Chương 387: Race Game

Atherius remained standing in the doorway of Callum's barracks, studying the strange object resting in the young Pendragon's outstretched hand. He inspected it from several angles, turning it over with careful curiosity before finally letting out a slow sigh.

"What exactly is it you wish to play, Pendragon?" Stepping inside, he accepted the controller and lowered himself onto the couch beside Callum. A gentle smile rested on his face as he continued examining the unfamiliar device, his fingers carefully tracing over every button as though trying to understand its purpose through touch alone. Callum leaned back comfortably.

"It's a racing game." He gestured toward the television before glancing at Atherius.

"Do you know how to play?" Atherius looked down at the controller once more, his expression carrying uncertainty.

"What do you humans call this device?"

"It's a controller." Callum scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

"It connects to a console, and the console runs the game. You just use the controller to tell it what you want to do." Atherius slowly nodded.

"A console... how peculiar." His thumb brushed lightly across one of the buttons.

"We never possessed luxuries such as these." Callum chuckled.

"What counted as a luxury in your world?" The question lingered between them.

"... Living." Callum's own smile disappeared. Atherius quietly stared at the dark television screen before speaking again.

"Living itself was a luxury. Our world belonged to cultists. They slaughtered nearly every human they found. Each death became a sacrifice. Each sacrifice became an offering, all in pursuit of awakening a false god." Silence settled over the room. Callum shifted uneasily before rubbing the back of his neck.

"Man... I'm sorry." His gaze dropped toward the controller resting in his lap.

"So... how was the god stopped?" The moment the question left his mouth, he winced.

"... Actually, forget I asked. You don't have to answer that."

"I killed it." Callum blinked.

"You... you killed a god?" Atherius met his gaze, a faint smile returning to his face.

"There is little reason to be surprised."

"Every Saga standing in Irea is a godslayer." Callum stared at him for several long seconds. A bead of sweat slowly rolled down his temple as he tried to process the statement.

"But... there are only twenty known gods. If every one of you killed one... there should barely be any left." This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. He frowned apologetically.

"And besides, I don't mean any offence, but... you don't exactly seem that strong." Atherius simply stared at him. Then he burst into laughter. A Heartfelt laugh echoed throughout the small barracks, far louder than Callum had expected.

"Hahaha... you humans truly are amusing." Still smiling, he wiped a tear from the corner of one eye.

"You believe your world is all there is." Leaning back comfortably, he regarded Callum with quiet amusement.

"Tell me. Do you truly think existence ends with your universe?" Callum remained silent. Atherius continued before he could answer.

"We come from worlds beyond yours, dimensions, realms, civilizations you have never imagined, the gods we slew belonged there. Not here. Then, we wandered and searched. We sought the center of existence itself."

"But in doing so..." His smile became bittersweet.

"We drifted farther and farther from our source. Our power faded, and eventually... we became what you see now." Callum immediately raised both hands.

"Sorry. I honestly didn't mean to insult you." Atherius chuckled softly and waved the apology aside.

"I know. It matters little." He adjusted his grip on the controller before sitting up a little straighter.

"Now then... our duel shall begin." A faint competitive smile crossed his face.

"I refuse to lose to you in this..." He glanced toward the television.

"... race game." Callum laughed as he reached for the second controller.

"You'd better give me a challenge."

"Oh." Atherius' smile grew ever so slightly.

"I fully intend to." The race began. It ended... Poorly. Very poorly. Atherius technically crossed the finish line in last place, though only because the timer eventually expired. He remained frozen on the couch as the words YOU LOST illuminated the screen before him. His mouth opened, closed, then opened again, but nothing came out. Callum looked sideways at him with growing concern.

"... You alright?" For several long seconds, Atherius didn't respond. Then, without taking his eyes off the television, he finally spoke.

"... May I request a rematch?" Callum blinked.

"... Are you sure? I mean... you didn't exactly-""I am certain." There wasn't the slightest hesitation in his voice. Callum sighed with a small smile.

"... Alright." He selected Restart, and the character selection screen appeared once more. After choosing their vehicles, he glanced over at Atherius.

"Ready?"

"I am always ready, Pendragon." The countdown began. Three. Two. One. Go. Both vehicles shot forward. Well... One did. The other accelerated magnificently... Straight into a wall. Atherius frowned at the screen.

"Why will my mount not obey me?" Callum couldn't suppress his smile anymore.

"It isn't alive. You steer it yourself. Just watch my hands and copy what I do." Without another word, Atherius shifted his attention away from the screen entirely. Instead, he studied Callum, watching every finger movement, every button press, every tiny adjustment of the controller. His eyes followed everything with remarkable focus. Within seconds, understanding dawned upon him. A slow grin spread across his face.

"I see. I understand my mistakes now." He sat up straighter, gripping the controller with renewed confidence.

"Now... I shall defeat you." Several minutes later... He finished in last place again. Atherius stared silently at the results screen, his grip tightening around the controller as the bitter taste of defeat settled heavily inside him. Callum glanced over.

"Wanna go again?" Atherius leaned back and cleared his throat with as much dignity as he could manage.

"I would not object." Several races later, neither of them was paying much attention to who actually won anymore. The atmosphere had become unexpectedly comfortable, almost peaceful, and the room occasionally filled with quiet laughter whenever one of them made a spectacular mistake. While waiting for the next race to load, Atherius adjusted his grip on the controller before speaking.

"... Pendragon."

"Hm?"

"Do you always treat strangers like this?" Callum looked over, confused.

"Like what?"

"Like friends." Callum blinked, then laughed. Without thinking, he lightly slapped Atherius across the shoulder.

"Of course. We're all human. We should treat other people the way we'd like to be treated ourselves. That's what being human means, don't you think?" He smiled broadly, without reservation or suspicion. Atherius slowly turned toward him. For just a moment, something shimmered behind his eyes. As though he were looking at someone he had lost long ago. Callum noticed the change immediately.

"Something wrong?" Instead of answering, Atherius quietly raised a closed fist. A silent invitation.

"Nothing at all."

"My friend." Callum grinned and bumped his fist against Atherius's.

"There we go." He leaned back comfortably before adding with a sheepish smile,"And hey... if something's bothering you, you can always come talk to me. Just... be honest. I'd appreciate that." The words lingered in the room. Atherius lowered his gaze toward the controller resting in his lap.

"Honest..." He whispered the word to himself. Then he drew in a slow breath. His entire demeanour changed.

"Sir Pendragon... there is one thing. Something I have not yet told you." Callum immediately set his controller aside, his expression sharpening.

"What is it?" Atherius hesitated longer than Callum had ever seen him hesitate before.

"When I first met your group this morning... I sensed not six presences..." He met Callum's eyes.

"... But seven." Callum frowned.

"I don't understand, what are you trying to say?" Atherius briefly closed his eyes before opening them again.

"I cannot be completely certain..." He swallowed once.

"But I believe... Lady Evelyn may already be carrying your heir."