Capítulo 81: Healing flower pt.1
ELAINE'S POV
At the Lilies Park.
Elaine was in Lyceum's office. Light filtered through the window, creating an atmosphere of serene tranquility despite the topic of discussion.
In front of her, Lyceum sat behind the wooden desk, his gentle and well-groomed figure contrasting with the opulence of the environment. Aena watched her with worried eyes, while one of her hands rested on the curtain of the window overlooking the Lilies Park. Elaine felt the weight of that attention, but she didn't let herself be intimidated.
Next to the desk, another boy was present in the room. His ash-blond hair caught the light with an almost ethereal shine, while his eyes as blue as night storms sparkled with a curious intensity. He stood with his arms folded, his posture relaxed but alert.
Something seemed to be hidden behind his back, causing him to have a strange bulge that the girl found hilarious.
He's cute, but he almost looks like a hunchback.
Then it hit her.
A pressure wave that made her suddenly stop. It was a familiar sensation that only a few were capable of arousing.
What the…
Despite his seemingly detached stance, there was something about his presence that suggested active involvement in the ongoing conversation. Aena spoke in a calm but commanding voice, directing her attention to Mardi's daughter.
"The reason for this message?"
"It's not written. I asked, but Ada says she doesn't know yet."
Aena tilted her head slightly, her gaze becoming even more intense.
"Who decided that?"
"Shirei," the girl replied without hesitation.
"Clearly. Did they add any information?"
Elaine nodded.
"They say that the future of the Lilies Park and the Daffodil Academy depends on this.»
She paused briefly, then added, "As soon as Shirei explains in detail, they will share all the news."
Lyceum, who had remained silent until then, intervened with a thoughtful tone. "We have no choice but to accept if the stakes are so high."
Aena confirmed, then turned to the rector with determination.
"Lyceum, write a letter for the academy representatives. A 'Kamaitachi'* will come get it and deliver it to Emion's desk."
The man thought for a moment before answering.
"We could also send a support group to help them."
"No," replied the goddess, "Otherwise the soldiers of the academy would have been enough. Shirei will have formulated a plan. Even though I don't really like the idea, we'll have to let it happen."
Lyceum seemed to want to object, but Elaine interrupted them with a firm tone. "About that! There is a request I would like to make of both of you."
"What's this about?"
Elaine took a deep breath, feeling the importance of the moment. "I would like to try walking Emion's path."
The girl's words filled the room, leaving a tense silence. Aena and Lyceum exchanged a look, aware of the importance and implications of the request made by the demigoddess.
The boy leaning against the wall almost burst out laughing. "Why should you? Much better without it."
"I do it so I can help my friends in times of need. Even when treatment is not necessary."
Lyceum frowned, showing an expression of great concern. "Why this choice?"
The member of the Equinox Flowers looked him straight in the eyes, trying to show how evident her determination was. "I want to be able to do more. It's not enough to be able to heal my comrades, I want to be able to protect them, fight alongside them. I want to be helpful in all circumstances, not just when someone is hurt."
Aena looked at the girl and motioned for Lyceum to step aside temporarily, then walked over and knelt next to her.
"Elaine Rolland."
The goddess squeezed Mardi's daughter's hands and gave her a worried smile.
"The path of Emion is accessible only to a select few. It requires strength, sacrifice and dedication. Are you sure you want to go through it?"
The blonde nodded without hesitation.
"Despite the risks you will face?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"I want you to keep these words in mind, what matters most to me and the health of you demigods. At your age, trying to follow a second path..."
"I've seen what can happen," Mardi's daughter almost bit her tongue, "But I'm not afraid. We demigods must be ready for anything to protect those we care about."
The demigoddess closed her eyes as countless battle scenes replayed in her mind. More than often, her intervention had done nothing but put her in danger, forcing her companions to risk their lives to protect her. A few times, they were unharmed and all she did was distract them from the enemies on the horizon. She had seen them as they threw themselves before her, when Havel sacrificed his body as a shield.
I will never be a burden to my team again.
Aena looked at the blonde again through the slits of her white and gold mask.
"Okay, let him help you," she said, pointing to the boy behind her.
The mysterious demigod moved his head like an insect in front of food, "Me?"
"Exactly," the goddess confirmed, "Elaine needs your presence to proceed properly."
"And what should I do?"
"Go to the first house, where Emion's energy is densest and begin to perform the ritual."
Lyceum took a deep breath, then braced his arms and stood up from his chair.
"Just for the record, I don't agree at all."
He approached the closed cabinet and, after opening it, grabbed a sealed ivory-colored tome. The rector of the Lilies Park approached the boy with ash blond hair, handing him the book with a solemn gesture.
"This may help," he said, his voice firm and authoritative.
Aena rose to her feet, pushing the folds away from her robe. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to follow you in this trial," she announced in a serious tone.
"I have to go to the celestial world to discuss some issues."
Elaine inclined her head in respect.
"It does not matter, divine Aena," she replied gratefully. "Thank you very much for your help."
The goddess of love nodded, keeping a watchful eye on the young demigods.
"If something happens, notify Mr. D'Agostini and stop all attempts."
Her voice was penetrating, full of divine authority. Not sure that the warning had taken root in the demigods' heads, Aena added in an even more severe tone: "Don't try to force the ritual, am I clear?"
"Crystal clear," replied the blond boy, having already reached the office door.
