I sat in my grandfather, well Mr. Abbott's office at the house, the familiar scent of old books and leather mingling with the aroma of lavender. Across from me, Yuki stood with her arms crossed, her eyes hard.
She was wearing that leather jacket of her's again. I realized that she had cut her hair into one of those wolf cuts. I sigh and before I could open my mouth she spoke up.
"It is time that you start learning the truth," she said, her voice cutting through the silence. "You have spent way too long, unaware of the truth this whole time. It was thanks to Mr. Abbott, who used this restaurant as a facade that you lived such a comfortable life."
"What are you even talking about?" I ask, spinning in my chair so I can face her better.
Her gaze didn't waver. "You were attacked by Azazel the Hunter, he is one of the Eldritch Demons that exist in the Void, he will hunt down his target to the ends of the realms. The only reason he could even be after you is if someone knew that you existed. Someone found out where you were and summoned that devil to come hunt you down and kill you."
"So he was an actual demon then, so what now? I can't just stay here any longer "
"I do not know, but you will have to start training at once. I already smell the scent of a Elean on you, were you approached by anyone else?
"First off, what is an Elean?" I asked, "And second, when you had gone for coffee this girl, Thalia. She said she is the reincarnation of Athena, whatever that means. She came and talked to me, asking me to go with her."
"Hell, not that bitch. That girl worships the Goddess and takes it upon herself to do her will." Yuki runs a hand through her hair as she leans back up straight. "Look, don't trust her, no matter what. Just wait here for me to return. I am going to be leaving for a couple months to return back home. When I am back I will teach you everything that you need to know."
I looked up at her, confusion etched on my face. "Are you going back home?"
"Yes, my father called for me to return." Yuki said. "So don't do anything stupid while I am gone."
I swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling over me. "So now what? I'm supposed to... just take care of everything on my own?"
"I think it will be best if you just close the restaurant for a while, Mr. Abbott has already paid everyone what they needed. You should just focus on school and graduate." Yuki responded as she headed to leave out the door.
"How long will you be gone?"
"I should be back in a couple months, so try to keep a low profile until I'm back." She warned as she left.
☉☉☉
I leaned against the cold stone of London Bridge, the city humming around me with its usual, comforting chaos. The familiar buzz of car engines, distant laughter, and the occasional siren did little to settle the storm brewing inside me. Everything had taken a turn I couldn't have anticipated. The cola can in my hand was slick with condensation, the droplets rolling down my fingers as I absentmindedly fiddled with the ring hanging from my necklace.
It felt like I was living in a dream, or maybe a nightmare—one where demons were real, hidden worlds existed beneath our feet, and ancient gods still walked the earth. How had my life derailed so quickly? A few weeks ago, my biggest concern was passing my exams. Now, I was caught up in something that felt too big, too overwhelming to even comprehend. Now both my grandfather and Yuki are gone, I haven't seen Dylan since that day of the attack.
Now what I didn't understand was if people and demons were after me, why didn't they leave me with something to protect myself? I haven't seen anything for a week, the days just passed day by day as I went to class and came home and
I sighed heavily, staring out at the Thames as it flowed under the night sky, it's dark waters rippling with the reflections of city lights. "What the hell is going on?" I muttered, the words slipping out more as a plea than a question. I didn't expect an answer.
But then I got one.
"You're just going to stand there all night?" The voice was deep, resonant, and it seemed to echo inside my head rather than around me.
I froze, my heart stuttering in my chest. I looked around quickly, but the bridge was nearly deserted. Just a few shadowy figures in the distance, too far to have spoken to me. Panic started to creep in, and I instinctively clutched the ring on my necklace, my fingers curling tightly around the cool metal.
"Who's there?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, but the tremor of fear was unmistakable.
"Who's talking to me?"
The voice chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through me in a way that made my skin crawl and my pulse race. "Relax, child. Do not be afraid."
My eyes widened, my thoughts racing. "In my head?" I whispered, feeling the blood drain from my face. "Wait… God?"
"No, I am not God," The voice's tone was smooth, almost amused, as if this were all just a casual conversation. "You can call me Khaelus."
"Khaelus? Seriously?" I tried to sound unimpressed, but my voice cracked, betraying the fear that was clawing at my insides. I tightened my grip on the ring, feeling its familiar weight, as if it could anchor me to reality.
The voice sighed, the sound tinged with exasperation. "Yeah, well I really didn't get much of a choice in naming myself. Now young, Adrian. I have been waiting for you for a long time, I need your help."
"Is that why Azazel was after me? Because I have this chance to change the future?" I asked.
"Long ago, a prophecy was told by Python, the serpent of the Oracle. That prophecy stated of the return of the Olympians, you have met one already. That young girl Thalia, she told you didn't she? You are just like her."
"You're saying I'm supposed to be some kind of... reincarnation of a god?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. It sounded ridiculous, like something out of a fantasy novel. And yet, deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that it all somehow made sense.
