First Intergalactic Emperor: Starting With The Ancient Goddess

They all began walking towards Xavier’s house.

Lilia caught up beside him and glanced back toward the mountain. ”That was my first time meeting Uncle...”

Xavier raised a brow. ”Yeah?”

”He’s exactly how my father used to describe him,” she said softly. ”Quiet and calm.”

Xavier gave her a small nod, not saying anything.

He glanced at Lyra next and smirked. ”Feeling hungry?”

Lyra’s stomach growled like it had been summoned.

”...I was starving,” she mumbled. ”But the mood was kinda... serious, so I didn’t say anything.”

Xavier chuckled. ”We’ll eat once we get home.”

His eyes flicked to the right.

Reva had created a small gap between them, her pace just a little faster. Her arms were crossed, ears slightly bent back, tail low.

”Hey,” Xavier called out. ”What’s up with you?”

She didn’t answer.

Xavier sighed. ”You’ll get your meal too.”

At that, her ears perked. Her steps slowed. She drifted back toward him, walking beside him again—close, but not quite brushing shoulders.

When they reached his house, a familiar silhouette was already waiting out front—his father, arms crossed, back straight despite the late hour.

”You four can rest inside,” his father said. ”I’ll sleep outside tonight.”

Xavier frowned. ”What? No, you’re not doing that.”

”There’s not enough space.”

”There’s plenty of empty houses in the village. I’m not letting you sleep on a bench just because I brought some guests.”

”They’re dusty. No one’s used them in months.”

”We’ll deal with dust. Not happening.”

His father didn’t argue. Just gave him a look, then turned and walked down the path without another word.

Inside, the house was dim and quiet, lit by a small oil lantern. As they entered, Xavier gestured toward the girls.

”This is Lyra,” he said to his father before he left. ”She’s my friend. Lives with me in the city.”

Lyra smiled and bowed slightly.

”Weird, but reliable,” Xavier added under his breath.

”This is Reva. We go to the same school.”

Reva nodded politely.

Then Xavier turned to Lilia, but before he could speak—

His father stared.

”...You’re Eamon’s daughter,” he said softly. ”Lilia.”

Lilia’s eyes widened. ”You remember me?”

”I saw you when you were just a baby. Eamon had brought his wife and twins to the village for blessings. In fact, it was my wife— Xavier’s mother, who named you.” His voice was distant, but steady.

Xavier stepped back, letting the moment settle.

Then—knock knock.

A woman stood at the door, holding a covered plate. She smiled shyly and handed it to Xavier. Before he could close the door, another knock. Then another.

Plates. Bowls. Fruit baskets. Fresh bread wrapped in cloth. Spices in jars. Steamed root vegetables. Hot rice dishes. Homemade pickles. Someone even brought a bottle of spiced tea.

The room was full in minutes.

Xavier looked around in disbelief. He hadn’t seen this much food outside a feast day.

His father gave a short nod, eyes soft. ”I’ll go rest now. You should all eat and sleep. Tomorrow... we’ll talk more.”

And then he left.

Xavier closed the door.

He turned around, surrounded by food, the three girls looking equally surprised and hungry.

”...Guess we eat now,” he said with a grin.

They sat on the floor around the small wooden table, cross-legged, plates full and stomachs growling. The scent of freshly cooked rice, spiced lentils, pickled veggies, fried roots, and sweet jaggery sweets filled the entire room like a warm hug. A couple of fireflies blinked near the open window. No fans, no noise. Just quiet breathing and the occasional clink of stone and wood.

Lyra, without shame, was already on her third helping. ”This... this is better than that steak from Red Talon Grill.”

Lilia laughed, picking at a soft roti. ”Of course it is. This is real food. Not processed, freeze-dried crap.”

Reva was more quiet, chewing slowly, her eyes flicking to Xavier now and then.

Xavier took a bite of the sticky rice cake, then leaned back. ”Not bad, huh?”

”Mmhm,” Lyra mumbled with a full mouth, eyes already half closed.

Just then, Reva looked up. Her tone was quiet, but it cut the air like a whisper in church.

”Xavier... where’s your mother?”

He stopped mid-bite.

He stayed composed, or at least tried to. His face didn’t change at all. He chewed slowly and swallowed, then placed the spoon back down. For a second, there was silence.

Reva realized. ”Sorry... I didn’t mean to be rude.”

Xavier shook his head. ”It’s fine.”

He leaned forward, his voice flat. ”I have never seen her. She left the village when I was two years old. I don’t remember her face. My father never talked about her. And I don’t care enough to learn more about her.”

Reva’s expression changed. Her ears lowered slightly.

Nobody said anything else for a while. Just quiet chewing.

By the time the plates were cleared, Lyra was already slumped to one side, her eyes closed, cheeks puffed, breathing soft.

Xavier stood and stretched. ”Lilia, can you take Lyra to the back room? That’s my room. You both can sleep there tonight.”

Lilia nodded and got up, gently nudging Lyra.

”Come on, sleepyhead.”

Lyra groaned, mumbling something about wanting more pickles.

Lilia looked over her shoulder as she supported Lyra’s arm. ”Where will you sleep?”

”I’ll find a spot,” Xavier said. ”There’s an empty house two houses away. I might crash there.”

Lilia paused. Her eyes flicked to Reva. ”What about her?”

Reva spoke up. ”I’m a vampire. I don’t sleep at night. Not like humans.”

She stretched her arms behind her back, flexing slightly. ”Besides, I like the outdoors. I’ll sleep outside. Feels better.”

Lilia frowned, unconvinced. ”You sure? There’s still room—”

But Lyra started murmuring again and half-falling over. Lilia sighed. ”Alright, fine. Just don’t stay out too long.”

She carried Lyra away into the back room.

The door clicked shut.

Xavier turned toward Reva.

She was already licking her lips.

Her sharp fangs peeked from under her top lip, and her eyes shimmered slightly in the lantern light.

Xavier crossed his arms. ”We need to find a good spot first.”

Reva tilted her head, ears twitching. ”Lead the way.”

So they walked.

No words. Just slow steps on dry grass, past sleeping houses and creaking wooden fences. The sky above was spotless. Not a single cloud. The stars looked close enough to pluck. The moon hung low and bright like a silver coin dipped in milk.

There was no sound.

No engines.

No neon lights.

No buzzing powerlines.

No horns.

Only the wind. The trees, and the breath of the world.

They sat under a tree on the small hill behind the village, legs stretched out. Xavier leaned back, palms pressed to the cool grass.

”It’s so clear here,” he muttered. ”Like the world’s been wiped clean.”

Reva leaned against his side.

She stared at the stars for a bit, then whispered, ”That goddess the villagers keep talking about. Is she real? Or is it some kind of cult?”

Xavier opened his mouth to answer—

—but Reva moved fast.

In a blink, she straddled his lap, her arms sliding around his neck as she leaned in close.

”I can’t wait anymore,” she said, voice low. ”You promised me a meal.”

Her fangs gleamed in the moonlight. She sank them gently into his neck.

Xavier exhaled sharply.

Warmth spread.

Her lips locked around the bite, and her body relaxed as she drank slowly, savoring every drop like fine wine. No rush. Just the sound of her breath, the wind in the trees, and the stars above.