Chapter 6: Reunion

I positioned myself between Leofric and Finan, trying to maintain a neutral stance. I didn't know what to do in this situation; it was uncomfortable. Anything I said or did could be interpreted as a lack of respect towards Elena's father or the people present.

I felt the weight of all the gazes, but especially Lucifer's, whose smile of superiority remained fixed on me as if he were evaluating each of my movements.

Elena's father watched us with a mix of curiosity and gratitude. His imposing demeanor reflected that of a man accustomed to leading, and when he spoke, his voice was deep but not lacking in warmth.

—Young people, I deeply appreciate your bravery and sacrifice. Without you, my daughter and the others would not have made it alive. Columba owes you a lot, and I will be eternally grateful to you.

He took a slight pause, looking at each of us before continuing.

—Please, tell me, how was the trip? What obstacles did you face on the way?

Finan and Leofric exchanged a glance, clearly uncomfortable, but Finan was the first to speak, briefly describing the attacks and the battle in the strait, in the mountains. I remained silent, letting them speak.

While I listened, I couldn't help but notice that Lucifer kept watching me, as if he were waiting for something. And the man who accompanied him, although more reserved, looked at me with an intensity I couldn't decipher.

When Finan finished speaking, Elena's father nodded slowly.

—What they have lived through is a testament to their strength. But now you are in Columba, a place of peace. Rest, eat, and if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask me.

Everyone applauded, breaking the tension that had filled the room. I took that moment to breathe deeply, even though I knew this was just the beginning of something bigger.

I was about to return to my previous place, trying to escape the scrutinizing gazes from all directions, when Lucifer broke the silence with a calm voice, but laden with intention:

—Mr. Alfredo, Orión is the young man I told you about earlier. He arrived faster than I expected.

His statement resonated in the hall, leaving a palpable silence in its wake. My steps came to a sudden halt, and I felt a knot form in my stomach. All the gazes, which had already been uncomfortable before, turned towards me with renewed intensity.

Elena's father, Alfredo, slightly furrowed his brow, evaluating me with an expression I couldn't decipher. There was a mix of interest and caution in his gaze, as if he were weighing Lucifer's words.

—Is it true?—. Alfredo asked, addressing both me and Lucifer. —Is this young man the chosen one you mentioned?

Lucifer stepped forward, maintaining his superior smile intact.

—That's right. Orion has an important role to play in what is to come. It's not a coincidence that he is here at this moment.

The hall was engulfed in a murmur as the guests exchanged quiet comments. Elena seemed surprised, while Finan and Leofric looked at me incredulously.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

—I don't understand what you're talking about—. I said, finally, trying to shift the weight of the conversation.

But Lucifer just widened his smile.

—You will understand soon, Orion. Everything in its own time.

Lucifer's words only served to increase the tension in the air. For a moment, I felt that my fate had been sealed without my say or vote. Alfredo nodded slowly, as if he accepted Lucifer's words, although he still seemed reserved about it.

—In that case, Orion—. Alfredo said, finally breaking the silence. —Maybe it's time for you to tell us a little more about yourself.

Everyone's eyes were on me again, waiting for a response. Once again, I found myself caught between what I should say and what I wanted to keep secret.

—What do you mean? Do you want me to tell you the story of my life? I asked, trying to maintain my composure while the words came out with a tone that was both confused and defensive.

Mr. Alfredo let out a faint smile, although his expression remained serious.

—Not necessarily your entire life, young Orion, but enough to understand who you are and how you got here. Especially if what Lucifer says about you is true.

When Mr. Alfredo mentioned the name Lucifer, the room fell into an absolute silence. Everyone present seemed to have frozen, their expressions oscillating between disbelief and fear. I couldn't believe that Lucifer used his real name so casually. Now the atmosphere felt even more uncomfortable, as if the very air were charged with tension.

I decided to break the silence, even though I knew that every word I said could make the situation worse.

—Eh, well… —. I began, noticing how the stares were fixed on me. —I have always had a life full of suffering. I have spent many days on the brink of death, trapped in a routine of despair. I thought I would never get out of there, that my fate was already sealed.

I took a brief pause, trying to organize my thoughts while feeling the attention of everyone overwhelm me.

—Until the day God spoke. That day changed everything. It was then that Lucifer... —. I made a deliberate pause, watching how the impact of his name continued to leave everyone motionless. —... He showed up in my room. He offered me something I never thought possible: an opportunity.

The atmosphere became denser, if that was even possible. I could feel the emotions fluctuating around me, from disbelief to suspicion.

—An opportunity for what?— Alfredo asked, with a mix of curiosity and caution in his voice.

I looked at Lucifer, who continued with his calm smile, as if he were enjoying the show. Then I turned my gaze towards Alfredo, deciding to be direct, albeit with some hesitation.

