"What the! You guys wanted to eat there?" I couldn't help but say rembering the incident when a massive explosion happened due to a duke rank magical beast.
[Creator you and Alicia are more than enough for a duke rank magical beast]
"Of course I know I was just surprised"
We then headed inside the forest and to my surprised I could not sense any beast even when we are already at the heart of the forest.
"How did they did this?"
I wondered so I look at the Braiden, understanding what my expression ant he began to explain.
"Ah, you were thinking about why you don't see any beast? Its because of Blair he use his blessing to convey his will to every magical beast inn this area. That is why you don't see them approaching us"
"Wait his tongue is okay now?"
"Yeah sir Sam from the Ocean tower gave him an ointnt that could easily heal his tongue, but he didn't really talk much since his the beast here didn't take any arguent"
"Its good everything went well"
The four continue to chat on thier way until they reach a beautiful falls filled with luscious flowers surrounding it.
"Wow" I could only say finding it beautiful and peaceful. The side of the ravine where the waters flow also have trees that so tall I could barely see its top. The foot landed on the soft grass and finally saw my friends camping right at the falls side.
"Hey!" I greeted them running as I saw them waving at .
"Slls good" I heard Alicia behind said.
"Let's race"
I dared as I halt my movents but before she could answer Matilda spoke.
"Bear in mind that if you two broke this place we will never invite you to camp again"she threatened, surprising and Alicia.
"I think Apollo and I are just gonna walk, right Apollo?"
"Y-yes we are!"
We both walk slowly as we reach the side of the pool.
"Finally lets eat!" McKenzie announced as soon as the four of us reach the place.
I only laugh knowing how much of a glutton he is so with a smile I said "Lets eat"
The night was young the snow that was supposed to freeze everything was strangely absent at the falls that Apollo and his friends are staying in. It was the only spot with such greenery that could easily be seen in the white and cold nature of winter. With the sound of the water falling from the cliff Apollo and his friends find themselves looking at the night sky. It was clear and absent of tany clouds making the stars more prominently seen.
"How pretty" Agnes mumbles as she lay flatly at the fluffy floor of grass.
"So," Braiden said, leaning back on a chair, "Still having mysterious headaches and visions?"
"Surprisingly, not today," I said, also lying on the floor unlike him.
"But seriously," Alya chid in, "If all of this is tied to being an Apollo, shouldn't you talk to soone who knows what that ans? Like, oh—I don't know—your mom?"
I blinked. "You an…"
"She is still a mage in the tower, right?"
I sighed. "Fine. I'll ask."
---
That night, I visited her. My friends were still in the forest resting without a worry about the cold brought by the season.
As I arrive at her door I knocked which was answered with co in from her.
She was sitting in her study, flipping through a thin book filled with glowing runes when I entered.
"What did my so obedient son did this ti," she said without looking up. I know she was teasing though.
"I've been thinking." I started of probing her reaction.
"Thinking is sothing we always do as mages Apollo," she teased finally looking at , "The proper question however should probably be what is making you think? What reason? Or it could also why do even need to think"
I only shook my head, then sat across from her. "Can I ask sothing serious?"
She closed her book. "Of course."
"…Why was I nad Apollo?"
The question must've hit sothing, because her smile faltered for just a mont.
She stopped looking at and instead shifted her gaze at the flas at the fire place, which I have no idea how did she put inside her study.
"Sigh"
I heard from her then she finally talk.
"…When I gave birth to you, the physicians noticed sothing strange with your soul. Unstable, flickering. Not dangerous, but fragile. The family had an old tradition—those born with such souls were given the na Apollo. Be cause every Apollo has the best chance to… stabilize. As long as they fulfiled a certain task."
I said nothing. She stood, walked over, and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Seeing you are asking about that you must have ann idea why. I never wanted you to go chasing fragnts," she said softly. "Because I've study all the files, so my son I already know what happened to the others. They all died young. Brilliant, but cursed by the weight they carried. The elders of the Lionheart family never told the cruuel fate that fell on those children that bears our na"
I looked at her.
"What if I say I already collected so of them?"
"Then keep them it will heal you but collect no more, you dont need to acknowledge a tradition that only brought death to those who follows it. You must follow your own path, not the once set by others"
I was happy hearing her say that, it seems whatever I decided on she will support .
"Mother I am very right now"
"I already know my dear," she admitted. "When I saw you laugh again… when you made friends… I thought, maybe I was right on not telling you about your duty as Apollo. You don't really need to fulfill that duty."
I sigh,"I really don't know what to choose," I said.
She pulled into a hug. "Whatever you do I will support it. Just don't lose yourself in the legacy. You're my son. Power is always within in your hand."
.
.
.
Morning ca and I waited for my friends to wake up, the wind was warm despite the cold season. It was really extraordinary how such falls exist inside this forest. But aside from marveling this place I started to keenly track Nero. I began to map the place he he goes and the duration he stays there. And slowing I was able to understand where he is going next.
"It seems Alicia is right, he really his collecting the fragnts by housing them inside objects" Then I rember the foreign energy he is using.
"Its good that I know sothing that an counter that"
I move my hand the energy from the stars that I stored last night glow.
"Its been a while since I last fought I should really settle my fight with Nero. Since I started this I should really end it"
"So that is your decision" I jolted when soone suddenly spoke that even Jeremiah and didn't detected.
"I'm sorry I didn't know you will be this surprised, I didn't an it"
She added looking as cold as ever, her red eyes was still how they usually look, undisturbed and calm.
"Alicia you are awake"
"Yes, what's the next plan"
I only smiled though I don't know if I should gather the fragnts but I know one thing. Catching Nero will definitely solve many of my questions.
I need the secrets Elias had disclose to him, perhaps one of them is how being an Apollo works.
With my mind already set on its path I looked at Alicia and said, "Alicia this winter break I'm gonna hunt Nero"
As my words sink in to her, the cold expression she has began to lt away replaced by a sweet smile that strangely accompany the raise of the sun.
For so reason I smiled too and so dawn ca. The sun gave the warm that was missing throughout the night. And as it basked the forest with its light one by one my friends began to wake up from each of their sleeping bags. I quiely remained sitting near the bonfire we used last night waiting for them to settle.
"Apollo..."
McKenzie tugged my sleeve, his red spiky hair was ssier than before, his pajamas were all wrinkled he looked at like a lost child. Then with his eyes looking drowsy he asked, "What's our breakfast?"
I only chuckled then I pointed the table by the shade of the tree.
"I went to the tower, they gave lots of food so we can all eat to our hearts content"
Usually the day starts in the tower by 3 in the morning so the food was prepared much earlier than that ti.
"Well the food has preservation magic so it wont get cold, it will taste the sa just like it was newly cooked"
Like zombies that rises from the dead, my friends move from their beddings so of them even fell into the water which of course I film. I could only shook my head while Alicia who already done fix herself sat beside . Her head resting on my shoulder. The two of us watch our friends fell one by one into the water.
"Sigh....what a quiet morning"
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