Where The Dead Ones Go Book 1 -Magistracy-

Episode 14

"Are you ready, Morris?" I asked in my head as I finished packing my things on the bag that Ms Irene and my workmates had bought for me when I told them a month ago that we may have an immersion, "I'm done here. Oh."

The son of the god of death groaned as I caught him still taking a bath, "Goodness, Vivet. Privacy is something I really have to let go of my priorities."

"Shut up, Morris. You have seen me several times taking a shower, don't be such a prude. We already know deep down we are way more than a lovesick couple," I laughed as I sat at the foot of my bed as I watch him get dressed.''

"Well, you've seen far worse things I don't want anyone to know and vice versa. I guess I should just let it go," he agreed as I have to watch painfully how he just dumped everything in his luggage and forcing it to close, "There! Done! I have to check for my pocket money. Can you wait for me at the stairs?"

I stood up and grabbed my suitcase before getting out of my room, "Fine, fine. Just don't take too long or Gala will destroy your door. Again."

"Got it, Vivet."

The moment I stepped out of my room, the daughter of Aphrodite is already waiting for me to get out with her large suitcase in her hand.

"Took you long enough."

I apologized and walk beside her as we head for the stairs.

"You know, I won't be lying, Vivet," she said seriously before looking at me in the eye, "I am really expecting for you and Morris to be an item but the longer we know each other, the farther that wish seemed to be."

I heard Morris laughed out loud in his head when he saw my thoughts to what Estelle said, "The moment I met him. I know we have a connection, I felt it. The more we stay together, the stronger that connection is. It is love, in layman's term but not to the point that we are like you and Asher."

"Yes, I already know. I think it's a different and unique kind of love. I think its what my mother often said as a rare one. The kind that transcends physical and mental descriptions. It is way above emotional, more of like your soul is really connected and love and understanding just come naturally between you. How lucky am I to experience what my siblings will die to even see," she said as she looks at me contently.

"I am just lucky I have him with me," I said truthfully as we saw Morris stepping down from the stairs to meet us, "If not for this boy, I wouldn't even be here talking to you at all, Estelle."

The son of the god of death laughed a little as he wrapped his arm on mine that made Estelle sigh.

"Oh dear, mother is right. Death is as beautiful as love."

"You know, Estelle, my father said this in my dream. That death and love are more similar than what normal people might think."

The daughter of the goddess of beauty just winked at him as we decided to go to the first floor where surely all of our classmates are waiting.

However, the moment we stepped into the ground floor, we quickly felt that something is amiss.

Our classmates should be noisily eating their breakfast like they all usually do but we are just met with hushed voices and whispers.

Morris, Estelle and I just exchanged confused looks before heading straight to the dining hall where we found the culprit on why it is so quiet here all of a sudden.

"Oh, you three are here, perfect timing," Gala said briskly as she pointed at our visitor, "This is Her Eminence, Avesa Bovinae, High Priestess of the Heran Temple, daughter of the Heavenly Queen."

Estelle understandably raised an eyebrow, "Pardon me, daughter of Queen Hera? Did I heard that correctly?"

"I think the word "daughter" is not the most accurate description. I am her creation. Born of her divine powers and my father's essence. Hatched from a peacock's egg," the prestigious and stately looking girl around our age said clearly in a kind, well-mannered voice fitting of her position and heritage.

"Why is she here, Eonia?" Zenith asked in a cold voice as he looked at Avesa in contempt, "On that note, how can someone like her exist without the world knowing at all?"

But the High Priestess just smiled gaily, "Well, my mother might be a tad better at hiding secrets than your father. Don't you agree, Prince Zenith?"

"Ouch, that hurts, Vivet."

"Strike one for Hera, Morris."

Rebie seemed impressed enough to bow in front of her with Narcine, "An honor to meet you, Your Eminence. Might I ask why are you here with us today?"

"I am sent here by my mother for inspection and to broaden my horizon," she answered humbly as she looked at each and every one of us, "All my life, I am stuck inside her temple and only have her most trusted attendants to take care of me. She thinks that it is time for me to finally experience the outside world so that I may be of more use to her as I will soon have to represent her in the mortal world as her ambassadress."

Vaski bowed deeply before speaking, "Color me surprised that you are here instead of with the other high ranking students' dormitory. I am sure they are all within your level of upbringing unlike here where we are a mix of nobilities and commoners."

"That is a sound thought but I think I might have to emphasize that I am also a demiurge just like some of you here," she said matter-of-factly that made me gasp, "It should not come as a surprise, really. The daughters of Queen Amphitrite and Queen Persephone are also here with us. Just as the son of Lord Thanatos and firstborn of Lady Elpis is staying here. It is only logical that when my mother personally asked the Headmistress for a visit, she will ask me to be placed here in the Auxiliary Class."

