"So, you say you saw him leave the laboratories shortly after Didreus's children had an issue in the underground?"
Marina nodded to the goddess of love. "Exactly."
"A coincidence?" asked Lyceum, massaging his chin.
Aena glanced toward the window. "I have reason to doubt it."
That morning, Marina had gone to Mr. D'Agostini's office to share the details about Shirei's movements. Cragar's son was extremely suspicious, and in order to discover something about him, the girl had been willing to reveal everything she did the previous day.
"I should pay a visit to the laboratory; Lorenzo's project needs a closer look."
"Not now," the goddess stopped him, "let's focus on Shirei."
Marina rubbed her fingers in an impatient gesture. The Blendbreed was too mysterious, and that only fueled her curiosity and her innate thirst for knowledge. She wanted to remain silent, hoping to piece together the puzzle, but the conversation didn't seem to be leading anywhere.
"What could he have done?"
"Who knows," replied the masked goddess, "the Forbidden Heirs are capable of anything."
Lyceum turned. "Marina," he called, "your head's going to start smoking at this rate; you'd better ask your questions."
The daughter of Ien smiled, guilty. "More than questions, I just want answers…" She realized she had said it out loud and paled. "Sorry! I didn't mean—"
"You have every right to think whatever you want," Aena reassured her. "Please, continue."
"I want to be helpful, but without information, I just end up groping in the dark," she quickly asked, "Is he possibly a god undercover? Is he in exile?"
"Absolutely not."
The Blendbreed made a grimace. "Then I don't understand. Are you keeping an eye on him as a candidate for his father's position?"
The gentle expression faded from the deity's face. "Never."
"If he's neither this nor that…" She was looking for alternatives, but nothing came to mind. "Please, tell me, what makes him so special? I know the Forbidden Heirs can cause trouble, and it's amplified if they are also children of Cragar, but Shirei has only been here for a few days. Dahlia was never treated this way."
Aena turned to the executive director of the park and kindly asked, "Could you leave us alone?"
"Of course, I'll wait outside."
Lyceum reached the door and, after turning the handle, gave a friendly smile before stepping out of the room. As soon as they were the only ones left, the goddess of love invited Marina to sit down and began her explanation.
"I know you already know this, but the main trait that makes you Blendbreeds special is the ichor in your body. Your main ability is the use of magic, which is possible…"
"Through the control of mana due to the divine core."
"Exactly. You, Blendbreeds, have a power that is decided at birth by Fate. No matter how hard you try, you cannot surpass your peak just by training or believing in yourself."
Maybe she was starting to understand the problem. "But Shirei is different."
"That boy… has no limit," the goddess confirmed. "If he were to reach his true potential… no one would be able to stop him."
Marina reflected on that information and decided to take a "leap of faith," hoping Aena wouldn't react to the provocation.
"Is that why you erased his memory?"
"No," the woman replied, sitting on one of the armchairs, "he did it himself. A gift that Fate allowed us."
For a few seconds, silence reigned. Marina was searching for a solution, and despite not wanting to admit it, there was an uncomfortable doubt buzzing constantly in her mind. Perhaps the blame for that thought lay with Cragar's son and the way those words had slipped so easily from his mouth. She didn't like to explore that idea, but it could help her understand the situation better.
"Can I ask another question?"
"Please."
"If Shirei is so dangerous, why is he still alive?"
He wasn't evil, so there was no reason to do that. However, if he had so much power, she couldn't help but think about the most logical path. It was one life versus the entire world, from what she had gathered. She herself would oppose that option, as it went against the morality and goodness of the gods, but she was curious to know.
"Killing him would trigger Cragar's wrath, and that would lead to war between us," Aena replied with a grimace. "If that were to happen… both the Otherworld and the Mortal World would become the battleground, and no one would be safe."
"Leading to the end of the Fourth Age."
The goddess of love nodded. "As I said, you are definitely your mother's daughter."
Those words made Marina waver. Every time she had a conversation with Aena, and the goddess mentioned her mother, the girl couldn't help but imagine the features of the goddess of wisdom. Her thoughts, still focused on that comment, wandered until she saw Shirei's face before her. Cragar's son was dangerous, every move he made proved it. Marina, however, was drawn to him, as if a magnetic aura surrounded him, pulling her closer.
Mr. D'Agostini knocked on the door to get their attention, then said, "Marina, you should head to the arena if you don't want to be late for your lesson."
The Blendbreed glanced at the clock on the wall. He was right.
"You can go, we'll resume our conversation when you're free," Aena dismissed her.
"Of course, excuse me."
Marina left the office and went directly toward the exit of the Grand Manor. Along the way, she accidentally bumped into a Blendbreed heading toward the opposite end of the hallway. The boy, by mistake, ended up bumping his side into her back, nearly making her fall forward. Before she could even ask for an explanation, the Blendbreed apologized with a bow and ran off.
