Chapter 17: Chapter 13
The village is alive with quiet tension as Janista rushes through the narrow paths, her eyes scanning every corner. The setting sun casts long shadows, heightening her urgency. She spots Atalanta near the forge, wiping soot from her hands. "Atalanta! Have you seen Titus or Merlin?"
Atalanta shakes her head, her expression puzzled."No, I haven't seen Titus. If I knew where Merlin was, I sure wouldn't be out here."
Janista hopeful."Oh, I thought you might have."
Atalanta shrugging replied."No, I haven't seen him since this morning when I showed him something in the forge."
Before they can exchange further words, their eyes catch a figure sprawled on the ground in the distance. As they get closer, the horrifying sight comes into focus: Merlin lying motionless, a knife embedded in his heart.
Janista gasping in horror. "Oh no! Please be alive!"
Both women sprint to Merlin's side, dropping to their knees. Janista presses her trembling fingers to his neck, searching for a pulse. Just as despair begins to sink in, Merlin gasps, his body jerking upright.
Atalantan pointing yelled."Look! He's still alive!"
Janista relieved, whispering."Thank the gods."
Merlin grunts in pain as his hand wraps around the knife's hilt. With a deep breath, he pulls it out, the blade slick with blood. Atalanta and Janista watch in disbelief as the wound in his chest begins to close, the flesh knitting itself together before their very eyes.
Atalanta stunned questioned."How...?"
Merlin's gaze is steady, his tone calm but firm."I'll explain later."
Janista nods, though her curiosity lingers. "Merlin, are you all right?"
Merlin rises to his feet, brushing off the dust and blood."Where's Titus?"
Janista alarmed questioned."He is not here?"
Merlin's expression darkens, his voice low and grim."He's the one who did this."
Janista shocked and said."What are you talking about?! Titus wouldn't do something like that!"
Merlin sighed and replied."Maybe he wouldn't before, but Ares has a hold of him now."
Janista's resolve hardens, her hands clenching into fists."I've gotta find him."
As she moves to leave, Merlin steps forward to follow, only for Atalanta to grab his arm, her grip firm."Wait! I'll go with—"
Atalanta interrupting, sternly."You're not going anywhere but with me, Merlin."
Merlin protesting."But—"
Atalanta cutting him off."No 'buts' about it, Merlin. I need check your wounds. Also, you have to explain how that wound closed up."
Merlin hesitates, caught between his desire to help and Atalanta's unyielding insistence. Reluctantly, he nods, realizing there may be more at play than even he anticipated.
Back at home, Titus takes his father's sword. Janista asks if he will kill her too, he replies, "Warriors of Ares don't kill women." She asks for the sword back and he defies her. She tells him Merlin is still alive and he runs off to go after him.
The altar of Ares stands in a cavernous shrine lit by flickering torchlight, the flames casting ominous shadows across the grotesque display of human and animal skulls and bones forming a pool. At its center is the small, bubbling pool of blood that emanates a sinister, otherworldly glow. And at the base of the pool was two swords stabbed into the ground crisscross.
Aurelius kneels before it, his head bowed in reverence, he was grinning proudly and said."It was magnificent, Ares. People will speak of our triumph until the end of time. Of course, Merlin didn't fall until I delivered the killing blow."
The chamber grows colder, the torches flickering wildly and the pool of blood bubbles as Ares' voice booms, dripping with disdain. "Fool! Merlin isn't dead!"
Aurelius' smile falters, replaced by confusion and fear."He—he isn't?"
The bubbling pool begins to churn violently, the surface rising and falling as if alive. "No. I still feel him, his essence mocking me."
The pool of blood swirls faster, its crimson glow intensifying, casting an eerie light on Aurelius' terrified face. Ares' Voice."Didn't you use the knife I gave you? The blade forged by my own hand?"
Aurelius hesitates, his knees buckling under the weight of Ares' wrath. His voice is barely above a whisper, yet laced with desperation."We... we did, my lord. Exactly as you instructed."
For a moment, there is only silence. Then, Ares' anger turns to doubt, his tone tinged with confusion. "Impossible. That blade was crafted to kill even the immortals. Its divine edge cannot be defied!"
But unknown to Ares, his confidence is misplaced. The knife, forged with divine precision, is bound to the laws of the universe it was created in. It is a weapon capable of severing the immortality granted by gods, magic, or any force within Ares' realm of influence. Yet, it falters against what it cannot comprehend—Merlin's immortality, bestowed by an origin beyond the reach of this universe. But the beauty of it was Merlin can do the opposite, he can bring anything from other universes and they can be used to kill anything even divine beings like Ares.
