The Sight Beyond The Haze

Chapter 46: A Winter Night

The days flowed similar to how the pouring water would and the air has just turned even colder with the turmoil of a snowstorm. The academy has been relatively quiet nowadays, with most of its students having gone to their respective homes and only some remaining.

The administration held a banquet for the students who remained within the academy's premises which primarily only consisted of the people from the Eirini and Dalcanorian Territories.

Instead of me seeking permission to Leigh, it was him who actually asked me whether I would join the others or not. As a Deity, Leigh has always been careful over the truth behind his identity and no one except for Cocytus, Eris, and I know that he was actually one. Maybe he has some other subordinates, like the Amitiel family, who knew but other than them, I knew no one that Leigh would entrust his identity with.

"Wouldn't you want to mingle with them?" he asked me. "You are a teenager, I know that and it's only natural of you to be curious. Make friends with people around your age. Don't be like Cocytus who has become a hermit."

Cocytus, who was only sitting just a short distance from us, frowned at Leigh who only smiled at him gently; patronizingly as though he was mocking his foster son. Turning to me, Cocytus shook his head as though that was actually enough to convince me. But then I have already decided by myself beforehand so I smiled politely at Leigh and shook my head.

"I appreciate your concern, Leigh," I said to him and I truly do appreciate his concern and him wanting for me to go out and socialize with the other kids like me. "But I know that I would only ruin the festive ambiance."

For someone like me who has worn my neutral face often, even seeing myself smile was too odd. It does not feel right though I knew that it was natural for humans to do that, but there was the vulnerability I feel when ever I do. Besides, I think almost everyone has already known of my rank and my position in our native country.

That would only make them stiffer and more formal, and the occasion was supposed to be for festivities and casual gatherings.

Everybody look at the other person within the room. Eris, who can foretell what would happen in the future, stared back at the three of us upon feeling three pair of eyes being directed at her. She shrugged and sipped on her tea cup.

"Don't look at me like that," she pleaded at all of us helplessly. "I wouldn't know what would happen if Seraphin herself didn't plan to go in the first place. And, as far as my Sight could tell me, there is no such event happening in any of the potential future events."

Leigh nodded at Eris and shut his mouth about me going to the academy's banquet. Although I have made amends with Zachriel whom I was most conflicted with, it would never erase the formality that stood in between me and the other kids from the Dalcanorian territory. Some might be in awe at how powerful I am, some might feel envious of that mentioned powerful, and some might be too frightened to face me.

I could be seen as either of the two; as either a potential savior or a potential traitor. Even if I wanted nothing of the war that the generation before us created, I would still be branded with a big plaster of being a traitor by everyone because of abandoning them.

Although I did not plan on attending the academy's banquet, Cocytus' family— the Amitiel family, has invited me to join them at a small gathering. I thought Leigh would discourage me and be against of me going to that small gathering, wondering whether it would actually be small, but I was wrong to think of that.

When the invitation came to Cocytus' house, it was Leigh who nodded at me and gave me a signal to go. It was the closest I would get to having his permission. He kept his silence first, but when we were finally alone with each other, only then did he told me the truth why he would like me to go to the Amitiels' gathering.

"Eris has already told me that Cocytus spoke to you about Deo's whereabouts," he said while I listened attentively to him. "And he has finally engaged himself in the political matters of the world for your own sake. I think it is time for your to get out there and handle the intricacies of politics by yourself. People are very different from what you might have imagined, they are the most unpredictable. One moment, they are smiling at you and then the next, they might be already stabbing you. I want you to see it for yourself."

"Deo has never taught me of this," I stated neutrally and indifferently. "Thank you, Great Uncle, for trusting me."

Leigh gave me a gentle smile and tapped the crown of my head. "Whether you impress the Amitiels or not, I would take the fall. You do not have to be so concerned, just watch how they would talk and interact with you. Observe them."

Leigh knew what path Deo wanted me to take on and I do not resent him for not telling me, for keeping everything from me. I was still gaining my memories, at times my mind would still fail me, and I might be mentally weaker now than the other people. I could not just use brute force whenever I feel like it while people conspire around me... maybe even against me.

And so, together with Cocytus, I went to the dinner s***h gathering that the Amitiel invited me on. It was the day before the twenty-fourth and I was wearing a very fancy clothing. Leigh did not trust Eris would make a fair choice about my clothes so he even hired someone else to do it for him.

But all I got from Cocytus was endless of teasing that I have to smack him at the back of his head. It was unfortunate that he evaded my sudden attack.

I insisted on wearing a suit instead of baring my legs by wearing a dress though it was a pity since the red dress was quite pretty. While I was in the procees of wearing my coat, Cocytus' voice echoed just outside my door. He must be out on the hallway, prepared and just waiting for me ro finish.

After one glance on the mirror on myself, being satisfied, I walked towards the door where Cocytus was banging the wood and opened it. His fist, that was knocking earlier on my door, left hanging midair as I opened it.

