Capítulo 4: Discussion at the Grand Manor
Marina walked through the corridors of the Grand Manor.
The true name wasn't that, but it had become a habit passed down from Blendbreed to Blendbreed, since calling it Original House would have been decidedly ugly. Marina had spent a lot of time there and found the given name more than fitting. In fact, it was nothing more than a house larger than the others in Lilies Park. The young woman finally reached Mr. D'Agostini's office, located on the ground floor. She took a deep breath and knocked firmly.
From inside the room, Lyceum's voice rose. "Please, come in."
The daughter of Ien accepted the invitation and slowly crossed the threshold. "May I…?"
She found the man seated at his desk. Behind him were various shelves and a small laboratory filled with vials of a yellowish liquid.
Lyceum D'Agostini, though initially appearing as a simple and charming man, hid a deep secret tied to his identity: he was not only a Blendbreed but also an Erchitu, a cursed creature. Marina wasn't one to indulge in gossip, but she knew what they said about him. He was called a favorite of the gods, a candidate to inherit his mother's mask: the goddess of the hunt, a role of great responsibility to be assumed with the passing of a new divine generation. To keep his bovine form at bay and live peacefully in *Lilies Park*, he had undergone a special treatment devised by the god of medicine himself. The potion was a masterpiece of alchemical art, capable of suppressing his nature and ensuring he maintained control over his human form. A temporary but effective solution, allowing him to coexist harmoniously with the other *Blendbreeds* and retain his supernatural powers, awaiting the final verdict.
"They told me you were looking for me," the blonde said as she sat down. "Has something happened?"
"Not at all," the man replied, quickly standing up and closing the cabinet doors to hide their contents. "I just wanted to know what you think about Shirei."
Marina took a deep breath. "Well, it was unexpected. I didn't think another son of Cragar could be brought here to the park."
A new voice came from their right. "We couldn't refuse."
The goddess Aena appeared from the window leading to the balcony.
Marina startled.
"Divine Aena…!" She immediately bowed her head in respect, a gesture that seemed to please the goddess of love.
Aena appeared once again as a stunning figure of grace and beauty. Her presence radiated an aura of warmth and kindness, welcoming the Blendbreed near her with a sweet and gentle smile. Her hair fell in soft, flowing golden waves, like rays of sunlight dancing lightly over her shoulders. Her eyes were as deep as the night sky, an amber color reminiscent of the reflection of a full moon hidden behind clouds, just as her face was concealed by a white mask. She wore, as usual, an elegant dress made of light, translucent fabrics that seemed to float around her body.
"Forgive my impertinence, but why did you say that?" The girl tried to distract herself from the goddess's magnetic presence. "Was a request made for his stay here?"
"Exactly, by the god of the dead himself."
Marina fell silent, watching the goddess approach the desk and glance at Mr. D'Agostini, the headmaster of Lilies Park. The goddess seemed to move in slow motion, and this distracted Marina. The Underworld—the daughter of Ien had thoroughly researched that place. Cragar's realm was an inhospitable and rigid land, permeated by a constant sense of dread. The air had been described as thick and tainted, heavy with oppression, making it difficult even to breathe. Vision was obscured by a suffocating fog, hiding the outlines of the creatures that dwelled there. The presence of monsters and specters was palpable, and the sense of danger was perpetual, giving the feeling of being constantly watched by invisible, threatening eyes. The Underworld was a place where hope struggled to take root—on that, all the texts she had read agreed.
"Cragar came in person," the goddess added. "He appeared in the Highworld, aware that he was at a numerical disadvantage and weakened by the place."
"Why would he do such a thing? It's…" She stopped herself before saying something wrong.
"Stupid?" Aena finished for her. "You're right to think so."
Lyceum joined the conversation. "That's why his request couldn't be refused, despite the danger it poses to us."
"Cragar begged us to believe in the boy, to have faith that he could be our ally if we treated him the right way. Emion offered his support, so I agreed."
Marina reflected on the words she had just heard. Shirei had guessed correctly—the two before her were fully aware of the Blendbreed's identity. Curiosity gripped her; she wanted to know who he was and why the gods seemed to treat him with such regard. Even Cragar, who had been exiled from the Highworld in the past, had gone so far as to plead with his peers to listen to him.
Marina's eyes widened for a moment. She had started connecting the dots, thanks to the genius she had inherited from her mother. She was beginning to suspect more and more that Shirei's memory loss hadn't been accidental. Perhaps the gods themselves had caused it, though she still had no concrete proof of that.
"What troubles you?" asked Mr. D'Agostini.
Marina shook her head thoughtfully. "I was just reflecting."
"You're your mother's daughter," Aena replied softly. "You resemble her more than you realize."
Hearing about her mother stopped Marina for a second. She had never met her, not even once. She had only received a gift from her on her birthday: a pair of bracelets capable of summoning silver daggers, similar to the hidden blades from Assassin's Creed. Sometimes she wondered what a conversation between them would be like, or if her mother truly cared about her.
"Anyway," the Blendbreed was brought back to reality, "we just wanted to know what you think of Shirei," Lyceum continued, wrapping up the meeting.
"He's hiding something. It's clear he doesn't remember his time at Daffodils Academy, but he must know something. He says he trains every day, but not here."
Lyceum hesitated and clenched his teeth. "He wasn't joking when he said he goes to the Underworld."
"He trains there!?" Marina couldn't hold back her exclamation of astonishment. Only the greatest Blendbreeds had ever entered that place, and only a handful of them had managed to come back to tell the tale. It was slightly different for a son of Cragar, but to think he trained there… it left her speechless.
"Is there anything else?" Lyceum pressed.
"I've seen him use Spectral Travel—he's mastered it perfectly, unlike Dahlia. Other than that… nothing, really."
The headmaster was about to ask more questions, but the goddess of love stopped him with a wave of her hand and approached the Blendbreed.
"Thank you for your help, Marina. I'd like you to keep an eye on Cragar's children and report back to us with any updates as soon as possible."
The blonde lowered her gaze uncomfortably, having the magnificent goddess right in front of her. "You want me to spy?"
"Consider it a service for the safety of this place and the Blendbreeds who live here," Aena gently lifted Marina's chin with her finger. "Will you do it?"
The daughter of Ien hesitated but eventually nodded.
"Good," the goddess of love said calmly. "We've kept you long enough. You may go."
Marina forced a nervous smile before bowing again and heading toward the door. She quickly left the office and made her way to the cafeteria, hoping to find the two half-brothers there. She didn't like the role she'd been given, but there weren't many choices—plus, her curiosity was killing her. Meanwhile, in the office, Aena settled at the desk while Lyceum drank one of the yellowish vials.
"It seems the new era is slowly approaching," she remarked with a grimace. "The first verse of the prophecy is coming true."
Mr. D'Agostini turned to the goddess of love, confused, searching for an explanation.
Aena remained rather apathetic. "I fear another war awaits us."
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