Chapter 391: _She Walked Into Aurelia

Back At The Church

"Alright, everyone can we settle down?" The priest in charge of the ceremony spoke with a voice that was equal parts soothing and commanding. "We’re gathered here today to join two souls in holy matrimony. Mr Tristan Silverstone. And Miss Adriana Bennett."

A warm smile settled on the elderly priest’s face as his eyes swept across the packed cathedral.

"Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. It is not merely a promise spoken before family and friends, but a covenant built on love, sacrifice and the daily choice to place another person’s happiness alongside your own."

"Today, Tristan and Adriana stand before us not because they seek perfection in one another, but because they’ve chosen to walk through every season of life together. Through abundance and hardship. Through laughter and grief. Through certainty and uncertainty. Hand in hand."

The cathedral remained almost unnaturally still, the only sounds coming from the priest’s measured voice and the faint rustling of clothing whenever someone shifted in their seat.

"Love, after all, is not measured by grand gestures alone. It is revealed in patience when tempers rise, in forgiveness when mistakes are made, and in faith when tomorrow remains unseen. May today’s vows serve as the foundation upon which they build a home filled with compassion, understanding and unwavering devotion."

Beside Ambrose, Devon quietly rested his elbow against the pew before a familiar voice echoed through the permanent mental link connecting the two of them.

’You ever think about getting married someday?’

Ambrose nearly inhaled his own tongue.

His eyes remained fixed on the altar while every alarm bell imaginable went off inside his head.

’Absolutely not, Devon.’

’Really?’

’Devon...’

’I’m just asking.’

’You’re asking during a wedding.’

’Which is exactly why I thought of it.’

Ambrose slowly rubbed his temple.

Sometimes ignoring Devon was genuinely the healthiest decision a person could make.

So, with every ounce of self-control he possessed, he pretended the conversation had never happened and returned his attention to the priest, silently hoping the man sitting beside him wouldn’t decide to push on that topic any further.

At least, not right now.

Meanwhile, at the seats reserved for family, Gabriel’s lips were pressed.

It was meant to be a smile but was watery from all the tears he was holding back.

Valentine would occasionally glance at him and give him a reassuring smile—but that didn’t make him suddenly forget all the memories he shared with his little brother.

All the times they’ve gotten in trouble. All the times they’ve covered up for each other.

That one time they went on vacation to the countryside and stole a neighbour’s chicken eggs.

Now look at the lad... standing there in front of tens of people, about to do the one thing his parents have wanted from both of them since they crossed their early twenties.

He was happy for his brother.

But heavens... Why was time so damn quick?

Soon the vows were shared between the couple. Tristan’s vow was so heartwarming that several people either went ’aww’ or sniffled, quickly pulling out handkerchiefs.

Even Adriana trembled beneath her veil, fingers clutching her soon-to-be husband’s hands tighter.

"By the power vested in me," the priest took a couple of steps back, "I pronounce you husband and wife. You may—"

Tristan pulled Adriana into his arms, their lips crashing in a kiss hidden from the church thanks to the latter’s veil.

Cheers and thunderous clapping exploded from every corner.

At the end of the pew Gabriel sat on, his mother held a tablet which their father used to view the event live from Aurelia. He was stable enough to watch, a proud smile lifting the corner of his lips.

"Bloody bullocks." Loki and Kali had just walked in when the couple began kissing. "I knew we’d miss it."

"At least we still made it." Kali grabbed their wrist, already finding a seat at the back for the both of them. "Come on."

Although the time goddess originally had zero plans on coming here, she had to make it after all she and Loki discovered in LA.

To warn the only other person who seemed quite knowledgeable when it came to the Archons.

Ambrose’s smile gradually faded.

A faint sensation crawled across the back of his neck, forcing his gaze to instinctively drift toward the rear of the cathedral.

Right on cue, two familiar figures quietly slipped into the last pew.

Loki and Kali.

Neither of them attempted to draw attention to themselves.

Kali merely held Ambrose’s gaze for the briefest moment before giving an almost imperceptible nod.

Beside her, Loki’s usual carefree grin was nowhere to be found. Instead, the lord of chaos met his eyes with an unusually solemn expression.

That alone was enough.

Whatever they’d discovered before coming here... it wasn’t good.

Ambrose slowly exhaled through his nose before turning back toward the newlyweds just as another wave of applause erupted throughout the cathedral.

This conversation would have to wait.

★★★★★

Aurelia City

Romana wandered through the bustling streets without any real destination in mind, blending so effortlessly into the crowd that not a single passing civilian gave her a second glance.

Humans truly were remarkable.

Despite being painfully fragile, they built monuments that endured generations, raised towering structures that scraped the heavens and created societies complicated enough to survive even while every individual remained blissfully unaware of how insignificant they were within the grand tapestry of existence.

Her borrowed memories occasionally aligned with those of the timeline she and her brethren had conquered long ago.

The skyline. Several familiar streets.

The unmistakable silhouette of the International Hunters Council Assessment Facility standing proudly in the distance.

Yet there were differences.

Buildings that shouldn’t have existed. Roads laid where entire districts had once burned.

Even the atmosphere itself felt... lighter.

Hope still lingered here.

She paused before a large digital map displaying Aurelia City’s districts, her eyes silently studying the countless landmarks marked across its surface.

Hotels.

Guild headquarters.

Hunter Academies.

Government buildings.

Hospitals.

Museums.

One location, however, drew her attention more than the rest.

A soft smile tugged at her lips.

"So," Her finger came to rest against the words ’Blue Diamond Academy’, "that’s where humanity raises its next generation."

Without another word, she stepped away from the map and disappeared into the afternoon crowd.