Doubts

[ ETHEOME ]

Adeu sat on the edge of his bed, the soft glow of the sunlight casting long shadows across his room. The Blessings Ceremony had shaken him. He had witnessed countless mortals endure trials that should have broken them, and yet many had emerged stronger, or sacrificed themselves for their comrades. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, and among them was the boy named Dune.

Something about Dune stirred something within him. It wasn't jealousy or admiration, but a deeper, inexplicable connection. When the god Bethel chose to bless the boy, Adeu had felt… drawn to him. The pull defied reason, like a thread linking their fates together.

His mind raced as he considered the implications. What was this bond? Why did it exist? And what would it mean for his future?

A sudden knock at the door snapped him from his thoughts. He blinked, startled, before standing to answer it. 

On the other side were his closest friends, Charmy and Echo. Charmy's golden hair glimmered in the dim light, her soft features tinged with concern. Echo, ever the stoic, stood in his usual black attire, arms crossed and eyes sharp. "What's with the face?" Echo asked as they entered the room.

Adeu sighed, shutting the door behind them. "Sit." 

Charmy perched on the elegant couch by the window, while Echo leaned against the wall, his arms still crossed. A heavy silence fell over them.

It was Echo who finally spoke. "That ceremony was… not what I expected. This whole situation is just messed up."

Adeu ran a hand through his golden hair, his frustration palpable. "I hate this," he muttered. "I hate all of it. Lowly creatures? That's what we've always called them. But when I watched what happened to those humans…"

His voice faltered, and he stared at the floor, lost in thought. *Would I be able to do that? Would I survive in their place? Would I risk my life for… Charmy and Echo? Those humans… they weren't weak. They were brave. They died for their friends, their families. Most of them didn't even seem afraid.*

After a long pause, Echo sighed, his expression thoughtful. "Humans and gods are so different," he said finally. "But… we're still so similar in some ways."

Charmy and Adeu both turned to look at him, surprise evident in their eyes.

Echo shifted uncomfortably under their gaze. "What? Can't I say something smart once in a while?"

Charmy let out a small laugh, and Adeu managed a faint smile. For a moment, the tension eased.

Adeu stood and walked to the large window, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The human world, with all its chaos and mystery, called to him like never before.

"There has to be a way," he said softly, his reflection staring back at him. "A way to walk on Earth. To see it for myself. To understand."

Charmy frowned. "Adeu, you don't mean—"

He turned to face her, his eyes filled with determination. "In three months, when we reach ten percent green Neba mastery, they'll let us join the expedition team to the Land of the Dead. That's my chance. I'll find a way to escape there and cross into the human world."

Charmy's eyes widened in shock. "You're serious? Adeu, that's insane. If you get caught—"

"I won't get caught," he interrupted, his voice firm. "Even if I do, they won't kill me. I'm one of the Academy's best students. They need me. I have to try, Lisa."

Echo grinned. "Count me in. I've been waiting for a chance to beat you anyway."

Charmy sighed, conflicted. "You two are crazy you can't just decide something like this randomly, we are just kids, Adeu do you even understand what you're saying?." 

Adeu placed hand on Lisa's head, It's okay," he said gently. "You don't have to decide now. I understand."

Charmy blushed, glancing away while Echo snickered. "What are you two doing? Should I leave or something?"

Adeu rolled his eyes, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Don't make it weird dumbass."

Charmy straightened. "I don't think i can change your mind, but I can help. My mom works in the Circle one library. I'll find everything I can about the Land of the Dead and get you the information. If you're going to do this, you need to be prepared."

Adeu and Echo exchanged a glance before turning back to her, their faces lighting up with excitement. "That's perfect," Adeu said, his voice brimming with gratitude.

[ Day after ]

Adeu sat in the academy class, his mind wandering as the golden-haired god, Nedeth, spoke about history. Talking about how gods are immortal and how they stopped aging between years 20 to 30. After a while, Adeu raised his hand, catching Nedeth's attention.

"Adeu?" she called.

"Teacher Nedeth, could you tell us something about the Land of the Dead? I'm really curious about it. What's so special about that world?"

The entire class turned to look at him, except for Echo, who was equally eager for the teacher's response. 

Nedeth hesitated, uncertain, but before she could respond, Echo interjected with a wide smile on his face, "That's a really interesting topic. Even I wish to know more about it."

With the two best students expressing interest, the rest of the class soon joined in, shouting and nodding in agreement. 

Nedeth, now in an uncomfortable situation, raised her hand to quiet the class before beginning her explanation. 

"The Land of the Dead is the most dangerous world among the seven. There isn't much information about it, but even true gods avoid to walk there. That's why, every time we go on expeditions, we send large teams of hundreds of gods. If you get lost there, you won't come back, and we can't risk losing more gods, so noone will come to search for you. It's the hardest place to survive. Every meter is filled with dangers worse than the last."

Echo, unimpressed, asked, "It doesn't sound scary at all. Gods control worlds and master their powers to almost full potential. They can split skies with a single sword swing. Even some of the weakest gods can destroy mountains easily. You're telling us that a few monsters can fight against hundreds of gods? 

And even true gods with real names are scared? That doesn't make sense. There has to be more to the story."

