Where The Dead Ones Go Book 2 -Republic-

Chapter 3

"For the children..."

I suddenly remembered my mother's words.

She stayed and endured living in a cold dark place so that the children like this boy will have hope for the future.

I took the crown from his hand and instead of putting it on my head, I tied it in my neck instead as the crowd clapped their hands in thunderous applause and cheering when I carried him in my arms and nodded meaningfully at the guards who bowed and finally let the children come to me in droves.

Children of all ages, genders and sizes swarmed me as they try to touch my hand.

"Vivet, look up!"

I followed the voice of my cousin in my head and looked at the skies, which, to my surprise, is gently raining down petals of sampaguitas made of golden light.

"Mother..."

"She loves children, huh, Vivet?"

"As you well know, Morris."

I looked at the boy in my arms that are just quietly staring at me, "Where are your parents?"

"I am an orphan. My mom and dad died when I was a baby, my Lady."

I closed my eyes and nodded before looking at him again, "Looks like we are the same. Don't worry; everything will be all right as long as you keep on hoping and working for a better tomorrow. Would you promise to me that you will never lose hope no matter what happens in the future?"

"I promise..."

I put him down and waved him and all the children goodbye as they left my side happily and we continue walking while golden petals are still raining down on us above reminding everyone here that hope is more than just a dream and fantasy.

It is a reality for those who believe.

Finally, we reached the entrance of the huge mall where the owners are waiting for us in bated breath as they bowed in front of my cousin and me and showed us the ribbon that needed to be cut to signal the opening of the first-ever grand mall of this size in the republic.  

"I hope that in the future, the Republic of Anoixi and its people will impress me with even more feats of marvellous architecture that showcases the ingenuity and playfulness of Anoixians as a whole. May this grand mall that welcomes all people from all walks of life, ages and genders be a symbol of the everlasting love of this nation's people to fun, pleasure and airconditioned buildings."

I heard the peals of laughter from the audience when I playfully poked fun to their country's odd fixation with airconditioning and their love for just lounging about lazily doing nothing in a single room as long as it is colder than their blazingly hot nation.

"Lastly, I pray to the gods and goddesses above and below the blessings and continued prosperity and hospitality of the republic to its guests and neighbours. Again, I commend you all for building this edifice that will surely stand for a long time and if not, can be easily rebuilt by the hardworking Anoixians that will stand up no matter how hard the world put them down against all adversities and problems that come in their lives. With a smile on your faces, continue to live on full of hope and steadfastness you are all famous of. As His Excellency, Atomo Axiopisto, President of the Republic of Anoixi has told me, it is not that his people don't experience problems. They know how not to let it get better of them and continue to be happy amidst trials and tribulations. May the blessings of the deities and my mother, Elpis be upon you all. Thank you for welcoming my friends and me from the Hellenic Citadel to your nation with open arms and warm foods. Glory to the Land of Eternal Calm!"

I raised my hands and summoned my mayflies made of white light and willed them to take on a giant winged form of my mother above the mall and looking down at the people who are all clapping their hands and cheering for me loudly before I let it explode in a shower of light as I bowed and stepped down from the podium prepared by the owners who gave me and Morris scissors to use for cutting the ribbon.

"Honestly, I don't know why I am even included in this ceremony," Morris said honestly that made the owners smile at him, "The son of the god of death opening a mall for the living. Weird."

"Weird for you, my Lord but for us Anoixians whom despite our seemingly carefree nature know that everything starts with hope and ends with death. We appreciate our lives because we respect death. Your presence here will be a symbol of our belief that only death can stop us from rebuilding."

My cousin nodded at one of the investors who answered his question and let me cut the first ribbon, and he followed suit, "I remember my father once mentioned that not even him couldn't put down the hardworking Anoixians. Even in the afterlife, they are as optimistic as they are when alive."

I smiled at him and nodded as we give the ribbon and scissors to the owners who opened the door of the grand mall for the first time.

We respectfully declined their offer for the banquet casually pointing at our impatient companion and true enough, they dropped it.

