Legions of the Gods chapter 5: Breathe…

After the events that have occurred. The only thing that's heard is the conversation of Elda and Lili. 

"Oh, dear. Dante will be very upset when he sees you." Elda sits beside Lili. Who's currently having a snack. "He's my brother," She puts a overwhelming amount of sausages in her mouth. Chewing on them as she giggled. "He won't be—" 

Almost as if the gods wanted to Jinx her. Footsteps arrived at their door. And it slowly opens as Dante and the team including Lina, Yumi, and Kragur. All pop out of the door soaked. And as soon as they got in. His direction was to Kragur. "Hey, maybe next time you can configure the cube to not put us falling from the sky? Thanks." 

"Agh… Kiss my hairy red ass. I wasn't made to doodle around like adventurous flappers like yer group. ." Kragur dropped on the floor. Meanwhile, Lina, ever so terrified of heights. Is just panting heavily. And Yumi has a look of disappointment.

"Well…" Dante's face lightened with a subtle smile.  "For now, we can call it a da—" He looked up to see the most unexpected sight. Another Koryu. And they look at each other with wide eyes. But they can't find words. Both for different reasons. 

On one hand, Lili is absolutely terrified at the look their older brother is giving. And the other Koryu— Dante, is the terrifying one. Lili, with a mouthful of sausages in her cheeks. Staying completely silent due to tension. 

But before it can escalate. Elda got in front of them. 

"Dante, how about you and your friends cool off, hmm? Kragur will make dinner tonight." She smiled warmly, signaling and nodding to Lili that she's safe— for now. And he doesn't argue back. 

"Sounds good." He gives a side eye to Lili. Just like Elda, he gave him a signal that spoke words about how lucky she was from getting a scolding. And which she tried to ignore it. 

Water cascaded over Dante's snow-white hair, matting it against his forehead as steam rose around him. The droplets caught the dim light, tracing lines down his lean, muscular frame. He ran a hand through his hair, letting the warmth ease the tension in his shoulders.

Soap foamed between his fingers as he lathered it across his skin, the scent clean and sharp, mingling with the heat. His red eyes closed briefly as he tilted his head back, the water rinsing away the suds and the grime of the day's battles.

Stepping out of the shower, he grabbed a towel, his movements brisk but methodical. He ruffled it through his hair, leaving it a tousled mess that matched his usual careless charm. With practiced ease, he wrapped the towel around his waist, water droplets still glistening on his chest as he reached for another towel to dry his hands and face.

A glance in the mirror showed his reflection: sharp and resolute. He smirked faintly, the corner of his mouth curling, before tossing the towel aside and heading into the next room, leaving the bathroom shrouded in steam.

He put on a black long sleeve shirt and pants. And went out to the living room where Kragur was cooking, and there was a table amidst them. Where Elda sat in her tall chair. And Yumi was sat in front of Dante. Her hair loose and a towel around her neck.

"Hey, You came out quick." He quipped, And Yumi Dismisses it. "I think that's obvious, isn't it?" She glanced towards him. And she smiled lightly, to which he chuckled.

"I guess somethings don't change, even after so long." Dante crossed his arms. "So. What's happened since you left?" Yumi's smile changed faintly as she responded to his words, "I went to the lands of Tsukinoshima for some important matters." She clarified, making Dante raised an eyebrow at her response. "Hmm? That's new." 

"There was a god who threatened my family. Who threatened who I loved most. But everything went well." She assured him. Which he relieved the concern he had. But doesn't push it any further, and grins. 

"I knew you'd tap into your inner-heroine ." He teased, which flustered Yumi a little. "I was already tapped into it."

"Ah…" Lina came out of the bathroom herself. A sigh of relief and a fresh set of Pajamas on as well. "I needed that to release my anxiety attack." She smiled to herself. 

And last but not least…

"I'm back!!" Lili walked to the table and sat down in the middle of everyone. A smile on her little face. And the silence is louder then anything outside. 

"What's wrong?" She gave everyone a cutesy look. But Dante was the one to make it ugly. "I think there's an overdue conversation."

In the middle of dinner… 

"Agh!!" Lili groans, "But Big bro!! You can't understand how bored I was! Athena was having meetings with the other Gods for most of the time, I was bored, hungry, and bored again! There is nothing interesting happening in the city of Elyngard, and the Legion Games aren't in the next 6 months! And You've been gone for 3 weeks already!" She gets angry at her brother, and Lina is shocked by the time skip. 

"What?!" Lina glanced toward the group. And only Yumi came out with the saying. "The regions of Elyngard have different time zones. Asgardis is the further from Elyngard." She crossed her arms. Letting Lili to continue talking. 

"I waited, and I waited, and I waited, but you didn't come back! And then I remembered you left for an adventure! So while Athena was having another one of her meetings. I grabbed one of the rocks of nine. And teleported over here. And that's where Elda found me!" 

The entire Athena Legion stared at Lili with an absolute mortified look on their faces as they realize the stakes against their own god they just put. 

"… Lili," Dante spoke out. Putting his hand on her shoulder, "I get being bored and wanting have fun but you can't is the worst feeling ever. But…" He put his other hand on her other shoulder. 

