The ​Crown of Gilded Bones

Nyktos threatens to kill the group. Poppy matches his annoyance, which amuses the King of Gods. Recognizing Poppy as his descendant, Nyktos invites only Poppy to enter his temple and talk. Nektas, the draken, keeps watch over the others. Once inside, Poppy attempts to read Nyktos’s emotions, but Nyktos can sense her power and commands her to desist. He tells Poppy that he has been awake for the past two decades, and that other gods and goddesses are also awake in various realms.

Poppy wonders why Nyktos didn’t intervene after the first Ascended was created. Nyktos briefly explains the ancient history of the gods. The oldest gods are called “Primals.” They grew violent and destroyed all life forms. A war among the gods occurred, and the Primals were stopped. Nyktos is the last living Primal god, and he would be considerably weaker if he traveled to the mortal realm. His consort sleeps fitfully, sensing the unrest among the mortals. Only gods born in the mortal realm can freely move between Iliseeum and the other lands with the full use of their power. Poppy carries Primal blood, which explains her extreme power. Poppy wants to ask several questions about her parents, but Nyktos warns her to return the others to the mortal realm before they cannot leave Iliseeum.