Javier looked at Liana and Gloria, his expression filled with worry.
"Liana? Gloria?"
Liana turned toward him, her usual gentle smile unwavering. "Yes, young master?"
Gloria, ever composed, adjusted her glasses. "You seem troubled."
Javier hesitated before speaking, his sharp eyes scanning them for any sign of change. "You both… okay?"
Liana tilted her head slightly. "Hmm? I don't feel anything strange."
Gloria crossed her arms. "Neither do I. If sothing were wrong, I would have noticed imdiately."
Javier narrowed his eyes. He could still feel the remnants of powerful magic lingering in the air, but neither Liana nor Gloria seed any different.
Javier frowned. "And… where are they? Aria and Ari?"
Liana placed a hand over her chest, her eyes glimring in the soft light. "I think they're inside us. Maybe."
"Maybe?" Javier's voice rose slightly.
Gloria sighed. "They aren't trying to control us, if that's what you're worried about."
Liana nodded. "I can sense Ari's presence. It's… soft, like a whisper in the back of my mind. She doesn't feel like a threat."
Javier narrowed his eyes. "And Aria?"
Gloria exhaled through her nose. "Knowing her, she's just waiting for the right ti to make a dramatic entrance."
And right on cue—
"Oh? Worried about , boy~?" Aria's teasing voice echoed from within Gloria.
Gloria stiffened slightly before muttering, "Annoying."
Aria chuckled. "Oho~ This is quite comfortable. I must say, you have an excellent mind, Gloria. Very refined, very logical… I might just make myself at ho."
Javier sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I already regret this."
anwhile, a softer voice erged from Liana.
"U-Um… Javier?" Ari's hesitant tone carried a shyness that contrasted with Aria's boldness.
Javier's eyes widened slightly. "Ari?"
Liana closed her eyes for a mont before smiling. "She says thank you."
Javier let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "You two are absolutely sure you're still yourselves?"
Liana giggled. "Of course. Though, I suppose… I feel a little warr inside."
Gloria sighed, looking mildly annoyed. "I'll tolerate this arrangent. But if she tries to act up—"
"What? You'll scold ?" Aria teased.
Gloria smirked. "No. I'll find a way to make you regret it."
Javier rubbed his temples. "I really hope I didn't just make the biggest mistake of my life."
Marcellus then asked, "Esteed Father, is this how Celestials form contracts?"
Garius shook his head. "Hmm? No."
He glanced at the lingering magical energy in the air before continuing. "What you witnessed was a ritual reinforced by your mother and . Normally, when a Celestial chooses a vessel, the process is far more unstable, often resulting in the Celestial fully dominating the host."
Marcellus frowned. "Then what did you and Mother do?"
Garius's eyes glowed faintly as he explained, "We ensured the bond was balanced. The magic we used stabilized the connection, preventing the Celestials from overtaking their vessels. Instead of a one-sided possession, this is now a mutual coexistence."
Francesca smiled, her glowing wings flickering softly behind her. "Simply put, we made sure Aria and Ari cannot take control of Liana and Gloria. They may exist within them, but they do not own them."
Javier exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders. "Good. Because if that wasn't the case—"
Gloria adjusted her glasses. "You'd try to crush them, yes, we know."
Aria laughed from within Gloria. "So violent, little lord~ I might start falling for you."
Javier scowled. "No thanks."
Then, everyone finally noticed.
"Umm... Mother?" Javier hesitated.
"Hmm?" Francesca responded calmly, tilting her head slightly.
Marcellus pointed. "What's with the wings?"
For a mont, silence filled the area as all eyes focused on the radiant, ethereal wings glowing softly behind Francesca.
Francesca remained completely composed and waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, this? It's just one of my skills."
Javier narrowed his eyes. "Really?"
"Yes~" Francesca smiled sweetly.
Cedric crossed his arms. "Really?"
"Yes~" she repeated in the sa gentle tone.
"Then why haven't we seen it before?"
Francesca let out a soft chuckle, her wings flickering slightly before vanishing into thin air. "Because I never had a reason to show them before~" she said smoothly.
"Right, dear~?" Francesca smiled gently at Garius.
Garius, sensing the curious and suspicious gazes of his children, quickly responded, "Yes, honey."
For a brief mont, the room was filled with an awkward silence.
Then—
"Hah—if you all want to kno—"
Aria, now residing within Gloria, was about to speak when—
"Aria~"
Francesca's soft, lodic voice called her na.
Aria froze.
A strange, instinctive chill ran down her spine. It didn't make sense—she was now a Celestial residing within a vessel. She shouldn't even have a body to react this way, yet she still felt it.
It was as if sothing primal within her recognized a threat.
Gloria, sensing Aria's sudden tension, adjusted her glasses slightly. "Aria?"
"...N-nothing," Aria muttered, her tone quieter than before.
Francesca's gentle smile remained unchanged.
"Good girl~"
Javier, watching the exchange, narrowed his eyes. "...Mother, why does it feel like they're scared of you?"
Francesca simply humd in amusent. "Fufufu~ Who knows?"
Javier's gaze sharpened. "Esteed Father, how do other Celestials form contracts?"
Garius's expression darkened. "You're better off not knowing." His voice was firm, carrying a rare weight that made the room fall silent.
Francesca, however, only smiled. "Dear, wouldn't it be better if you told them?"
Garius exhaled heavily, closing his eyes for a mont before speaking.
"The thod most Celestials use… is sacrifice."
A tense atmosphere filled the room.
"They require sothing—soone—to be offered. A life taken in exchange for power. The stronger the sacrifice, the greater the Celestial's strength. They devour the very essence of the offering, refining their power until it reaches its peak. Only then will they bond with a vessel. And the mont the contract is ford, the vessel inherits that power, becoming stronger as a result."
His voice grew heavier. "The more sacrifices they take, the stronger both the Celestial and the vessel beco."
Silence followed.
But Garius wasn't done. His next words were even more chilling.
"For truly wicked Celestials… the ideal sacrifice is soone close to the vessel....They make them kill soone they love."
Francesca replied, her tone calm but firm. "That is why we cannot allow the other Celestials to roam freely. We do not know who their vessels are, but we can assu the worst."
Javier exhaled slowly, his gaze sharpening.
"Then we stop them."
( End of Chapter )
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