Aurelius clenches his fists, desperation in his voice."My troops won't fail you a second time—I promise."
The blood pool glows brighter, and the voice of Ares becomes sharper, angrier."Not your troops—you!"
Aurelius freezes, his breath catching in his throat."How?"
A deep, sinister chuckle reverberates through the chamber. The blood pool bubbles furiously, and a tendril of blood rises out of eyes and mouth of one of skulls at the base of the pool.
As Ares in a commanding tone"Use my blood. Take it into yourself, and you will have the power to destroy him!"
Aurelius hesitates, his eyes fixed on the blood. Its crimson surface glimmers like molten fire, exuding an almost magnetic pull. Slowly, he reaches out, his hand trembling as the tendril coils around his fingers.
The moment the blood touches his skin, Aurelius screams. The liquid burns like fire, seeping into his veins and lighting his body with an unholy glow. His muscles bulge, his eyes blaze with a blood-red hue, and his voice becomes a guttural roar as Ares' power courses through him.
Ares with dark satisfaction."Now go, Aurelius. Show no mercy. Kill him—and bring me his blood."
Aurelius rises, transformed, his body trembling with raw power. He clenches his fists, feeling the strength of Ares flowing within him." Merlin won't stand a chance."
The pool of blood bubbles with Ares voice adding."If you fail, I will arrive to help."
Aurelius nodded and strides out of the altar chamber, the glow of his newfound power illuminating the dark path ahead, his mind consumed by the singular purpose of carrying out Ares' will.
While Merlin is now with Atlanta in her shop,she was opening the chest part of Merlin's robe and checking the so called area where the wound was and questioned."How did the wound disappear so quickly?" she looked at Merlin in the eyes and questioned."Are you a demigod or god?"
Merlin smiled and answered."Neither, I just found a method to become immortal."
Atlanta in shock and questioned."You did?"
Merlin nodded, while Atlanta questioned."You seem to have a connection with Ares?"
Merlin looked at Atlanta, who continued."I saw your reaction to the name."
Merlin explained."Well let's just say, his lover Aphrodite became obsessed with me. He definitely didn't like that."
Atlanta was slightly shocked and questioned."Aphrodite the goddess of beauty?"
Merlin muttered."Yup, that one."
The air in the forge crackled with a tense anticipation as Atalanta turned to Merlin, her brow furrowed in curiosity."How many gods have you met?"
Merlin glanced at her, though his tone carried a hint of weariness."A couple."
Before she could press further, Merlin straightened, his demeanor shifting to one of urgency."Now, I've—I've gotta go find those kids."
Atalanta, unwilling to be left behind, strode to the wall and grabbed a whip hanging there. Its leather gleamed with use, and its handle was adorned with subtle carvings."Fine, let's get moving."
Merlin hesitated, his concern evident as he regarded her."Are you sure? This is about fighting a god, Atalanta."
She turned to him, her gaze steady and determined."Look, Ximenos might be out there. That makes it my fight."
Merlin exhaled, knowing there was no arguing with her resolve."Okay."
Atalanta's lips curved into a slight smile at his agreement. She began to turn toward the door, but Merlin's voice stopped her."Before we leave."
She turned back to see him rummaging through his pouch. From within, he produced a bracelet unlike anything she had seen before.
The artifact was breathtaking—a thick, robust band shaped like a pair of curved bull horns. The horns arced outward with raw power, their stony texture ancient and rugged, as though they had endured millennia. The face of a bull was etched into the center, its eyes and snout rendered with intricate detail. Carvings along the surface glowed faintly, their patterns imbued with a cosmic energy that seemed to pulse with life.
Atalanta's curiosity was piqued, and she stepped closer."What is this?"
Merlin held it out to her, his expression serious."Let's just say It's a magical artifact called the Nandi Astra. This bracelet grants the strength of a thousand bulls to whoever wears it."
Her eyes widened in awe as she took the artifact from him, running her fingers along its textured surface."Where did you get something like this?"
Merlin gave a wry smile."From a faraway place."
Merlin brought this bracelet from the Bhramastra Movie Novelization with his ability Silvertongue. The Bracelet is one from a collection of artifacts born from the cosmos themselves. Their power is... limitless.
Atalanta slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, feeling a surge of energy ripple through her. Her grip instinctively tightened, and a newfound confidence gleamed in her eyes."You're worried about me, aren't you?"
Merlin hesitated before nodding."We're going up against Ares. That's no small thing."
She flexed her hand, the weight of the bracelet now feeling like an extension of herself. "Well, now I'm ready."
Merlin couldn't help but smile faintly, her determination contagious. He motioned toward the door."Let's go, then. No turning back now."
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