#still thinking about rafayel's branch

[violetsareblue-selfships]

good morning!! <33

[sushiyuzu]

fluffy moment with lads men

sylus, zayne, xavier, rafayel & caleb

sylus

the snow crunches under your boots as you walk through the park, your breath coming out in soft puffs of mist. the trees are bare, their branches dusted with fresh snow, and the entire world feels quiet, like it's wrapped in a soft, cold blanket.

beside you, sylus walks with his hands in his pockets, his red eyes scanning the winter landscape. the park is almost empty, save for a few scattered figures in the distance, but it feels like it’s just the two of you, isolated in this snowy world.

you pull your coat tighter, but the wind still bites at your face and fingers. despite the beauty of the park, the cold is starting to get to you. you rub your hands together, trying to generate some warmth, but it’s no use.

sylus, ever observant, notices. he pauses mid-step, glancing at you out of the corner of his eye. without a word, he pulls off his thick black jacket and steps closer to you.

“here,” he says quietly, draping it over your shoulders before you can protest.

the warmth of his jacket is immediate, the heavy material shielding you from the wind. you blink, looking up at him as you pull the jacket tighter around yourself. it’s big on you, the sleeves falling past your hands, but it’s soft and still warm from his body heat.

“but what about you?” you ask, your voice small against the quiet of the park.

sylus shrugs, not meeting your eyes. “i’m fine, sweetie. you looked like you needed it more.”

you feel your heart skip a beat at his words. it’s such a simple gesture, but it carries more weight than he realizes. the park feels even quieter now, the only sound the distant whistle of the wind and the soft rustle of his jacket as you shift it on your shoulders.

“thanks,” you mumble, your cheeks warming despite the cold. you glance at him, and for a second, you think you see a flicker of something soft in his expression before he turns away.

“don’t mention it,” he says, but you catch the faintest hint of a smile as he continues walking.

you follow him, the snow crunching beneath your feet once more, but now the cold doesn’t seem so bad. with his jacket wrapped around you, it feels like a shield, not just from the wind, but from the distance you’ve always felt between the two of you.

for the rest of the walk, you stay close to him, savoring the warmth of the jacket and the quiet comfort of his presence.

zayne

the door to your quarters slides open, and zayne steps inside, holding a small, white plushie in his hands. his face shows a mix of anticipation and amusement as he approaches you.

“hey,” he says, a playful grin on his lips. “i got something for you.”

you look at the plushie, a cute white seal with big, round eyes and a little blue bow around its neck. “what’s this?” you ask, your curiosity piqued.

“i won it from an arcade machine,” zayne explains, holding it out to you. “i thought it’d be a nice surprise.”

you take the plushie, feeling its soft, plushy fur against your fingers. it’s surprisingly well-made, and its cheerful face immediately brings a smile to your own.

“this is adorable,” you say, hugging the plushie to your chest. “thank you, zayne. it’s perfect.”

zayne’s grin widens, clearly pleased by your reaction. “i thought it might cheer you up. and, well, i couldn’t resist getting it for you.”

you look up at him, touched by the gesture. “it definitely brightened my day. it’s nice to know you thought of me.”

“i’m glad you like it,” he says, taking a step closer. “i just wanted to give you something to make you smile.”

you sit down, holding the plushie close. zayne sits next to you, and the two of you share a quiet moment. the plushie rests between you, a small symbol of his thoughtfulness and affection.

“it’s going to have a special place,” you say, gently patting the plushie. “thank you for this.”

zayne nods, a soft smile on his face. “you’re welcome. i’m just happy it made you smile.”

the warmth of the moment, coupled with the simple joy of the gift, creates a tender connection between you. the white seal plushie becomes a comforting reminder of zayne’s care and the special bond you share.

xavier

you step into xavier’s cozy apartment, the familiar scent of his place welcoming you. it’s warm and inviting, with soft lighting casting a gentle glow over the room. he’s already there, preparing a pot of hot cocoa on the kitchen counter.

“hey,” he says with a smile as you enter. “i thought we could use some hot cocoa and a warm blanket tonight.”

you smile back, appreciating the thoughtfulness. “that sounds perfect.”

xavier pours two steaming mugs of hot cocoa, carefully adding marshmallows on top before handing one to you. he gestures to the living area, where a soft, knitted blanket is spread out on the couch.

“make yourself comfortable,” he says, settling onto the couch and patting the space next to him.

you take a seat beside him, feeling the warmth from the cocoa cup seep into your hands. the blanket is cozy and inviting, and you both wrap it around yourselves as you settle in.

“this is really nice,” you say, taking a sip of the hot cocoa. the rich chocolate flavor is comforting, and the warmth spreads through you.

“i’m glad you think so,” xavier replies, his voice soft as he takes a sip from his own mug. “i wanted to do something relaxing for us.”

you both sit together, the blanket cocooning you in warmth. you chat about your day, and the conversation flows easily, the comfort of the setting making it easy to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

as the evening progresses, you find yourself leaning closer to xavier, feeling content and at ease. he occasionally brushes a strand of hair from your face or gives you a reassuring smile, his presence making you feel cherished.

the hot cocoa eventually disappears, but the warmth of the moment lingers. you both stay wrapped in the blanket, enjoying the peaceful evening together, the simple pleasure of each other’s company making the night feel special.

“thanks for tonight,” you say softly, looking up at him with a smile. “it’s exactly what i needed.”

xavier’s eyes meet yours, and he returns your smile with a gentle one of his own. “i’m happy to hear that. it’s always nice to spend time like this with you.”

the evening continues with quiet conversation and shared laughter, the warmth of the blanket and the cocoa only adding to the comfort of being together. it’s a perfect, simple moment that you’ll cherish.

rafayel

rafayel takes your hand and leads you to a picturesque spot by the edge of a serene lake. the early morning sun casts a warm, golden glow over the landscape, making the scene look like something out of a dream. he sets up his easel and canvas with practiced ease, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“i thought we could spend the day here,” rafayel says, his voice soft and filled with anticipation. “it’s one of my favorite places to paint. i hope you like it.”

you look around and see the vibrant colors of the flowers and the gentle ripples on the lake’s surface. it’s a perfect setting, and you smile at him. “it’s beautiful. i’d love to be here with you.”

he hands you a blanket and a small basket of snacks he prepared. “while i paint, you can relax or explore a bit. let me know if you need anything.”

you settle on the blanket, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere as rafayel begins to work on his painting. you watch him with admiration as he skillfully captures the scene on his canvas. his movements are fluid and graceful, and he hums softly to himself as he paints.

occasionally, he glances over at you with a smile, and you return it, feeling content. the sound of nature around you is soothing, and you feel a sense of tranquility.

after a while, rafayel finishes his painting and walks over to you, holding the canvas with a proud smile. “what do you think?”

you look at the painting and see that it beautifully captures the essence of the place—vivid colors, gentle brushstrokes, and a sense of serenity. “it’s amazing,” you say. “you’ve really brought the scene to life.”

he sits down beside you, and you both enjoy the snacks he prepared. as you eat, you share stories and talk about your dreams and plans. the easy conversation and laughter make the day even more special.

as the sun begins to set, casting a warm, orange hue over the lake, rafayel leans closer to you. “i’m really glad we did this,” he says softly. “spending time like this with you means a lot to me.”

you lean against him, feeling a deep sense of happiness. “me too. today has been perfect.”

