Chapter 20: Bittersweet

"Looks like you made him angry again." At the entrance of the Palace, a voice came as soon as Zeus stepped out.

"You can't blame me for his short temper." Zeus shrugged, glancing at the person in the distance.

The voice belonged to Poseidon, who looked only slightly younger than Zeus. He stood tall and lean, his frame hinting at the strength that lay within him. His wavy, sea-blue hair cascaded down to his shoulders, further highlighting his sharp and handsome facial features.

Dressed in a flowing aquamarine robe, adorned with intricate seashell patterns, Poseidon exuded an air of regality and authority. A golden trident, the symbol of his power, was held firmly in his hand.

"You know how he gets," Poseidon said, his voice carrying a calm tone. "But I must admit, it's always amusing to see him lose his temper."

Zeus chuckled, acknowledging the truth in Poseidon's words. The two gods continued their conversation, walking away from the Citadel.

....

It was late at night when Zephyr left the house. He didn't forget to inform Raven that he was going out to bring a new guest.

Through the night, Zephyr moved through the city, carefully avoiding any Knights of Camelot that were out.

After half an hour, he reached the destination where he had promised to meet that person.

"You kept me waiting." As soon as Zephyr reached the destination, he heard an unfamiliar voice

Not far from him, he saw an old woman. The woman looked to be in her late eighties, her face covered in wrinkles and her back bent with age.

Despite her frail appearance, her eyes held a spark of wisdom. Zephyr approached her with a smile. "Are you finally behaving your age?'

"You..." The woman's lips twitched in irritation.

"Are you trying to say that I'm old?" she asked as she straightened her back, standing perfectly fine. She placed her hand under her chin, removing the mask and revealing her real face. Her hair also transformed from the old white to beautiful black.

Beneath the face of the eighty year old woman, there was the face of a young girl, who looked like she hadn't even turned twenty years old yet.

Her hair flowed down her back in silky strands of jet black, cascading over her slender shoulders. Despite the passing years, her eyes gleamed with a youthful vibrancy, filled with great depth.

"Did I say anything wrong, Leira? How old are you now?" Zephyr asked in amusement, not surprised in the least.

"Didn't you learn? One doesn't ask the age of a woman, especially one as pretty as me." Goddess of Deception Leira rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, it's good to see that you're just as cautious as before," she continued, getting slightly serious. "But you don't have to worry. I made sure that I wasn't followed. So quickly take me to him. I have waited for centuries for this moment. I can't wait!"

Zephyr's shadows returned to him after verifying that they were indeed alone. His shadows merged with his main shadow. He nodded after verifying that there seemed to be no danger.

"I hope you're able to keep up with me." Zephyr turned around. He turned into a blurry shadow as he started running.

Leira chuckled as she followed Zephyr, taking the same route as he was taking. Even though Zephyr was fast, Leira was able to keep up. Or rather, Zephyr intentionally maintained his speed to not leave her behind.

After taking a slightly complicated route through the city, Zephyr and Leira reached the ordinary-looking neighborhood.

Leira observed the quiet streets lined with small, cozy houses. The moon cast a soft glow, illuminating their path as they made their way towards a particular house.

"This is the place," Zephyr said, coming to a stop in front of a modest two-story house. He glanced at Leira, who wore an eager expression on her youthful face.

Leira nodded, her eyes filled with anticipation. With a wave of her hand, a subtle shimmer of magic surrounded her, enhancing her senses.

Zephyr pushed open the front door, revealing a dimly lit living room. As they entered, they were greeted by the sight of a boy sitting in a worn-out armchair, engrossed in an old-looking book.

Leira froze in her place at the sight of the man. It was as if she was a small child before that mighty presence. But there was no fear in her eyes. Instead, it was only grief accompanied by happiness.

Leira slowly approached the boy, her footsteps barely making a sound on the creaky wooden floor. She could sense a familiar aura emanating from him. There was no doubt in her mind. It was him!

The boy looked up from his book, his beautiful eyes calmly glancing at Leira who stopped before him.

Zephyr closed the door, simply observing the sight.

Leira had been playful until now. But the moment she stood before Raven, she felt a surge of emotions welling up inside her.

She went down on her knee before Raven. She opened her mouth to say something but no words came out of her mouth. In that moment, there was only silence as no words were spoken.

Raven reached out his frail hand, placing it over Leira's head with a gentle touch. Leira could feel the warmth of his hand and a sense of comfort washed over her.

Tears glistened in Leira's eyes as she looked up at Raven. Although centuries had passed, but for her, it was as if not a single day had passed.

Looking at the sight, Zephyr was also lost in nostalgia. He was there with Raven when they first met Leira. He understood what she was feeling at that moment.

Leira's voice trembled with emotion as she finally found her words. "I'm never letting you go..."

Zephyr watched the reunion unfold, a bittersweet smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He had seen their bond grow over the centuries, and now, seeing them together again, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.