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Arc: 2 [Chapter 12]

Arc: 2 [Chapter 12]

I press the buttons on the controller in an order, causing my character, Cammy, to perform a Cannon Drill on Shin's character, Chun-Li, knocking a few percents off her health bar, and stagger his character. I look at the health bar for both our fighters and notice that we are down to a few bars left.

"Execute the drill move on him, Shin!" Lord Hades suggests from behind us.

"I'm sorry, Dad, but my character can't do that move."

I let out a small chuckle as I glance at Lord Hades, but it proves to be my demise as Shin takes a final hit on my character and causes me the game. I let out a groan as I let go of the controller. Unquestionably, Shin is much better at this game than me, after that fight. It has been quite a while since we started playing the game, I can't even tell how much time has passed during it.

Letting out a sigh, I scoop my butt over to the side, letting Lord Hades take my spot and continue the match against Shin. I let out a short exhalation, then take a lie down on the expensive carpet while keeping my gaze at the high ceiling.

"Andre...Excuse me for my forward manner, but I have a question for you."

"Ask away."

"Do you perhaps remember anything from your past life? Like the outside world?"

"Aaah, no—wait, how do you know that I don't have any memories of my past life? And how do you even know my name? If I remember correctly, I forgot to introduce myself earlier."

I turn my head to look at Shin with a raised eyebrow.

"Believe or not, we have met be—" Shin stops his sentence and looks at Lord Hades.

I notice Lord Hades is casting a pressing glance at Shin. The boy concentrates his gaze on the screen and answers, "Uhm. What I was going to converse is that people like to gossip around here, and I heard it from someone that you lose your memories."

"Ohh, I guess news travels fast around here, James must have talked to someone about it. Hmm... never mind then. Anyway, to answer your question earlier, I don't remember anything about my past world." I shrug my shoulders and continue gazing at the ceiling.

"Why do you ask?"

"I've never been to the outside world before...I'm curious to know what it's like out there."

"What? That can't be true." Scrunching my eyebrows together, I turn my head to face both of them.

"Shin is too young to go outside," Lord Hades respond to my reaction without giving me a second look.

"That's a load of bullshit...Aaahh, sorry for my language."

"No, thank you for saying it." There's a small smile on Shin's face as he takes a glance at Lord Hades.

"You must have faith in me, Shin. It's for your protection. Remember, you're not a Half-born, you're a Pure-born. However, don't be discouraged, when the time comes, you will be able to leave the underworld as you please." There's sadness in Hades's eyes, it as if the thought of Shin leaving causes a cloud of gloom to hover above his heart.

"Dad...I'm not leaving forever--I only wanted to see the world that's beyond this one. Besides, I'm not going to go against your wish. If you think that I'm ready for it, then I'm ready." Shin leans his shoulder against Lord Hades's. I can see Lord Hades's spirit rise again as he feels Shin's soft arm.

"Anyway, I better start doing my thing." I stand up and brush off the black dirt off my pants.

"May I ask, where are you going?" Shin asks as he turns his head around to me.

"To the blessed field..." A frown replaces my smile as I place my hand against my hatchet.

"W-What? But—" Surprise by my answer, Shin butcher his pronunciation.

Lord Hades let out a small laugh while keeping his gaze on the TV, "There was never a shroud of doubt in my mind that you'll give up."

"What can I say, I'm a tenacious woman." I stare daggers at the king of The Underworld while I run my fingers down to the shaft and slide the hatchet out of its sheath.

Lord Hades raises his left hand while Shin glance between him and me with worried eyes. "Andre, please...stand down. You can't win this fight."

"Shin, I know you mean well, but you have to know that I won't back down." I take off into a sprint toward Lord Hades with my hatchet ready at my side. In the corner of my eyes, I can see Shin rise from where he was sitting and rush toward me while pulling out a large scythe from his own shadow.

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The sound of fingers snapping changes everything.

I fall to my knees and hands. The sight of flowers blooming underneath me surprise me and a sweet fragrance replace the smell of dread. Waves of fatigues wash over me while my strength is strip away from me, in a blink of an eye. I can feel soreness that wasn't there before, all over my body.

The sound of my heart racing overwhelms my hearing while every breath I take is difficult.

Among the hundreds of flowers in front of me, a single daisy attracts my gaze.

"How does it feel?" I can hear Lord Hades's voice coming from in front of me.

"W-What happened?"

"How does it feel to become mortal again?"

I raise my chin so my gaze can meet his. The King of The Underworld stands before me while the radiance from the sun rests upon him. Behind him, a single pomegranate tree thrives among the meadow of beautiful flowers. Standing beside him is Shin, the long shaft of the scythe rest against his shoulder while he looks at me. I can tell there's confusion in his eyes through his front bang. I think that even he did not expect Lord Hades's action.

"Are we outside of The Underworld?"

"We are still in The Underworld, and the sun above you is a fake."

