Chapter 639: Castle Home (2)

"The magical spells and enchantments won’t allow this place to be easily discovered by others, correct?" Nathan asked Eurynome as he walked forward toward the massive castle-like structure, his eyes continuously scanning the architecture and assessing both its beauty and defensive potential.

"Indeed, the concealment protections are extraordinarily sophisticated," Eurynome confirmed, walking gracefully beside him. "Even Gods themselves will have tremendous difficulty finding this location unless they happen to come directly into this specific area—and even then, they would only notice that something seems strange about the spatial dimensions here. They might perceive an anomaly without being able to pinpoint exactly what or where it is."

She paused, then added with a slight smile, "But do you realistically see any Gods randomly stopping in the middle of the ocean for no particular reason? They have far better things to do with their time than aimlessly wandering across empty seas."

"I suppose not," Nathan acknowledged with a nod, accepting the logic of her argument.

As he’d expected, it would be genuinely difficult—perhaps impossible—to completely hide a location from Gods, especially the more powerful deities who possessed sophisticated sensory abilities and could perceive reality in ways mortals couldn’t comprehend. But Eurynome was absolutely right that Gods rarely traveled physically through the world when they could simply teleport directly to wherever they wished to go. The chances of a deity randomly passing through this specific unremarkable patch of ocean were astronomically small.

"Your worry and caution are completely understandable given what you’re protecting here," Eurynome said warmly. "But this sanctuary will give you valuable time and strategic leeway—time for you to continue growing stronger until you eventually become a God yourself, fully capable of defending this place and everyone in it through your own power rather than relying purely on concealment."

"And how long do you realistically think that transformation will take?" Nathan asked her directly, curious about a divine perspective on his progression timeline.

"Perhaps less than a thousand years," Eurynome said thoughtfully, as though offering an optimistic estimate.

Nathan turned to look at her with an absolutely deadpan expression, his eyes conveying how absurd he found that timeframe.

A thousand years was obviously far, far too long. He didn’t have centuries to slowly accumulate power while his enemies grew stronger and his family remained vulnerable.

Eurynome smiled at his reaction, clearly having anticipated his displeasure.

"I know you’re already remarkably strong for someone of your relatively young age, and you have the backing and assistance of several powerful Gods already," she amended. "Taking all those advantages into account, let’s say perhaps less than five hundred years to achieve genuine divinity."

"That’s still far too long," Nathan replied flatly. "I need to become strong enough to face divine-level threats much more quickly than that. Centuries of gradual development aren’t acceptable given the enemies I’ve made and the confrontations I know are coming."

"You can’t reasonably expect to match the strength of Gods who have lived and accumulated power for thousands upon thousands of years, you know," Eurynome pointed out with gentle logic. "At least not the truly strong Gods. There are certainly weaker deities you could probably overcome relatively soon with continued growth. But the genuinely powerful ones, the ancient beings who have refined their abilities across millennia—they’re on an entirely different level."

She paused, her expression growing more serious. "And I very much doubt you’ll be able to defeat any of the main Gods of Olympus in direct combat. Not in a thousand lifetimes of training, to be completely honest. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Ares—these are entities of such concentrated power that even other Gods fear them. The gap between you and them isn’t something that can be bridged through determination alone."

"We’ll see about that," Nathan replied with a slight enigmatic smile, his tone carrying quiet confidence that went beyond mere bravado.

Something Eurynome didn’t know—something only a very select few were aware of—was his Forbidden Seal and its unique capability to share and absorb power directly from enslaved beings, including Gods themselves. Each divine entity bound to him through that seal didn’t just serve him politically or militarily—they literally reinforced his own power base, their strength gradually becoming accessible to him as the connection deepened.

By this point, Nathan had successfully enslaved three powerful Goddesses: Khione, Amaterasu, and Hera. Each represented a significant divine power source that was slowly enhancing his own capabilities in ways that normal progression could never match. And beyond even that advantage, he also carried the concentrated curses of Pandora’s Box—a burden that would destroy most beings but which he was learning to harness as a weapon.

Of course, Nathan didn’t expect to suddenly match the full power of major Gods within just the next few years. That would be unrealistic even with all his advantages. The gap was simply too vast to bridge overnight.

