Shirei placed his new clothes, packed in a leather suitcase, on the black wood of his house floor. He knew he had to hide them before anyone saw them, so he simply shoved the suitcase under the bed, trusting that Dalia's upbringing would keep her away from his things. After his meeting with Ammir, the Tummà had helped him choose the clothes, and then he had returned to Lilies Park through a spectral travel.
"Thank you. I know I'm a real bother," he murmured.
Those words were meant for the god of the dead, who had taken on his expenses without any warning. Dalia had explained to him that Cragar didn't mind, given his identity, but the boy still felt it was right to thank him.
A faint noise from his stomach caught his attention. It must be lunchtime.
He made his way toward the cafeteria, guided by the need for food. As he closed the door of the Thirteenth House behind him, he sadly noticed the absence of his stepsister. She seemed to have lost her usual enthusiasm ever since Aena had punished her.
He felt sorry for her, but decided it was wiser to give her space.
The sight of the Blendbreeds running toward the cafeteria, laughing and joking, contrasted with the quiet solitude of the not-so-young daughter of Cragar. The girl sat on the grass of the Garden of Kore with a somber expression, lost in her thoughts. A wave of sadness wrapped around her as she became aware of her own isolation. She wished she could ease her pain and bring a smile back to her face, but she couldn't ignore how irresponsibly she had put everyone in danger.
She always tried her best to be cheerful and social. She knew she was seen differently because of her father, and she herself felt alien compared to the other Blendbreeds, though she didn't understand the reason for that strange sensation. She wondered whether it was her date of birth that was the issue, or the century she had spent in a fictional world that had affected her negatively.
She just wanted to understand what kept pushing her away from everyone she loved.
She worked so hard every day, so why? Where had she gone wrong?
Even her stepbrother didn't want her help.
She was a daughter of Cragar, the god of the dead.
One of the six major deities.
The only one equal to Emion.
So why was she so weak?
The questions continued to surface as tears, gently soaking the silent underground garden where she had taken refuge.
── ⋆⋅❂⋅⋆ ──
Marina tied her hair into a ponytail as she entered the cafeteria. She decided to leave two strands out, which fell gently against her cheeks. She hadn't even had time to get in line when a warm voice called out from behind her.
"Marina! Hey there."
The blonde turned around and was happy to recognize the friendly face. "Lily!"
The daughter of Torari smiled before biting into a piece of bread she held in her hands. Marina returned the smile and followed her, intending to get something to drink. She got in line with the raven-haired girl without giving it much thought—after all, she wouldn't be hearing any gossip until Shirei showed up.
"Did you sleep at all last night?" Lilia asked with a worried tone.
The daughter of Ien furrowed her brows and raised her lower lip in a confused expression. "Why do you ask?"
"You have this expression on you face…"
Marina recalled the times she had woken up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom over the past few days. After drinking Miula's mead and meeting Shirei, she hadn't had the best of weeks. The upside of the whole situation—or the downside, depending on how you looked at it—was that she had a valid excuse to stay in her room and search for information about the children of Tefine. Still, that morning she had woken up without any hangover symptoms, even if it hadn't been a real hangover, so she didn't understand why Lilia seemed worried.
I didn't get drunk. Absolutely not.
She wouldn't accept admitting it.
"It's not that, don't worry," she said with a grimace.
She thought she could easily hide the thoughts that tormented her, but apparently, she wasn't that good an actress.
"Take care of yourself, you've been running around nonstop lately."
The blonde frowned. "And how would you know? Have you finally calmed down?"
"Charming as always, Mari. I'm calm, but I'm also very serious. I see you," said Lilia in a warning tone. "Actually, we all see you."
Shirei appeared outside the cafeteria as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. The chatter around the tables instantly dropped in volume, and Marina suspected the topic of conversation had just shifted. The daughter of Ien turned to look at the Blendbreed with violet eyes. She flinched for a second but tried to hide it and turned away, hoping not to meet his gaze.
Lilia whispered with irritation, "Speak of the ghost…"
As he walked through the cafeteria, packed with Blendbreeds, surrounded by voices and crowded tables, Shirei's gaze landed directly on Marina. Before he could reach her, however, he received a few glares from table seven—reserved for the children of the goddess of wisdom. He was well aware he wasn't allowed to sit there, even if there were no written rules. He simply had to recognize he wasn't welcome, which he did in a matter of seconds.
Finally, the two of them locked eyes for a few moments. Shirei gave a nod to the blonde-haired Blendbreed, then chose to sit at his own empty table, accepting his role as an outsider in the crowd.
Marina watched him with a look of sorrow on her face, as her mood shifted. She felt a wave of nausea in her chest because of the situation. She hated the way Lilies Park treated Dalia, but she despised even more how Shirei was seen by everyone.
