A Gift
"Talent," Hela replied succinctly.
"In this world, talent is incredibly important. Without it, you can't become a Highgod on your own, and even if you obtain a Sovereign Spark, you won't be able to use it. I value you because of your talent, and want to use it to glimpse the world beyond the Sovereigns. But Vivian is different. When you were a Highgod, she admired you because she already stood at the pinnacle of the world, though there were several others at that peak. But after you became a Chief God, she saw the possibility of a higher peak. She grew fearful and wary, and that was why she hesitated."
"Remember, in the past ten million years or so, she's had plenty of opportunities to act. I couldn't watch over you every second," Hela said, slowly laying bare all the secrets.
"But what kept her from acting wasn't affection. It was the rules. She simply didn't want to risk being judged," Lincoln said after a moment's thought.
Hela didn't argue. She took a breath and continued, "Among the four Rule Sovereigns, Orf and Uterede have always competed for the title of strongest one-on-one. But neither of us was willing to settle for second place. During a sparring match, we accidentally discovered that we could fuse our innate divine abilities, just like the Four Divine Beasts, multiplying our strength a thousandfold. So, over the years, we've grown closer and closer. Do you understand what I mean?"
Lincoln sighed to show that he understood. But in his heart, he wasn't ready to let it go. After Vivian had treated him like that, how could she expect to walk away unscathed? Once he got the Four Divine Beasts' Sovereign Sparks, it would be time to draw his sword and settle