The metallic sound of boots echoed through the stone corridors like a gloomy drum announcing his departure. The dim light of the torches flickered over the walls of the West Tower, stretching the shadow of Aries in front of him — high, heavy and lonely.
He walked down the steps with firm steps, the hard look turned to nothing, as if every step was a muffled thought. He wore his combat armor, the metal plates adjusted with precision, worn on his arms and shoulders, a living memory of the wars he had fought. On his shoulders was the carved emblem of the Guardian of the Warriors: a spear stuck in a fallen star.
There was something different that morning. His greenish eyes, usually sharp and analytical, were darker. More glaring. As if he knew that day would not end clean.
He still remembered the words of that guy who gave him a mission.
"- The Great God of Erudition has asked me to convey these words: 'fulfill your duty as Guardian of the Warriors, and go on a mission. I hope it is enough to help you clear your mind'."
It was annoying how everyone seemed to know more than himself. Still, Aries was relieved that he could distract his mind away from the purple eyes.
"I thought your mission was tomorrow" The voice laden with boredom, as if time had stopped there, echoed awakening from his daydreams.
Mikhal appeared leaning against the wall at the end of the staircase, an apple in his hand, the usual smile masking minute attention to detail. The colored eyes did not miss anything. They always noticed more than they should.
For a brief moment, Aries looked at him coldly. It was impressive how much attention Mikhal seemed to pay to himself in the last days. Considering the fact that he was usually very evasive and rarely seen walking around.
Well, Aries could at least keep him under your watch.
"I changed plans. The call came earlier" Aries adjusted his belt of sword. "A village near the border had attack record. Looks like a group of thieves."
Mikhal bit another piece of the apple without turning his eyes.
"Thieves?" he chewed slowly, as if to prove the lines of the sentence. "Does not seem to me something worthy of a guardian care. A hero or mere demigod would be enough..."
"It was a request from Melli", Aries cut him off and raised his head, staring at the sky. "so it is likely to be something more dangerous than mere thieves."
Mikhal stared at him silently, and then he also stared at the sky trying to seem distant.
"Going alone?"
"Always have been."
Mikhal just nodded. No use arguing. Aries was like that, always out. A man with a war field in his chest and silence as a shield.
The warrior passed through the gates of the Academy at the same pace as before. The sound of his footsteps disappeared in the clanging of the chains of the gate being locked behind him. The stones of the way reflected the cloudy sky and unspoken promises of that mission.
No one noticed your departure.
Or at least that's what he would like to believe.
In the rookie dorm, Cale was sitting on the window frame with a warm mug in his hands. Hood down, quiet expression. His purple eyes watched intently the strung figure moving away between the courtyards of the Academy. Even from a distance, it was easy to recognize Aries.
"It seems that someone is very busy" whispered, no irony.
His gaze followed Aries until he disappeared through the thin mist that covered the surroundings of Othea.
Cale squeezed the mug against his cold fingers. The steam warmed his face, but it did not dispel the strange sensation that took him since he began to observe that man.
Aries was an enigma. And for someone like him, puzzles did not go unnoticed.
Especially those with eyes that seemed to reflect an old pain.
The path to the village was winding and covered by fog making him lose track of time. The trees formed natural tunnels, and the constant rustling of the leaves signaled the presence of life, but not necessarily friendly life.
Aries walked without hesitation, his eyes attentive. His armor had already begun to carry the dust of the road, but his posture remained firm. When Aries arrived at the village, everything seemed... wrong.
Too quiet. Doors closed, windows locked. One or another face peered through the cracks. The smell of fear hovered in the air.
"What kind of thieves cause this kind of silence?" he muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword.
He was received by an old priest, wearing simple clothes with the symbol of Melli embroidered in silver.
"Guardian Aries... we didn't expect you to come in person" said the man, with a reverence.
"I didn't come to be revered. I came because there was a request."
The old man hesitated. His eyes trembled.
"They were thieves never seen before. They hardly looked human. They took our supplies, our sacred records. We can't see their faces. Only shadows with white eyes. They came and snored like mist."
Aries narrowed his gaze. They were not thieves. It was something more. Much more.
"Where was the attack?"
"In the temple of the First Teaching, on the edge of the village. And they took something from the altar... one of the artifacts."
Aries did not answer. He just turned on his heels and went in the direction indicated, leaving the priest behind.
When he arrived, he saw the temple destroyed. Not burned, but torn apart. As if something had exploded from the inside out. Dark marks covered the walls, and a strange symbol — a circle with crossed lines in the form of a web — was left on the stone floor.
"What the hell is that?" he crouched, touching the edge of the mark.
Did not recognize the symbol. And that was the most worrying.
It was at that moment that he heard. A whisper, long and cold. Like wind passing through his bones. Aries did not waste time. In a fluid movement, he unsheathed his sword and swung it cutting the air with a clean sound.
Nothing.
