Chapter 614: The Farewell - part 2

"I will," Seraphine promised, her voice muffled against her mother’s shoulder. "I swear it, Mother. I will come home."

The other wives moved forward as well, each taking turns embracing the daughters.

The farewell stretched on for nearly twenty minutes, each wife needing time with each daughter, saying everything that needed to be said, offering final advice and words of love.

Finally, when the daughters had been properly blessed and advised, the wives turned to Julian.

The atmosphere shifted, becoming somehow more intimate.

Regina stepped forward first. She placed both hands on his chest, looking up at him with eyes that held years of love and worry.

"Bring them back," she said, her voice low and intense. "Bring our daughters back safely. That’s all I ask."

"I will," Julian promised, covering her hands with his own. "I swear it to you."

She nodded, then rose on her toes to kiss him—deep and passionate, putting everything she couldn’t say into that single gesture. When she pulled back, she silently stepped aside.

Eleanor came next. "You’ve already died once," she said, her voice trembling. "I cannot—will not—lose you again. Or our daughter. Promise me."

"I promise," Julian said gently, wiping tears from her cheeks. "I have no intention of dying again, my love. And I will protect Seraphine with my life."

Eleanor kissed him desperately, clutching his shoulders as if she could hold him there forever. When she finally released him, others followed immediately

After some time, all of them now stood together, watching as Julian turned back to his daughters.

"It’s time," he said simply.

The three young women nodded, their excitement returning now that the farewells were complete. They moved to stand beside their father, forming a line.

Julian raised his hand, and reality began to ripple around them. The air shimmered, colors bleeding together as he prepared to tear open the barrier between worlds.

"Wait!" Seraphine suddenly called out, turning back to her mothers. "We will return! We will make you proud! And we will bring Father home safely!"

Lyanna raised her hand. "We carry your love with us! It will protect us as surely as any armor!"

Cassandra’s voice was softer. "We love you all! Wait for us!"

The wives called back, their voices mixing:

"We love you!"

"Come home safely!"

"We’ll be waiting!"

"Make us proud!"

"Stay together!"

"Trust your father!"

"Remember everything we taught you!"

Julian’s power surged, and a massive portal began to form. Unlike the portal to Arenath, this one was more controlled. The three daughters stared at it in wonder and fear—this was their first time leaving the Throne of Gods.

"Stay close," Julian commanded. "The journey between worlds can be disorienting. Hold onto your consciousness and follow me."

"Yes, Father," they replied in unison.

Julian looked back one final time at his wives standing together in the garden, backlit by the morning sun.

"I will return," he called to them. "With all three of our daughters, safe and stronger than before. Wait for me."

"Always," Regina called back. "We will always wait for you."

Then Julian stepped into the portal, and his three daughters followed without hesitation.

The last thing they saw before the portal closed was their mothers— hands joined, tears streaming down their faces but pride shining in their eyes, watching until the very last moment.

Then the portal collapsed with a sound like thunder, and they were gone.

The garden fell silent, feeling suddenly empty despite the powerful women who remained.

Regina was the first to speak, her voice steady despite her tears.

"Now we wait," she said quietly. "And we trust that he will keep his promise."

Eleanor nodded, wiping her eyes. "He will. He’s never broken a promise to us."

Meanwhile, Julian, Seraphine, Lyanna, and Cassandra reappeared in absolute darkness. It was a void so complete that it seemed to swallow not just light, but sound and even warmth.

The three daughters gasped immediately, their breathing suddenly loud in their own ears.

"Father?" Seraphine’s voice came out more uncertain than Julian had ever heard it. "Where are we? I can’t—I can’t see anything. Not even my own hands."

She raised her hand in front of her face, or at least she thought she did.

"I don’t like this," Cassandra whispered, her voice trembling. "Father, what is this place? Why can’t I sense anything? My mana detection isn’t working—there’s nothing to detect. It’s like reality itself has disappeared."

Lyanna’s warrior instincts were firing alarm bells. Her breathing had quickened and she was panicking.

Julian could practically feel their fear even without being able to see them.

"Peace," he said calmly, his voice cutting through their mounting anxiety. "What you’re experiencing is the space between worlds—the void that exists in the gaps of reality. It’s disorienting, yes, but it’s not dangerous in itself. Breathe. Center yourselves."

"But Father—" Seraphine started.

"Breathe," Julian repeated, more firmly this time. "In and out. Focus on the sensation of air entering and leaving your lungs. That’s real. You’re real. This is just a passage, nothing more."

The three daughters followed his instruction and their breathing gradually slowed, becoming more controlled. Julian could sense them regaining their composure.

"Good," he said approvingly. "This is why I needed you to experience this. Power means nothing if you panic when faced with the unfamiliar. You’re doing well—far better than most would on their first journey between worlds."

"How long does this last?" Lyanna asked, her voice steadier now though still carrying an edge of discomfort.

"That depends on—" Julian started to answer.

Suddenly, without warning, they all felt it.

A pull.

It started as barely noticeable—a gentle tug, like a slight breeze against the skin. But within seconds, it intensified dramatically, becoming a powerful current that grabbed hold of them and began dragging them forward through the void.

"Father!" Cassandra cried out, alarm returning to her voice. "Something’s pulling us!"

"I feel it!" Seraphine’s training kicked in immediately. "Direction is... that way. No, wait—direction doesn’t exist here. But the pull is getting stronger!"

Lyanna’s warrior instincts screamed danger. "What is it? An attack? A trap?"

Through the void, Julian could now sense what they were being pulled toward—a hole in the fabric of reality itself.

The pull intensified again, and now they were moving fast.