The two demigods left the office, closing the door behind them. The room filled with silence, broken only by the slight rustle of the wind that ruffled the clothes of the divine goddess of love. Before the door closed completely, Aena noticed the blond boy shooting an intense look at Elaine's cleavage.
The queen of the Celestials shook her head, a gesture of simple disappointment, and thought to herself: Such a father… there is no way to make him mature from his youthful 'urges'.
Lyceum sank back into his chair, "I didn't expect you to allow Elaine to attempt a change so easily, given the danger of the process."
"Because I have no intention of letting it happen. I will go to Emion and forbid him to grant her the blessing necessary to walk her path."
"How come you lied to her?"
"Elaine Rolland is the only demigoddess in the Lilies Park with the ability to heal her companions with mana, by which I mean she is the only true healer available. If she were to make the switch, she would gain the powers of a son of Emion, but not as much as a spawn, and would lose her unique role."
The rector scratched his neck, "We would deprive the park of one of its pillars..."
"If resources run out, only her can save the demigods."
"The divine Mardi could help us."
"He could," Aena confirmed, "But, in that case, we would have to assume that the situation is critical enough to allow it."
"That is, there would have already been too many losses."
"So I cannot allow this passage," concluded the goddess.
She allowed herself a moment of reflection, observing the sky beyond the window. Demigods ran around happily in the square and a tumult of joyful noises could be heard from there. The knowledge that everything would soon change was like a tight knot in the goddess's throat. She wanted them to live peacefully, happily until old age overtook them. Only at that point could the embrace of Nart, goddess of death, have led them to Cragar. Emion had always considered that hope of her as an utopia.
"Keep an eye on them while I am in the celestial world and alert me to the slightest problem," the goddess finally said, her tone firm and decisive.
"Of course," the man replied with a reassuring smile.
Lyceum turned towards the door to see her go out and leave the office, but the goddess had already disappeared into thin air.
Meanwhile, he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes with his right hand.
"So a war is truly upon us…"
He would do everything possible to ensure the necessary support for all the demigods of the Lilies Park. That was the promise he had made to his benefactress more than ten years ago and which he would keep until his last breath.
Meanwhile, Elaine was walking through the exit of the large house. With a curious smile, she turned to his companion and said, "Anyway, nice to meet you..."
"Caelius, Caelius Rivoli, but my friends call me Celio," he replied, making a slight theatrical bow.
Elaine's eyes lit up with interest. "What a particular name! Are you Italian?"
"Of course, like most in this place, apparently."
"Yes, indeed!" Elaine looked at him thoughtfully. "How come I haven't seen you around here?"
"Ask your goddess, she keeps me segregated by saying that 'you are not ready yet!' or something like that."
He mimed covering his face with both hands, his voice mimicking a dramatic tone.
"Are you some kind of superstar or what?"
"Darling, do you even have doubts?" replied Celio with a dazzling smile. Then, his face became more serious. "I have no idea, though. There are many things she prefers not to tell me, and not being able to talk about them with anyone doesn't make things any easier."
Elaine's expression softened. "I understand…"
She paused briefly, then added with a gentle smile, "If you want, I'm free."
"After the ritual. You just offered to go on a date with just the two of us."
The blonde laughed heartily. She had to admit that she didn't mind his sarcasm at all. A light blush colored her cheeks as she responded to his amused gaze.
The two demigods walked towards the square, the sound of their footsteps being drowned out by the demigods going left and right while the midday sun shone high in the blue sky. The air was fresh and fragrant despite being months away from spring. Soon, they came in sight of the first house, an imposing white structure that dominated the entire area.
Emion's mansion was a majestic building that immediately caught the eye. Its walls, built with large blocks of perfectly squared white stone, rose three stories high, culminating in a pitched roof covered in yellow ocher tiles. The main facade was a triumph of symmetry and elegance.
In the center, a large door of solid oak, decorated with gold inlays, invited entry. On the sides of the door, two white marble columns supported a finely sculpted arch, on which was engraved the name "King of the Gods" in Latin.
The windows, tall and narrow on the ground floor, became larger and more ornate on the upper floors. Stained glass windows adorned the openings on the second floor, while on the third, pointed arch windows gave the building an almost Gothic appearance.
Wrought-iron balconies, with elaborate cloud motifs, jutted out from the second floor, offering panoramic views of the square below. Looking at it from the outside, any other house would be disfigured in comparison, yet Emion's home had always remained devoid of members.
As the two admired the magnificence of the building, they noticed a familiar figure walking gracefully along the main path.
"I know that one..." the blond said without taking his eyes off her.
It was Marina, her short blonde hair swaying gently in the morning breeze. Her gray clothes, a typical color of the children of Ien, contrasted pleasantly with the bright blue contained in her irises.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Mavros_Laufbach
Mavros_Laufbach Kamaitachi are mythical creatures from Japanese folklore, often associated with sudden, mysterious cuts or injuries. The name “kamaitachi” literally means “sickle weasel,” which reflects the popular depiction of these creatures as invisible, weasel-like beings with sharp claws or sickles. They are said to ride on gusts of wind, particularly cold, cutting winds, and strike people with such speed that their attacks are almost imperceptible. They are messengers for Nivia, goddess of ice, but also for the Daffodil Academy. In particular, through their presence in the sky, Emion can soon detect them and receive the information they carry.
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