Chapter 83: Divine paths pt.1
Shirei finished his inspection of the temporal rift, meticulously looking for signs that it was permanently closed. After having also received confirmation from Reno, he returned towards the Equinox Flowers.
Without further ado, he began to concentrate his mana around himself.
"Come closer, with a spectral travel we can reach the next temporal fault immediately."
Ada's expression immediately became worried. "Wait… do you want to go now?" She asked, evidently surprised by his tone.
Havel, visibly tired and in pain, added, "I'm in no condition to fight, Shirei."
Cragar's son lightly squeezed his palm and shattered the mana particles, realizing his mistake.
I forget I'm not alone, he thought.
A veil of guilt crossed his face, "I apologize."
Shirei mentally turned to his tenebrae, who still followed him like a trusted ally despite their deal being terminated.
Reno, can you do anything to help him?
The creature's response rang in his mind: My song can heal him, but he will have to rest no matter what if he wants to regain his strength.
I understand.
Shirei motioned for his ghostly companion to wait in the Interworld and approached Havel. Gently, he picked him up on his shoulder.
"I'll help you, let's go back to the villa."
The warrior seemed struck by the gesture. Despite his initial reluctance, due to the identity of Cragar's son, he couldn't help but appreciate the help. Ada quickly joined them, positioning herself on the other side to offer additional support. Together, the trio walked towards their refuge.
As they crossed the now bare battlefield, curiosity got the better of Rutia's daughter, who turned to the new Equinox Flower.
"Shirei, did you seriously want to take us all there on a spectral travel?"
The purple-eyed demigod nodded, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Is there anything strange?"
Ada shook her head slightly, surprised.
"I wasn't expecting anything like this," she admitted, then decided to elaborate. "In the textbooks dedicated to the powers of demigods, all the peculiar abilities of each are covered, including those of the children of Cragar."
She paused to adjust the position of Havel's shoulder, trying to make the ride more comfortable.
"Spectral travel is considered the most common ability for you, so much of the information is dedicated to it. I didn't know it was such a great power."
Shirei dodged a few swords piled in their path with a long stride.
"What exactly does it say?"
Before Ada could respond, Havel interjected, "I mean, let me understand, since you've been at the park you've never looked at a book? What the hell have you been doing all this time?"
Ada, without saying a word, gave him a light slap on the back of the head.
"What's your problem, Ada!? Can't you see I'm hurt?" Sidal's son Havel protested indignantly.
"You're not going to die from a slap to the back of the head, Granbish. Stop whining."
Havel sighed heavily, while Shirei's lips curved upward in a faint smile.
Ada wasn't finished. He turned to the leader with a reproachful tone.
"How dare you lecture him if you yourself have only studied books dedicated to fighting?"
"One is better than zero…" Havel muttered defensively.
Ada raised her hand in a threatening gesture, and the demigod immediately closed his mouth.
At that moment, Shirei intervened and distracted the two from their comical bickering.
"Havel, could you teach me what you have studied in the future?"
Ada hid an approving smile, Good move, son of Cragar.
Havel's face lit up. He tried to hide his emotion by lifting his chin and puffing out his chest.
"When I am healed."
He replied in a tone that was intended to be detached but betrayed a certain satisfaction.
"Thank you," nodded the violet-eyed demigod, before looking back at Ada. "What is said about spectral travels?"
Ada noticed with pleasure how the atmosphere had lightened considerably, and she couldn't help but appreciate it.
"First of all, they require a large expenditure of mana, to the point that trying them repeatedly causes severe exhaustion and fainting."
She paused, making sure Shirei was following, before continuing:
"Traveling long distances in the Interworld affects the minds of Cragar's children in a negative way, leading to migraines."
She then added, with a note of concern in her voice, "Furthermore, carrying other living beings with you is highly discouraged."
Shirei frowned slightly. "I do not understand."
"Should contact be broken, then there is a risk that the traveler will be lost forever in the Interworld, with no way of return."
Shirei was silent for a moment, considering the information he had just received.
"Has it ever been like this for you?" the girl asked.
"No," the demigod confirmed, shaking his head slightly. "At first it was strange to orient myself there and I ended up not moving correctly, but I solved everything with a few months of practice at the Cragar palace."
"And the mana expenditure?"
"It's never been a problem."
Ada immediately justified this assumption. "You evidently convert aether when you travel, reducing mana output and creating an energy balance."
Havel, who had remained silent until then, grimaced in annoyance.
"Okay, we understand. Shirei you are a genius, congratulations. Stop bullying us mere mortals."
Ada stifled a laugh and urged them to continue.