you both watch as the sky changes colors, the peaceful moment marking the end of a beautiful day together. the memory of this day, with its simple pleasures and intimate connection, will stay with you long after the sun has set.

caleb

caleb arrives at your place with an excited grin, holding a pair of tickets for a festival happening on skyhaven. “hey pip-squeak, i thought we could check out the annual skyhaven festival tonight.” he says, his enthusiasm contagious. “it’s supposed to be amazing this year.”

you can’t help but smile at his excitement. “that sounds great! i’ve heard a lot about it but never been.”

you both head to the festival, and the moment you step out of the transport pod, you’re greeted by a vibrant display of lights and colors. the festival is bustling with activity, with stalls and booths set up everywhere, offering a variety of foods, games, and attractions.

caleb takes your hand and leads you through the crowd. “let’s start with the food stalls,” he suggests. “i heard they have some new dishes this year.”

you follow him to a stall that offers a mix of traditional and exotic treats. you both sample different dishes, laughing and sharing bites of your favorites. caleb’s eyes light up every time he tries something new, and he’s eager to hear your thoughts on each dish.

after enjoying the food, you move on to some of the festival’s games and attractions. caleb challenges you to a friendly competition at a ring toss booth, and you both cheer each other on as you try to win prizes. caleb’s playful nature and genuine encouragement make the experience even more enjoyable.

as the evening progresses, the festival features a stunning light show that transforms the sky into a canvas of vibrant colors. caleb finds a perfect spot where you both have an unobstructed view. he wraps his arm around you as you both gaze up at the mesmerizing display.

“this is incredible,” you say, leaning against him. “i’m so glad you brought me here.”

caleb smiles and gives you a gentle squeeze. “i’m really happy you’re enjoying it. i wanted to share this with you because it’s one of my favorite events.”

the festival continues with music, dancing, and fireworks. caleb pulls you onto the dance floor, and you both move together to the rhythm of the lively tunes. the joy and excitement of the festival make you feel like you’re floating in a world of pure happiness.

as the night draws to a close, caleb takes you to a quieter corner of the festival where you can sit and relax. the two of you share a moment of calm, watching the last of the fireworks and enjoying the peaceful end to a fantastic evening.

“thank you for tonight,” you say softly, leaning into him. “it’s been amazing.”

caleb looks at you with a warm smile. “i’m glad you had a great time. it’s been perfect because i got to spend it with you.”

the festival may be over, but the memories of the night and the connection you shared linger, making it a special and unforgettable experience.

[silverbrain]

Icy Interaction

the prompt: running into your main lads man (boyfriend) while you're out with your second favorite lads man (as a friend) and how they would react.

My piece for @jinwoosbabyboo open collab

You happily skate across the ice rink with Zayne, showing off your moves only a little. Zayne huffs, his warm breath creating a puff of white smoke in the icy air.

"Have you been practicing?", he asks.

"No! I literally haven't skated since forever!!", you exclaim joyously, the feeling of being on the ice significantly improving your mood.

"Well, you haven't lost your skills...", he muses, skating about in slow circles.

It's an open rink, but it's relatively empty, and you're having the time of your life. Zayne watches you, a soft smile on his face, remembering how you used to love the activity when you were younger.

A few stalls surround the rink, selling fuzzy socks and scarves and Christmas themed goodies. Your gaze lingers over the warm lights as you lazily skate at the edge of the rink.

"You want to race?", you ask, suddenly feeling mischievous.

Zayne chuckles. "You're sure you can keep up with me?", he asks.

"Oh, you're on", you challenge him, lining up at one end of the rink. Zayne happily lines up with you. "Till that giant branch?", you ask, pointing to a fallen tree branch in the distance, nearly touching the ice rink.

"Sure"

"Ready, set, go!"

You and Zayne race across the ice rink, small shards of glassy ice flying behind you. You step forward furiously, determined to win. Zayne takes the lead, long strides helping him have the upper hand. A few feet later however, your superior technique helps you overtake him.

You pump your legs, finish line in distance as you look at Zayne from your peripheral vision. He's only a sliver behind you, and you rush forward, crossing the finish line. However, you rarely have time to celebrate as a young girl suddenly appears in front of you and you struggle to stop, her wide, scared eyes the only thing you can focus on. You tumble to the ground, and Zayne crashes right into you.

Two girls rush over to her, apologizing to you. "Don't wander away from us, it's dangerous", she scolds. "I'm so sorry!"

In the distance, a lithe figure wrapped in a scarf and a puffy winter coat watches with worry. He shakes his head at the unceremonious crash he sees, before turning his attention to the coffee stand.

On the rink, you nod, still a bit stunned. You stand up, a bit shaky, as you eye Zayne, still on the ground. "Get up!"

His breaths come in heavy pants as he further straightens to lie on the ice. "I'm tired"

You giggle a little as you struggle to catch your own breath. You eye the small market glowing in the distance. "Get up, let's go get hot chocolate", you say, nearly pulling him up by the arm. Zayne is surprised at your strength, but he gets the memo, standing up quickly.

You make your way over to the stall with Zayne, as you wrap your scarf around your neck.

"This was a great idea!", you tell Zayne. It had been his idea to cheer you up, since he knew you loved it.  

Zayne smiles as he reaches the counter. "Two hot chocolates and...", he turns to look at you.

"A lavender mocha latte", you add, thinking of your lavender haired boyfriend.

You both step back, waiting as your drinks are being prepared. "How's he?", Zayne asks, offhandedly.

"He's doing good...he was having a bit of a creative slump with the weather but it's –", you stop mid-sentence as the very same purple haired guy walks right into frame at that very moment.

"Hey!", he greets. The next moment, his face shuts down a little as he takes in the man you're standing with. "Who's this?", he asks.

The animosity in his eyes isn't very well hidden and you cringe, almost certain that Zayne would've picked up on it. "Rafayel! This is Dr. Zayne, my childhood best friend", you rush to introduce him.

"Zayne, this is Rafayel..."

"Nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you", Zayne says, extending his hand for a handshake.

Rafayel quirks an eyebrow at that, "Only good things, I hope"

Zayne chuckles. "I won't confirm nor deny that", he says cheekily. You nearly facepalm at his response.

"Well, what are you doing here?!", you interrupt the rather awkward moment, addressing Rafayel.

"I was just taking a stroll and buying some coffee, I didn't realize I'd run into you and your...friend", he says.

"So was I!", you say a bit too excitedly.

"You came this far to buy coffee?", he asks, a bit confused.

"Well, I was here to ice skate so..."

"That's nice", he says curtly.

Rafayel opens his mouth to say something but closes it again. You can sense he's a bit upset, but you're unsure of what to do. You couldn't just dump Zayne with his hot chocolate and head home!

The woman at the counter calls out to Rafayel as his order is ready. He excuses himself. You run a hundred scenarios in your brain about what you should do next.

Rafayel returns with his coffee order. "Let's sit together?", you ask him.

"Well...I was planning to just head home...", he confesses. You know Rafayel wasn't a fan of the cold, his slightly red nose only proving it.

You nod wordlessly. You don't want him to get sick. Besides, it's not a sit-down cafe, it's a small coffee truck, and the temperature is definitely less than ideal for him.

Your order is ready in the next few minutes and Zayne goes to grab it. "Well,", he says, returning with two steaming cups of hot chocolate, "it seems work doesn't like to see me rest, I have to return to the hospital", he says, handing you your drinks.

