I nudged Kaguya gently to wake her up. "Hey, we're almost there," I said softly. She stirred, letting out a quiet yawn before blinking her eyes open.
"Did we arrive?" she asked, her voice groggy but curious.
I nodded. "Almost."
Ten minutes later, I felt the airplane begin its descent. Through the small window, the airport came into view, nestled amidst the sprawling landscape. The landing was smooth, and before long, the plane taxied to the gate. Kaguya and I were among the first to disembark. Maybe it was because of the VIP seats or simply because we were seated close to the door, but the thought lingered in my mind longer than it should have.
We quickly retrieved our luggage and headed toward the exit. I had no interest in lingering at the airport; I'd slept through the flight and felt no need to rest. Besides, this airport was smaller and far less impressive than the one we had departed from.
As we stepped outside, the warm Mediterranean breeze greeted us. "So this is Greece, huh?" I exhaled, taking in the vivid blue sky and the distant hum of life around us.
"Aah, that breeze sure is refreshing," Kaguya said, her hair catching in the wind as she stretched.
Although we were now in Greece, our final destination was still miles away. Taking charge of our luggage, we approached a nearby cab and climbed in. Thankfully, Greek was one of the languages I had picked up during my obsessive language-learning phase, so communicating with the driver was a breeze. Our next stop: the bus station.
As we sped through the city, I reflected on my luck. During the flight, I had checked my bank account and discovered an unexpected deposit of five thousand euros. It had to be that God's doing. For once, his interference wasn't annoying—it was downright convenient.
The cab dropped us off at the station, and from there, we boarded a bus bound for Mykines. The journey would take a couple of hours, but it was the only feasible way to get there. Initially, I considered napping to pass the time, but Kaguya's unexpected question piqued my interest.
"Val, who was the girl in the dream you had?"
Her words caught me off guard. My head snapped toward her, my expression a mix of confusion and surprise. "How did you know I had a dream? Did I talk in my sleep?"
Kaguya shook her head. "No. The truth is... for some reason, when I fell asleep, I had a dream too. But it wasn't my dream. I was inside yours. I could see everything, but only as an observer. I couldn't touch anything, and you couldn't hear me."
Her words sent a chill down my spine. "That… doesn't make any sense," I muttered. "How can you be sure it was my dream?"
"Two reasons," she replied, her tone steady. "First, I don't dream. I never have. Secondly, I could hear your thoughts. They were too vivid and… foreign to be mine. Plus, your reaction just now confirms it."
I stared at her, stunned. This revelation was unnerving, but it also pointed to a possible connection between us—one likely tied to the summoning. I'd have to ask that God about it the next chance I got. Still, I couldn't avoid Kaguya's question forever. Sighing, I began recounting the dream, carefully omitting any mention of Sagiri or my true reasons for participating in the ritual.
Kaguya listened intently, her expression unreadable. I braced myself for judgment—disgust, perhaps, or disdain—but to my surprise, her eyes softened with compassion. Her unexpected reaction left me uneasy, and I ended the conversation by leaning against the window and feigning sleep.
When I felt Kaguya shaking me awake, I opened my eyes to an awe-inspiring sight. Ancient ruins stretched out before us, bathed in the golden glow of the sun. The remnants of a once-great civilization stood as silent witnesses to history, evoking a deep sense of sorrow and nostalgia within me. It felt as though I were connected to this place in some inexplicable way.
But something was off. I glanced around and realized that the bus was empty except for Kaguya and me. When we had boarded, it had been packed with passengers.
"Kaguya," I said slowly, "where is everyone?"
She frowned. "I'm not sure. When we entered that tunnel, the bus was full. The lights flickered off for a moment, and when they came back on, everyone else was gone."
Her explanation should have been unnerving, but given our circumstances, I was more curious than alarmed. It had to be the God's doing. Clearly, he didn't want any interference.
We stepped off the bus and surveyed our surroundings. We were on a plain surrounded by mountains. To our left was a sign reading "Treasury of Atreus," and to our right, the archaeological site of Mycenae. As I scanned the area, a figure emerged from the direction of the Treasury. Dressed in the same pristine white garments as before, there was no mistaking who it was.
"Ah, Val, Kaguya, you've arrived just in time," the God said with a smile. "Everyone's waiting for you."
"Wait, who are you, and how do you know my name?" Kaguya demanded, her voice sharp.
In a flash, he was beside her, pinching her cheek playfully. "You may not remember me—or rather, you can't, given your death—but I know everything about you," he said, his tone light yet unnervingly confident.
Kaguya pulled back, her eyes blazing with defiance. "I don't care who you are," she snapped, summoning her spear. "You'll tell me everything you know about me—now."
The God's smile faded. With a single, fluid motion, he knocked the spear from her hands, embedding it into the ground. Before she could react, his hand closed around her throat, lifting her off the ground effortlessly.
"Listen, young lady," he said, his voice cold. "I have patience, and I am willing to help you win this war. But I will not tolerate disrespect, especially not from you. Understand?"
His grip tightened, and I could see the veins in Kaguya's neck bulging as she struggled to breathe. Despite his outward calm, there was a flicker of irritation in his eyes. Then, just as Kaguya's face began to turn red, he released her, letting her collapse to the ground, gasping for air.
Recomposing himself, the God smiled once more. "I know you have many questions, and all of them will be answered soon. Now, follow me. It's time to meet the other champions."
I helped Kaguya to her feet, her breaths still ragged, and together we followed the God toward the ruins. My heart raced with a mix of anticipation and unease.
"Time to meet the heroes who will save humanity," I thought, a faint, imperceptible smile forming on my lips.