He was the son of the god least admired within the entire Fourth Generation. They saw him as someone to be avoided, as if he carried a deadly, highly contagious disease. Marina didn't deny that some of Shirei's habits were strange and that his dark past frightened her, but she couldn't accept the way he was treated like an object rather than a boy. After the brief clash with Salix, Shirei had gained a small degree of popularity, which had earned him skeptical glances. An inability to choose meant they saw him neither positively nor negatively, so there was no reason for the Blendbreeds of Lilies Park to treat him that way.
The daughter of Ien wondered if the same dynamics existed at Daffodils Academy, and she couldn't help but recognize a serious issue they were all dealing with.
Prejudice is the norm.
That was a dark truth buried under the constant work being done by Lyceum.
Maybe we shouldn't speak so lightly about the academy. We're no better than they are.
Reaching that conclusion and drawn by her magnetic pull toward the boy, Marina turned to her friend with a smile.
"I think I'll go take a seat. See you later."
The daughter of Torari looked at her with an annoyed expression, fully aware of her intentions. "Weren't you getting something to drink?"
"Right!" the girl nodded. "Save my spot in line. I'll be quick, don't worry!"
Without giving her a chance to continue the conversation, she decided to approach table thirteen, where Shirei sat alone. She greeted him with a shy smile and asked, "Can I eat with you?"
The son of Cragar seemed surprised, his mask of apathy crumbling for a moment. He gestured for her to sit, pointing to some of the food on the table.
"I went overboard, so take whatever you like."
Marina hesitated, unsure whether to sit across from him, but eventually chose the seat beside him. Shirei felt the warmth of her presence heating the cold table of the children of the Underworld, while the noise of the cafeteria faded into nothing.
"Come on…" he looked around. "You've got to be kidding me."
Marina noticed every Blendbreed in the cafeteria staring directly at her. It wasn't the first time she had done this—approached the boy—but the reaction was always the same.
Can't they just mind their own business?
From the table of Ognia's children, a few voices called out to her in encouragement.
"Go get him, princess! He can't resist you!"
"The mysterious charm of the Forbidden Heirs gets everyone!"
"Nice going, son of Cragar!"
Despite her good intentions, Marina soon found herself at the center of a growing commotion, fed by the mocking comments of the Blendbreeds whispering about the pair. Yet, despite the surrounding noise, she chose to ignore their provocations. The turmoil caused by the events of the previous morning still haunted her, leaving her shaken and confused. She desperately wanted to talk to someone about her doubts, but the lack of opportunity filled her with frustration and loneliness. Lyceum had been busy, and Aena had disappeared—likely returned to Highworld. She had a deep breath and found herself searching for Shirei's eyes, those purple irises that scared everybody, everyone except her.
They're… so beautiful…
The girl shook her head—she had to pull herself together. The son of Cragar wasn't comparable to the other Blendbreeds, and he would pose a real threat to the park if he ever lost control again, like during the lesson. With that knowledge, Marina felt she could justify the goddess of love's past decisions.
She had done what she believed was best.
She was sure of it.
Shirei's voice pulled her away from her thoughts. "Are you okay?"
The daughter of Ien had unconsciously stopped herself from eating.
"Are you afraid of throwing up?"
Marina gave an embarrassed smile. "No, I'm fi—"
Her voice was suddenly drowned out.
With a deafening roar, three Blendbreeds stormed into the cafeteria and were instantly surrounded by a crowd.
"There they are…" Marina said.
"Who are you talking about?"
"The elite of Lilies Park, the only ones allowed to leave camp whenever they want without answering to anyone," she pointed at the Blendbreeds. "Them."
The recruitment group had returned, striding proudly through the cafeteria's columns. Amid the chaos and confusion, Marina turned toward Shirei and said, "Do you want to go introduce yourself?"
The son of Cragar squinted slightly, clearly irritated by the noise.
"That won't be necessary."
The daughter of Ien nodded, then focused her attention on a man who stood proudly among the Blendbreeds.
"That's Havel Granbish," she said with a respectful tone, pointing to the young man who laughed and joked with the others. Shirei followed her gaze and observed the Blendbreed.
The young man, just past his twenties, had already crossed the threshold of youth. His platinum blond hair was streaked with gray—a premature sign of aging, mostly due to the stress of countless battles. His light brown eyes reflected deep ambition, while a pronounced scar running from his upper cheekbone down past his lips and almost to his chin spoke volumes of past missions. Shirei took in his physique, partially concealed by a metal armor. His preferred weapons were two massive axes strapped to his back. As the leader of the elite group, it was easy to assume he was considered the most powerful in Lilies Park. A title earned through sheer determination, judging by the way he puffed out his chest.
