Having reached that conclusion and moved by her magnetic attraction for the boy, Marina turned to her friend and gave her a smile.

"I think I'll go and sit down. Later."

Torari's daughter looked at her with an annoyed look, "Weren't you supposed to get a drink?"

"Right!" The girl nodded, "I'll do it soon, don't worry!"

Without leaving her the opportunity to detain her any longer, Marina decided to approach table thirteen, where Shirei sat alone.

She greeted him with a shy smile and asked: "Can I eat with you?"

Shirei seemed surprised, crumbling for a few moments the mask of apathy that distinguished him. He gestured for her to sit down as some food magically appeared on the table.

Marina stood still considering whether to sit in front, finally opting for the seat next to him. Shirei felt the warmth of her presence warming the cold table of Cragar's children, as the din of the canteen faded.

"Come on..." the demigoddess looked around "I don't believe it."

Marina found the eyes of every demigod in the mess hall directed on her. It wasn't the first time she did it, that she approached the boy, but the reaction was always the same.

Is it possible that they can't mind their own business?

From Ognia's children's table came some voices encouraging her.

"Come on princess, he can't resist you!"

"The mysterious charm strikes everyone!"

"Congratulations, son of Cragar!"

Marina, despite her good intentions, soon found herself at the center of an even more intense uproar, fueled by the derogatory comments of the demigods who were rumoring about the couple. Despite the surrounding noise, she decided to ignore their taunts. Ognia's children, sons of the goddess of beauty, continued, but the others still remained with disappointed looks on their faces. The upset caused by the events of the previous morning still tormented her, leaving her shaken and confused. She longed to talk to someone about what she had accomplished, but the lack of opportunities to do so filled her with frustration and loneliness. Lyceum had been occupied and Aena had disappeared, most likely returning to the Celestial World. She let out a silent sigh, looking into Shirei's eyes. The same irises that should have terrified her to death. Now she knew who he was, at least she thought she did.

Cragar's son was not comparable to the other demigods and would have posed a real threat to the park if he had not lost his memory. With that knowledge, Marina felt she could justify the goddess of love's past choices.

She had done what she thought was best.

She was sure of it.

Shirei's voice pulled her out of her thoughts, "Are you okay?"

Ien's daughter was unconsciously holding back from eating.

"Are you afraid of retching?"

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Marina smiled embarrassed, "No, I'm be-"

The girl's voice was drowned out in an instant.

With a deafening roar, three demigods entered the mess hall and were immediately surrounded by the crowd.

"Here they are..." Marina noted.

"Who are they?"

"The elite of the Lilies Park, the only ones authorized to leave whenever they want without giving an account to anyone."

The recruiting party made its return, crossing the mess hall columns with pride. Amid the chaos and confusion, Marina turned to Shirei and said, "Do you want to go and introduce yourself?"

Cragar's son squinted almost imperceptibly, the noise seeming to bother him.

"It's not necessary now."

The daughter of Ien nodded, focusing her attention on a man who stood proudly among the demigods.

"That's Havel Granbish," Marina said with a tone of respect in her voice, pointing to the man who was laughing and joking. Shirei followed her gaze and looked at the demigod.

The young man, just after twenty years, had passed the milestone of youth. His platinum blonde hair was dotted with gray wisps, an early sign of aging, mostly due to the stress of his many battles. The eyes, light brown in tone, reflected great ambition, while a pronounced scar, from the upper cheekbone to the lips and almost to the chin, told stories of past conflicts. Shirei observed his physique, partially hidden by metal armor. His favorite weapons were two massive axes, which he carried behind his back. Since he was in command of the elite group, Shirei surmised that he was considered the most powerful in the Lilies Park. A title earned through steely determination, judging by the way he puffed out his chest.

"Son of Sidal?" The purple-eyed demigod asked.

"Yeah..." As she spoke, Marina was surprised to see the smile on Havel's face, despite the surrounding commotion and chaos.

It was a happiness that reflected his self-confidence and readiness to face any challenge that came his way. Sometimes, Marina complained about him, as he ended up forgetting the line between awareness and simple pride.

"Look at him," the girl whispered to Shirei, a hint of aversion in her eyes. "Despite his hotheaded character, everyone here respects him. He's a born warrior, unfortunately."

Shirei looked at the man with an indecipherable expression, "Is he powerful?"

Marina nodded, "Incomparable. In terms of simple physical strength he is the strongest here at the park. He has no rivals."

Amidst the commotion, Shirei noticed the arrival of two girls with completely opposite looks. They walked behind Havel and occasionally exchanged greetings with those present. Marina saw his look and puffed out her cheek slightly. He was looking at them more than was necessary for her liking.

The first, emanated a bright, sunny energy that shone in the middle of the crowd. Her blonde hair fell softly to her shoulders and her green eyes sparkled with happiness. Her slim, lean figure reflected an active outdoor life and a care for her well-being. Her honey-colored eyes shone with warmth and vitality, while her soft, rosy skin invited contact. She wore a simple but graceful dress, with a long green skirt that accentuated her fresh natural beauty, reflecting the green of the sun-kissed meadows on a warm spring day. On the other side, there was a girl with a dark and mysterious aura. Her black hair, with a dark blue tinge, gave her an intriguing appearance, while her gray eyes shone in the sunlight. Her physique was more robust and curvy than her companion, conveying a sense of restrained strength. She fought with two short swords, hanging gracefully from her belt, each positioned on her side, ready to be wielded expertly should the need arise. Her clothing, dark and tight, reflected her reserved character, while her pale skin revealed a magnetic and penetrating beauty. Marina found the two to be opposite sides of the light spectrum, antipodes, but he knew that both were impressive in their own way.

"They! Yes, they…" she used a higher tone to accentuate her annoyance and to get Shirei's attention, "They are Ada Bonaventura and Elaine Rolland. They are part of the group, so as to balance Havel's impetuosity with a bit of feminine logic. Ada is the representative of Rutia's children among other things.»

"I know."

Ien's daughter glared at him, "What do you mean, you know?"

"Aren't they Italians?" Shirei added after a while.

Didn't you just say you know? Then don't ask me! The demigoddess thought before answering him.

"No, that is, more or less. Ada is Italian, the others are foreigners."

Ien's daughter quickly reviewed them, "Havel, Elaine and..." her voice trailed off.

Attentive as always, she had noticed the absence of a very important person, the last member of the group and the oldest demigod present at the park.

"Something wrong?" Shirei asked with a hint of concern.

Marina shook her head, "No, it's... there's one person missing."