Look at that, it always happens to me, she thought, before stepping through the door.
The Blendbreed exited the Grand Manor, crossing the outer path toward the Thirteenth House, determined to quickly retrieve both Shirei and Dahlia. As she made her way down the slope, she encountered a few of her companions, exchanging brief greetings. However, an unusual laugh behind her caught her attention, sending a sense of unease through her.
Were they laughing at me?
She quickly shook off the thought. Despite being late, she paused for a few minutes to contemplate the temples of the gods, situated on the promontory where the Grand Manor stood.
Maybe one day… she told herself, trying not to daydream. She longed to finish that project she had kept in the back of her mind for so long.
The daughter of Ien continued on and reached the house of Cragar's progeny. She was still upset with Shirei over the events of the previous day, but when she saw him sitting on the steps in front of the building, tying his shoes, her anger began to fade. She couldn't help but notice the gazes of some of Ognia's daughters, the goddess of beauty, not far away, watching the boy with palpable interest. Reaching the Blendbreed, Marina greeted him, trying not to seem too hostile.
"Oh! Look who it is!" she let slip with a hint of annoyance, recalling the previous day at the laboratory. "Hi, Shirei."
"Good morning," the boy replied, showing no emotion. "Dahlia mentioned she'll be joining us soon, so we can start heading out."
"Okay, perfect!" she smiled and continued to stare at him, attempting to make him feel uncomfortable.
Cragar's son finished tying his black shoes and stood up as if nothing had happened.
"Go ahead, I'll follow you."
Marina blinked rapidly and nodded, feeling like an idiot.
Come on, Marina, she said to herself, He's just a guy, get a grip!
The two of them walked toward the training arena. The daughter of Ien was considering taking advantage of the moment alone to ask Shirei about the incident in the laboratory. However, Shirei walked behind her in silence. Trying to break the tension between them, she turned to offer him a friendly smile, but caught him staring at her. The son of Cragar raised his eyes and immediately looked elsewhere.
The blonde turned back in total silence. She was confused.
Why was he staring at me? His gaze was directed… she realized and blushed.
To be sure she wasn't misunderstanding, Marina slowed her pace and looked at Shirei. The boy had his head turned elsewhere, as if doing his best not to look at her. The Blendbreed let out a nervous laugh. She never expected this from someone like him, but she couldn't just let it slide.
"Shirei," she called timidly.
The son of Cragar turned back to look at her, and for a moment, this almost made her jump.
"Yes?"
"I-I…" she swallowed. "Were you, by any chance, looking at my… my backside?"
Silence.
"Hollow? Are you there?"
"Your jeans are ripped, I was trying to figure out how to tell you."
Marina's eyes widened. "What!?"
The Blendbreed tried to turn around to check, and twisting herself, she noticed an oblique tear that revealed most of her backside. Involuntarily, she put her hands in her hair before realizing that Shirei was still there, staring at her.
"Oh, sure! Keep staring!" she said, almost instinctively, while trying to find a way to hide from him.
She covered herself with both hands and quickly thought of what to do. She had no choice; she had to go back and change. That meant she would be late, but she had no alternatives.
"Shirei, listen…" she said, trying to get his attention. "I need to go to the Seventh House. You go ahead and try to buy some time if the students are already there. Got it?"
The boy tilted his head slightly. "I can take you there with a Spectral Travel."
"No!" she replied with a shout, before realizing it.
She had nothing against Shirei, but she would rather crawl to the Seventh House than travel through the Interworld again.
"I meant: no, thanks," she corrected herself.
The Blendbreed wasn't entirely wrong, though. If they used his ability, they'd definitely arrive on time for the start of the lesson. Being late went against every fiber of her being, but she didn't have many other options.
I definitely can't go around like this!
It was true that it was a special day. The more time she had for the lesson, the more information she could extract from Shirei. Staying there, racking her brain—though one of her favorite pastimes—would lead her nowhere.
It was at that moment that the son of Cragar passed her his black hoodie. "For now, start covering yourself with this."
"Th-thanks," she tried to respond, before turning around.
When Marina laid her eyes on Shirei, her heart rate picked up, imperceptibly. The atmosphere changed instantly. The boy was wearing only a black long-sleeved thermal shirt that clung to his body. He was tall and lean, so the Blendbreed remained silent as she observed the contours of his muscles, which seemed on the verge of tearing the shirt apart.
He was hiding such a well-trained physique under baggy clothes?
Marina felt a slight tingling running down her arm but tried to ignore it.
"Sh-Shirei, I don't want you to freeze," she managed to mumble.
"You can relax," the boy replied simply. "It's more for you than for me right now."
"But—"
"And I prefer staying comfortable if I'm going to give a practical demonstration during the lesson," added the son of Cragar.
The daughter of Ien fell silent, weighing whether to accept his kindness. Finally, she decided it would be the best choice and thanked him. She wrapped the hoodie around her waist and tied the sleeves in a knot. After making sure she was fully covered, she smiled at her companion.
