Last time Selene and her husband Jacob came to hide out in Nereus.
What do Eos and I have to deal with? Selene asked. Your father, the demon general, has a knack for sealing enchantments. One of the gates was sealed off the underworld by your father with both your magical powers as infants. I replied. Don't tell me. He was tired of the violence. Selene replied. Yes but no. I replied. The other hidden books are in that location. Shiro replied. You're right. We need to get in contact with your father. He knows exactly where it is. Hence why he hides in the wilderness as a hermit. I replied. His last words to me was "Make up with Eos before misfortune will plague both of your families." Selene replied. Everyone follows me. Araceli replied. She summoned a key. She turned it and a door appeared. As Araceli opened the door. A middle aged man with a five o'clock shadow turned around. He dropped the glass mug. Araceli. Selene. Tears ran down his cheeks. Araceli is it really you? Mika asked. It's me Mika. Araceli replied. He hugged her tightly as he cried. Father. Why did you use our magic to seal off the underworld gate? Selene asked. I have my reasons. Also, you two need to get along. Mika replied. Eos started it anyway. Selene replied. A woman appeared through a door. Mother, how are you here? Eos asked. Selene's grandchild and friend helped me escape. Araceli replied. I see someone wanted the mad scientist. Eos replied. Oh hush. Selene replied. Are you Selene's husband? Mika asked. Yes. Jacob replied. Mika glares at Jacob. He whispered in Selene's ear. Your father is terrifying me. Jacob replied. I warned you. My father's presence is terrifying. Selene replied. Other than that. Young lady, you look at my granddaughter, Chloris. Eos replied. Sara told me my mother's name is Chloris. Lila replied. So Sarah snatched you up and put you in a cage? Eos asked. How did you do? Lila asked. The nerve of that woman. Eos mumbled. Tell me Selene, what truly brought you here? Selene asked. I sensed our mother was using her key. Eos replied. Fair enough. Selene replied. So they are trying to destroy the balance? Eos asked. Yes girls. To be more precise, they are using the books of Ithaca to enact this. Araceli replied. Why did you just say, Araceli? Shiro asked. The hidden books mentioned this. After all, the books the church are searching for are in the priestess and priest possessions. Araceli replied. So my mother has it? Shiro asked. Of course I would. That's one of your father's agreements on keeping in the underworld. Jacinta replied. So you finally make you appearance, Sword Priestess? Araceli asked. No more on the lines of balance being shifted. Jacinta replied. You look just like the monster who forced immortality on me that very night. It sickens me. Jacinta replied. Hey, be nice to your son, Issac. Araceli replied. What did you just say? Jacinta asked. I know you're angry but Issac and his siblings are nothing more but victims of circumstance. Mika replied. What did you just say? Shiro asked. The prophecy was that a woman of god will be sacrificed for the good of humanity. Your mother and the other priestess were hand picked to fit this roll. Araceli replied. So she was groomed into this position? Selene asked. Yes. The night the church and the demons attacked the metropolis of Ithaca. Jacinta replied. She clenched her fist and cried. They came not to pillage the city but to capture me. The city wouldn't allow them to abduct me. Jacinta replied. Mother. Shiro replied. Jacinta whipped her tears. The priest and priestess of Ithaca were cursed with immortality not because of the underworld gate, no. We all were forced to use our final sacred arts for long periods of time. Jacinta replied. So the rumors of gaining the ability of your final sacred art is dangerous as you said dad. Yumi replied. Why would I lie to you? Shiro asked. What was taken from you in exchange for that ability? Jacinta asked. I can't hide the secret anymore. Shiro replied. What did you hide this time? Leilani asked. I gain my final sacred art by saving Eos and Selene from the church. I'm the reason why they were able to escape. But in return I lost my left arm in the process. Shiro replied. Dad, your arm is fake? Rina asked. I was given a phantom limb to shut me up. It exposed what happened that night. Shiro replied. So that's why you would squeeze your left arm? Leilani asked. Yes and no. My real arm in possession of the patron god of my sword magic. Shiro replied. Dad, that's terrible what you've been through. Rina replied. They