The Legend Of The Grim Reaper

CHAPTER 6 — FOREARMED

"Old friend! Alrodes" Mars embraced Alrodes in a friendly welcome

"Pleased to see you after a long time" Mars released his friend.

"Mars, it's been a long time" Alrodes laughed.

The two friends exchange pleasantries.

"Oh, I honestly forgot. This is Michael" Alrodes introduced pushing Michael forward.

Michael smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I am Michael, pleased to see a god sir," He said shaking hands with Mars.

"Oh, this is the boy. The half deity" Mars said with seriousness.

"Come, come sit, eat and enjoy" Mars invited. As a god he lived in a big castle, maids serving him, servants patrolling to meet his every command. Just so unlike Alrodes.

"Enjoy all you want here before you go to that your stuffy cottage" Mars laughed. Alrodes and Michael joined in.

"Let's enjoy ourselves. Tomorrow lesson begins" Mars said sipping his wine. The dining hail portrays wealth.

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"Lesson one: do not be afraid. Don't let your fears be known to the opponent or your weakness will be easily detected. Be forearmed because you can never tell" Mars lectured, beating his sword in his hand. He engaged Michael in a tournament. Michael was injured. This training went on for three days.

On the fourth day…

"I'll have you engage in a fight with one of my strongest warrior" Mars announced.

"He has done well, but he must do better. Grim Reaper is no easily defeated man" Mars added, talking to Alrodes.

Alrodes took Michael to tend to his wounds.

"Wow, it hurts" Michael grimaced.

"Lesson twelve, endure pain," Alrodes said.

"But this is too much!" Michael almost shouted.

"This is too much?" Alrodes paused.

"Don't tell me you're complaining that bruises, scratch and blows are too much for you to bear. How about what you'll be facing at Hormelus? Grim Reaper's injuries, attacks will be ten times greater than this. Better wake up boy" Alrodes knocked Michael's head.

"Ouch" Michael grunted in pain.

"That hurts too? Alrodes raised his hand for another attack

"Oh no," Michael laughed painfully.

Medamus, Mars' warrior, one of the strongest was matched with Michael.

"Battle with seriousness. This battle is physical, you need to be alert and calculative" Mars lectured, as he pushed Michael to the arena.

Forces met, the fight became fierce. Not long after a red light shone from Michael's heart. Thus making him stronger. He fought almost killing Medamus, Mars stepped in to rescue Medamus.

"Halt!" Mars said hitting Michael with a trident. Michael fell unconscious.

"Medamus drag him to the hall."

Michael woke up in Mars' armour room.

"What happened?" Michael asked

Alrodes and Mars laughed.

"Why are you two laughing?" Michael asked with irritation down his voice.

"Awesome. Your other half is beginning to manifest!" Mars said. Michael looked puzzled.

"You're a half-god, Michael. Half gods don't usually stay in Medronz until they know about their power and can arouse and control it. Most half-gods are scattered around the earth. You happen to fall in Madanland." Alrodes explained.

Now Michael understood, for once the whole story of his life that he couldn't get then.

Michael was without parents in Madanland. He mysteriously found himself there, then decided to take up a job. His methods of finding and convicting criminals were strange to him and a great number of people.

So he was a half-god all this while.

"Oh, lord!" Michael gasps.

"It's surprising," Mars said.

"But that's who you are. You will soon understand." Mars tapped his shoulder.

Michael regained his strength soon. Heading to the dining hall as it was time to eat. He met Mars daughters. Nephila and Satura. Mars and Alrodes were seated. Even Mara, his wife was around. Mara and her daughters went on a tour those few days Michael came. His sons Neru and Sahiel were at the different part of Sorates. Sorates was the empire Mars-ruled over.

Joining them at the table "Good afternoon gentlemen and ladies" Michael paid courtesy.

"Welcome," The ladies replied.

They were beautiful. "You have such beautiful daughters," Michael said to Mars.

"Thank you. You could have one for a wife" Mars said teasing Michael.

"Oh that's a good offer, but should be rejected," Michael said quickly.

"Rejected?" Mars asked

"Oh, Michael is just a boy who doesn't like ladies that much. Well, I think he must have a forced wife." Alrodes quickly chipped in. He knew Nephila already admires Michael and would want to marry him. Satura is already engaged to the lord of Pegas, the god of love.

"Forced wife?" Nephila inquired with a mouthful of pork.

"Why should a handsome man like you be given a wife by force? You should be able to choose who you want" Nephila said eyeing Michael seductively.

"Well my lady, I am with another woman. Would have loved to marry such beauty as yours, but I love my lady" Michael said being straightforward, not giving Alrodes a chance to save his face for him.

"Are you married?" Nephila asked

"No, am not. But I plan to marry my lady" Michael replied.

"Who is she?" Nephila asked.

Mars saw how involving she was getting, and Nephila being used to getting what she wanted, due to her enchanting powers "Nephila why don't you enjoy your meal, Lord Pezus, the god of art and music would be down here by twilight to meet with you. I hope you think his offer" Mars said.

Nephila nodded. She seems to like Michael for sexual pleasures. Michael had aroused her, because of his elaborate build. Nephila loves Pezus. The only secret should be that Nephila must not find out that Michael is a half-god of liberty and mysticism or she would start falling head over heels for him.

Leaving Pezus to his fate.

"Michael meet me at my armour gates," Mars said after eating as he stood up to his inner chambers. Mara followed.

"I've missed you my beautiful Mara" Mars had drawn Mara in a warm embrace.

"Not as much as I did" Mara teased back.

They kissed and headed to their inner chambers to satisfy their passion.

Alrodes made a sign to Michael to leave with him.

