The sun was in the sky, painting it a blinding light when Shirei stood up from the couch. The demigod approached one of the windows and opened it, letting the light cold breeze that crossed the garden of the villa pass inside. He found the climatic difference that was being created in the mortal world quite interesting. In the evening they were forced to light a fire to ensure they remained in a welcoming atmosphere. In the late morning and early afternoon, on the contrary, they could even let themselves be lulled by the fresh wind and the environment heated by the sun's rays.

“Different from the Underworld.”

During his time in the realm of the dead, Shirei had never been significantly affected by temperature. He thought it was due to his habit of the environment or the nature of his divine parent, after all Cragar had always specified that Undeworld was a place aimed at favoring the survival of his descendants.

Marina would have the answer, that's for sure, thought Cragar's son.

His gaze shifted in the direction of Ada, who was still meditating, a sign that she had probably succeeded in accessing her divine path. Due to his lack of knowledge on the subject, Shirei had preferred not to disturb her or make any noise, so as not to risk unknown and potentially serious consequences.

Sitting on the old dust-stained carpet, Ada was immersed in a profound silence, with her eyes closed and her hands placed delicately on her knees. The girl's concentration was more than intense, but every muscle in her body was relaxed, as if she had made no effort to penetrate the invisible barrier that separated her from her divine path.

Shirei rubbed his face with his left hand, recalling the memory of the sudden impact with the transparent wall.

He still wondered the reason for his failure.

He was certain that he had followed every step perfectly, this was demonstrated by the rapid appearance of the landscape around him, so he could not understand why access had been denied.

Better try again, he said to himself, before approaching his partner and assuming the meditation position.

The minutes passed slowly. Shirei could feel the beating of his heart, the blood pulsating in his veins, the mana passing in and out of his body, but the divine path remained inaccessible, as if the mysterious passage beyond the invisible barrier was only a mirage.

After two hours of uninterrupted effort, the boy felt his resolve waver. His frustration was growing, even as he tried not to let it overwhelm him. Finally, with a deep sigh, he decided to give up for the moment.

He opened his eyes and turned towards Rutia's daughter, hoping to find comfort in the presence of the equinox flower. To his surprise, however, he noticed that the demigoddess had not yet stopped her meditation. Instead, tiny particles of darkness formed from her body and floated upward, only to dissolve into the air.

Shirei watched Ada for a few moments, admiring almost with a hint of envy her ability to reach the divine path. The sight of the girl in that state of inner peace made him reflect again on his own failures.

Where am I wrong? What's stopping me? Why, no matter how hard I try, can't I enter my divine path?

He felt an urgent need to cross that invisible wall that seemed so insurmountable to him.

It was the only obstacle that distanced him from his goal, which was nothing other than a second starting point.

The idea that he couldn't reach the divine path just couldn't sink in for Shirei. He had never encountered difficulty in carrying out any task, whether directed by Cragar or imposed by his own will.

He felt like he was lost in a glass of water right at the point where he could have reached a new checkpoint on his route.

As he slowly stood up, thoughts accumulated in his mind like dark clouds before a storm. He decided to take a walk in the garden of the villa, hoping that the fresh air and contact with nature could help him clarify his ideas.

The villa, with its traditional charm, offered an ideal setting for meditation and introspection. Shirei found himself walking down the gravel driveway, the silence broken only by the rustling of leaves, creating a natural symphony that seemed to resonate with his thoughts.

Strange, he thought, This atmosphere is so familiar.

After a while, he stopped next to a marble fountain, where the water flowed slowly. He replayed the meeting with his subconscious and thought of the villa that had served as their backdrop.

“The villa was different from this one.”

However, Shirei had never seen a house like this in his short life.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

“So that villa is part of my memories.”

He sat down on a stone bench and took a sheet of paper and a pen from his pocket. He wanted to take advantage of that thought to write a letter addressed to Marina, hoping that writing down a few sentences could help him at least minimally resolve his dilemmas.

“Hi Marina, it's already been a week since I left, but I'm discovering new things about myself with each passing day. Despite all my efforts, I cannot reach my divine path. Apparently, despite my training, I can't do everything. I feel like there's an insurmountable barrier keeping me away. It's a feeling I'm not used to, but I know you will understand me and will be able to give me some advice."

As he wrote, Cragar's son felt a sort of relief. Every word seemed to take away some of his frustration, as if the simple act of expressing himself to Marina could lighten the burden he felt. Knowing that the letter was addressed to her, he felt a sense of freedom similar only to the times when he was focused on fighting.

“Havel and Ada are helping me, maybe I'm managing to bond with them. It was Ada who explained many of the notions about my powers to me, she gave me a great hand. Havel, on the other hand, doesn't seem as unpleasant as you thought. I think I can get along with him, he's a good fighter.”