"Looks like he is more feared than the president himself, Vivet."

"No kidding, Morris."

Kairos walked towards us, followed by the presidential security detail, "We still have to drop by the Office of the Dodonan Affairs. I don't think I need to remind you about the state of traffic here in our country when you already experienced it firsthand earlier?"

"No need, Kairos. We're coming," Morris answered as he let him guide us back to our car as I wave at the Anoixians before finally getting inside after my cousin.

"I am wondering since earlier, what is Dodonan Affairs for?"

The son of Khronos looked at me, curiously, "Are you sure you don't know what is Dodona?"

"Well, I do," my cousin said as he began to explain what it is, "Dodona is a small autonomous region inside the Republic of Anoixi. It is a territory at the far outskirts of the country where the temple of Apollo is located. People from all over the world travel there to have their futures read and or have their dreams interpreted by the Sibyls, priestesses of the god of truth. The government of Anoixi stays out of its affairs and have the Office of the Dodonan Affairs deal with liaising between them and the national government. I find it rather lucky for us to score a visit. I heard the rumours when I was living on the streets that it takes years at the least and decades at worse even to set up an appointment."

"Why we even have to visit Dodona is a mystery to me, Morris," I said truthfully as I noticed Kairos' expression souring, "What's the matter?"

"I think that place is a waste of time. His Excellency brought me there the first week he took me in and what did we get? A fat load of nothing."

My cousin's eyebrow furrowed when he heard that, "Nothing? What do you mean nothing, Kairos?"

"Nothing as in nothing. The woman who looked at me just sent us away saying that she doesn't meddle with the matters about the powers that be or some nonsense. If I were you, I wouldn't expect much when you visit them. You will get nonsensical words at worse and indecipherable advice at best. Maybe the president wanted you two to try and see for yourself if you will get some revelation from that place."

Morris and I look at each other quietly as the car managed to get out of the monster traffic jam by sounding the siren signalling other vehicles that they are from the Office of the President and let us counterflow or risk spending the whole afternoon and possibly the entire night on the road.

It was already ten past four when we arrived in front of the building where the Office of the Dodonan Affairs is headquartered as the guards let us in without delay and head straight for the office of the cabinet secretary who is buried in work behind her desk when we arrived inside her office crammed with difficult books about diplomacy and oddly, divination.

"Your Excellency, Madame Secretary Syna Villiers, I have brought you the children of the god of death and goddess of hope, Morris Mortheo and Vivet Vivier."

The woman looked up when Kairos announced our arrival and true enough, and we see the face of the bespectacled female version of our classmate looking at the two of us carefully.

"And fifty minutes before the appointment. As early as always, Kairos," she answered with a slight hint of annoyance that our companion blissfully ignored, "Anyways, I am Syna Villiers, Secretary of the Office of the Dodonan Affairs and mother of your idiotic classmate, Syden Villiers. I sincerely hope he is not spreading stupidity willy-nilly."

"Madame Secretary, he is anything but that. Syden is very wise despite being the son of the god of stupidity. Still, after hearing about your stellar intellectual reputation, I finally know why he got mad when I keep on asking if he is his father's son," Morris replied that made the mother smile a little as we shook his hands and sit down at the chairs in front of her desk, "Might I also be bold to say that he certainly took after your appearance. He is like your male version."

She nodded and inclined her head at the small picture frame perched in her table showing her younger self and a toddler Syden sitting on her lap reading newspaper intently, "Your words of disbelief is duly noted and appreciated. I am pleased to hear that he took to heart my teachings and reminders."

"I have to say I am curious to know what they are, Your Excellency," I said curiously that made her laugh and shook her head as she sat down on her leather chair once more to face us.

"Nothing much. Just a few lessons about using the powers of his father as a weapon to terrorize his foes and manipulation."

"Remind me again not to repeat the transgression that I did in the past, Vivet."

"Will do, Morris. Truly, Syden is not someone to be trifled with."

