(The Eternal Garden, Veyr's POV)

After thinking for a while about how best to structure his explanation, Raymond finally looked into Veyr's eyes and raised three fingers.

"There are three key ingredients that make up the Demi-God breakthrough potion," he said. "There are more, of course, but these three are what matter most, because their supply in the universe is extremely restricted."

Veyr straightened up, listening closely as Raymond began his slow, deliberate recital.

"The first," Raymond continued, lowering one finger, "is soil from The Pit."

Veyr frowned slightly at the name, for he had heard it before-

'Isn't that the place I'm being taken to be executed in a couple months?'

He wondered, as Raymond continued without emotion.

"The next," Raymond said, lowering another finger, "is fresh rain water from planet Granada, that is to be collected and processed in under thirty minutes."

"And lastly," he lowered the third, "you need the petals of the

Moonshine Flower, which if you remember, I graciously handed to you just yesterday!"

He paused briefly, allowing the weight of those names to sink in before continuing, his tone calm yet carrying an unmistakable authority.

"These are only three among the several ingredients required for the potion, but they are the most critical, because each is guarded by a God who does not easily part with what belongs to him. Every grain of soil from The Pit is protected by Helmuth. Every droplet of water

from Granada is guarded by Mauriss. And every Moonshine Flower that blooms under this realm's light is claimed by my father."

His voice hardened slightly as he spoke the last words, a faint glint of resentment flashing through his eyes before he looked away.

"Unless the three of them owe you a pretty huge favor, it's impossible to get your hands on all three ingredients."

Veyr's expression darkened as realization dawned on him. The path to the Demi-God tier was not just one of self-improvement or will, but rather a matter of divine politics.

'No wonder so few ever make it, he thought grimly as Raymond continued, his tone now carrying a strange mixture of reverence and disgust.

"The three Great Gods have a pact among themselves," he said slowly, "that no one born from their bloodlines shall ascend to the Demi-God tier, for such a rise would shatter the fragile balance between them.

And naturally, this pact extends to the Cult, who are their sworn enemies.

However, for outsiders, the only people with some probability of getting their hands on an ingredient, the only way to obtain all three is to curry favor with each God individually, whether it be through bribes, servitude, or soul contracts.

As the few who do manage to ascend, always do it at a great personal cost, often being forced into a lifetime of servitude under all three gods, as their hunt for higher power turns them into nothing more than glorified slaves."

He leaned back slightly, his cold eyes narrowing.

"This is also why there have been no new Demi-Gods in the last five centuries. Not one.

For the requirements to become one are too stringent, and even if you do manage to become one, your life afterwards is still no better

than that of a common slave."

He paused briefly, as if almost by accident, then added in a softer tone, "Well... almost."

A flicker of pride ghosted across his face, but it vanished as quickly as it came, leaving only that polished composure once more, as he decided to hold himself back from bragging about the fact that he beat this cursed system.

Veyr caught the hesitation but decided not to question it, as Raymond went on, his voice low but precise.

"The flower I gave you yesterday, the Moonshine Flower, is one of the rarest materials in existence. It costs talented warriors their souls to obtain it, and even then, they must wait for decades for my father to allot them one. So be grateful for it, young dragon, for it is truly an unparalleled treasure."

He finished, letting the final word echo faintly through the tranquil garden.

Veyr exhaled slowly, his brows furrowing as he absorbed every detail.

Now it made sense as to why Demi-God ascension was so rare across the universe, and why even Charles, despite his brilliance, had never crossed into that divine realm.

Three Gods, three treasures, three locked gates that none could pass without offering something irreplaceable.

He could feel a quiet unease building inside him, the same kind of dread that accompanied the realization of just how insignificant one could be beneath cosmic powers.

'What am I even thinking about?' he thought bitterly. "That's a very distant future. First I need to survive. Then maybe I can dream about

ascension.

He nodded slowly, regaining his composure, before meeting Raymond's gaze again.

"Alright," Veyr said at last. "You've kept your word. I find the

knowledge you shared today... acceptable."

He paused briefly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he added, "However,

if you want more from me tomorrow, then you must offer more in

return."

Raymond's lips curved in amusement. "More, you say?"

He chuckled softly, the sound calm but carrying an underlying confidence that felt both arrogant and enticing.

"Fine. Teach me another method tomorrow," he said, "and I'll pass down forbidden knowledge about the three governing laws of the universe to you. It will be a rudimentary explanation, but worth twenty times the value of what you've taught me."

Veyr looked at him silently for a few seconds before extending his

hand.

"Deal," he said firmly, as Raymond grasped it without hesitation, his grip strong and unnervingly cold.

In that moment, an unspoken pact took form between them- a pact of deceit and curiosity, of danger disguised as cooperation. And though the warm glow of the Eternal Garden remained tranquil

as ever, somewhere deep within its still air, the first sparks of a far greater storm had begun to stir.

For although Raymond thought he was sharing forbidden knowledge

with Veyr that was never going to reach Cult hands because of his

impending execution.....

In his attempt to cozy up to Veyr, he was still giving-up way more secrets than he otherwise should've.