First Encounter pt.2

Marina came out of house seven and started running south. It was common for demigods to see someone running from one side of the park to the other, so no one took any notice of her.

It was again that time of the month, when new demigods were brought to Lilies Park. That place was dedicated to all those in whose veins divine blood flowed, a place located in a parallel dimension to the common mortal world. The same had happened to her too, her mother had made her appear during a freezing day at the gates of her family's house. After a rather painful childhood, Marina had discovered the truth about herself and was recruited. Finally, after traveling almost all Italy, she had abandoned the mortal world and arrived in the Otherworld, ready to train for the future.

The girl quickly crossed the remaining houses and channeled herself along one of the paths in the middle of the forest, until she reached the classroom, which was a simple hut. She entered still running and miraculously didn't stumble, she was out of breath despite the continuous training she was subjected to. The cabin was filled with new demigods, all about the same age. The boys were excited but gradually lowered their voices when they saw her enter. Marina regained control of her breathing and began to speak.

"Good morning everyone, welcome to Lilies Park,"she said with a smile, "I am Marina and today I will give you a presentation of this place."

A little girl interrupted her, "Aren't you too young? How old are you?"

"I'm sixteen, I know I'm young but I've been here a long time, we could say I've lived here all my life."

His answer didn't seem to convince those present, they were probably expecting someone more adult. Marina looked away slightly, she couldn't immediately explain to them that the average lifespan of demigods was around twenty years. By that age, they usually ended up victim of monsters, the only option to survive was to remain at the Lilies Park as a member of the staff. 

The situation was interrupted by the presence of a man at the door.

"There would be one more boy to add today," he said warmly.

"Mr. D'Agostini...!" The demigoddess whispered before regaining her composure.

"Even just Lyceum is fine, dear Marina."

"Excuse me,"she extended an arm in invitation, "Please, let him come in."

Mr. D'Agostini turned to look for the newcomer with a confused expression, he seemed not to be nearby. Marina looked at the man in his forties who stood out in the light of the day. Almost two meters tall, he had a proud posture but slightly bent forward. His eyes, dark as night, shone behind wire-rimmed glasses that gave him an intelligent look. His greyish hair, long and messy, gave his face a wild appearance, with a thick beard covering part of his face. Despite the early morning heat, he was wearing an impeccable suit. It exuded an intense aura, attracting the gaze and curiosity of the younger ones nearby.

"Ah, there you are," he said, raising his eyebrows, "There was no need to go away."

Lyceum extended his arm until it rested behind that of the newcomer. The demigods fell silent as soon as he was within their line of sight, Marina was not saying a word. His gaze stopped on the quiet boy, almost as tall as Mr. D'Agostini, with a slender figure that conveyed an air of mystery. His medium-length black hair fell in waves to his cheekbones. His face was pale and very clear, almost as if he rarely saw the light of the Sun. What was most striking was his gaze, his intense purple eyes, deep and magnetic. He wore a black t-shirt, covered by an open sweatshirt of the same color, combined with jeans and blazers, completing his style with various accessories.

The demigoddess couldn't help but notice the difference in the aura emanating from Lyceum D'Agostini. While the latter radiated authority and responsibility, the stranger had an extremely calm, almost empty aura. Despite this, the younger demigods spontaneously showed respect towards him, almost as if they were afraid. The boy nodded in her direction.

"Please..." Lyceum pointed to Marina, almost speechless, "You can go and sit over there."

The demigod followed his hand with his gaze and set off. Marina wanted to take the opportunity to take a look at the back of his shirt, but Lyceum distracted her: "Marina, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Of course," the blonde-haired demigoddess replied.

The man quickly walked to the outside of the hut and waited for her where the others couldn't hear them. Even from outside, Marina heard the amazed voices of the children and began to fear that her doubts were reality.

"What do you have to tell me?" She asked curiously.

"That boy comes from the Daffodil Academy. They say he disappeared for years before reappearing near here a few months ago. Since then he hasn't spoken to anyone about what happened to him and doesn't even seem to remember anything."

"Do you want me to keep an eye on him?"

Mr. D'Agostini nodded: "Exactly, you would be doing me a huge favor. Will you do it?"

"Sure, consider it done."

"Thank you."

Mr. D'Agostini entered the classroom again to say hello, thus making the girl lose the opportunity to ask him the fateful question. Lyceum raised his hand in greeting: "Listen carefully, demigods,"there was a short pause, "You too, Shirei,"he added with a nod to the mysterious boy, "Good lesson."

The man greeted Marina with a smile and walked away. The demigoddess went back inside and immediately froze; she felt the eyes of the new demigod, whose name must have been Shirei from what she understood, fixed on her. She turned suddenly to escape the terrible sensation and masked her instinctive gesture by taking a pencil to use for a bun.

"Well!" She said after looking back at her students, "Now that you're all here, we can start with the explanation. Are you ready?"