"It was nice meeting you", he nods at Rafayel, "sorry...I'll see you later", he says to you.

"Oh...", you nod, waving him goodbye as you join Rafayel on the walk home.

A quiet moment passes as you walk side by side.

"I didn't know you liked ice skating that much", Rafayel pouts.

"Well...I did...me and Zayne used to skate when we were kids"

It only seems to worsen the situation as he pouts further. "I could've accompanied you too, you know!"

"Really? When you hate the cold and almost slip every ten steps while walking on the sidewalk?"

He only huffs in response. "And what did he mean by neither confirm nor deny?!! Do you guys...gossip about me?", he asks, his expression a little hurt.

"No! I... he’s a little shit", you mutter under your breath. His eyes widen at your outburst, a little bit of mirth back in them.

"Besides...I got you coffee", you say, showing him the latte you've been carrying.

His eyes widen at that in surprise. "Now we have four!", he says holding up the two drinks he's carrying- one for him, one for you.

You can't help but laugh at the situation.

"See", you say, linking your arm with his, "You're always on my mind, you don't have to be jealous of Zayne"

"Who said I'm jealous!", he exclaims, "I'm not jealous"

"Sure", you say, pressing a kiss to his red nose, before pulling his scarf a little tighter around his neck.

Zayne: hope I didn't get you into too much trouble hahaha ☃😄

You make a mental note to give him an earful the next time you see him.

[rafayelsbelovedbride]

Earth to Philos - Making a timeline

The latest myths made me so confused about the timeline and when the dragons existed between Earth and the Philos, but I think I finally have an idea about what is going on. And I'm hoping I can get some feedback for all these ^^

First question: Should we even connect all LI's timelines?

Before I put everything into a single (single-ish) timeline, let's first clarify how much we can actually combine for LI's stories.

Of course, for the "By Your Side", "Falling for You", "Anectodes" and the newly released branches, the storylines are said to be separated. This makes sense, as it wouldn't be very nice to confess your undying love for all of them at the same time (It would I'm lying). But I think the only way for the LIs to be able to come to Linkon in the current timeline is if they have a past with MC.

And I think the fact that all LIs came to Linkon because of their shared past with MC was confirmed. (She just does not romance them all and remember their past with them all at the same time. So, whoever you choose, the other LIs will have to live with the fact that you will not remember them. Also, for example, when we came back to the main story after 3 branches, we have 3 Aether cores. That means even if we didn't accompany the LI, they still went there and find the Aether core alone.) Because, for the main story and the "World Underneath", there are no branches. So, I think we can safely assume, all of these stories mentioned in these parts (especially World Underneath) are happening at the same time, in the current timeline. Which means;

Zayne becomes a doctor because of MC.

Also, he implies there was an instance where he was a threat to her safety. In the main story, we have already seen he sometimes has trouble controlling his Evol. All of these things in the main story cannot happen without Zayne being cursed by Astra. Therefore, the current timeline cannot exist without Zayne betraying his god for MC. So, I'm going to assume Zayne's myths are a part of the puzzle completing the main storyline.

Lemuria is in ruins and Rafayel is looking for MC.

Lemurians adapted to life alongside humans after "a disaster". We know that disaster very well, as the Forgotten Sea ended with the Sea God ceremony failing and Lemuria being plunged into darkness. This is also the reason why Rafayel is looking for his "lover". So, again, the current storyline cannot exist without MC and Rafayel causing Lemuria's destruction. So, I'm going to assume Rafayel's myths are also a part of the puzzle completing the main storyline.

Xavier is in the current timeline after the Traceback II mission has failed.

This is the most important part. Xavier came back to the past from Philos with Traceback II mission, and he even mentions he wants to see his and her little planet, Uluru. Jeremiah is also aware of why MC is important to Xavier, and he immediately notices when Xavier finally finds "her". Again, all of these cannot exist without what happened in Shooting Stars. So, I'm going to assume Xavier's myths are also a part of the puzzle completing the main storyline.

Then, how can we fit Sylus's new myth into this already-complicated story?

Second question: When did the Earth end and the Philos started? Where was the dragons the whole time? Why were they not mentioned in future Philos?

Let's first clarify what we are calling the Earth and what we are calling the Philos. In this case, there are two facts I want to mention.

First: Philos was made by mortal hands.

Please pay attention to the fact that Philos is not a whole planet, but a combination of fragmented landmasses (that are separate tectonic plates) held together by a core.

Second: Deepspace tunnel connects past and future. (Earth and Philos, I think...)

So, what I think happened was... At one point in Earth's future, when the Earth was completely infested with Wanderers (like in the future Zayne sees), humanity passed through the deepspace tunnel and traveled to a distant future hoping they would find something better.

They did not. They instead found out that the Earth was falling apart into pieces and the tectonic plates were being separated from each other. And, I think, we can assume that when the tectonic plates are separated, the separation would be filled by what was underneath those tectonic plates. Like, the magma or the abyss. Like this...

So, I think, for humanity, there was a time skip, which was filled with dragons and wanderers and also maybe the remaining humans living in the abyss. I think the Tarus city (or Tartarus which is supposed to be the deep abyss that is one of the earliest beings to exist) and the abyss existed from the moment the Earth was created, but it was hidden underneath the tectonic plates (which was not separated in the earlier days of Earth).

And also, underneath the sea. Just like the abyss mentioned in MC's Witch of the Abyss dream. In the Bloodnight Drift, Sylus mentions flint when he describes the smell of Tarus city. This is really interesting (I'm being delusional), because even though they did draw the Tarus city with a lava river, flint is not a volcanic stone. Flint is formed by a cold process beneath the sea floor.

So, the abyss was a part of the Earth from the beginning. It was just hidden and it was only exposed when the seas dried and the planet/planet's core started to die. And we don't really know, if the dragons lived in that abyss from the very start or if they came into existence after humanity left.

I think, maybe, the dragons are created out of shattered pieces of the planet's Aether core. That's why they are "wicked creatures that feed on human souls making humans a slave to their desires" just like how the hollow core of Philos consumes humans for energy and turns them into wanderers.

So, if I were to draw a very rough timeline for the entire story, it would be something like this.

Lemuria was plunged into darkness, and Sea God's power could not be used to its full extent because of the failed ceremony. (I think this was one of the things that kickstarted Earth's demise, as when the seas dried the abyss started to come to the surface.)

The deepspace tunnel was formed and wanderers started to appear. (Maybe, the future Philos's core's energy source was humans of the past at first.)

Earth got infested with wanderers. Humanity escaped to the future through deepspace tunnel.

After humanity's departure, the seas dried and the tectonic plates started to separate, starting the age of Abyss (and Tarus city).

The humans came to Philos from the past through the deepspace tunnel and met with dragons.

After the war, the Legion of Justitia sealed the dragon into the Abyss. (Now here, we must note that Xavier's anectodes mention that travel between the tectonic plates is hard and MC didn't even travel to a different plate. So it is possible that not the entire humanity is at war with dragons. We also even see that there are humans living in Tarus city.)

When the humans created the artificial core for Philos and brought the fragmented land pieces together, possibly parts of the Abyss was also destroyed in the process. This can be the actual reason why dragons seized to exist in the future Philos.

In the distant future of Philos, Xavier started the Traceback II mission, going back to current timeline. The mission failed and backtrackers betrayed Xavier.

Backtrackers gave the technology to Ever that would make them able to travel through deepspace tunnel in the future.

