The two demigods exchanged a glance, seemingly trying to convey as much contempt and disdain to each other as possible.
Lusha was the first to turn his head away, still wearing that nonchalant expression, only pressing himself a little closer against her.
"Darling," he leaned in close to her ear again, "what do you want to know?"
Su Cheng looked at him thoughtfully. "...Did you lose that lute of yours while you were on the run?"
"Yes, there were quite a few people hunting me down at the time," Lusha said frankly, "and as for my strength, well, you've seen it."
Jellal let out a soft sneer, then gracefully sat on the steps, leaning back with a hint of languor.
The silk hem of his robe, soft as water, slipped down, revealing a pale, slender leg through a high slit, a green jade bangle resting on his ankle.
Su Cheng's gaze paused for a moment before she could not help but look up at him. "...Can you answer my previous question now?"
She hadn't forgotten why she had come over in the first place.
At least, that was the reason on the surface.
"...If I hadn't met you," Jellal said mildly, "then I wouldn't have had anyone to conduct research with, and I really couldn't stand those people at the academy. I could only go to the Magic Guild to seek collaborators, which is how I met my mother's—my biological mother's—old classmate. She said she was very surprised when she saw me, saying I looked a lot like my mother. Of course, at the time, I just assumed she meant my aunt."
Su Cheng understood. "You went to investigate your deceased uncle."
Gerald was not stupid to begin with. It was just that, given how much he resembled his father and brother, no normal person would suspect they weren't biologically related, and those people surely avoided mentioning his deceased "uncle."
But it was different once there was such a clue.
"Actually," Su Cheng thought for a moment, "I spent quite some time in Highgarden in the Echo Plane, so why didn't I see you? Or were you in a temple in another city?"
"...I am not like some people," Jellal slightly raised his delicate chin, "who became wanted criminals hiding like rats crossing the street, looking utterly pathetic while being hunted down."
Lusha kept his head down, the expression on his face quite peaceful, simply kneading Su Cheng's hand gently, tracing the contours of her slender fingers.
As for what his colleague had said, it was as if he hadn't heard a word.
Jellal: "..."
Su Cheng coughed lightly. "So you didn't go to the Secret Cult because you had nowhere else to turn, you were just wandering around outside?"
Lusha actually laughed, reaching out to wrap an arm around her shoulders while leaning askew against her, rubbing her shoulder with his jade-white fingers.
The God of Lust leaned in and whispered softly: "He killed a captain of the Holy Church and was cornered by their people, so he hid inside the Emerald Mountains—"
Su Cheng instantly understood.
Gerald hadn't had much fondness for the Secret Cult to begin with, so his first reaction after being hunted might not have been to seek asylum with them.
But he had provoked the Holy Church and slaughtered an important figure—this would cause more experts to appear among the people the Church sent to hunt him down.
By the time he realized that perhaps only the Secret Cult could help him, it might have already been too late.
The past Lusha could still appear at the port in the guise of a vagrant because he was hiding from guards and bounty hunters of various countries, whereas the enemies Gerald faced were much more troublesome.
His initial route did not bring him closer to Highgarden, and later he was forced further and further away.
Given the location of the Emerald Mountains, once he was trapped there, he wouldn't be able to get near Highgarden anytime soon.
Su Cheng: "Speaking of which, was that Grand Library in Turquoise City still around back then?"
The two demigods looked at her simultaneously.
Jellal raised an eyebrow. "You've been there? Whose memory contained that?"
He then glanced at his colleague and revealed a look of disgust, as if to say that no matter who it was, it couldn't possibly be this guy.
Su Cheng: "...Ilthiant."
Both demigods fell silent.
Jellal sneered. "I knew he would definitely try every possible means to seduce you."
Su Cheng hesitated to speak, but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed to be true. "...Although his intentions were rather complex, looking at his actions and the outcome, that is indeed the case."
