Paths of Creation

While Veldanava played with little Milim and a baby dragon with purple scales, Akasha held his cup of coffee, leaning against the door with his eyes closed, while Lucía stood beside him.

Lucía turned her gaze from them and focused on Akasha. "I'm going to miss you, Akasha," she said after a moment of silence.

Akasha opened his right eye, glancing at her before closing it again. He didn't say anything, but Lucía didn't mind; that was how he always was when something bothered him.

"Veldanava will miss you a lot too, Akasha. But both he and I entrust our daughter to you because we know she'll be happy with you," Lucía said.

"We must leave her life so that Milim can live in peace; it's the only thing we can do." Her tone revealed the pain of not being able to see her daughter grow, but she was also determined, knowing that if they left, Milim could live happily.

Akasha opened his eyes, looking directly at Lucía, causing her to shiver as she felt those blue eyes, resembling a spiral, looking into her soul.

Akasha stopped looking at her the next moment, remaining silent for a while until his lips parted. "I understand, to a certain extent," Akasha said indifferently.

"Anyway, I will take care of Milim and Gaia; I promised Veldanava," Akasha simply stated, his voice showing no emotion.

As they spoke, Veldanava approached with Milim in his arms and Gaia on his shoulder, a smile on his face.

Veldanava handed Milim to Lucía, who took her inside the house to feed her.

"She looks just like her mother," Veldanava said with love in his voice. He turned back to Akasha with a smile and patted him on the back. "Come on, brother! You should show a smile for your niece! What will she think of how grumpy you are?"

Akasha sighed and took a sip of his coffee, looking directly at Veldanava.

"I don't understand... you are nothing more than a shadow, a shell of the great star dragon king, the creator of this world," Akasha said, sounding clearly confused. "And yet, here you are, smiling like a fool, just like the first time I met you."

Seconds passed. Veldanava said nothing; neither did Akasha, as he continued to stare. Several more seconds went by, and then Veldanava began to laugh, followed by Akasha's laughter as they entered the house.

---

Several hours later, Akasha held a sleeping Milim in his arms and a small dragon on his shoulder while watching Veldanava and Lucía.

«Confirmed. Initiating elimination process for individuals Veldanava and Lucía...»

Ignoring the Voice of the World, Veldanava and Lucía smiled at Akasha before turning to fly north. Just as Veldanava was about to disappear on the horizon, he heard Akasha's voice in his ears.

"May the dawn shine upon you, brother."

---

Several hours later, two pillars of light could be seen rising in the sky, one black and the other white. Before disappearing, they formed a yin-yang circle.

The powerful beings in the cardinal world felt Veldanava's descent: Velgrynd and Emperor Rudra in the east, Velzard and Guy in the frozen continent, Ramiris in her spirit dwelling.

The angel of origin, Dino, realizing the death of his master, went to the kingdom that attacked them and destroyed it to its foundations, becoming a fallen angel in the process.

---

The Other World.

Feldway, the first angel created by Veldanava, was guarding Ivarage in the other world when he felt Veldanava's death, but showed no signs of anger or pain. He knew he would return; true dragons cannot die.

---

17 years later.

Akasha was preparing breakfast when he heard footsteps. Diverting his gaze from the food, he saw a beautiful woman with long purple hair and red eyes.

She wore a white sweater with a braided design and long sleeves, with a wide neckline that left her shoulders bare, complemented by a short skirt, dark stockings that reached her thighs, and high white heels.

The woman looked at Akasha with a smile and approached him. "Good morning, father!" she greeted him.

Akasha nodded. "Scathach, you look great. Are you going out?" he asked as he served breakfast.

Scathach smiled and nodded as she sat at the table. "I was thinking of going out with Milim and Gaia; then I'll head to the eastern capital," she said with an older sister's smile.

Akasha nodded in agreement. "That's a good idea; it gives me time to prepare her gift without her around," he said as he removed his kitchen apron and sat across from Scathach.

"Tell me, how have you felt living here these years?" Akasha suddenly asked while taking a sip of his orange juice.

Scathach shook her head, sighing as she leaned back. "I still think it's a dream... that I'll wake up and in front of me there will only be a dark, desolate castle, full of wandering spirits," her voice sounded desolate as she recalled the kingdom she had to guard.

But then a smile flourished on her face. "This world is wonderful. Great culture, beautiful landscapes, full of opportunities, and above all... strong people," she said, her red eyes shining with the last part.

Akasha nodded. "I'm glad for you, Scathach. I brought you here not just to help me with Milim but to give you a chance to be happy," Akasha said with a smile on his face, then remembered something. "I heard you took Velgrynd as your pupil at her request," he asked.

Scathach nodded as she crossed her legs. "I did, after having a friendly match. She is inexperienced in using magic and doesn't master her ability," she said casually.

Akasha nodded, knowing that Velgrynd wasn't strong and didn't effectively use her ability. Her skill lay in her speed, but when facing someone like Scathach, who could predict the future, it wasn't very useful.

"I'm sure she'll grow with you as her mentor, or at least learn to be more resilient," he said as he stood and sighed, a hint of irony in his voice.

Akasha's comment made Scathach's eye twitch, clearly understanding what he meant. She stood up, looking at Akasha with feigned anger.

"How mean you are, father! I'm going to wake Milim," with that, she hurried up the stairs to the second floor.

Akasha chuckled softly. Scathach was a good teacher, but she was very strict... the punishments for not doing what she asked were high.

Before long, lighter footsteps were heard. In Akasha's view, as he sipped his coffee, appeared a small girl about one meter forty tall. With blue eyes and pastel pink hair tied with two pink and black hairbands.

She wore a long-sleeved black shirt, with a pink tie and a black vest over it, a short black skirt a bit above her thighs, and knee-high black stockings with black high-heeled shoes.

She looked like a little military leader, although the tie didn't inspire much confidence. She ran to Akasha when she saw him and hugged him, followed by a small purple dragon.

"I hate being hugged..." was Akasha's thought as he caught them and kissed their foreheads.

"Milim, Gaia, how did you sleep?" Akasha asked as they separated.

"Good, daddy! Sister Scati said she would take us to play today," Milim said while sitting down to devour the pancakes.

"And you, Gaia?" Akasha asked the little dragon.

"Kyuu! Kyuu!" the dragon replied as she also sat down to eat.

Akasha nodded. "Well, after breakfast, Scathach will take you out. Be good and don't make Scathach angry," Akasha warned.

The two nodded like chickens pecking, making Akasha laugh. He knew they wouldn't make her angry, for their own good...

---

Half an hour later.

"We'll be back in the afternoon, dad; until then, finish the gifts," Scathach said quietly as she released Akasha from her embrace.

"I hate being touched..." Akasha whispered quietly. But Scathach smiled and didn't pay it any mind.

"Come on! You let Milim and Gaia hug you; stop being so grumpy. You'll get gray hairs," she said while laughing as she left.

"Goodbye, dad! / Kyuuu!!" Milim and Gaia said goodbye as they followed Scathach.

Akasha waved them off with a smile. Then he thought of something and looked at his hair, confused. "Gray hairs? But my hair is white," he said to himself, shrugging as he returned to the house.