"My father!" Jandiana raised her eyes to the heavens, her trembling hands covered her chest "My father... Why did you let this heretic enter your barrier?"
Jandiana's question echoed through the temple, the guards staring at her waiting for a direct order. Chaos was spreading, and she worried about the presence of a mere demigod? The humans did not understand Cale's existence, but it was noticeable how much it bothered her.
Cale, on the other hand, spat blood when the divine presence of a higher god intensified. That scorching heat made drops of sweat run down Cale's face, making it even more difficult to tolerate that feeling.
Cale blinked stunned, forcing himself to stay sane. Riteun's voice was indistinguishable and powerful. Raising his amethyst eyes to the sky, felt the barrier surrounding the immense city. Although there was remorse and revenge, the presence of Riteun was fascinating.
If Cale had such an experience before his ceremony, five hundred years ago, perhaps he would be in ecstasy. Cale expected no less from the god of the sun and life.
But unfortunately it was not the case. He had other things to worry about.
"Sir? What happened?" Linus asked fearful, clinging to the robe of Aries "Why is he like that? Is he hurt?"
"Child of the universe, hear my request."
Cale coughed, the blood running from a corner of his mouth. Aries held him firmly, his arms and legs shaking to hold everyone and keep them safe. He tightened the waist of Cale, when the demigod tried to get up sharply.
"My father, what request could you make to a cursed one?! Tell me, I will do anything in your name!" Jandiana intervened.
"My child, you must take care of your own people and continue your ascension. I appreciate your willingness to help me, but I need the power that this other child holds."
The anger in the look of Jandiana turned to Cale. Pale, bloodied and trembling, a failed figure that would tarnish the honor of those who carry the divine blood.
"You need not use the cursed power that this heretic carries, my father. I am more than enough to-"
"Do not contradict my word, my child. The artifact has left my protection. I need help to retrieve the future sun from a long forgotten land."
Aries shuddered. He raised his head to the barrier with amazement. Biting the lower lip, the guardian seemed to hesitate for a moment before asking:
"Please, god of life... what artifact is this? Don't tell me that..."
"That's right, honored guardian. A draconic life is under the care of our polis. I must not fail again, so I ask for help from your master."
At the moment when the words "draconic life" echoed in the minds of all divine beings, the reactions were diverse. Well, only one person did not know what it was and what its weight. But Aries trembled violently.
His body, which once supported Cale and Linus with a controlled force, now trembled with primal fury and despair. The claws of his glove tightened Cale's waist, making him breath. A low and deep growl came out of his throat, a sound that Cale had never heard before.
"These damned... I'll go myself!!" Screamed Aries "I'll hunt down whoever dares to touch my companions!"
"It is not prudent to go, Aries. Although they are devoted to the son of chaos, they do not cease to be human."
"I will!" Aries repeated, facing Yvaine seriously. There was no room for arguments.
Cale leaned on his knee and stood up trembling. Wiping the corner of his mouth, he turned to Aries, his stubbornness fighting fiercely to hide his weakness.
"I will go with you" Aries took a step forward, but Cale held his gaze firmly "We all will. If you are so willing to accept the request, then I want to know what it is."
"You will be in danger... you are weak and it will only be a nuisance."
"I'm not asking for permission, am I?"
Aries hesitated, clenching his fists. The sound of humans fighting and trying to survive, still adorned the conversation with melancholy. Although he tried to hide under his rudeness, try to disguise... Cale could still recognize the concern in those green eyes.
Not even that would make him angry with his subordinate.
"No. He's not asking for permission."
"Great" Cale pulled Linus' hand and looked at Yvaine "Where should we go?"
Yvaine blinked stunned, but quickly checked with the bright spots under the palm of her hand.
"I feel the human energy near the point where Mikhal is. I also sense monsters of chaos nearby, but they do not enter the city because of Riteun's barrier."
"Right. Then we will meet again with Mikhal" Cale took one step and then another, passing by Jandiana, stopping only to murmur "Yvaine will not assist your ceremony. It is an order from the goddess' master."
The low voice of Cale echoed deeply in Jandiana's pride, who did not move when she watched him go away with the human boy and the two Theiodesmos. Out of the chaos of your city, which cried for your help, which awakened it from its torpor.
Raising her eyes to the heavens, Jandiana only sighed before turning to Solardus.
"Let's capture all the devout humans of Guyel. May divine laws be enforced by such blasphemy."
The order was given by the local goddess, and when her people saw her resurrected under control again, all morals were restored. Her determined steps opened spaces, her hands separated the battalions of knights who could still fight in his name.