The ink drew the last curve of the word, then Shirei stopped. He was debating whether to mention the dream Salix had induced, or the words his younger self had used.

I would just make her worry unnecessarily.

Finally, he gave up on the idea and continued: “We just closed a fault, but we can't go back to the park. You will have to wait a little longer for my return. How is Dalia? I hope you haven't told her anything yet. Please look after her until I get there and don't do anything dangerous yourself.”

However, before he could finish the letter, he heard footsteps approaching. He turned and saw Havel walking towards him.

“A letter?”

“Yes,” Shirei nodded, “It's for Marina.”

“This is new to me, Darryl would have killed you if he was here,” Havel said with a smile, “He'd already like to do it with Lyceum.”

“Why?”

Sidal's son raised the phone in his hand, “You have technology. Use it.”

Shirei put the letter back in his pocket.

“I'm not used for technology, not my style.”

“And that's also why I would kick you seven hundred and more times, if I wasn’t still weak and you weren’t super elusive.”

Havel placed a hand on his shoulder and rubbed it.

“Why are you here if you're not healed?”

“It is a leader's duty to make sure that his companions are well, even if the companion is you,” replied the blond with his chest out.

Cragar's son nodded silently and returned to his unfinished letter.

Havel distracted him again, this time his tone was annoyed.

“Do you know I'm still here?”

“Yes.”

“Conversation, do you know this word?”

“Yes.”

“What do you say then - actually, you know what? Continue your letter.” He ran a hand through his blond hair, “I was here to tell you that I will try to get along with you for the good of the mission, but there's no point in specifying it.”

“Did Ada ask you?”

“No, but that's what she would want too.”

Shirei nodded, “I'll do my best too.”

“Good.”

A general embarrassment spread through the air. Havel looked sideways and spoke loudly again.

“Okay, I think I'll go check on our partner. She was meditating earlier and I didn't want to disturb her.”

“She is inside her divine path.”

Sidal's son cocked his head to the side, “Ah.”

“What's wrong?”

A rustle of wind ruffled the hair of the leader of the Equinox Flowers.

“We usually don't enter the divine path before fighting, it exhausts you mentally.”

“I understand.”

Havel raised a hand to stop him: “You can do it, but it's better if you avoid it. Often the divine path reveals itself as an intuition at the right time.”

Shirei made a mental note of that information, #So there are two ways to bind to the path. Havel is probably closer to the second method.

Cragar's son quickly categorized those thoughts to memorize them. The divine path was the way to obtain new powers and could be manifested in two ways: the “voluntary” way and the “sudden” way.

Maybe the demigods had an unconscious predilection towards one path or the other. It could be the explanation behind his failure.

I don't have the luxury of waiting for a sudden connection, I need to immediately understand how to move on to the other path.

“Your head is smoking,” Havel commented to bring him back to attention.

Shirei blinked and looked back at Sidal's son.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you?”

The violet-eyed demigod nodded, “For your help.”

“I didn't do anything, but okay.”

Shirei stared back into space as uncertainty continued to consume him, forcing Havel to sit next to him.

“Just to know, how do you intend to send this letter?”

Cragar's son took the paper from his pocket and turned it over in his hands. He would travel to the park through the Interworld and return in the blink of an eye.

He was about to answer when, just at that moment, he heard the imperceptible sound of footsteps approaching.

“I'll do it, of course.”

The teasing voice of the divine Ammir responded.

The god of travel advanced with a bold step, carrying with him several bags full of supplies. Shirei and Havel stood up in unison to meet the immortal being, the second of the two did not fail to bow, in a gesture of respect.

“I brought something you might need,” said the god, placing the bags on the ground. “And also a couple of messages from Aena. She has specific instructions for you.”

Shirei nodded, picking up one of the bags. Havel approached with his head down.

“Divine Admir, with your permission, how about we go inside?”

The god looked him over, the long nose of his tengu mask inches from Sidal's son's eyes.

“Since when do you talk like that?”

“Of course with you I use a more appropriate register.”

“You're strange.”

Havel bit the bullet with a grimace, “Do you want me to stop?”

“Nah, go ahead. I like it” he reassured him with a smile, “I'll tell you, this is better than acting like a certain ungrateful person…”

The dig was aimed at Shirei, but Cragar's son didn't even seem to notice.

“So, divine Ammir, what would the plan be?”

The god quickly explained what Aena had told him, though he did not fail to mention that the strategy had been formulated by Ien herself. The demigods of the academy would keep the fault lines at bay until they arrived and a small platoon would support them during the battle, so as to limit damage and the chances of failure.

Shirei listened passively, while his thoughts were on how to achieve maximum efficiency for his plan: to improve the use of his divine powers.

“You will have to wait until the new day,” concluded Ammir. “Aena advises you to rest and prepare. Tomorrow you will have to reach the Colorno hospital.”

“Where is it?”

“Parma.”