But he absolutely refused to wait hundreds of years either. That timeline was unacceptable given everything at stake.

He would do whatever proved necessary—make whatever sacrifices, take whatever risks, push whatever boundaries—to become strong enough to face Gods and adequately protect his family in a timeframe measured in years or decades rather than centuries.

"I have to admit, when I first met you, I thought you were just being arrogant and foolishly overconfident," Eurynome said, studying Nathan’s expression with newfound respect. "But seeing how genuinely confident you are—not empty boasting but actual conviction—you clearly have some kind of plan or method I’m not aware of. Something that makes your timeline more plausible than it appears on the surface."

"It’s been two full years that you’ve known me, Eurynome," Nathan said with mild amusement. "And you’re only now figuring out that I don’t make claims I can’t support?"

Eurynome laughed at that gentle rebuke, the sound musical and unguarded.

"No, it’s actually been clear for quite a while that you’re exceptional," she admitted freely. "No wonder Khione fell so completely for you."

Nathan’s expression shifted slightly at the mention of Khione, becoming more guarded as he glanced toward Eurynome with pointed intent.

"You haven’t told anyone about her situation, have you?" he asked directly, needing confirmation. "About our relationship and arrangement?"

The question carried weight beyond mere curiosity—Khione’s safety and the security of their plans depended heavily on maintaining absolute secrecy about her true loyalties.

"Khione is one of my closest friends," Eurynome replied with complete sincerity. "I would never betray her confidence or put her at risk. And I would never wish for anything terrible to happen to that beautiful little girl of yours—Nivea deserves to grow up safe and loved."

Her expression was open and honest, carrying no hint of deception or reservation.

"Good, then we understand each other," Nathan nodded with satisfaction before turning his attention forward and walking through the massive entrance into the castle’s interior.

Even inside the partially completed structure, workers were everywhere—laying floor tiles, plastering walls, carving decorative moldings, installing fixtures. Dozens of enhanced humans moved through the space with coordinated efficiency, each focused entirely on their assigned tasks.

None of them looked at Nathan as he passed. Their eyes remained fixed on their work, their movements almost mechanical in their precision. They were all operating in a trance-like state under Eurynome’s divine control, their consciousness suppressed just enough to prevent curiosity or distraction while leaving their enhanced skills fully accessible.

Nathan walked up a grand marble staircase that curved elegantly toward the upper floors. The steps were already polished to a mirror shine despite the ongoing construction, each one perfectly level and uniform. He continued through long corridors whose walls were still being finished, following a mental map toward a specific destination.

Finally, he reached a particular door that stood apart from all the others. While most doors throughout the castle were simple functional barriers, this one was clearly different—heavier, more ornate, radiating an subtle sense of importance.

Nathan reached out with one hand and placed his palm flat against the door’s surface.

Immediately, golden magical symbols flared into visibility across the door’s entire surface, intricate divine script that hadn’t been visible a moment before. The symbols were a combination of different divine languages—some recognizable as Greek divine script that Eurynome would have inscribed, others in the more angular characters that marked Khione’s magical signature.

The protections layered on this door were extraordinary, far exceeding anything else in the entire structure. Multiple divine enchantments overlapped and reinforced each other, creating barriers that would resist even determined assault from powerful beings.

Only after the symbols recognized Nathan’s specific magical signature and confirmed his authorization did the door finally unlock with an audible click. The heavy barrier swung open smoothly despite its obvious weight, revealing whatever lay beyond.

The moment Nathan stepped across the threshold into the protected chamber, the door swung shut automatically behind him with a soft but decisive click, magical seals reactivating to secure the space once more.

Before Nathan could take more than a single step forward, a small figure launched itself at him with surprising force and speed, leaping from across the room with supernatural agility.

Nathan’s reflexes responded instantly, his hands reaching out to catch the incoming form. His arms wrapped securely around the small body that collided with his chest, absorbing the impact smoothly and lifting the child effortlessly.

"Father!"

Looking down, Nathan’s expression softened completely as he took in the ethereal girl who clung to him so desperately. She appeared approximately seven years old in physical development, though her actual age was somewhat younger than that appearance suggested—divine blood often accelerated growth in unpredictable ways.

