Creation Of All Things-Chapter 280: "Because he’s my son."

Celestial Courtyard

The courtyard echoed with laughter and the sound of running feet.

Eight years had passed since Eon's birth, and the Celestial Realm had grown louder because of it.

Eon, now eight, was fast—but not as fast as Mira, Aria's daughter, who zipped past him in a blur of white light.

"Too slow!" she called over her shoulder.

"You're using speed bursts!" Eon shouted back, skidding to a halt. "That's cheating!"

"Says who?" Kairn, Alfred's son, laughed as he jogged up beside him. Small flames flickered playfully around his hands.

"Says the rules," Eon grumbled, but he was smiling.

Near the arched entrance to the gardens, two older kids watched them with amused expressions. Leo, Joshua and Alice's son, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Beside him, his sister Lena sat on the edge of a fountain, trailing her fingers in the water.

"They never get tired, do they?" Leo said.

Lena smiled. "Remember when we were that age?"

"I try to forget."

Just then, two more children burst into the courtyard—twins, no older than six, with wild hair and bright eyes. They were the youngest of Joshua and Alice's bunch, always causing trouble.

"We wanna play!" the boy, Finn, shouted.

"Tag! You're it!" his sister, Maya, yelled, slapping Eon's arm before darting away.

Eon sighed dramatically. "Now there's too many of you."

Mira grinned. "Still losing?"

Before Eon could answer, a strange stillness fell over the courtyard. The air grew cold. The laughter died in their throats.

A portal tore open in the center of the yard—no sound, just silent silver light.

A woman stepped through. Her eyes scanned the children before locking onto Eon.

"There you are," she said softly.

Eon took a step back. "Who are you?"

"You're coming with me."

Mira moved in front of him. "Like hell he is."

Kairn's hands burst into flame. "Get lost."

The woman sighed. "Don't make this difficult."

Leo pushed off the wall, his expression dark. "You shouldn't be here."

The woman ignored him, her gaze fixed on Eon. "You don't understand what you are. Or what you're meant to do."

"I'm not going with you," Eon said, his voice steady.

Mira lunged first—a flash of light, a sharp cry. The woman flicked her wrist, and Mira froze mid-air, suspended.

Kairn roared, fire shooting forward. The woman absorbed it with a open palm.

"Stop!" Eon yelled.

Leo moved next, faster than the others—a trained fighter, already skilled. He swung low, aiming to trip her. She sidestepped, barely looking at him.

"Brave," she noted. "But pointless."

She gestured, and Leo flew backward, hitting the wall with a grunt.

Lena was already running toward the palace. "I'll get help!"

The twins stood frozen, holding hands, eyes wide.

The woman took a step toward Eon. "This is your last chance to come quietly."

Eon's hands glowed gold. "No."

He pushed a wave of force at her—raw, untamed creation. It slammed into her, and for the first time, she staggered.

Her eyes widened. "So it's true. You have his power."

She recovered quickly, closing the distance. Her hand touched his chest, and Eon's light flickered out. His knees buckled.

"Sleep," she whispered.

He went limp in her arms.

Mira struggled against the invisible force holding her. "Let him go!"

Kairn was on his knees, panting. "You'll pay for this."

The woman looked down at Eon's unconscious form. "This is bigger than any of you understand."

She turned toward the portal.

A voice cut through the air, calm and cold.

"Put him down."

The woman froze.

Adam stood at the edge of the courtyard. He wasn't glowing. He wasn't shouting. But the air around him felt heavy. Dangerous.

The woman tightened her grip on Eon. "Stay back."

"You have three seconds," Adam said. "One."

"You don't understand what's coming."

"Two."

"He's the key!" she snapped. "Without him, everything falls!"

Adam's eyes narrowed. "Three."

He moved.

Not like light. Not like sound. Like a skipped frame in reality.

One moment he was across the courtyard. The next, he was in front of her, his hand around her wrist.

"Let. Him. Go."

She cried out as his grip tightened. Eon slipped from her arms, but before he hit the ground, Adam caught him with his free hand.

The woman stumbled back, clutching her wrist. "You fool. You've doomed us all."

Adam didn't answer. He laid Eon gently on the ground, checking his pulse. Then he stood, and his calm shattered.

The air crackled. The ground trembled.

"Who sent you?"

The woman smiled bitterly. "You already know."

She raised her hands, and the portal behind her flared. Dozens of figures stepped through—each one clad in dark armor, faces hidden, weapons glowing with strange energy.

Adam didn't flinch. "Last chance. Leave now."

The lead soldier spoke, voice mechanical. "The child comes with us."

Behind Adam, Mira and Kairn got to their feet. Leo stood too, wiping blood from his lip. Lena returned with Alfred and Aria close behind.

Alfred's eyes widened at the scene. "What the hell is this?"

Aria summoned blades of light. "Does it matter?"

The woman backed toward the soldiers. "This doesn't have to be a fight."

"Yes," Adam said quietly. "It does."

He raised a hand, and the world went white.

When the light faded, half the soldiers were gone. Vanished.

The woman stared, horrified. "What did you do?"

"Gave them a choice," Adam said. "They chose wrong."

The remaining soldiers charged.

Alfred met them with a wall of fire. Aria moved like wind, her light blades cutting through armor. Leo and Lena fought back to back, skilled and swift.

Adam never moved from Eon's side.

The woman watched, her expression shifting from fear to something like pity. "You can't protect him forever."

"Watch me."

She shook her head. "This is just the beginning." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

She opened another portal—smaller, darker. "Tell the others… the Cycle has begun."

She stepped through and vanished.

The remaining soldiers dissolved into shadow.

Silence fell.

Adam knelt beside Eon, his hand on his son's forehead. "Wake up, kid."

Eon's eyes fluttered open. "Dad…?"

"Yeah. I'm here."

Alfred extinguished his flames. "What was that about?"

Aria dismissed her blades. "And who were they?"

Adam didn't answer. He helped Eon to his feet, keeping a hand on his shoulder.

Mira ran over. "Is he okay?"

"I'm fine," Eon said, though he leaned against his father.

Kairn kicked at a broken piece of armor. "They wanted Eon. Why?"

Adam's gaze was distant. "Because he's my son."