Syden smiled lopsidedly as he faked a cough to get Avesa's attention, "Have you already awaken, High Priestess Avesa?"

"Just Avesa, please. Call me Avesa. No formalities needed. We are almost of the same age so I think we should just call each other by our names," she said plainly and we all nodded in agreement, "To answer your question, yes. That is also one of the reasons why my mother allowed me to step out of her temple. I am no longer in danger of awakening in the middle of a city or a crowd."

"But are you sure you will join us in our immersion? It might be a tad dangerous for someone of your position," Asher said politely that made her smile as she looked at Narcine and Rebie.

"No need to worry, my mother made sure that I can defend myself in any event that I have to fight with you all," she said confidently before bowing her head a little, "After all, it wouldn't do for the Heavenly Queen to have her creation be a weak and feeble burden. I am a firstborn of the Queen of the Gods. You might find that my command of wind element and my mother's vast powers quite acceptable for battles should the need arise."

The son of Zeus laughed rudely and looked at her from head to foot, "Oh really? Just be sure you will not be the first one who runs away the moment a monster sees you."

"Oh, no worries. I will not like to be your father who runs the moment he sees my mother coming near him," she answered pointedly that made me bow and hide the smile I am suppressing as Morris just laughed once more in our heads.

"Strike two, Vivet!"

"Morris, I think this will be a rather interesting immersion."

Our class president cleared her throat to get our attention, "Okay, now that we introduced our special guest, it is time for me and Gala to tell you all the location for our first ever immersion."

"We will be going to the northern nation of the Magistracy of Pagos, the domain of Boreas, the god of the northern winds," the daughter of the goddess of wisdom said clearly that made Zenith raise an eyebrow.

"Why do it in our country, Gala?" he asked suspiciously, "And who will be hosting our stay there? I am sure not many will be keen to let several demiurges and unpredictable demigods in their homes."

"Right, she dismissed you earlier than the two of us yesterday," the daughter of Athena answered, "It has all been taken care of so the only thing left to do is board the train and get there before lunch."

Eonia smiled serenely at us and looked expectantly, "If there aren't any questions then might I suggest that we leave posthaste? I am excited, to be honest!"

"Right back at you, Eonia," I exclaimed happily that made the daughter of Hephaestus wink at me, "This is the first time I will travel abroad."

The daughter of Hera looked at me fondly, "Same with me. That makes the two of us."

"Just don't make a mess of yourself," Zenith advice and walking away from our group towards the window.

"Like your father often do? Don't worry, I am genetically immune from that as well as educationally taught not to make any mess and be caught doing it in the act," Avesa answered respectfully that made the son of Zeus unconsciously summon a lightning bolt in hin right hand only to disperse it and continued walking.

"And he didn't even have something to retort, Morris."

"Strike three, Vivet! I am starting to like our esteemed guest more and more!"

Indeed.

This will be a very interesting trip, to say the least.

I just know it.

-0-

"Man, this train is so slow!"

We all looked at the son of death who complained loudly thirty or so minutes after we have boarded the train that will carry us far north of the viceroyalty.

Eonia coughed a little and look at him incredulously, "Excuse me? This is the latest line of trains fresh from my father's workshop at the Cretonian Union."

"Definitely not the fastest your father has produced, that's for sure," Morris said in his mind as the daughter of the god of smith looked at me annoyingly.

"Fes up, Vivet. What did he say?"

I gulped and glanced at my companion who just rolled his eyes, "He said that it is not the fastest Hephaestus has made."

"Well, I am sure there is a reason why my father hasn't released his best. Maybe we are not yet ready for it?"

The son of the god of death looked at Eonia and sighed, "Maybe he thought it is not worth it anyway since this world is like in a steady decline or recession."

"Decline? Recession? Care to explain more, Morris?" Gala asked curiously as she returned from the restroom and heard what my companion has said.

Morris looked around us and shake his head vigorously as he looked at Rebie and Vaski, "I'd rather not. I already looked and act insane. Might as well not shame me further in front of our guest like the way I did back in the emirate."

"Actually, I once heard a senior priestess in the temple of my mother as we sort old records that our world was not what it used to be," Avesa piped in while sitting surprisingly at the center of Zenith and Taurei comfortably, "She showed me several scriptures that really doesn't make any sense to me but my senior said that it is all real."

She got Morris' attention as he asked her a probing question, "Doesn't make any sense? Can you give me an example, if you don't mind?"

