After being convinced, Valerian stayed on the surface instead of going back into the depths of the ocean to resume his sleep. As such, he began to learn of the events that had taken place after he was put to sleep by his mother. Lakshman explained to him over lunch, which Valerian refused as he does not eat human food.
“I’ve already had my meal anyway,” he politely refused Lakshman’s encouragement to try some of his wife’s food. “Anyway, you’re saying the survivors of my clan were saved and they started living separate lives from the rest of the world?”
Lakshman nodded and explained, “Lagron killed his brother and in doing so, freed all those being manipulated by him. Since he did not want to bear their responsibility since he had his own situation to worry about, he left their safety in my hands.”
This made Valerian nod in understanding and say, “I suspect he was worried about his clan suspecting him since his own brother tried an uprising against him. It would sow doubt in his people about relying on him, so he wanted to go deal with the aftermath after his brother’s death. I understand his situation and don’t blame him simply letting my people be handled by you.”
“Yes, although I was also busy on my end contending with world conquest,” admitted Lakshman wryly. “Anyway, I understood that the late Queen of the Seas wanted her clan, no, her people stay out of my war. So, I did as much and made a safe haven for them to live peaceful lives until the end of my reign.”
Valerian looked amazed before he became concerned and asked, “After that?”
Lakshman shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know what happened. Feeling the weight of my actions in the war, I exiled myself and after I died, many great changes occurred and… well… I’m sure you’ll find out about them soon.”
“Really? I can’t wait to see those changes,” said Valerian with a small smile. “In fact, I feel the world had become peaceful although… the world had changed a lot since I last remember it to be.”
“Of course. Like I said, many things changed, and the world also went through a great chance to suit those changes. Don’t worry. I’ll give you a tour, but first, I should introduce you to the other members of the Nine Pillars of Power.”
“You know,” said Silvera while at the dining table with the rest of their house members as they ate their meal. “I don’t like how quickly you integrated him into the pillars.”
“Why do you think so, Sil?” Her husband asked curiously. Then a thought struck him, and he asked, “Are you perhaps still angry with him?”
A while ago, when they got back home, Valerian met Silvera and was instantly startled by the angry look on her face that she directed at him. Quickly realising that she was angry over the damage he had almost caused, the human form Leviathan profusely apologised and bowed his head down deeply to her. This made her expression soften a bit, but she still eyed him with disinterest and always kept an eye out for him and stay on her guard.
“No, it’s not that. Not exactly,” she said while eying Valerian doubtfully, “but does he really possess the power to stand together with you and the rest of the Nine Pillars of Power? I mean, he got defeated, twice I point out. That’s why I’m pointing it out.”
At her question, everyone at the table began to ponder and look at one another before looking at him.
Valerian nodded and said, “The madam is correct in her line of thought, sir. In our battle, you warded off my attacks and even defeated me both in my original form and human form. I’ve also been thinking that perhaps I accepted my role as the Storm Titan too readily. So, I believe that perhaps we should reconsider my joining of the Nine Pillars of Power.”
While everyone was surprised, Lakshman raised an eyebrow in astonishment. He was about to speak when his wife, Emilia, spoke by asking coldly, “So, are you saying that Lucky doesn’t have a great eye for seeing things for their potential?”
“Huh?” Silvera asked, looking puzzled as she turned to look towards her fellow sister-wife.
Emilia had set her spoon down on the table and was facing the Demon Slayer with a cold look on her face. This was the first time that Silvera was on the receiving end of such a stare from Emilia and it made her gulp nervously.
“I don’t understand what you meant, Emy,” she asked, a hint of worry mixed in her voice.
“I am asking you, Silvera, whether you think Lucky isn’t great at looking things properly?”
“What? No! I didn’t mean it at all!” Silvera protested instantly, realising the misunderstanding she had created.
“Oh really?” Emilia asked in a calm voice, but her eyes were hard and cold as they laid upon a worried Silvera. “Then tell me, how was it that my husband deduced that you were in pain and needed help?”
