Scene 6 - The heavenly feast (1)
After an intense, emotionally-charged battle with his brother, Edano expected this to be the end. He'd already imagined that he'd succumbed to their virtual confrontations. Instead, however, he found himself in a blue room with pixelated contours, as if virtual reality were fading away around him, marking the end of the simulation.
In this ethereal atmosphere, Edano saw a notification appear before him, announcing that he had successfully completed his mission. A flicker of relief and accomplishment crossed his eyes, as he realized that his objective had been achieved despite the challenges he had faced.
[Continuation of the Secondary Puzzle: -The Heavenly Feast-
~Mission~
Congratulations, the conditions of your mission have been met].
In addition to this confirmation, the equipment he had used during the battle automatically materialized in his virtual inventory, a welcome addition after the efforts put into this ordeal.
[Items have been automatically added to your inventory!]
[Item name: Orichalcum Owl Cloak
Type: light armor
Rank: C
Evolution: None
Description :
The Cloak of the Oriharukon Owl is a legendary artifact worn by those under Athena's protection. Made from orichalcum fibers woven with the feathers of Athena's sacred owls, this imposing cloak is adorned with an intricate pattern representing Athena's shield, a symbol of protection and defense.
Attributes :
- Defense: ★ ★ | 2 stars
- Mana: ★ ★ ★ | 3 stars
- Resistance : ★ ★ ★ | 3 stars
Special abilities:
[Item name: The Harmonious Silver
Type: sword
Rank: C
Evolution: V1
Description:
A sword forged by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategy. It shines with a silvery sheen and is adorned with owl motifs, the symbols of the goddess. It confers on its wearer a mastery of the arts of war (+3 to Maestria 'Mastery in combat').
Attributes :
- Damage : ★ ★ ★ | 3 stars
- Mana: ★ ★ | 2 stars
- Resistance : ★ ★ ★ | 3 stars
Special abilities:
None]
After his return to reality, Edano found himself at Athena's side. A benevolent smile appeared on the goddess's divine face, expressing her satisfaction at Edano's accomplishment of the mission.
"You have succeeded excellently in your mission, Edano. You've shown great bravery and unshakeable determination," declared Athena, her voice full of admiration for the young man's achievement.
With a mixture of curiosity and resignation, Edano asked Athena the question that was burning in his mind, even though he already knew the answer.
"It was nothing more than a simulation not true..."
Deep down, he knew that Athena's words would only confirm his fears. And indeed, the goddess replied, affirming that his brother's destiny remained unchanged and that past events would remain etched in the marble of history.
"I understand," Edano murmured, his gaze tinged with deep melancholy.
With a final sigh of remembrance, Edano recalled the fleeting smile his brother had given him just before he disappeared from the simulation, an image that would live long in his memory.
After Saé and I had joined Edano in the room where the gods awaited us, a strange sensation enveloped us. Although the three of us could see each other, indicating that we had succeeded in our mission, an atmosphere of heavy silence hung around us. We were as if frozen in place, our gazes bearing witness to the heavy emotional burden we were carrying.
We had been through ordeals which, though virtual, had left an indelible imprint on our psyches. Each of us had had to face challenges, painful memories and deep soul-searching. And now, despite our success, we were unable to feel any joy or relief.
The invisible scars of our virtual experiences were still fresh, as if the pain we had felt in those simulated worlds had left traces in our reality. We had defeated our enemies, but we were far from unscathed.
In this heavy silence, no words were needed to understand that each of us was tormented by the shadows of our past, and that the ordeals we had been through only served to rekindle this torment.
Edano took the initiative to break the silence that enveloped us.
"After all we'd been through... Let's walk with our heads held high, friends!"
His words were marked by an unusual gentleness, contrasting with his usually reserved demeanor.
I couldn't help noticing the change in Edano. The once austere man now seemed more open, almost warm. A fleeting smile stretched my lips as I patted him on the back, a friendly gesture I'd never have imagined exchanging with him before.
"Really? We're your friends now?!"
"Shut up! I just couldn't think of another word."
Yet, even though Edano disengaged my hand from the back of his neck with a reflex typically his, this time something was different. Our exchange was tinged with a new lightness, more reminiscent of mischievous bickering between friends than past tensions.
As Athena, Demeter and Hermes invited us to follow them to the celestial feast, I approached Saé, seeking to exchange a few words with her.
"Are you all right, Saé?" I asked softly, noting her concerned look.
She smiled slightly at me. "Yes, I'm fine. Thanks, Bun," she replied, although her expression betrayed a certain trouble.
I nodded, understanding her feelings. Then, observing Edano in turn, she commented on the change in his attitude. "Edano seems different, doesn't he? Less distant, I mean. Don't you think so?"
Nodding, I added, "Yes, indeed. Maybe his mission has changed him somehow."
It was then that I decided to share what I knew with him. "By the way, about Edano..." I lowered my voice slightly, making sure no one else could hear our conversation. "There's something you should know about him. When he was 18, he killed his little brother over a jealousy issue. This event landed him in prison for five years before he was released for manslaughter.
"Really? That's horrible!"
"It is... But it must be said that Edano's parents were very strict about their child's success."
"Now that you mention it, I think I've heard that story on TV before..."
What's more, I'd noticed a strange change in the number on Edano's neck. It had once read 'DCXXX', but now read 'CDXXIII', a very different number from the one we'd seen before.
When the gods announced that we had arrived at the banquet, I was overcome by a strange sense of excitement and stress. Suddenly, we were teleported to the majestic table we'd seen before, but this time the scene was real. The twelve gods of Olympus were there, imposing and radiant with power.
Our clothes seemed to have metamorphosed for the occasion, adopting a more elegant and festive style. Edano and I were dressed in dark suits, while Saé wore an elegant gown that suited her perfectly.
We took our places alongside the gods we'd represented at the event, and a strange sensation came over me as I found myself seated next to Demeter.
[You have just entered the celestial feast!]
The banquet began in an atmosphere both majestic and intimidating. The gods spoke to each other with an ease that contrasted with our own nervousness. Seated at the table of the gods, we watched the scene like privileged guests, but somehow felt out of place in this celestial universe.
Poseidon then spoke in a powerful voice, calling the other gods to account for the events unfolding in the human world. His piercing gaze seemed to sweep the room, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
"Have you seen what's going on in the human world right now?"
Dionysus surmised. "Yes, it started in Australia, but it seems to be affecting more and more continents. After Asia, Europe has also been affected. Humans seem to have fallen on hard times this time..."
Apollon, with his usual assurance, mentioned "But didn't the little prince with the thingy thingy do his job?", arousing the interest of his peers. His voice echoed around the room with crystalline clarity, adding to our sense of inferiority.
"Do you know anything Apollo?" asked Poseidon.
However, Demeter put an end to the discussion with a decisive gesture
"Stop! Humans are sitting at our table!"
His voice, soft but with an undeniable authority, echoed through the room, echoing her words full of mystery.
"Besides... It would be a pity if you didn't discover everything for yourself, for that is your role after all," she declared, fixing her gaze on me with an intensity that seemed to pierce through my being. Her words seemed loaded with hidden meaning, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as I wondered what exactly she meant by that.