Unable to refuse his request, I opened the way for him, and we found ourselves in the Golden Groves. Kratos walked ahead, as if he could feel exactly where his wife and daughter were. He moved with unwavering determination until he reached their small home. The first one he saw was Lysandra, his wife. Kratos couldn't believe he was seeing her again: he simply stood there, staring, unable to move. Lysandra noticed him, rushed toward him, and embraced him so tightly that tears streamed from her eyes.
Kratos could only whisper a single word:
"Forgive…"
A tragedy that could break anyone.
I chose not to intrude on their reunion and stepped aside, sitting down beneath a tree. My gaze drifted across the golden treetops stretching into the distance.
"And have you thought about who will continue your bloodline?" came the voice of Demeter behind me, as if she had grown out of the very trunk of the tree.
"I have, more than once," I replied. "But troubled times weigh on me… I am torn by doubt."
"Are you truly afraid of fatherhood?" Demeter asked, coming closer and gently resting her head on my shoulder.
"Perhaps I am," I admitted.
"You do not fear ancient beings, yet a small child frightens you?" she teased softly, a gentle laugh in her voice.
"And do you wish to become a mother again?" I asked her.
"To know the joy and care once more… yes, I would," Demeter said quietly. "Persephone drifts further from me each day. She is filled with anger and finds nowhere to release it."
"Then I would not mind becoming a father," I said, kissing her lips.
Desire sparked in her eyes, and without wasting a moment, she wrapped her arms around me hungrily, hastily removing what little armor I wore.I did not hesitate either: I pulled off her dress, ran my hand over her soft skin, then firmly grasped her breast.
"Don't hold back… We must try, so children may come," Demeter breathed out, pressing her whole body against mine.
**********************************
Rest is pleasant, but one must not lose themselves in it.
Rising from bed, I donned my armor once more and headed toward Kratos.He could not remain here longer than necessary: if someone began searching for him, they might discover my realm.
Even from afar, I heard the cheerful laughter of a child.Behind the small house, Kratos was chasing after Calliope.One of Sparta's most fearsome warriors was now playing like an ordinary father, forgetting everything else for his daughter's sake.When he caught her, Kratos lifted Calliope into his arms and held her tightly to his chest.
To interrupt such moments feels wrong… but now is not the time for sentiment.
"Kratos," I called out as I approached.
"Is it time to go?" he asked, setting his daughter down and meeting my gaze.
"Yes."
Kratos gently stroked his daughter's head, then walked over to Lysandra, embraced her tightly, and without a word, turned to join me.
"Father…" Calliope whispered softly.
"My child, I will return soon," Kratos said, barely glancing at her but in that glance lay everything: love, pain, and resolve.
I took out the compass and opened the way back to Greece.
"So, what awaits us, Atreus?" Kratos asked. It seemed he had already learned my new name.
"The Persian army, led by dark gods, is preparing to strike," I replied. "Olympus bears a grudge against me, Ares wants to make you his servant, and the other gods scheme to use you in their games. Enemies surround us."
"When has that ever stopped us? We are Spartans! That is our way," Kratos said, steel in his voice.
"We should deal with Persia first. That will buy us time to plan our next move," I said.
"Then let us go and crush their army," Kratos answered, his warrior spirit unshaken.
"We could face their army together, just the two of us. But the true threat is the dark gods. We must find them. For that, we need the Persian king and his retinue they have spoken to those gods and know more than anyone," I explained.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Kratos asked.
Though I too longed to rush into battle and strike down our foes, my heart whispered otherwise.It seemed to tell me: they await us, hoping we will make a reckless move and if we give in to impulse, it could end in disaster. So first, we must scout… and then act.
Disguising us, I opened the way to Persia.
We found ourselves in a grim capital. A thick, almost ominous atmosphere hung over the city; the air was dry, carrying a faint metallic taste.
"Many have died here," Kratos said it seemed he too could feel that breath of death lingering in the air.
We began to explore the city. The streets were nearly empty, save for the occasional passerby and countless guards stationed at almost every intersection. I took a closer look at one of them: his gaze was vacant, skin pale, and he stood completely still, as if something else controlled him.
We managed to find one of the locals and question him.
Ten years ago, people had started to disappear. At first, just a few; then dozens.With each passing year, the disappearances grew into the hundreds… and then thousands. The capital, once home to over a hundred thousand souls, began to empty. Frightened citizens tried to rebel, even attempted to flee through the city gates but the gates were sealed, and none were allowed to leave. The uprising was crushed in blood, and the vanishings continued.
I had only one theory: they were being sacrificed. Judging by the scent of blood and the foul stench hanging over the city, somewhere nearby there had to be a massive altar. We headed toward the palace, and the closer we got, the more I felt we were walking straight into a carefully laid trap one from which there might be no escape.
"Wait," I said, placing a hand on Kratos's shoulder.
"They're waiting for us," he replied. It seemed he felt it too.
"Perhaps not for us specifically… but they clearly have their defenses against unwanted guests.We can't afford to take that risk. One wrong move could lead to the worst possible outcome.Despite all our quarrels with Olympus, they are right about one thing: on this land, we are powerless," I said and for a moment, it felt as if my gaze met something dark.
As if, from the shadows, something was watching me two crimson eyes burning with hatred.
All the warriors standing nearby slowly turned their heads toward us, their eyes locked onto us.
"Shall we fight?" Kratos asked, drawing the Blades of Chaos.
"No. We'll face them later," I said, and opened a path to escape. Already, I could feel an unknown force trying to block the way but with tremendous effort of will, I tore the fabric of space open.
"We shall meet again," whispered the two crimson eyes.