"Son of Sidal," said the violet-eyed boy.
"Yeah…" As she spoke, Marina noticed with surprise the smile on Havel's face, despite the surrounding commotion and chaos.
It was the kind of happiness that reflected deep self-confidence and a readiness to face any challenge ahead. Sometimes, Marina found herself annoyed by him, as he often failed to recognize the line between self-awareness and plain arrogance.
"Look at him," she whispered to Shirei, a flicker of disapproval in her eyes. "Despite his hot-headed personality, everyone here respects him. He's a born warrior—unfortunately."
The son of Cragar watched the man with an unreadable expression. "How powerful do you think he is?"
"Unmatched. In terms of raw strength, he's the strongest one in the park. No rivals."
Amid the turmoil, two girls arrived with a completely different aura. They walked behind Havel, occasionally exchanging greetings with those around them. Marina noticed Shirei's gaze lock onto them, his cheek puffing out slightly. He was watching them more than she liked.
The first radiated a solar and luminous energy that shone brightly amid the crowd. Her blonde hair fell softly over her shoulders. Her slim and lean figure reflected an active life outdoors and a care for her own well-being. Her emerald eyes sparkled with warmth and vitality, while her rosy, soft skin invited touch. She wore a simple yet lovely outfit, with a long green skirt that enhanced her fresh, natural beauty, echoing the color of sun-kissed meadows on a warm spring day.
On the other hand, the second girl had a dark, mysterious aura. Her black hair, tinted with deep blue, gave her an intriguing look, while her gray eyes gleamed in the sunlight. Her figure was more robust and curvaceous than her companion's, radiating a sense of contained strength. Two short swords hung gracefully at her belt, one on each side, ready to be wielded skillfully if needed. Her attire—dark and form-fitting—reflected her evidently reserved nature, while her pale skin revealed a magnetic and piercing beauty.
Marina saw them as opposites on the spectrum of light, true antipodes, but she knew both were impressive in their own way.
"Them! Yes, them…" she raised her voice slightly to express her irritation and draw the son of Cragar's attention, "they're Ada Bonaventura and Elaine Rolland. They're part of the group, meant to balance Havel's recklessness with a bit of feminine logic. Ada's the representative of Rutia's children, by the way."
"I know."
The daughter of Ien shot him a glare. What do you mean, you know?
"Aren't they Italian?" Shirei added shortly after.
Didn't you just say you know? Then don't ask me! the Blendbreed thought before answering.
"No—well, sort of. Ada is Italian, the others are foreigners."
The daughter of Ien quickly scanned them again. "Havel, Elaine and…" her voice trailed off.
Ever attentive, she had noticed the absence of a very important person—the final member of the group, and the oldest Blendbreed in the camp.
"Is something wrong?" asked Shirei, a hint of concern in his voice.
Marina shook her head. "No, it's just… someone's missing."
With a shiver of concern, her thoughts turned to the oldest Blendbreed of Lilies Park. Marina smiled at the thought of the man being called "old," especially since he often reminded everyone he was only 27. He had been the Blendbreed who had guided her when she first arrived, and the inspiration she looked to every time she had to teach new members. It had been a couple of months since she last saw him, and she hadn't heard any news about his whereabouts.
Darryl Fyreborn, son of Corgi, was known by all for his playful nature and his mastery over flame control. However, what set him apart from his kin was the flawless mana control he achieved through his divine particle. If Havel was considered the strongest Blendbreed in Lilies Park due to his formidable resilience, Darryl represented the exact opposite.
His ability to manipulate flames with such finesse made him a formidable and unpredictable opponent, unmatched in technique. It was even said that he was a potential candidate to replace his father as god of fire, when the time for the Passing of the Masks would come. His reputation made him a respected and admired figure within Lilies Park, and Marina couldn't help but wonder where he was.
Her attention was stolen by the low voice of the son of Cragar at her left.
"Do you mean the guy with the long cloak who controls fire?"
Marina looked at him. "You know Darryl?"
Before she could ask anything else, though, Shirei began to explain.
"I emerged into the Mortal World by following Cragar's directions. There, I met some Blendbreeds—those ones. Before we could do anything, monsters surrounded us, so they forced me to run, even though I wanted to fight."
"Wait, then you already met all of them?"
"Yes," the boy confirmed, "but we didn't have much time to talk. They just gave me the directions to reach the mortal side of Lilies Park and stayed behind to fight."
Shirei's words were filled with sincerity. Marina listened carefully, but she struggled to believe him. Unfortunately, Salix has already planted doubt in my mind.
