(Meanwhile Ixtal, Near Soron's Castle, Amanda's POV)

The shuttle's engines hummed softly beneath her feet as the clouds parted, revealing the familiar yet distant sight of Ixtal spread out below, its scarred lands slowly healing beneath a pale sky, as Amanda held her sons a little closer and let out a breath she had not realised she had been holding until now.

"We are here, boys, the real universe" she murmured, as Caleb pressed his face to the viewport with serious eyes, while little Mairon clung to her sleeve, wide eyed and curious.

Behind them, Su Pei stood with his arms crossed, posture relaxed yet alert, as Dumpy loomed in the rear compartment in his fifteen foot frog form, golden eyes half lidded as if he were bored with the journey, yet Amanda had known him long enough to know that the beast was paying attention to everything.

*Hiss*

The shuttle touched down on the clearing near Soron's stone castle, its landing gear hissing as it settled into the soil, as the ramp lowered with a dull mechanical thud that echoed across the quiet open space.

Outside, figures had already started gathering.

Men, women and a few adolescents in worn armor and patched clothes, survivors of Ixtal who had chosen to stay under Soron's protection, approached cautiously as they tried to peer through the glare of the open hatch.

"Stay close," Amanda whispered to Mairon and Caleb, as she took their hands and stepped forward, feeling both pairs of small fingers tighten around her own.

The air outside was cooler than she expected, while the wind carried with it the faint scent of stone, herbs and old ash.

"Who are you? What business do you have on Ixtal?"

One of the survivors asked, as he raised his spear and closed in around the craft, with many more following suit, as they too did not recognise Amanda.

"I—"

Amanda began, as she tried to introduce herself as Leo's wife, to mention Soron, to explain that they were here to stay under the Great God's protection.

However, she never got the chance, as before she could mutter another word—

*THUMP*

Dumpy hopped past her in a single step that shook the ground, his massive frog body landing between her and the group of survivors, his webbed feet digging into the soil as he straightened to his full towering height, arms folded over his chest as his gaze hardened into something cold and dangerous.

"How dare you pathetic mongrels point a weapon at Lord Father's wife and children," Dumpy rumbled, his voice resonating through the clearing in a deep, guttural tone that made even Amanda's bones vibrate.

"I will give you three seconds to lower them," he continued, golden eyes narrowing. "Otherwise, I shall not hesitate to kill you all."

He threatened, as panic rippled through the gathered crowd at once.

Some yelped and staggered back, their weapons jerking downward on reflex.

Others scrambled behind their companions, while a few simply stood frozen in place, gripping their spears with shaking hands as their courage battled their survival instincts.

"LORD SORON!" "LORD SORON, HELP!"

Voices rose in shrill cries as several of them turned and shouted toward the castle, fear amplifying the desperation in their throats, as the atmosphere grew tense enough that Amanda had to suppress the urge to step in front of Dumpy and calm everyone down herself.

"Dumpy," she said softly, tugging Mairon and Caleb a little closer, "you are scaring them."

"Good," Dumpy muttered, his gaze never leaving the trembling survivors, as if he truly meant every word he had just spoken.

*Step*

*Sigh*

A quiet sigh drifted from behind Amanda as Su Pei finally moved forward, pinching the bridge of his nose with two fingers as if he were nursing a headache, before lifting his hands slowly in a non threatening gesture.

"Do not mind the frog," Su Pei said, his tone calm and almost weary, as he came to stand between Dumpy and the survivors while still careful to keep Amanda and the children in his protective reach.

"I am Su Pei, a Monarch of the Cult, and Lord Shadow Dragon's aide," he introduced, his voice carrying clearly through the clearing.

"Behind me are his family members. His wife, his children and his pet beast," Su Pei continued, nodding lightly toward Amanda, Mairon, Caleb and Dumpy in turn.

"We are here to seek shelter on Ixtal until the Cult army returns."

He shared, as the tension among the survivors shifted instantly.

Confusion and fear gave way to shock, then to dawning recognition, as murmurs spread through the group like a wave.

"Shadow Dragon's family…?" "Those are his children?" "Then that woman is…"

The man who had pointed the spear earlier swallowed hard, his face flushing with shame as he lowered his weapon completely and stepped forward, bowing his head deeply.