She was clearly not human, that much was immediately obvious. Everything about her appearance marked her unmistakably as the product of two beings carrying divine heritage in their veins.

Nivea.

Nathan smiled with profound paternal warmth as he gently patted Nivea’s snow-white hair—colored identically to both his own distinctive white locks and her mother Khione’s signature coloring. The genetic inheritance was unmistakable, marking her parentage as clearly as any formal declaration.

Nivea’s small face lit up with pure joy at her father’s touch, and she hugged Nathan even more tightly, her surprisingly strong arms wrapping around his torso with the enhanced strength her divine nature granted.

"You didn’t come yesterday like you usually do," Nivea said, her voice carrying clear upset and disappointment. "Not since last week actually. You missed six visits in a row."

The accusation in her young voice was heartbreaking in its innocent directness.

"I can’t always come exactly on schedule, Nivea," Nathan said with a regretful sigh, carefully lifting his daughter more securely and adjusting her position in his arms so she could rest more comfortably against him. "Sometimes circumstances prevent it, no matter how much I want to be here."

Nivea looked up at Nathan with her striking ice-blue eyes—another inherited trait from Khione, those distinctive crystalline irises that seemed to reflect frozen lakes.

"Why can’t you come whenever you want?" She asked.

"Because your father has unfortunately attracted the attention and interest of far too many Gods already," Khione’s melodious voice answered as she materialized from the chamber’s interior, approaching them with a gentle smile on her beautiful face.

"And therefore, he is almost constantly being monitored and observed by various divine entities," Khione continued, her tone remaining light despite the serious subject matter. "If anyone with hostile intent were to follow him at the wrong moment, if they tracked him here..."

She let the sentence trail off meaningfully, trusting Nivea was intelligent enough to grasp the implications.

"You don’t want anyone to find this place," Nivea completed the thought, demonstrating understanding beyond her apparent years. "Because if they found us, we’d be in danger. They might try to hurt us to hurt Father."

"Exactly right," Nathan confirmed with a proud smile, leaning down to kiss his daughter’s forehead tenderly. "You’re a very clever girl. So tell me—coming to see you once a week, isn’t that enough for now? I know it’s not ideal, but it’s the safest schedule I can maintain."

"I want Father to be with us always, every single day," Nivea replied immediately. "Not just once a week. I miss you when you’re gone."

Nathan reached out with one hand to cup her small face, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.

"One day very soon, I promise you, I will be here with you every single day," he said with quiet intensity, making a vow he fully intended to keep. "When this entire sanctuary is completed and properly secured, when the threats surrounding us have been neutralized—we’ll all live here together as a real family. No more separations, no more hiding. I promise you that, Nivea."

Nivea’s face transformed with radiant happiness at that promise, her smile so bright it seemed to illuminate the entire chamber. She threw her arms around Nathan’s neck and hugged him fiercely, making contented sounds of pure joy.

"How have things been here?" Nathan asked as he approached Khione, his free arm extending toward her. "Nothing unusual or concerning has happened? No indication that anyone’s detected this location or tried to breach the protections?"

"Nothing whatsoever," Khione assured him calmly, stepping into his embrace so she could wrap her arms around both him and Nivea simultaneously. "You’re worrying excessively, as usual. No one will be able to enter this specific room—the combined divine enchantments you, I, and Eurynome layered on that door would resist even determined assault from major Gods. And beyond that, Eurynome herself is constantly watching over the entire island. We’re as safe as it’s possible to be."

"That’s actually part of what worries me," Nathan admitted, moving to sit on the comfortable blue sofa that dominated one section of the chamber. He settled back carefully, keeping Nivea secure in his lap.

"Why are you being so excessively wary of Eurynome specifically?" Khione asked with mild exasperation, sitting beside him and leaning against his shoulder. "You know I would never have revealed my existence or Nivea’s presence to her if I didn’t trust her completely and absolutely. I’m not careless with our daughter’s safety."

That was absolutely true. Nathan had initially been quite surprised when Khione had decided with such certainty to tell Eurynome about her situation—about what had truly happened to her, about her secret survival, about their daughter’s existence. It had seemed like an enormous and potentially dangerous risk.

