On a beautiful summer evening in Sicily, a farmhouse next to a vineyard, which was surrounded by hills on three sides, was already lit up in festive lights.
Though this place was not far away from the other vineyards in this region, people seldom came here, and for miles, there was no one to be seen today except for the guests who were slowly arriving at the venue of tonight's ceremony.
A young boy, who was around the age of 16, awaited them at the door of the house, welcoming everyone with a polite smile, and the people were, as usual, very respectful to him.
The sudden sound of an approaching Helicopter did catch everyone's eyes, and a few minutes later, when the helicopter landed on a platform that seemed to have been prepared for it, two Mortal Gods exited it together with their companions.
"Lord Erebus, Lady Hecate!" Abuzar brightly smiled before politely bowing, and Keith and Rebecca returned the courtesy.
"Lord Abuzar." Keith smiled at the young man. "Thank you for inviting us on your special day."
"It is my honour." Abuzar respectfully invited them inside.
The Mortal Gods present inside the central lawn all approached to greet Keith and Rebecca one by one, and then the people from the Temple of Dionysus served them the finest Cloud's Blood Wine.
There were no sitting arrangements on the central lawn, and the people who were present there did not really need to sit down and could stand without any problem for months if they had to. They were totally comfortable with standing and chatting with each other.
However, when Keith created two Crystal thrones in a corner, for himself and his wife, it did catch everyone's attention. But they respectfully looked away and resumed their chit-chat with their fellows to not come out as rude.
Keith pulled Minami in his lap, and his ever-so-obedient daughter was happily leaning back into his chest.
"I am jealous." Rebecca playfully pouted at Minami, the latter could not help her giggles.
"You should be." Keith grinned at his wife. "She's my daughter, after all." He told her, and it was now that his beloved wife truly burned in jealousy.
She had once caught them kissing, and had caught Minami's eyes, which had turned to the same amethyst shade as his.
There were questions on her mind, but she knew the answers to them as well.
He was not human, and whatever blood ran through his heart, now ran in Minami's veins as well.
In the last few days, she had keenly observed Minami, and it would not be wrong to say that she was a little horrified at the girl's outrageous potential and talent.
She highly doubted that even the likes of Qingyue, with the advantage of possessing the Divine Physiques, could compete with her in Cultivation Talent alone, and then there were the facts that Minami's senses, all of them, were enhanced to a level that was not possible for a human.
Her senses were even sharper than that of Ingrid and Ingvild, who were both Pure-Blood Vampire Princesses.
Keith smiled when he watched his wife once again curiously look at his daughter. He knew exactly what she wanted to ask and desired, and he was quite amused that she had not raised the question yet.
"Let's play chess." She changed the subject, and he nodded at her before creating a small table and a chessboard on it.
However, he did not play it himself and let Minami do it.
Of course, Rebecca won every single game since Minami was no match for her in this regard, and when an hour passed, the final guest arrived at the venue.
Rebecca curiously watched Poseidon and Abuzar hug each other and smile. It was not a smile you gave to a mere acquaintance, but one that was only reserved for your true friends.
It was so clear that Caspian was genuinely happy for Abuzar.
"Lord Erebus, Lady Hecate." Caspian approached them and greeted them, and Keith stood up together with Rebecca to greet him back.
Now that everyone was here, after a round of greetings, the people arrived inside a Hall where they were asked to take their seats at the tables for the dinner.
"Everything in the house tonight has been prepared by me, even the wine," Abuzar informed them before he personally served everyone their meals, and the people from the Temple of Dionysus assisted him.
"It's delicious!" Rebecca exclaimed as soon as she tried the soup, and since both she and Keith were quite the foodies, they enjoyed the meal to the fullest.
Abuzar was not too secretive about his recipes either, and he informed everyone how he made certain dishes that enhanced their flavours.
However, he did keep his Wine Recipe a secret, and no one really pried into it.
