Shirei materialized again in the thirteenth house. Dalia wasn't around, so she must have woken up while he was in class with Marina. Except for a wound on his back, which had reopened as he walked, and a cut on his forearm, Shirei was already mostly healed. It was one of the merits of the divine blood he inherited from the god of the Underworld.

Cragar's son went to clean his wounds, then checked his bed to make sure there were no new unexpected letters. He wanted to get out of there, but was aware that he would have to partially limit his travels to the Abyss for a while. The last time he had gone to the scarlet waste he had risked his life, he doubted whether he would have been able to survive if Cragar had not come to his rescue. He sat down on his bed and allowed himself a light, regenerating rest of a quarter of an hour.

Some noises forced Shirei to get up. He noted with a grimace that he was still tired, but in a more alive than dead state, unlike the floating spirits around him. He became aware of the strange whispers they addressed to him, but he preferred to ignore them. Cragar's son took off his sweatshirt and noticed the miserable conditions the cloth was in. It was completely wrinkled and had some scratch-shaped holes on its right arm. He remembered choosing that item of clothing thinking it was the best-conditioned sweatshirt in his closet. He approached the closet and opened it slowly, aware of the ugly truth that awaited him.

Inside, his clothes laid in tatters, torn and worn from his training. Strips of cloth barely stuck together testified to the times he had fought monsters in the Abyss. The demigod looked sadly at the wardrobe, reflecting on the terrible state he had the courage to reduce himself to every time.

He wondered if it wouldn't be better to buy something new. Shirei looked towards the window of his house, wondering what was the right choice to make. Finally, he closed the closet door and prepared to travel in the direction of the Great Mansion.

Cragar's son disappeared into the darkness of the Interworld, only then Dalia entered the house yawning. She was still dressed in her elegant clothes from the day before. The little girl looked at herself in the mirror, thinking back to the comments the ghosts had just told her. In the midst of all the demigods in the park, she seemed, as usual, an out-of-place spot on a perfect canvas. She was starting to think that the problem wasn't his half-brother's strange attitude or Aena's hostility towards him.

"Maybe the problem really is me..." she muttered with a grim look, before heading towards Kore's garden.

Stolen novel; please report.

Shirei reappeared in front of the Great Mansion, his footsteps echoing in the deserted courtyard as he approached the front door. He felt hostile presences, like dozens of eyes peering at him from every direction. With a quick glance, he made sure he wasn't being followed, then approached the entrance.

There was a lot of noise in the doorway. A rather large group of new arrivals was champing at the bit and complaining, while some nymphs tried to curb the general discontent and calm the boys' bitter spirits.

Shirei ignored the demigods who fell silent one after the other as he passed. The nymphs nodded at him in thanks, but Cragar's son wasn't even aware that he had done anything.

He walked through the halls to the dean's office. Once he arrived, he knocked lightly, just to make sure that Lyceum D'Agostini was not busy.

After a moment of waiting, the door slowly opened, revealing a gentle light within the room. Shirei entered cautiously, still aware of the mysterious sensation of being watched by one or more mysterious entities. The smell of ancient wood and dust enveloped his senses as he advanced into the high school office. That anomalous sensation distracted him, because he was convinced he could smell the sweet and powerful perfume that spread in the air breathed by the divine Aena.

Shirei paused for a moment, surveying the room. With a deep breath, he confirmed his initial suspicion. Aena was not present.

Inside the office, Lyceum D'Agostini found himself alone, immersed in the crackling light of a candle. The dancing flame cast strange reflections on the desk, while Lyceum closed the office door right behind the demigod.

Shirei immediately noticed the yellowish vial sitting on the shelf near the window. The park rector moved quickly, but Shirei saw his movements uncertain, almost distracted, as if his mind was elsewhere. The sound of glass shattering on the ground made the man shiver, the vial slipped from his fingers and rolled onto the floor, shattering. Lyceum froze, eyes wide in surprise. He had been caught off guard and had now made the mess.

"It wasn't the right time..." Shirei noted, in an attempt to apologize. He turned with the intention of leaving the office and giving the rector some private time but, before he could take a step, Lyceum managed to gather his words.

"No," the adult confirmed, "You weren't supposed to be here, but I'm glad you came to tell me something, whatever it is."

He invited him to sit down with a wave of his hand.

Shirei indulged in a silent reflection on why Aena, the goddess of love, was not present at that moment. He wondered if the strange sensation that accompanied him was due to her, but he soon understood that the deities acted according to their mysterious wishes, beyond his partial understanding of the facts. He was certain that the divinity's absence was not accidental, but due to the news that arrived with his return from the Abyss. He therefore decided not to investigate further, he would dig deeper into the matter at another time.

The demigod apologized for the unexpected disturbance, then reached the armchair and made himself comfortable.

"So," the rector began as he grabbed the pieces of glass from the shattered vial, "What can I do for you?"

"I need a permit to go buy some clothes."