"Wait," the God of Envy looked at her skeptically, "I heard he used to be a half-elf? Was there an elven settlement over there?"
His researcher instincts seemed to be acting up again.
"That guy lived thousands of years ago," Lusha said lazily. "How do you know there wasn't one back then? Besides, what if he grew up with his human relatives?"
"I don't know, which is why I'm asking," Jellal cast him a look as if looking at an idiot. "That was still the era of the Ancient Gods. Elves had a closer connection with them, and I heard his magical attainments were extremely high—"
Lusha was somewhat dismissive. "His Holiness also lived in human cities."
"Yes, but he wasn't a half-elf. The attitude of humans in the Empire towards elves thousands of years ago was quite different from now, but I don't expect an ignorant person like you to..."
"Wait a minute!"
Just as they were about to start arguing, Su Cheng had to interrupt them once again and restate her own question.
"Fine, that Grand Library was still there," Jellal said grumpily, "but it had become the territory of the Holy Church, and it was open to commoners—"
"Is that so?" Su Cheng raised her eyebrows slightly. "When the God of Light was young, that place only allowed nobles and mages to enter."
The God of Envy let out a soft sneer. "Hypocritical."
"Which one are you evaluating? The rule that only allowed nobles and mages to enter? Or the fact that it was opened to commoners?"
"Both," Jellal said decisively. "Whether nobles or commoners, there are many greedy and ignorant fools in any class who fail to recognize the value of knowledge and only desecrate those precious tomes. Of course, the methods might be different, but fundamentally it is all a waste. When I went in using a disguised identity, I saw with my own eyes people stealing the ancient books inside. This is the stupid thing the Holy Church did. They let people in whose entire net worth couldn't compare to a single book in there, and they expected something good to come of it?"
"Indeed," Lusha pondered aloud. "I've also seen nobles use rare ancient mage notes to coax their lovers, and that book was ultimately burned at a banquet. At the time, I really wanted to see what was written inside..."
Jellal slightly raised his chin. "So status is not important. I think rules should be set to screen for those who truly want to seek truth and knowledge."
Su Cheng fell silent. "...Why aren't you a Blessed of Logos?"
Jellal cast a sidelong glance at her. "How do you know I'm not?"
"?"
"The 'me' in the Echo Plane didn't tell you," he fell silent for a moment. "He probably wanted to tell you slowly. I don't know your attitude towards the dependents of the Serpent of Truth."
Su Cheng suddenly understood. "Many people think they are madmen... Are you afraid I would think the same of you?"
"The irony is," the blond man lowered his head, rubbing the fine, star-like diamonds between his armor plates, "you have always thought I was a madman, and you were probably even worried I would go crazy and kill you."
Su Cheng hesitated to speak.
"You don't need to say anything, I understand," he added without even looking up. "Otherwise, why would you leave in such a hurry?"
"You were incredibly tolerant of that 'father' of yours, and I severely wounded him," Su Cheng sighed. "When family members argue and an outsider intervenes, they turn around, make up, and then hold a grudge against the outsider. I've seen this kind of thing a lot, and obviously, being hated by you wouldn't end well."
Lusha had been tilting his head listening to them. "Weren't you in a hurry to leave because you wanted to find Gradon?"
"Hmm?"
"Or rather, to pursue delicious food," he said with interest. "Otherwise, you definitely would have wanted to spend a little more time with me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not full of resentment like some people. I completely understand how you felt at that time. Besides, you must have thought I wouldn't trust you, so there was no need to waste your time on me. The fact that you could give me that money was already good enough."
"Ah," Su Cheng poked his cheek, "you are truly understanding, Your Highness."
Jellal scoffed coldly.
Su Cheng couldn't help but turn her head.
The blond man was frowning at her, as if trying to figure out what she was up to.
His silent, dark green eyes were as deeply verdant as the shadows in the depths of a midsummer forest, like jade waves frozen by time.
