Murder…
It was a condemned act of ending another person's life. A person who committed such an act was hated by society forever, for it was immoral.
When I came to the Divine Realm, after witnessing society's response towards the battle, I knew I'd have to adjust to this one day.
But murder…
It felt like my hands were lathered in the blood of another. It was sickening and downright wrong. I felt dirty.
It felt like the world was crashing down on me. I, a mere fifteen-year-old boy, committed murder by stabbing a man in the heart.
As soon as I was about to faint, I knew what I had done.
I knew what I had done… but did I?
*
As my eyes opened, I was greeted by the face of a doctor. A stethoscope hung around his neck, and pristine white robes covered his body.
His face was immaculate with light stubble and a sharp jawline. His eyes were warm, and he felt like a kind man.
I was lying on a semi-soft floor… it seemed I was still in the hall. Under my body were the crimson carpets on which I'd committed murder.
The realization struck me, and a scream escaped my lips.
Perhaps surprised by my reaction, the doctor furrowed his brows. He backed away before floating over to Kronos.
The barrier had diminished, and Memnon's corpse was nowhere to be seen.
I sat upright, scratching my head once I'd calmed down a little. However, the guilt still weighed on me, plaguing my thoughts.
I immediately activated [Void Mind], and I calmed down completely. However, what would happen once the technique ran dry?
Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I stood up. The Elder Gods stared at me with complicated gazes.
Were they surprised that I'd won?
Ignoring their gazes, I walked towards Kronos's throne. The doctor had already left. I felt the gazes of Prometheus, Leo, and Jacque.
Ignoring them all, I stood before Kronos's throne.
"Have I passed the test?"
"With flying colors," responded Kronos, revealing a subtle smile, which soon morphed into a toothy grin.
A moment of awkward silence descended upon the hall.
"You have defeated a six-million-year-old demigod, the son of Tithonus and Eos," announced Kronos. "You are only fifteen and have been training for six months. That is a significant achievement."
For some reason, I didn't feel much. Perhaps it was due to [Void Mind].
I didn't feel elation. I didn't feel the excitement. I didn't even feel angry, nor did I feel sad. I was empty at that moment.
[Void Mind] was powerful.
"Aren't you happy?" Kronos asked, narrowing his eyes.
"No," I replied. The entire hall turned silent, and the gazes of the Elder Gods turned resentful instead of complicated.
They muttered several things.
"He's not happy? Ungrateful half-breed."
"Memnon was unbearable, but he's even worse. All half-breeds are dogs."
"He's disrespecting our King."
"Petition to dispose of the Prophetic Child. We can defend our world ourselves. We do not need a mere half-breed to save it."
Once again, it was a cyan-haired man who said the last sentence. No one said a thing after him.
"Why aren't you happy, Noah?" Kronos asked, forming an expression of curiousness.
I took a second to think. After that, I spoke. "This is but a simple achievement. He is simply a demigod."
"Elaborate."
"I have only defeated a demigod. Once I defeat a Cardinal-Ranked God such as yourself, I will feel satisfied."
The eyes of the Elder Gods widened. Prometheus's eyes did, too. Jacque and Leo were visibly pale.
Did I say something wrong? I didn't think so.
The Elder Gods suddenly began laughing boisterously. Even Prometheus let out a chuckle.
Jacque and Leo, noticing the atmosphere, regained their composure.
It seemed the Elder Gods didn't believe me. They mocked me endlessly as if I was someone not worth their anger.
It still wasn't clear to me whether I'd said something wrong.
I turned to face Kronos. He wasn't laughing. His eyes were incredibly solemn. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No," replied Kronos. His words dispelled the lighthearted atmosphere, and the Elder Gods scrunched their eyebrows.
"What do you mean, brother?" the cyan-haired man asked dumbfoundedly as if having heard something preposterous. "He clearly disrespected you. That is wrong."
"You will refer to me as your majesty, Oceanus," scolded Kronos. His emerald eyes shone, and Oceanus shrunk. "His words are not wrong. This is but a tiny achievement."
