The cowardice's curse make Cale fear gods by their divine presence. It was as if he instinctively knew to be weaker and more pathetic, that he would lose his life with a mere breath of them. And therefore, his body would react in terror.
The singular condition of this curse that Cale had already noticed was that each god caused a different reaction in him. The worst of all was Nuria, who made Cale feel his organs writhing inside him and squeezing in endless torture. As if anguish and fear made him desire death.
Belice, even though his voice sounded so tender and gentle, somewhat mysterious, brought the sensation of vines curling up in his veins, rising in an agony that made him hostage to his roots.
It was suffocating and terrifying in the same way.
But shouldn't it be free from its curse within the unconscious of Aries?
"Could you not play with him... mom?"
That last word made Cale freeze in place. For a second he took time to understand the situation.
Who was Aries talking to?
Who was your mother?
Clenching his fingers on his chest, where he felt those damned roots of the divine presence suffocate him, Cale raised his head and saw that being again.
Eyes deep as if they were two black holes. Face pale and bright as a ghost, framed by the veil full of clouds. Her robe was bluish and perfectly concealed her body. Cale could hardly see her feet.
If it were not for the divine presence, Cale would think it was some nightmare of Aries.
"Mom?" Cale muttered incredulously, realizing that Aries remained calm.
Did he just call that divine figure a mother?
Aries... was one of twelve of Keonna's son?
A strong shiver passed through his body. A feeling so strange and cold covered him, making him bow his shoulders.
The perplexity quickly gave way to an ode of icy fury. Cale turned to Aries, his eyes purple flickering with a dangerous intensity.
"You... Are you her son?!" the voice of Cale evil was a whisper, loaded with a betrayal as deep as the curse itself "Of all the damned secrets, just that you hid from me? What else have you hidden, you insolent dragon?!"
Aries stood out under the furious gaze of his master, and the guilty expression on his face deepened. Aries tightened Cale's waist with more possessiveness, fearing that he would disappear again.
"Your fury has always turned to the three who cursed you. My mother is a goddess of Keonna, but she's innocent in any charge she can make."
Cale held the collar of Aries, furiously pulling it close. Although he suffered with his curse, with that divine presence so annoying, the anger of Cale was more ardent and intense.
"What if I ended up determining the hunt for her head, huh?!!! Would you point your sword against my chest? You should have told me from the beginning!"
"Do you really think I would be able to hurt you?" Aries growled back, holding Cale's face firmly, approaching him and staring furiously "I went through all this hell to bring you back and would never be able to hurt you, and you know it, boy!"
"That's not the problem here!"
Belice's hands touched the heads of the two boys, and a cold wave ran through his veins. For Aries it was a reprisal to which he was accustomed. However, for Cale, it was like intensifying the vines inside his veins and choking him until they enter his lung.
"Shut up!!" Aries held him firmly against his chest and raised his eyes to the goddess, who kept watching them from a distance "Stop it, damn it!"
"Lift your head, Child of the Universe."
It was an order, and Cale raised his head even without wishing. Had not been his obedience, it was as if his body moved alone. Panting and aching, Cale stared at those deep eyes even if it made him sick.
"What do you... want?"
Damn, your voice sounded so weak and fearful, it would hurt your pride.
The goddess looked at him silently, until she wrapped her arms around Aries and embraced him tenderly.
"You saved my blood. You have my eternal gratitude."
"If you are grateful then get rid of your divine presence... this is killing me."
"I have no way to stop it, you are inside me", she reached out her hand, her slender finger touched Cale's chest, who barely felt the touch. "But I can relieve your pain... only within the Dream World."
The feeling that seemed to tear his chest away, and Cale can finally take a deep breath.
"Are you all right, boy?"
The worried tone of Aries hit Cale in full. Cale wasn't used to seeing your vulnerable and fragile side, much less when there was still possessiveness in your touch.
Only that Cale was still angry that Aries had hidden his own lineage. This only proved that they knew little about each other, that there was still much to talk about. Could he be considered his lover besides master, when he did not even know who his parents were?
"I'm fine, damn" he growled, pushing Aries' chest away.
