Chương 39: Titan

"So you're saying you like Osvel too? Well, I have to admit that was a fairly likely possibility..." Nerez pinched the bridge of his nose, suddenly overwhelmed by the situation. Of all the people he knew, he was the one most removed from romance, and out of nowhere, he had found himself right in the middle of this situation.

"Haha, theoretically speaking."

"Theoretically? Look, I'm really the least qualified person to talk about these things, but if you really like Osvel too, I think you should express your feelings." Ily clasped her hands behind her back in a gesture that reminded him quite a bit of Selene.

"Even if I really did like Osvel, I couldn't compete with Sae. She's already suffered too much. She doesn't live with her grandfather for no reason, Lord Nereziel."

"Actually, I'd been wondering where her parents were... But, Ily, it's not as if suffering more gives someone a greater right to be happy."

"It doesn't?"

"Whoever fights to be happy is the one who earns that right... Though personally, I'd rather everyone just be happy and leave me in peace."

"Haha, I never imagined gods would say such human things, much less the god of death."

"Ha, I have far more experience being human than you do." Well, she's a visiare to begin with... But this wordplay must be the Godscript's translation at work.

"You have more experience? How so, Lord Nereziel?"

"That is none of your business."

"Stingy..." Ily puffed out her cheeks in protest. It doesn't really seem like Ily likes Osvel. In fact, she seems strangely cheerful now for some reason... What was she trying to get out of this conversation?

The hunt had not gone well that morning. None of the four had been particularly focused on hunting, so any good results would have been a surprise. Nerez and Ily spent the whole time talking, and by the time Sae and Osvel returned, both of them were red in the face. It was obvious that hunting had not been their priority. Ily was not the only one curious. Nerez, who had ended up quite involved in the matter (against his will, but also through his own fault), also wanted to know how things had turned out.

However, the moment they returned to camp, Osvel gave Nerez a deep bow and left without another word. Watching him leave, Sae let out a long sigh....

"Are you all right, Sae?" Ily was the first to hurry to her side and take her by the arm. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Looks like it wasn't good news..." Nerez said.

"If you want to talk about it, we're here to listen." Sae forced a small smile, but a tear was already threatening to slip from the corner of her eye.

"There's someone he likes..." Nerez looked at Ily, fearing the worst for the girls' friendship.

"An older woman..."... Nerez and Ily exchanged a glance. What?! Out of nowhere?!

"He says she's always been like an older sister to him, and he was afraid of ruining that relationship... He says my confession gave him the courage to do the same..."

"Oh... her... That is a surprise. I never would have imagined he felt that way..."

"Maybe this was for the best," Sae said, rubbing her eyes.

"It's true that I had a certain longing for romance, but deep down, what matters most to me is that the three of us will still be friends." Apparently, Ily had some idea who Sae meant. But she quickly pushed that aside, and her expression brightened.

"That's true. If that's how things stand, there's nothing we can do!" Ily exclaimed, pulling Sae into a hug.

"Let's drink away the sadness and celebrate friendship with some fermented fruit!" Isn't this all a bit too anticlimactic...?

"Will Lord Nereziel come too?" Sae asked, tears in her eyes.

"What? Me?"

"Of course!" Ily answered for him.

"Lord Nereziel is always there when we need him!"

"..."

"I want to drink too! Nerez! Why do you keep excluding me lately?!" Out of nowhere, Cerys had appeared behind them. Well, if he could find his servants, it stood to reason that his servants could find him too. At least Cerys could, since she had a Godscript too.

"Lately? If you mean this mess, you would've been more than welcome to take my place, but I don't think it would've been your strong suit... (not that it was mine either, though)."

"I can do anything if I put my mind to it!"

"Yes, you're right. You're a big girl now..."

"Ahem!" the redhead cleared her throat proudly.

"What are you two doing?!" Ily shouted from a distance while dragging Sae along.

"Come on already, before the fermented fruit runs out! Lord Nereziel, Lady Reaper!"

"Runs out? I don't think there's anyone else drinking at noon..." Nerez let out one of his usual sighs, but still headed toward the camp's improvised bar, with Cerys following close behind him. At least I hope this soap opera has finally come to an end...

The presence before Drazira was so imposing that she struggled to breathe. The Titan Erebion was a figure shrouded in darkness, seated upon a great stone throne. Drazira and Drazel could barely make out some of his features. Even so, Drazel had not let himself be intimidated, and he remained kneeling at the Titan's feet beside his sister. But when the Titan spoke, his words were unexpected.

"The colossus has fallen..."

"Pardon, Your Greatness?" Drazel asked, puzzled by the Titan's words. The Titan ignored the question and sank back into his silent meditation.

"If I may ask..." Drazel insisted, with a far more important question in mind.

"Where does that cavern lead?" Through an opening in the rock wall behind Erebion, they could see the faint light of emerald crystals, the most common kind in the underworld. Common as those crystals were, the demon siblings could sense that this particular cavern, while still part of Eryndea, was the entrance to a world very different from the one they now stood in.

"It is the Chasm of the Deeps. It is not a place for the living." This time, the Titan deigned to answer, but his tone made it clear to Drazel that he should ask no more about it.

"The river of death..." That did not stop him from muttering those words to himself as a smile formed on his face. Drazira caught those words and glanced at him with concern.

"Great lord of the underworld, Erebion, I beg you once more to take the demons under your protection. We will be instruments of your will." The Titan opened his eyes for the first time. Since his body was shrouded in darkness, they had not realized they were closed. Now, however, they could see two points of light within the shadows. Drazira felt as if her soul were about to be sucked out of her body. Beside her, Drazel was sweating, his hands trembling involuntarily.

"Something... something has entered the underworld." Drazira looked to her brother for some explanation, but he seemed just as bewildered as she was.

"Something, Your Greatness?" The Titan's gaze seemed to intensify. Neither of the siblings dared to look directly into his eyes.

"Stop it. No one must disturb the order that has stood since the beginning of the world." Although Drazel did not fully understand Erebion's words, he did not hesitate to seize the opportunity that had just presented itself.

"Leave it to me, Your Greatness! I will not allow anything to disturb your peace!" Drazira, meanwhile, could not help noticing that she was no longer included.