Chapter 995

Chapter 995: Blast from the past

‘Doubts. Why am I having doubts? This emotion, this feeling of incertitude. I picked the best option, I chose myself, I chose my happiness... why then, why does this burns so deeply. I left and we spoke, why then, why didn’t he do anything, why were my feelings left untouched. Am I truly unneeded?’

“Drop the look,” said a soft but manly voice, “-doesn’t look great.”

“Artanos, it’s you,” returned a sharper response, “-back from the campaign?”

“I wish,” a sweat-ridden cloth landed, “-man, everything’s coming together nicely, everything except you,” a chair scraped on two-foot and dropped, “-Gophy, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” she returned, “-I guess I have remaining feelings of my past life. It’s only when something so commonplace is lost that its importance is truly shown. Very cliché, don’t you think?” a half-hearted smile propped, “-enough about my insecurities, what about my Romeo?” she leaned and caressed his cheeks, “-you look tired.”

“Not as much as you,” he returned the favor, “-you were always pretty and stoic. Nothing from the spoken tales.”

“Writers always overly embellish commonality. How’s the campaign?”

.....

“Gophy,” the hands reached around her nape and pulled, “-I’m grateful for you choosing my side. I’ll say it now, I don’t mind if you return to Igna’s side. They’re the stronger faction entourage-wise. I saw the infinite potential behind that man. What will you do, stick at my side or leave?”

“I’ll stay,” she smiled, “-because I want to, not because of some greater sense of duty. No mistake – I’m here because I want to.”

“...” a thoughtful pause – one of unreadable meaning, soft and deep, “-what if I asked for a favor?”

“Depends?”

“Poseidon owes me a favor. No, rather, he owes me his own life. I want you to guide him through the mortal world. Show me your intent with action. Break Igna, break his kingdom, or whatever, I don’t care, I want him out of the picture, I want him to focus on the mortal world – if the latter ought to be burnt to take his eyes off the bigger picture, do so. Is that understood?”

“Basically, I’m to join the mortal world and lead a battle against my past?”

“Yeah – I’m not stupid, which is why you’ll work beside Poseidon. Hades’ not planning to join anyone, or he wishes not to. Persephone’s Igna’s mother, isn’t she?” he smiled, “-feels good when research bears fruit. Gophy, from this onward – thou art a general of my army. At thy disposal will be an unlimited amount of clockwork puppets – who, after a soul bearer’s death, will swallow the latter and become human. They’re my greatest work, my prized army.”

“Sure know how to push a lady to her limits,” her back straightened, “-consider it done,” she grabbed her hair and snapped, the ever-flowing black hair fell, leaving her with short hair parted down the middle, “-Today marks the start of my new life. I won’t betray, I won’t,” she leaned, lips pressed to a sudden pull. Nothing, distortion in space settled to a speechless Artanos.

‘Won’t betray. Gophy, I know your heart belongs with them, I know you have doubts about picking my side. You’re smart, I’ve laid bear my heart. The truth of my quest is there for interpretation. Good luck on the quest. It’ll be tough fighting friends. I know and I trust you, my dear Juliette. Even if betrayal is on the table, you wouldn’t,’ he exhaled, “-because you know the truth; what needs to be done for existence to remain.’

Corridor rattled. Taller and stronger gods entered, “-lord Artanos, we’re ready for battle. What are your orders?”

“Let’s begin the conquest,” sword in hand, “-onward to the future.”

The explosion spotted at the shores of the new continent carried waves. Days later, a man and woman were spotted at the nearby coastal village of Tendo. The lady held shorter hair than the man, who bore strikingly large shoulders, “-what do we do?”

“We settle first,” returned the lady, “-also, a change in outfit is in order. For the famed ruler of the ocean – you leave no room for imagination. Look at the villagers, they’re afraid.”

“Not my problem,” he smiled, “-for it’s my manly presence that bears such fruits.”

“No,” returned a glacial leer, “-being repulsive and intimidating are two different games. Watch and learn,” the long, feminine figure flashed across the open air, the calm demeanor slowed her throttled at a jetty. Boats were moored tightly, even more than usual. Villagers hurdled around nets, “-fresh fish,” hailed a fisherman, “-come get your fish.”

The strangely pale lady approached, her features were new to the tanner inhabitants. A path seamlessly opened. Compared to the locals, her attire felt noble or whatnot, ‘-why are they glaring?’ curiosity turned to suspicion.

“Excuse me,” she climbed the jetty, “-I need directions.”

“Word of advice,” spoke a stranger man perched in the distance, mooring a small vessel, “-fair skins aren’t welcomed at the villages. If you’re lost – better find someone of fairer skin.”

“What’s my color-”

“Don’t,” interjected the man, “-we village folks have lived peacefully until the arrival of fair-skinned. They promised goods and valuables... well, they lied,” his hatred fill gaze snapped, “-they took my son and my daughter.”

“I’m not like them!”

“You sure don’t dress like them,” returned the man, “-lady, you have a strange aura. Something like, I don’t know, your missing part of yourself. Well, what is this old geezer have to say,” he looked to the sea, “-times grows slim. Night gets cold – you and your partner better find shelter,” the boat firmed, he threw a fruitful récolte 1over his shoulder and passed the villages, who, by all means, stared deeper at the lass.

“Hold on,” her footsteps scurried, “-you blamed me for my skin color, what about you, you have fair skin too.”

“Oh, I had,” he turned, “-those days are long past,” a solemn sigh escaped, “-come on.”

A strange turn of events – the scenery of the sandy shores moved inland, passed groves, narrowed through a makeshift trail, and reached a bigger house placed on the outer edge of what seemed a collection of huts.

