Becoming A God In Another World With My Crush

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The scent hit them first before they even opened the door leading to the dining hall, the scent of warm spices, roasted meat and something sweet and citrusy that made Xander's stomach growl before he even saw the table.

They stepped into the dining hall—and stopped.

The long stone table was overflowing with food. Unfamiliar fruits in crystal bowls, loaves of freshly baked bread their crusts dusted with gold flakes. Roasted meats glistened under floating lanterns, and pitchers of jewel-colored drinks sparkled like liquid gems.

Xander blinked. "Okay… wow."

'How did they afford all these?'

Maia stood at the head of the table, arms wide, grinning like she'd just summoned a miracle.

"The finest feast for the finest guest, the Kaelhi!" she declared.

Iris snorted. Eli clapped once, delighted at the sight of food that was definitely a rarity. Alyhana's eyes went wide as saucers when she stepped into the dining hall as well.

Xander raised an eyebrow. "Did you cook all this?"

Maia smiled , "Yes, we all did,"

They sat down, and for a moment, there was only the sound of clinking utensils and satisfied sighs.

Even Xander couldn't pretend to be unimpressed. He bit into something that tasted like honey and let out a low, involuntary groan.

"…Okay. This might be the best thing I've ever eaten here in this world."

Maia beamed at his compliment as the plates were being cleared at a suspiciously fast rate especially by Xander, who was already eyeing a second helping of the fruit tart.

But then he paused, fork halfway to his mouth.

"So…" he began, not looking at anyone in particular, "sorry about the whole… exploding with ancient magic thing and almost destroying the temple."

Maia waved a hand dismissively. "Please. We've had worse. Once, Gaea accidentally summoned a lightening strike during a worship ceremony when we were children."

Gaea didn't even look up. "It was one time."

Xander chuckled, then leaned back in his chair, expression shifting.

"But seriously," he said. "Now that the crystal's out of me, and I've got the sword… what happens next?"

The table quieted as he looked around. "I mean… is there a plan, right? Or do we just wait for the next magical disaster to show up and hope I don't die again?"

Vimea set her goblet down with a soft clink, eyes narrowing slightly.

"There's a plan," she said. "But it's not one you'll like.There are four left," she said.

Xander blinked. "Four what?"

"Veylith Crystals," she replied. "Scattered across the realm, hidden and guarded."

He sat up straighter. "And I'm supposed to… what? Collect them like magical Pokémon?"

Vimea didn't smile, he assumed it was because she didn't know what Pokemon was. "You'll need to embed each one into the Aurex Blade. Only then will it awaken fully and the power you'll gain will be immense, unlike anything even the gods have ever seen."

"Right," he muttered.

"Each crystal is protected," Vimea continued. "By beasts. By trials. By the land itself. You'll grow stronger with each one… if you survive."

Xander raised an eyebrow. "That's really comforting, thanks Gaea."

"I'm Vimea." She said with an amused smile. Then she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "And you'll need training. Real training. Not whatever flailing you've been doing."

"I've been improvising," he said defensively.

Iris snorted into her drink. Alyhana tried to hide her smile behind a piece of glowing fruit.

Xander groaned. "Okay, okay. Message received. Find crystals. Don't die. Learn to not suck at surviving."

"Exactly," Vimea said, lifting her goblet again. "Now you're catching on."

Maia wiped her hands on a napkin, then turned to Iris with that knowing look she always wore when she was about to say something important.

"You'll need to start meditating," she said. "Your aura magic isn't something you can just… stumble into again."

Iris blinked. "Meditating?"

Maia nodded. "To control it. To call it when you need it. Right now, it's like a river with no banks—powerful, but wild."

Iris looked down at her hands, thoughtful. "I didn't even know I had it."

"You do," Maia said gently. "And it's strong. But strength without focus is just noise."

Then she turned to Xander.

"And you," she added, pointing a finger at him like she was scolding a child.

Xander raised both hands. "What did I do now?"

"You've still got traces of the Veylith inside you," she said. "Residual magic. It's not enough to hurt you anymore, but it's there. You can utilize it."

Xander frowned. "So… I can use magic now?"

"Eventually," Maia said. "You've got the spark. Now you need the discipline."

He groaned. "Why does everything come with homework?"

"Because you're not a god yet," she said, sipping her drink. "The road to ascension to the heavenly realm is filled with tasks you must complete."

Xander leaned back in his chair, the last bite of fruit still on his tongue as he turned to Eli.

"So… where's the next crystal?"

Eli dabbed his mouth with a napkin, then folded it neatly on his plate. His expression shifted less warmth, more weight.

" they are rumors of it being in Shadow Grove," he said. "Far west, past the riverlands. It is old and enchanted. The kind of place that does not like being found... no one has the courage to go to such a place."

Xander frowned then rolled his eyes, "Sounds… inviting."

"It is not," Eli said. "The forest moves...the trees whisper. People who go in without purpose do not always come out."

Alyhana shivered. "I've heard stories. They say the Grove is filled with the souls of nymphs who perished under the Beast King's reign and are vengeful."

Then Eli added, almost too casually, "I will not be going with you."

Xander blinked. "Wait—what?"

"I am returning home," Eli said. "I am old. I have got little to no magic. And I am still healing from the Shedrack sting. I would only slow you down."

Xander's jaw tightened. "You're just gonna leave us to figure it out on our own?"

Eli met his gaze. "You won't be alone, you've got each other. And you've got the blade."

"That's not the same," Xander muttered.

"No," Eli said softly. "It's not."

Eli sighed, his shoulders sinking a little deeper into his chair. He looked tired in a way that had nothing to do with age.

"I have done what I can," he said. "But I am not the man I used to be, my body's slower, and this sting in my side still burns like a curse."

Xander's brows furrowed. "So that's it? You're just gonna stay behind?"

There was a beat of silence, then Gaea's voice cut through the room like a blade. "You're the Kaelhi, not a child," she said. "If you're truly a god, act like it."

Xander turned sharply, eyes narrowing as he glared. "I didn't ask to be a god."

"No one ever does," Gaea replied. "But here you are. Chosen, armed and alive. So stop whining and start leading."

Xander stood, the chair scraping against the stone floor. "You think this is easy? I don't even know what I'm doing!"

"Then learn," she snapped. "Or die trying. The realm needs you!"

"Gaea," Maia warned gently, but the damage was done.

Iris stood too, placing a hand on Xander's arm. "Hey," she said softly. "She's not wrong. But she didn't have to say it like that."

Xander didn't answer. His jaw was tight, his hands clenched at his sides.

Iris gave him a small, understanding look. "We'll figure it out. Together."

He didn't say anything, but he didn't pull away either.

The halls of the temple were quieter now, lit only by the soft glow of floating lanterns that drifted lazily near the ceiling. Their footsteps echoed gently against the stone, side by side but not quite touching.

Xander shoved his hands into his pockets, still thinking on everything that had been said at dinner. The crystals. The sword. Eli staying behind. Gaea's words still stung him deeply.

But beside him, Iris was quiet too. Not tense—just… thoughtful, they reached her door.

She paused, fingers brushing the edge of the frame. Her eyes flicked to him, then away.

"You okay?" Xander asked, voice low.

She hesitated. "Yeah. Just tired."

He tilted his head. "You sure? You've been quiet since—"

"I'm fine," she said quickly, then softer, "Just… go to bed, Xander."

Before he could say anything else, she slipped inside and shut the door gently behind her.

He stood there for a moment, blinking at the wood.

"…What was that?" he muttered.

The hallway was silent.

He turned and walked back toward his room, the echo of her voice still lingering in his ears.