She was so preoccupied with those thoughts that she had even forgotten the embarrassment from previous days.
"I see," said the Blendbreed finally, with as reassuring a smile as she could muster. "Thanks for telling me all this, Ghost."
She was grateful that he had opened up to her. She appreciated the way their relationship was gradually evolving, binding them more and more. At the same time, she feared it was all just a charade.
I can't afford to fall into a trap.
She remained silent for a few seconds before shifting the conversation to more superficial curiosities. "If you were alone, how did you get here using Ammir's portal? Only Havel, Elaine, Ada, Darryl, and Lyceum can access it."
Shirei returned to eating. "I didn't."
"As in, you didn't go through it?"
The son of Cragar shook his head in response.
"Then how did you get here?"
The Blendbreed paused and looked up at her, making her freeze.
"A Spectral Travel. I crossed the Interworld to move from the Mortal World to the Otherworld."
"You can do that with Spectral Travel?"
Marina's eyes widened. None of the books she had read mentioned such a possibility.
Shirei reflected on the best way to explain the concept and how he moved through it. The first idea that came to mind was to use an analogy.
"Imagine the gap junctions between the cells in the sinoatrial node," he began, trying to find the right words to explain it simply. "The Interworld works in a similar way. It's like a system of invisible connections linking the worlds together, allowing passage from one to another. Like connective tissue between two cells."
He had been quite specific, but he had done his best to convey the idea. Marina looked at him with curiosity, wondering how he knew such complex notions.
"So it's like if we put two grapes in a glass of water, the Interworld would be the water connecting them?"
The son of Cragar nodded. "Exactly."
"Shirei… how do you know these things?"
The daughter of Ien was surprised by his knowledge. At Lilies Park, such subjects related to the Mortal World weren't typically studied; they usually waited to be transferred to Daffodils Academy to continue those kinds of lessons.
"I don't…" Shirei tried to answer, but the words seemed to die in his throat. "I have no idea," he finally admitted, with a confused expression.
Is he lying? Marina wondered.
The conversation reached a pause, but just as the two were lost in it, the leader of the recruitment group approached Shirei with an arrogant smile.
"Well well, there you are!" he said firmly. "I spoke with Lyceum earlier, and he gave me a rough idea of who you are. I have to say, finding you alive was rather unexpected."
The two girls followed the son of Sidal and joined them, bringing along the remaining standing Blendbreeds.
"Hi!" greeted Elaine with a smile. "Wow! We thought you didn't make it!"
Marina smiled awkwardly at the mispronunciation of the daughter of Mardi. After all, it wasn't even the girl's fault. She wondered if it had been hard for her to learn Italian.
"I hope you're ready for the challenges ahead," Ada simply added.
Shirei nodded respectfully, however, before they could continue their conversation, the crowd of Blendbreeds around them began whispering and murmuring, inciting Havel to prove his superiority. Some of them were arguing about who was the strongest, and Shirei's name came up often. Provoked by the crowd and eager to assert his status as the most powerful warrior, the leader of the group spoke up.
Havel turned to the Blendbreeds and raised his hands to quiet them. "Silence for a moment, dear comrades. I need to speak with the boy."
"So then," he said toward Shirei with a challenging tone. "I heard the tale of what happened. Seems you've got a certain talent for fighting… but I'm not a son of Tefine. I'm the representative of the children of Sidal. I'm the son of the god of war, and I have no intention of being compared to some newcomer."
The boy's face remained unreadable at the warrior's words, though he seemed curious about the possibility of a confrontation.
"What are you suggesting?" asked the son of Cragar.
Havel smiled. "One on one. If you beat me, you'll be allowed to join my group." The Blendbreed extended a hand toward him. "You like the sound of that?"
Marina watched Shirei in silence. Havel had taken advantage of the secret news about Lyceum's decision to fabricate a pretext that would force Shirei into a confrontation. Defeating the new ally would solidify his position as leader and, at the same time, display his magnanimity. Shirei would still showcase his skills and, despite the loss, the son of Sidal would grant him a place within the group.
It is a very clever move. Almost unlike Havel. Typically, he wouldn't have thought it through so deeply.
The daughter of Ien hoped the boy at her side was considering refusing the proposal. She was aware, however, that combat was his favorite pastime. There were no rational reasons for him not to accept.
Sure, she told herself. Maybe he could be afraid of losing, but that wouldn't be like him either.
Shirei stood up and fixed his cold gaze on the son of Sidal.
"Alright," he replied, accepting the challenge.
The young spectators held their breath in disbelief. Marina nearly coughed, her fears coming true at the worst possible moment.
The strongest Blendbreed of Lilies Park was about to face the mysterious Forbidden Heir.