"Where are we exactly?" I gather my strength and stand once more with my hatchet between my fingers and palm.

"My wife's Groves."

I glance around me, finally seeing the others kind of tree encircling us. "Your wife?"

"It's a pleasure meeting you. I am Persephone. Shin's mother." A soft woman's voice greets me. I turn my head and see a woman with parts of a plant body merge with her own, creating an elegant symbiosis between flora and a humanoid figure.

Her wide smile shows no sign of threat toward me, causing me to feel utterly confound in the situation. Persephone walks toward me with a crown of flowers in her hands, and she places it around my head then licks her thumb, and uses it to wipe my dirty cheek.

I can feel the warm motherly air around her, as she cleans my face and straightens my hair. "I have always wanted a daughter because of my fond memories with my mother. She would always brush my hair when I was still living with her, but I wouldn't trade Shin for anybody else because he's my adorable little angel."

At the corners of my eyes, I can see Shin's cheeks begin to blush red, then I look back at Persephone. "Why am I here?"

"I'm sorry, but even I don't know the answer to that question. However, I do know someone who can answer that." Her gaze rests on Lord Hades behind me.

I turn my head and see half a smile on his face. "The Blessed Fields is that way," he tilts his head toward a direction on his right.

"I thought..."

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not helping anybody. I'm just visiting my wife's grove with my son. I never saw any candidate around here. Shin, did you see any other candidate around here?"

"Uhm." He let out a surprised smile and say, "I didn't see anyone, Dad."

I let out a small laugh while tilting my chin down, "Thank you..."

Persephone lifts my chin, so my gaze meets with her vibrant green eyes, "Onward."

I rotate my body to face Lord Hades, "can I ask why?"

"I'm curious to see what might happen."

That answer keeps swirling in my mind, but no matter I view it, I didn't understand any of it. I let out a sigh, and start walking toward the direction that Lord Hades points.

"Andre of Adrestia!" I stop on my tracks and turn my head to look at Lord Hades.

"Keep that strong will near your heart. You'll need it. Trust me." There a slight tangible of worry in his eyes and quickly dismiss it as he turns his body to gaze at the pomegranate tree.

"I will." I turn my back on him and continue walking.

"And come by anytime you want, I'm still hoping to defeat you in that game."

A smile form with my lips as I walk away.

A slow walk turns into a jog.

A jog turns into a run.

I run through the groves until I reach The Blessed Field. My legs stop moving as I stand near the edge of a downward slope while I gaze at the incredible view in front of me. The buildings and the landscapes, look like a miniature version of Mount Olympus. I can see hundreds of people, maybe more that are resting on lounge chairs, there are also people playing frisbee, exercising, painting, and all sort of activities as if they are on a vacation.

However, what caught my attention is the statue of a woman laying on her side, the size of a small hill, and half-buried into the dirt with a clump of grass growing over her like a blanket.

"I can't believe it, but I made it!"

I hold my clenched hand close to my chest while I let out a smile that shows my grit teeth. Raising my fist into the air, I yell out my excitement and celebrate my victory. After I lower my fist, I let out a laugh then sprint down the slope. Stumbling a couple of steps, I lose my footing and fall onto the grass slope, but it didn't stop me as I roll down with a giant smile on my face.

The tiny grass brush against my skin and cloth causing it to attaches itself to the fabric and between my hair. After reaching the bottom of the slope, I didn't slow my momentum; instead, I place my hands under me and lift myself then use that same momentum to hurry toward the nearest building.

I avoid the couple that is heading toward me while wearing white and loose fabrics over their body, similar to the dress that Adrestia wore when I first met her on the floating island. I glance behind me to make sure what I'm seeing is accurate, and that's no ordinary man and woman. They are famous Greek residents, Jason, and Atalanta. I can tell because the Well of Knowledge keeps matching their faces with names and history. They look at me confused by my bustle. I wave at them while nodding my head apologetically.

I genuinely want to meet them, but I need to find Rhea.

After I circle The Blessed Field about ten times, scanning all the faces, trying to find Rhea and fail. I stop when my fatigue ultimately catches up to me and inhales a couple of breaths into my lung. There are so many people here, not just Greek Heroes, but Japanese, European, and all kinds of Heroes from all ages. This search is going to take me a while because I don't even know what Rhea looks like, the Well of Knowledge inside my mind won't give me a clue.

I let out a sigh, and take a seat on one of the benches near me. Gazing at the garden, I let out a smile as I see the beautiful flowers. A gentle fresh wind blow against me, my hasten heart starts to calm down while my mind eases over time.

Closing both my eyes, I feel the wind disturb as someone takes a seat right next to me on the bench.

A soothing, kind womanly voice greets me. "Hey, you."

I open my eyes and look to my side. Inside my chest, I feel my heart skips a beat, and my eyes widen while my lips split apart in pleasant surprise.

"I-It's you..."