"Well, for starters, she showed me when I was a child a picture of giant metal birds carrying mortals and immortals to the skies across vast distances," Avesa said clearly that made my companion slowly stand up, "Those metal birds have a nest or something on land where they come and go to let people embark and disembark."

"Can you tell me more?"

She nodded at Morris request and closed her eyes as if to help her remember more, "I also saw an ancient painting of an electrical box like the television but it can do many things. You can watch, you can play with it, you can use it to communicate among other things. They even have a small box or something that can easily fit your palm which basically does the same thing. It's like distance means nothing because everyone can easily connect with each other."

"Thank you, Avesa..."

The High Priestess smiled and bowed her head humbly, "No, thank you, Morris. I always want to share these stories with others but aside from the caretakers and priestesses of the temple, I have no one else to talk to."

"A sheltered life," I said compassionately as she nodded in agreement.

"Very, Vivet. That's why when my mother ordered me to do this job, I know I just have to do it. This may be my once in a lifetime chance to see the world outside the temple walls."

Morris returned to his seat beside me and looked expectantly to Avesa, "I hope I can have a chance to visit Queen Hera's temple soon. I want to see the records for myself."

"That can be arranged. But why so interested? I don't think it is just a random hobby or something? The way you acted earlier, it's like your life depends on it..."

"That's one way of saying it," he agreed as he looked at me, "What if I tell you all that, unlike Vivet who doesn't remember anything at all, what I do have as memories are the things that we study in history classes from thousands of years ago."

Asher just looked at him and nodded seriously, "Yeah, you really smell different, Morris."

"I always take a bath twice a day, Asher," the son of Thanatos said half-jokingly.

The son of Lytta angrily barked back, "No! That's not what I meant to say! What I mean is that your scent is so different. Like it belongs to another time and places much like Vivet. That's why I always can't differentiate your smells from each other."

"So any wild guesses, classmates?" Narcine piped in and looked at the two of us excitedly, "Oh! What if you two are from a hidden settlement or something like Ms Peregrine suggested?"

Rebie shook her head and sighed, "Highly doubtful, Narcine. If there is a settlement like that, their powers would've been detected by the armed forces of our respective nations guarding our borders. My guess is that they are relics?"

"Relics?" I asked tentatively as she nodded at Gala who just looked at the two of us seriously.

"Meaning you two are somehow remnants of ages past thrown in the present," the daughter of Athena said quietly.

"Or you could be time-travellers? You crossed the boundaries of time and space to be here," Eonia suggested that just made me and Morris chuckle.

We looked at each other and smiled sadly, "Or we could just be your random teenagers who hit their heads badly and suddenly began spouting random crazy words."

"If only it is that simple," Syden said as he looked at the frozen wastelands outside the train, "Maybe we can find some clues about you two at the country of Gala and Zenith? Pagosians are known for being freaky note-takers. I am sure they have some records about the last golden age and we can also use that for our homework! Win-win!"

Estelle smiled at the son of Koalemos, "You probably think way more than I do, Syden. You sure you are a son of Koalemos?"

"To be honest, sometimes I ask the same question to myself. But alas, I am that odd son of the god of stupidity who entered and got admitted to the Hellenic Citadel," he answered cheerfully before looking at his seatmate, "You are awfully quiet, Taurei. Are you ok?"

The Pagosian just nodded curtly and looked outside at the tundra, "Why here of all places?"

"For someone from the magistracy, you are awfully not enthusiastic in returning to your country," Morris asked carefully as we saw Taurei looking positively in a bad mood.

He didn't face us and instead continued to watch the sceneries outside gloomily, "I am officially registered in the Magistracy of Pagos but I barely remembered my time here. I grew up in the Republic of Anoixi for as long as I can remember clearly."

"And the reason why you don't like it here is?" I asked quietly that made him angry all of a sudden.

"Because I am kicked out of Pagos for reasons I don't know. My adoptive mother and sibling just told me that Lord Hephaestus brought me in their home one day for I am no longer welcome in the magistracy. Why the heck would I want to return to a place that doesn't want me at all?!"

I didn't know how can I answer his question but Avesa surprisingly looked at him straight into his eyes unflinchingly.

"You have very beautiful cyan eyes, Taurei," she said sincerely but her praise was met with a cold shoulder as he just turned his back and closed his eyes as if to sleep.

"Forget about us, Vivet. Taurei is certainly keeping secrets, all right."

"I don't think he is keeping anything, Morris. It is more like there's a lot hidden about him that he can't comprehend."

As we looked outside the snow-covered plains being blanketed by a raging blizzard, we have this feeling that we might finally have a clue about our past hidden beneath this cold, desolate country of the north...