BOOK 1 CHAPTER 11 “SINS OF THE SON”

Tifon was awake, but he was still lying in bed.

(Gods I’m tired.)

(How big is the audience going to be for there to be that many seats just in one hall?)

The charity event was going to take place that day, therefore all classes were canceled.

(Should I even go to school? Aurie might be upset but… I mean, it’s not like I’m going to participate in the event anyway.)

Just as he was pondering what to do, Tifon’s phone began to ring.

(That’s got to be Aurie. She’ll probably be angry, but I’ll just tell her that I’m not feeling great.)

“Whelp looks like I was right.”

Sure enough, the caller ID was Aurie’s. After a moment of hesitation, I picked up the phone.

Tifon: “Okay Aurie, just hear me out alright, I’m not feeling that well so-”

###: “Shut the fuck up, V grade.”

Tifon: “!!! … Eion?!”

Eion: “Listen to me very carefully.”

I gulped, I could feel myself slightly shaking.

(What in Tartarus is he doing with Aurie's phone?!)

Eion: “If you want this little beauty, whose phone I’m using right now…To be left alive after I’m done with her…”

I could hear Eion’s breathless gasps in between his words. His panicky voice suddenly let out an unhinged cackle.

Eion: “…Then you’ll get your ass over to the back of our campus.”

“We’re waiting with bated breath, shit stain.”

He hung up the phone.

(What am I… What am I going to do?!)

I flew out the window, I had no time to waste in an explanation for my grandparents. I left the house with just my sandals and night clothes.

The only thing on my mind was getting there as fast as I could. I spared no thought to the future.

As I reached the campus I saw the event celebration taking place.

(Everyone must’ve been there.)

It was the best diversion for him.

Without wasting a breath, I circled the campus to the spot Eion had told me.

(This must be it.)

There was a ledge behind our school. Built on it were a bunch of, what seemed to be, abandoned factories and huts.

I moved along the scraps. It was almost funny, I was probably going to die in the next half hour, and the only thing on my mind was how I wished I’d worn my shoes after all.

(There they are.)

Eion seemed to spot me instantly. Raising his hand he activated his Boon to signal me. Aurie was some distance to his left.

(I’ve come too far to go back now.)

I slid down to them.

Eion: “Aha, Ahahahahah-Aaaaa, I just can’t believe it! It’s too good to be true!”

Eion: “How dumb could you be, really?!”

Tifon: “Stop whatever this is, Eion. I know you don’t want to be a murderer.”

Eion: “…What?”

The look on his face was that of genuine surprise. His change of tone afterward took me by complete surprise.

Eion: “What could you possibly know about me? You’re a lousy cretin in the Gods’ eyes, Tifon! While I am their beloved!”

“I am the son of Apollo, the God of our Sun…!”

Seemingly breathless after this Eion hunched over with his eyes to the ground. Then without moving a muscle he looked straight at me.

Eion: “I can do whatever I Godsdam please.”

Tifon: “Alright, alright. You’ve made your point… what do you want now?”

Eion: “…You’re wrong… I haven’t, not yet. I can see it in your eyes, bastard. You’re still full of pride.”

Tifon: “!!!”

Eion: “And that’s what I want. To make my point.”

He suddenly tensed his whole body up, before rushing at me full tilt.

Tifon: “W-Wai- Eugh!”

Before I could even speak his fist crashed into my gut. For a second all the air left my lungs. He was fast.

Not as fast as the commandant.

I saw his movements all the way until he was under me. Right after he landed his strike, I brought my arms together and slammed my elbow into his back.

Eion: “G-Ah! Y-You…?!”

He turned to face me. Not waiting to catch our breaths, we both rushed each other.

My hand was longer, it reached him first, but he backed up just in time to counter with a kick.

It hit me straight in the chest, I was knocked down on my back.

Eion: “…When will it fucking dawn… on you…?”

I was too breathless to answer him, I just stared, sweat dripping down my brow.

He started to walk towards Aurie.

I knew what he was going to do. It drove me to get back up.

(I can barely breathe, I have to take him down with me.)

While his back was turned I ran at him, I couldn’t spare a second. The fatigue was weighing me down more by the second. My eyes were practically closed when I smashed into him.

We both fell, but he still had some energy left.

Rolling on top of me, he got into a mount.

I knew he wouldn’t show any mercy at that point.

Brutally he started cracking his fists into me, it was all I could muster to bring up a guard. Suddenly he stopped and grabbed me by my hair, I instinctively reached for his hand, and at that moment he struck the side of my face. His knuckle went into my eye, my vision was blurred and bloodied.

Aurora: “Plea―― Stop!! That’s――――”

I could hear Aurie’s voice in between pauses. Eion still kept whaling on me. I just wanted to rest now, I wanted to surrender. But he wouldn’t let me. He had a point to prove. He kept going at me until I fainted.

Aurora: “Why won’t you stop!? He’s had enough, PLEASE!”

Eion: “Shut. Your. MOUTH!”

Eion finally got off of Tifon, he made his way to Aurora.

Eion: “Don’t forget, you had a part in this. You practically served him up to me on a silver platter! I know you have some agreement with father, but you were tricked, Aurora!”

“Did he say I wouldn’t go too far? Hmm?! That he had a nice little leash on me so as not to hurt you?!”

Aurora was in tears, she could barely speak.

Aurora: “No please just… I’m begging you…!”

Eion: “You have NO right! Nobody can tell me what to do anymore. I’ll prove it to you right now.”

BEFORE, ON THE ROOFTOP

Aurora: “Why did you want to meet me up here?”

∫∫∫: “My sincerest apologies for the inconvenience, but first tell me. You’ve come alone?”

Aurora: “Yea… I have, I just gave him the slip.”

Lord Xuth smiled gently as he gestured Aurora closer to him. He was standing near the edge of the balcony, leaning against the rails.

Lord Xuth: “Have you gained enough ground with him?”

Aurora: “…I have…”

Lord Xuth: “That’s good, my child.”

Noticing the frown on her face the Lord turned towards her.

Lord Xuth: “I understand wholly why you’re doing this, child.”

The Lord smiled like a saint.

Lord Xuth: “Family first, right?”

Aurora: “…You’ll hold up your end of the deal?”

Lord Xuth: “Of course, child. Your family will be generously compensated for the rest of their lives.”

Aurora started to turn her way back into the school, however, the Lord suddenly continued.

Lord Xuth: “Do not fret over Tifon, Aurora.”

She stopped in her tracks.

“For through him, our dream will be actualized.”

“His sacrifice… It will be our first victory against the Gods.”

She stood frozen there in thought. The Lord passed through her back down to the building.

(Was it truly possible?)

(My family, suffering for so long just because they were never favored by the Gods.)

(Could they really be avenged?)

Aurora: “…Victory…Over the Gods…?”