—An opportunity to kill God—. I replied, letting my words fall like a stone into a lake.

The silence that followed was even heavier than before. The expressions of those present varied between horror and disbelief, and for a moment I wondered if I had made a mistake by being so honest.

Lucifer broke the silence with a slight laugh, which echoed in the hall like an unsettling echo.

—Orion has always been straightforward—. He said with a mocking tone. —And that's something I appreciate.

Mr. Alfredo remained silent, evaluating me with a deep gaze, while Elena seemed too surprised to say anything.

For my part, I just hoped that this revelation wouldn't become my downfall.

The tension in the room increased drastically when Mr. Alfredo spoke again, his tone filled with a mix of admiration and curiosity:

—Wow, so you're the one who will be Lucifer's champion... and, probably, also Gabriel's.

Everyone present stood still, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what they had just heard. However, it was the other figure next to Mr. Alfredo who finally captured everyone's attention by speaking.

With a calm and authoritative voice that seemed to fill the room, the figure stepped forward and introduced themselves:

—I am the archangel Gabriel.

The astonishment on the faces of Elena, Finan, and Leofric was palpable. The murmurs immediately faded as the archangel continued:

—I see that you have been through a lot to get here—. His penetrating gaze fixed on me, as if he could see beyond my flesh and bones. — You have become stronger, Orion, thanks to the mask that Lucifer gave you. You have become stronger, Orion, thanks to the mask that Lucifer gave you.

The words of the archangel Gabriel echoed in the room, and I couldn't help but tense under his scrutiny. It was unreal: I was not only in the presence of Lucifer but also of the archangel Gabriel. Both, opposites in every sense, now coincided in the same place, talking about me.

The archangel Gabriel took a few steps forward, his imposing figure radiating authority as he looked at me with a mixture of skepticism and determination.

—I don't think you're strong enough to be my champion and participate in the succession game—. He said, his voice resonating like a sentence. — But there is no more time. But there's no more time. In a month, the champions of all the archangels will be announced.

The silence in the room was absolute. Their words were not only a challenge but also a warning.

—So I'll have to train you in this short time so that you're ready—. Gabriel added, crossing his arms.

Gabriel looked at me with a slight smile, although his tone remained serious.

—But we'll talk more about that tomorrow. Today they are celebrating, and this will be the last day where you will have some peace —. He said, as if he wanted to remind me, that the days to come would be anything but easy.

Lucifer let out a brief, amused laugh, but with a touch of cruelty.

—Enjoy it, Orion. I won't give you many days like this when your training starts.

The tense atmosphere began to dissipate slightly, although the words of both left a weight in the air. Gabriel took a step back, as if that would put the topic to rest for the moment.

—Celebrate tonight as it should be. There is enough food, drink, and company. There will be time for heavy burdens later —. Gabriel added, his voice taking on a gentler tone, though no less solemn.

I turned to Elena, Finan, and Leofric, who had been watching the conversation with expressions of a mix between astonishment and confusion.

—I guess I should make the most of tonight—. I said, trying to smile to hide the feeling of uncertainty that was gnawing at me.

Elena nodded, trying to lighten the mood.

—Then let's celebrate, Orion. Tomorrow will be a new day, and today, at least for a few hours, we can enjoy.

Elena's words were a temporary balm, but she couldn't help thinking about what the next day would mean.

We celebrated until dusk, enjoying the abundant food and drink. I think I drank more than I should have, because at some point, without thinking too much about it, I told Elena that I found her cute. She blushed visibly, but said nothing, just smiled shyly before changing the subject.

At the end of the night, when everyone had left, Elena offered Leofric, Finan, and me accommodation in the mansion. We thanked her for her hospitality and each went to our respective rooms.

The next morning, I woke up with a slight headache and a blurry memory of what I had said to Elena. Immediately, I felt a knot in my stomach thinking about how she might have interpreted it. I didn't have much time to stew in my own discomfort because, as if he had known, Lucifer burst into my room just as I was about to get up.

—Good morning, sleepyhead—. said Lucifer with his characteristic ironic smile, leaning against the doorframe. Said Lucifer with his characteristic ironic smile, leaning against the doorframe. —I hope you rested well, because starting today you won't have such relaxed days.

I got up quickly, still half dazed.

—Don't you think to knock before entering?—. I replied, with a tone mixed with annoyance and fatigue.

Lucifer let out a brief laugh, ignoring my comment.

—Get ready, Orion—. Time is of the essence, and if you want to be ready for the succession games, you will need all the training I can give you.

I sighed, resigned. I knew this day would come, but I didn't expect it to start so abruptly.

—Give me at least a moment to clear my head—. I said, rubbing my eyes as I tried to shake off the nervousness from what had happened the night before with Elena.

