Onicent grinned once Maiguh had vanished through the portal. That was when Dauntice finally felt inclined to speak.

  "Where did he go?" Dauntice asked.

  "Far, far away—where he won’t bother me again," Onicent replied boldly.

  Dauntice shifted uneasily. "Don’t you think Mother will be angry? The grass grew on his block."

  In an instant, Onicent was at Dauntice’s throat.

  "Then Mother must have made a mistake. I am clearly her strongest son. Don’t you think so?" Onicent snarled, gripping Dauntice by the collar.

  Dauntice didn’t want to admit it aloud, but it was true—Onicent overpowered Maiguh easily, and if he was honest, he himself couldn’t match Onicent either. He nodded slightly, and Onicent released him.

  "Now that Maiguh is gone," Onicent declared, "I will be this world’s leader."

  Dauntice felt a rise of indignation. "And what about me?"

  The two brothers argued for some time. Onicent was reluctant to share his newfound authority, but he was also clever enough to see that Dauntice would be a valuable ally—and a troublesome enemy.

  At last, they reached an agreement. Dauntice would become the patron of all the waters in the world—lakes, rivers, oceans. It suited him well. Onicent would claim dominion over the land and sky.

  As their roles were decided, a transformation occurred: Dauntice’s skin deepened to a rich, powerful blue, while Onicent’s faded into a vibrant green to match the grass. They regarded each other with a flicker of awe, taking the change as a sign of their mother’s blessing.

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  Then they parted. Onicent went off to pursue his destiny as ruler of the world, while Dauntice, more cautious and curious, decided to visit the void and speak with their mother.

  When he descended into the void, he found her sleeping, suspended in space. Her form had grown more defined. When he approached, her eyes opened.

  "Dauntice," she said coolly. "What brings you here?"

  He studied her tone, then decided to play the part of the repentant son. He expressed regret over what had happened to Maiguh, telling her about the fight, Onicent’s betrayal, and Maiguh’s banishment—conveniently leaving out his own complicity.

  The old goddess listened with outward calm, her expression unreadable as her mind turned over the news. When he finished, she remained impassive. For a moment, Dauntice wondered if Onicent had been right—perhaps the block of grass had been a mistake.

  He relaxed, pleased with himself, and settled in to enjoy her attention. But when he eventually rose to leave, his mother stopped him with a request.

  "I need you to act as an escort," she said lightly.

  Only then did Dauntice realize they weren’t alone. Standing nearby were three young girls—unlike the lava-born ones from the cavern. These girls had pale, delicate skin and a soft glow to them. Each radiated a gentler energy.

  "These are my daughters," the goddess said.

  Dauntice felt a strange mix of emotions—jealousy, wonder, and something like protectiveness. But as he looked closely at the girls, the jealousy faded. It was clear his mother loved them just as she had once loved him.

  "Where do you want me to take them?" he asked.

  "To Onicent’s castle. They’ve never seen the world above. They’ll need shelter and care."

  Though puzzled by her request, Dauntice agreed out of goodwill toward her.

  The first girl stepped forward and introduced herself as Serse. She was shy—Dauntice could see it in her eyes. The second spoke with boldness and fire; she declared her name was Airabella. The third, more tender and balanced between the two, simply said she was Alora.

  Dauntice led the sisters out of the void and into the overworld. At first, they were overwhelmed by the strange brightness and vastness—though Airabella, of course, would never admit it. In time, they began to trust him.

  He showed them the lakes and rivers he now ruled, guiding them gently through the wilds. But eventually, they reached the dark silhouette of Onicent’s castle. Dauntice hesitated at the threshold, reluctant to let them go. Yet he kept his promise and walked away.