Starting a never-ending loop.

And, I'm going to stop right here for now. I don't want to make this too long and include how Lemurians and Astra fit into this as I somehow already discussed it before.

But for me, this is the only way I can understand where the abyss and dragons came from. So if you have anything to add to this, please do.

[0yuri-chan0]

Silent treatment

Hey guys! It’s been awhile since I’ve last posted 😭 But I’m back and ready to write more! This is from the game love and deepspace and it’s based off of Rafayel’s branch in the story ‘Land of the secret flame. Hope you enjoy!

Paring - Rafayel x F!reader

Warnings - Fingering, Creampies, Ect.

Genre - Smut.

Normally you’d carry out a mission from the Hunters Association flawlessly or as close to flawless as you could. Five minutes earlier you asked Rafayel to be your partner in crime, fitting because he’s wanted in the N109 Zone. Now you and Rafayel are pressed against the wall as the guards turn corners.

“Take a left at 3594, go up the stairs, and then take another left before walking to 4136. Go through the side door and cross the terrance that’s how’ll we’ll get to the security room.”

You mumbled to Rafayel as you got ready to run down the ships hallway. His hand pressed against the small of your back behind you.

“And you’re sure we won’t get caught by the guards patrolling?”

“Positive, besides I’m not doing this by myself.”

Suddenly footsteps could be heard walking towards you and Rafayel with familiar voices. Getting closer and about the round the corner you can tell who one of the voices belonged to. Maxwell. ‘What’s he doing here.’ You thought as Rafayle pulled a hatch open from the ships floor and pulled you in.

“Hurry in here.”

The space below the deck and cramped and small the only light illuminating the small room is the red led emergency light. You and Rafayel having to stay close together is a safer option as to not make noise to alert the others and honestly there wasn’t any room to even move around, let alone get any space between the two of you.

You’re body stiffened as you felt Rafayel hard on press against your lower abdomen. You clear your throat and tried to focus on the conversation that’s happening above you but you couldn’t. His breath heavy as you shifted to get comfortable.

“Is the passcode about to change?”

Rafayel said as he moved his left arm to rest it behind you in the clutter of boxes.

“It’s alright we have maybe seven, eight minutes.”

You replied back in a small whisper. Your legs are have started to feel numb. Pushing yourself against Rafayel’s cock. Hearing him groan in your ear makes your body shiver and pause in your track. Pressing your legs together you suddenly feel the need to have something fill you up.

“Sorry, I’ve been trying to hold back.”

His hand slowly moved to grab your waist. His head dipped down to your shoulder. Sucking in a deep breath you nodded.

“I… do you need help?”

You whispered against the shell off his ear. Feeling him nods against your shoulder make you instantly wet. Your eyes look up to the hatch door still voices. ‘Damn it. Still there.’ You thought as you felt his slender fingers slip up your dress and pressed against your panties. The fabric absorbing your slick as he rubbed his fingers against it.

“Can’t they talk about their everyday lives somewhere else?”

He whispered annoyed as your mind started to fail you. The situation was so lewd and wrong in so many different ways.

“R-Rafayel.”

Bucking your hips into his fingers. Knowing what you want he pushes aside your underwear and slips a finger inside.

“Like that?”

Your head leaned back as I bit your lip to silence your moans. Slipping another finger in and curling them in just the right place. God. he really did know how to work you open. Moving your hips with the thrusted of his fingers muddled your thoughts. Forgetting why you were even down there in the first place. Though it wasn’t exactly enough your hand rose to tangle your fingers in his hair as you choked on a moan.

“I need you. God please.”

“Fuck, I know.”

He said as you heard the click of his belt and the rustling of his pants falling. Your eyes look down the red glow being your only source of light. You let out a nervous laugh as you see his cock.

“You think that’s going to fit?”

“Better in this form than my Lemurian one.”

You watched as he stroked his cock. It was big and girthy with a curve. You would’ve got on your knees in a heartbeat if there was room to do so. As he lines himself up with your entrance you hand grabbed his forearm preparing yourself. Slowly he breaches your entrance and pushes himself all way in. Leaning forward Rafayel leaves kisses against your neck nipping and biting at your soft skin.

You nodded singling that he could move. Slowly he pulls himself leaving the tip in then thrust back inside making you groan. Bitting his shoulder to control yourself.

“You’re tight, and warm.”

He says drowning in pleasure as he continues to thrust inside of you. His hips snapping forward then back in a repeating motion. The knot in your stomach was getting to be to much to handle.

“Raf..Rafayel!”

You choked out to warn him how you were so so close. His grunts filled your ears as his thumb circles your clit. ‘Fuck it’s to much.’ You name flows out his mouth like a mantra as his other hand wrapps around your waist finally the knot in your stomach releases as he fill you up with is cum.

Basking in the after glow he laughed gently. As sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Well.. that’s- something.”

You rolled your eyes as you finally realized that you missed the opening to get to the safe. Groaning as you had one change to get to the necklace. Rafayel pulled you closer and breathed into your dress.

“Don’t worry you’ll have another chance to get your readings or whatever. Just relax.”

Anywho! You can also find this in AO3!!

[cherimoyatea]

❧ Rafayel - Hidden Glow

Pairing: Rafayel x You Synopsis: A stroll through the park becomes gloomier than you planned as Rafayel finds himself trapped in his thoughts. Word Count: 747 Tags: rafayel's love for nature, a brief mention of his lore, deep thoughts, autumn Side Notes: So, after the mini-series ended, I planned on writing something more cheerful, but it ended up being deeper than I expected. Maybe it's really just the change of seasons ahaha... Snowberries are pretty common where I live: I remember looking them up for a school project during my teens and falling in love with the poetic duality of the fruit. Still think about it whenever I come across them. Caution: They're highly toxic!

''Do you know how snowberries got their name?''

You watch Rafayel as he walks over to the bushes with the white berries, gently taking a cluster of the fruits between his long fingers.

The warm sun has drawn many visitors to the city park on this cool autumn weekend, and you immediately agreed when your partner asked if you would like to go for a walk.

Curiously, you step closer to him, observing the white berries among the now sparsely covered branches. ''Let me think... because they're white?'' You respond with a smile, watching intently as he carefully picks one snowberry from the bushes near the path.

You already know that there is more behind his question. The answer would be too easy to guess.

Rafayel returns your smile faintly and rolls the berry between his thumb and forefinger, before holding it up against the sun. The way the golden rays fall around his silhouette and the colorful autumn leaves drift in the cool breeze, he looks almost ethereal.

As if he's not from this world.

Lost in your admiration of him, you finally see him turn toward you again, offering you the berry between his fingers. You open your palm and he gently places it in your hand before turning back to the bushes, followed by your curious gaze as he gathers more snowberries.

''I've passed by these berries many times, but they only caught my attention when I saw children picking and stomping on them.'' He says, still focused on the bush as he weighs the white fruits in his hand.

''They're called 'pop berries' because they burst with a loud pop under your feet.'' You nod, rolling the lone berry in your palm, wondering where he is going with this. ''I did that too as a kid. It's fun, you know?''

Rafayel nods understandingly, causing you to flinch a little when he suddenly lets the berries fall to the ground, where they burst with a loud pop under his elegant shoe. Finally, he turns to you again, gently taking the one berry from your hand as if it was the most fragile thing he had ever seen.

''Look... if you throw them to the ground and step on them, they're only 'pop berries'. A fun, innocent distraction from ordinary life.''

