"MOTHER, you are different from other spirit guardians so I know that you'll live even if I lock you out of my Mana," Kalel, seated on the edge of the tub, told his mother seriously. "In the Snake Clan, there's a half human-half snakewoman called Selena. I heard that out of all the snakewomen that you take care of, she's the one who has the body that resonates well with your spirit. If you use her as your new host, then everything is going to be fine for you."

"Are you really choosing that wench over me, Nystrom?" his mother, dressed in a white robe while dipped in the tub, asked him bitterly. Even though she was back in her human form, her white scales still covered her whole body. Most of the burnt scales were now recovering. "I'm your mother and I know what's best for you, son. I'm telling you– Soleil Rosenberg will be the cause of your downfall!"

​​

He took a deep breath, then he literally looked down at his mother.

Right now, they were in the cabin that Soleil lent them. After she accepted his marriage proposal, she excused herself and went back to her residence to give him private time with his mother.

They should be celebrating their engagement but Soleil was kind-hearted enough to let him deal with his family matters first.

And Soleil wants me to tend to my mother's injury as well.

Soleil got his mother pretty good. After all, his mother's scales were melted by her Black Flame. Still, it was obvious that his fiancée held back.

Thankfully, healing his mother's burn marks was easy. All he had to do was put his mother in a tub filled with water that he summoned from his Mana. His water Mana had healing components. Usually, burn marks caused by a powerful element such as Soleil's Black Flame would be impossible to heal even with his power.

But his mother was special since she was a minor god.

Moreover, 'Yumi the White Snake' was also known as the 'Water Serpent.'

He actually inherited his water Mana from his mother. And since his mother's spirit resonated well with his water Mana, she was able to become his spirit guardian with ease.

"Mother, I've already lived a lifetime," he reminded his mother, then he stood up. "I'm no longer a child. That means I can make decisions of my own."

Once again, his mother burst out crying while hugging her knees closer to his chest. "Are you in love with that wench?"

"Don't call Soleil that way, Mother," he said firmly. "She's not someone who you can insult. If any of the Fire Mages hear you, they will kill you for badmouthing their precious Supreme Fire Mage. And…" He turned to his mother, his red eyes now glowing. "I've tolerated you long enough, Mother. This time, I won't let it slide if you insult my fiancée again."

"Your father will hear about this, Nystrom," his mother said in a cracked voice, then she buried her face against her knees. "Don't come crying to me once Soleil Rosenberg ruins your life, son."

"Don't worry because that won't happen," Kalel said firmly, then he turned his back on his mother. "Take care of yourself, Mother."

***

"MASTER, are you alright?"

Soleil smiled weakly at Lucina Morganna. Her spirit guardian voluntarily went out of her body to check on her. Lucina may have felt that she was suffering from her body 'overheating.' It was the side effect of using her Black Flame a while ago. "I'm alright, Lucina," she said while lying on the bed motionless. "Thank you for taking care of me."

After Lucina went out of her body to walk her to her room, she nursed her and even gave her a bath before tucking her into bed.

"It's my duty to take care of you," Lucina said in her usual indifferent voice. "Should I call the Sun Priestess? She knows better than me how to look after you."

"Please don't," she said while weakly shaking her head. "I heard that my brother is talking with her. If my brother finds out that I used the Black Flame again, he's going to scold me."

"I understand," the spirit guardian said. "Then, I will look after you all night."

She chuckled. "Thanks," she said, then she gasped. "Ah, I have a favor, Lucina."

"You don't have to ask for 'favors,' Master," Lucina said. "I'm your servant. All you have to do is order me and I'll do anything that you tell me to."

Hearing that made her sad.

She had been with Lucina ever since she was a child. But despite her attempts to get closer to her, she refused the friendship that she offered her. Instead, Lucina insisted that having the master-servant relationship that they had suited them best.

Afraid that her spirit guardian might hurt her if she forced friendship on her, she just decided to follow Lucina's pace.

"Please check if Lord Kalel has returned to his room," she told Lucina. "It's praying time for the servants of my residence so there's no one available to assist him. Can you see if he needs something?"

Lucina nodded, then she bowed to her. "I will return as soon as possible, Master."

Soleil smiled at her spirit guardian. "I will wait for you, Lucina."

***

WHEN Soleil gained consciousness, she realized right away that her soul was summoned by a divinity.

And it wasn't just her.

In the center of the white hall with five pillars, she stood with Kalel, Winchell, Ainsworth, and Elis Ripperton.

None of them looked shocked or confused. After all, this wasn't the first time that a god summoned them in their dreams. But she had to say that this was the first time a god summoned the Beast Priestess and the Beast Gods together.

"Soleil, you're here," Winchell greeted her cheerfully. Then, her brother stood beside her and held her hand. "This is the Sky God's domain. Stick to me."

Soleil nodded at her brother's request.

She was about to say something when all of a sudden, Kalel stood on her other side. Then, he quietly asked for permission through his eyes while accidentally "bumping" the back of his hand against hers. When she smiled and nodded, he gently grabbed her hand.

That gesture made her heart flutter.

"Let go of my sister's hand," her brother snarled at the Black Serpent.

"No," Kalel said firmly without even turning to the Red Phoenix. "I will only let go of Soleil's hand if she asks me to."

"Don't fight," Soleil scolded her brother and her fiancé firmly. "We're at the Sky God's domain."