Even after all these years, with countless shifts in the stars and endless changes in the world, she still seemed to be able to see the shadow of Gerald in him.
It wasn't a similarity in facial features, but rather certain emotions contained within.
She saw the flocculent textures hidden in the deity's irises, like clouds in a sky about to rain.
Reflecting the shifting lights of the corridor, they also resembled a chilling glacier, with delicate golden-green halos at the edges.
Su Cheng thought of the stories sung in poems, remembering that in a history she had never witnessed, they all died painfully in the war.
Although, looking at the big picture, they all seemed to be pawns and tools.
She reached out and caressed his cheek. "...That was very unfair."
Jellal raised his eyebrows slightly. "Hmm?"
"I mean your battle with Charles," Su Cheng said calmly. "You fought for a long time before you encountered him, right?"
"You could say that," the God of Envy looked at her quietly for a few seconds. "My subordinates all died, and then I killed everyone I could see..."
He paused slightly, as if recalling his experiences before death. "None of them could stop me..."
Su Cheng knew his level of spatial magic; even Gerald in his youth could easily kill a group of paladins.
Let alone after he became the Grand Emissary of the Secret Cult. By then, his aura and magic must have reached a higher level, or perhaps far more than just one level.
"When Cessia appeared, I was indeed tired, but what angered me more was that I quickly realized even in my prime, I would lose..."
He fell silent for a moment again. "Even though I knew he was the favored of the God of Time, and as long as he was willing to put in the effort, he had almost infinite time."
As someone who was also blessed by the Ancient Gods, Gerald back then could also understand that such a lucky person possessed more power than others.
"But I still... envied him." He said softly, "Why didn't I have that kind of power? My talent in magic was a thousand times greater than his."
Su Cheng nodded. "That is true."
Jellal shot her a speechless glance. "I was really angry, I went mad, I lost control. He probably wanted to capture me for interrogation, but in the end, he had to kill me, otherwise more paladins would have died in my domain. Of course, if it were someone else, he wouldn't even need to make a move. They would have just suffered mental damage from casting too many spells and fainted on the battlefield to be captured."
Su Cheng: "..."
"How interesting," Lusha said lazily. "A young master who studied magic since childhood and was blessed by the God of Wisdom and the God of Doors, comparing himself to someone who had studied magic for barely ten years when they went to the battlefield, thinking that winning a competition is something to be proud of rather than a matter of course..."
"You're just a piece of trash."
"You were killed by a dumb ass."
"?"
Su Cheng silently moved back two steps, resting her chin on her hands and watching them.
Until both of them turned their heads at the same time.
Su Cheng: "Are you going to fight? I'll be a loyal audience member, throwing flowers and cheering for you."
Jellal looked at her with a subtle expression. "Really? Just an audience member? If I beat your beloved Mr. Lusha too badly, you'll rush out to stop me, won't you?"
He spoke sarcastically, and when he mentioned the human true name of the God of Lust and Filth, a look of disgust appeared in those green eyes.
"Don't say that," Su Cheng moved closer with a smile. "You are also my beloved little Mr. J. Next time I'll go beat up Little Ma, alright?"
Lusha raised his hand to cover his lips and smiled. Jellal looked like he wanted to get angry, but hearing the last sentence, he held back and raised his chin a bit haughtily.
"I've already seen through you," the blond man said grumpily. "Not to mention whether you could bear to do it, even if you really hit him, it would only be because you wanted to beat him up a long time ago."
Su Cheng reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder, stroking his beautiful, bright golden curls. Her fingertips brushed against his smooth, jade-like cheek, watching his butterfly-wing-like eyelashes flutter slightly.
She leaned in and gave him a kiss.
The touch of his lips was slightly cool, like touching smooth, cold jade, but it quickly warmed up with their connection, like a snowflake melting on the skin.
The brief stillness was prolonged.
