Chapter 390: _Paranoia At A Wedding

Toronto, Canada

The next day, completely unaware that a disaster wearing a dead woman’s face had arrived in Aurelia... Ambrose and the others portalled to Toronto for an important event in Gabriel’s life.

Or rather, his brother Tristan’s life.

It was finally the day of his wedding with Adriana.

The pair were tying the knot at the church Gabriel’s mother attended, a large cathedral with huge coloured glass windows depicting murals of saints and religious symbols.

People flooded the church almost solemnly, some exchanging greetings while others gossipped or walked over to the seats reserved for the families of the bride and groom.

Among the crowd, somewhere in the back were Ambrose, Devon and Viktor. The SS-Rank carried Orion in his arms, father and son donning black suits.

Viktor wore a snow white suit, slowly lowering his phone as they entered the holy house.

"Where’s Valentine and Loki?" He whispered, trying to look past the eyes suddenly moving in their direction.

Ambrose turned his head. "Valentine’s over there," he pointed at the front row seats reserved for Gabriel’s family. "And there’s Gabriel too. I think Loki said they’ll be coming late."

"Won’t be surprised if they didn’t show up at all." Viktor scoffed. "Can’t remember the last time I walked into a church."

Devon smirked. "Aw, why’s that? You got burned in the last one you walked into?"

"How original, Devon."

While Orion giggled at his papa and favourite uncle’s typical bickering—Ambrose’s mind was somewhere else.

Last night, the system had alerted him of something.

[WARNING: Foreign presence detected in Aurelia City.]

[CLASSIFICATION: Unknown.]

On top of that, it wasn’t able to track where exactly this ’foreign presence’ was. Aura couldn’t even pick up aether.

That and the fact that the world had experienced hundreds of anomalies not long ago—after Kali and Aura sensed an Archon breaching the timeline—made his suspicions swirl into full-blown paranoia.

’Aura. Remember what I said, right?’

[Yes, I’ll report any new details from the foreign signature. But I feel that’ll be quite difficult.]

’... Feel?’

[This foreign presence has zero energy readings. No aether, no dark matter. Nothing.]

’Well, an Eldritch god existing outside the multiverse has gotta have something that makes them tick.’ He kept his expression calm as he and the others settled into their seats. ’Keep digging. I got Loki to alert the Pantheon so hopefully they’ll be able to find something.’

The quiet exchange between Ambrose and Aura came to a natural end as more guests gradually filtered into the cathedral.

Conversations remained respectfully hushed despite the growing crowd; the occasional laugh or greeting softened beneath the lofty ceilings. Elderly couples shuffled toward the front with careful steps while younger relatives balanced bouquets, cameras and restless children who had yet to understand why everyone insisted on whispering.

The organist, seated before the towering pipes at the far end of the church, absent-mindedly tested a few notes that echoed beautifully through the sanctuary before settling into silence once more.

Ambrose leaned back against the polished wooden pew, his gaze drifting around the cathedral.

It truly was beautiful.

He was far from religious in either of his lives, but even he could appreciate architecture when he saw it.

"I suddenly understand why Gabriel said Tristan refused to hold the ceremony anywhere else," Devon murmured, his golden eyes scanning the cathedral.

Viktor nodded faintly. "I’d be offended if someone invited me here just to eat."

"You came for the free food too?"

"I came because Gabriel threatened to drag me here personally if I declined."

Devon chuckled beneath his breath. "Sounds about right."

Several rows ahead, Gabriel stood beside his mother and Valentine while occasionally glancing toward the cathedral entrance.

Even from behind, Ambrose could tell the usually composed SS-Rank was surprisingly restless today. Every couple of minutes he’d straighten his cuffs, adjust his tie despite it already sitting perfectly, then look toward the doors again before pretending he hadn’t.

On the altar, Tristan stood with his groomsmen. His tailored charcoal suit fit him perfectly, though the slight bouncing of one foot betrayed the calm smile he wore for everyone else.

One of the groomsmen leaned over and whispered something.

Whatever it was earned a short laugh from Tristan before he shook his head.

Then... The organ began playing in earnest.

The rich melody rolled across the cathedral with such elegance that every lingering conversation naturally died away.

Almost instinctively, every head turned toward the massive wooden doors.

The doors slowly swung open.

For a brief moment, sunlight poured into the cathedral from outside, framing the lone figure standing beyond the entrance.

Adriana.

Even Ambrose found himself staring.

She stepped forward at an unhurried pace, one arm linked with her father’s as the impossibly long white train of her gown glided behind her like fresh snow. Intricate lace climbed from the sleeves toward her shoulders before disappearing beneath a delicate veil that softened her features without hiding the radiant smile resting on her lips.

Her eyes had already found Tristan.

And judging from the groom’s expression... The poor man had completely forgotten how breathing worked.

A few sniffles sounded throughout the cathedral as relatives quietly dabbed at their eyes. Adriana’s mother looked dangerously close to bursting into tears.

Ambrose couldn’t help himself from smiling.

Then a thought wandered into his head.

’I wonder if Loki’s actually going to make it here before the vows begin.’

★★★★★

"This is it."

Kali and Loki walked into a club in Los Angeles, pretending to be normal civilians. Loki even shape-shifted their features, taking the form of a more muscular man who could probably pass as the time goddess’ partner.

Unfortunately, they weren’t here to drink or observe the—

—Wait.

"What the..." Loki squinted at the uninformed personnel gathered in the club.

The bar was barricaded by yellow tape, preventing anyone from moving around or near it. A few employees stood at the side, answering questions from police and Hunters.

Loki’s throat tightened.

They’d only come here with Kali because the latter said she heard of something that could be linked with Ambrose’s warning about a ’foreign presence’.

Kali tilted her head in the direction of a Hunter. Within seconds, she overheard details on what exactly happened here—all lining up with what one of her projections sensed.

"Someone was killed here last night," She whispered to Loki. "And not so long ago there was a report of a man losing his mouth in a hotel not so far away."

The Lord of chaos frowned. "Like... his mouth got cut off?"

"Worst. Blipped out of existence like it was never there to begin with."

"... Well, that’s brutal."

"Local news are calling both incidents Rogue Esper attacks," Kali’s eyes became thoughtful. "But I can sense it. There’s something wrong with both cases. Not only that, but I feel they’re connected."

Loki let out a long sigh, pulling out their phone to check the time before pinching the bridge of their nose.

"Gabriel is going to murder me," they muttered. "I’m definitely going to be late for his brother’s wedding."