The Temple of Dusk was a place of ethereal beauty, bathed in a soft, dark violet light that danced like the Northern Lights across the heavens. The light shimmered and twirled, casting an otherworldly glow over the sacred space. It was an awe-inspiring sight, one that made Iarae’s heart swell with a sense of timelessness. She had known no other existence than this one—an eternal watch over a world that had grown and changed in ways she could scarcely imagine. She had existed since the dawn of creation, when the One Above All first breathed life into the cosmos, and since then, her role had remained unchanged.

Iarae was the balance between day and night. Her brother, Ialium, was the god of dawn, and she was the keeper of dusk, the quiet transition between light and darkness. Together, they shaped the rhythm of the heavens, ensuring that neither was ever out of place. Under Iarae’s gaze, the minor gods of dusk had served her faithfully, offering their reverence and grace. Some of them were goddesses of dusk too, but none were as ancient, as eternal, as she was.

The passing centuries were marked by the growth and devotion of her familia, most of whom were female. They were humble, graceful, and unwavering in their service—a sharp contrast to the rashness of men. She had no ill-will toward men, but they rarely sought her out. In truth, she had long made it a point not to accept male disciples. They were impulsive, and she had grown tired of their inability to understand the depth of devotion required to serve a deity of her stature.

But then he came.

Sun Yun.

A mortal with the audacity to approach her temple—uninvited, unashamed, and unabashedly male. He saw her in her full, godly form, her beauty unmasked, and instead of basking in the glory she offered, he did the unthinkable. He lowered his gaze, bowed deeply, and apologized for his presence. But it wasn’t his apology that stirred something within Iarae; it was the words that followed.

"Goddess Iarae," he said, his voice steady despite the weight of the moment, "I apologize for coming to your shrine, knowing your preference for women in your familia. But I humbly request to join. Since I first heard of you, I knew there was no other woman—no mortal or god—who could compare. I am Sun Yun, and I vow to strive to become worthy of being your consort."

Her heart skipped a beat, and for the briefest moment, she thought she would strike him down on the spot. No mortal had ever spoken to her in such a way. It was preposterous. And yet, something about his sincerity caught her off guard.

Her mind raced. Did he truly mean it? No, that couldn’t be. Mortals, she had learned over the millennia, were fleeting—always consumed by their passions, always turning their affections elsewhere. Even if she were to make him her consort, what could such a bond mean when his life would be but a blink in the vastness of her existence? Still, she could not deny that he intrigued her.

Reluctantly, she allowed him into her familia. She told herself it was because he had potential, not because she was, in some strange way, entertained by his audacity. Mortals, after all, were supposed to prove their worth. Let him prove his.

Though it was possible for them to become a minor deity underneath the umbrella of another god or even earn their own deification it was uncommon and took untold amounts of years. So often it only led to problems. It was a good thing that many of her familia that were in the academy were under a master who was also part of familia and so far Sun Yun had been extremely successful in impressing even herself to her surprise. He had not turned out to be a pervert like she first thought was his reasoning behind joining an almost exclusively female familia, but she wasn't about to let down her guard; she would watch this mortal most carefully. Perhaps if he did well she would indeed give him a special chance to earn a place by her side, but mortals needed to prove their devotion to gain her trust.

It wasn’t uncommon for mortals and immortals to be involved, but it largely depended on the deity in question. For one as ancient as herself she had simply chosen not to form a relationship with a mortal. It wasn’t in her nature. The young man was certainly interesting if nothing else and in the sort of time frames the average immortal had to contend with interesting things was immensely valuable even if a mortal lifespan was fleeting.

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Meanwhile, near the border of Kalimdah and the Empire:

General Sun Shuren paced angrily in his command tent, the news of his son’s actions still echoing in his mind. His fists clenched at his sides as he tried to calm himself, but the more he thought about it, the more his anger grew.

"He what?" he bellowed, his voice sharp with fury. "I must have heard you wrong."

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He rubbed his temples in frustration, fighting back the wave of shame and disbelief that washed over him. His son—his only son—had joined a nearly all-female familia, a familia led by none other than the goddess of dusk herself, Iarae. It was scandalous. The very thought of his son being associated with a deity known for her beauty and allure was enough to ruin his family’s reputation. He had worked his entire life to uphold the honor of his ancestors, to ensure that the Sun family’s legacy was secure. But this? This was beyond humiliating.

His mind raced. How could he do this? How could he throw away everything I’ve worked for?

"Captain Takeda!" General Shuren's voice was a low growl as he turned to his second-in-command. "Get me my steed. Now."