“Huh?” The Demon Slayer asked, looking confused. “I don’t understand.”
“It was when we were attending the Astral Academy that we met your previous wielder, Spectra. After learning of your circumstances, and then later when he tried to assist you, he instead was hurt badly when you slit up his arm in retaliation. But he understood pain and went forward to save you. By any chance, did you forget, Silvera?”
“Uh… No, I didn’t…” Silvera replied weakly while casting her head downwards.
“So, tell me now what you would’ve done to an enemy that you tried to help but instead hurt you back? On plain sight, wouldn’t you try and destroy them since it’s easy enough to conclude that they are beyond redemption?” Emilia asked coldly in a heavy voice.
“Emilia!” Lakshman said sharply, glancing at her with a firm look of seriousness on his face. “I think you said enough.”
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“No, Lucky. In fact, I haven’t said enough,” replied his wife, glancing at him with a sorrowful look on her face. “It was because of you that our family is where it is. If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn’t have a child, and I… I would’ve remained—!”
Before she could complete her sentence, Lakshman leaned his hand forward and closed her mouth with it firmly. She blinked in surprise when she saw the sad look on his face and finally lowered her eyes. He moved his hand away from her mouth and glanced at everyone as he started addressing them all.
“Should we really be discussing with such negativity when something positive came out of a recent scuffle?” He asked them and smiled widely. “I managed to make it back yesterday, Valerian is a new friend who was alone till now, and the world is finally at peace. So, why are you bickering over things that had happened in the past?”
“Emilia,” he began by addressing her as she was the one who sat closest to him. “While I understand where you’re coming from, please let it go. The past is the past, and whatever may have happened then, defined our relationship that keeps us so strongly attached to one another.”
“I know that, Lucky,” she said with a sigh. “It’s just that I don’t like it when you are spoken of in any less than the greatness that you are or the things you’ve achieved in your life.”
“Emilia,” he said soothingly and leaned forward to place his hand on hers with a comforting smile on his face. “I’m not pointing out that you are at fault or anything. It’s just that I’m telling you to relax since that wasn’t what Sil was aiming for. Am I right?”
He posed the next question to his Demon Slayer, who blinked in surprise before she quickly replied, “Of course not, Lucky! There’s no way I would say something to belittle you!”
“See? It’s just a misunderstanding,” he said, turning back to Emilia and speaking softly.
Emilia looked at him and then at Silvera, who winced and quickly put her hands together in prayer as an apology. This gesture eased Emilia’s irritation, and she smiled at her sister-wife before turning back to Lakshman.
“Yes. I see it now,” she admitted serenely, going back to her usual calm self.
He nodded and smiled in appreciation at her before turning his attention next to Silvera.
“Sil,” he began by addressing his next bit of speech at her. “You shouldn’t underestimate Valerian here. He’s actually a lot more powerful than he lets on. I suspect that his deep sleep had sapped a lot of his fighting ability and just suffered such an easy loss against me, twice like you so kindly pointed out.”
“Uh—!” Silvera began, blinking in surprise.
“Also,” he continued while holding his hand out to her to stop her, “measuring his power against mine is a waste. You understand the reason, right?”
At his question, she blinked in surprise before something clicked in her head which caused her to blush with embarrassment before nodding her head in understanding. She had forgotten the fact that her husband was so powerful that he could possibly take over the world as he pleased at this stage. As such realisation dawned on her, she felt very guilty about her words about his ability to discern things that others fail at.
“Lucky, I’m sorry for doubting you,” she said apologetically to him with a sad face.
“It’s fine, but you should really be apologising to him,” he said and gestured at Valerian. “He could’ve gotten hurt by your rude comment after all.”
“Ah. Right,” she said and turned weakly to Valerian. There was a moment of hesitation as it was her first time apologising to someone else that was not part of the family. But with the guilt in her head steadily growing, she plunged her head into a bow while exclaiming, “I’m sorry—ouch!”