Lucifer, without losing his smile, watched me with that gaze that always seemed to be evaluating every move.

—You have five minutes. Then, I'll wait for you outside. And don't you dare take any longer —. He said before disappearing down the hallway.

I quickly got dressed and left the room, knowing I couldn't afford to be late if I wanted to meet Lucifer's expectations.

I arrived at the place where Lucifer was waiting for me. It was a large central courtyard, designed for training. There were practice dummies lined up on one side, wooden swords hanging on a rack, and a few targets for archery training. Everything seemed ready for an intense training session.

Lucifer was leaning against one of the wooden posts, toying with a dagger, as if time held no importance for him. Upon seeing me arrive, he flashed his typical smug smile.

—So you decided to show up. I thought you had gotten lost in the mansion. He said, giving me a scrutinizing look.

—And the archangel Gabriel, where is he?—. I asked while observing the place, noticing that we were the only ones there.

Lucifer shrugged, letting the dagger fall and skillfully catching it by the blade.

—No idea, really. That guy does whatever he wants, just like all of them. But don't worry, you'll train with me for a week. We will focus on improving your sword handling. Believe me, you'll need it.

I looked at him with some incredulity.

—Just one week? And then what?

Lucifer let out a brief laugh, as if my question were funny.

—Later, we'll see if you're worth it as a champion. This is not a luxury, Orion. If you don't improve, you won't survive in the succession games.

His tone became more serious, and his eyes looked directly at me, as if he could see through me.

—So grab a wooden sword and get ready. Today we start with the basics.

I headed to the sword rack, chose a wooden one that felt balanced in my hand, and positioned myself in front of Lucifer, who had already taken one for himself.

—Do I have to wear the mask?—. I asked, hoping for an answer that would clear my doubts.

Lucifer observed my expression, his gaze hard and defiant.

—No—. He replied firmly. —although you have become a bit stronger, you depend too much on her. You haven't yet unlocked all its potential. What the mask shows you is only the path of the sword. That means you are not able to see the path for yourself.

Before I could reply, Lucifer lunged at me with dizzying speed. I didn't have time to react. With a swift movement of his sword, he struck me in the stomach, causing me to fall to my knees. The impact knocked the breath out of me, and for a moment, everything went blurry.

—Agh! —. I exclaimed, struggling to catch my breath. —How am I supposed to see the path?How am I supposed to see the road?

Lucifer did not stop, his face impassive as he watched my struggle to recover. Without saying a word, he paused, and then uttered:

—I hope that through a beating you'll start to see it.

Despite my pain, something in his words began to resonate within me. My mind remained blocked, focused only on the suffering I felt, but Lucifer's words seemed to resonate deeply within me. My dependence on the mask had made me blind, unable to see beyond what it showed me.

I stood up slowly, my legs trembling, but I was determined to understand what he was saying. I needed to free myself from that dependency, even though I didn't know how.

—So... How can I see the path for myself? —. I asked, now with a calmer voice, but full of determination.

Lucifer remained silent for a moment, as if assessing whether he was ready to hear the answer.

—There is no universal answer to that—. He continued, his tone grave. —Some are born seeing the path, others discover it when they are on the brink of death. There are those who never see it, but feel it. Each person awakens their path of the sword in their own way, and you too must find yours.

His words, although disconcerting, began to make sense. I had to discover my own way of seeing the path, something beyond the guidance of the mask. I remembered the moments when I felt the power flowing through me while using it, how that connection with the sword felt, the clarity in my movements.

—Think about what you felt when you saw the path the mask showed you—. Said Lucifer, his gaze fixed on me, as if challenging me to delve deeper into those memories.

—What did he look like? What did you feel? All of that has a purpose. It will help you find your own path.

My thoughts began to crowd in, as if a veil were lifting in my mind. I remembered the sensation of the mask covering my face, the way my movements flowed with an almost predestined precision, as if the sword were guiding me. But I also felt something else, something I hadn't considered before: it wasn't just the sword that guided me, it was myself, my instinct, my will.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember that feeling. I felt the warmth of the steel in my hands, even though the sword was made of wood. The weight of the sword seemed to disappear, as if it were merging with me. When I fought wearing the mask, I didn't feel fear. Instead, I experienced a strange sense of calm and fun, as if each movement were part of a game that only I could understand.

—I think I found it—. I murmured. I murmured as I opened my eyes.

Lucifer observed, in silence, a faint glimmer of satisfaction on his face.

—It's not just about seeing, but about feeling and trusting in who you are. If you can master that, then you will be worthy of the path. Now, try again.

It was a challenge, a test that didn't come with easy answers. But now, something inside me had awakened, and I knew I had to find my own way to fight, to be truly free in my struggle. The mask was no longer my guide; I would be.