Chapter 22: A Plan (1)

Ezekiel is currently comforting Daria whose gift was at the verge of going haywire. He sang her a lullaby song that he learned five years ago to specifically comfort Daria. He doesn’t know why, but it always felt nostalgic when singing Daria to sleep. He wondered if he used to do this to his sister. It does make sense why the nostalgic feeling.

“Thank you, Kiel.” Daria said before falling asleep.

Ezekiel let out a smile. He tucked Daria in her bed and gave her a kiss on the forehead for a goodnight sleep. He then exited her cell where the guards were standing in front just in case Daria loses control. He passed by a cell of a seven year old godling whose body was partially covered in wolf fur. He felt sorry for the poor godling as he hasn’t been out of his cell for a few days due to his feral tendency.

The godling was Fendurr. His codename is Fenrir, named after the Beast of Ragnarök from Norse mythology. His gift is currently unknown. Besides his wolf-ish appearance and superhuman physiology, he doesn’t possess any unique gifts like the rest of the godlings. His gift was initially thought to be wolf-related, but his physiology remains average like the other godlings. And his feral tendency is certainly not a gift.

None of the scientists could figure out his gift. They initially wanted to give him the codename of Lycaon from Greek mythology because he has an appearance of a werewolf, but decided to give him the codename Fenrir after seeing the small runic words ᛒᛖᚨᛋᛏ across the back of his shoulder blade which translates to “Beast”.

They theorized that Fendurr has the capability to bring destruction like the destructive godlings, but so far, their theory hasn’t been proven for five years now.

“You okay there, Fen?” Ezekiel asked worriedly.

Fendurr responded with a whine like a puppy. He couldn’t form any words because he’s a mute, probably because of having the DNA of the wolf that slayed numerous gods before Odin according to the scientists. He hasn’t formed any proper connection with anyone for the last five years, except for Ezekiel who showed him great brotherly affection.

Ezekiel kneeled on one leg with a smile, “You’ll be fine, Fen. You’ll be out in that cell soon.”

Fendurr responded with a smile before doing a sign language of “Thank You”. Ezekiel asked Theria to help him and Fendurr on how to do sign language two years ago in order for them to communicate properly. He is eternally grateful to her for helping them without asking anything in return.

“I’ll be going now. Can’t keep Corey waiting.” Ezekiel said while also doing sign language.

When Ezekiel went to the lobby, everybody froze upon seeing him. He wasn’t seen running towards Daria’s cell earlier because they were too focused on their activities, but now they can see him clearly once he was walking in the lobby slowly. It was an uneasy feeling for him as he was now getting attention from everybody all thanks to the god within him. He doesn’t like it.

All the superior godlings were staring at him rudely as always, but it was a different kind of rude. They weren’t happy with what he did during his spar with Aster. He may not have won against him, but it further cemented the idea that the inferior godlings could catch up to them given time. It contradicted their idea that the inferior godlings aren’t worth keeping and teaching for the cause.

As for the weaklings, however, they admired both him and Corey. They showed all of them that they can push forward to do greater things. Both of them essentially become an inspiration for the inferior godlings, much so more than Sir Ancient who is supposed to be the one inspiring everyone in order to encourage them. Some of them are even thinking on how to improve their gifts.

“Woah. You’re such a famous star, Ezekiel. Very nice.” Syr said, appearing beside Ezekiel out of nowhere.

“Go back to whatever you are doing, Syr. I prefer to be alone right now.” Ezekiel ordered the little boy.

“Well, at least let me give you this drink.” Syr handed over a soda called KIELADA to him. “I made it myself as promised. Already handed the other one to Corey.”

“Uh… thanks. I’m… flattered?” Ezekiel hadn’t expected that Syr would actually make both of them drinks based on him and his best friend because his crush talked to and defended them earlier in the morning. “I should be going now. Go and make more drinks or something.”

“You got it.” Syr saluted before running back to his “experiment brewing lab”.

Ezekiel decided to make his way towards the cafeteria where everything is silent. He needed to focus on what he should do now. He can’t just blindly rush in different parts of the facility nor make his way to Sir Ancient’s elevator. That’s suicide. And he’s pretty sure that Habagat doesn’t appreciate being dead the second time, even if he’s just a fragmented version of the original. His best friend will be fine without him anyway.

When he entered the cafeteria, he didn’t expect someone to be here. His heart was thumping because the person was his crush, Shu. He doesn’t know why she is sitting alone in the cafeteria when he hasn’t seen her do so for the past five years. It’s always been him or with Corey in the cafeteria. He didn’t expect to see her right now.

He sat on his usual spot, trying to avoid eye contact with her. He has an urge to say “hello” to her, but eventually discards the idea. He was too flustered and shy to say anything so he’ll just be in his own world and come up with a plan to find out about his origins and expose the Fatherland.

“Impressive of what you did earlier, Ezekiel.” Shu complimented him out of nowhere while drinking her grape juice.

But before he could come up with anything, the unexpected crush spoke to him which spooked him.

“You surprised everyone during your spar with Aster, including me.” Shu said. “Never thought that what Klef and Alcaeus said were true. You, weaklings, can really improve given enough time.”

“T-They said that…?” Ezekiel was surprised that Klef and Alcaeus had faith on the inferior godlings while also surprised by the fact he is currently communicating with the strongest godling in a cafeteria.

Shu nodded, “Of course I never believed them and thought all of you as lost cause, but both you and that trickster fool proved me wrong.”