"Looking very posh," I complimented him as I surveyed his looks from head to toe. Like me, Cocytus was wearing a very elegant suit specially tailored for him by a topnotch tailor ordered by Leigh himself.

If Leigh made a fuss about my clothing in a great effort to prevent Eris from choosing what I would wear, he made an even bigger fuss over what Cocytus would wear. I supposed Leigh have something to prove to the Amitiel family after taking Cocytus in or maybe it could be more or less than that.

'Just making him presentable' was Leigh's reason but I could see that he was immemsely enjoying himself dressing Cocytus up. I started to snicker but Cocytus already stabbed me with a deathly glare as soon as the barest hint of mockery appeared on my face. Whereas I was wearing an emeral green suit, Cocytus matched with me wearing his silvery gray suit. And I must admit, we do looked good.

"Let's go," Cocytus told me as he turned a cold shoulder to me.

Numerous buildings, similar to this house of Cocytus, were all over within the premises of the academy as remants of its time as a an official Middle Ground. At the deeper part of the academy's grounds, Cocytus and I both went in. We travelled by foot though the snow has already fallen outside and the ground has become soft with the white flakes.

Under the woven arms of the trees, Cocytus and I both walked on the path. It was well disguised as a simple garden which stretches out from Cocytus' house's backdoor to another side of the academy which was said to be near to where we were supposed to be going. That was the reason Leigh allowed us to go despite the possibility of having other people roaming around the vicinity that might have an agenda od either killing me or capturing me alive to be sold to the highest bidder.

When we went out, the cold wind blasted to our faces and it was enough to make me shiver. There were parts on the ground that were slippery and Cocytus, being the gentleman that he was, just laughed at me when I accidentally stepped on iced puddle and almost slip in my feet.

"I hate you," I spat at him, my eyes were also stabbing him with daggers but he just shrugged and went on ahead of me.

Although the snow that was falling was quite light in comparison to the other nights. The street lamps that were scattered around the area casted a beautiful silvery haze on the snow, making it forlorn instead of making me feel the festive ambiance that was supposed to be around the air.

I reached out my hand and, almost immediately, a golden light butterfly flew to my finger to perch itself on it. It also casted a bright glow, to my face and to everything its light touched. With its glow, it was enough to warm my hand. Over the fancy emerald colored coat that I was wearing, I also wore a long coat and a scarf but it was just barely enough to warm me up.

With our every step, I could hear the soft thump on the snow underneath of our foot, leaving marks of our traces. Four feet, two pairs, and a faint glow of the butterfly seemingly like lamp.

It did not took us long before getting into the small cottage. I was mildly suprised to know that it was actually just a small gathering just like what the invitation they sent to me stated. A small gathering, I have thought that the Amitiel would like to flaunt that the heir of both Eirini and Haefen organizations were under their care... not technically, of course, since it was really Leigh who was taking care of me.

The cottage was very humble and small. It was stacked bricks upon bricks to create its walls and a simple roof. Within my perspective, it looked similar to those houses from the Medieval era. A chimney was heating up and emitted a white smoke that curled on the air until it faded into the winter atmosphere.

We emerged from the garden not too far from the cottage. Based on my observation, it must a home for the keeper of the grounds or maybe just a storage. Because of the snow, the Medieval looking cottage became something that might look from a whimsical imagination. The lights were on within the house and, even though we have not really entered the cottage's simple yard with only a few decorations for the winter season and a few jars which purpose I was not certain of, I could still hear the people from the inside.

"My grandfather, the one who is currently leading the family, is Regulus Amitiel," Cocytus suddenly said. "My biological father is Isaiah and my uncle's name is Acheron. Then my mother, Amelia, and my loving aunt which I guess you already met.

I nodded, understanding his every word. Those were not much names, I think I could handle them just fine.

"They will eat you alive," Cocytus muttered under his breath. I elbowed him, hard, and walked ahead of him.

"I heard that," I told him, leaving him to watch my back as I carefully make my way towards the cottage.

I could not wait to get to a warmer place and leave the winter behind me. Before I open the door though, I turned and looked at Cocytus who was close behind me. I nodded at the doorknob and raised an eyebrow at him. Helplessly, he sighed and opened it himself.

What awaited me inside the room was a very warm temperature but a couple of cold and beautiful faces. Maybe the Amitiels have a tendency to be beautiful. Even with Cocytus being my companion for the past weeks, I could not deny to myself that he indeed look rather fetching.

The pair of blue eyes was a custom for the Amitiel. There were only two ladies, one was I was familiar with and the other was not. The other lady has the same olive complexion of Cocytus and her hair was long and ink black, different from Cocytus' brunet head. Two of the men inside, the fifth person was a boy no older than Cocytus and me, were drinking blood red wine and talking by the window facing the south of the cottage while the boy was gazing off to a distance.

On that night, I met the Amitiel family.