Something had been bothering me . . . ever since the day I heard Teacher Rory’s story about a mortal who was blessed by the gods. Hours after Teacher Rory left with Heidi and Naya—it was midnight, I felt like I just reminisced a memory that I didn’t even have. As if I was on the spot, watching that mortal’s journey.
As soon as I heard Teacher Rory’s story, I wanted to correct her. Although I said I understand nothing, it was because what she told was completely different from what I saw.
The main character of the story, Sator, wasn’t a mortal, but an archon and a compelling god. He wandered the celestias or universes he created with his immortal comrades but . . . a tragedy struck in the abode of the deities named Procyron.
Sator was part of Procyron’s council, a group of eight gods ruling the abode of deities and celestias. The council . . . that was supposed to be divine and perfect was cursed and it led the eight gods to suffer from sins.
However, despite the curse and flaws Sator has, he continued wandering the celestias he created with his own power but . . . as time passed, Sator fell to the depths of insanity.
Sator did not hesitate to kill his comrades as he had the power to end the immortality of a soul. He became selfish and desired everything valuable, making him the God of Greed.
So basically, Sator wasn’t a mortal nor blessed but the opposite. He was also the reason why his friends died.
The story Teacher Rory told us was a written lie she had read in a book. Every fairy tale has its own dark lore.
I . . . don’t know why I knew all of this. Everything just popped up in my mind in the middle of the night, and I really feel that I saw all of those. Perhaps this was just an illusion or a peculiar vision the heavens bestowed upon me. I don’t know.
I have this intuition that I can see the lore behind every story, every lie, and every piece of art. However, they say magic didn’t exist, and that’s what I want to believe. Despite the magical history our race has, I don’t want to believe in magic nor divinity as the titans seemed to abandon us in the middle of our battle with the victors.
It’s been years since we last felt the titan’s presence. I’m still not born at that time. And until now, there were no replies from them.
Who knows if the titans really care about us or they just cared about their worshippers and punishing those who declined their order that they must be worshipped in order to fulfill those desires.
I cannot believe everything the priest had told us since all of his words were from a book and there’s no confirmation that it’s real. Not all books hold the truth about this world. Perhaps it’s the opposite, a paper filled with lies.
People called our family the fallen angels and we became the proof that the titans were real. Little did they know, our family was questioning their beliefs not because we’re divine and we thought we can match the titans but because it’s ridiculous.
However, we, Vigliancos, always believed that the cataclysm in history was real. If it’s not, then why would the royal family and the church tried to stop us from stepping outside? We always knew that there was something wrong or dangerous outside Atolon. Obviously, it’s because of Madreign and their dastardly deeds. Because of them, we lived in fear.
I suddenly remembered my last conversation with my grandfather. It was before he died. Our last chat was about the world and titans . . . and Procyron as well.
“Babu, I heard about it so many times. And I’m actually getting tired of hearing about Madreign kicking us here. Can you share something interesting? Please?” I bared my teeth.
Babu chuckled. “Fine, fine. I’m getting tired of telling stories about it as well. Perhaps it’s about time . . . to wake up your mind about the world.” He smiled. “But I’m afraid that you’re still so young and your strange mind can’t carry all of it.”
I shook my head. “No! I’m interested! I’m very very interested!”
Babu chuckled again. “Do you know that gods live in Procyron?”
I frowned. “What do you mean by that, Babu? I thought they lived at Mount Colossus.”
He faked a cough and sat properly. “Mount Colossus is the current abode of titans. Yes, they are also gods but they’re more likely guardians of this world. Procyron is the original abode of gods. All of the gods to be specific but they can choose where they will live just like Titus and his children.”
I gave him a slack-jawed look of astonishment. “Is Procyron beautiful, Babu? Can you describe the place to me?” I grinned.
He nodded. “Some say that Procyron is glorious and magnificent. There are fabulous palaces of marble and gold for the gods to dwell in. It is like a paradise . . . A beautiful paradise reserved only for the gods.”
He stopped for a bit, lowering his gaze. “I saw Procyron with my own eyes using a vision that’s only granted for Viglianco family members. It is indeed a paradise yet Procyron itself is also terrifying as a curse had spread among the gods like a virus.”
“What . . . curse is it, Babu?”
“I don’t know. No mortal knows what kind of curse it is.”
I stayed silent for a moment, thinking about the curse. Perhaps I can guess what curse it is, but how? Even Babu didn’t know about what kind of malediction it is, but I was still hoping that I could guess it.
I took a sip from my milk and gazed at Father. “Father, I’m going to school with Yner.”
He glanced at me and nodded. “Stay safe.”
I went outside and walked towards Yner’s house. While walking, I couldn’t help but to think about anything that bothers me.
I still have a lot of questions that were left unanswered. Even though I crave for answers for my endless queries, I will not waste my time searching for the truth because of the thought that the truth will leave me crestfallen one day. I don’t want myself to get disappointed.
 
To be continued . . .