And no one says a word."

Nova’s eyes glinted.

"Then I’ll make sure I’m not the one who disappears."

Malrik gave him a long look.

"Good. Because something tells me... they’re planning to test your place here. And it won’t be just monsters you’ll be fighting."

___

Anna poked at her breakfast with a fork, the small, dry portions barely enough to fill a child.

She sat alone in the corner of the inn’s shared dining area, eyes drifting from the dull plate to the empty seat across from her.

"Unbelievable. He gets to wander off doing cool stuff while I’m stuck with reheated bread bricks."

She muttered.

The inn’s incharge, a stout woman with sharp eyes and a faster tongue, noticed Anna’s grumbling and walked over with a slight smirk.

"Where’s your partner today? He finally ran off on you?"

She asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

Anna scowled, prepared to snap, but then sighed in defeat.

"No... He’s just out handling something."

The incharge chuckled.

"Ah, so he is your partner."

Anna groaned.

"I didn’t say that."

"You didn’t need to. Takes one to know one. Anyway, tell him not to keep you waiting too long. Folks around here get ideas when a room stays empty."

The woman said, folding her arms.

Anna raised an eyebrow.

"Ideas?"

The woman leaned closer.

"Empty rooms are rare. Desperate folks do desperate things. Accidents... happen."

A chill ran down Anna’s spine.

"Thanks for the warning."

She finished her meal quickly and made her way back to the room, the conversation echoing in her mind.

The narrow halls were quiet at this hour, sunlight cutting through the dusty windows in jagged beams. When she reached her door, a strange prickling sensation crawled down her neck.

Her hand froze on the handle.

Something was off.

This wasn’t Nova’s presence. It didn’t feel like Nyx’s faint, lingering energy either. This was... heavier. Cautious.

Anna pressed her back to the wall, heartbeat quickening as she summoned a small pulse of her aether, just enough to heighten her senses.

There was someone inside.

She glanced down the hall. Empty.

Gritting her teeth, she slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open an inch. Just enough to see movement. A shadow shifting near the far corner.

Someone was in their room.