Chapter 0: The Secret Child

In a distant corner of the universe, within the grand chambers of a celestial palace, two of the most powerful beings in existence stood in silence. The air was thick with tension, an eerie contrast to the golden glow of the room’s ethereal architecture.

A man paced at the edge of a lavish bed, his expression clouded with worry. Beads of sweat—no, not sweat, but pure, condensed mana—dripped from his forehead, each drop potent enough to fuel the wars of empires. He muttered under his breath, scanning the room with anxious glances.

"Nocthy, come here and relax. They won’t find out." The voice was soft yet commanding. He stopped pacing and turned to face the woman resting on the bed. Her beauty was incomprehensible—otherworldly. One look and even the most disciplined mind would fall into a trance.

His gaze softened as he sat beside her, his hand instinctively resting on her stomach. "I’m not worried about them," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’m worried about Him."

The woman’s grip tightened around his hand, her eyes darkening. "This... this shouldn't even be possible. Our very existence defies balance, yet here he is—growing inside me. The impossible turned real."

Nocthy inhaled sharply, trying to steady himself. "Thia, how long until he is born?" He hesitated. "We cannot keep him here. Nowhere is safe. The moment he takes his first breath, He will know. And He will come."

Thia’s eyes flashed with determination. "No! I refuse to let our son die before he even has a chance to live. I will do whatever it takes to keep him safe—even if it costs me my life."

Nocthy’s jaw clenched. "I don’t want that either. There’s only one way. We must send him far—beyond the reach of our universe, to a place so remote that even our bloodline's tether cannot be traced. Only then can we hope to sever His sight."

Thia’s breath hitched. "Nocthy... what are you planning?"

"I will give him my eternity ring." His voice was resolute. "It will mask his bloodline. But I cannot leave with you—He would notice. You must go alone. Find a place where he can be raised safely, somewhere he can grow strong. And when he is born, you must obstruct his fate. Do not name him. His true name will remain sealed within my ring until he is ready to claim it. Let his new family choose a name for him."

Thia bit her lip, her hands trembling as she fastened her garments. "What name will you give him?"

A rare smile flickered across Nocthy’s face. "Maliketh Zoras’Zorath."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Thia gasped, then let out a small, shaky laugh. "You actually picked a decent name. For once, your naming sense isn’t awful. Let’s hope Zoras does it justice, or he might bring shame upon his poor father."

The moment of levity shattered in an instant.

A suffocating force pressed upon the palace, warping space itself. The walls trembled. The golden glow dimmed to an ominous black.

Nocthy’s expression darkened. "Damn it... He’s here! Thia, get into my ring—NOW!"

Thia swayed, her face pale, barely able to stand under the crushing weight of the presence that had just arrived. Before she could react, Nocthy swiped his hand, pulling her into his ring, erasing every trace of her existence from the room.

A deafening silence followed. Then—

THUMMMMMMMMMM.

The palace quaked before falling into absolute stillness. A figure stepped into the chamber. Cloaked in shadow, he was an abyss in the shape of a man. His mere presence warped reality, the world itself rejecting his existence, yet he stood there, unchallenged, undeniable.

A voice, soft as a whisper yet carrying the weight of oblivion, pierced the silence.

["Nocth’Zaroth."]

The sound alone forced Nocthy to his knees, his body betraying him in the presence of the one entity who could command his submission.

"Yes, Founder," he replied, forcing the words past clenched teeth.

["It is time. My useless son has broken through. We proceed with the plan."]

Nocthy kept his head lowered. "Yes, Founder. I will gather the others and prepare immediately."

When he finally dared to look up, the presence was gone. The palace remained, but it felt emptier, its very essence hollowed out.

Nocthy exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Bloody hell... I almost lost control there."

He reached for the ring, feeling Thia’s faint presence within. "Are you okay?"

A whisper echoed from the ring. "I am. But Nocthy, you must be even more careful now. If He grows suspicious—"

"I know," Nocthy interrupted. "Listen to me. You must move swiftly. The invasion of your sister’s realm has begun. Go to Xal’s universe and stay hidden. I will do what I can to protect her."

Thia hesitated, then whispered, "I understand. But I will return. Nocthy... take care of yourself."

With that, she vanished. Gone, taking their son to a place far beyond the reach of gods and titans.

Nocthy clenched his fists, his gaze shifting to the void outside the palace. "It’s been a long time... but it's time to move again."

And just like that, he disappeared, leaving behind a silent, empty palace adrift in an uncaring void.