༺ℱℴ𝓇ℯ𝓋ℯ𝓇༒ℱℴ𝓇ℯ𝓉ℴ𝓁𝒹༻

Trust and Truth.

Yet in the stillness of the night,
His secrets gleam with hidden light.
For even gods, with all their might,
Keep secrets shrouded in the night.

As Drilvas and Hasper made their way through the winding corridors and down a grand staircase, the sound of voices grew louder. Finally, they arrived in a circular room adorned with statues of all shapes and sizes. The boy's eyes widened in amazement as he took in the sight before him.

"Wow," he breathed, "these statues are incredible!"

Hasper smiled at the boy's enthusiasm. "These are the gods," he explained, "from different eras throughout history. Each one has left a lasting legacy."

Drilvas was captivated by the intricate details of the statues. "They're so lifelike," he marveled.

"They certainly are," agreed Hasper. "And that one over there," he gestured towards a larger statue in the center of the room, "is your mother, Helisar."

Drilvas's eyes widened in surprise. "My mother was a goddess?"

Hasper nodded. "She was the goddess of magic, and one day, that will be your role as her oldest."

Drilvas's gaze drifted to another statue beside his mother's. "And who is that?"

"That's Celestine, the Goddess of Wind," Hasper replied. "And guess what? We're actually going to be meeting her today." the deity exclaimed, turning around to lead the way out of the grand room, gently grasping Drilvas' hand as they departed.

As they emerged from the room, they found themselves in a seemingly endless hallway that abruptly concluded with a pair of imposing wooden doors. With confidence, Hasper strode forward, opening the doors for Drilvas and gesturing for him to enter.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "Ah, I've been anticipating your arrival," Celestine greeted the boys as she approached, her arms outstretched in a welcoming gesture.

With warmth in her voice, she continued, "It's truly delightful to finally meet my nephew."

Drilvas blinked, feeling a hint of shyness under the watchful gazes of the other gods, before cautiously stepping forward to embrace her. A gentle smile adorned Celestine's face as she tenderly ran her fingers through his hair.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," she cooed affectionately.

Returning the smile, Drilvas replied, "Likewise." He then glanced back at the other gods who stood nearby.

Although he recognized a few of them from the statues, he was unfamiliar with the rest. Suddenly, he halted and turned to Hasper. "Do all of you have wings?" he inquired eagerly.

Hasper chuckled softly. "Some of us possess wings, while others do not," he explained, gesturing towards a couple of gods adorned with feathered wings.

The first was an exquisite woman with flowing dark hair and captivating blue eyes, dressed in pure white attire. Standing beside her was a young boy wearing grey robes, bearing a striking resemblance to the goddess, except for his gray wings.

Next to them stood a petite female draped in a dress that enveloped her entire form, crafted entirely from green silk.

"Dusias and Annalis, the messenger god and goddess of immortality," Celestine murmured, pointing towards the first two. "And the one in green is Verity, the goddess of Truth."

Drilvas nodded, absorbing the information as he observed each deity with keen interest. His gaze lingered on Verity, fascinated by her ethereal presence and the aura of wisdom that surrounded her.

"Verity... the goddess of Truth," Drilvas repeated softly, savoring the name as if tasting the essence of its meaning.

Verity met his gaze with a knowing smile, her emerald eyes sparkling with ancient knowledge. "Indeed, young one," she replied, her voice carrying a melodic quality. "In a world shrouded in shadows, it is the pursuit of truth that illuminates the path forward."