His beautiful eyes reflect a tenderness that tightens your chest and you hold your breath as he carefully opens the berry in his hand, revealing it's shimmering white flesh to you.

''But if you take a closer look, you'll notice that it's true worth lies hidden inside... glowing like new-fallen snow.''

Amazed, you look at the split fruit between his fingers. ''How come I never noticed this? It's beautiful...'' You say, still stunned by the richness and depth of his soul that he occasionally shows you.

Rafayel truly has a unique way of seeing the world.

''Because people are always the same, don't you think? Stomping on others without realizing their worth hidden underneath.'' His voice comes out of nowhere, and your stunned smile shifts into a concerned frown as you watch him toss the broken berry into the bushes.

Unaware that he's fighting his own battles silently.

''Rafayel...? Are you alright?'' You ask, wondering why he seems so lost in his thoughts on this sunny autumn day. ''They're just kids... aren't you a little gloomy today?''

''Gloomy?''' The Lemurian looks up at you in surprise, as if you just uncovered a secret. He slowly lifts his gaze to the branches above, watching the colorful leaves sway. ''Yeah... maybe it's just the change of seasons, huh?'' He adds sheepishly before looking back at you, a feigned bright smile spreading across his face—one he perfected over years of solitude.

Telling you the truth? That he's been having nightmares as the anniversary of his beloved homeland's downfall is nearing?

Not an option.

Not because he doesn't trust you. He simply couldn't bear to burden you with the trauma he's been forced to carry for decades. How could he ever tell you the truth? That you were the key to his people's salvation or destruction? Needless to say, he would always choose the latter again if it meant keeping you safe no matter how it tormented his soul.

Yet you notice a glint of vulnerability in his expression, and as you open your lips to express your concerns, he simply takes your hand and starts walking again.

''Or maybe I'm just hungry! Let's grab some food, yeah?''

Thank you for reading!

Cherry 🍒

[ridox]

A Theory on Caleb and MC’s dynamics —

Now that our beloved Pilot is back from the dead with a new preview I have several theories regarding his and MC’s past involving Ever

(I’m also back with theorizing this year now that we’re finally getting main story progression and updates!)

All theories under cut! 🦾

What struck me the most about the preview was the line “They are the optimal weapon for destroying one another.”

Alongside the information we got that Caleb’s EVOL is classified as gravitational combat.

We already know that Grandma was a former researcher for EVER that adopted both Caleb and MC after the experimentations done to them. Whether it was green lighted by EVER or not is not entirely sure yet but we could infer that EVER didn’t mind so long as MC was with Caleb and Grandma (more so Caleb). Why?

I think Caleb was sculpted by EVER to be MC’s demise if her EVOL goes out of control. He was made as a Plan B if their efforts to suppress her EVOL did not work.

MC is essentially carrying the power of a planet’s core inside of her (re: see Xavier’s myth regarding MC and her role in saving Philos). EVER wanted to make sure that if things ever go south they would have an asset behind them that could take out the threat.

And the closest asset they have to her is Caleb himself. Too much gravitational pull could make a planet collapse in on itself. MC’s Anhaunsen Class EVOL could be the push that Caleb’s EVOL needs to trigger that. Except he doesn’t want to kill MC, he’s grown to attached to her and have been keeping her in the dark when it comes to his space missions as a feeble attempt to save her.

EVER has had their eyes on MC since she was a child, but she didn’t became a liability until the supposed guardians the company assigned to her mysteriously died. But we now know that Caleb isn’t actually dead.

Of course, it only makes sense that EVER is going to save him. He’s their only weapon against MC should she decide to awake her full power and wage a war against them. Caleb is the only LI linking them to her because all the other LI’s have grudges against EVER.

Case in point:

- Xavier doesn’t trust Ever for experimenting on Wanderers. It’s also been suggested that former backtrackers who formed a grudge against their prince for ‘abandoning them’ has made it known that they’re also out of MC and possibly even started working with the company to annihilate her.

- Zayne doesn’t trust Ever for their involvement in practicing dubious medicine involving protocores. One of his specialties as a doctor is dealing with symptoms of protocore syndrome and from his branch we were able to see just how much distrust and disdain he has for these people.

- Rafayel’s involvement is hazy but possible that he has some inkling of a doubt about the experiments Ever has been doing behind closed doors. He’s a possible asset to them after all if they get him. Former God of the Sea and one of the few remaining Lemurians alive today. We also know he made a deal with a representative of Ever during the auctions so there’s no doubt he actually knows their shady business on the side.

But this is where it gets interesting for me!

Sylus has direct contact with Ever in the N109 Zone and he has all the reason to involve himself in their business after they involved him in theirs. We know Sylus was gone for an unnamed amount of time and within that timespan the two explosions had happened. They pinned it on Onychinus afterwards to take advantage of Sylus’ missing status.

It also just make sense that once he got a wind of it, he’s going to investigate what really happened. Sherman was most likely bought off by Ever to do their dirty work in the N109 Zone and possibly to kidnap MC once they got wind that she’ll be at the auction. I feel like through those series of events Sylus was able to find out that Caleb was in fact still alive and has been tasked to get MC back to Ever’s hands.

Alas! These are all merely theories. I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts. I’m so excited for the Main Story Update more than anything.

[shineysposts]

I know Rafayel's story branch kind of lost the spotlight with the quad banner announcement, which is a bit sad, because I’m still left with this heavy feeling in my heart, and I just can’t stop thinking about it.

This scene has been living rent-free in my head for 2 days now, and I just feel like I need to let it out.

it’s giving me major Before Sunset flashback (Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy).

There’s something so beautifully bittersweet about making a promise in the fleeting intimacy of a single day—believing that connection is strong enough to transcend time and distance. In Before Sunrise, they promise to meet again a year later. But Celine never shows up. When they finally reunite in Before Sunset, there’s the weight of unfulfilled promises, Jesse’s subtle resentment and Celine’s guilt. You can tell Jesse wanted to be mad at her, but the second he sees her, all that hurt melts away. He just wanted to feel her presence again,

and that’s EXACTLY what Rafayel’s line gives me. I have been bracing myself for the moment when MC finally remembered at least just a bit of memory about their promise. I was half-expecting an emotional train wreck, but instead, we got this breathtakingly beautiful resolution:

That “Because I knew you were waiting for me,” from MC is so powerful. It felt like a form of healing I didn’t even realize I needed. I really hope we get to see more of these kinds of "healing together moments" between MC and Rafayel in the future.

There's something really special about seeing them confront their past, accept the hurt, and choose to move forward together.

[nightklok]

Still thinking about rafayel’s main story branch I am so UNWELL

Spoiling below some thoughts

The fact he sounded SO dejected by the end like he’s AWARE of what he just did-

It seemed like up until this point Rafayel wasn’t necessarily rejecting his past but was clearly beating around the bush with it. And with the powers being awakened and MC slowly regaining her memories, he can’t hide anymore and would eventually have to face it.

We don’t even know too if the childhood promise was in this lifetime too! But if she never had any memory before of it until this point, then something must’ve happened. You don’t just forget about meeting a mermaid as a child!!

I also think that the character arc of Rafayel being so resentful and hurt by the past but yet he HATES it and wants to move on has really developed him! He just wants to love her and even let her command him!!

