Chapter 68

She also didn't know why she hadn't reported the issue earlier. Why the urge to get it off her chest hadn't existed until that very day.

" I don't know, I really don't. Maybe I didn't think she was real?" Pressing the heel of her palms to her eyes, she exhaled deeply.

" I'm sorry angel. I just...I don't know," 

It was an honest an answer as he was going to get. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead. Slow and intimate.

" It's okay, the good thing is that now we know. "

                    💮🌼💮🌼💮🌼

Kalen stared at the a hundred and fifty something year old Dreimar Infront of him. His grey hair seemingly fragile and his green eyes wrinkled with age. But yet somehow he still managed to pull off the look of a strong and capable individual. A mysterious thing about the Dreimars, despite how old they got, despite how the physical aspect of them changed, one could still look at them and get a sense of power. The male was dressed in a long brown gown, a simple braided cream rope tied loosely around his waist. The outfit represented his title as a highly ranked scholar. A well learned intellectual being who held almost all the answers to any question asked. To become a scholar was no easy task. One had to undergo countless training, dedicate his or her life to discovering new things while still remembering the old. And that was why there weren't a lot of them. Only two existed in Zalian and the other, also a Dreimar, resided quite far from the main town. Kalen had had to go over to the home of the male in front of him personally. Due to the lockdown, the main kingdom record room had been locked. But considering the urgency of the situation, Kalen had thought it necessary to go and get the scholar himself. 

" I once again apologise for bringing you here under such short notice, " Kalen said once they were officially in the heart of the record room. There were floor to ceiling shelves, packed with books and scrolls and all forms of literature. Especially the most sacred ones. Originally, the book of prophecy was supposed to be stored there as well but Nuriel had refused. Considered it too precious to be left in the hands of others. 

" Oh it's no bother. It is my honour to serve you however I may, " Caspian, the scholar said. He was the keeper of words. Could tell you the location of any literature in the room without having to look. 

Caspian stared at Kalen with unhidden fascination. The angels were beings that were looked upon for guidance and direction. They were respected and honoured, and their legacy was recorded. Especially how they had saved the kingdom from the talons of the gods. 

" I was wondering whether you might help me with something, "

" If it is within my abilities then gladly so. "

Caspian spoke with the wisdom of someone that had viewed the world from any point there was. Someone that had studied all that there was to study and who was used to living inside his own thoughts.

He had his hands in front of him, hands clasped together and the long sleeves of his gown covering them from view.

Kalen narrowed his true violet eyes. He was an angel used to taking things one step at a time. Never saw the need to rush. Though what most considered to be unique about him was his inability to lie. He valued honesty and kindness above all else. 

" How familiarized are you with matters concerning the gods?" 

Caspian's seemed a bit shocked but he tried not to show it. Shrugging, he said he knew almost all there was to know. The general public only knew facts, but scholars such as himself had way more knowledge. Whatever they knew had been passed down from one generation to the next. For instance, considering his age, Caspian had already found a young and clever being to train in the ways of scholars. Someone to take over his place once he was gone. 

" Is there some place you can sit? I have quite a lot to share with you," Kalen asked. He needed to tell Casper everything about Phoenix and possibly get answers. Especially the how of it all. How she could he back, how she was causing so much terror. These were answers the angels did not have, despite existing for much longer than any other being, they weren't as well informed as the keeper of words were. They tended to focus more on training and ensuring the kingdom was safe. 

After Caspian sat down at an old desk, Kalen told him about the flashes Flame had been having. And about the fact that the female in the flashes was the goddess Phoenix. And Caspian listened with unhidden shock. But he seemed to be coming up with explanations as he listened on. Nodding to himself every once in a while, writing things down on a book on his desk. And after Kalen was done, he waited. 

" Have you ever heard of the term ' Heisa '?" Caspian asked long after the silence had stretched. Kalen racked his brains a bit but then shook his head. 

" I don't believe I have. What is it?"

There was an instant when the scholar mumbled things to himself, as if he were conversing with his own subconscious. Then he seemed to be drawn back into the present. Shaking his head, he explained.

" Back when the gods and goddesses used to exist, they learnt that there was a way for their kind to exist while not existing. "

Kalen was confused, so he asked the male to expound further.

" It's like death, only with the possibility of coming back. But only those with a certain rare gene were capable of it. "

Such as Phoenix...and her mate.

" I don't understand, are you trying to tell me that all those who had that gene never actually died? That they shall soon awaken as well?" 

Caspian shook his head.

" I doubt it, a fairy's blow is sure to eliminate everything in its wake. And for the Heisa effect to work, two must be present. "

Kalen ran a hand over his face. Worry beginning to set in. If the scholar was right then there was more than one god out there. 

" How does it work, exactly? " he asked and Caspian leaned against the wooden chair, making it creak.

" In order to go into the state of not being, the particular pair of gods or goddesses must each taste the blood of a halfbreed. According to the records, this theory was tested out with one such being, she was however executed since the gods consider halfbreeds to be cursed."

Kalen inched two steps closer, not quite believing what the male was saying.

" A half breed? " he asked with raised brows.

" As in half angel half god?" 

" Precisely, but I doubt any existed at the time of the war, we'd have a record of it otherwise. "

Kalen had not known what he expected to hear, but that had not by any chance been it. 

" Well clearly they did, otherwise how would the goddess of destruction still manage to walk amongst us?" 

Caspian said nothing, he was back to mumbling to himself. Exhaling deeply, Kalen placed one hand on his waist.

" So that's it? Just a taste of a half-breeds blood and they go into this state you speak of? "

It sounded fairly simple. But a half breed? During the time of the war, angels and gods didn't associate in such ways. It had been proclaimed that mating outside of ones species was forbidden. 

" Not precisely, you see, for the Heisa to take place, the gods in question must die immediately after ingesting the blood, and they must not die by their own hand. "

Kalen frowned. So what did that mean, that Phoenix and this other god had killed each other after drinking the blood of a halfbreed?

Just wait till he got back to the Triecan and shared the news with the others.

He shook his head and spread his wings. Caspian stared at the greyed violet shade of the feathers. 

" Goodness, I honestly can't believe all this, " he admitted.

Caspian snapped his fingers and his eyes lit up, " Oh that's right! " he suddenly said. A far away look in his green eyes. It appeared as if he'd just recalled something.

" What is it? " Kalen asked and he held up his hand.

" Just a moment while I confirm something, " Caspian said, then he stood up and walked towards the shelves. Pulling out this aged book and blowing away the dust that had settled on it. Then he flipped open the pages and began going through it. Stopping after a while to read something. 

" Aaaah, yes. My thoughts were correct. "

" About what?" Kalen asked, hoping it wasn't more strange and bad news.

" If I'm correct then I believe the other god is yet to wake. "

" It's a god then? And not a female?"

" Correct. "

" How do you know this? "

Caspian showed the book to Kalen, written in ancient Celith, Kalen took it from him and began to read where the scholar had gestured. And with each word, he grew a bit more surprised and worried.