But Khione had insisted that she genuinely trusted Eurynome without reservation, that their friendship went back centuries and had been tested repeatedly. So Nathan had reluctantly agreed to allow it, recognizing that Khione’s judgment about other Gods was generally sound.

Still, he couldn’t quite suppress his instinctive paranoia about the situation.

"You are my wife, and she is my child," Nathan said simply, hugging Nivea closer to his chest as the little girl laid her head contentedly on his shoulder and made soft sounds of happiness. "Of course I’m going to worry about your safety constantly. It’s not negotiable."

He reached out with his other hand toward Khione, and she immediately grasped it, intertwining their fingers.

"And someone needs to remain wary and vigilant about everything," Nathan added, his voice growing more serious. "Someone has to constantly assess threats and maintain appropriate paranoia to make absolutely sure nothing goes wrong. That’s my responsibility as your husband and her father."

"I know you won’t allow anything bad to happen to us," Khione said with complete confidence, squeezing his hand. "I have absolute faith in your ability to protect our family. But Nathan—if you ever need my help, I’m here. Don’t forget that I’m a Goddess, and a legitimately powerful one. I’m not helpless or merely decorative."

"I don’t want to take any risks with you whatsoever," Nathan replied immediately, his tone brooking no argument.

Khione looked at Nathan for a long moment, studying his face with those penetrating ice-blue eyes. Then she leaned forward and kissed him softly, her cool lips gentle against his.

Nathan returned the kiss with a slight smile, one hand coming up to cup the back of her head.

"You’re being far too overprotective," Khione murmured when they separated, though her tone carried more affection than criticism.

"Of course I am," Nathan replied, looking at her with complete seriousness as he reached to caress her cheek with tender reverence. "You are my first woman and the one who made me feel true love again."

His other hand continued gently patting Nivea’s small back where she rested against him.

"And she is my first child," he continued. "The first time I truly understood what it meant to create new life, to have someone completely dependent on me for protection and love. You two are the reasons I’m here today feeling happy and fulfilled rather than empty and alone. You represent the beginning of everything good in my life, the foundation on which everything else was built."

His expression intensified with fierce protectiveness.

"I won’t let anything happen to either of you, even if I have to literally burn down the entire world to keep you safe," Nathan said with absolute conviction. "Every God in existence could stand against me, and I would fight them all if that’s what protecting you required."

Khione’s ice-blue eyes flickered with emotion hearing that declaration, her lips parting slightly as various feelings played across her usually composed features. Then she laughed—a soft, almost shy sound that was utterly unlike her normal confidence.

"I... never genuinely thought I would experience this kind of happiness," Khione admitted quietly, her voice carrying vulnerability she rarely allowed herself to show. "For centuries I existed in a kind of emotional stasis, going through the motions of immortal existence without truly feeling alive."

She paused, then continued with careful honesty, "But it wouldn’t mean nearly as much—this happiness wouldn’t feel complete or sustainable—without everything else you’ve built. Without your other women and all the other children. Does that make sense?"

"Khione?" Nathan said with genuine surprise, not having expected that particular sentiment from her.

"I still don’t like that you have other women," Khione clarified with characteristic bluntness. "That jealousy will probably never completely disappear—it’s simply my nature. But I’ve come to genuinely appreciate that Nivea has brothers and sisters to call family. That she’ll grow up surrounded by siblings who can support and protect each other."

Her expression softened further.

"And I appreciate having other powerful women who will be there to protect Nivea and treat her kindly when we can’t be present," she continued.

"I would never have believed I’d hear you say something like that three years ago," Nathan said with a laugh, remembering how intensely territorial and jealous Khione had been in the early days of their relationship. "You’ve changed considerably. Grown in ways I didn’t expect."

Khione gave Nathan a playful glare at that observation before leaning her head against his shoulder, her hand also moving to stroke Nivea’s snow-white hair where their daughter rested peacefully.

"Does that mean I’ll finally get to see and meet my brothers and sisters soon, Father?" Nivea asked in a small, hopeful voice, having listened quietly to the adult conversation. "

"You will meet them all very soon," Nathan promised, kissing the top of her head.