Captain Takeda, quick to comply, nodded and left the tent to prepare the general’s horse. As Shuren waited, his thoughts simmered with frustration. I must speak to him. I’ll make sure he understands the consequences of this disgrace.

His son, Sun Yun, had shown promise as a military leader. Shuren had seen it—his son’s sharp mind, his bravery, his sense of duty. But now, all of that was in jeopardy. The boy had chosen to associate with a goddess who was, by all accounts, a beautiful and enigmatic figure—a choice that would normally be honorable had it been a daughter, but his son?

Shuren’s gaze hardened. He will learn either the hard way or the easy way.

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Sun Yun felt a strange exhilaration, his heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. The last two days had been a whirlwind—emotions tangled with progress. Every lesson, every sparring match under the watchful eye of Katsura Shoko, a senior member of Iarae’s familia, had deepened his understanding of the path he’d chosen. It wasn’t fame or glory he sought, but something far more profound: his belief in Iarae.

I will prove my worth to her, Sun Yun thought, his resolve solidifying. I’ll show her that I am more than just a fool captivated by her beauty. I’ll show her I’m worthy of standing at her side.

Even the current leader of the pantheon couldn’t claim to have captivated the hearts of mortals for as long as Iarae had. Her grace, her eternal presence, had made her an icon, and Sun Yun found himself willing to sacrifice everything for the chance to be near her. She wasn’t just a goddess to him—she was a purpose, a promise that his life could mean something greater than just his birthright.

Still, his heart wavered, caught in a storm of doubt whenever he considered his father. How will he react? The thought lingered uneasily in his mind. General Sun Shuren would never approve of this choice. His father valued honor above all else, and what honor could be found in following a goddess who had yet to even acknowledge him? But Sun Yun wasn’t going to back down. All he needed to do was prove his strength—show his father how powerful Iarae’s influence was, and his own prowess in the upcoming talent showcase. Once he did that, the ridicule from his family would vanish, and perhaps even his father would relent.

The only problem, the true frustration gnawing at him, was the silence. Iarae had yet to speak to him directly. She had yet to make her presence known in a way that felt personal. How could she not? he wondered, even as he tried to rationalize it. It was tragic, really. How am I supposed to make her fall for me if I never get a chance to speak with her?

His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp voice, cutting through the haze of his dreams.

“Sun Yun! Quit daydreaming and prepare for your sparring session!”

He snapped back to reality, blinking away the fantasy that had clouded his mind. “Yes, Miss Katsura”

His teacher’s expression darkened. “Master Shoko,” she corrected him, her voice growing sharp. “Quit using my first name. And don’t slack off! We have less than a week to prepare you for the showcase. Focus!”

“Yes, Master Shoko!” he responded quickly, already moving into his fighting stance.

Shoko wasn’t done. With a flash of movement, she charged at him, crescent blades flickering dangerously in the sunlight. He barely had time to react.

Sun Yun ducked, barely avoiding her blades, but his strike was weak, unable to reach her due to the close distance. He spun on his heels, attempting to strike at her ankles, but she effortlessly blocked it with a swift parry.

“Not good enough,” she said, her voice cool, before smacking the top of his head with the hilt of her blade.

Sun Yun winced, rubbing his scalp where the blow had landed. “You’re treating them like any sword,” she continued, spinning her blades around in a wide arc. “They’re not! Forget everything your father taught you about traditional sword fighting and focus your natural talents. You’re not just wielding weapons; you’re wielding the power of our goddess. The crescent blades are designed for a different kind of combat—fluid, graceful, but deadly. You need to use your momentum to your advantage, and keep your opponent off balance. If you don’t, you’ll leave yourself open.”

Sun Yun’s chest tightened with frustration. He had spent years training under his father, learning the traditional methods of combat that had been passed down through their family. The idea of discarding those lessons felt like betrayal—like he was undoing everything he had worked so hard for. But as he stood there, feeling the weight of Shoko’s words, he realized that what she was teaching him wasn’t a rejection of his past, but a refinement of it. A new direction. One that could bring him closer to Iarae.

He nodded, determination flooding his veins. “Yes, Katsura!”

She wasn’t done. Without missing a beat, she lunged at him again, her blades a blur. “What did I just tell you?” she yelled, the steel in her voice cutting through the air.

Courtyard spun around him as the sweat drenched his skin. He couldn’t afford to falter, not now. Not when everything depended on proving himself to both Iarae and his father.

I won’t fail, he promised himself.