Winchell and Kalel listened to her, thankfully.

"What's happening though?" Ainsworth asked while looking at her and Kalel's hands. Then, he looked up at her face with a questioning look on his face. "It's normal for Winchell to be clingy and stick to you, Sister Soleil. But this is the first time that I saw you and the Black Serpent hold hands." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Although I have to say that the two of you have gotten closer these past years we spent together. Are you seeing each other now?"

The question actually made her shy.

After all, this was her first romantic relationship.

"No," Kalel answered Ainsworth's question, almost giving her a heart attack. Thankfully, the Black Serpent explained right away. "Our relationship is deeper than simply "seeing" each other." He turned to her and gently squeezed her hand. "Soleil and I just agreed to get married."

She smiled, her cheeks burning from embarrassment.

But she wasn't ashamed of their relationship. She just got nervous because it finally sank into her mind that she was going to marry Kalel.

And after his announcement, there was a heavy silence in the air.

"Congratulations, Sister Soleil and Black Serpent," Ainsworth said nervously while looking back and forth to Winchell and Elis Ripperton who were both silent at the moment. "Well, I guess I'm not the only one who doesn't know."

She could understand her brother's silence. After all, she knew that Solenn already informed Winchell about the new prophecy.

I'm sure my brother will scold me later.

Elis Ripperton's silence bothered her though.

But I'm hoping that he has already moved on from me.

"Congratulations to your engagement, Supreme Fire Mage and Black Serpent."

They all turned to the floating golden ball of divine energy where the Sky God's voice came from.

Of course, he wouldn't show up in his human form.

"Thank you, Lord Sky God," she and Kalel said at the same time.

Since it was a formal gathering, they addressed the god formally as well.

"What did you gather us for?" Elis Ripperton, who never once turned in their direction, asked impatiently at the Sky God. "We're busy people, Lord Sky God."

"Don't worry, Blue Dragon. This will be quick," the Sky God said. "Soleil Rosenberg, the Beast Priestess, I thank you for leading the Beast Gods and eliminating the Crades clan with them. I am here to reward you for your hard work."

Oh, that sounds sweet.

"Give me your hand, child."

She wanted to but both Winchell and Kalel squeezed her hand a little tighter.

How immature.

In the end, she decided to shake off her brother's hand. Winchell looked so betrayed, but she just averted her gaze away from him. Then, she lifted her left hand.

A warm and golden light enveloped her wrist.

And just a few moments later, she was already wearing a crystal bracelet with an engraved symbol of the sun. That made her wonder.

Why does the bracelet have the symbol of the sun when the gift came from the Sky God?

"That bracelet is the symbol of the Beast Priestess, Supreme Fire Mage," the Sky God said. "With that, you can summon the Beast Gods whenever and wherever you need them."

"Did you have their consent?" she asked nervously while looking at each of the Beast God around them.

None of them looked surprised by the gift that she received.

Winchell, Ainsworth, and Kalel even smiled at her.

Elis Ripperton just looked at her.

"This gift has already been decided before the Beast Gods descended back to earth. They all agreed to be summoned by you using the divine bracelet," the Sky God explained. "Feel free to use it to your heart's content, Supreme Fire Mage."

She smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Lord Sky God," she said, then she looked at the Beast Gods one by one with a grateful smile on her face. "Thank you, everyone."

The men all bowed at her as a response.

"Now that I have delivered your promised reward, I shall go and send you back," the Sky God said.

"Wait, Lord Sky God," she said in an urgent voice. "I have a favor to ask."

To be honest, she only thought of it just now.

But she didn't want to let this opportunity go. After all, it was rare for the Sky God to grace them with his presence.

"Say it, Supreme Fire Mage," the Sky God said. "I will grant it as long as it is within your power."

She gulped and nodded before she spoke. "Lord Sky God, please officiate my wedding with Lord Kalel right here, right now."

Everyone looked shocked by her request, including her fiancé.

"I'm sorry for not asking for your permission beforehand, Lord Kalel," she said when she turned to her fiancé. "The idea entered my mind just now. We don't know when we'd get to meet a god again so I want us to be married at this instant and receive his blessing."

After all, a blessing from a god could be used to protect their union.

"I understand, Soleil. And you don't have to apologize," Kalel said, then he caressed her face with his hand. "I'd love to be married to you right here, right now. But are you sure that you want to get married even without a wedding gown?"

She smiled and leaned into his touch. "Yes, Lord Kalel. I'd rather have a god blessing our union than having a wedding gown."

Yes, she and Kalel were both wearing sleeping clothes.

But it didn't matter to her. As she said a while ago, the Sky God's blessing was more important than a grand wedding.

"Congratulations again!" Ainsworth said. "Hurry up with the ceremony, then let's have a grand banquet later!"

"You have lost your mind," Winchell said while shaking his head. "Are children these days really crazy?"

"I hate to agree with Winchell but he's right– you two have lost your mind," Elis Ripperton said bitterly. "I don't want to see this wedding."

"I'll send you back now, Blue Dragon," the Sky God said. As soon as he said that, Elis Ripperton really disappeared from his spot. "Shall we begin this wedding now?"

Soleil and Kalel turned to each other, then they smiled before facing the Sky God. "We are ready, Lord Sky God."

***

PS: You may send gifts if you can. Thank you~

***

[NOTE: Please ADD my story to your LIBRARY so you can be notified when I post an update. Thank you! :>]