11 Secrets Never Stay Secrets
The clouds sit still in the sky, taking on an orange-purplish hue, a painting over the buzzing city of Orario. It's a busy day for the guild, a surprise as this day of the week is usually the quietest for dungeon exploration. Eina stands with pursed lips and drooping ears, a finger tapping on the wooden counter. The strange son and father duo had only left hours ago, but the Elven woman seems to not be able to keep her mind off the revelation discovered in their conversation.
"Hey, Eina-san!" A peppy voice breaks Eina from her dilemma, a welcome distraction as the woman feels the stress alleviated, if only by a smidge.
"Oh, Hi Bell. How was the dungeon today?" Eina responds to the boy before her, Bell Cranel. With messy white hair, large red eyes, and light white armor, the boy stands with a smile on his face.
"It was great! I managed to hire a supporter!" Bell responds.
Eina raises her brows, "Really? Who are they? And which Familia are they from?" she asks.
"Her name is Liliruca Arde. She's said she's from the Soma Familia," Bell says, a gleeful smile on his face that quickly deteriorates as he sees the reaction of Eina.
"The Soma Familia..." Eina tells Bell of the Familia in question with a dour tone. They are an exploration-oriented Familia that sells alcohol on the side. Though she notes that each member of the Familia seems to be dangerously determined. For what reason, the Elf has no idea.
Eina and Bell continue to have their conversation about this Lilruca Arde and her mysterious familia, and as Bell turns to leave, the woman furrows her brows, "Bell... Where's your knife?" she asks.
Bell raises his brows, feeling around the sheathe only to find the knife nowhere to be seen, "Huh? Huh? Huh?" his brain seems to break down at the revelation and he cries out, running from the Guild building to find his precious knife.
Eina sighs as Bell disappears through the double doors, "What am I going to do about him?" she asks no one but herself. However, the question quickly leaves her mind, and that gnawing stress replaces itself on her mind, "What am I going to do about them?" she asks herself the same question with different faces in mind.
Suddenly, Eina jolts as a large figure steps in front of her. She smiles up at the man, his body cloaked in a black fabric, "How can I... Oh, I haven't seen you in here in... months, Ottar."
Ottar, a man standing as tall as a certain Greek God with his shoulders poking out from the cloak stares down at Eina, "Three people came here... A tattoed man, his son, and a Head," his deep voice flows from the cloak like a heavy wave.
Eina raises her brows and her jaw seems to lock for a moment. She sighs, wondering just what this conversation could lead to, "Um... Yes?" she responds.
"You spoke to them?" Ottar asks, his words direct and commanding.
"...Yes?" Eina says, sighing again, "Ottar, what is this about?"
Ottar stands silent for a moment, rust-colored eyes sheening under the thin black fabric, "...My goddess wishes to see you at the top of the Babel tower..." he says, "...Tonight."
---
"Oh, it's them again. They're still down here after a full day?" Atreus says as a drop of moisture splashes in his hair. He stares forward at a group of people revealed through the darkness of the passageway before them, "Didn't they say they were from the Loki Familia?"
Kratos stares at the group along with his son, the Blades of Chaos still held tight in his hands, "Yes... I don't believe they will attack us, but stay ready, boy. We are alone, and a long way from the city," he says.
"Yes, Father," he says, his eyes suddenly trailing to a certain Amazonian girl mixed in with the rest of the Loki Familia party. The boy's eyes are glued to her, and the girl soon notices his gaze.
"Hey! It's Atreus and Kratos!" Tiona suddenly yells as she stares at Atreus, running in front of the group to approach the boy. She closes in on him, but her eyes suddenly switch to the man standing before Atreus. Kratos shows no emotion in his pale face, but that stare is a killer of motivation, and Tiona is no exception.
"Father, I think it's okay," Atreus says, all too familiar with that stare, and its effects.
Kratos grunts, his eyes lingering on Tiona before switching to the group still approaching. He steps back, allowing Tiona to claim her prize. She stands with her hands behind her back before Atreus, her tanned skin glistening in the dim light of the cave, "Hey, Atreus! So you're in the dungeon again after being lost?" she asks, leaning forward a little too close for comfort.
"Yeah..." Atreus says, his cheeks hot and fuzzy. Something strange happens, something that had only happened the first time Atreus had seen Tiona. As he feels her small breath on his face and sees the toned muscles protruding from her smooth skin, his entire lower body buzzes with an unknown pleasure.
"Working hard I see..." Tiona teases with a mischievous smile, "... Oh, I wanted to ask you something; what familia are you and your..." she glances at Kratos as the god sheathes his blades, "...father part of?"
"Uh..." Atreus remembers their earlier visit to the Guild, and he glances at Kratos, "...You probably wouldn't know about them," he responds, nearly tripping over his words.
"Oh, come on. It can't be that bad, can it?" Tiona responds, taking a small step forward.
"Tiona. Leave the boy alone. You may as well be kissing him," Tione says with a chuckle as the group stands a few feet away.
"Oh, be quiet, Tione. You're just mad Finn won't let you kiss him," Tiona responds, and those words trigger a rage only matched by the tattoed man standing close by. Ais raises a hand, holding Tione back by the stomach as the Amazonian begs to beat her own sister to a pulp.
"Don't mind them. They are... Colorful," Riveria steps up beside Kratos, watching the chaos unfold before her.
"Mhh... It seems you have a lot to deal with. You are the leader?" Kratos asks as his eyes meet the bright amber of Bete. The Werewolf stares back at Kratos, but only for a moment as his eyes trail off to the apparently very interesting wall.
"Yes, it can be a little much sometimes, but I would never ask for a different party..." Riveria responds, tucking a loose piece of jade-colored hair behind her ear, "...By the way, I know Tiona asked this, but which..." Riveria means to ask something, but her words suddenly trail off. Kratos seems to be distracted by the awkward conversation of Tiona and Atreus, and Riveria sees something that causes her eyes to widen, or rather a lack thereof, 'How did I not see it before?... How has anyone not seen it?' she thinks to herself. Riveria looks to the Greek God, "Kratos?" she calls to him.
"Hmm?" Kratos turns his head and his brown eyes meet Riveria's Jade.
"You're not a member of any familia, are you? There's no blessing tattoo on your back, which is something that every member of any familia should have," Riveria says.
Suddenly, as if Riveria had announced her words to all those present, a numbing silence stagnates the air. A droplet of moisture splashes the bedrock, echoing through the silence like a tsunami. All eyes fall on Kratos and his own trail between each varying expression, some confused, and others focused on his response. Finally, his eyes set on Atreus, who has an Amazonian attached to his shoulders.
Kratos exhales hard, his eyes becoming emotionless as he reaches behind his back. His rough hands grip the blades again, but suddenly, Atreus throws Tiona off his body, running to his father with worried eyes, "No, Father!" the boy cries out, grabbing Kratos' arm.
Kratos stares down at Atreus with furrowed brows, "Move, boy... We do what we must to guarantee safety," he says, his words booming into each confused mind surrounding the father and son duo.
Atreus stares up at his father with pleading eyes, his small hands squeezing Kratos' arm, "No!... There has to be another way!" the boy says with a sudden determination in his eyes.
The tense eye contact continues between Kratos and his son. The Greek God's arm lowers, and he sighs, "...What do you suggest then, boy? We do not have many options here," he says, his eyes regaining the emotion he had thrown away moments ago.
Atreus releases his father's arm, a calm and resolute sheen in his blue eyes, "...Let me talk to them. I can fix this, father," he says.
That silence slithers over the cave again, and Kratos nods, "Fine... Go on, then," he says.