"The type of fun you're trying to have is playing jump rope with death." Dante smiled as sweetly as he kind, but damn was it bitter. His fingers digging into his sisters shoulders. Who only watched with an innocent look on her face.

"Well. If anything, this is your fault." She give a smug look towards him. "Because you're such a good brother, that I wanted to join you. And if I go back, I'm guessing she's gonna know you haven't came back to say what did the Norns say…~"

Dante only stared with a funny look on his face, his eyebrow twitching in frustration at his words. This little girl thinks she's smart. WRONG. But she kinda has a point here— She's stuck with them until further notice. 

Dante being the mature young man he is. Takes a deep breath. "Right. And it's also your fault if we all get the wrath of Athena." 

"…" Lili gives his brother a pouty look. Looking up at him with puppy eyes. "Pwease…?"

"Hm." He closed his eyes. Patting her cheek. "Okay, you have my trust." 

"YA—" but before she can celebrate. He puts a hand on her mouth. "Don't screw up, missy. If you don't, I'll consider turning you into an adventurer." 

Since her mouth is still covered, she could only crinkle her eyes, giving away a smile. "But if you do—" 

He gave her an even more smug and mischievous look. "I'm not going to cook anymore."

Her eyes widen in horror, as if it was the biggest thing that would happen to her. And she gasped.

"Right." He put a fist on his cheek. A amused look on his face. 

The little girl looked at her plate with wide eyes. Her nostrils flared up as she thinks about what's at stake. 

And then…

…she stuffed the entire plate in her mouth. Muffling the words; "I'm going to bed for tomorrow!!" 

The group only look with a little confusion. But Yumi couldn't agree anymore surprisingly. "I should go to sleep too. There's a lot to discuss if we're gonna go save Thorne."

"Right." Dante nodded while she wandered to her room. And Elda waved and took her drunk husband to their rooms. Meanwhile, Lina was still eating.

"In the meantime I'm gonna go Lili-proof my room. What're you gonna do?" He asked, and she dismissed his concerns with a sheepish wave, "I'm gonna go to sleep right after, you go get your rest." She smiled warmly, and he can only smile back. 

"I'll leave you to it. Sleep tight." Dante entered his room. Leaving Lina to herself. She looks at her plate. Taking a deep breath and takes her spoonful to her mouth. 

Once she's done. She takes herself to her room, stretching as she yawned. Looking around her new room, which felt so much better then what she had at her castle, not for beauty, but comfort, she smiled. And looks at the two wolves that present themselves in front of her from below. Fenrir and Sköll. 

"Hey, little guys!" She places her hands on their heads as she crouches down. Scratching their ears. licking her face face in acceptance of her actions. Muzzling their noses on her cheeks. "It's good to see you too, buds."

"You know… i still have some food if you guys want some." She walks towards her plate where she left a few pieces of the sausage. Putting the plate on the floor and gets utterly devoured. 

"You enjoy that." She smiled in amusement. She looked at her outfit that was lying in bed. And she saw something dangling from her cloaks pocket. She reached for it. Seeing a emerald necklace, and on the inside? A faint, golden glow. It was almost as it called out to her. But she didn't know why.

She studied it for a little awhile. Not only for that golden glow. But she was seeing her moms face. She sat down in bed. Lying on her back as she can only stare at it with wavering eyes. Almost as if she needs something from it.  "I need you, mom. Dad… needs you. Neither of us are ourselves. I want to know if I'm what I'm doing is right. I want…" 

She looked up at the ceiling. Closing her eyes as she held it close to her. "The truth." 

She stood asleep, taking in the air slowly and deeply. But then, while time sinked deep asleep. in a blink of an eye, a whole new world opens upon her. Bringing a bright light to her eyelids.

She opened her eyes to see what was so bright. And it was… the sun? She was just in her bedroom. But maybe not now. 

"Hm?" She stood on her elbows. Looking around and finds herself in the woods. 

"Midgard… This is where Mom and Dad used to live… why am I here?" She questioned herself, looking at the necklace she was holding in her hand. 

And then a voice come across, "You answered myself."  "A woman called out to Lina, who was caught off guard.

"What?" Lina looked back, but there was nothing there. 

"There isn't much time…" she called out again. Leaving Lina confused once more, "What are you talking about—" Before she can finish her sentence. She was cupped by the cheek by a familiar woman… she looks just like her. 

"Please, save him! You and I both know what's gonna happen. So stop it while you can!" She disappeared. And left a golden mark on her cheek, instinctively touching it. Leaving a mark on the tip of her fingers. But she shakes herself into being awake with a scream. And immediately stands up. Having to need a breather from it. 

She looks down at her hand and doesn't see the mark of the golden handprint. She takes a deep breath after realizing that she's okay. 

But no matter who the person was. She was right. She has to do something about it.

She looked to the side window. And it was morning. How fun. And in front of her, Lili who watched with a bewildered look on her face and her feet criss-crossed patiently, yet concerned. She tilted her head. "Hey, are you okay?" 

She looked back up at the little girl who was in front of her. But she wasn't sure how to respond. But to not concern her. She smiled warmly.

"Yeah."