Green and Life

For Aman'Thul, if his endless years of searching for kin had been a journey filled with loneliness, then after finding his first kinsman—Vanidak—once the initial excitement and joy had passed, it seemed his journey from then on would no longer be so... easy?

"So the so-called distant relatives you saw—the Constellar—are a race whose entire bodies are made of starlight?" The newly born Titan Vanidak was currently using the wrist blade in his vambrace—at least, that was the strange name he called it—to diligently carve up a bizarre creature.

"So what does this race taste like?" Aman'Thul watched as his brother spoke and held out a freshly cut chunk of meat to him. Unlike Vanidak, Aman'Thul recognized the creature that had attacked them earlier. It was a chaotic being with two heads, each bearing a single enormous eye. Some races in the universe called it a Void Terror, said to have been born from the mysterious Twisting Nether.

The Terror had suddenly emerged from a spatial rift behind them to launch a sneak attack as they traveled. By the time Aman'Thul reacted and prepared to strike back, Vanidak's figure beside him flickered. The next instant, a crack appeared across the Void Terror's twin necks. This species, perched at the top of the cosmic food chain, had lost both its heads before it could even touch its prey.

Watching his brother say, "Now, the hunter becomes the prey," as he eagerly carved apart the Terror's corpse, then hold out a bloody piece of meat and ask in a concerned tone, "Want a piece, brother? This flavor... must be excellent."

After spending so long with Vanidak, Aman'Thul seemed to have suddenly picked up his brother's twisted sense of humor as well. Although Titans had no need to eat, a behavior essential to most living races, as an experienced traveler of the stars, he naturally knew that this chaotic creature's "flavor" could not possibly be pleasant. So he waved his brother off and said, "No, my brother. It is your trophy. You have the honor of being the first to 'enjoy' it."

Seemingly not hearing the tone in his brother's words, Vanidak excitedly tossed the meat on his blade into his mouth. Under Aman'Thul's gaze, he chewed it in large bites, frowning. After swallowing, Vanidak offered Aman'Thul another piece. "Mm, the taste isn't bad. Memorable, even. You should try it too, brother. You'll 'love' it."

Seeing that his brother's expression and words did not seem false, Aman'Thul suspiciously put the meat into his mouth. The moment he did, he saw that uniquely twisted glint in his brother's eyes once again. Before he could react, flames filled with an aura of destruction erupted in his mouth and violently collided with his own energy.

The reaction sent Titan energy surging violently around Aman'Thul, whipping up gusts of cosmic wind around them. Under his full suppression, the flames exploding in his mouth were finally extinguished. Turning toward the culprit who had orchestrated all this, Aman'Thul was surprised to discover that Vanidak did not wear the malicious, triumphant grin he usually showed after displaying his foul nature during their travels. Instead, his brows were tightly furrowed, while the silver radiance in his eyes flickered and shone with unprecedented intensity.

Putting aside his brother's crude yet harmless prank, Aman'Thul was just about to ask what had happened when Vanidak turned to him and said in a voice he had never used before, faintly trembling, "Brother, I... I saw her. What a... beautiful lady."

For Aman'Thul, if there was anything in this universe capable of astonishing this seasoned traveler, then his mysterious brother's eyes would undoubtedly rank among the foremost things he had ever seen. After hearing his brother's words, before Aman'Thul understood what they meant, Vanidak grabbed him and rushed forward. Silver light swirled, and spatial wormholes appeared one after another before them. Just as Aman'Thul marveled at this mysterious spatial power, a massive silver gate appeared ahead, and Vanidak dragged Aman'Thul straight into it.

This enormous spatial gate seemed to be a major spatial nexus. After a brief moment of disorientation, Aman'Thul saw his brother anxiously scanning their surroundings with those silver-glowing eyes, muttering, "Where is she? Where is she? Just where are you, beautiful little girl?"

Vanidak suddenly spun around and looked toward some direction in the Dark Void, crying out in delight, "Aha! I knew I wasn't wrong. Got you, you sly little girl!" Then he flashed forward at an unbelievable speed.

Seeing this series of abnormal actions from his brother, Aman'Thul was puzzled as well. He immediately followed Vanidak's trail, wanting to find out what exactly he had discovered that had left this temperamental Titan so excited.

After searching for some time, Aman'Thul finally spotted Vanidak. He stood there with his arms crossed, studying a celestial body before him. As Aman'Thul approached, he heard him muttering to himself, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. It's overflowing with the breath of life. But still, this thing is... really green."

