Masks Of False Immortality

Two years later.

"Marina? Hey, Marina! It's late!" called a male voice.

The blonde-haired girl woke up with difficulty, illuminated by the light streaming through the windows. The curtains had already been drawn open, a sign that someone had woken up before her. Slowly, she sat up, rubbing her eyes, still unable to focus. The voice belonged to her stepbrother—at least that much she understood.

"What time is it?"

"Nine-thirty, October 23rd, 2021. Weren't you supposed to teach the newcomers today?" the boy replied.

"I didn't need the date too…"

She yawned—maybe she was still dozing off.

Gradually, the scene became clearer, and Marina could take in, with mild annoyance, one of the rooms of Seventh House. The room was rather simple; after all, it was meant to reflect the spirit of a park, so too much sophistication would have stood out. The entire structure was built with wooden beams, designed to create that effect. Many of her step-siblings didn't pay much attention to it, but Marina, a great architecture enthusiast, dreamed of studying it at university one day and earning a mortal degree to practice that profession.

"Earth to Marina, did you hear me?" her stepbrother asked again.

Her gaze wandered around the room: all the other bunk beds had already been neatly made. The center of the room was occupied by a series of desks arranged in a diamond shape, where Lorenzo Scala was waiting for her with a worried look. The boy was a Blendbreed like her; they shared the same mother, so they usually referred to each other as step-siblings.

Marina spent a moment contemplating the boy's face. The blond of his hair contrasted with the teenage pimples sprouting on his face like paparazzi at a superstar fashion show. Finally, the boy's blue eyes met hers.

"Ah, so you're alive! You had me worried."

"Sorry, Lore," she said, stretching, "I got a little distracted."

The Blendbreed gave her a concerned look. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Marina shook her head with a slight smile before replying, "No, don't worry."

"Good."

The girl's gaze shifted back to the window outside.

She was blinded by the light.

For her still-sleepy eyes, it didn't seem like anything unusual, but as soon as her brain started to wake up, Marina realized she was in trouble.

"There's too much light for it to be dawn…" she murmured absentmindedly.

"It's not dawn, I told you."

The Blendbreed's cerulean eyes widened, and she almost fell as she climbed down from the bed. She dashed to the window, where she could see the landscape of Lilies Park filled with students. Marina froze for a moment and took a deep breath, then looked down to assess her attire.

She was in her pajamas.

Without saying a word, she rushed to the side of her bed and flung open the wardrobe.

Lorenzo watched his stepsister, trying to stifle a laugh. "Marina," he called, but the Blendbreed ignored him completely and grabbed her clothes in a hurry.

Once she was sure she hadn't forgotten anything, she dashed into the bathroom to get dressed. The tiny white room, barely the size of a storage closet, was nowhere near suited to accommodate the eight roommates of that dorm. Normally, Marina avoided using it, preferring the bathrooms in the Grand Manor, but the urgency of the situation demanded speed.

She quickly took off her pajamas—an azure top patterned with printed pineapples and simple white pants. Then, she grabbed her clothes: light-wash jeans and a plain white T-shirt, which she paired with a gray zip-up hoodie that had a large seven printed on the back. It was the attire that identified her as a member of the Seventh House, the demigod children of Ien.

She hurriedly pulled on her jeans, then paused for a second, staring at the T-shirt in her hands. Her gaze wandered absentmindedly in front of her, landing on her own reflection in the mirror. A shiver ran down her spine.

She had always been aware of her body. Her roommates often commented on her figure, saying they envied her beauty. Those who met her for the first time frequently assumed she was a daughter of the goddess of beauty, though the truth was quite the opposite. The problem wasn't her appearance—it was the countless microscopic scars and bruises painted across her rosy skin. She always looked at them with sadness. They were a testament to her years spent in the park and to all the times she had barely survived battles against monsters.

For Blendbreeds like the children of the god of war, they would be a mark of pride. But not for Marina. The only thing she truly wanted was to live a normal life.

