Chapter 160: The Lady.

『"Even gods have exes."』

The orchard stretched farther than either Ethan or Sophia could see.

Thousands upon thousands of peach trees stood in perfect rows across rolling hills. Every breeze carried the sweet fragrance of ripe peaches, mingling with the scent of spring blossoms.

It was peaceful. Too peaceful.

Not a single bird sang, and not a single insect buzzed. Only the wind moved.

Sophia slowed to a stop. "...This place is creepy."

"The Orchard isn’t creepy," Kumi corrected. "It’s trying to be respectful."

Ethan’s gaze drifted across the endless orchard as he took everything in. From the way Kumi spoke, Ethan was beginning to suspect this was more than a place where peach trees grew.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, deciding to play along. "The Orchard’s trying to be respectful to whom?"

Kumi’s tails swayed behind him. "To Her."

The fox continued walking.

Neither Ethan nor Sophia asked who "Her" was. For some reason, it felt like they were better off not knowing.

Eventually they reached the center of the Orchard, and unlike the other trees, one enormous peach tree stood alone atop a gentle hill.

Its trunk was wider than the Empire State Building, and its roots disappeared beneath crystal-clear streams that flowed all across the Orchard.

Its branches reached so high they disappeared into the clouds.

Each peach hanging from those branches glowed softly, as though tiny suns had been sealed beneath their skin.

"...Okay." Sophia let out a low whistle. "Those are magical peaches alright."

She took a step toward the tree and rubbed her hands together. "Alright," she said to Ethan. "Let’s pluck these bad boys and get the hell outta here."

Halohelm materialized on her head as she prepared to take flight...

Suddenly, the wind stopped, and every leaf in the Orchard froze. Even the flowing streams became perfectly still.

Kumi sighed. "...She’s here."

A soft voice drifted across the Orchard. "Another generation."

If Ethan had to describe it, only two words came to mind.

Warm and Timeless.

Sophia immediately spun around, but there was nobody.

Then, the voice came again. "The Shield was always my favorite."

Golden petals began rising from the ground. They swirled together in front of the giant tree before gathering into the outline of a woman.

Slowly, her form became solid.

She wore flowing robes that seemed almost alive, constantly shifting like silk drifting beneath water.

Her hair fell all the way to her bare feet, almost liquid like, as though it was made of mercury. Tiny blossoms continuously bloomed and vanished throughout it.

Her eyes...

Her eyes held galaxies. Not metaphorically. Entire stars slowly rotated within her irises.

She looked like a paradox. Both young and ancient all at once.

"Welcome." She smiled gently at them.

Sophia stared. "...Holy... shit..."

Ethan lowered his head immediately. "Lady..."

Sophia glanced at Ethan, then followed his cue and courtesied so fast her hair flew forward, covering her face.

"Pfft... pfft..." She blew a strand of hair off her face as she said, "Lady..."

"Please, raise your heads. Guests should never bow." The woman laughed softly. "You don’t even know what I am."

"No," Ethan admitted, straightening himself. "But you’re a god aren’t you?"

She smiled again. "I suppose I am."

Kumi immediately lowered all nine tails and bowed until his forehead touched the grass. "My Lady."

"You’ve done well," She said.

The fox smiled happily. "I try."

Sophia leaned over to Kumi and whispered. "... She’s a god?"

"One of the oldest," Kumi whispered back.

"So..." Sophia looked between all three of them. "...are we introducing ourselves?"

The goddess looked at her with a small smile. "You may."

Sophia pointed at herself. "Sophia Delgado. The Helmet." Then she pointed at Ethan. "That’s Ethan, the Shield."

Ethan nodded.

The goddess covered her mouth as she laughed. "Oh, this is so exciting."

Sophia blinked. "What’s so exciting?"

"Mortals." Her gaze drifted toward the endless horizon.

"Lady," Ethan said quietly. "I was wondering if that is what we should refer to you as. It seemed to be the first thing that came to mind."

"I’ve been called many things. Idunn, Xiwangmu, Pomona, Vesta, Hestia, Brigid, Kamado-no-Kami..." She reached up and touched the bark of the enormous peach tree beside her.

"...and names your languages have long since forgotten." She looked back at Ethan. "I guess what I’m trying to say is, Lady is just fine."

"Well, if I may be so bold, My Lady..." Ethan started. "We came because three of our companions have been poisoned by the Perfume of the Gods."

"...I know." The smile disappeared from her face. "You seek my Peaches."

"Yes."

"You remind me of another mortal. I quite fancied him." She looked toward the enormous tree. "Where you come from, I believe he calls himself Daniel Hale."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "...The Director?"

Sophia looked between Ethan and the goddess several times before pointing toward herself. "Our Director?" she clarified. "The grumpy old man that sighs every five minutes?"

The goddess smiled to herself. "He wasn’t old when we met."

Neither of them spoke.

"He was reckless," she continued, amusement creeping into her voice. "Far too curious for his own good. He asked questions even gods grew tired of answering."

A quiet laugh escaped her. "...I liked that about him."

"You..." Sophia had a wide grin on her face. "...had the hots for our Director?"

"He was a heartbreaker, that one," the goddess said, absentmindedly brushing her fingers across the bark of the great tree. "My golden apples would have kept him young forever."

Sophia and Ethan exchanged glances.

"He would tell me about the Human Realm." The goddess’s smile softened with nostalgia as she continued. "About cities... music... inventions... how your societies evolved from simple to complex... how wonderfully unpredictable you mortals are."

Her eyes drifted toward Ethan. "I told him stories in return."

"I guess there’s still a lot I don’t know about the Director," Ethan admitted.

Sophia folded her arms. "So..." she said carefully. "...were you two... you know..." She awkwardly wiggled her fingers between them.

Ethan gave the goddess an innocent, strained grin. "Please, ignore her."

"What?" Sophia turned to Ethan. "You know, Raj would never forgive us if we didn’t ask."

Ethan sighed. "Can’t say you’re wrong there."

The goddess simply smiled knowingly before turning toward the colossal tree. "You may take my peaches."

Silence settled over the Orchard once more as the breeze returned, carrying blossoms through the air.

"Really?" Sophia’s shoulders immediately relaxed. "...that’s easier than I expected."

Without saying a word, the goddess stepped aside and the Orchard began to tremble. Then a growl echoed throughout the valley as birds made of paper exploded into the sky.

The streams rippled violently and Kumi took several steps backward.

"...What was that?" Sophia looked around.

The goddess answered calmly, "the Guardian."

Ethan looked at the goddess, his eyes narrowed. "You said we could take the peaches."

"I did." She smiled. "I never said he’d let you."

Another growl rolled through the Orchard.

Before either of them could react, the ground vanished beneath their feet as a finger effortlessly lifted them toward the highest branches of the colossal tree.

"Whoa!" Sophia stumbled, then looked down.

Only now did they realize the truth. The woman they’d been speaking to had never been their size. She had simply reduced herself to speak with them.

Now, restored to her true scale, even the colossal peach tree barely reached her waist.

Good luck, they heard her voice in their heads before she lowered her finger onto one of the branches that touched the clouds.

A wind blew past them and their bodies immediately lit up, empowered by divine energy.

It was her parting gift. And judging from how it already felt like it was fading, there was most definitely a time limit attached to it.

Sophia examined herself, then looked toward Ethan. "...You know..." She smacked her lips. "...I kinda miss fighting wraiths."