"Sol Vestic; a boy barely older than a quarter of a century, yet he has accomplished what many of us fail to over millennia, over aeons-"

"He is guided by that blasted Vatui woman, Ikaris-"

"Do not belittle the name of Ikaris, she is deserving of her title as the Vatui Angel of War and he too has accomplished his known feats on his own, the title of GoldenGodslayer is not wasted on him."

"This is true, he and his alliance have already felled two of the four great evils under the Emperor Zan'el, it is only a matter of time before even that monster-"

"Preposterous! You have never witnessed the Emperor's might, you know not what you speak!"

"The Godslayer being powerful or weak no longer makes a difference, he is now inside of the Nexus, there is nowhere here that he can run, it was foolish to come into our midst -he will die the death of a lowly dog."

"Aye."

"Indeed."

"Inevitable was his crusade."

"Then let he who is worthy of spilling the blood of the Golden Godslayer launch the first assault and battle him, we are eager to see the end of that bout but we speak in hiding and council only amongst each other, this is cowardice."

***

"Master, the news of your arrival has already made several trips across the Nexus and back, you are an unwelcome celebrity." Alpha who had been listening on private conversations from across the Nexus opened her eyes and looked at him with a small smile.

"Then it's a good thing I never intended to be a welcomed one." Sol answered her, eating breakfast in the Vestic Estates lounge casually with his daughter sitting at his feet, Dina at his left, Arla on his right and Ikaris leaning over him eating the fruit from his plate as well.

"Dina?" He looked at her after she shifted in her seat uncomfortably again. "I can feel your agitation-"

"Master," she spun at the mention of her discomfort. "You said there are those more powerful than Xie..."

"I said there are people here who show power beyond what he has demonstrated, I never said they were stronger."

"So he is still strongest?"

"Not nearly." Sol answered Arla who chimed in, eating from her own plate with a dismissive expression of peace. "There are quite a few who are without a doubt stronger than any of us, the question is not wether they are more powerful but rather what they intend to do with that power." He looked over at her.

"Will these individuals remain hidden and watch the world's around them burn, or will they choose a side?" Sol stopped eating and rested his hand on Ikaris's arm. "It can spell victory or defeat depending on who we encounter and what they do; it's an exaggeration saying we knew the power of the Nexus."

"And yet you smile." Ikaris looked over his shoulder at him.

"Because I'm on the cusp of something unimaginable and although it scares me what comes next, I am equally thrilled at the idea, I can hardly wait to see what comes next."

"Only Sol Vestic would say something so absurd and make it seem normal." Sara, seated opposite of Sol with Gia at her side reading shook her head. "Master, what are your chances of success?"

"I don't have the option of failure, Sara," Sol answered, slowly standing and walking towards the door none of us do, the fate of everything and everyone rests on this, nobody but us who have encountered them firsthand know what Giza and Umbra are capable of, even if we tell them, they have a false sense of security that is as stubborn as they are old."

"So we deal with the Emporium and those two in one fell swoop." Ikaris stood upright with her fists clasped. "I pray there is a moment of clarity somewhere in there for myself as well, Cecelia has no idea what happened, neither do any of the other Vatui we are allied with, but I must find out what happened that led me to this point."

"Only the betrayer can answer that query," Alpha responded. "You must face Zan'el to find that which you seek, milady."

The System opened her mouth to speak again but paused for a moment while her eyes flickered before she turned to Sol. "Master, something approaches."

"I was waiting for that." Sol answered, turning and resting his hand on Talia's head. "I have to go now, kiddo, can you protect everyone for me?" He asked with a warm smile while she balled her fists with teary eyes.

"Is it more bad people?" She stared up at him while Sol gazed deep into her soul, watching her mana multiply over itself at even the smallest shift in her emotions. "I can fight too, papa."

"My little divine," Ikaris crouched next to Talia and kissed her cheek. "Be good for Papa's sake and don't make him worry while he works."

"But mama-"

"No buts, you have aunty Arla and aunty Grecia teaching you today, right?" Ikaris shook her head, ruffling the child's hair while she pouted.

"Yes,"

"Don't worry, we'll take good care of them out there." Dina walked pass them and towards the gates where a portal began opening up. "Okay?" She turned with a wide grin.

"...okay," Talia sniffled and then smiled again raising her fists. "I'll help next time."

"Maybe," Sol and Ikaris responded together, walking after Dina and stopping at the gate, turning and crouching once more with their arms wide open prompting Talia to run into their embrace again.

"I love you, my little divine," Ikaris understanding the weight of their current situation sucked in a breath and held the little girl tightly while Sol held the two of them.

"I had promised to never be apart again and yet I can no longer stand next to you," Arla stood before them cradling her belly while they righted themselves, taking Talia's arm while she continued to cry silently.

"You aren't, Arla," Sol reached for her cheek and lightly kissed her forehead. "I won't fail any of you again, no matter what has to be done, I will always return."