New Power

[Atreus]

[LV 1]

[Strength: 0]

[Endurance:0]

[Dexterity:0]

[Agility:0]

[Magic:0]

[Child of Sparta LV 1]

[God of Trickery LV 1]

[The Last Jötnar LV 1]

Atreus' soft voice flows through the room as he reads the words to his father. Though the boy furrows his brows in confusion after finishing, "...Child of Sparta, God of Trickery, and The Last Jötnar... Where did these come from? Is it magic?" he asks, a grin forming on his lips as he finishes his words.

Kratos hums as he stares at the parchment, "...Perhaps you acquired them from the grimoire? The head mentioned that the book lost its magic after you read it," he responds.

Atreus nods, ripping his eyes from the words to look at Kratos, "Father... I know you said we wouldn't train for right now, but... Can we go to the dungeon tomorrow? I want to try this magic out," he says.

Silence fills the dark living room for a moment, and the Greek God meets his son's gaze, "Mmh... That is fine, but know this; if you do not show me control over your emotions, then we will return to the surface. You are a child, and I do not expect you to be a master immediately, but that is no excuse for ignorance," he responds with rough words.

The boy nods, "I'll try my best, Father," he says.

Silence falls once again as the duo relax on the sofa, and after a moment, the sound of a throat clearing flows from Kratos' hip. The Greek God sighs, "...I know," he says, looking to Atreus once again, "Boy, it seems it's time for us to have a conversation..."

The boy raises his brows in response, "Is it about what I said in the red light district?" he asks.

Kratos nods, taking a deep breath as his elbows meet his knees, "Yes... Unfortunately," he responds.

Atreus purses his lips as he stares at the Ghost of Sparta. He stands from the sofa suddenly, setting that parchment on the wooden table. His eyes return to Kratos as he sighs, "It's okay, Father... I see that you're not ready to talk about... Whatever it is," he says.

Kratos furrows his brows, his eyes level with the boy's, "How do you know?" he asks.

Atreus scoffs, "l know I'm a child, but I'm not stupid. It's obvious to me when you're bothered by something," he responds.

Kratos leans up, setting rough hands to his knees, "I see..." he mutters with distracted eyes.

---

That burning ball peaks over the city of Orario, and a dewy mist flows through the streets. In a certain part of the massive labyrinth city, a familiar mansion is surrounded by trimmed grass hedges. It is a beautiful sight of architecture that would bring a fountain of dopamine to the average viewer. However, the mood on the inside is not so bright.

Loki's body sags in a wooden chair, her elbows to her knees as she stares at the floor with pursed lips. The scarlet-haired goddess slowly raises her head, looking to a large bed with a single inhabitant sleeping soundly under the jade blankets, "Finn... I'm sorry," she mutters as her head drops again.

'This is all my fault,' Loki thinks to herself, a thought that has lingered in her mind for over a week. Her life has been in shambles since that dreadful day, and while the Goddess wants to blame that tattooed man and his son, that lingering self-blame stops her. She had been taking a nice, relaxing shower when Riveria told her of the visitors, and though she was slightly annoyed by the interruption, the Goddess could never have foreseen what would happen in the next few minutes.

All of Loki's top familia members were injured in the altercation with Kratos, but the worst was the one before her, Finn. Her Captain, the only one other than Riveria that she could rely on to keep the rest in line. His trachea was pulverized by the terrifyingly strong Kratos, and while he would eventually recover, Fels, the one that had healed the Palum had told Loki that he would never be able to speak again. On top of this already tragic result, Finn would need to be fed by a tube through his stomach.

Loki raises her head again, covering the guilt and regret on her face with dainty hands, "I'm so sorry, Finn... All I had to do was keep his secret..." She mutters with a sniffle, "...At least the others are fine."

Suddenly, a door creaks behind Loki, and the Goddess turn to meet the visitor. Her crimson eyes meet Riveria's jade, and the Elven woman purses her lips as she closes the door behind her. Riveria holds a parchment in her hand as she steps up beside Loki, her forehead wrinkling as she glances at the unconscious Finn, "When do you think he'll recover?" the Elf asks.

Loki sighs, and her eyes settle on the sleeping Palum as well, "...I don't know. Fels told me that he would wake up when the healing magic fully left his body, but... It could be today, tomorrow, or next month, "she responds with a dour tone.

Riveria nods, her eyes lingering on Finn before she looks down at Loki, "The guild put this out today. You should see it," she says.

Loki furrows her brows, glancing at Riveria and receiving the parchment, "What is it...?" she asks, studying the ink closely. A moment passes, and suddenly, her usual slits widen until her crimson pupils are fully visible, "W-what? He's a god!? But..." her eyes dart to Riveria again, "…Are you sure this is real?"

Riveria nods, "Eina gave it to me herself..." she pauses with pursed lips, her eyes drifting to the wood panels of the floor until they return to the Goddess, "...Loki, we need to tell someone about what happened."

Loki flips the parchment over, shaking her head, "Did you see how easily he massacred you all? He didn't break a sweat, even with some of the strongest adventurers in the city on his back... 'Do not make me return'... If he finds out we told someone, he'll come back!" she responds with trepitation leaking from her voice.

Riveria raises her brows, "What if he doesn't find out?" she asks.

Loki pauses for a moment as she stares at Riveria, and despite the fear that bogs her mind, her divinity reveals itself. A thin smirk forms on her lips, "What if?" she repeats.

—-

Heavy footsteps bang down a set of wooden stairs, and Kratos reaches the bottom quickly with Atreus following close behind. The Greek God Carries a grey knapsack on his shoulder filled with more Valis than he is comfortable with. The duo arrives before the wooden counter and spot Mia walking from that door to the kitchen. She gives a big smile to the gods as she approaches them, "Carrying a lot there… Are you leaving us?" She asks as her eyes roam over the knapsack.

Kratos nods, raising his hand to offer a small burlap bag. Mia raises her brows at the sight of the bag, and receives it in her rather large hands, "…What's this?" She glances at Kratos.

"For your trouble… We have taken advantage of your hospitality for far too long," Kratos responds.

Mia releases that strange macho cackle, "Well, I won't say no to some extra Valis! Where will you stay now?" She asks.

"I think it's called Daedalus Street? It's pretty far from here actually," Atreus says, craning his neck to look at Mia.

Mia nods, humming as she drops that grey bag in an apron pocket, "You may want to watch yourselves there. You two look like you can handle a fight, but that won't stop the desperate from trying you," she says.

Kratos scoffs, stepping towards the exit with stone expression. Atreus' lips curl as he follows his father, his eyes lingering on Mia, "Thank you for everything, Mia! We'll visit again for sure," he says.

Mia returns her own toothy grin and waves to the boy, "You better!" She responds.

Atreus turns to his eyes forward after another moment of waving and smiling, though some catches his eye suddenly. His brows furrow as he catches an eye of that silver-haired girl, exiting the same door as Mia. However, he notices something strange as their eyes meet. Atreus swears her eyes were silver, but now they are a bright violet.

The girl, Syr, the boy thinks she's called, smiles and waves to Atreus. He returns the gesture as a pit forms in his stomach, a terrible feeling of pressure.