However, Aries held him more firmly, preventing him from getting out of his clutches. The dragon's guilty expression was adorable, but Cale didn't allow himself to let it go. He wouldn't ignore an important detail.
"I'm sorry... I just didn't find the right time for this. You're right to be angry with me, just don't... leave me."
The request of Aries stirred with Cale. He sighed imagining that they would have much to talk about when they returned to the real world.
"Do not blame him, Child of the Universe. There are many secrets hidden in the veils of the Universe" Belice whispered, her fingers touching Cale's face "I know your thirst for revenge, I know you wish to make the gods live the same torment that you lived under the rule of Nuria. However, do you think he is really capable of killing them?"
Cale's body stiffened, and for a second he was unable to answer it.
"That's why he has been training" Aries replied, holding the wrist of Belice and moving away from Cale's face calmly "I myself have helped him in this. And the boy has made progress since then."
"You are still a fool, my blood. Do you know what it means to kill a higher god? Do not tell me that you are innocent in thinking that it does not shake the world."
"What do you..."
"What would happen if you, Child of the Universe, killed me right now? I am the goddess of dreams, I am the one who watches and cares for the inner world of all living beings. My existence is this world. If I die, everything will fade too. And then... what will become of living beings?"
Ah... it's true. Cale was blinded by the thirst for revenge, who did not even think about what his actions would result. Those three gods who cursed him had their divine thrones.
Ruen is the goddess of celestial harmony. The whole balance of the world rests on her lap.
Krynt is the god of war, the one who ignites the fighting spirit of all warriors and ensures that a war is just.
Nuria... is the god of chaos and the underworld. The ruler of death... the one who takes the world out of homeostasis and forces living beings to evolve when they go through problems.
Or at least it was as they should be. But to end the existence of these gods would bring disorder to the world. No one could replace them. This is not how the divine way worked.
That was annoying.
"Are you saying I can't just kill them? This can only be some kind of bullshit!! Do you really think I'm going to stop my journey because of that? If the disappearance of the divine throne was really a concern, then that they had behaved as superior gods should!"
Aries pressed Cale against his chest, realizing that fury was taking him. The warmth in his chest, that feeling of needing to quench a vengeful thirst was seductive and strong.
"Calm down, boy. Do not consider her words as a denial of your desire, but rather as advice to strengthen you."
Cale raised his head, still angry. However, he chose to follow the advice of Aries and consider that conversation a mere advice. Even if it brought vertigo to hear one of the thirteen.
Belice leaned back, freeing Aries from the embrace, she rose from the ground and walked through the dry field looking around.
"Do you know our origin, Child of the Universe? Do you know how the gods of Keonna were born?"
"I know that they were created after the disappearance of Primus, the First God. Although little is known about him, and most sacred writings treat him as the one who brought life and order to chaos and disorder."
Belice opened a thin smile and looked at him carefully.
"Primus was the first god, indeed. But it was not he who created everything. The 13 gods arose from Primus himself. We are him, and he is each one of us. To kill one of us is to kill one of the faces of Primus, and that causes disorder in the world."
A mystery of the Universe. Cale knew very well that there were many things he did not know about the gods. Even though he had spent almost 20 years of his life longing to be a priest who guides humans to the gods, he realized that he knew nothing.
The feeling of being discovering something that should not made the marks of the weavers vibrate in Cale. Touching the mark on his arm, he remembered how he had received the mission to judge the gods who failed in their duty.
Those purple eyes of the Time Keeper... Cale could not get rid of the emotions he felt when he was in that space being sewn. Everything seemed so connected within him. Like a golden thread that guided him on a path long destined only for him.
Taking a deep breath, he broke out of the arms of Aries to rise. Belice was right, he could not kill the three gods who cursed him. Not because he was weak, but because it would bring disorder. Standing up, Cale faced the goddess with determination.
"Very well. I may not kill them in order to maintain the balance of this world. However, I intend to make them suffer eternally. An eternal punishment that will make them yearn for death, without it actually gracing them with its gaze." Narrowing his eyes, Cale out categorical and direct "I will curse those who dare to go against the laws of the universe."