Chapter Twenty: The Fate And Incarnation

Camille and Caleb stare at the resemblance of a father and daughter. No man could even look so beautiful as both of them, as Valerie's appearance was altered, she's more feminine than her appearance before. It doesn't make sense, how could Aria stay alive for that long? 

Unless it froze over time, and the one who casted it intentionally used her energy to insure her safety. Ares didn't actually know that Valerie's appearance was altered during her infant time, but when he met her yesterday, he already knew that she was his daughter.

The alteration was Rosalyn's work, but her Aria wasn't even that strong, so how can she maintain it even after death? It was a confusing reality that was hard to comprehend. 

Not even Caleb knew the answer, but Lyrica had a theory. It was based in science, so it's not something believable in a second. Lyrica said that two worlds were different, it's like two universes in between, if one goes between it, the other end wouldn't end the same. 

Take a string and put it between blades, when it cuts in the middle, both will cut, but what if it was stabilized and the string became solid at the other side of the in-between.

With the one from that side frozen, only the one on the other side will fall. In between of those reality might have cut off the connection that freezes over time in the other world. 

The Aria casted on Valerie was long lasting for a period of time, it means once the caster dies, her Aria she casted will or won't last very long. So when Ares sent Valerie to the Human Realm, the connection was severely cut off and Aria was frozen in her side of the world.

Logically, only when she goes back will Aria completely withered. 

"So, Valerie, I heard that you didn't go to a normal school or academy?" Valerie looked at Camille and she nodded. 

"I wasn't able to attend, but I was taught by Valkyries the basic to expertise of the same level taught in a normal academy," said Valerie. 

Camille smiled. "So, what level did you finish?" 

"The highest level of academics, but it seems my knowledge will not be needed in this world, since I've known only the knowledge meant for a human."

"Is that so?" She clicked her tongue, then opened her eyes. "I heard you were a great tactical officer, and you have completed more missions than the others, but is that all you've achieved?"

Valerie's eyes stiffened, she then looked at her. Something doesn't feel right, she only thought that it was a normal conversation, why does she feel like Camille's question doesn't mean as normal but rather intentional?

It's not a talk which is presented as kind, but presented as knowledgeable. It's a tricky question that's for sure, and as a noble, they've been using such techniques to intimidate someone or test that person.

She gulped, and thought, test? That's right, it's possible. 

"We don't use honorifics in the laboratory, as we use wits and physical form to study our test of limits. Our achievements are based on a human record, but if you think about it, we just really didn't care," Valerie looked at her and she bowed. "If you want to test my knowledge, I'll be happy to be taught by anyone you recommend but please stop testing me from now on."

Ares looks at her and smiles. "Well said, daughter, a demigod shouldn't be disrespected."

It was a shock to Camille but it didn't stop her from chuckling and smiling. "If I may then, Lord Ares, she still needs to learn more about our world, if you could allow her to enter Myrnn Academy, I will gladly sponsor her entrance?"

Ares was busy taking a sip on a coffee cup, but once he heard a familiar name, he almost choked while drinking his coffee which made everyone look. He was so startled that he had to put the cup down and wipe his lips, before looking at Camille.

"Can she just be taught here?"

Camille fakes a smile. "We don't have anything to offer her here."

He shrugged his head. "No, I can just provide her a different small school, right?"

Caleb laughed and he put his hands between making a cross sign on his hand. "No, not possible."

"I'll teach her myself," said Ares. 

Camille breathed in before she shook her head. "It's the only school that allows Aisha—as well as demigods in, they could help her there, so why the denial? She needs to learn, and she needs to control her Aria which is a perfect school, isn't Lukas there? Ask him to protect her while she's there if you feel uneasy."

Ares couldn't help it but Camille is right. Valerie spent her classes in a level for humans, and not for an Armenian. It would be difficult if she didn't know anything about this world, or who her grandparents are. It's better that she goes there and interacts with kids who's the same as her, an Aisha and a demigod. 

Ares breathed out and looked at Valerie with her eyes watching them talk. She's pretty quiet and observant, she knows how to keep it quiet when adults are talking or stay silent when not being asked. Isn't she curious why he refused her to enter that school? Isn't she confused why people are fighting? 

Ares' daughter must have matured fast, although it's normal for noble children, it's not for someone who spent her life killing someone. 

"Do you remember the Tale of the Holy Grail?" 

Caleb and Camille nodded. "It's about that heroine who died during one of the cold wars, and she descended to the stars? Meet the Moirai who gives her a chance to wish for the Holy Grail's cup? I am not sure if that's the story, because that's how it was spread in the Mortal Land."

"Yes, but there is a twist in that story or most people know it."

"So, how is this related to you refusing Valerie's education?" Camile asked. 

"Well, not everyone knows that legendary heroine's name, although one thing for sure, she's an Aisha who stood side by side with the Protector as one of his pillars, and while Artemis, Apollo and me were fighting Athena, that unfortunate soul clashed with a Titan God."

A powerful God who was thrown into tartarus after he had threatened to rape Hera in front of Zeus. Rage came within Zeus' body, and it started the three cycles of disaster. Atlas also tried stealing from Zeus' chamber but wasn't put accountable, however, his second attempt caused his life.

He was banished into tartarus layers, but also submitted as a dangerous Titan God, which was locked up in the cells created by nightmares. 

"Atlas took her soul but was beckoned by the Protector's rage, in his attempt to save the heroine, he used his powerful sword—a sword created from Cronus heart that was said to be a God Killing Sword, and he struck Atlas in the heart which sent him to nothingness. However, she didn't survive despite the struggle."

Ares stood up and he slowly walked towards the open windows, while he put his hands behind him. "Decade passed, Apollo came to Olympus, announcing the birth of a new oracle that was even conveyed by the fates itself."

"A once withered soul will be back in the form of a child, she who came from the blood of a God will have the symbol written on her eyes, though she is different, the incarnation of her soul will not alter her fate. Her rebirth will be seen, a new light will complete, and she who loses that identity will be reborn in reality."

He then shifted his eyes on Valerie's colorful eyes. She might have inherited his eyes, but there is a portion which is different. The left of her eyes, it's invincible to mortals eye but it has a white symbol on it. 

He tightened his grab on his hand and breathed out. "Her name is Alyssa Beriel, the first pillar of tartarus."

And then he breathed out. "I have a feeling Valerie might be connected to that oracle, so until Apollo gets here, I won't decide to send her there. It's too dangerous, the Protector had buried himself in that place," he said. 

There's a reason why he fears him. He met that guy, before Alyssa died. He wasn't a God but powerful enough to kill one, a dangerous fellow and also a man born as a mortal who spent his life being cursed and locked up in his title as the one to protect the gate of the underworld.

His curse was passed down from an unknown source, or perhaps from his duty as the chosen guard of the gates. During that time, Athena was frequently seen escaping the gates, but she was put back several times. Until that time, because Athena discovered another way, the protector was deemed responsible for it. 

One day, Cronus gives him a sword which can kill a God. The acceptance of being that sword's master and holding the Holy Grail in hidden had an effect on his growth. 

He completely got himself an infinite life, like any other Gods. He became the strongest mortal—no, the strongest immortal man in Armenia, a man who can kill a God unless he follows the rule, he can do it. 

Becoming a protector was one of his biggest responsibilities but becoming an immortal, did some good effect on both his mental and body. 

"He was obsessed with her..." Ares mumbles.