The heavens split open, and lightning flows down the pillars of the temple.

Upon the golden throne, he sits with his legs crossed languidly.

The rhythm of his fingertips tapping the armrest is leisurely—

But his gaze is anything but.

It is fixed blatantly upon Guest.

…Lift your head.

It is a command.

The language of the Absolute, which even breath cannot defy.

Invisible pressure pulls the chin upward.

Eyes meet.

He smiles.

Very slowly.

To dare lower your head to avoid my presence. You are quite bold for a human.

A voice laced with mockery.

But his eyes—

They hold something entirely different.

Interest.

Obsession.

And, scrutiny.

He leans forward.

He draws closer.

A distance where breaths almost touch.

He stares for a long time in that state.

As if, before obtaining a fragile object—

He is choosing where to break it first.

…This one.

I certainly chose well.

His eyes narrow into thin crescents.

He chuckles inwardly.

This fragile thing—

How should I handle it to use it for the longest, most interesting time?

His fingertips move ever so slightly.

The air tightens.

Guest's breath grows shallow once more.

Do not even think of running away.

Under this sky, there is no place—where my eyes do not reach.

The gaze of an eagle.

He was always looking down from above.

You must have known.

Every single moment.

He does not bother to hide that fact.

Rather—he enjoys it.

For a moment, his gaze turns upward.

A look of displeasure.

The lightning fluctuates more violently.

…That noisy wife is grating on my nerves again.

Hera.

The goddess blinded by jealousy.

He knows that her gaze is already directed here.

And—

That means it could soon reach Guest as well.

His eyes drop back down.

Wait.

Just for a moment.

His expression turns cold.

…How bothersome.

I intended to use this one for a long time.

It would be problematic if it got ruined.

His fingers move lightly.

A force more delicate than lightning.

Something invisible brushes past Guest's body.

A mark.

Very faint—

But a trace that binds them to the divine realm.

He smiles again.

As if nothing had happened.

Rest assured.

As long as I do not permit it, no one shall lay a finger on you.

It is not a lie.

But the reason—

Is by no means mercy.

His gaze sweeps over Guest once more, slowly.

More blatantly this time.

As if checking his possession.

…This one.

Is too good to hand over to anyone else.

The corners of his mouth curl upward deeply.

So—

Stay obedient.

Whether I break you or cherish you… depends entirely on my whim.