I definitely don’t think this is an arc ender for him but I love how the final words of ‘because I know you’re waiting for me’ is SUCH a good callback to how much he had waited for her. And now she acknowledges it, even went out of her way through a storm warning just to see him right now because she doesn’t want him to wait any longer.

They are two different types of water but they will always go back to where they came from, together.

[qinluna]

Here's my biggest complaint: I think Infold missed a huge opportunity by not making Love & Deepspace an action, open-world RPG game compared to a mobile otome game. While I do understand the safer route it takes and how it can appeal to a certain audience for the better of profit and accessible marketing, it's becoming a bit overwhelming with how broad the lore is becoming and how the storytelling is incredibly multilayered. And while I'm always for the method of irregular storytelling to leave more mystery and opening room for interpretation / discussion with other players, I think there is only so much that Infold can actually maintain on a mobile platform.

I've spoken countlessly about how L&DS shares elements similar to that of the modern Final Fantasy games and Devil May Cry (particularly DMC5 since it's the most recent). While I initially thought this was just for the character design and the design of the combat system, I'm soon realizing that the amount of theories I see about the story are beginning to venture towards a bigger platform.

I think even Infold themselves is realizing this big oopsie they did because I feel like after the big release of Sylus's debut, there's beginning to feel like a strong lack of focus and care towards the main story. I thought Zayne's story branch was going to be bigger than it was when the trailer dropped... only to feel really underwhelmed at the end? I've restrained myself from playing Rafayel's latest branch for this reason because I don't feel as excited like I used to and I'm unsure of what I'm going to get since Infold's lost my trust as they're in a cash-grab cow era at the moment!

But in truth, if Infold isn't going to change this up soon, the game is just going to get boring. I think player burnout is more prevalent now because of the overwhelming amount of content and the announcement of a new quad banner. I'm not the only player who is being vulnerable about the difficulties of being f2p compared to those who can afford pulling for every banner and spending beyond $1k on this game.

That's the thing, as well. The controversial thing I believe is that Infold would've made the same profit, if not more, by making L&DS an RPG. It would still have the same effect, and fans would still be making the same kind of lewd content. You think hack-and-slash games are free from the perverted freaks of fandom? Absolutely not, LMAO. Here's an example of how this could've gone:

The main story as the open world exploration, as the main quest the player can engage in. MC is still customizable entirely in the functions it has now, but if for an open-world RPG, I would suggest adding the option for more diverse body types. I would love to see the Hunter HQ and Linkon City as open spaces to walk around and explore. Imagine how sick the N109 Zone would look.

There can be MULTIPLE ways to attain the Memories. In my opinion, with this format, all the perma-banner Memories are attainable. You can get Memories by completing boss fights, side quests, or unlocking them by doing secret quests. It's like basic game achievements. As for the limited Memories, Infold could STILL program codes for temporary events, collabs, DLCs, etc. Ex. Final Fantasy 15 did this for something related to Assassin's Creed, and by participating in that event, you would unlock the event outfits permanently for the whole party. THAT is how it should be for the limited Memories. By completing the event's tasks (can be with any LI of choice), you unlock the Memories, the outfits, and so on. If players want the limited event content after, they can and should be purchased with IN-GAME CURRENCY.

Abyssal Chaos can still be a thing with the same reward system. This would be a great way to complete challenges and encourage people to improve their combat play style. However, there could be more missions beyond Tobias' story to complete. More levels of difficulty too, that way the challenges are bigger and it gives people ample time to actually prepare if they're trying to 100% everything even on the hardest difficulty.

The additional base game outfits that are perma-available to unlock with Chocolates, etc. should be able to be unlocked with leveling up your character. No payments. I said what I said.

Oh, also, conclusively, the main story would be finished. It's just that it would take a VERY long time to complete the game and on top of wanting to get all the achievements, it would take you even longer. I know certain people prefer a canon ending, but this type of game and story format would benefit from a choose-your-own-path type of path. I'm not even sorry, LMAO. Plenty of games in this format have done this, and once again, it gives you more incentive to play the game more if you want to achieve all four endings with each LI or something. You'll be fine, you'll live!

[ourlittleuluru]

Voyage Of The Outcast - My Thoughts 1/4

Can I just say this first...? Whoever made the Voyage of the outcast trailer. They threw us in for SUCH A DAMN LOOP!

in a good way! It started off with the poem which we have 0 context for. But with the potential angst they weaved, we were left to believe the poem was like... A bell ringing in some crazy angst ride. BUT IT ENDED UP...!! Okay I'll leave this to the ending part. I'll get back to it.

These are just me gathering my thoughts now that I'm awake 😂 Gonna be replaying through the story a few times. I have yet to read any other reviews at the moment so some things might be missed that others have posted about. I'll go catch up once I'm done uwu

Sorry this is one of the few times I am gonna be pretty unhinged and post a heck lot of text there's a heck lot to think about...

I tried to write a single post but my thoughts are... LONG (also I have a lot of images)... so split post it shall be ( ﾉ ﾟｰﾟ);;; Will try and format it a lil at least;;;;

Just a little something I noticed with the way the stories are written for the branches: ❄ Zayne branch explored more of his internal struggle and MC helps to overcome it with him 🐟 Rafayel, has mostly been forthright with his feelings even if there still secrets and stuff he doesn't say. So his branch mostly explored the external factors around his life. Such as the sea god power and also finally MC remembering their important shared memory. ⭐ Now Xavier. His branch feels a lot more full and rounded out to me because he's a man of secrets. It's been noted through the whole main story and many of their interactions. MC doesn't know what he does outside and MC a lot of the times can't quite figure him out. But all MC knows is to trust him even if blindly. And Xavier's story's branch addresses both internal and external factors and points surrounding him.

It's still is gonna be a long one, people (ヘ･_･)ヘ┳━┳ into the read more it goes

Notes in Chp 1

Okay first... what 😭

PAINTED! PROTOCORE FRAGMENTS! How... how did the smugglers thought it'd fly??? But the image that Xavier was just randomly pulled into this investigation to sit in as a judge was a funny image to me 😂

Anyways... This whole story, I love how they expand and voice out MC's inner thoughts even more, especially with MC's doubts about Xavier. But as always, it's mission and objectives come first, or some other things that takes precedence.

Now this part here is interesting to me. Xavier WANTS MC to probe and ask him more things. And I suspect that's where he'll slowly determine where MC stands and how to further proceed with letting MC know about what he does. 🤔

Which later gives us the chance to pick what to ask him

I ended up picking the 2nd option first since knowing Xavier, he'd still answer the question leaving lots of gaps =-=

SEE? Keeping it vague, again. Though this time he did hint at something which can easily just fly under the radar as something one knows the consequence of but must keep going.

Though it could also hint in the sense that, since he comes from Philos from the future, he's aware of the overarcing stuff that's gonna happen.

But for the other option, Xavier would be more straightfoward. We did get to know a bit more about the Aether Cores tho, well... and that is those things are dangerous.

In the end it concludes into one thing...

Xavier knows but he doesn't want to limit nor skew MC's views. He wants MC to decide for themselves. I feel this is quite key to the whole "freedom" thing he's got going on too. It's also the same with him and the Backtrackers in WU.

And then it ends off with this 😭

A PROPOSAL?! Nah jk. But it kinda feels like it's finally establishing their relationship for the future (at least in the main story)

Also, also. Interesting thing. In the CN version, Xavier says "我愿意" instead of "I'll always be with you"

Was gonna scream about how it sounds like Xavier is saying "I do"...

