Chapter 514 - Stories

Chapter 514: Chapter 514 - Stories

Above the skies, Nāgāntaka flapped his enormous wings a little faster than usual. Resting comfortably upon his broad back, the D’Archy siblings each occupied themselves in their own way.

As always, Anggana was asleep.

Curled up against Nāgāntaka’s thick, warm fur, he slept soundly without the slightest concern for the world below. To him, Nāgāntaka’s back was more comfortable than even the softest mattress ever made, making it his favorite place to take a nap.

Not far away, the girls chatted cheerfully among themselves. Their conversation wandered from one topic to another, though it eventually settled on what they planned to wear for House Caelestis’ banquet later that evening.

At the very front sat Askara.

Unlike his siblings, he remained quiet, absentmindedly watching the endless sky above and the vast ocean stretching beneath them.

After several moments, he noticed something unusual.

Nāgāntaka was flying noticeably faster than normal.

Although the difference was subtle, Askara had spent enough time with him to recognize it immediately.

Reaching out, he gently patted the enormous beast’s neck.

"...Nāgāntaka... Is something wrong?" he asked softly.

Hearing his name, Nāgāntaka slowly turned his head.

His ancient golden eyes met Askara’s for a brief moment before drifting forward again.

"...No," he answered after a short pause. "I just... feel strangely restless"

His voice was calm, yet carried a faint trace of confusion.

Even he didn’t fully understand what he was feeling.

Without saying another word, Nāgāntaka turned his attention back to the horizon and continued flying toward the Saranjana Kingdom.

Ever since the tremendous shockwave had spread across the world earlier that day, an unfamiliar sensation had been stirring deep within his bloodline.

It was impossible to describe.

Almost as if someone...

Something...

Was calling to him.

Not with words.

But with a connection older than memory itself.

The feeling grew stronger with every passing minute, urging him onward without explanation.

And so he unconsciously increased his speed.

The distance that would normally require half a day of flight disappeared beneath his wings in only a matter of minutes.

---

At the Garden

By now, the queens had quietly excused themselves, leaving only Taufik and Wisnu beneath the gazebo.

Their game of chess had long since ended, yet neither of them seemed eager to leave.

Instead, the conversation naturally drifted toward the lives they had lived.

Wisnu spoke first.

He recounted the stories of each of his incarnations; their struggles, the burdens they carried, and the purpose each had been born to fulfill.

Although Taufik already knew those stories through records and history, hearing them directly from the person who had actually lived them was an entirely different experience.

Books preserved facts.

Wisnu shared memories.

The emotions.

The doubts.

The moments of triumph and regret that no written record could ever truly capture.

So Taufik listened quietly, occasionally asking questions whenever something piqued his curiosity.

When Wisnu finished, it became Taufik’s turn.

Rather than speaking about Earth, he told stories from the countless universes he had visited during his long journey across existence.

Each world had been different.

Some were peaceful.

Others had already fallen beyond salvation.

For Wisnu, every story was fascinating.

Unlike Taufik, who had wandered between countless realities, Wisnu had remained on Earth throughout every one of his incarnations.

To him, these tales were glimpses into worlds he had never imagined.

After listening for some time, Taufik leaned back in his chair.

"...Personally," he said, "the universe I found most interesting was an apocalyptic one"

He looked toward the distant sky as old memories resurfaced.

"In that world, humanity had been pushed to the brink of extinction"

His voice remained calm.

"Above them, countless deities watched everything unfold as though it were nothing more than a game"

A faint smile appeared.

"And humans..."

He paused.

"...were simply the pieces on their board"

Wisnu frowned slightly.

"...And after witnessing that..." He looked directly at Taufik. "...You did nothing?"

Taufik smiled faintly and slowly shook his head.

"...I’m not a hero, Wisnu"

His answer came without hesitation.

"But I’m not cruel enough to simply watch, either"

Wisnu tilted his head.

"So... what did you do?"

Taufik chuckled softly.

"So?"

He repeated the word before answering.

"I joined their game"

Wisnu blinked.

"You... joined them?"

"I became one of the deities overseeing the trials"

There wasn’t the slightest hint of pride in his voice, only matter-of-fact honesty.

"I chose a handful of humans to become my players"

"I guided them"

"I gave them strength whenever they earned it"

"And in return..."

He smiled.

"...they gave me results"

Wisnu folded his hands.

"...What kind of results?"

"Freedom"

Taufik answered almost immediately.

"Their own freedom"

"The freedom they fought for with their own hands"

He looked toward Wisnu.