Nedeth, clearly uncomfortable, raised her hand to end the class, avoiding further questions. 

Echo approached Adeu after the class, his face serious. "What do you think? Are you confident that we can survive in a world where even true gods hide to explore?"

Adeu sighed. "We need more information. My plan is already decided. Nothing can shake it. I'm confident in my abilities."

Echo laughed, sitting next to Adeu and putting his legs on the desk. "Good, good. By the way, wanna spar? I've got a new sword from my father, and don't you want to test the one I gave you?" 

Adeu chuckled. "You want to lose again, huh?"

And so, they found themselves standing on the large, circle-shaped platform, surrounded by students eager to watch the match. The air was electric with anticipation as the two friends locked eyes.

"Echo, give up already. Aren't you tired of losing?"

"Maybe this time he'll win."

"Adeu, I love you!"

"Echo, beat that narcissistic bastard already!"

The students chattered excitedly, eager for the spectacle. Echo chuckled, unfazed by the insults. They only motivated him more. None of them could affect the bond between him and Adeu, they had known each other since birth.

The two friends eyed each other, and then, in a flash, they disappeared and reappeared in the center, their swords clashing with a burst of green divine Neba.

Adeu moved with fluid grace, dodging Echo's strikes with ease, his eyes shining with excitement. 

Echo's movements were powerful and precise, his new sword cutting through the air with deadly accuracy. The sound of their blades echoed through the arena.

"You improved ," Adeu said, smiling as he parried a particularly fierce strike.

"Shut up," Echo replied, grinning. They danced around each other, each attack met with a counter. The crowd watched in awe as the two friends fought, their faces lit up with the joy of the battle.

Adeu spun, his blade slicing through the air, but Echo was ready, blocking the strike and pushing Adeu back. Adeu laughed, the thrill of the fight coursing through him. He lunged forward, his sword a blur, but Echo was quick, deflecting the blow and countering with a powerful slash.

The fight continued, both of them evenly matched, until finally, Adeu saw his opening. 

With a swift and unexpected dash, he knocked Echo aside and brought his own blade to a stop at Echo's neck. At the same moment, Echo's sword stopped at Adeu's hand. The crowd gasped, the tension palpable.

Adeu would lose his hand, and Echo would lose his life. They stood there, panting, their eyes locked. "Looks like I win, but congrats you've managed to take my hand this time" Adeu said, his voice steady. 

Echo grinned, lowering his sword. "I didn't expect you to sacrifice your hand for victory."

The students erupted into cheers and applause, the intensity of the battle still fresh in their minds. Adeu and Echo sheathed their swords, their faces flushed with exertion but glowing with satisfaction. 

"That was fun," Echo said, clapping Adeu on the back.

"Yeah, it was," Adeu agreed, smiling. 

"Tomorrow same time again."

"Definitely," Echo replied, and the two friends walked off the platform.

As they walked, Adeu and Echo met Charmy, who had a worried expression on her face.

"What's up?" Adeu asked.

"I took this book from my mom's library," 

Charmy confessed, holding up an ancient, leather-bound volume. 

"She didn't want to tell me anything about it, so I took it secretly."

"So you stole it?" Boys chuckled 

"No i didn't, i jus—"

"Yes you did" 

"Anyways what I read is not good. Adeu, you can't go to the Land of the Dead. You will die."

Adeu raised an eyebrow. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Charmy sighed heavily. "Follow me."

They followed Charmy outside the academy and into a beautiful bar adorned in black and gold. 

They sat in a corner, where Charmy used a Star shaped artifact to cast a barrier that blocked their conversation from being overheard. She took a deep breath and began.

"The Land of the Dead is one of the places where Zet fought Zeus…" This revelation hit them like a bombshell. Both Echo and Adeu were stunned. "What?"

Charmy continued, "They fought there for a long time, creating and destroying creatures and curses. They cursed the entire world, using it for their battles. Many corrupted creatures and evil spirits live there." 

"There really is a way that leads to Earth, but nobody knows where it is. That world doesn't have an end." 

"And the worst part is, nobody can use Neba there. No powers, no abilities. You're just a weak creature who depends solely on physical strength. That's why so many gods die there. Most of them are nothing without their powers. Even artifacts don't work, except few weak ones like a limitless storage." 

Adeu was lost in thought while Echo was visibly shocked, unable to find words. This was far beyond their expectations. 

Finally, Adeu spoke up, 

"This is better than I expected."

Charmy and Echo looked at him, confused. "What?"

Adeu explained, "We can escape from the gods. They don't have powers there. We just need to outrun them and escape. That's our only choice. Then we can survive. We should take everything we need. With that artifact, we can store food and other necessities. We'll build a base, explore the world, and find the way to the earth."

Echo laughed, "This guy... So you're really serious about this? Ready to risk your life too? Count me in."

Charmy shouted, "You two are so stupid. You're not going anywhere. Stay here, both of you, don't make me angry."

"No," Adeu replied firmly.

"Come on, Adeu, we have everything here. Where are you going?"

"I don't. I want to have more knowledge about the world we live in. Gods lied to us, so imagine how many other things are also lies? 

"I thought gods were saints who protected pitiful creatures like humans, but I was wrong. I want to know more."

"I want to be on the right side."