There's no point in wasting more time, she told herself with a sorrowful look.

She quickly put on the T-shirt and stepped out of the bathroom. Lorenzo was still waiting for her, a protein bar between his teeth. When he saw her, he hurriedly took a bite and started chewing.

"I thought you had died," he teased.

Marina rolled her eyes. "Swallow before you talk. You're just going to choke," she said as she made her way toward the door, "and I won't be saving you again."

"Got it."

The Blendbreed smiled before glancing at the clock hanging above the door—then froze. She had only five minutes.

She hurriedly slipped on her sneakers, then, without even saying goodbye to her stepbrother, dashed out of the room.

Lorenzo swallowed quickly and shouted after her.

"Marina! Hey! I brought you breakfast from the cafeteria!"

A few seconds of silence passed before Lorenzo lost hope and slumped into one of the chairs. Just at that moment, Marina rushed back into the room, gulped down some milk, and snatched a few cookies before dashing out again like lightning. The son of Ien chuckled, glancing at the remaining cookies.

"She'll never change."

Marina exited the Seventh House and started running south. For Blendbreeds, it was common to see someone sprinting across the park, so no one paid her any mind.

It was that time of the month again—the arrival of new Blendbreeds at Lilies Park. That place was a refuge for those with divine blood in their veins, a sanctuary located in a parallel dimension to the ordinary Mortal World. The same had happened to her. Her mother had made her appear at the doorstep of her family's home on a freezing day. After a rather difficult childhood, Marina had discovered the truth about herself. Then, after traveling across almost all of Italy, she had left the Mortal World behind and arrived in the Otherworld, ready to train for the future.

The girl swiftly passed the remaining houses and veered onto a trail winding through the forest until she reached the classroom—a simple wooden hut. She burst inside, still running, miraculously managing not to trip. She was out of breath despite the constant training she had undergone.

The hut was packed with new Blendbreeds, all roughly the same age. The group was buzzing with excitement, but their chatter gradually quieted when they saw her enter. Marina steadied her breathing before speaking.

"Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Lilies Park," she said with a smile. "I'm Marina, and today I'll be giving you an introduction to this place."

A young 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 for a long time. You could say I belong here."

Her answer didn't seem to convince the newcomers—they were probably expecting someone older. Marina briefly averted her gaze. She couldn't exactly explain right away that the average lifespan of a Blendbreed barely reached twenty. By then, most fell victim to monsters. The only way to survive safely was to stay at Lilies Park as a staff member.

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

"There's one more student to add today," he said warmly.

"Mr. D'Agostini…!" the Blendbreed whispered before quickly composing herself.

"Just Lyceum is fine, Marina."

"My apologies," she said, extending an arm in invitation. "Please, let him in."

Mr. D'Agostini turned, searching for the new arrival with a confused expression—he didn't seem to be nearby. Marina observed the Blendbreed, a man in his forties standing tall in the bright daylight. Nearly two meters tall, he carried himself with pride, though his posture leaned slightly forward. His eyes, dark as the night, gleamed behind metal-framed glasses that gave him an air of intelligence. His graying, long, and unkempt hair added a wild touch to his appearance, partially concealed by a thick beard. Despite the morning heat, he wore an impeccable suit. His presence was intense, naturally drawing the gaze and curiosity of the younger onlookers.

"Ah, there you are," he said, raising an eyebrow. "No need to wander off."

Lyceum extended his arm, resting it behind the shoulders of the newcomer. The Blendbreeds fell silent the moment the figure came into their line of sight. Marina didn't utter a word.

Her gaze locked onto the quiet young man, nearly as tall as Mr. D'Agostini, with a slender build that exuded an air of mystery. His medium-length black hair fell just past his cheekbones. His skin was pale—so light it seemed as if he rarely saw the sun. But what stood out the most were his eyes: a deep, striking shade of violet, intense and magnetic. He wore a black T-shirt, layered beneath an open hoodie of the same color, paired with jeans and black Blazers. A silver ring adorned his right hand, completing his enigmatic look.