"Oh, forgive me, ma'am," he said in a rush, his voice thick with apology. "Forgive my insolence for pointing a weapon at you. I had no idea who you were."

Amanda offered him a small, composed smile, despite her heart still beating faster than usual.

"It is alright," she replied softly. "You were only being careful."

Beside her, Mairon frowned very seriously at the man, his small brows furrowing as he half hid behind Amanda's leg.

"Bad uncle," Mairon muttered, pointing a tiny accusing finger at the man, as Caleb clung silently to Amanda's skirt, his big eyes watching everything with a quiet mixture of fascination and unease.

Amanda gently patted Mairon's head, smoothing down his hair as she tried not to laugh.

"He was just scared," she whispered to her son. "He is not a bad uncle, just a worried one."

She explained, as before Mairon could respond, another sound rolled across the clearing.

"What is all this ruckus?" a deep, commanding voice asked, the tone casual yet carrying enough weight that everyone stiffened instinctively.

"Who dares threaten my citizens on Ixtal?"

The voice asked, as Amanda turned her head along with everyone else as Soron emerged from the entrance of the stone castle, his footsteps unhurried as he descended the short flight of stairs, his eyes reflecting the dull light of Ixtal's sky.

As the survivors reacted instantly to his presence.

Every person in the clearing, from the spear wielder to the nervous women and adolescents, dropped to one knee in almost perfect unison, heads bowed low as they greeted him.

"My Lord," they said together, their voices overlapping as respect and fear blended into reverence.

Amanda followed their lead without hesitation, gently guiding Mairon and Caleb down with her, as she bent her knee on the ground, her head lowered even as she sneaked a sideways look at Soron from beneath her lashes.

Everyone knelt.

Everyone except Dumpy.

The frog remained standing where he was, arms still folded, golden eyes fixed on Soron with an unblinking, challenging calm that made the air tighten almost imperceptibly.

Soron's gaze flicked over the kneeling crowd, then stopped on Dumpy, as he raised a single eyebrow in faint irritation.

The old God unable to understand as to why the beast won't bow before him.

"My apologies, old man, but this frog already has a master," Dumpy said, breaking the quiet first, his tone firm yet oddly respectful in its own way.

"I only bow before Lord Father, and no one else," he concluded, as the survivors held their breath, eyes darting nervously between Soron and the frog who dared address him so casually.

"Pfft–"

Soron snorted softly, the faintest hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth as he regarded Dumpy for another moment, clearly weighing whether the disrespect was worth crushing, before eventually deciding that he wasn't worth the hassle.

"What a loyal beast…"

He said while shaking his head, as his gaze shifted away from the frog and finally settled on Amanda and the two small bodies kneeling beside her.

As looking at them, his expression shifted to one of genuine surprise ever so slightly.

"Those children…" he murmured under his breath, his voice so low that Amanda almost did not catch it.

"They share my blood," Soron said, as his eyes narrowed thoughtfully, the faint golden strands of fate that only he could perceive shimmering into view as they linked him to the boys at Amanda's side.

Mairon shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his gaze, gripping Amanda's sleeve tighter, while Caleb peeked up curiously, sensing something but not understanding what.

Amanda looked up as well, feeling a strange chill run along her spine, as though some invisible web had just tightened itself around all of them, changing something subtle but important in a way she could not yet define.

Soron held their gaze for a heartbeat longer, before then exhaling slowly.

*Huff–*

"Come in," he said finally, his tone casual once more, as if he were inviting acquaintances instead of strangers.

"I have not had casual visiting guests over in forever," he added, his lips curving in a faint, wry smile.

"But I suppose I can make an exception for you,"

He said, as he turned his back to them and gestured toward the open doorway of the stone castle.

"Is it okay to go in?"

Amanda asked Su Pei as soon as Soron turned, as Su Pei nodded confidently.

His Monarch senses picking up no killing intent leaking from Soron, which meant that the Old God meant no harm.

"It's okay…"

He confirmed, as Amanda carefully guided Caleb and Mairon into the castle, her own heart beating fast, as she remained flanked by Su Pei and Dumpy, who were ready to protect her to the bitter end should things go south.

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