“You’re back?”

“Yeah,” said the fisherman, “-I’ve brought guests.”

“Always like to show hospitality, don’t you?” came jestful giggles. Poseidon kept his stance neutral – the hefty load decreased to the size shy of a teenager little over the legal age.

“Look shorter.”

“Please, I only lowered my stature so as not to scare the others. Why are we here?” they stood before a grand house, well, compared to the others, it seemed like a palace. Weeds grew over the walls – the perimeter was for farming; a lovely orchard held fruits. Envious children skipped past, “-good evening,” they said rushing towards the seas.

“Evening,” came from inside, eventually falling onto the energetic bunch. The very same voice approached and peeped, “-please, enter,” said a demi-human.

Gophy’s few blinks surrendered for a smile, “-we appreciate the hospitality,” they entered a modern household, furnished and comfortable.

“My husband can be quite the character,” giggled the wife joyfully preparing the fish, “-don’t mind him. Tell me, where have you and your comrade come from?”

“A faraway land.”

“I see,” the cooker steamed, “-just us. You weren’t surprised by my ears and my tail. I’m glad,” she smiled, “-you have a strange resemblance to someone I knew long ago. Tell me, are you perhaps related to nobility?”

“No, no,” she hastily rejected the notion, “-I’m well-mannered is all.”

The conversation carried. Poseidon discovered the magic of the television; the god was suddenly glued to the screen. The husband, now cleaned and refreshed, entered the kitchen, “-I do beg my pardon for earlier. You know, things are rough – the villagers don’t take kindly to strangers.”

“A little forward of me – are you two from here?”

“No,” he answered, “-it’s pretty self-explanatory. So, where are you headed?”

“To port Dawn,” she walked around the common room, “-we have comrades waiting,” until reaching a collection of frames perched, “-that there is our old home,” answered the wife, “-we look so young, don’t we?” once the food was set, she hurried to the guest and pointed at more pictures, “-we had one child... together. Due to reasons we had to separate. Since then, we’ve taken a vow to help every defenseless child who wanders into our home,” she pulled an album and flipped, the scenery slowly changed to a familiar place, “-wait,” Gophy suddenly halted at a group picture, “-this, when was this taken?”

“A long time ago.”

“Staxius Haggard,” escaped Gophy’s lips – the mana suddenly froze to countless projectile spells.

“DON’T MOVE!” fired the husband, “-one more step and you’re dead. How do you know that name, are you a spy?”

Gophy remained calm, “-wielder of all the elements,” she commented, “-a wife with fox-ears and a strong mage husband, are you Avon and Auic?”

“No more,” the spells amplified, “-one more word and you’re dead.”

“No, wait,” the wife rose a hand, “-look at her,” she pointed, “-she’s crying.”

“And? She might be playing some next-level mind-game. Don’t lower your guard... man, I should know not to bring strangers home.”

“I mean no harm,” she turned, “-I’m the Goddess of Chaos, Gophy, once servant to the house of Haggard. Man in the living room’s Poseidon, the god of the seas. ”

“Gods in the mortal realm,” he snuffed the spells, “-well, my attacks can’t harm a goddess. What are your intentions?”

“Port Dawn, I mentioned it before,” her tears flowed despite the calm demeanor, “-I heard reports of your death?”

“Long story,” he exhaled, “-invite your partner to dinner, the sudden turn of events made me ravenous.” The crowd split, Avon and Auic to the kitchen, Poseidon and Gophy to the living room.

“I find something interesting,” whispered Gophy, “-the husband and wife were once part of the Haggard dynasty.”

“And?” he frowned, “-why should I care. This show is captivating. Gophy, I know you want to prove worth to Artanos... look at them, do they even look worried?”

“Guess not, they’re technically dead and I don’t remember him having any emotions to the report.”

“Love it when the answer comes naturally. I’ll have my food here – see you in a bit.”

Meanwhile in the kitchen, “-talk about a blast from the past. What do we do?”

“Nothing,” said Avon, “-don’t have to do anything. We’re no longer part of that world,” a coughing fit had him dropped on one knee, “-damn,” he gasped.

“Is he alright?”

“Yeah,” nodded Auic, “-we don’t have long to live,” she sympathetically smiled, “-been a few decades. We don’t look like it, but we’ve lived quite the adventurous life.”

“Water,” panted Avon, Gophy answered in kind.

“Not long to live,” she sighed, “-why not visit Hidros then. Your daughter is still alive and was taken in by Igna. Why not pay her a visit?”

“We can’t,” said Avon smilingly, “-in what world does the dead come back to life? We’re dead, both on paper and inside. Might sound strange,” he looked at the ceiling, “-dying beside the one I love is more than enough. I don’t need anything; I’ve had it all.”

“We’re glad to have saved our daughter. She’s part of the Haggard dynasty. Knowing Igna’s the reincarnation of Staxius, I’m sure he’ll forget about her as he did with us. That trait is the best thing about him, an unexpected kindness. Look at us being so melancholic – let’s have dinner.”

‘People talk about how a meeting can change a person’s life. I always doubted fate or destiny. A goddess shouldn’t worry about such trivial matters... why then, why did it have to be them?’ a side-glance showed a loving couple living their best life, ‘-why did I have to see them, why did I have to hear their story...’

“Come in,” said a soft whisper, “-you’ll catch a cold otherwise.”

“Alright,” nodded Gophy, “-thank you for everything, Auic, the story, and the shared experiences, it was wonderful.”

“I’m glad you weren’t bored with Avon. He has a habit of story-telling,” they walked inside, “-as for tomorrow, my husband will escort thee to port Dawn, it’ll be faster on his ethereal carriage.”