Y/N, The Goddess of Spring and Renewal Domain: Life, growth, blooming, birth, and the start of all cycles. Essence: Y/N is the vital core of the pantheon, the light that ensures the world doesn't fall into permanent stasis or ruin. Her energy is warm, gentle,bubbly,and overflowing with quiet strength. Because her domain is so crucial—and so delicate—she is both cherished and heavily guarded, though she often feels more like a valuable artifact than a free deity. Her temples are always open-air groves, thick with the scent of jasmine and rain. She dislikes conflict and is constantly trying to mediate the world's harsh realities with her soft touch. Adonis, The God of Destruction and Ruin Domain: Entropy, decay, cataclysm, and the finality of cycles (necessary for new beginnings). Essence: Adonis is the sharp, cold edge of reality. His presence is often felt as a sudden drop in temperature and a heavy stillness in the air. While his domain is destructive, it is also essential; without him tearing down the old, Y/N couldn't bring forth the new. This shared dependence is the root of his intense, possessive nature toward her. He views anyone who approaches her as a threat—not just to her physical safety, but to the delicate balance he feels he shares only with her. He rarely speaks when a glare or a grunt will suffice he is in love with y/n but thinks y/n would not like him back because he is her opposite. Xebris, The God of the Sea and Tides Domain: Water, currents, emotion, change, and fluidity. Essence: Xebris is chaos personified, yet utterly captivating. He is constantly in motion, like the restless tides, and his emotions shift like the sea's surface, from dazzling turquoise calm to stormy, dark tempest. His constant flirtation with Y/N is a way of testing boundaries and pulling her into his unpredictable world. He finds her stability and warmth irresistible, viewing her as a calming anchor in his endless ocean. He uses charm, laughter, and dazzling displays of water magic to try and win her favor, often to the annoyance of Adonis.In love with y/n and donest even try to hide it always teasing and playing with y/n Chapter 1: The Withered Ground The last of the frost was always the hardest to sweep away. Y/N knelt in the dirt, her fingers pressed into the dark, sodden earth. The cold of the lingering winter had eaten deep into the soil here, and the land was stubbornly clinging to barrenness. Slowly, she exhaled, not air, but pure, emerald-green light that sank into the ground like steam. A soft, humming warmth radiated from her core, pushing back the cold. Where her hands touched, the dirt turned a rich, living brown, and fine, eager roots began to thread their way through the earth. Soon, tiny, hopeful shoots of crocus and hyacinth broke the surface, their petals shimmering with morning dew. The life she created was a quiet miracle, one she performed countless times a day across the mortal realm, but she still felt the familiar, weary pressure of her task. A familiar chill stole over the landscape, instantly snuffing out some of the warmth she’d generated. The air grew taut, and the newly sprouted crocuses visibly shivered. “You’re exerting yourself,” a deep, gravelly voice rumbled from the edge of the grove. Adonis stood beneath a centuries-old oak tree, his silhouette tall and unyielding against the pale sky. His clothes—dark gray and utterly unadorned—seemed to absorb all light, and his eyes, the color of storm-tossed slate, were narrowed with unmistakable displeasure. He hadn't moved a muscle, but his presence alone was a heavy, suffocating weight. Y/N sighed, rubbing the warmth back into her chilled hands. “I’m bringing the world to life, Adonis. That is literally my job.” “It’s unnecessary strain. The mortals can wait a cycle,” he said, taking a slow, deliberate step toward her. His coldness wasn't malicious, but merely a side effect of his power—the eternal cessation of movement, the final sleep. It was also, Y/N knew, a calculated way to make sure she was acutely aware of his proximity. “You were alone. I sensed it.” Before Y/N could point out that she had been perfectly safe, a sudden, bright flash of sunlight reflected off something dazzling. A torrent of impossibly clear water erupted twenty feet away, coalescing into a shimmering, temporary throne where Xebris leaned back, looking entirely too satisfied with himself. The God of the Sea was an immediate contrast to Adonis; Xebris was all movement and dazzling light, his bronze skin seemingly kissed by constant sunshine. His eyes were a startling, vibrant blue, like the deep ocean on a summer day, and a playful, irreverent smile was already playing on his lips. “Alone?” Xebris’s voice was like the rhythmic crash of waves—smooth, powerful, and constant. He tossed a perfect, polished shell that spun in the air before landing harmlessly in Y/N’s lap. “Hardly. I was waiting for the perfect tidal flow to make an entrance. And look who I found. The fairest flower in all the realms, playing in the dirt.” Adonis's jaw visibly tightened, the muscles flexing under his sharp cheekbones. He didn't turn to face Xebris, instead keeping his cold gaze fixed on Y/N, his entire posture radiating proprietary fury. "The sea has no business on land, Tides. Return to your brine." Xebris merely laughed, a light, melodious sound. He shifted on his water throne, effortlessly sending a playful, cool mist towards Y/N. “Relax, Destroyer. I only came to offer our lovely Y/N a vacation. The coral reefs are stunning this time of year, and I'd love to show her how to ride a tsunami. Much more exciting than coaxing daisies out of the mud.” Y/N plucked the shell from her lap, feeling the conflicting energies of the two gods tightening around her. One, a frosty, protective shield; the other, a warm, insistent current trying to pull her away. She knew exactly how this interaction would go, and she knew she was the prize in this silent, endless war of affection. “Thank you, Xebris,” she said, her voice gentle but firm, “but the world requires spring.” Xebris pouted playfully, letting his water throne dissipate into the morning air. “Always so dutiful.” Adonis took the final step, now standing over her, blocking the sun and creating his own chilly shadow. “She is staying here. Out of trouble.” “Trouble,” Xebris repeated, winking at Y/N from across the clearing, “is often the most fun.” He gave a small, exaggerated bow, his eyes never leaving hers. “I’ll be waiting for you by the shore, my spring blossom.” Then, with a ripple in the air, he was gone, leaving only the scent of salt and the lingering echo of his easy laughter. Y/N knew he hadn’t left her, merely the immediate vicinity. Adonis let out a long, heavy breath—a sound like crumbling stone—and folded his arms across his chest. His posture was immovable. “He is a fool. And a distraction. Finish your work and come to the Sanctuary. You need to rest.” Y/N felt a familiar knot of frustration mix with genuine fondness. Adonis wasn't going anywhere. Neither was Xebris. And she was stuck in the middle, surrounded by life, yet unable to truly live her own.