When I opened my eyes, I was floating in a white nothingness so vast it pressed in on me from every side. Loneliness curled around my thoughts, heavy and cold, as if I’d been dropped into the heart of winter with no hope of thaw. For a moment, I almost expected Rubicante to appear, or maybe another nightmare to claw its way out of the silence, but there was nothing, just the kind of quiet that makes your skin itch. I tried to move, to turn my head, but there was nothing to move. No arms, no legs, not even my nose, just my mind, raw and exposed, drifting in this endless emptiness. Not even a shadow to keep me company.
Something shifted at the edge of my vision, so subtle I almost missed it. Then, as if conjured from the emptiness, a young couple appeared before me, their hands entwined. They looked like they’d stepped out of a storybook: the man on the right in deep blue and black, a silver crown perched on his dark hair, fingers curled around a scepter crowned with a crescent moon. A ceremonial sword hung at his side, its silver pommel catching the light. She stood beside him in red and white, golden hair tumbling around a delicate tiara, cradling a golden orb etched with suns on every face. They looked regal, untouchable, and yet somehow achingly familiar.
But before I could take in the details, their forms flickered and changed. Suddenly, they were old faces, lined and hollow, clothes hanging off their thin frames like faded memories. Then, in a blink, they were children, no older than ten, clutching each other’s hands as if the world might sweep them apart. The images tumbled over each other, shifting so quickly I lost track. The only thing that never changed was the way their hands stayed locked together, as if that was the only thing keeping them from vanishing entirely. Even their genders sometimes switched, but they were never the same at the same time.
I watched, spellbound, the strangeness of it all stealing the words from my tongue. For a moment, I just let myself drift, caught between curiosity and a strange ache I couldn’t name.
“Who… Who are you? Where am I?”
Both answered in unison, their voices shifting in pitch between each word.
““You are in the presence of…””
The one on the left said, "The Sun God Solis."
"And Moon Goddess Lunae, Demon," added the one on the right.
!
They’re gods!? A chill swept through me. And they know what I am!?
“Of course, we do. Did you really think you could hide from us?”
They can also hear my thoughts…
How rude! I certainly don’t remember giving you permission!
Solis’s eyes blazed with barely contained fury at my disrespect, his whole form radiating searing animosity. He didn’t just bristle, he seemed moments away from igniting the empty space itself, venom crackling in his every word as he burst out,
“Hold your tongue, Demon!”
But Lunae placed a gentle hand on Solis's arm, her touch calm and steady, a silent anchor that held his fury at bay. Without raising her voice or betraying a hint of agitation, she said,
“We called you here to make a deal.”
Now, this is starting to make sense. But isn’t it a bit dangerous for you two to get in touch with me with the issue of corruption and all?
Of course, my words seemed to vanish into the void, at least for one of them. I might as well have been whispering into a storm.
“Hoh? Is that supposed to be concern in your voice? Spare me your poisonous mockery, you loathsome, festering blight! Your very existence is an affront to all that is holy. Don’t think for a moment I would ever trust the words of a demon such as you!”
“Enough. Let’s stay focused. Antagonizing her won’t help anyone.” Lunae’s tone was soft, unflappable, her words like cool water poured over smoldering coals.
Solis tried to interject, but Lunae shut him down immediately.
“She is the one who caused the Cat…”
"So what? That’s in the past." Lunae’s voice was soothing, unhurried, as if she were smoothing wrinkles from silk. "Four hundred years later, and you are still mad. Remember, she might also be the key to fixing this."
I could feel the tension rolling off Solis, and I knew better than to prod at whatever wound I’d opened. Instead, I let my questions die on my tongue and turned my attention to Lunae, who at least seemed willing to listen.
As soon as these thoughts formed in my head, I could hear Solis grind their teeth.
I tried my best not to think about it anymore and carry on by thinking; What exactly do you mean by 'fixing this'?
“The amount of mana in this world used to be much higher when we first became gods. Back then, everything was done with magic. Farmwork, cooking, crafting, and even war all used magic. That changed with the great Cataclysm. Mana levels dropped significantly. Soon, the entire civilization collapsed. People began to fight over the last remaining mana reserves.”
While Lunae spoke, Solis’s glare seared through me hot and merciless, his hatred a furnace stoked by every syllable she uttered in my direction. Yet Lunae seemed to glide above his anger, her demeanor tranquil and undisturbed. She just kept talking, her voice serene and steady, as if Solis’s wrath was nothing but a passing breeze.
“This escalated until the entire continent was at war. Both of our beliefs were on the brink of extinction, so we formed an alliance to combine them into one. We survived, but not without consequences.”
Soulfusion.
“Exactly. Our souls became permanently fused together. The religions of the sun and moon gods disappeared. Two gods became one, yet remained separate; it was no longer a monotheistic faith. Mortals bound their kingdoms and our belief through marriage. Because of their belief, not by our choice, we ended up fused and were henceforth known as the Lovers.”
You just wanted to make an alliance and form a small pantheon, but instead, you got married against your will?
"Yes. Ever since the mana levels dropped, there has been too little mana to form a stable connection like the one we have right now. So many of our messages were simply misunderstood," explained Lunae.
That’s… awful. Soul fusion isn’t something you can ever undo. Even if they tried to separate, it would tear them apart, leave scars that would never heal. For gods, whose whole existence is just soul and memory, that’s akin to suicide. No matter what you do, some part of the other always lingers, like a ghost you can’t shake off.
Why are you telling me all this didnt you want something from me?
“We want two things from you, demon. First, we want you to use your knowledge and teach our followers the ins and outs of magic. Second, we want you to talk with our current pope and convince her to make a few changes,” Lunae said.
And what do I get in return?
The instant I asked, the white emptiness convulsed violently. Infernos erupted all around, the heat so blistering it felt as if the universe itself wanted to erase me. Solis’s rage was absolute, a cataclysmic tempest that threatened to consume reality itself, his hatred so raw and overwhelming that fear seized me in a vice. For a moment, I thought this was it: not death, but utter annihilation by a god’s unyielding fury.
“You dare ask for payment after what you have done!? You abhorrent, soulless wretch!? You and your ilk have infected this world with your corruption, and now you demand recompense? We are gods, you crawling maggot! We should have cast you into oblivion the moment you slithered back into existence!” Solis raged, voice thundering with ancient, unquenchable fury.
But then Lunae intervened, and the tempest of fire vanished as if snuffed out by a single breath. In its place, a still lake stretched out beneath me, cool, silent, and infinitely calm. The air gentled around us. Solis’s rage receded, though I could sense it simmering beneath the surface. Lunae remained poised, her gaze steady and unwavering, focused only on me. Though if one looked closely, they would see her thumb caressing the back of his hand.
“What do you want?”
Not much. My heart pounded. Spreading my knowledge was always my plan. But I needed to make sure, really sure, that neither my family nor I would ever suffer at your hands. That’s all I want: a promise of safety.
“Your family? A demon caring for others? Is this a joke?”
I’m not joking. The only reason I was reborn at all was that I wanted to fall in love. I love my husband and our children more than anything. I’d do anything to keep them safe.
“How fascinating,” said Lunae, weirdly intrigued.
We talked a little longer, and Lunae explained what she wanted me to bring up with their pope. Solis stayed silent after his second outburst, but I could see his form shifting restlessly, a vein pulsing at his temple no matter what shape he wore. Thankfully, by the end,, we reached an agreement, and I was finally allowed some rest.