"Isn’t that a better ending than simply slaughtering every god myself?"

Silence lingered between them.

Wisnu carefully considered the question before slowly nodding.

"...I understand"

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Yes"

"I believe that was the better choice"

Another brief silence followed.

Then he asked,

"And... did you do something similar in every universe you visited?"

This time, Taufik didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he simply nodded.

"...At the very least," he said quietly, "I made sure there was at least one person in every world who remembered me"

He smiled faintly.

"I don’t know what became of them"

"Perhaps they lived long enough to build peaceful lives"

"Perhaps only their descendants remain"

"Or perhaps they found another way to survive"

He shrugged.

"I honestly don’t know"

His gaze drifted toward the endless sky.

"But that doesn’t matter"

"I helped them while I was there"

"And for me..."

A quiet smile appeared on his face.

"...That was enough."

Wisnu fell silent.

For a long moment, he simply looked at the man seated across from him.

On the surface, Taufik appeared no different from any ordinary human.

Yet after spending only a few hours with him, Wisnu realized he could no longer describe him with such simple words.

He had met countless heroes.

Countless kings.

Countless sages.

Even gods who had endured since the dawn of civilization.

But none of them resembled the man before him.

After a long silence, Wisnu slowly let out a deep breath.

"...I don’t understand"

There was no shame in his voice.

Only genuine confusion.

"That burden..." He lowered his gaze for a moment before looking back at Taufik. "...How could you carry it alone?"

He shook his head.

"If it were anyone else, they would have gone mad long ago"

His expression became increasingly bewildered.

"But you..."

"...How are you still yourself?"

Taufik remained silent, allowing Wisnu to continue.

"You’re immortal, my friend"

Wisnu’s voice grew quieter.

"When the stars fade... I believe you’ll still be alive"

He smiled bitterly.

"Immortality is a curse"

"A life filled with endless farewells"

"A life where everyone you cherish eventually disappears"

He lowered his eyes.

"All of us who exist beyond the reach of time suffer from it"

"That is why many of us choose reincarnation"

A faint sigh escaped him.

"Even beings untouched by time eventually begin to miss the passage of time itself"

His eyes met Taufik’s once more.

"But you..."

"You wandered from one universe to another"

"I can’t even begin to imagine how much time you’ve experienced"

His voice was filled with sincere curiosity.

"So..."

"...How?"

Taufik quietly took another sip of his tea before lifting his gaze toward the endless sky beyond the garden.

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

Not nostalgic.

Not sorrowful.

Simply peaceful.

After a while, he looked back at Wisnu.

"...It’s actually quite simple"

He smiled. ℴ

"I had something none of you did"

Wisnu blinked.

"And what was that?"

"My family"

There wasn’t a trace of hesitation in Taufik’s answer.

His eyes drifted toward the teacup resting in his hands as his fingers absentmindedly traced its rim.

"I have people willing to walk that endless road with me"

A quiet warmth entered his voice.

"I was never truly alone"

He paused briefly.

"And..."

His smile softened.

"...I have responsibilities"

He raised his eyes to meet Wisnu’s.

"It may sound like a shallow reason"

"...But to me..."

"...it means everything"

Silence settled over the gazebo once more.

This time, it wasn’t awkward.

It was contemplative.

After a moment, Taufik stood up from his chair.

He stretched his shoulders lightly before glancing toward the distant sky.

"Alright"

A faint smile returned to his face.

"That’s enough philosophy for one afternoon"

He turned toward the garden path.

"The one you’ve been waiting for has already arrived"

He began walking away from the gazebo.

"I’ll leave the two of you alone"

Without looking back, he casually waved a hand.

"I should go greet some old friends who are about to wake up"

His footsteps carried him toward the enormous World Tree standing beyond the garden.

"Enjoy your reunion"

Wisnu remained seated.

He said nothing.

He simply watched Taufik’s departing figure until it gradually disappeared among the trees.

A thoughtful smile slowly appeared on his face.

"...Family..."

He quietly repeated the word to himself.

Not long afterward...

*Fwoooosh!*

The sound of enormous wings beating against the air echoed throughout the kingdom.

The wind swept across the garden, rustling the leaves and flowers beneath the World Tree.

A massive shadow passed overhead.

Moments later, Nāgāntaka descended from the sky.

His colossal wings spread wide as he slowed his descent before gently landing in the middle of the royal garden, only a short distance from the gazebo.

Resting comfortably upon his broad back were the D’Archy siblings.

Unaware that someone from an age long forgotten had been waiting patiently to meet the last descendant of Garuda.

....

...

..

.