Marina couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between his aura and that of Lyceum D'Agostini. While the latter radiated authority and responsibility, the stranger's presence was eerily calm—almost empty. Yet, despite this, the younger Blendbreeds instinctively showed him respect, as though they feared him. The boy gave her a small nod.

"Uh… right," Marina gestured hesitantly. "You can take a seat in the back."

The Blendbreed followed her hand's direction and made his way to the seat. She wanted to take a peek at the back of his hoodie, but Lyceum distracted her.

"Marina, can I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course," the blonde Blendbreed replied.

The man swiftly stepped outside the hut, waiting for her where no one else could hear. Even from outside, Marina could pick up the students' astonished whispers, and a creeping suspicion settled in her mind.

"What do you need to tell me?" she asked, curious.

"That boy… he comes from Daffodils Academy. They say he was missing for years before reappearing near here just a few days ago. Since then, he hasn't spoken to anyone about what happened to him and seems to have no memory of it."

"You want me to keep an eye on him?"

Mr. D'Agostini nodded. "Exactly. It would be a great help. Will you do it?"

"Of course. Consider it done."

"Thank you."

Lyceum D'Agostini entered the classroom again to say goodbye, making the girl lose her chance to ask him the fateful question. Lyceum raised his hand in greeting and said: "Listen carefully, Blendbreeds…" There was a brief pause. "You too, Shirei," he added with a nod toward the mysterious boy. "Enjoy the lesson."

The man smiled at Marina and walked away. The Blendbreed stepped back inside and immediately froze; she could feel the new student's eyes—Shirei, if she had understood correctly—fixed on her. She turned abruptly to escape the overwhelming sensation and masked the instinctive motion by grabbing a pencil to use as a stress reliever.

"Alright!" she said after refocusing on her students. "Now that you're all here, we can begin the explanation. Are you ready?"

A child raised his hand.

"Yes? What would you like to ask?"

"What are you going to explain today? The other kids told us we train to fight here."

Marina smiled, trying to ignore Shirei's gaze. "Yes, but you still don't know why you're here. That's what I'm here to explain," she paused to swallow. "Let's do this: first, I'll explain, then, if you have questions, we'll discuss them together. Okay?"

No one said a word, so she took it as a sign of agreement. She furtively glanced at the Blendbreed with violet eyes and noticed his gaze was fixed on the outside of the cabin. His black T-shirt still worried Marina—she had seen one just like it before. In Lilies Park, each house had its own identifying color and number. Black, often associated with the number thirteen, always and only brought trouble. She quickly shook those thoughts from her head and returned to her speech.

"So, first of all, you are Blendbreeds."

"Not demigods?"

"No, Blendbreeds," she stopped, realizing he had just ignored her request to wait for questions. "What does this mean? It means that one of your parents is a Celestial, the deities of the last generation. They often tend to descend from the Highworld and form relationships with mortals because they cannot do so among themselves. If they did, a new generation would automatically begin, and the current gods would have to relinquish their masks."

"So, are there also non-human people here?"

"Let's say that the term Blendbreed refers to all children of a god and a mortal, regardless of their lineage. In the last decade, it has become increasingly rare to meet a Blendbreed born from a deity and a creature, but the answer is yes."

She took a short pause. "You must remember that we are special because hybrids—offspring of two different lineages—are impossible to conceive. Only the gods have this ability."

"So, for example, humans and elves can't have children?"

She was getting too far off-topic. "Of course, they can, but they cannot conceive Blendbreeds—only human children and elven children."

A boy raised his hand, but Marina stopped him before he could speak.

"There's no need to worry about that for now," she said with a smile. "What you need to know is that, many years ago, one of the most important Blendbreeds of the modern era managed to meet with the gods and persuade them to make a promise."