What was interesting was that it was even more potent and delicious than the Cloud's Blood Wine, and everyone was elated when Abuzar announced that he had prepared supplies for everyone and that the people from the Temple of Dionysus would deliver them to their doors.
"The wine would run out," Rebecca complained, happy that she would get to drink it again, but depressed that it would eventually run out.
Keith chuckled at her words but did not say anything. He could make the Wine himself and did not even need to ask Abuzar for the recipe, he could simply spend a few System Points to get his hands on it.
However, he did not have time for Wine-Making on his hands right now. And he did not want the people in his family to get addicted to the taste of his hands just yet, which was also why he rarely prepared meals for them as best as he could.
It was after dinner that all the Mortal Gods, who owed Abuzar favours, stepped forward one by one and promised him that they would forever remember those favours.
The Inheritor of the Babylonian God of Light and Life did not need those favours returned, partly because there was not much that they could do for him, but he graciously accepted their promises.
Abuzar then told everyone about his time in this world, and how much he had seen and witnessed.
He was old, one of the oldest, and he had lived for centuries even though he had not aged a day since he turned 16 years old.
It was then that people truly understood how far back his friendship with Caspian went, and even Volos could be considered his friend and not just an acquaintance.
The three of them had witnessed the times changing in this world together, and they had witnessed Mortal Gods rise and fall.
"Give my regards to Sin when you meet him." Volos smiled and said.
"You could come with me, you know." Abuzar smiled at him. "But I will remember to tell him that his old friend still remembers him."
Sin, the Babylonian God of Wisdom and the Moon, who had left this world a couple of centuries ago, was like a brother to Abuzar, Caspian, and Volos. It was also the reason why the three of them took care of the City of Sin and protected it whenever it came under danger.
"I will hold onto the promise, Lord Erebus." Abuzar smiled at him, making the people around them curious.
"We will see each other one day." Keith smiled at him, and after Abuzar bid farewell to everyone, he walked out onto the central lawn, and the guests followed him.
He was just about to close his eyes after looking at everyone who was surrounding him when his eyes widened and he immediately knelt.
Caspian and Volos followed his lead, and then all the Mortal Gods, except for Keith were on their knees too as soon as an irresistible pressure descended on them.
Keith curiously watched as the space in front of him shattered, and then an enchantingly beautiful lady walked out of the crack to stand by his side.
Their eyes met, and Keith smiled before he politely bowed to her.
"Lady Nyx." He greeted her.
"Erebus." She smiled back and then turned to look towards Abuzar, who was kneeling on the ground and did not even dare to raise his head just like the rest of the Mortal Gods. "At ease."
It was a whisper, but everyone immediately stood up on their feet as she had commanded it.
"Lady Nox." The Inheritor of the Babylonian God of Light and Life smiled and then deeply bowed. "You have honoured me with your presence."
"It has been fun watching you grow up from a babe to an adult who is ready to leave this world behind." Nyx lightly said.
"I will forever be indebted to the protection you provided me from behind the Shadows." Abuzar sincerely said. "And I promise to pay a visit to the Noxville as soon as I can."
"No need. You should listen to what Erebus told you back in Van." She smiled at him, which took the young boy by surprise as he realised that Nyx had listened to the conversation he had with Keith back when they met for the first time for the Arbitration Ceremony between Qin Feng and Azdaar. "Go."
"Yes," Abuzar knelt again and paid his respect to her before standing back up and closing his eyes.
"Lady Nyx." Rebecca smiled as she respectfully greeted the Lady of the Night and Darkness.
"Hecate." Leilah smiled back at her and then affectionately patted her head. "You haven't visited me in a while."
"I was afraid that I would disturb you." His blonde wife cleverly replied, and Leilah's smile widened a little.
"Watch closely." She said, and then both Keith and Rebecca turned to look at Abuzar, whose body had started exuding a beautiful golden Light and sparkles.