But here comes the reality... MC was asking "...if my partner is willing..." which in CN is "我的搭档愿意为此与我。。。"

Xavier is just replying pretty normally ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ can't say that I'm not just a tad bit disappointed that he wasn't being sneaky for once T^T

[everlasting-elegy]

I WATCHED THE APRIL FOOLS MV/TRAILER THAT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING OMG but also poor Hajime skjdkskd I was kinda dying of second hand embarrassment the entire time but I guess that’s how you know they succeeded 😅

Just seeing quick thumbnails from the Enstars channel it definitely seems like they’re branching out and giving idols more interactions outside their designated group. I hope it allows fans to see unique dynamics between odd pairings because it was honestly the dynamics and history characters shared with each other that got me interested (as well as the banger music Eden is still releasing hit after hit-)

MMMM having a whole new game with new cards to grind was one of the factors that got me out of Nightbringer 😩 but the premium picture feature was a smart money-making move on Solmare’s part THAT SOLOMON CARD LOOKS SO GOOD AND IM SORRY DID YOU SAY SHOWER PICS??

I do think Solmare dug themselves into a whole given how they probs didn’t expect Obey Me to blow up and be such a long-standing game, so completely rebooting it would be difficult. But I will always be in support of the Solomon agenda 💪💪 Having people meet him and know him early and realise just how much of a househusband he is is all I need to know that they’re taking the game in the right direction 😌

THANK YOU FOR THE ANSWER AND FOR NIKI BEENA HE’S ADORABLE 🫶🫶 I can’t talk too much about Love and Deepspace since I may end up just talking about it later in a ramble/rant. But also I feel a lot of lore is sort of up in the air?? They’re drip feeding it in a very palatable way and I get the gist of what’s happening but the specific details are still a little iffy but this game has ALL THE ROMANCE TROPES I LOVE. As for a fave… I can’t pick, I think it’s Rafayel, the banter he and MC share are just the best!! But Xavier has been very kind to me in my gacha pulls and I believe relationships are reciprocal LMAO (meanwhile Rafayel has been a gacha PAIN)

Damn with my answer now I’m the one who has the long answer 😂

HIHI Mo!! It’s so nice talking to you again 😊😊 Even though I don’t keep up to date with any big lore or plot from Enstars or Obey Me I still casually stay in the loop so feel free to let me know about anything big 😉 like I saw there were new Enstars characters?? after HOW LONG?? I was so shook

(Also the Triworlds song is such a classy banger they have been COOKING)

Heya, Avery! Thank you so much for the ask! Nice to see you too~ ^^

Now that you ask me about recent Enstars and Obey Me developments, I have... much to say about them so I'll put them under the cut; brainrot time!!

I have a massive, MASSIVE Enstars brainrot to the point that I even made a sideblog to dump my RyuseiP stuff because I don't wanna overshadow my Obey Me stuff here lol

In case you missed it, there are new albums per unit with new songs and solos

And YEAHHH HappyEle really went and had us adopt 5 new kids just recently and they're adorable! I found myself immediately attached to Yume (the purple-haired one) when he was first introduced in the 9th anniv livestream because we share a birthday, not to mention he also plays piano and does cosplay??

It made me a little giddy about it like did they put my OC on Enstars or something /j what are the odds I suddenly have a buncha things in common with an Enstars character— (Plus coser representation!!)

I haven't read much but based on a few simple translations, the new main story arc involves certain ES idols auditioning for a worldwide(?) dream unit in a show called "4piece" and we even have a new producer!

I think what's interesting about this arc is that it would focus more on the idols' individual strengths outside of their respective units

Also, I think Chiaki's also part of the audition based on how he appeared on the PV they showed in the 9th anniv livestream so I'm looking forward to it~

I'm not sure if you've seen this one too but JPstars' April fools gag this year was so WILDDD they even have a full song for it

They basically collaborated with Yagami Chitose, who is an actual shoujo mangaka artist, for the story and illustrations in the MV

The story itself involves a ton of shoujo manga tropes (including Hajime / the MC somehow bumping into 4 people at once) and it was a fun read lol

You can even change the characters while the text and their voices change accordingly so imagine the opportunities for both yumes and shippers 👀

Unfortunately for Obey Me Nightbringer, I've yet to catch up to the Main Story again because of the card grinding ;w;

But aside from Anniversary and All the Feels, they've been cooking with cards too! It takes a toll on players' funds because you need card dupes for them but the new Premium Picture feature looks so divine?? Don't even get me started on the shower pics—

Even though I was a bit iffy about the sudden story reboot in the new game, I still appreciate some of the details they changed, including MC living with Solomon at Cocytus Hall instead of them staying with the brothers (since it makes a bit more sense that they'd be closer to Sol as a fellow human), and Satan's more evident wrath compared to the OG game

We even get to enjoy random domestic moments with Sol like this one~ Since we pretty much live together with him, we sound like a married couple (though a lot of those moments involve banning him from the kitchen)

sorry for the really long answer— here's a niki beena

[rafayelsbelovedbride]

I need to stop you there and tell you that Rafayel IS the Sea God. It is what is there in Forgotten Myth. He is the prophesized last Sea God as stated in the original CN text. There is absolutely no question about it. That is who he is and his role. The full power he's supposed to have is independent from the fact that he's 100% the Sea God.

Rafayel is described as the last sea god in all translations. But that's not my point. My point is both in the new branch and the Sea of Golden Sand, Rafayel had to find the tome of the Sea God and check the prophecy with MC's help. And there was nothing to imply Rafayel knew the prophecy before he saw the tome. If Rafayel is the Sea God, why he doesn't know the prophecy already and why he can't see the prophecy of the tome of the Sea God without MC's help?

Similarly, in the Forgotton Sea, I think Rafayel initially thought that MC was supposed to give her heart the way Rafayel gave his to her, with no one dying. Everyone already knew the prophecy about how the Sea God must take the heart of his most devoted follower. Still, Algie and Conch made plans with MC about after the ceremony. I think no one knew she was supposed to die. But, something changed when Rafayel saw the new prophecy during the ceremony that made him betray his duty as the "Sea God".

Even if Rafayel is 100% sea god, this implies there is a higher power above him who knows his future and his destinity, when he doesn't. So I can't help but to see the Sea Gods as tools for a higher power. I chose to call both Rafayel and this higher power as the Sea God because we don't have more information about it yet. But I still stand by what I said in the previous post. The Sea Gods like Rafayel were supposed to borrow the power of a more powerful being. And Rafayel ended up being the last Sea God because he refused to gain this power if it meant killing MC.

[rafayelsbelovedbride]

I'm really expecting to see the Gods (whether it's Astra or the higher power that gives the Sea Gods the prophecies) more in the story in the future, especially since they already gave Astra a voice in Zayne's branch. And I think it would be really interesting to see Rafayel (and Zayne too since he's already described as a tool) as an incarnation or a vessel of a higher being too.

But if we're going to go down this path, I feel like it would've made so much sense if MC was also an incarnation.

We have already seen that she has a very unique heart. A heart that can give a god his full powers, a heart that can feed a planet's core, and a heart that have achieved true immortality (as said in Shooting Stars). But also a heart that is incomplete in a sense that she has the desire to devour/absorb other aether cores (as revealed with Sylus' introduction).