Down the stairs, Jandiana stopped in front of a tree where a lady smiled mysteriously. The lady seemed more interested in the cursed demigod who had just passed by her, but it did not take long for her attention to reappear again in Jandiana.
When the two stared at each other, the old lady only widened her mysterious smile.
"Why didn't you reach out your hand and help for those in need?"
"Are you asking me for help?" the lady tilted her head innocently.
Jandiana clenched her fists, getting a worried look from her theiodesmos.
"I am..."
"Hahaha" the lady let out a paused laugh, and then turned to cross the temple until reaching the stairs "For the sake of old times, and for the one who gratifies Ereghast... I'll be kind this time."
With each step that the lady took, priestesses appeared wielding her bows. A new and vigorous army would protect Bortoise from full destruction.
(...)
The barrier of Riteun shined when Cale and the others crossed it. On the other side, the air was heavy with the smell of ozone and decay. The ground was riddled with scattered corpses, revealing deformed creatures feeding on their own prey.
This was completely different from what Cale saw before the attack.
Shaking hands with Linus, Cale took a deep breath.
"No damned presence suffocating me... despite the foul odor, I can still breathe better than inside."
"I will create a new barrier for you, my lord. We'd better be cautious."
Yvaine designed a barrier around the master, and so they could follow the path. Aries is who leads, looking around with extreme attention and hand holding the grip of his sword, ready to fight if necessary.
To their strangeness, the monsters were completely oblivious to their presence. Without risking his luck, Cale pulled Linus close to him, crossing the battlefield without wasting time on anything but an artifact.
A distant sound of metal colliding caught the group's attention. In the distance, dust rose echoing the screams of struggling people. It was towards the east that they marched silently, disguising their presence to observe the situation a priori.
It was a large group of armed humans, who tried to divert Mikhal's attention to escape, but without success. Mikhal knew very well how to annoy them and make them hostages of his prank. He seemed to enjoy dodging blows easily, although he was careful with his attacks. It was like a child playing in the park just to pass the time.
"Are these the humans you're looking for?" Cale asked, noticing Aries frowning.
Aries observed each of them, until he stopped at the subject holding something wrapped in a white blanket. The same as he saw before the attack on Bortoise.
"I found you."
Quickly he drew his sword and ran away without thinking twice. His unprecedented imprudence was surreal for all, who could only watch him invade the battle and push humans against rocks.
"Wow!" Mikhal blinked stunned, a malicious smile emerging in the corner of his lips "Help arrived faster than I thought."
Aries merely looked at him from a corner, and then ran towards the human holding the artifact. He did not need help to brandish his sword and leave the humans unconscious on the ground, his determination was so great that no one would dare to cross his way.
"It seems that he is really interested in this artifact."
Hearing the cautious voice of Cale, Mikhal turned to see the demigod and the human kept under the protection of the barrier of Yvaine.
"Well, you came too? What a surprise, I thought they would ignore each other for longer."
"Am I able to leave him alone and ashamed?" Cale smiled from the corner "We only came here because Riteun seemed interested in this artifact when he asked for my help. And Aries reacted strangely."
"Riteun? The higher god himself asked for help?! To you, on top of that?! Wow... I missed the party's biggest fun" Mikhal leaned his sword over his shoulder and observed Aries continue to battle alone "An artifact... hm. This is getting more interesting."
Humans formed a circle, praying around Aries and trying to weaken it with some invisible power. The guardian enraged even more, the low growl vibrating in his chest. He ignored the songs and any effect they brought to him, just staring at the man who held that pile of white cloth. With a guttural war cry, Aries advanced, the shock of his sword against the shield of a fanatic echoing like thunder.
The white blanket that covered the artifact tore in the middle of the splatter, revealing what it was. A polished ebony object, as large as the head of a boar, pulsed with a pale and vibrant golden light. On its surface, intricate divine runes shone and moved, but a crust of chaotic darkness already began to cover part of its shell.
"This... is a dragon egg?" Cale widened his eyes.
"A corrupted egg" muttered Yvaine with sadness.
The vision of the egg, so precious and so profaned, was the final blow to Aries. His body froze for a moment, the blade of the sword stuck in the shield of an enemy.
"What you... did to.... AAAAAH!!!"
A cry of pain and primal fury tore his throat, unlike anything others have ever heard. The bond shook, Cale felt the flame of anger sharing between them. Cale clenched his fingers against his chest, just watching his subordinate, unable to move.
"Aries..." he murmured.
Aries' body warmed and his muscles tensed when it began to deform. His back bent forward, huge fangs appeared in his mouth, the green eyes shining brightly. The human form gave way to an unexpected transformation for that battle.
It was impossible to take the eyes of the guardian of the warriors, known for their countless battles, turn into a huge golden dragon.