Chapter 25: Lessons Learned And Lies Told
"Hmm..." Yellow light shines on the blank pages as Mimir is held up by his rope, "...That is quite strange. I didn't notice it at first, but there is a lack of magic leaking from the grimoire now. I reckon you've absorbed whatever magic was left, lad."
"Really?..." Atreus asks with a sniffle, "...I guess that's good."
Kratos hums, replacing Mimir to his usual spot, "Come, Atreus. We will visit the guild first," he says, patting his son's shoulder as he turns to walk towards the door.
"Okay," Atreus responds, throwing the blanket from his body as his feet meet the floor.
Atreus gets ready for the day, replacing the bow, quiver, and spear to his back. Kratos picks up that grey knapsack, and chains clink inside the bag. The Greek God pauses for a moment, his eyes lingering on the knapsack before they drift to the boy. He sits back on the bed, opening the knapsack carefully and pulling those purple blades from it, "Atreus."
Atreus raises a brow, his head spinning to look at Kratos, "Yeah?" he responds.
Kratos gestures with his hand, and his son steps until he arrives in front of the man. The Father brings those chains from the bag, the links clinking together as he stretches it to the full length, "Give me your arm," he says.
Atreus stares at his father for a moment with furrowed brows, his eyes drifting to those chains wrapped around his father's arm as he comes to a realization, "Is this for the blades?" the boy asks.
Kratos nods, taking his son's arm and wrapping the chain around it with a gentle touch, "Do you remember what I told you about these chains?" his rough words flow through the room.
Atreus nods, watching his father work with focused eyes, "You sold your soul to Ares, and those chains represent your servitude to him," he says.
Kratos hums, "Correct... But you will not make that mistake, be sure of that," he responds, finishing up the first arm and starting the second.
Atreus nods, "Of course not, Father..." he says.
A pause fills the room, and Kratos wraps the second arm with ease, each turn and tug like a sledgehammer of memories, smashing into his mind with no mercy. He finishes wrapping and nods, "That is good..." Kratos puts his hand on the boy's shoulder, "...You have learned from my mistakes, and I want you to keep that same thought process as we continue our time together. Every conversation, every mistake, every triumph... Take it all as a lesson. Learn from it, and make your decisions based on those lessons."
Atreus drops his arm slowly, nodding as he stares back at his father, "I will... I promise," he responds.
Kratos stands with a hum, gripping those blades with calloused fingers and offering them to his son, "They will not be easy to learn," he says.
The boy takes the blades, his eyes lingering on them for a moment until they return to his father, "I know, but I'll work hard to learn them," he says.
Kratos nods, stepping towards that door as his own weapons meet the black armor on his body. Atreus follows close behind as they pass through the pub with Mama Mia wiping a mop on the wooden floor. She greets them with a smile, and the duo returns the gesture, stepping to those sun-soaked streets once again.
The stone-littered streets are barraged with thousands of steps, and the godly duo joins them in a short migration to the Guild building. They arrive at their destination shortly, and Kratos pushes those double doors open for Atreus, stepping through the threshold with swift steps.
Eina waves the duo down with a smile, and they step in front of the counter, "It's good to see you two! What can I do for you today?" the Half-elf asks with her best professional smile.
Kratos grunts, his eyes darting to the other adventurers and guild employees surrounding them, "...We would like to speak in private," he says as his eyes return to Eina.
Eina nods, "Of course... I guess I can return the favor after taking your time yesterday," she says, "Follow me."
Kratos nods, and Atreus follows behind his father with a battle commencing between a smile and a frown on his face. The boy finds a great excitement rising within him at the thought of finally becoming part of the city, but those blue eyes and sun-kissed locks bog his mind like a cinder block tied to his ankle.
A door creaks open, and Eina leads the duo into a different room as it seems the other is being used at the moment. The same layout is revealed to Kratos, and his backside meets a chair with Mimir leaning against a lamp on the table. Atreus sits beside his father, and he takes a deep breath, begging his own mind to let the thought go.
Eina furrows her brows as she notices the dour atmosphere surrounding Atreus, "...Are you alright, Atreus?" she asks with genuine concern flowing from her words.
The boy raises his brows, rubbing his fingers across those chains as he looks at Eina, "Oh... Yes, I'll be okay," he responds.
The Half-elf's eyes linger on the boy for a moment, and she nods, "Yeah, that's a lie... Cheer up, Atreus. Be happy that you have another day to spend with your father," Eina says, her words seeming to hit her harder than the boy she speaks to. She sighs, pulling that smile from the depths again as she looks to Kratos, "Anyway, what did you need to speak about?"
Kratos pauses, glancing at Atreus and noticing that Eina's words seem to have lifted the boy's spirits, if only by a smidge, "We mean to register our familia," The Greek God's eyes drift back to Eina as he speaks.
Eina sits with parted lips and furrowed brows as the man before her finishes his words, "Register... But, you have to be a god to form a familia," she responds with confusion leaking from her.
The God of War nods, "Boy... Show her," he says.
"Okay," Atreus responds, suddenly furrowing his brows, "Wait, what am I showing?" he asks.
Kratos sighs, "The tattoo," he says.
"Ohhh... Yeah, the tattoo," Atreus chuckles, standing and removing his weapons from his body. The fur tunic slides from his body, and pale skin shines under the sunlight leaking from the window. The boy turns, presenting his back to the Half-elf.
Silence fills the sun-lit room, and Eina stares at the black tattoo on the boy's back with wide eyes, "O- Okay, um... So who is the god here?" she asks.
"That would be the man you see behind me," Mimir chimes in with a chuckle.
Eina nods, wiping a hand over her face with a sigh, "So you're a god," she says, her eyes set on Kratos.
"Yes."
"And you've been going into the dungeon nearly every day," Eina says.
"Yes."
"And you have a son even though gods can't have children."
"Atreus is my son and I am his Father, but he did not come from my seed," Kratos responds to the question with quick words.
"Oh… I'm sorry," Eina says with parted lips, glancing at that tattoo again, "Well, I'll need to get the head of the guild to register you, but… Are you sure about this? You've been so adamant on keeping your secrets, and doing something like this will make that much harder," her eyes trail back to Kratos as she finishes speaking.
Atreus turns to look at Eina, lifting his tunic from the table, "We know," he says nonchalantly as the tunic covers his torso again.
Eina stands, nodding as she looks to Atreus, "Alrighty then. I'll be right back with my boss and we can get you sorted out."
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