Chapter Eighteen: Armenia's Door
Morning rises from the south, cold and shivers exploded from the heat of her body. It causes her to wake up, her dark circle eyes seen underneath her eyes, drawn with those pale looks of someone who barely got any sleep.
It's less known but the morning of Armenia is quite different from the other world, Human Realm. It's more dear than what she used to feel. It's nothing comparable to sleeping under a sky.
The sun rises the same, it's rising up, and the moon is covering and it's rising down, it's much like the same process as well, it's no different. She looked at the empty room, her room, a room which has its own beauty—like a bedroom of a royalty, it's more luxurious than her bedroom in the other world.
She couldn't seem to get used to it.
Her room has a theme or some sort of combination. One color remains as the theme of the entire room, it's silver blue, the furniture, cabinets and couches have the same color, the carpet is white, and the pale small chandelier on the top of her head is the only light which serves to be made of Aria.
There are paintings and vases, flowers and a huge open space bathroom consisting of its own closet. When she first got here, in this room, it was already customized to fit her comfort position. It's well aware as well that Ares was the one who handles the process of this room.
Although it's not particularly an ordinary room, she didn't have any choice but to accept it. She did however give her father a second chance, which Ares promised to repent.
She looked at the open windows, where the sun was beaming its light from a small corner of the curtains. She stood up from the bed and she held the curtain, then she pushed the curtain where the sun completely shines at her eyes.
She then opened the windows and accepted the wind that was coming outside. It was refreshing, unlike being in the other world, Armenia's air is fresher and more clear to which it doesn't have any smell.
A few moments after watching the sun rise, she heard footsteps approaching her room.
*Knock Knock*
Then there was a small yet loud knock coming from the outside of her room. "Miss Valerie?" From the outside of her room, a voice made Valerie startled as it was a voice which is more child-like than adult.
"Yes, come in."
It's also well known for nobles to use honorific speaking, it's when they say things that are less slang, and more with a manner. As a guest under Ares protection, most nobles would give their utmost accommodation to give that special guest the service that benefits her or him.
The use of miss and sir is one of them, since Valerie's mother came from the west, and her royal blood still runs within her, it's quite rare to be treated like a princess or prince nor the owner of the house. Ares asked Caleb to let him, and Valerie stay for a while.
Since Ares couldn't stay for far too long in the Mortal's Land, he had no choice but to set his home in the Holy Land and take Valerie there. Most demigods also live in the Holy Land nowadays, but unlike Gods and Goddesses, they aren't restricted to stay in the Mortal's Land as much as they could.
Although he plans to take her, Caleb suggested that it was better to leave Valerie here. Ares can at least stay one day in the Holy Land and come back, so that the restrictions won't even ring when he stays here for a month, although his hesitance, he didn't have a choice.
Which is why he customized her room.
Once the door opens, a girl appears, although she seems like an adult, her voice is more childlike than any other adults. She wore this dress, a white and black of combination, with a hairdresser. Her eyes look so ordinary, brown and her hair is black.
The girl bowed her head. "Miss Valerie, my name is Mica, I am assigned to serve you while you are in the Duke's mansion."
Serve her? Is this one of those maids? She has seen them when she enters the house, and they serve them food as well as their accommodation. They also took care of Lyrica which had never happened before.
"I am sorry, but do guests really need one?"
The maid nodded. "It is part of the Mortal's Tradition to serve a guest with the utmost respect."
Seems like it. This honorific way of speaking will probably give her a heart attack, she doesn't even speak like that but since it comes to this, it's better to learn.
She shrugged her head and breathed out. "Do as you please then."
It's currently known in Armenia that as a child of the Gods, they must be dressed well, and they must be comparable to nobles and aristocrats—or even kings and queens.
The dress they use are different to those of lower beings, it's a new style for demigods, but not everyone really follow that styles. Some who don't follow the Gods will use whatever they like and treat their guests whichever they like.
Although it is not seen as one, the Kingdom of Thiliria does worship the God of War. During most of its battle, they sang his name and worshiped his dwelling, when Ares heard it, he bestowed his victory to them and they would receive his blessings.
It hasn't been recorded that a God can interfere with mortals but it doesn't mean it's against the law. Thiliria gives its victory over the past years and offers Ares their yearly loyalty, henceforth, Ares has been visiting them as often as he likes, it's known by many that Thiliria is Ares' temple and his most famous here.
Thiliria is where Duchy Daryl resided, and it is a place that is mostly being visited by many visitors from across the nation. Ares has his temple there, people visited his temple for guidance and protection, as such it helps Thiliria's economic struggles.
This kingdom used to be the smallest part of the Mortal's Land, and since their kingdom was located near the border, demons would often attack them. Their economical struggles and military power wasn't enough to save them from any attacks.
One time, they gave in to the temptation of war and decided to fight. The young hero asked Ares help, and he told his men that to win this battle they must pray to the God of War.
Of course they don't expect anything as Ares went silent after he was rumored to become a mortal. So no one really expects something from a fallen God, or a cursed God.
However, they believe and that trust of their belief becomes reality. Soon after Ares gave them his blessings, they won battles after another. Their beliefs that they had become their strength and this strength become loyalty.
Thiliria had become prosperous since then. The God of War protected this land from any invasion, no demons nor mortals were able to invade the said kingdom that worship the God of War.
To Thiliria's good well, every year they give their loyalty again and again to the God who's given them a paradise land.
Valerie looked at the dark yet bright hallways that used the brightness from the windows beside. The marble floor was more shining than her eyes, the glimmering smile looked like a glare but what really amazed her was the structure of the hallways.
It's made of wooden walls, but the top and the floor itself is made of marbles as clear as crystals like a mirror from above and below.
The hallways was long and it had many doors. Those doors have different kind of designs. There is also a gap between the mansion, so she could see a small portion of the garden.
The maid, Mica, looked at her. She hasn't seen such a fair beauty, even though aristocrats and nobles are beautiful, it's still different from demigods, because unlike them nobles and commoners, the demigods have beauty which is originally from their parents.
A demigod lives in the Holy Land, few visits town or kingdoms, so it's not always to see them. However, unlike other demigods, this woman, Valerie, was different. She looks like a normal and ordinary woman around the town.
She doesn't act like a demigod as well. All of the women who dress in corsets make fun about not being able to breathe, but she didn't mind it. It's mythical though she's a daughter of the God of War, it's no wonder how she handles pain.
"Your long stare is very rude," she wasn't looking but she knew what was going on in her back. Mica didn't intentionally look at her, she was very beautiful that's why she stared at her like that.
In embarrassment she bowed. "I—I apologize, I just thought that you're beautiful that's why I couldn't help but to look."
Valerie snored and looked away. "It's fine, so where will we go?"
"Sir—A, Lord Ares is waiting and Duke Caleb is waiting for you in the oval, they wanted you to attend a small gathering, and Lord Ares told me to send you there."
She looked at her and nodded. "I see," she responded. She didn't really think about forgiving him, but she had to try and let God atone for his sins. She may not be able to forgive him, but she considered his atonement as her father.
She gives him another chance, seeing how much he truly cares, although she didn't understand it, she wishes that she can at least slowly understand those feelings.