Little author note: Small dangers lie ahead, and there is a smidge of violence and gore in this chapter. You've been warned. Otherwise, happy reading.
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Hael and Ceremus were still discussing the forest when they felt an evil energy emerging from the shadows. The creature that had sensed the two men made its appearance before them.
They widened their eyes in shock and terror. Standing before them was such a terrifying creature; calling it a monster would insult all monsters out there. The creature resembled a demon, towering at least 15 feet tall over them. Its body was covered with leathery pale skin, eyes so black it seemed like they were staring into a void. Its mouth hung wide open, bearing a row of sharp teeth that could bite through the toughest flesh. Its muscles were big and strong, and it wasted no time charging at them.
The two men had to swallow their fear as they took out their swords. Unfortunately, this was not a creature they could fight alone with bare hands.
It didn't waste a second as it swung its claws at them with all its might. A single swing from this demon could send ten of the most muscular men tumbling to their deaths.
Luckily, Hael and Ceremus had enough divine power to withstand its oppressive energy and dodged each attack. It relentlessly charged in, eager to spill blood, and the two warriors knew it was only a matter of time before they were sent to the afterlife.
They locked eyes, sharing an unspoken understanding, and got on the offensive. Hael jumped on the creature's shoulder, using his sword to pierce its neck while Ceremus attacked his side. The beast was tenacious and refused to be defeated, but the two warriors would be killed so easily.
They slashed and bludgeoned the demon with all their might while simultaneously avoiding getting struck down by the demon's mighty hands. The demon who thought the two would be easy prey finally realized the terrible judgment he had made. Hael and Ceremus weren't small fries that could be pushed around or toyed. And so, using the remaining of its strength, he aimed a devastating blow towards Ceremus, who was busy attacking the demon's right side. Hael saw through his plans and swung his sword, cutting down its disgusting hand in one fell swoop.
The demon wailed in pain but unfortunately didn't have the time to process what had just happened when the white-haired warrior, with the help of his partner Ceremus cutting down his tendon, was able to deliver the final blow, cutting down its unsightly head.
The demon uttered an ear-piercing shriek as it fell to the ground. Before the creature drew its final breath, it spoke to the two men, surprising them.
"C-Curse…you…mortals." It said before dying.
Hael and Ceremus stared at each other, shock and relief taking over their bodies. Despite the long battle they had just endured, their bodies felt energized, powered by divine energy.
With the creature now disposed of, they could return to the city, but Hael thought it would be wrong to return by visiting his friends.
So, he guided the King into the forest, where he found various animals living together in harmony.
Brutus, who was munching on the leaves, heard footsteps approaching them. Though an unfamiliar footstep mixed in, he heard a familiar sound, and his head shot up.
"Hael?" He said with uncertainty, grabbing the attention of the animals nearby.
"Am I hallucinating, or do I hear Hael's footsteps? I'm also detecting his energy too?" He exclaimed.
The other animals shot their heads up and kept their ears peeled. "You're right," Maximus said. "It does sound like him."
Their suspicions were confirmed when they saw a head of white hair beneath the trees. "It really is Hael! I would recognize that head full of white hair anywhere!" Maximus said.
The animals immediately surrounded them, and Ria, the little chimp, jumped into his arms, inhaling his warm scent.
Ceremus' eyes widened at the sheer amount of animals that were there. He didn't expect to see many divine creatures when Hael spoke about the forest. The King watched as Hael greeted every animal there, a radiant smile on his face, and it seemed like the animals shared the same sentiment. But what surprised him the most was that he could understand what they were seeing, too.
"Who's that handsome human who came with you?" Brontus suddenly asked.
The animals all directed their gaze at Ceremus. Hael's expression softened.
"That's Ceremus, the King of Trojas. He's the same as me."
The animals blinked as they stared at the supposed King before them. He didn't at all resemble a member of the royal family. For one, his curly hair was a mess, his clothes were disheveled and covered in blood, and his perfect face was covered in dirt. But despite his less-than-kingly appearance, there was still a certain glow about him, and the animals could feel divine energy permeating his body.
"A king."
"A demigod."
Maximus stared between the two and had a sudden thought, but he kept it to himself. He decided he'd bring his question up when Hael was alone.
They spent the rest of the day in the forest. Hael took it as an opportunity to show Ceremus around, and they spent the rest of the time socializing with the animals. Once night fell, Hael brought Ceremus to his cave to sleep.
"…This is where you've been living all this time? You've been sleeping inside a cave?!" He exclaimed in disbelief.
Hael nodded. He had an amused glint in his eyes as he watched Ceremus enter the cave cautiously, eyeing every inch of the cave.
"I can't believe it." He mumbled to himself.
"C'mon, it's late, and we'll need our strength to return to the city tomorrow." He said.
Ceremus nodded his head begrudgingly and followed Hael to the makeshift bed already laid out for them. He took the left side while Hael took the right. Expecting the bed to be hard and uncomfortable, he was surprised that it wasn't as bad as he thought it'd be.
He could feel sleep taking over, and just as he was about to close his eyes, he heard Hael speak, his voice ringing in his ears.
"I'm glad I got the chance to come back here and bring you as well, " he said.
Ceremus turned around, shifting his body to face him. Though he had mixed feelings about what led them to come here, he, too, was happy to see the place Hael grew up in. It was hard to believe that someone like Hael could survive for so long, but he also thought that only someone like Hael could survive here as well.
"You are truly an amazing person." He said in a low voice.
When Hael heard this, he had a lazy smile on his face. He then extended his hand, wrapping it around the King's waist, bringing him closer. He rested his chin on Ceremus's head and caught a whiff of roses—though faint, it was still there.
Ceremus froze for a moment before relaxing in his arms.
"You are the amazing one." He whispered before closing his eyes.
His words resonated in Ceremus' mind, and he couldn't help but disagree with his statement. He was by no means a good person, even though he knew that. He had done horrible things and treated people horridly, but, more importantly, neglected himself.
He knew he was far from the image Hael had of him, and a part of him started to wish he could someday become the person Hael saw in him. Hael was the kind of person who made him want to change. He wanted to become a person who could rightfully stand by his side.
These thoughts plagued the King's mind until sleep finally took him.