Red, feeling the blood coursing through his body, was curious as he observed Merin. Their bond was so strong that with every drop of the moon that stirred her to greater heights, he felt it too. They were both on the same exhilarating ride, and the only direction was up.

But the joy of the ride turned rough as Merin took on even more from the moon. Red's head felt light as he grappled with a type of magic that was foreign to him. It wasn't the moon that fueled his strength. He stole power from blood and death, after all.

The waves of power brought intense emotions that he knew stemmed from Merin. His unstable woman finally saw him for what he was.

But she didn't flee in terror. Instead, she swiftly redirected her focus to the task at hand.

All of the magic that shone in the cracks of her skin was directed to the land below them. The light washed the land in a blanket of silver, opening up the heavens and pouring hot rain on everything until it washed the blood magic clean.

Merin didn't falter as she rid herself of her moon magic, but Red stepped forward to grab her anyway. She leaned into him as she met his gaze.

"Cruor...Deus...Red." She said as she grabbed ahold of him. (translate: Blood God.)

"And what does that make you?" Red said as he stared into her endless eyes. The darkened sky deepened her blue into a night sky.

"Deam tuam." She said, snuggling in. (translate: your Goddess.)

Red eyed her silently as he probed their bond for her emotions. She was fully actualized as her power settled in her veins as a fresh organ. After seeing his true self, she had the chance to leave this world. He could feel the power calling her through their bond. It was pushing her to ascend and leave this broken world.

But she didn't.

"That was your last chance to leave." He said. "I'll have enough power to cover this world in blood as I claim it." He was stronger than the previous Gods of Elan. The three Gods before him settled for a country and ran it as they created countless children with their blood. They were ruled by worldly vices and wasted their chance at true power.

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Red's goals were far superior because he understood the fallacies in going that route. He didn't know if the other Gods understood the consequences, and he didn't care. He knew he would not squander his growth to spread his seeds.

Red wanted the whole world to be under his shadow. And he had the power and ambition to make it happen. It was a fresh desire, and he credited the power pulsing in his veins as the reason why. He also attributed his yearning to Mordecai and Acuzio. The two Gods showed him endless possibilities that only the powerful can acquire.

Red was going to gain it all. Never again would he be at the mercy of another's grace. Only Red could doll out future grace to others.

Red knew that his thoughts transmitted to Merin as he thought them. Their bond had exploded, and now she could read him as well as he could her. In response to this thought, he watched as she flinched. She was currently avoiding his sight as she burrowed her face into his chest.

Red showed her his plans mentally and how he would achieve each.

Merin stiffened but said nothing as she pretended to fall asleep.

As always, her silence was her acquiescence.

"What did you do to me?" Reu said when Red walked into the other man's room.

"I increased your lifespan," Red said as he looked at his father. The years of decline were wiped from the other man's skin. Reu went from reaching for his fifties with the scars to match into a fresh young man.

"I don't know what to say," Reu said as he rocked back on his heels.

"You don't have to say anything. I need you." Red said. He didn't want to say the latter part, but it came out nonetheless. He looked down at Merin, who lay in his arms pretending to be asleep. Her emotions and personality have always affected him through their bond. He would have to find a new way to navigate this so it would not interrupt his plans.

Reu looked like he wanted to discuss it further, but he nodded and dropped it. "How are we landing in Ceren?" Reu said instead.

Red lifted a hand and used the blood in Merin's body to hold her afloat. "Easily." He said, stealing her answer from before.

Moving those he wanted from the temple to the ground was easy. Red kept his temple afloat as he lowered his chosen below. And despite the distance from his temple, Red felt no fluctuation from his control. He could feel everything that occurred within his walls.

It took less time than a heartbeat for him to assess it. Currently, his daughter is riding Acuzio and yanking on the Dragon's scales. The Dragon God seemed content to ignore the toddler as it destroyed its meal.

Red wouldn't have to rely on guards or fickle Gods if danger lurked near his daughter. He could teleport into his temple with his blood and deal with the threat immediately.

He looked at Merin, chewing on her lip and playing with a speck of light that clung to her fingers.

"I need you to destroy the army set to attack Ceren," Red said.

She met his eyes, her question in his gaze. In her mind, he said, 'I'll be heading to Habrin to erase it.'