Capítulo 18: The Underworld pt.1
The goblin horde charged. Shirei quickly accelerated and struck the first of them with the flat of his blade, knocking them back. The other green and gray creatures were not long in coming, but Cragar's son was not worried. He quickly sliced off one enemy's head and then moved on to the next. He grabbed another goblin's neck with his hand and used it to jump an entire row; at the moment of landing he performed a somersault which gave himself the momentum to hurl the monster against his enemies. The creatures hit each other and fell to the ground, like a bowling strike. Shirei didn't wait and stepped through the veil of the Interworld, disappearing from their sight. He reappeared on the opposite side of the Vaverli, where he took the opportunity to recover the flames. He took off the bracelet that Chris had lent him and, by pressing the central button, it became a big cask.
Shirei quickly pushed the barrel into the river until it was full. Contrary to common belief, the Vaverli was the river of the Underworld that could only harm monsters. The flames had beneficial effects for demigods, although their outward appearance might suggest otherwise. Cragar's own son had benefited several times from the healing powers of the tributary after his hard training sessions. During that moment of reflection, the goblins were still busy squawking; one of them in particular seemed to have taken a run up to jump. The creature took the leap, convinced he could cross the river, almost ten meters wide, however the demigod's blade pierced him in mid-air. Shirei stood up with the barrel now full and turned his violet eyes on his enemies. The shadows enveloped him again and he traveled until he was in the midst of his opponents, ready to continue the massacre.
After a few minutes, the frenetic battle was coming to an end, when the remaining monsters underwent a sinister metamorphosis. A dark spell suddenly enveloped the creatures, causing them to wither instantly and transforming them into ghostly skeletons. Their organs turned to dust and disappeared, until only the creaking bones remained, falling in pieces to the ground. The skin and flesh quickly crumbled, disintegrating the creatures into dust. Shirei stared at the scene of scattered bones. However, in the silence that followed, his attention was caught by an unexpected presence.
An individual with a frightening presence materialized among the shadows. Shirei's eyes locked with those of the mysterious spectator, and the very air seemed to grow cold in anticipation of an impending encounter.
Cragar, the god of the dead with blood-red hair, his tall and lean figure stood out imposingly, wrapped in an elegant black dress, tight and compressed. The glossy black trim, like fragments of darkness, created a fascinating contrast against his pale skin.
Beneath his black cloak, fiery locks of hair emerged, flowing neatly over his shoulders. The god's face was hidden by the black mask that symbolized his status. Through the gaps in his mask, his piercing violet eyes, identical to Shirei's, exuded an intensity that reflected the power and wisdom of millennia of knowledge.
The demigod bowed slightly.
"Shirei," the god replied, "I should have guessed it was you."
The boy's blade appeared in his hands again, he had even forgotten to take it back because of the goblins.
"Thank you for recovering my weapon."
"You're welcome," said the deity, "You should never fight with your bare hands."
"I thought the monsters were your work," the boy asked, confused.
"I would never attack my children, don't compare the way I treat you to how Emion acts."
"I apologize."
The deity curled his lips upwards, "There's no need to apologize, rather, how's the stay going?"
"Good, I guess," Shirei flicked the weapon out of his hand, "Dalia seems to have made some friends and my training is going smoothly."
"I noticed, you are slowly approaching other people too."
The demigod nodded, "I think it's more profitable, I can't just rely on ghosts for information."
"Rather, you still haven't used the ring I gave you."
Shirei glanced at the index finger of his right hand. He wore a silver ring, elegant and thin, with a craftsmanship that emphasized its refinement. The carefully polished surface reflected the dim light of the underground realm delicately. In the center of the ring, with skill and precision, a tiny gem had been set. The purplish stone, carefully set in the heart of the silver, seemed to catch the surrounding light, making the ring shine with a magnetic glow, like a black hole one is enticed to fall into.
"No," confirmed the demigod, "But I will finally have the chance, as soon as I return to the Lilies Park."
"So you befriended Ien's daughter for this reason?"
"Marina is one of the most renowned demigods in the park. Although her fighting skills are not exceptional, she has an excellent network of connections as a representative of her house."
Cragar's gaze wandered to the endless horizon, "That wasn't the answer I was hoping for."
"You were the one who told me I needed to think about getting stronger as soon as possible."
"I am aware of it," admitted the deity. "But I would have liked you to live a normal life at least for a little while, like when you used to..."
Shirei remained silent for a few seconds wondering what his father meant with those words. It seemed that the god was sad.
"Forgive my insolence, why didn't you try to get my memories back?"
"I can't do it, if I get all the information about your past again..." Cragar's purple gaze turned to him again. "I couldn't say what would happen to you."
"Was I different?"
"The other you, was consumed by hatred and pain."
Silence fell between the two again. Shirei struggled to talk to his father, mostly because they shared a lack of talkativeness, but his past was always a topic Cragar tended to avoid.
"So it's a good thing I lost my memories in your opinion," the demigod concluded.
Cragar took a step toward his son, "I'm sorry, Shirei."
His voice had suddenly softened. "I..." the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. "I would just like to see you happy, may you remain in the realm of the living as long as possible."
Ironic of the god of the underworld to ask his children not to join him and not die early, Shirei thought. The situation was starting to get rather awkward, but the boy was happy to have been able to talk to Cragar. Many demigods did not meet their parent throughout their lives, and the gods did not treat them as they would have expected. That relationship, although strange, was special for both of them.
Shirei smiled, "Thank you. I'll be going now."
The god raised a hand and waved it, "Have a safe journey."
The shadows enveloped the son of Cragar, and, before he could say anything else, he ascended towards the Lilies Park. The masked deity remained for a few more minutes contemplating the emptiness of his realm, the roar of the infernal lake acting as the background for his secret thoughts.
Estado de energía semanal
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