Before Aman'Thul could make sense of his brother's usual strange words, a ripple spread through the area, leaving him stunned as well. At that moment, he understood why Vanidak had been so excited and eager before. Yes, another Titan. Another kinsman. Right before them, Vanidak truly had... seen her.

Unlike the celestial body where Vanidak had been found, the one before Aman'Thul now overflowed with the breath of life. Its life force was so dense it could be described as spilling over, and the light naturally radiated by that force of life was, naturally, what Vanidak called "really green."

There were many celestial bodies rich in life energy among the stars; Aman'Thul had seen quite a few himself. But the one before him was special. After sensing that earlier ripple, and out of caution, Aman'Thul carefully examined the celestial body again. At last, he distinctly sensed the Titan soul within that was about to awaken. This meant a new Titan was about to be born!

"So, brother, what do we do to awaken her?" Vanidak turned to Aman'Thul. "I saw her. She's a beauty." Then, as though recalling something, he said with his signature mischievous smile, "Are you planning to do what you did when awakening me and 'inject' your essence of power into her?"

Though he did not fully understand his brother's words, Aman'Thul explained, "No, my brother. Last time was merely an accident caused by my excessive excitement. Awakening one of our kin does not require infusing them with one's own source power." He extended his right index finger, and Arcane radiance flowed from its tip, linking to the planet before them. Turning to Vanidak, he said, "All it takes is a little 'tap.'"

As Aman'Thul spoke, familiar tremors spread from the celestial body. An even denser aura of life then poured forth from within. When that energy reached its peak, the energy across the entire planet—and even the celestial body itself—began to contract violently. Then a burst of light appeared, dazzling enough that even the two Titans could not help but turn their eyes away. When they came to their senses, a brand-new Titan stood before them.

Just as Vanidak had said, this Titan was a beautiful woman, exuding the aura of life and nature from head to toe. As he examined her, Vanidak quietly said to Aman'Thul, "Her skin looks so healthy, doesn't it? It's bronze." Then he muttered under his breath, "Damn it, why is it bronze instead of green? At least her hair should be..."

Hearing his brother start up with his signature nonsense again, Aman'Thul ignored him. He stepped forward and addressed the newly born Titan, "My kinswoman, your birth has made our journey more meaningful. Your birth has strengthened our resolve to seek out our kin. Your birth has made our power greater. In any case, welcome, my kinswoman!"

After hearing Aman'Thul's words, the newborn Titan's furrowed brows gradually relaxed. She replied in a clear, gentle, melodious voice, "Yes, my kin. I... I seem to understand now. I am glad to have seen this universe and my other brothers. I am willing to join my kin."

"Then may I know your true name, my kinswoman?" Aman'Thul asked just as gently.

"My name is... Eonar. I am the Lifebinder," the female Titan replied after pondering for a moment.

"Very well, Eonar. Welcome to our quest to find our kin. Your presence makes our group stronger." Perhaps because he had found another kinsman, Aman'Thul was in a good mood as he replied with a smile. "This is your other brother, Vanidak, master of space."

Hearing Aman'Thul's introduction, Vanidak, who had been quietly muttering to himself, turned to look at Eonar and examined her from head to toe. The somewhat invasive gaze made the newborn Titan visibly uncomfortable. Fortunately, after a brief inspection, Vanidak finally stopped this slightly rude behavior. He extended his right hand toward Eonar and said, "Hello, my sister. I am Vanidak. Rather than master of space, I prefer to call myself... The Formless."

Seeing Eonar's confused gaze fixed on Vanidak's right hand, Aman'Thul took the initiative to explain, "A handshake. You may regard it as Vanidak's unique way of showing goodwill. In short, he is welcoming you."

After hearing Aman'Thul's explanation, Eonar extended her right hand as well. Their hands clasped, shaking lightly twice and stirring up a gust of cosmic wind. As they released each other, Eonar seemed to faintly hear, "Softer than I imagined." Just as she tried to make out what Vanidak had said, the Titan before her suddenly smiled at her.

Seeing the familiar smile on his brother's face, Aman'Thul, drawing on the experience of tens of thousands of years together, vaguely sensed that something was wrong. Just as he tried to stop the bold words his brother might say next, they had already drifted from Vanidak's mouth:

"I am very curious why someone so full of life force is not green all over. In my opinion, at least your hair should be."

"And why are you called Eonar? Did you name yourself? Oh my heavens, that name is truly unbearable. More precisely, it's painfully ordinary. How about I give you a name instead?"

Vanidak pondered for a moment, then continued:

"Elisande? Azerite? Or perhaps 'Azeroth'? I think that name is quite good. What do you think?"