"According to Greek mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves."
― Plato, The Symposium
"Welcome to my humble school, oh great and glorious god!" Kalina walked forward to meet Ven, voice filled with friendly mockery. "The students will be ecstatic that you've decided to visit them ahead of schedule."
"Whose fault is that?" Ven snorted as he embraced his friend. "You've raised a bunch of little fanatics… even the ones who don't consider me a God are completely devoted to the realm!"
"Obedience is important, little fish," Kalina laughed as she broke their hug, a question in her gaze. "Why are you here early? Trouble outside the realm?"
"I'm looking for Min," Ven glanced around the courtyard, as did the Giant at his back. "I need her help with something through the labyrinth gate."
"She's with a class right now," Kalina's smile deepened at the mention of Min. "Her lessons on runes and the nature of the laws are the most attended in the school…" Her eyes flicked to the Giant, "I thought he was forbidden by Min to come here?"
"Really?" Ven looked to the Giant, who gave a sheepish roll of his shoulders. "Why?"
"He kept trying to get at the trees in the central garden," Kalina gave the Giant a stern glare. "You better behave, or I'll get Min to scold you!"
The massive creature nodded and took a seat on the tiled floor. Hands locked around his ankles, the Giant reminded Ven of a bored child. All he needed was an oversized lolly and a silly, outdated hat to complete the picture.
"He should be fine, let's go interrupt Min's lesson," Ven needed to hurry, before whatever had infected Rafe managed to escape the suppression of the Hive. "My problem is time sensitive, and Rafe is in trouble…"
Kalina's face grew serious. She nodded and motioned for him to follow, into the grand doorway of the Eden Academy. They flowed through expansive halls, empty of activity, until they reached a large amphitheatre in the centre of the building. Min's voice echoed from within, calm and touched by a hint of laughter.
"I'm afraid we'll have to end today's lesson early," Min raised her volume and projected over the dissatisfied murmur. "But don't be disappointed… I have business that cannot wait, but we have a surprise visitor!"
Ven sighed. Min's ability to detect him, and hide from his sight, was bothersome. He suppressed his annoyance and strode into the stadium. A flick of his wrist brought him beside the podium, just to the left of the cheeky woman. A breathless silence filled the chamber, a collective agreement between the students to hold the air in their lungs.
"I'll go through the gate and see what can be done with Rafe," Min leaned in, voice between them a ghost of a whisper. "You do your duty and inspire the future generation to greatness!"
Min vanished with Ven's snort and left him alone before the crowd. He let his pitch-black gaze slide over the students, too much for most to bear as they let their eyes turn to the floor.
"Greetings, All!" Ven placed his hands on the podium and leaned toward the crowd. "I am proud to stand here and witness the results of your hard efforts," A trace of his eyes of truth peeked from his shadowed gaze, enough to see the bottomless potential of these youngsters. "Lady Kalina and the others have taught you well. The futures I see ahead for you are limitless, governed only by your own effort and choices!"
Fires lit behind the eyes of the students in attendance, even as they maintained absolute silence. Ven smiled, just wide enough to flash his pointed teeth. This group would no doubt overtake the old guard one day, maybe step out of the realm for their own adventures.
"I hope to one day…" Ven paused, head tilted to the side. A subtle vibration ran through the stonework, a tremor that originated from the centre of Eden Academy. "I'll let Lady Kalina carry on from here, something requires my attention!"
Ven vanished from the stadium and reappeared before the two trees within the Academy garden. The tree of life sat in peace, branches extended to soak in the light of the universe. The tree of knowledge was another matter. The Giant sat beside the smaller tree, a plump, pod-like fruit halfway into his mouth.
"Stop, you witless maroon!" Ven reached out, too late. A shove of the hand and the fruit of knowledge slipped down the Giant's gullet, satisfaction on the idiot beast's face. "We'll see how pleased with yourself you are, after I've finished with you…"
A wave of nausea rippled through him, a first since his rebirth. The Giant's face fell slack as the large buffoon slumped to the ground. Ven rallied his will, engaged in a battle with his own nerves. Fire… acidic magma that rampaged through a distant limb. Never had he regretted his connection to the Giant more than at this moment.
"Of all the fruit in this garden, you had to pick the shadiest looking one…" Hand pressed to his stomach, Ven made his way toward the Giant. Step by agonising step, he marched until he was in line with the downed beast's face. "I still haven't decoded the formation in that thing…"
The runes behind his eyes flashed and revealed the spell that surged within the Giant's flesh. Identical to the one inside of Dante, it struggled to find a place to rest within the absorption that made up his Giant's essence.
"It's adapting pretty quickly…" Ven frowned, hand extended to wrap the GIant in a circle of his own creation. Every piece that the Giant absorbed was replaced with a more resistant variation. "Almost like it's intelligent."
A groan forced its way past the Giant's lips as the red-tinted scripture within him coiled and rearranged. A twitch of the beast's muscles and his body began to shrink. From a thirty foot giant, to a man that matched Ven's height within a micrometre. Covered in crimson runes, not unlike his own, the now inaccurately named Giant opened his eyes and blinked.
"Where is Min?" A soft spoken voice slipped from unused lips, Ven's tones from a different throat. The Giant twitched, nose pointed to the air as he sniffed like a hound. "What smells so tasty?"