Chapter Twenty-Seven: Athena's Warning

He joined them since Valerie told him to do so, but the atmosphere isn't better as the invite. Perhaps, the reason is quite simple, it's because of Ares' burning gaze on Lukas face, making him unable to move a flinch nor look.

"Didn't they want you back, I thought perhaps you're going back, but why did you stay?" asked Ares. He was annoyed that Lukas was invited to this tea party he hosted himself, he felt that this guy, Lukas particularly, is doing something.

He didn't want to know what. "Valerie is here, so I decided to stay," he said and faked a smile. It's almost as if Lukas was trying to mock Ares' pride.

"My daughter didn't need an escort, so go back to the academy now," said Ares.

"I choose this and not yours to decide, Ares, she needed one, you know that," said Lukas as his voice seemed challenging.

They both look at each other, one seems to think they were fighting. Valerie was watching both men, she didn't understand why they look like a leon and an eagle, or is this even normal? She just confusedly looked at them before breathing out.

Something like this happens once in the other world. It's about one of the Valkyrie, but the situation is rather different. For one, the Valkyrie was clear with their problems, but Ares and Lukas weren't. It's almost as if they are fighting over eye contact rather than verbal.

"I am your master, should you be grateful that I'm freeing you from a burden because you originally didn't like it?"

Ares made sense, it's like Lukas changed at that speed of time. He did complain over many things, like going in and out of the portal, or being dragged and kidnapped by a God who didn't care what situation Lukas is in.

He complains about escorting Valerie, or even trying to escape when he becomes crazy. So even Ares didn't think Lukas would change in that amount of time, it's like his being not himself or rather his less himself these past days.

How could he have a change of heart? It doesn't make sense, not at all. "Perhaps you're referring to that time, but I can assure you one thing—I have changed, that's all."

It's not possible, Ares thought. "You can't change without a reason if no one inspired you to do so," then he shifted his gaze at his daughter. "Unless you've fallen?"

"Don't make me laugh, and no I didn't," said Lukas while faking a laugh. It's not as well possible for him to fall, he never did once so he was sure he didn't.

Ares gave a long stare before shaking his head. "You remind me of Max during his time claiming he didn't love Alyssa, now you're doing the same, and the worse, with the same incarnation as she."

Ares still refuses this incarnation oracle, but the prophet—Apollo, doesn't lie when it comes to oracles or prophecies. If he hears the fate tells about Alyssa's incarnation, then it's not a lie at all.

If Valerie is Alyssa and Alyssa is Valerie then there is nothing he can do. "I thought you refused to admit that," said Lukas.

"I did, however, we can't run away from the oracle, she needs to be the one to break her fate of becoming one, so—" he gulped. "I may not want it, you need Lukas, daughter, he will protect you from possible harm that you may encounter upon going to the academy."

He titled his head. "I will give my blessing Lukas, but hear this and dare not to hurt my daughter, if you do so, I'll give you a worse punishment you can never escape from."

Lukas didn't take his warning seriously, but he was grateful, although he might as well hide the fact that he already—almost hurt his daughter. "Then, you will give Valerie to me?" he tried to say it as a joke, but Ares became furious.

"Give her? My daughter is not an item, and she's certainly not a product, mortal!" Ares yelled.

Lukas gave a chuckle and lifted his hand. "I was joking, I didn't mean it that way, so will you allow me to be her escort knight?"

Ares shook his head before looking down. "This new way of teasing really does scare me, but fine, whatever it meant."

"I'll do it regardless of what you say, that's the reason I have stayed as well."

Ares give a cough. "I almost forgot that it was Apollo's idea."

Right, he recommended that stupid idea of letting his daughter stay with such a mortal. Now, he wonders why he did so. Apparently, he had no answer, he went silent and Lukas felt victorious at a battle that didn't even make sense.