The demigods finally arrived at the villa. Carefully, they carried Havel upstairs, placing him on a bed so he could rest. Reno was instructed to take over his care as much as possible, after which Shirei and Ada returned to the living room.
Cragar's son approached the demigoddess sitting in the chair and asked:
"Still no news from the Lilies Park?"
Ada checked her phone, her brow furrowed. "No..." she replied with a grimace of disappointment. Then, looking up at Shirei, she added, "You know, you should get one too."
The girl raised her arm, showing her cell phone. "It's very useful in these situations, isn't there anyone in the park you'd like to hear from?"
Shirei was silent for a moment, his gaze distant. He thought first of his half-sister, for whom worry was never enough, then of Marina.
A slight warmth rose in his chest as the image of Ien's smiling daughter condensed in his head.
I guess so, he admitted to himself. Aloud, however, he said:
"I can always write letters for delivery."
"And how would you do it?"
"Ammir."
"The god of travel who comes down to the mortal world to deliver your letter, you must feel very important."
"No," the demigod said calmly, "I think he's interested in me, I don't use technology anyway."
Ada looked at him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "You are one of the skeptics. Marina is like that too, even though she dotes on Darryl."
Shirei's eyes lit up with interest when she heard the blonde's name. "Do they have a very strong bond?" He asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.
"Yes," Ada confirmed, an affectionate smile softening her face. "Darryl has always been to everyone the big brother we never had."
Her tone became more nostalgic as she continued, "You know, at first, when we demigods were taken to the park, we were all scared."
Shirei sat comfortably, his attentive gaze fixed on Rutia's daughter.
"It happened to you in a particular way, but the procedure is usually the same. The Gods send a miniature mask with a letter to their offspring, and Aena notifies us of those we need to recruit."
She paused, her gaze distant, as if she were reliving those moments.
"There are few kids who really want to follow us. Many are scared, feel broken and don't know what to do. It seems normal to me, your world just collapsed around you, but it doesn't make our job easy."
Her voice softened, a gentle smile lit her face.
"Having Darryl, an adult, smiling at you and ensuring your safety…"
Shirei, understanding the weight of those words, murmured:
"It must be nice."
Ada nodded, then her tone changed, becoming more serious:
"It is, to the point that a simple boy like Havel can become obsessed with the figure of the hero."
Shirei, noticing the concern in Ada's voice, tried to reassure her:
"You don't have to be worried about him, he'll be fine."
"I know, but the way he always jumps into the fray first… terrifies me," she sighed deeply.
"By now I know him and I know that it is his fighting style, but I still don't approve of it. Just as I don't approve of yours."
Shirei watched Ada carefully, noting the depth of her feelings.
"You love Havel very much."
It wasn't a question, but a kind statement.
"Yes. He..." Ada smiled, lost in memories. "He was also my hero."
For a moment, the demigoddess seemed to want to say more, but then she shook her head slightly, as if to bring herself back to the present.
"So, can you explain to me why you wanted us to stay on the mission?"
Shirei replied calmly, "I had a dream."
"A dream," repeated Ada disappointed. "Is that the only reason?"
Shirei's silence was eloquent.
"What did you dream?"
"Rakion."
Ada's eyes widened in surprise. "The god of time?"
"Yes. He wants to declare war on the Gods and invade both the Lilies Park and the Daffodil Academy.»
Ada shook her head vehemently, her tone now incredulous and almost indignant:
"No, wait," she stopped him, "The divine Rakion has gone into eternal rest after passing his mask and his role as king of the Gods to his son."
"Apparently that's not the case," Shirei countered.
"Impossible!" Ada exclaimed, raising her voice. "It's written everywhere and everyone knows it!"
Shirei remained silent, watching the girl's reaction with interest. He had never seen her 'lose her temper', but he had to admit that it was an interesting side of her.
Ada, realizing her overreaction, quickly regained her composure. She cleared her throat, a light blush on her cheeks.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be so exaggerated. However, it doesn't change the fact that the Third Epoch ended centuries ago."
Shirei nodded slowly, considering the implications of what he had dreamed. The situation was clearly more complex than he had initially thought.
"I'm sure it wasn't just a dream."
Ada eyed him carefully, curiosity and doubt evident in her eyes.
"How can you be sure?"
"Salix, the one who 'attacked' the park, was there," he paused, his intense gaze fixed on the unlit fireplace. "He was the one who made me have that dream with his powers."
Ada leaned forward, her voice now urgent.
"Tell me everything in detail."
Shirei nodded and began to narrate in his calm voice. As he proceeded, inserting the information obtained from Reno, Ada's face transformed. Rutia's daughter stood with her mouth slightly open, her eyes wide with shock.
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