She had bowed her head down in an apology, but being seated on the table, her deep bow caused her head to swing down on the table and hit it hard. This caused a loud banging sound to occur at the point of impact, which shook the table and startled everyone seated there.
“Oww…!” She whimpered while sitting upright and clutching the spot where it hurt her head.
“Are you okay?” Her husband asked with concern while others did the same.
“I think so,” she replied weakly, to which they sighed and smiled wryly.
“Don’t be so flustered like that,” Tetra said with a small smile while Silvera rubbed her head from the injury.
Valerian looked on in bewilderment before saying feebly, “It’s fine. I guess it is.”
“You seem confused,” pointed out Lakshman.
“Well… It’s a start for me to see the wife of a prominent figure apologising to a person of lower class such as me. Doesn’t it feel… disrespecting their privilege… one that hurts their pride?”
“Hey now,” said Lakshman coolly with a small smile. “Let me point out clearly that I do not share such sentiments. Higher Class, Middle Class, and Lower Class. They’re just empty names put on people to control and manipulate them. Also, I also don’t feel coddling the actions of family members with white lies. Be it my parents, my siblings, my wives, or my children, or my descendants; one must always apologise for their mistakes. It is courtesy. It’s like the saying: Always give out respect if you want to be respected in return.”
The other man seemed amazed by what he just heard as he remained silent for a few minutes before nodding in agreement and saying, “I see. It’s an interesting logic.”
“It is. Now, let us go meet with our other friends,” said Lakshman, finishing his meal and rising to his feet.
Valerian looked at the dishes on the table and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to eat more?”
“Only when I’m dying of hunger, which only happened twice,” replied Lakshman jokingly with a laugh.
“Lucky isn’t a heavy eater,” said Emilia with a wry smile.
“Sorry, Emilia, but I’ll have them on my return,” he said and winked at her, to which she nodded with a loving smile on her face.
The housewives proceeded to follow the two men out of the house and watched as they prepared to leave.
“Can you fly?” Lakshman asked, to which Valerian nodded.
“Have you forgotten that I flew above the oceans in my original form during your battle against someone?” Valerian asked, and Lakshman nodded in agreement.
“Of course. I was just unsure,” said Lakshman, and the two men nodded at each other before soaring into the air.
As they left, Silvera turned to Emilia and said apologetically, “I’m really sorry for creating the misunderstanding, Emy. I really didn’t mean to cast any doubt in Lucky’s ability to see things like not many others can.”
“I know that, Sil,” replied Emilia, smiling serenely at her. “Instead, I think you should be careful with your words next time since they will hurt the other person and possibly create a misunderstanding.”
“I know…” replied Silvera, her shoulders slumping in sadness.
“Ah. Cheer up, Sil. I’m not trying to berate you or anything,” said Emilia, who walked forward and placed a calming hand over her sister-wife’s shoulder. “I just want you to consider that we may shame our husband in front of others. Just as Valerian pointed out, us having to apologise to someone carries the same weight as Lucky apologising to them. So, unless you feel you must speak so rudely to someone or have to speak about your mind openly, let’s try to keep the comments to ourselves or between us when it’s just us. Is that okay with you?”
“Of course!” Silvera said immediately, grateful for the tense situation passing and getting back to speaking normally with Emilia. Then, unable to help herself, she asked them, “So, what are your thoughts on Valerian?”
They looked at her for a moment blankly before turning to one another before giggling with smiles on their faces.
“What? Why are you laughing?” Silvera asked, looking confused.
Ondine chortled with laughter before saying, “Haha. It’s nothing.”
“Why don’t we go inside and continue this discussion?” Tetra suggested, and they nodded happily.
Putting an arm around a confused Silvera, Tetra walked inside the house together while Emilia and Ondine followed after them before closing the door firmly behind them.