Shirei's gaze returned to her, making her flinch. "Since then, the gods have committed to identifying each of their children so they can be brought here, to Lilies Park, or to Daffodils Academy."

The Blendbreeds seemed intent on not missing a single detail of the explanation. Marina wasn't used to such attentiveness, but she was more focused on the mysterious newcomer. She studied his face after mentioning the academy, but he showed no emotion beyond calmness. With a sigh, she decided to continue.

"That happened to you too, didn't it? One day, you happened to find a small Venetian mask, then other Blendbreeds came to your home and brought you here. That's perfectly normal. If they haven't told you your divine parent's identity yet, you'll be sorted into the main building: the Grand Manor. If, however, you already know which deity you belong to, you'll be taken to your house, one of the twenty-four in Lilies Park. Usually, though, we can determine a parent based on the mask they leave when they visit you in the Mortal World."

Marina approached the blackboard and began writing. When she finished, she put down the chalk and stepped aside so everyone could read.

"These are the names of the gods of the last generation. There's no way I'm going to list them all for you—you wouldn't remember them anyway. What you do need to know is this," she pointed to the first name on the list, "there are twelve male deities and twelve female deities. Emion is the king of the gods and rules alongside them from the Highworld, a sort of paradise. Although they are all on the same level, some deities are more powerful than others. The children of six of them are known as Forbidden Heirs, and—"

A young girl couldn't hold back and asked, "Why?"

"It's not my place to tell you, but I understand your curiosity. You've heard of the world wars, right? It's said that during the second one, some incredibly powerful Blendbreeds took part, and there were battles that led to the deaths of many people. Since then…" she pointed at the blackboard again, "Emion, Idur, Cragar, Aena, Nivia, and Cechela have 'regulated themselves,' so to speak, for the common good. You may also find it interesting that not all of them kept their promise."

Silence filled the cabin for a few minutes.

Marina was trying to understand more about who Shirei was, but the boy revealed nothing. One thing, however, was becoming increasingly certain in the daughter of Ien's mind: the identity of his divine parent.

Some Blendbreeds looked at Marina, who responded with an embarrassed smile.

"I think I lost my train of thought for a moment. Where were we?" She couldn't hold back a nervous chuckle. "Right, the park. Here you'll study past history and be trained to survive even in dangerous situations. I've already told you that you need to be recognized. This is a very important moment for you, because you'll have the chance to manipulate magic, but it's crucial that it doesn't happen too soon, because the monsters that roam the worlds will be able to scent you from that moment onward."

"What do they want from us?" asked a frightened girl.

There was no other way to say it; she had to be clear. "To kill us," she replied bluntly, "they seem to be programmed only for that. But don't worry, the monsters can't enter here."

"Why not?"

The Blendbreed with blonde hair smiled. "This place is under the direct protection of the divine Aena. The limits of the park are marked by a barrier that prevents the monsters from passing through, so we are safe."

A general silence fell. Marina's words didn't seem to have the desired effect. The girl lowered her gaze before pretending to smile.

"And then what will happen?" asked a boy in the front row.

"Once you turn nineteen, you can choose to join the park's staff, go to Daffodils Academy to continue your studies, enlist as warriors in the divine army, or go your own way. We try to prepare you for any of these choices."

It seemed like she had managed to convince them.

"Now I really have to go, seems that we are a little late on the schedule, my fault. In five minutes, an instructor will arrive to give you a tour of the park so you can reach your lodgings. Please wait for him here."

The blonde girl's gaze met the vacant stare of the mysterious boy. Instinctively, she looked away and hurried to leave. Only after thirty seconds did she turn around, cursing herself.

Lyceum had asked her to keep an eye on him.

She returned to the cabin in a flurry, trying to keep a smile on her face.

"Shirei, could you come—" she stopped, seeing the empty spot.

He had disappeared.