Ezekiel blushed, “Uhm… thanks?”

“Speaking of you and that trickster fool, both of you had quite an interesting conversation.” Shu then stared at him. “Awakened. That’s what you are, right?”

Ezekiel was frozen. He hadn’t expected that Shu would have secretly listened to their conversation. He cursed himself. He should’ve checked properly before telling Corey about his meeting with Sir Ancient.

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. I can’t let Aster or Kaito hear anything about the offer ‘Sir Ancient’ told you.” Shu said before throwing her juice box at the trash can behind her accurately. “I need that offer. I need to be awakened once I have made my decision.”

Ezekiel raised his eyebrow in confusion, “Decision?”

“A decision of which you shan’t hear from me.” Shu said before standing up from her table. “I don’t know why you refuse that offer, but it was very unwise of you. You could’ve experienced the outside world like the previous awakened godlings, but you wasted it just because you thought yourself weak.”

Ezekiel turned serious after hearing that, “You can’t trust that offer, Shu. You can’t trust the Fatherland nor Sir Ancient. They aren’t what you think.”

“And why is that? They have provided us all the things we need. The offer may include having us do things we wouldn’t like, but at least it’s to return our gratitude to them.” Shu said. “So why shouldn’t we trust them?”

“…because my conscience told me.” Ezekiel answered, trying to see whether or not a god had been talking with Shu. “Same to you as well?”

Shu didn’t answer that question. She chose to walk away instead, but understood what Ezekiel meant by “conscience”. She wasn’t the only godling who's been hearing things from someone.

‘That boy was right, young lady. Do not trust them.’ The voice inside her head agreed with Ezekiel. ‘They made you turn my flames into a weapon. My huǒyàn are meant to use for cooking and any other daily necessities, but never for hurting mortals.’

Shu growled before hitting herself in the head, “Get off of my head whoever you are…!”

“You al-?”

“I’m fine!” Shu answered immediately before exiting the cafeteria.

“I guess the god within her is talking to her.” Ezekiel then gasped for air after realizing that he managed to talk to Shu without stuttering. He can’t tell if it’s a side effect of being a godling to talk to girls normally or it was because her question seriously made him become serious for a brief moment. “Anyway, what should I do now?”

‘Start by finding out where you come from before the Fatherland.’ The voice of Habagat said in his thoughts out of nowhere.

Ezekiel flinched before gasping for more air from the unexpected voice of Habagat. He wasn’t mentally prepared for him to appear in his mind. He resisted the urge to yell, otherwise, his emotions would arise and be possessed by the god.

‘Please give me a warning next time!’ Ezekiel said in his thoughts quietly in an angry tone.

Habagat laughed, ‘I’m sorry, kabayan. I had too as your utak will probably be filled with that beautiful yet brash young lady.’

Ezekiel blushed hardly, “No, I wasn’t!”

‘I’m in your body, little mortal. I can see your thoughts and feel your emotions, remember? You are my chosen host after all.’ Habagat said.

Ezekiel sighed in annoyance before focusing on the task at hand, “Right. Moving on. As for your helpful ‘suggestion’, that’s what I’m planning to do. I just don’t know where to start.”

‘How about you looking for the place where they store your information? That’s what ancient mortals did in the past with their scrolls and everything.’ Habagat gave another suggestion. ‘I’m sure that method still applies today, but where it is I do not know.’

Ezekiel hit himself with his palm, “Seriously? Couldn’t you have said that during my dream-like state before you dramatically faded away?”

‘…I forgot.’ Habagat gave a simple answer.

“Anyway, I should start looking for that specific room then. But where should I lo-?” Ezekiel then remembered something in the past.

He recalled passing by a storage room where a bunch of staff members were arranging some files five years ago. He isn’t sure, but the room is probably located at the end of the third hallway where the forbidden room is also located.

The forbidden room is something that the scientists forbid the godlings to enter because it gave them horrific flashes or something. He is slightly terrified to risk his life in disobeying the Fatherland right now, but he has to if he wants to figure out who he is and expose the Fatherland for whatever their horrible deeds are.

Now that he knows where to go, he just needs to plan on how to get there. The guards will get suspicious if he is gone for too long in the morning so he needs to do it at night. He needs to plant a decoy in his bed.

The only problem is how many guards will be patrolling. It varies between five to ten guards, so it’ll be difficult on how to reach the storage room. He was thinking about asking either Rashidi or Kei as they’re experts on stuff like this, but he doubts they would help him and will probably tell the guards on him.

He can’t risk that.

Ezekiel sighed, ‘It sucks without having an intelligence gift.’

Suddenly, Hugo appeared at the entrance while panting from exhaustion.

“Ezekiel! You need to-! You need to come and see this!” Hugo yelled before breathing in and out to calm himself.

“Woah, woah. Relax. What happened, Hugo?” Ezekiel asked worriedly.

Hugo coughed before answering, “It’s Corey. He’s currently being picked on by Aster and his gang.”

Ezekiel widened his eyes in anger, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

He rushed towards Corey’s aid immediately while Hugo remained in the cafeteria to catch his breath. He understood why Aster picked on Corey because his best friend was the one who humiliated the so-called “superior godlings” and became the first weakling to won a victory against them, but he doesn’t understand why he doesn’t pick on him as well after whatever Habagat did humiliated him as well as the superior godlings further.

Whatever it is, he won’t let his best friend suffer because of some one-time humiliation.