"Yes, but the Olympians were never gods, they were simply the first Hero's chosen to protect the world, their legacy is passed down to their descendants." Khaelus's voice was calm, almost soothing. "But who you once were is less important than who you will become. The choices you make will define that."
I swallowed hard, my thoughts racing. Choices? Fate? None of this was what I'd asked for. "Why me?" I finally blurted out, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why not someone else? I didn't sign up for any of this!"
Khaelus chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You were chosen long before you were born. Your life has always been on this path, even if you couldn't see it."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The weight of his words was crushing. All my life, I had felt ordinary. Maybe even a little insignificant. Now, suddenly, I was supposed to be part of some grand cosmic plan?
I stared out at the river, my reflection rippling on the surface. For a long moment, I was quiet, just trying to process everything. The city's noise faded into the background, and all I could hear was my own heartbeat.
"So what now?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the rush of the Thames. "What happens next?"
"I shall guide you," Khaelus said simply. "You'll train. You'll learn how to fight and survive. The world you knew is only a fraction of the true reality. And there are far more dangerous beings than Azazel out there."
I shuddered, remembering the fight I had witnessed between Grandpa and the demon. Azazel had been terrifying, but if there were things worse than him… I wasn't sure I was ready for that.
Khaelus seemed to sense my hesitation. "You won't be alone," he said, his voice softening. "Along the way you shall find those who will stand by your side. Located on the continent Antarctica is a hidden civilization that has existed since the beginning of time. I need you to go there, and train yourself, learn how to use your powers."
I clenched the ring in my fist, feeling it's cold metal press into my skin. "And how exactly will I even be able to go there, I doubt I can just buy a flight to some unknown location?"
There was a pause, and for the first time, I heard something in Khaelus's voice that hadn't been there before—concern.
"I believe that girl, Taylor, has a way to get there," he said finally. "Meet up with her and do whatever you must to get it."
"Fine, I guess I really don't have a choice do I?" I drank the rest of my coke as I threw the can into a nearby trash can. "Guess even I will be leaving home for a bit."
☉☉☉
I sat across from Thalia at the same coffee shop where we first talked, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mixing with the tension in the air. She looked different now, more relaxed, dressed in casual clothes, but her bracers were still there, a reminder of the warrior beneath the surface.
"So," Thalia began, her voice calm but probing, "have you come to a decision?"
I nodded, trying to steady my thoughts. "Yeah. But before I say anything, can you tell me more about all this?."
She gave me a small smile, as if she'd expected this. "After learning who was who, I decided that I needed to take you to Ogygia, a continent the Velnir calls Antarctica. It's a place where people like us belong. We are Orvannis, we are the descendants of the first humans to be created, humans that have a deep connection to the Goddess."
"Who is this Goddess? Is she like God?" I asked only to see her face turn nasty.
"Lady Ravanna is nothing like Lord Khaelus. She is The Golden Mother, the creator of all things and protector of the Golden Order." Thalia huffed. "Unlike the Evil God, Lady Ravanna has always seen the best in us, she is an honest and kind Goddess."
"Okay then? So you have your own religion, I don't know if I ever heard of Ravanna or Khaelus-"
"When you address the Gods you address them respectfully." Thalia snapped.
"Yeah I really don't care much about respecting someone I know nothing about. So back to the offer, am I the only one to be brought to Ogygia?"
"No, we had brought another outsider in before. I believe you know him, Dylan Stone?"
That hit me like a punch to the gut. "Wait—Dylan? What did he do to get offered that choice?"
Thalia's eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place. "Dylan is the chosen one, Adrian. He's the future hero prophesied to save the world from great evil, he was chosen by Ravanna herself."
I stared at her, trying to process what she just said. Dylan? The chosen one? My fingers unconsciously found the ring, and I started to turn it around slowly, grounding myself in the familiar motion.
I tried to keep my voice even. "Tell me more about Ogygia."
She nodded, leaning forward as she spoke. "Ogygia is... it's different. It's a world hidden from the one you know, filled with magic, history, and power. It's where the myths are real and the legends live. There are 14 cities around the Pendragon Kingdom located right in the center of the continent. Think of a modern styled medieval world, kind of like those fantasy worlds in those Velnir cartoon shows."
"You mean, anime right?" I asked as I tried to imagine such a country. "So how can I get there?"
She slid an envelope across the table toward me. I picked it up and pulled out a ticket—a golden ticket with intricate fancy designs, the word "Ogygia" written in a fancy font that seemed to shimmer in the light.
Thalia watched me as I examined the ticket. "When you get there, Adrian, you'll need to adjust to some new customs, to the truth of the real history of the world." She reached into her bag and pulled out a book, setting it on the table in front of me. The cover was plain but solid, the title stamped in gold letters: Ogygian History: Law and Order.
"Read it," she said, her voice firm but kind. "It'll help you understand. I'll see you when you get there."
Without waiting for a response, Thalia stood and left.