Chapter 196: Trials and Revelations!

Chapter 196: Trials and Revelations

As Tessa concluded her retelling of her ordeals on Earth and the precarious state of its survival, the room fell into a tense silence. Bandel Blue, for all his stoic demeanor, found himself taken aback by some revelations that had escaped even his knowledge. The most shocking revelation, however, came when Solaris learned that ordinary humans could harm Kaelrians with something as rudimentary as salt. His glowing countenance dimmed momentarily as if the very foundation of his understanding had been shaken.

Lunara's expression, on the other hand, shifted between pride and sorrow. Her usually composed self faltered, her luminous eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "You faced all of this alone," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "With no one to rely on but yourself… and yet others relied on you instead." She reached out to clasp Tessa's hands, her grip firm yet tender. "You've endured so much. I'm so proud of you, my child."

The emotional moment was interrupted by Solaris, who straightened and declared, his voice amplified by his divine aura, "WE WILL ALL RETURN TO EARTH WITH YOU. BUT FIRST, YOU MUST FULLY INHERIT THE LEGACY OF YOUR MOTHER AND I. —YOU, TESSA, MAY BE THE KEY TO SOLVING THE CRISIS ON EARTH."

"Enough with the theatrics," Lunara interjected sharply, her tone exasperated. "You can impress mortals all you want with this your voice enhancer, but here, it's unnecessary." She scolded him as one would reprimand a younger sibling or an overeager subordinate.

Solaris, caught off guard, gave her a wide, toothy grin that didn't quite mask his irritation. For a moment, it seemed like he might respond, but instead, he swallowed his pride and let it go. His glowing eyes softened, though a trace of defiance lingered.

Tessa watched the exchange with bemusement. The image she had conjured of her parents as paragons of grace and divinity was quickly unraveling. Instead, they bickered like mortal Kaelrians —albeit with immeasurable power coursing through them. It was both unsettling and oddly comforting.

Lunara broke the tension with an unexpected suggestion. "Come, Tessa, let's prepare some food. Big guy, we'll be back." Without waiting for a response, she rose gracefully and tugged Tessa along toward the deeper recesses of the moon palace, her radiant form gliding effortlessly across the gleaming marble floor.

Tessa cast a curious glance back at Solaris, who remained seated with Bandel Blue. The two men exchanged awkward looks, a stark contrast to the earlier intensity of the discussion.

"How many Kaelrian Joules of energy do you have now?" Solaris suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Bandel Blue froze momentarily, caught off guard. For someone as powerful as Solaris, determining another's energy level was as simple as flexing a muscle. Yet, the question implied a level of restraint—or perhaps limitation—that unsettled Bandel Blue even more.

He hesitated, analyzing the intent behind the inquiry. Could it be that Solaris respects my privacy? Or is it possible… he cannot see through my defenses? Both scenarios felt improbable but not impossible.

"I suppose you'll just have to find out," Bandel Blue replied cautiously, his tone guarded but respectful.

Solaris narrowed his glowing eyes, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Interesting," he murmured, leaning back in his seat.

Meanwhile, in the palace's grand kitchen, Lunara moved with practiced ease, her delicate hands summoning ingredients from the air. Tessa, still grappling with the revelations about her parents, finally voiced her thoughts.

"You're not at all what I expected," she admitted.

Lunara chuckled softly, her laughter like the gentle ripple of water. "And what did you expect, my dear? Unwavering perfection?"

"Something like that," Tessa confessed, a small smile playing on her lips.

"We may be gods, Tessa," Lunara said, her tone affectionate but firm, "but we also have emotions and expressions. We are having our fair share of flaws, stubbornness, and sometimes utterly ridiculous traits and behaviors. Never forget that."

As Tessa pondered her mother's words, a newfound sense of connection blossomed within her. For the first time, she didn't feel like she stood alone against the universe.

And yet, she knew the trials ahead would demand everything she had—and more.

As the aroma of the food wafted through the grand kitchen, a group of werewolf maids appeared, offering their assistance to transfer the dishes to the dining area. Under normal circumstances, they would have taken over the cooking entirely. However, Lunara, the revered Moon Goddess, had insisted on preparing the meal herself. The maids, respectful and hesitant to challenge her, had no choice but to step aside and let their goddess have her way.

Lunara's insistence wasn't born out of mere whimsy. She had a purpose—one rooted in the desire for mother-daughter bonding. It was an opportunity to connect with Tessa, to bridge the gap between them that had formed over years of separation. And, to Lunara's quiet relief, it seemed to be working. The sound of Tessa's laughter had filled the kitchen, punctuated by moments of shared glances and whispered secrets as they worked side by side.

With the food now ready, Tessa followed her mother into the dining hall, her face glowing with a rare sense of joy and contentment. She carried a tray of dishes with careful precision, her movements a reflection of the care she had put into the meal. The two women stepped into the dining room, where Solaris and Bandel Blue sat engrossed in animated discussion. The pair immediately halted their conversation as Lunara and Tessa made their entrance.

"So, what were you two so serious about?" Lunara asked, raising a curious eyebrow as she glanced between Solaris and Bandel Blue.

Solaris leaned back in his chair with a faint smile. "Bandel was just educating me on some of Earth's traditions. It's been more than a millennium since I last visited, and I thought it was time to catch up on what I've missed." His tone was casual, but there was an undertone of curiosity that hinted at deeper thoughts.

Lunara let out an exaggerated sigh and raised her hand in mock surrender. "Spare me, Solaris. I've heard your stories about Earth a hundred times already. At this point, they're like sandpaper to my ears."

Tessa chuckled softly at her mother's reaction, setting down her tray on the table. Bandel Blue gave a low laugh, his blue-green eyes twinkling with amusement. "Perhaps you'd enjoy it more if you actually listened this time, Lunara," he teased, earning a playful glare from the Moon Goddess.

"Careful, Bandel," Lunara retorted, her lips twitching into a smile. "You're walking a thin line."

The light banter carried on as they arranged the food on the table. Tessa, observing the lively exchange, felt a warmth blooming in her chest. It was rare to witness such candid moments, where divinity and camaraderie mingled so seamlessly. As they settled into their seats and began to eat, the sense of family—however unconventional—wrapped around them like a comforting embrace.