A young woman's point of view
What's this immense mana I feel? Something's not right, its presence is affecting my blessing. I can't summon Cerberus! This is bad! What am I supposed to do? I'm exposed with no blessing to guard me!
Oh, please! gods! Help me!
"Well, hello there..."
I screamed and clutched my heart.
"Ahh..! Don't scare me! I have a weak heart!"
His cheeks puffed up as if he was battling the urge to laugh.
"I'm sorry about that but may I ask for your assistance, Miss...?"
"My assistance, uhh? What for? I'm a mere summoner, I can only do so much.."
"A summoner? That's enough as it is!
I need you to keep that man hidden."
The strange man gestured to the hooded figure slanted against the lamppost, the man he addressed wasn't moving.
Is he unconscious?
Growing worried, I scrutinize his appearance.
He gave off a pleasant air, his smiles were off-putting and the unconscious body that he brought with him was enough basis to conclude that he was a potential danger to me. Yet I nodded. Maybe that's the reason why I was swayed to obey!
He lowered down his gaze, he was inches taller than me and his black hair reminded me of death, a physical embodiment of a black crow. His eyes were furiously red, they carried a hint of something I can't quite deduce.
He took my hat and smiled once again.
"Let me keep this for a while so I can easily track you in the future. I'm sorry but I have to go. I don't have much time. I'll pay you back, I promise,"
He winked, waving his hand, and vanished as quickly as he appeared, leaving me utterly baffled, it took me a whole minute to speak.
"A... man? Wait! Don't leave! I didn't agree yet!"
Weird, the overwhelming mana was gone. I can feel my blessing coursing through my veins... could it be? He's the one who carries that much mana? But how? A person can't be blessed with such an amount. I simply pray to the gods, you're no threat, dear sir!
But speaking of threat, I should see the man he's about.
I turned to my right and found the also mysterious man leaning against the lamppost with his face hindered by the hood of his gray jacket.
I reached to uncover his hood, and an unfamiliar face came into view.
All I know is this person is blessed with mecha. His cat ears spoke for the truth but why was he hiding his blessing? Did I ever encounter a person who is ungrateful toward the goodness of the gods?
No, this was the first.
I have to talk to my lord!
I cannot move on my will and act against him!
I crouched down, he looked vulnerable and his absence of mana made me think that he was running away from something and that enigmatic blessedness was an accessory to this.
I took out my painter's brush and placed my wrist on the man's right cat ear, his ears were pointed and definitely metal. I gasped when the blood dripped and soiled his hoodie.
I've been a summoner for so long but the pain is always new to me.
I swept the point of the brush on the blood like a palate of colors and painted a circle in the air. As the circle illuminated, blue light dazzled my eyesight and coldness oozed from the opened door of the underworld.
I slowly took a step inside and almost slipped when I came to encounter a steep staircase leading to the abyss of my lord, Hades' kingdom.
It looked empty, much to my dismay as the kingdom I knew always held soirees non-stop, the God of the underworld loves humans, he would always bring mortals under the guise of a dream. But as I continue to descend the stairs, not even a single noise, excluding my footsteps can be heard.
Where is my lord, Hades?
"Cerberus," I called out, my voice echoed but to no avail. I looked back to where the mysterious man was and he was still there on the lamppost, heavily asleep.
How am I supposed to move now?
There are no official commands from my lord, I can't just go around and help a man who may or may not be an enemy.
I shook my head and ascended the stairs, closing the door behind me.
It was terrifyingly quiet.
The usual loud banging of music and the mortal's love of rock songs, as they swayed along with the seductive hips of the Erinyes, were not here to be heard. The Erinyes are known as the goddesses of vengeance but with their moves of allure, they don't look dangerous at all. Mortals loved them. Mortals craved for them but this description aside, how could my Lord, Hades—deny a day of indulgence? As well as the son of his wife deny a day of intoxication? And where is Cerberus?
"My dear summoner, what's the reason for the visit? Are you here to see my husband?" The familiar sweet voice of the wife of the Lord I serve has pushed me to my knees.
I lifted my head to meet the amber eyes of our queen, Persephone, she was eternally beautiful in her butterscotch hair and her doe set of eyes that stared with me in gentleness---so unlike the silver eyes of her husband that sparked with mischief.
"My queen, I am here to report a man with raven hair and red eyes. He brought a hooded man for me to hide but I knew I am not permitted to act without my Lord's command..." I trailed off when I saw a quick change in the gentle expression my queen had always put on. Her eyes slightly narrowed and I couldn't tell if that was a sign of annoyance or something unknown to me, yet.
"Red eyes?" She echoed, her eyes traveled to the closed door behind me. She strutted in elegance and ascended the flight of stairs I just went down.
"You let a man of red eyes bring you a person you don't know?"
I stood up, "It was too sudden for me to speak, my queen!"
She only hummed.
"Open the door, will you?"
I silently nodded. I really couldn't tell if she was mad or disappointed as her tone was still gentle as ever. No one knew the real person behind my queen. She was always soft-spoken.
As I opened the door, we found the hooded man still leaning on the lamppost. His head hanging low and it was obvious, that he was unconscious.
"I was right." The queen commented, her right hand brushed against the face of the unnamed young man. She positioned her legs to kneel and I quickly summoned a cloud, strong and soft enough to be a pillow. She smiled at me.
"I know the man you encountered. He is a servant of the heavens and is an infamous fugitive." She added.
A fugitive? He is a heaven's servant yet infamous?
"His history remains unknown, Kurayami. Even the goddesses of fate could never uncover the future he holds nor the past and certainly the present. He is neither a friend nor an enemy and this young man holds importance to him,"
This man? The man my queen is treating with reverence?
"I think I put myself in big trouble," This is a lot bigger than I could handle.
"Certainly not! This is a blessing. You may be chosen for something great. It's been a while since a faction had embarked on a revolt against the government. It has also been a while since democracy has been practiced in this world. Mortals are fortune to have the option of choosing yet unfortunate to be subjected to dire decisions."
"You want your people to revolt against the gods? Against you, my queen?"
She gave out a small smile. "Fusha Dojo, this is the name you should remember when you revolt against me, my dear summoner."
Fusha Dojo?
"It is understandable for you to be confused. My husband has raised you as his and I have carried a motherly affection for you in my heart but you must understand, our child. Even the parents you solemnly obey could also be an enemy to you."
She stood up from the ground, her eyes perching on the hooded young man for a last glance as she quickly focused her attention on me. Her amber orbs carried a hint of enigma but she stared at me with her natural softened expression. She caressed my face and I closed my eyes to feel her warmth.
"You have been a good child, Nightres. You had never and will never be a disappointment."
Those were sweet words and acknowledgement yet with my Queen's caress, I cannot help but assume that something will happen and that something is where I would be given the dilemma to choose.
|Glossary for Today's Chapter|
Cerberus- the monstrous watchdog of the underworld. He is said to have three heads.
Summoner- a person who summons spirits, deities, and magical beasts.
Erinyes- three goddesses of vengeance and retribution who are concerned with homicide, unfilial conduct, offenses against the gods, and perjury.
Persephone- the queen of the underworld and the goddess of spring. She is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Now, the wife of Hades.