Chapter 17: Ascension and the Gift of Eternity
The sky above Varis Primus shimmered with an otherworldly light as a golden portal manifested high above the realm. The celestial energy that radiated from it was unlike anything the inhabitants of the world had ever witnessed. Kael Atris stood atop the highest tower of his grand castle in Varthun, gazing at the divine spectacle before him.
From the golden light emerged Archangel Gabriel, his six hundred radiant wings spreading wide, exuding an aura of absolute purity and power. His eyes, filled with the wisdom of the cosmos, rested upon Kael with admiration.
"Kael Atris," Gabriel's voice resonated like a divine melody, "Castellion Arisium, the Supreme Being of the Godverse, calls upon you. It is time."
Kael nodded, his golden armor gleaming under the celestial glow. With a simple command of his will, his own wings sprouted from his back—two magnificent, silver-white appendages that carried him upward. Gabriel reached out and, with a single touch, transported them beyond the confines of Varis Primus.
In the blink of an eye, Kael found himself in the Godverse, a realm beyond mortal comprehension. Planets, stars, and galaxies floated gracefully in an endless expanse, yet the space was suffused with warmth and peace. At the center of it all sat Castellion Arisium upon a throne of light, his six millions of wings spread out like a cosmic halo. His presence was absolute, his form both ethereal and regal.
"Kael Atris, my chosen one," Castellion's voice echoed through the heavens, reverberating through Kael's very soul. "You have surpassed all expectations. You have united a fractured world and brought prosperity where once there was only ruin. For this, I bestow upon you a new gift."
Kael knelt as a brilliant light engulfed him. A surge of divine power coursed through his body, and he felt the emergence of ten additional wings upon his back. Each wing bore a celestial mark, symbolizing his ascension into a higher existence.
"Twelve wings," Castellion proclaimed. "A symbol of ultimate authority and divine power. Few beings in existence have attained such stature. You may wield them all, but I see wisdom in you, Kael Atris."
Kael, now feeling the incredible power within him, understood the implications. He gently retracted ten of his wings, leaving only two extended. "I shall use only what is necessary, my Lord. The rest, I shall keep in reserve."
Castellion Arisium smiled. "You have proven once again why you are my chosen. Now, I grant you another gift."
From the air itself, two crystalline vials materialized in Castellion's hands, each filled with a glowing, golden liquid that pulsed with divine energy.
"The Elixir of Eternal Life," Castellion declared. "One is for you, so you may guide the world without the constraints of time. The other… I leave it to you to decide."
Kael gazed upon the elixirs, his thoughts immediately going to the one dearest to him. Without hesitation, he looked up and spoke with unwavering resolve. "For my beloved wife, Aeliana Starborn."
Castellion nodded, his approval evident. "A fitting choice. Go now, and share eternity with the one who holds your heart."
With that, Kael bowed deeply and, with newfound grace, spread his wings. He flew through the divine expanse, descending back toward the mortal realm. As he reentered the skies of Varis Primus, his speed and power caused a brief golden aurora to dance across the heavens.
Upon his return to Varthun, he found Aeliana Starborn waiting for him. Her beauty, already unparalleled, seemed to shine even more in the light of his return. The moment their eyes met, she knew something had changed.
Kael approached her, holding out the second vial. "Aeliana, my love, this is a gift from Castellion Arisium himself. An Elixir of Eternal Life. If you drink this, we will walk through eternity together."
Tears welled in Aeliana's eyes, not from sorrow, but from overwhelming joy. "To spend eternity by your side is the greatest gift I could ever receive."
Together, they uncorked the vials and drank. A wave of divine energy spread through their bodies, granting them immortality. Aeliana's aura shimmered with newfound power, and Kael, already a celestial force, felt his connection to the Godverse deepen.
With the war behind them, Varis Primus entered a golden age. The seeds of Divine Trees that Kael had gifted to the leaders of the six other nations flourished, bringing wealth, food, and prosperity. No longer did the people struggle for survival. Instead, they thrived, cultivating the arts, sciences, and philosophy.
Kael, now with an eternity ahead of him, turned his attention to shaping civilization. He constructed schools, academies, universities, and libraries, ensuring that knowledge was preserved and expanded. Industries and advanced transportation networks were built, connecting the once-fractured nations into a single, thriving entity.
The people of Varis Primus no longer studied the art of war but rather the art of life. They sought wisdom, innovation, and harmony. Through his guidance, Kael Atris had turned a war-torn planet into a beacon of enlightenment, admired even by the celestial beings above.
As the years passed, Kael and Aeliana ruled not as tyrants, but as eternal guardians of their people, ensuring that the flames of prosperity never faded. And so, with the gift of eternity, Kael Atris, the Twelve-Winged Sovereign, secured the future of his world, fulfilling the destiny Castellion Arisium had foreseen.
The Age of Peace had begun.