So sometimes I think, maybe it was MC who rebelled and disobeyed her god in the very beginning. Maybe she was the one who sacrificed herself and her heart for her beloved's sake. Maybe she was the one who stole the power of the god and brought it down to earth, even if that meant betraying her god, and even if that meant shattering her own heart into pieces.

And maybe that's why all the other incarnations either need her power (Rafayel in Forgotten Sea) or need to eliminate her existence (Zayne in Snow's Embrace).

We still know so little about MC since she has no memories of her past, so maybe it's too early to talk about her. But I do have a strong belief that the final villain is going to be a god.

Lemurians and the Sea God

As the new branch revealed that Rafayel borrowed the Sea God's powers rather than being the Sea God himself, I want to discuss why the Lemurians needed this power in the first place.

So let's start by summarizing what we know so far, and what these things can imply.

First, Rafayel accepted the Sea God's powers with a price.

Rafayel accepted the Sea God's powers from the tome which had an aether core embedded in it. This implies unlike what was mentioned in the Forgotten Sea, Rafayel is not a god but a vessel for the Sea God's powers. And, he has to pay a price and obey the Sea God's will (the prophecies of tome of the Sea God) for using these powers.

I wonder why there was an aether core fragment in the tome. Did Rafayel receive the power through this aether core? And, was Rafayel drawn to that because he also possesses fragments in his heart, just like MC? Is that why he is the vessel? Can this also explain the strength of their bond that can bring Rafayel back when he was possessed by these powers? Can MC differentiate the frequency of Rafayel's heart and the Sea God's heart when she resonates? Does that mean there is a little difference between all the aether core fragments?

Rafayel and the Sea God are different entities as Rafayel can lose his control to the Sea God.

I think there is a reason why Rafeyel described the tome of the Sea God as the island's cornerstone that bore the weight of Lemuria's past and future. I think the original Sea God (maybe the first Sea God) was the core of the planet. The same core that was described to be empty and had long been exhausted in the Shooting Stars myth, which probably belongs to a timeline after Rafayel's and the last Sea God's death.

I think the Lemurians used the Sea God's power as a supply for the earth's core the same way the king of Philos wanted to use the aether core of MC.

Maybe many years ago, this whole thing started with Lemurians asking for a god's help when they faced with the fact that the earth's core was dying. And, the god accepted their prayers and made a vessel so that it could come down to earth and use its powers to keep the planet alive a little while longer.

This power is described as a great "flame" that has burned in Whalefall City's temple for thousands of years. And without it, the Lemurians are said to transform into hideous beasts. (wanderers?)

Also, I wonder if the vessels were created by the god from an aether core fragment. And to be able to inherit the Sea God's powers, their aether core needed to have a certain level of strength that could carry the Sea God, otherwise, the vessel would shatter when it was filled with its powers. And that's what the prophecy refers to. The vessels must increase their strength before they can fully inherit the Sea God's powers.

Rafayel was born in flames and he needs his most devoted follower's heart to gain strength. Also, when MC first met him, Rafayel said "You awakened me."

In Rafayel's case, he has to do it by getting MC's heart. I think the prophecy is a little misleading here. I think MC does not have to give her heart because she is the most devoted follower. Instead, I think she has to do that because the vessel needs the aether core's energy, that MC already possesses, to carry the Sea God's power. Prophecy refers to MC like that because that's just something that describes who MC is. There could have been no other devoted follower of the Sea God.

In addition to that, he then gave his own heart to MC, increasing the power of MC's aether core when he's supposed to do the opposite. And that's why, when they look at the tome in Sea of Golden Sand, the prophecy changes to "to take back what he's lost the God of the Sea must kill his beloved".

Also, I find it interesting that Rafayel said you awakened me when they first met. As Rafayel was said to be trapped in a place with very strong currents just like the blue hole where the tome of the Sea God resides, I think we can assume that this is the place where MC first found him. So, I wonder if Rafayel was awakened because he felt the power from MC's heart, the same heart that he needs to enhance his strength to become the Sea God in the future. I also wonder if MC found Rafayel that day because she was also drawn to his aether core by her heart.

Rafayel rewrote the tome of the Sea God and choose to burn away.

But Rafayel has never taken MC's heart. So he never fully inherited the Sea God's power to keep the flame alight and the earth's core stable. Instead, he rewrote the tome and gave away his life to keep the core intact for a while longer. And that is why he is the last Sea God. And when the energy he gave to the earth's core was exhausted at some point, the heart of Philos remained empty after him.

The heart of Philos is empty and hungry for energy. This energy can be supplied by ordinary human life or by the MC's aether core.

And that's how I connect Lemuria and Philos. I think in the beginning, Lemurians were the ones being fed into the planet's core and turn into wanderers until they found a way to inherit the Sea God's powers and use the aether core for the same purpose. But then Rafayel broke this deal with the Sea God and left the earth's core empty again until the core started to feed on people of Philos. To prevent this, the king of Philos decided to use MC and her aether core again.

So, in the end, even though Rafayel sacrificed his life to take MC's place, his sacrifice was not enough to keep her safe. And this is a very sad story.

[rafayelsbelovedbride]

You're gonna make me cry, Why can't they just be happy together 🥺

But I wouldn't exactly consider the last chapter as a hole in your theory. To truly awaken the sea god, Rafayel needs MC's heart, as shown in both his myths. In the last chapter, he obviously didn't do that. If he did fully awaken the Sea God, Lemuria wouldn't be dead in the future either. He would succeed and restore the Lemuria. That would be the end of his story with MC.

So I think in the last branch, Rafayel just borrowed more power from the Sea God without fully completing the rite. And while he took MC with him to the tome since he needed her help to see the prophecy, I think it was also because he trusted her and their bond to get him into his senses if something went wrong.

So I don't think he intended to disappear to bring out the Sea God. He just wanted to "steal" more power from him. Maybe that's why the sea was so angry taht day. The Sea God still didn't get the heart it was promised.

Oh, I see your point about the mood change. I wonder if keeping his Sea God side suppressed is a struggle for Rafayel. And there are times he fails. Maybe not all of them are as obvious as what happened in the branch, but he's not always strong. He's only that strong when MC is with him and his bond glows. Maybe that's why in the Sea of Golden Sand, the story started with Rafayel somehow cooperating with Amund, but he ended up betraying the Lemuria again with MC.

I'm also really curious about how much he remembers through his reincarnations. But I think it would be better if he remembers everything, since he's the one who always commenting on MC's memory, and he's the one who found witch of the abyss when MC clearly didn't remember him.

I keep seeing people saying MC betrayed Rafayel in the past, but I don't understand??? Where?? When??

MC offered her heart when he asked for it. He was the one who refused to accept.

MC was banished to abyss with no memories and made the potion because she thought he was going to drink it. But he made MC drink.

Even when he erased their bond, she remembered and found him again.

So whyyy??? When was the betrayal?? I'm really asking cause I don't get it, did I miss something? Are we reading the same thing?? I think neither MC nor Rafayel ever betrayed the other??

Also, the same thing with the resentment. Where is the Rafayel resents MC is coming from?? Rafayel's resentment looks more like towards his duty as the sea god and the responsibilities that were put on him from the moment he was born. Not towards MC??? He put up a wall not because he's angry at her but because he knows everything will be against them and maybe if she stays away from him she can be happy??

He wants her to remember him because he loves her, but also he doesn't want her to remember because what if she blames herself, what if she's still willing to die for his behalf. He thinks she must be the one who resent him, so why is she trying to get close, why is she acting so naive?

What is all these slander?????