But his instincts were on high alert. There was no doubt: it wasn't just an attack. Again cut the air, believing to feel a presence with the worst of intentions.
The first body fell to the ground, beheaded, however, the feeling persisted. He turned, blocking the blows with his coated forearm, and kicked the air feeling his foot push something. When the kicked body was thrown against a stone wall, the invisible figure finally became visible.
"Humans?" Aries muttered surprised to notice carefully in the body thrown. Lowering your attention to the beheaded, frowning completely confused. "What the hell happened to you?"
The murderous intent again surrounded Aries, who quickly drew his sword. More of that strange enemy was there. One? Two? Aries felt several of them.
To make matters worse, they were fast and strong. The battle was long beyond what it should have been. Aries killed four, five, six... but the seventh creature was different. One of his blades pierced his flank before he could fully dodge.
Aries roared in pain, and his vision was clouded. Even with the unexpected situation, Aries finished the last enemy, turning the blade and making it roar when hit. When the enemies were defeated, Aries fell to his knees pressing on the wound. The warm breath and his stunned senses were not enough for him to avoid feeling the presence.
At the top of the village temple, a hooded figure watched the fight. He did not intervene, he seemed to expect something. Before it was noticed, the figure disappeared in the instant that Aries raised his head towards him.
Growling, he swore.
"This is not going to be cheap."
The sky darkened slowly, tinging the stained glass windows in purple and gold tones. Alinys trained alone on the first floor of the tower, which already brought difficulties thanks to moving targets, ground traps and other tests for the warriors.
As always, she was wearing her cape and avoiding the areas full of demigods. She usually stayed near the tower, or just followed her group to attend classes. It was a moment of peace to focus on what really mattered, without distractions.
However, in her third sequence of attacks, Alinys heard footsteps behind her.
"Alone again?" a familiar voice, slightly hoarse, made his shoulders stiff.
Wileak.
That guy kept bothering Alinys whenever he could. Since their first duel, Wileak has been following her like a hunting dog looking for something to play with. It was annoying, and so Alinys ignored it as much as she could. Especially for making it impossible to visit her brother at the risk of the veteran follow her.
Noticing that Alinys did not answer him, again, Wileak opened an arrogant smile and approached her evaluating her from top to bottom.
"You can even pretend to be training, but it seems to me that you are running away from something... or someone."
She stopped, and turned slowly.
"Run away? from what?"
"From me, maybe? Or from any kind of contact with other people. You hide yourself all the time. But here is, as always, the first to climb the tower. Do you want to impress someone?"
Alinys frowned, her irritation already afloring.
"I'm just trying not to be useless."
WIleak smiled from the corner, walking towards her in quiet steps.
"What a shame. You even fight well, I admit. But I always see a sad look in you" he murmured, circling it. "It's an intriguing combination."
"Get out of here."
"Is that a way to talk to someone who's only concerned about your safety?"
Alinys chuckled coldly, completely incredulous with every nonsense that came out of that mouth. Turning her back on Wileak, she brandished her sword again and prepared to resume her exercises, giving a final answer.
"You don't care about me. You're just bored."
"Of course not, I came here to train" he said with an askew smile. "With you, of course."
She moved on, ignoring the provocation. She took back the punches against the training targets as if he was not there. As if the sound of his voice was just noise.
But he did not move away. He just watched her. And, despite her coldness, his eyes slid down her back, her arms, the way her movements were too strong for a woman.
And more importantly: the divine force that it emanated. It was silent, subtle as a serpent. That girl could do the impossible, embed her divine presence in her attacks and movements, camouflaging herself elegantly.
An enviable achievement.
Alinys had noticed that, perceptive as it was. Wileak's presence was like a constant, annoying and calculated nudge. His patience ran out so quickly, and he knew it.
Wileak pulled out one of the training wooden swords, and took a casual combat pose.
"Come on. Show me what you know."
"Again?" She murmured, wiping the sweat drip from her chin. "Do you like to get your ass kicked?"
"Who knows? I just want to test your strength and... other things."
There, her patience ran out. Quickly Alinys struck him in the wrist forcing him to drop the sword. Using her own ankle, Alinys kicked behind the guy's knees, and forced him to kneel.
Pointing the wooden blade at the demigod's neck, Alinys was categorical.
"I'd rather be underestimated than desired."
Wileak didn't expect that. And for a second, he had no answer.
But the smile returned, with a touch of perversity.
"Pity. Because I like mysteries. And you... are one of the most tempting that I have ever seen."
She finally turned around, her eyes purple as blades of ice.
"Get out. Now."
He took two steps back, as one who accepts the order — but still with the same provocative look.
"We'll see you again, girl. You're still going to show me what it's made of."
And left.
She waited until the sound of the steps disappeared completely. Only then she let go of her breath that she had not noticed was stopping.
Wileak was dangerous. In a different way. Not like the opponents she faced on the tower's floors.
He was the kind of enemy who would smile before attacking.