Another fault line appeared on Raihan's soulstone.
The fissure gleamed a violent gold, spreading like a spider web of lightning across his chest. His body jerked—eyes and mouth wide open without a sound as his fingers dug into the ground.
Lian Yue fell to her knees next to him. "Raihan, breathe—look at me. It's okay. You're okay."
"Nah." His voice was a stripped cables rasp around a lump in his throat. "Something's—burning. Inside me. I can't hold it—"
His hands glowed. Bright light poured from his fingertips and scorched the stone below.
Kaelen rested against a broken column, with an unnerving calm in her eyes. "I told you. You didn't save him. You changed him."
Lian Yue rounded on him with a voice trembling from indignation. "What did you do to him?! "
Kaelen smiled, almost fondly. "I didn't do a thing. You did. And you, when you woke up… You put into a man's soul what was far more than a human soul can bear. You healed him, yes. But in making him so you have made him more than a man. And less."
"No," she whispered, glancing at Raihan. "He's strong. He can fight it."
"I don't want to fight it," Raihan groaned, holding his head. "I want it out. This power—it's not mine!"
The wind rushed through the shattered ruins, centering around Raihan like a tempest might coalesce around a lightning rod.
The back of his arched as another wave of golden light burst out of his chest, sending Lian Yue flying. She heard a dull thump and felt herself hitting the ground hard, sliding over the stone.
And then he stood.
But it wasn't Raihan who turned to look at her.
Not entirely.
His body was faintly illuminated, eyes burning like the twin moons. Golden energy veins danced across his skin, and his voice reverberated when he spoke, two voices at once.
"Celestine."
Lian Yue's heart pounded. "Raihan?"
He blinked and the light in his eyes wavered. "It's me," he said. Then his voice took on a new tone — darker, deeper. "No, it's us."
Kaelen raised a brow. "Fascinating. A fusion. Half-man, half-divine vessel. A soul caught in between."
"You knew it might have been this way," Lian Yue said, standing up. "You wanted this."
Kaelen spread his hands. "I suspected. But I never thought that you'd give him your power so easily. Truly poetic."
"I didn't—"
"Yes, you did. When you decided to awaken you made a deal with your divinity. "And mortals ever must pay what gods take without thank.
Raihan lurched, holding his head. "Make it stop. Please—make it stop."
Lian Yue walked over to him with her hands up. "It's okay. I'll find a way. We'll undo this—together."
But he gazed at her in a manner that was worse than pain.
Fear.
"You're not getting it," he said. "There's something else in here. Not just your power. Not just me. Something to watch. Waiting."
Lian Yue's breath caught. "What do you mean?"
Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "Ah… so he awakened too."
Lian Yue turned on him. "Who?"
Kaelen's expression darkened. "The First Flame. The dormant aspect of the god you banished a thousand years ago. It was locked in you when you died. Some of it must have rubbed off on him."
Lian Yue staggered.
"I felt like I'd been reborn clean," she whispered. "But I carried it with me…"
"And now," Kaelen said quietly, "he bears it.
Raihan let out a scream that tore through the atmosphere.
Golden fire swelled around him, collecting into a swirling column of godly power in the sky above. The ground trembled. The broken stone cracked out from where his feet stood, and light filtered through the broken substance.
"He's not responding that he's stabilizing," Kaelen added. "If the flame breaks loose completely, he will burn through this plane like celestial wildfire."
"Not on my watch," Lian Yue said, digging her feet in. "I'll reach him."
Kaelen sneered. "If you touch him now, he could kill you."
"Then I'll take the risk."
She stepped into the fire.
Her flesh was seared by the divine storm. Her dress ignited at the hem. But her soulstone thrummed on within her, protective, as she forged ahead through the cyclone to him.
"Raihan," she called. "I know you're in there. I know you're scared. But you're not alone. You're not a vessel. You're you. Come back to me."
He was the storm, standing at its center, light streaming from his eyes and mouth, but when her hand brushed his cheek—
He blinked.
The fire dimmed.
And leaning forward, he sank into her arms.
"I see you," he whispered. "Lian Yue…"
She held him tightly. "I'm here. You're safe."
Then—
Everything went silent.
The cyclone collapsed.
The light vanished.
They fainted to the ground together.
For a moment, all was still.
Then Kaelen clapped a single time, deliberately. "Impressive."
Lian Yue didn't move. Her body felt awful, and her vision spun — but she had Raihan's head resting in her lap, and his breathing was even.
"Now," Kaelen said, coming closer. "Give him to me."
She stiffened. "No."
"He's unstable. You barely contained him. Do you believe the other gods will not feel that power soon? They'll come for him. Or worse—her."
Lian Yue raised her eyes. "Then I'll fight them."
"You cannot do battle against the whole pantheon. Not like this. You're barely awake."
"I'll fully."
Kaelen smiled grimly. "And have another chance to lose yourself? You are not Celestine any more. But she's waiting. And she will take over."
"I won't let her."
"Then I will end it now."
He drew his blade.
Lian Yue rose to her feet and stepped between Kaelen and Raihan. "You'll have to kill me."
Kaelen sighed. "You always were stubborn."
He lunged.
She braced for impact—
But a golden light flashed up between them, stalling his blade cold.
Kaelen stumbled back, shocked.
Raihan stood.
Not glowing.
Not screaming.
But calm.
His voice was low, steady. "Lay another hand on her… and I'll make sure your soul never rests."
Kaelen narrowed his eyes. "So be it."
And vanished into mist.
Lian Yue fainted in Raihan's arms.
They embraced each other, quivering, clenched, amid the shards of stone and the dying trickle of divine light.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't want this to happen to you.
"I'm not ashamed," said Raihan in a soft voice. "If it gets me to keep you safe. Even if it breaks me."
Tears filled her eyes.
But before she could answer—
A pulse rang through the sky.
Low. Echoing. Ominous.
Raihan tensed. "What was that?"
Lian Yue turned slowly.
The sky rent open above them — split in the fabric of the heavens.
Dozens of burning entities started to descend, all wore armor of the heavens, as well as robes.
She saw the crest on the lead figure's chest.
The Council of the Pantheon Judgment.
"They've caught up with us," she whispered.
---
A voice, loud and booming, wafted through the destroyed city.
"Celestine. You are accused of meddling with divine machination and called to the stand. The man who stands next to you is to be purged."
Raihan reached for her hand.
And whispered—
"Then we run."