Chapter 33: Unfamiliar Alicia (3)

What?

Wait, what?

Did I hear that correctly?

Did she just ask...

Wait.

Kreed, who had been silently observing the little girl’s features, was suddenly thrown off balance. His mind seemed to collapse under the weight of a flood of thoughts, each one unfamiliar and unwelcome. How was he supposed to answer such a question? While he had spent countless hours dreaming of escaping Apostle's Island, not once had he considered what he would do or say once he was free. And now, this annoying little girl with her bright, inquisitive eyes had asked him something so straightforward it felt like a trap:

Where are you from?

His first instinct was to lie, but how would that help? Silence seemed equally damning. What if they took it as a sign of guilt? A spy, perhaps—an agent sent by one of the neighboring continents to infiltrate their city.

As Kreed’s thoughts spiraled, Alden’s voice cut through the haze like a sharp blade.

“I’m afraid he can’t answer that just yet, Zalie,” Alden said smoothly. “But don’t worry—he comes from a rather grand and dangerous place.”

Kreed exhaled, relief washing over him. He shot Alden a fleeting glance, inwardly praising the man’s quick thinking.

Zalie pouted, her lips curling into an exaggerated frown. “Hmph. That’s no fun,” she grumbled. She turned away from Kreed as if she’d already forgotten him. Fixing her gaze back on Alden, her tone lightened. “You better keep your promise, Uncle. You said we could go swimming with Neton when you got back!”

Kreed shifted his attention to Alden, catching the momentary flicker of discomfort that marred his usual smile.

Alden cleared his throat and gave her a slight nod. “Of course, we’ll go swimming. But before that, I need to take care of a few things. Can you wait until Monday?”

“Fine,” Zalie huffed. “But you better keep your promise.”

Kreed, watching the interaction, was startled when Tista approached him. Her sharp gaze bore into him with a force that made his spine stiffen.

“What are your motives, K?” she asked bluntly, her voice clear and firm. “From what I’ve gathered, you’re definitely a birthed. It’s fine if you just want to become a citizen of Alicia, but if your goals are more... ambitious, I suggest you lay them out now.”

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The question left Kreed momentarily dazed. His motives? His goals? His ambitions?

Just hours ago, his sole objective had been to escape Apostle's Island. Days before that, his greatest concern had been deciphering the purpose of his relics. Weeks before, he had dreamed of standing under the sun’s warmth for the first time. Months before, he had been consumed by the mysteries of Caelan’s ruins. And years ago, his only wish had been to unravel the secrets of Apostle Island itself.

Now, standing in Alicia, the city cloaked beneath a colossal stone dome, he was being asked to explain his purpose—his reason for being here. What could he say?

Kreed scoffed quietly, a hollow sound that carried a touch of irony.

Then, slowly, a twisted smile spread across his lips. It was a chilling expression, one that made Tista and the two uniformed officers at her side tense. That smile—unmistakable in its malice—was eerily similar to the one Alden often wore when he was especially pleased.

“My motives?” Kreed repeated, his voice low and deliberate. “I don’t have many. In fact, I can only think of three. First, I want to understand the truth of this cursed world. And second, I need to find a true source of conviction.”

Tista’s eyes gleamed with intrigue, her expression softening as if she were seeing him for the first time.

The two officers exchanged glances, their brows furrowed in contemplation.

Meanwhile, Zalie, who had resumed chattering with Alden, suddenly turned to Kreed with a teasing smirk. “Wait a minute. Didn’t you say three? What’s the third? Don’t tell me you can’t count!”

Alden, too, fixed his gaze on Kreed, his smile more subtle now, though no less curious.

Kreed let the silence linger, savoring the tension in the air. Finally, his dark eyes glinted with a dangerous edge as he answered.

“My last motive is simple,” he said, his voice steady but brimming with intensity. “I seek assistance in completing a rather straightforward task.”

“And what task is that?” Zalie asked, tilting her head with exaggerated curiosity.

Kreed’s smile darkened. “To punish the gods for their false claims and actions.”

A heavy silence fell over the room, so thick it seemed to press down on everyone present. Kreed felt a shift—a subtle yet undeniable change in the atmosphere.

Then, it came.

The gaze.

It struck him like a tidal wave, an immense force radiating malice and contempt. Kreed’s breath caught in his throat as the invisible presence loomed over him, suffocating and vast. And as quickly as it had come, it retreated, only to be replaced by another gaze. Then another. And another. Countless unseen eyes bore into him, each carrying a distinct weight: curiosity, disdain, amusement, or fury.

Kreed trembled, cold sweat pooling on his back. He didn’t know where these gazes originated, but their power was undeniable. He was nothing compared to them, a mere speck before the forces that watched him now.

But one gaze stood out among the rest.

It came from the tall, white-haired man standing next to him. Unlike the others, this gaze was not hostile. It radiated warmth—adoration, even. It was the look of a proud father admiring his well-groomed son.

Seconds stretched into an eternity. Then, Zalie broke the silence with a burst of laughter.

“I’ve never heard that one before!” she said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Punish the gods? Ha! Keep dreaming. The gods aren’t so easy to deal with, trust me. We’ve tried countless times. Even the weakest of them could obliterate us with a single glance. We’re nothing but pawns, destined to follow the paths they’ve laid out for us. Our reality, our security, our freedom—it’s all an illusion.”

Kreed’s eyes narrowed as he studied Zalie. For all her youthful energy, there was a depth to her words that caught him off guard. She wasn’t as simple as she seemed.

Alden’s voice cut through the moment, his tone measured yet commanding.

“The gods are strong,” he admitted. “In fact, the word strength was probably invented to describe them. But they aren’t omnipotent. They aren’t omniscient. They aren’t immortal, and they certainly aren’t eternal.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group. “They may be a towering mountain, but even mountains can be conquered. And that’s where we come in.”

Alden turned to Zalie, his smile softening. “You’re right that we’ve been forced to walk the paths they’ve chosen for us. But here’s the good news: K here might just be our biggest clue yet—our chance to break free and overcome the gods.”

Kreed stared at Alden, the weight of his words settling deep in

his chest. For the first time, he felt a flicker of something unexpected: interest.