came after all three of you. The children of prophecy and the child of the woman they have been tracking for centuries. Jacinta replied. Mother, what book do you hold in your possession of Ithaca? Shiro asked. The collection I wrote. I made it to where the church would never find it. Jacinta replied. The anger in her eyes was intense. The series called Ithaca is the story created by the daily accounts of priest and priestess's lives. The part they're looking for is my collection. The lost ones they speak of. Jacinta replied. I know this is bad to ask but I need those books now. Shiro replied. Why do you want them? Jacinta replied. Believe it or not I hold all documented books in my possession. Other than Kaoru, I can read and translate the original text with no problems. Shiro replied. He's telling the truth. Your son is an interpreter and translator first. Selene replied. You can read the language, Issac? Jacinta asked. Jacinta summoned two books. Read them now you two. Jacinta replied. This book is thick. We need a lot of paper to translate this. I replied. Shut up and read. Shiro glared at me. Yes sir. I replied. As they read the books, it took them hours to translate. So much translating. I replied. Welcome to my world. I was forced to translate the books you read earlier, Kaoru. Shiro replied. It took twice as long. I lied about the church translating them. I was the only translator at the time who could read ancient texts such as this. Shiro replied. Knowing you translated it but keep the important parts to yourself. I replied. Of course. My hunch of the last two books were spot on. Shiro replied. What do you mean? Ally asked. Hagne is the twelve swords of Ithaca. Those are the keys we're looking for. Shiro replied. They are hunting those twelve's down like animals. Jacinta replied. Unfortunately, my holy imperial treasure is on the swords they're looking for. Shiro replied. Are you worried about them capturing you? Jacinta asked. They don't have the balls to attack or capture me. I'm a classified war threat as it is. Shiro replied. A war threat?! Eos and Selene replied. Yeah, they couldn't contain me so they coerced me to work for them. Shiro replied. They barely trust my dad by the way. Yumi replied. More like they fear him. Ally replied. No offense dad but you hate to smile. Rina replied. That job is stressful and time consuming. Being a judge and doing paperwork is my hell. Shiro replied. I'm so sorry for Issac. Jacinta replied. It's fine. I've saved up enough PTO for a long vacation. Shiro replied. That's so you. Rina replied. What happens if they need you? Ally asked. Alice, you're sweet like your mother. Unfortunately, I don't care if they need me. I'll probably do all my work in advance in an organized manner with a sticky note on top of each one. Shiro replied. I can imagine the sticky note saying, "Don't bother me. I will be on vacation. Don't call me unless it's life or death.- Shiro". Selene replied. Spot on by the way. Shiro replied. That's so you. Leilani replied. I'm glad you're sweeter to the grandchildren. Leilani replied. Of course I'm sweet to them. They're my grandchildren. Shiro replied. You gave me grands. Can I see them? Jacinta asked. They are with Julieka right now. Shiro replied. I would love to see them as well. Mika replied. Selene gave Mika a blank expression. No offense but your unkempt. The kids will talk about how unkempt you are. Selene replied. Children are cruel, father. Eos replied. She's right. I replied. Let's relax back at the house. Ally replied. I want to go down to the private beachfront myself. Shiro replied. Everyone leaves through the door. The kids wake up from their naps. Grandpa! Grandma! Grammy, Pop pop! The kids yelled. They ran towards Shiro. Don't even think about tackling him. Yumi replied. Yes mommy. Mika and Noelle replied. Shiro grabbed them. Looks like you gave trauma. Jacinta asked. My daughters would jump on my back uncontrollably when they were kids. Shiro replied. Jacinta smiles. Who are you? Noelle asked. This is my mommy, you four. Your great grandmother is named Jacinta. Shiro replied. What can they call me? Jacinta asked. Why not Yiayia? Shiro asked. That will work. Jacinta replied. She smiles at the ring of the name. Araceli aren't they cute? Jacinta asked. They are but I have a feeling Selene spoils them. Araceli replied. She does. Leilani and Yumi replied. Yiayia, you have grandpa's eyes. Erin replied. Jacinta smiles.
At that moment, everything was going well but something didn't sit well with me.
Stay Tuned.