Oceanus revealed an expression of indignance before sighing as if it wasn't worth it. Kronos's gaze remained on him for a few seconds before returning to me.
"What do you wish for?" Kronos asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You have won against Memnon," said Kronos. "As you said, it is not a big achievement. Still, it deserves a reward."
I thought for a few seconds. "Do I have options?"
"Indeed," replied Kronos. He flicked his wrist and an assortment of items spawned. They were suspended in the air and veiled in front of me. I couldn't see them. "Choose."
"May I get descriptions?"
"The first item is the Pelian Spear of Achilles," announced Kronos. The item revealed itself automatically, and my eyes were immediately attracted to it.
It was a fine spear forged with care.
"Isn't that the spear no man can wield except Achilles?"
"That is but a rumor."
I nodded. "May I see the next item?"
Kronos flicked his wrist, and a yellow sphere appeared. The veil disintegrated as it fell.
"This is a sphere of divinity," announced Kronos. "It is a sphere clad with divinity that can help one advance their rank. You will be able to reach the peak of the demigod rank with this."
My eyes widened slightly as I observed the sphere. I contemplated for a few seconds before asking, "May I see the last item?"
Kronos revealed a faint smile before lifting the veil of the third item.
My eyes turned bloodshot as I saw the last time. I clenched my fist, and blood emerged from my palm.
It was Memnon's head.
Detached from his corpse, Memnon's head floated before me. His eyelids were closed, while blood still dripped from his neck.
His body wasn't there.
It seemed like someone had sliced his neck after I pierced his heart…
"This is Memnon's head," announced Kronos. "Many warriors like to have a vestige of their foe's body."
I suddenly felt suffocation rise in my chest, viewing the smile on Kronos's face. It was scary.
"Deactivate your ability, Noah," ordered Kronos. I bent like rubber and immediately did what he said. I couldn't refute a Cardinal-Rank God.
My eyes regained their luster, and fear overtook my mind. The guilt… it all came crashing down.
Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed. I killed someone. I ended their fucking life. I deserved to die.
I struggled to breathe at that moment.
The hall turned silent, and only my sobs were distinguishable.
"Get over it," said Kronos, resting his thigh on another. He rested his head on his palm as if he were bored. "He wasn't worth it, anyway."
I suddenly realized what Memnon had meant when he said "abandonment."
Kronos, despite holding him in high regard prior to the battle, now didn't care about him. Once you lose, you're done.
That's when it struck me. Was I important to Othrys? Would be abandon me if I didn't live up to their expectations?
Even if I was the Prophetic Child, hadn't the Elder Gods mentioned they could handle the matter by themselves?
Could they?
Was I not needed?
Then what had I been working my ass off for?
The death of Memnon held less importance once I realized that. Memnon was only a stepping stone, wasn't he?
If I didn't live up to expectations, I would be disposed of, just like Memnon.
So what if I had to end people's lives for that? I was only saving myself, wasn't I?
My reasons were justifiable, right? Right?
I took a deep breath, attempting to calm my mind without the use of [Void Mind]. The ability was temporary.
It wouldn't help me forever. Relying on it too much would be my downfall.
The tears streaming down my face stopped emerging, and I wiped the others off my cheeks. My lacrimal gland went dry.
Making up my mind, I alleviated the guilt.
"I will choose the second item," I announced in an unwavering tone. "The sphere of divinity, please."
Smiling graciously like a friendly uncle, Kronos handed me the sphere.
"Absorb it once you get back. For now, take your servant and leave."
I glanced at Leo, who approached me as I walked away from Kronos's throne with the sphere in my hand.
It felt like a marble.
It was larger than my palm, though.
I glanced at Prometheus, who stared back at me blankly. Unsure of what he meant, I didn't go and talk to him.
Leo and I exited the room, allowing Jacque and Prometheus to converse with the others.
We headed towards our carriage.