Ares shook his hand and lay his hand on the table, as he supported his chin. "Valerie will not be alone, Lukas, you will need two extra rooms in your dormitory, Cassandra will come as well."

Suddenly, Ares' dashing defeat turns into a grin. He looked at Lukas with a mocking expression from his sudden come back. To think Ares would go so far to defeat him, this battle must be one of those ridiculous father against admirers but Lukas was different.

He smirked and breathed out. "Whatever, I'll see what I can do with that," then Lukas turned towards to ignore the grin on Ares face.

Valerie must have had enough with them, her silence turned into a cold breath and she was holding a teacup as if the cup would break from her strong grip. "Enough!" she carefully yelled.

"Why are you even fighting in front of me!?" she asked Lukas and Ares. She just wanted to have at least a little time of peace, so she could breathe widely. However, ever since Lukas came to fulfill his promise, Ares was against it.

Or so how she understood.

Ares faked a cough and Lukas just looked away. They didn't want to let her know the reason for their fight which was started because of Ares false assumptions, he just didn't realize it too well. "Seriously, I have been dealing with troublemaker brats since day one, and now this!" she annoyingly said.

Who wouldn't, Valerie just didn't want to admit it but she had enough with the brats messing with her and now two adult guys fighting each other like a wolf in a lion's den.

"Er," said Lukas and he looked at Ares. "I think you misunderstood our little conversation, it's not a fight, and certainly not messing with you kind of situation. I think we only quarreled but that's all."

Valerie looked at him and she calmed herself, as the cup slowly broke when she let go. She didn't seem to understand as well, why did she become mad? Or why did she misunderstand it?

"Does Armenia affect people's behavior?" only to be left with a dry question, and Valerie started to shake.

Ares immediately looked at her bleeding hands and he immediately took a towel to clean her hand. "Valerie, why did you break the cup? Now, you are hurt!"

Is that so? She thought and looked at her hands. "I don't know, I just felt weird that time," she mumbles and her cold voice turns dry. Ares looks at Lukas, and then he turns back.

"It's not Armenia, it's the demons, they can affect Mortals behavior, someone broke in—one seems powerful enough to influence her drenched emotions," said Ares and made Lukas nod.

Just like a story book, the appearance of demons aren't exactly the same as what is known by many. In fact, demons are darkness made of mortal emotions, and the more the emotion strives stronger, the more it gets easily corrupted. However, it is unusual for demigods to be influenced.

Or perhaps, how can they? God's have the power to make one surface. Demon uses energies to create their own Aria, something that can be written almost everyday.

Aria is made of stigma from the plasma energies of the world. Everything in Armenia is made of stigma, and when stigma forms, Aria appears. Unlike Aria though, the imitating energy powers of a demon, was created from the darkness itself.

Demigods have a portion of God's protection, so how?

"Athena is getting stronger, or the end is nearing," Ares mumbled.

"Should we inform Apollo?" asked Lukas and Ares shook his head.

"He's already aware, maybe before he came here, the more the demons become powerful the less the sealing of Valerie's Aria could work. It's better if we find the saint first, she has the power to stabilize Valerie's Aria and strengthen her defense against the influence of demons."

That's right, they could influence an Aisha if one is unstable. It should have been that way, but Aisha uses Aria, and the energies of stigma. Unless one is unstable, they can't influence them or even use them.

In Valerie's situation, there is a gap between them, that gap holds the vulnerability of one's mind. In fact, it's true that Valerie's heart is empty, but not her mind, she didn't know how vulnerable her mind was to outside attackers even if they can't reach her heart.

The demons of Athena's clutches are getting stronger, it will be harder to get rid of them now. The clock is ticking and it's nearing the end, maybe on the surface, it can be prevented. Athena's coming is one of the oracles reading, it can't be false either.

The Gods know what comes to them, and Zeus gathered an army in case it is needed. Of course, Hera collaborated with the plan of the Gods but no one knew, she had her own plan.

That's right, it's Ares and Apollo.