"Thank you, really. Let's just hope there aren't any sudden gusts of wind," she said, looking up at the sky. "Now, let's hurry to the lesson."
Shirei nodded silently.
A little over five minutes later, the two reached their destination.
The training arena for Blendbreeds stood majestically before them. It was an extraordinary place that embodied the discipline and dedication of the young heirs of the gods. Massive stone columns, adorned with carvings of divine symbols, marked the boundaries of the area in an imposing frame. The sound of footsteps echoed against the columns, creating a sort of reverberation. During the tournaments, the noise spread throughout the entire area, reaching every part of Lilies Park, thus announcing the start of each challenge.
The rows of Blendbreeds formed a solid front of young individuals. The elevated area, adorned with lush flora and climbing vines dancing along the columns, added a touch of wild nature to the strictness of the training. Vibrant flowers bloomed between the stones, adding an unexpected element of beauty. The ground, a mix of sand dust and solid rock, was designed to withstand the impacts of intense battles. The mixed scent of aromatic herbs and wild plants filled the air, making the exhausting training sessions more bearable.
In this setting, Marina and Shirei passed through the crowd of young people to reach the center of the arena. Everyone was eagerly waiting, and Marina understood perfectly why: they wanted to see what the Forbidden Heirs were truly capable of.
"How could they not…" she whispered.
"Did you say something?" Shirei asked.
The daughter of Ien smiled and waved her hand to reassure him. An unnecessary gesture, as the boy was always calm.
Dahlia caught up with them, running. She sported a "unique" look: a black hoodie from her house, a black corset accentuating her figure, adding an element of elegance and femininity to her outfit. Below her waist, a small plaid skirt hung almost to her knees, covering thick black leggings. On her ankles, she wore ballet flats that completed the look. Every detail of her clothing seemed chosen to reflect her personality, a mix of the past and the present.
The young girl smoothed her black dress, deep in thought. She had a slight smile on her face, but it was subdued compared to usual. Marina noticed her strange behavior and, though focused on what to say, quickly spoke to her.
"Daly, is everything okay?"
The girl was pulled out of her daydream. "Oh, um… I'm fine, yes, I'm fine… you know… typical Blendbreed thoughts…"
Shirei gave her a look. "Don't lie."
Dahlia jumped when her brother approached and puffed out his cheeks in an attempt to distract both of the Blendbreeds.
"I'm not lying, dear brother," she replied, before lowering her gaze sadly.
"You're a terrible liar."
Marina nodded. "Shirei's right."
"Have you formed a coalition against me?" the daughter of Cragar asked, with a hint of anger. "My intention was to combine you two because you're my half-brother and my best friend, but I won't hide it, I'm reevaluating that choice. I'm no longer sure!"
"Dahlia!"
Marina turned red. The black-haired Blendbreed burst into a loud laugh that caught the attention of the others, then immediately covered her mouth with her hands. "Oops! Sorry!"
The daughter of Ien covered her face, hoping the others hadn't heard. She glanced at Shirei and noticed how completely uninterested he was in the conversation.
Right, Marina. It's just the usual irony from Dahlia, she told herself. Don't let yourself be taken in like some immature girl.
Finally, she regained her composure, thanks to the boy's apathy beside her, and fixed her blue eyes on Dahlia. She knew Dahlia was lying, but from what she had gathered, she didn't want to talk about it. In the end, she decided to temporarily set aside the matter and turned to Shirei.
"So, Hollow, are you ready?"
"I already made myself available yesterday, so yes, I'll help you. Dahlia?"
"The desire to support you is there, but I'm not comfortable with so many people…"
Marina pretended to look sideways and pushed Dahlia toward the center of the arena. The daughter of Cragar almost lost her balance from the surprise but managed to find her footing at the last moment and steady herself.
"What should I do?" she asked with an embarrassed smile. "Good morning, dear and young Blendbreeds. Yes?"
"Maybe you should help her out," Shirei noted.
"Indeed."
The daughter of Ien stepped forward and clapped her hands to draw the attention of those present. She noticed, in the front row, her brothers from the Seventh House: Lorenzo and Michela. She hadn't seen either Francesca or Lilia yet but guessed they must be nearby.
"Good morning! I honestly didn't expect such a large audience," she laughed lightly to ease the tension. "I also recognize some older faces, but I suppose anyone would be interested in this lesson. Today, I intended to talk about the major gods: the six from whom the Forbidden Heirs originate."
Marina paused briefly and motioned for the two brothers to step closer.
"Studying from books isn't for everyone, so to make things a bit easier, I invited the only two descendants of major deities in the park to join me, to give you a practical demonstration of what they're capable of. I think we should get started, don't you?"
The crowd erupted, and the Blendbreed turned to glance at Shirei. She would finally discover all his powers and perhaps understand why the gods feared him so much.