Jellal lowered his eyes to look at her, a few soft, golden strands of hair falling down and brushing against her cheekbones.
A second later, he kissed her back, with a certain cautious and probing hesitation. He responded slowly, sinking down quietly, like two gentle, lingering ripples of water merging into each other.
Su Cheng reached out and pressed the back of his neck. The blond man lowered his head slightly, the deep, dark emerald in his green eyes settling even further.
They began to kiss tenderly, as if trying to confirm that the false past could become real.
On the cold stone steps of the ancient temple, the shadow of their embrace was stretched and cast, merging with the mottled stone pillars on the side.
The warm wind blew through the shrines, making a hollow, low humming sound, and the air seemed to be filled with the scent of ink, spices, and wine.
That lingering kiss radiated heat like mead.
When she raised her hand to press against the deity's lean chest, Jellal did not resist, not even caring that a certain terrible guy was close at hand.
She stroked his distinct, lean muscles. The originally loose silk robe was completely pulled open, revealing a large expanse of skin as white as the first snow.
Like an adventurer who had trekked thousands of miles, finally able to touch the ruins hidden by the curtain for thousands of years.
"...Speaking of which, I'm also quite curious about how you use your authority."
"Hah? Are you going to do this to everyone?"
"Hmm? You actually eavesdropped on our conversation."
"...Stop pretending, you knew I was there all along," he gritted his teeth. "And you guys still..."
Like breaking the seal on an ancient scroll, she untied the loosely draped silk ribbon.
The divine statue, once swathed in luxurious silk, was revealed inch by inch. Every hidden contour was exposed to the air, radiating a flawless, pristine glow.
Su Cheng felt a sudden heat spread across her back.
She paused for a moment, then continued.
A scalding touch slid slowly down her spine. She could almost feel the pattern of a red lotus pressing against her back like a branding iron.
She kissed the sculpted muscles, feeling the surging heat within the flesh and blood that was the incarnation of power, and then moved to the core shrine enshrined within the holy temple.
It was a tower waiting to be ignited, wrapped in flames, bearing the exquisite angles of a work of art. Under her guidance, they fit together seamlessly, like a perfect mortise and tenon joint.
Beneath the cold, silent night sky, a beam of cool moonlight pierced through the oculus of the temple dome, plunging precisely into the deep pool of the temple altar.
She looked down at the statue bathed in moonlight. Every rising and falling motion of wiping, cleansing, and tending felt like some bizarre, sacred ritual.
At the same time, scorching kisses trailed down her shoulder blades, lingered along her spine for a moment, and then reached the dimples of her lower back.
The shadows of the massive stone pillars at the front of the hall fell over them, swallowing and spitting out the somewhat strange silhouettes.
Until the energy accumulating within the altar gradually rose to its peak.
The tower erupted with the brilliance of a molten core, like falling stars, as a torrent of blazing magical power washed over them like a tidal wave.
Jellal wrapped one arm around her waist and cupped her cheek with his other hand.
And then—
Someone intertwined their fingers with hers, a burning heat radiating from their pressed palms.
Su Cheng tilted her head back, catching a hazy glimpse of flowing gold and silver hair drifting by, accompanied by a clear, melodious laugh.
...No way.
She reached out a hand in helpless resignation. "You actually dared to come here, Your Highness?"
This was the stronghold of the God of Darkness, after all!
Although the ancient gods' allegiances were mostly born of compromise, they had indeed been enemies for thousands of years.
As far as she knew, a certain drunkard was not a deity known for his martial prowess.
"...Oh, my darling."
The newcomer held her hand as well, pressing a feather-light kiss to her forehead.
"You are here," He replied with a laugh in that ethereal, beautiful voice. "I know you will definitely protect me—"
"?"
Two certain lesser gods, whose patience had worn completely thin, finally seemed unable to take it anymore.
"—Get lost!"
For the first time in their millennia-long careers as colleagues, they spoke in perfect unison.
