Chapter 15 – The Decision to March North
The magnificent temple of the gods stretched endlessly toward the sky, its marble towers shining like captured starlight. Inside, the halls echoed with silence, broken only by the distant chanting of unseen priests.
In one of the quieter chambers, a woman sat alone by a tall arched window. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her golden hair falling like a veil of sunlight, yet her eyes—sharp, unyielding—carried the weight of authority.
This was Hela, Goddess of Marriage, Queen of the Gods. Her hands rested lightly on the armrest of her seat, but her gaze pierced far beyond the horizon.
"So… they failed," she murmured, her voice soft but laced with irritation.
The faintest smile touched her lips, though it was not of amusement—it was a smile of curiosity.
"That human… far more interesting than I had imagined."
The temperature in the room shifted. A coldness spread like a shadow across the walls.
"Really, Hela? A human interests you?" The voice that spoke was quiet, yet it carried such weight that the air seemed to freeze.
"Don't tell me you've grown careless."
Without looking back, Hela replied evenly, "I wondered when you would arrive, Hades."
From the darkness emerged a tall figure, cloaked in black that seemed to drink the very light around him.
His eyes glowed faintly with pale fire, as though forged from the depths of the underworld itself.
"You've lost people," Hades said bluntly.
"That is unlike you."
Hela finally turned, meeting his gaze with her own.
"And yet here you are, reminding me.
Did you come only to mock me?"
"There is a meeting," Hades said simply, turning toward the door. His words were like the toll of a bell, final and heavy.
"Of course there is," Hela whispered, rising gracefully.
She paused by the window one last time, her expression unreadable.
"A human who dares to oppose the gods… Let's see how long you last, boy."
With that, she followed Hades, her figure vanishing into the divine light.
Far away, beneath the same sky, Ashton leaned over his desk with a deep sigh.
His office, though neatly arranged, was cluttered with scrolls, maps, and crude reports written by the villagers.
His eyes stung from reading, and his mind felt weary.
"Damn…" he muttered, rubbing his temples.
"Who knew paperwork was deadlier than a blade? Leading a village is more exhausting than any battle."
He leaned back, letting out a bitter chuckle.
"And it's not even a city yet…"
At his side, standing silently, was Dino. Loyal, unwavering, his presence was as steady as a mountain.
Ashton closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with resolve. "We're holding a meeting. Gather the others."
Dino bowed deeply. "At once, Master." His footsteps echoed softly as he departed.
Alone, Ashton stood and stretched, loosening the stiffness in his limbs.
Stepping outside, he breathed in deeply. The night air was crisp, saturated with Ether, the faint shimmer visible in the moonlight. It calmed him, but it also reminded him of what was coming.
The meeting chamber stood nearby, a building of fresh-cut timber reinforced with stone.
Entering, Ashton took his seat at the head of a long wooden table.
He closed his eyes and began circulating the Ether Heart Technique, each breath drawing the surrounding Ether into his body, feeding the flame at his core.
Minutes passed.
Then, one by one, footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Dino returned, followed by Syph, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword.
Christina walked in next, carrying a stack of notes, her sharp eyes already analyzing the room. Joseph followed quietly, his expression calm but alert.
Finally, Kim entered, his youthful face determined, a hint of pride in her step.
When all were seated, Ashton opened his eyes.
"We need to grow stronger."
The statement was simple, but the air seemed to thrum with weight.
He turned to Syph.
"Report on the soldiers."
"They have all mastered Ether Breathing, my king," she said with confidence.
Ashton suppressed a groan. King again.
Damn you, Dino.
"I plan to take training somewhere else," Ashton continued.
Christina immediately leaned forward, her tone cautious.
"And where would that be, my king?"
"The north."
The room froze.
A long silence stretched before Syph broke it, her voice sharp.
"My king, the northern lands are perilous. The beasts there are beyond anything our men have faced."
Joseph added quickly, "Even seasoned warriors avoid those lands.
To lead our inexperienced soldiers there… it's too great a risk."
Their voices overlapped, concern flooding the chamber. Kim, though quiet, gripped the table tightly, his youthful pride wrestling with unease.
Ashton raised a hand, and the noise fell silent.
"Why?" Christina asked firmly, meeting his gaze. "Why take such a risk when our people are only beginning to stand?"
Ashton leaned back, arms crossed, his tone calm but edged with certainty.
"Because training here is not enough
They've learned techniques, yes—but they lack true battle experience.
Without facing death, they will never grow beyond their limits. And more than that…"
His lips curved faintly. "I intend to capture magic beasts.
They will serve us when war comes."
The words struck like a blade. The chamber grew heavy with silence.
Ashton continued, his eyes sweeping across the table. "While I lead the expedition, this village will remain under the care of Kim, Christina, Joseph, and Kiran. Do you object?"
Kiran, who had been quiet until now, raised a hand hesitantly.
"May I ask, my king… what kind of war are you preparing us for?"
Ashton's gaze hardened, his voice dropping into steel.
"A war of humans against gods."
The words echoed in the chamber. Even the flickering torches seemed to dim.
Christina's pen slipped from her fingers. Joseph's normally calm face tightened. Kim swallowed hard, but her eyes burned with determination. Syph's knuckles whitened on her sword.
Finally, Kim found his voice. "And… if demi-humans or demi-gods stand in our way?"
Ashton's expression softened slightly, though his voice remained steady. "Then we defend ourselves. Nothing more, nothing less."
The silence stretched once more. Then Ashton asked, "Any further questions?"
No one spoke.
"Good. We march north in two days. Prepare the soldiers."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" they answered as one, their voices filling the chamber with fierce resolve.
Ashton winced internally. I'll never get used to this king nonsense. Outwardly, he only nodded.
"You are dismissed."
The group rose, each bowing before departing. Their footsteps echoed down the hall until only silence remained.
Alone, Ashton slumped back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.
"This is going to be a nightmare… If I keep stressing like this, I'll lose my charm. Can't have that."
His joking words hung in the air, but his eyes grew cold, filled with an unyielding determination.
"If the gods come… I'll fight them with everything I have."
He rose, leaving the chamber behind. In his quarters, he trained until his muscles burned, the glow of Ether surrounding him like a faint halo.
Only when exhaustion overtook him did he collapse onto his bed.
For the first time in many nights, he drifted into deep sleep, a faint smile on his lips.
His dreams burned with fire, with the image of himself standing against gods.
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