"Ladies I hope you enjoy yourself more," Alrodes said and rose, so also Michael.

"Are you off to the balcony?" Nephila asked.

"Of course not" Michael answered.

Alrodes and Michael head back to their lodge.

"Can't wait to leave Sorates" Michael slumped into the bed.

"Haha. You have an unwanted admirer, better still lover. So you are running off in fright?" Alrodes laughed.

"Not in fright, but with purpose. She definitely thinks I'll stay for long as she would eventually catch me in her net of seduction. Hell no! Am above that, besides Angela is my priority" Michael stated argumentatively.

"Angela! You must really love her. Anyway be careful during these last three days or else Nephila might get Satura to make Lord Pegas work a spell to make you love her. Be at a watch. Am quite sure she will forget about you when you leave." Alrodes advised.

"I pray so" Michael hoped.

The next three days, Michael had gone through lessons of arousing and controlling his power.

Back at home, Julie and Andrew were busy receiving complaints of more abducted Amazons.

"Alrodes has to be informed. What was the use of keeping this information that long?" Julie asked

"What would Alrodes do? Definitely nothing! Let's just wait till they come back, and then a decision would be made." Andrew said.

"Okay," Julie gave up.

Three days added, of skillfully avoiding Nephila's whims of seduction.

"You are free to go," Mars said that evening.

"Thank you Mars for your time and efforts" Alrodes appreciated handshaking his friend.

"What are old friends for?" Mars laughed.

"Would you stay here for the night?" Mars asked.

"Oh no, Mars. We would just take our leave after dinner" Alrodes said.

"Lord Mars, thank you so much for making me discover myself" Michael appreciated.

"Son, that is the destiny you enjoin with," Mars said giving him an embrace.

"Let us meet at the dining table then," Mars said

"And shock Nephila with our news of departure" Alrodes added. They all laughed.

"Our guests would be moving tonight" Mars announced.

"Oh, that is sad to hear. It's been long since I've seen Alrodes and only a few days that I was gone he came, and now that am back, he would be going. I hate to hear this. But am sure my husband took care of you and your boy" Mara said

"Of course lovely Mara, Mars took care of us. You need not worry, we have been good all those while you weren't around. It's just that I took up a consoling job" Alrodes said smiling.

"Consoling job?" Mara asked laughing a bit.

"Yes, you see my old friend missed his wife all seconds that I had to always console and assure him that you'll be back soon" Alrodes replied, all burst into laughter.

"So Michael you knew you would be leaving and you couldn't tell me!" Nephila accused.

"Oh, Nephila" Mars got in for Michael.

"Face Pezus and stop looking out for Michael. He is already engaged. And I know how much you dislike men who are engaged that could have chased you around." Mars added.

"Yes, father. But this one here isn't engaged. I like his elaborate build"

"But Pezus builds more"

"Yes that's why I love Pezus"

"Better love him and focus on him and not an alien"

"Alien? Is Michael an alien?"

"He is a human" Alrodes voiced in

"Human! Goodness!" Nephila froze

"Enough! Be serious" Nephila said

"Nephila dear, he is a human" Mars said calmly.

"Oh Michael. Human! Thank the gods I didn't fall fully for him. Imagine me, marrying a human, who would take me out of Medronz and from my home Sorates." Nephila said almost having disgustful feelings for Michael.

"But he is a good human" Mars added.

"Good or bad, he only earns my friendship now" Nephila finalized.

"Not love?" Mars pretended to be stroked.

"Not love but friendship" Nephila made herself to be clear.

Alrodes smiled knowingly at Mars, then at Michael.

At last, they have totally brought Nephila's mind to see Michael as a human friend, nothing more than that.

Dinner was over. Mars gave Michael a spear as a gift. The spear has powers of its own.

"Take this. You must have this when you go to war with Grim Reaper. In case you need my help shake the spear, I would be right there." Mars said.

"Thank you," Michael said gratefully.

"Mars, thanks a lot. Bye. We'll meet shortly" Alrodes said.

Mars' family escorted Alrodes to the gates of the castle, then Alrodes and Michael disappeared in a blue ring Alrodes had summoned.

They were back to Nafitath, at the woods just in front of the fig tree they had taken off six days ago. It was on the seventh day of the proposed week for Michael, Alrodes and Michael had arrived.

At the eleventh hour.

"You guys are back!" Julie gasps

"You didn't inform," Andrew said

"You weren't meditating all day and every time" Alrodes accused.

"Welcome anyway," Julie and Andrew said.

"Thank you," Alrodes said.

Andrew hugged Michael "Welcome buddy," Andrew said. But when he hugged Michael he felt a new boost of energy. Michael wasn't the same Michael he knew. He was stronger and looked fearless. Julie also noticed.

"Welcome Michael" Julie hugged Michael.

"Thank you," Michael said. At the moment of the hug, a blue light sparked through them.

Alrodes saw it first before Andrew.

"Oh, gracious heavens!" Alrodes gasps.

He recognized the meaning.

"What?" Michael asked. He also felt the spark so also Julie.

They all waited for answers from Alrodes.

"This is a mystery that will soon be uncovered," Alrodes said.

"You need anything to eat?" Julie asked Alrodes and Michael.

"No" They declined. "We're filled" they added.

"Where did you go to?" Julie asked

"That will be for tomorrow" Alrodes dismissed.

"Are there any news while I was away?" Alrodes asked.

"That will be for tomorrow too," Andrew said. Julie eyed him thankfully.

"Oh, it's an eye for an eye?" Alrodes asked almost dosing. Michael had fallen unto the nearest bed as he was also dosing, trying to pay attention at the same time.

"You guys should go to bed, tomorrow is another day" Julie dismissed. They all went to bed.