Kairos coughed pointedly that made the secretary chuckle, "All right, all right, Kairos. Onto business. I am missing the days when we, at the government, can relax instead of working. Anyways, before the child of Atomo's patience run thin, I will tell give you now this letter of recommendation from my office. This will let you get preferential treatment when you arrived at Apollo's temple tomorrow."

"Thank you, Madame Secretary," Morris said as he took the envelope and gave it to Kairos who slid it inside his suit.

"Also, let me warn you to conduct yourself properly. The Dodonans in the temple are rather keen on keeping the sanctity of the sanctuary. Don't ask too many questions and conduct yourself well."

"You have our word, Your Excellency," I answered as she looked at the two of us cheerfully.

"Great! Now, I do know for a fact that you two are foster children of Irene. She never changed, huh? Always slapping the name of her company on anything and anyone including her son and daughter," she then pointed at our nameplates pinned at our left chests for everyone to see, "She, Atomo and I are on the same class back at the Hellenic Citadel. It is a surprise to even see you two here at the republic at all when she wouldn't even do so much as step on a train leading here."

Morris just laughed out loud as I sighed exasperatedly, "It's thanks to Lady Iris stepping in, Madame Secretary. If not for our foster grandmother, we will not be here at all with our friends."

"I wonder why she is so adamant against us travelling here. Maybe you can tell us, Your Excellency?" I asked, but as expected, she just shook her head and stood up.

"Sadly, I am not the woman brave enough to incur the wrath of Irene. Look somewhere else, you two," she replied dismissively as my cousin, and I stood up as well, "That's it for your appointment with me. I hope you will continue to enjoy your stay here in our country as much as your friends do especially those three children of the queens lounging at the beach all day. Or so Syden told me earlier during lunch."

We chuckled when we imagine whose "three" those are and shook her hands once more before excusing ourselves respectfully.

"If we go now, we can return home before the sun sets."

I looked at Kairos, who is rechecking his watch, "Well, I do hope that we can eat something truly edible this time around."

"Hear, hear, cousin. The painful memories of last night's meal haunted me even in my dreams, or should I say nightmare?"

"His Excellency said that he would be bringing in his final resort so I can at least safely say that our dinner for tonight will be better than the last. Although I didn't mind the taste as long as I am getting filled."

Morris and I shook our heads at the son of the god of time as we get in the car which quickly revved up the engine and breezed through the thankfully traffic-free streets followed by the fleet of vehicles behind us.

"Is it needed to be surrounded by an army of guards, Kairos?" Morris asked as he looked behind and saw black cars tailing us, "We are not the president to be this heavily guarded."

"Well, yeah. You two are performing the duties and obligations of His Excellency, so in a way, you two are the president in his place and needs to be guarded," Kairos answered as he checked the final task for the day in his small notebook, "That and you two are the demiurges of hope and death. Suppose something happened to you two like in the magistracy. I doubt your parents, specifically Thanatos, will take it lightly. I heard from the president that your class made quite a stir back at Pagos."

I sighed sadly as memories of our immersion at the northern nation came flooding in our collective minds, "You could say that again. Between finding out the truth and travelling to and from the past, it is certainly far from the rather peaceful immersion we are having now at the republic that's for sure."

"Now that I think about it, it is more like a dream than reality, Vivet. But it did happen. No matter how unbelievable it is," my cousin seconded as our companion look at us thoughtfully, "Being the son and personal guard of the president, I bet you know the truth on what happened back at the Magistracy of Pagos, eh, Kairos?"

He nodded and look at us, expectantly, "I do. But I believed it the moment I heard it from my foster father, unlike the other members of his cabinet including your classmate's mother."

"How so?" I asked.

"Well, I am the son of Khronos. Travelling to the past is possible, strictly speaking. The Parelthon Glacier is also known as the Gates of Past created by my father to guide mortals who are brave enough to venture into the depths of yesterday and can pay the price," he answered thoughtfully as he tries to remember something, "If I recall correctly, there is a similar place like that here in the republic. Simera Cave, I think?"

Morris looked interested when he heard that from our companion, "Eh? If Parelthon Glacier is the Gates of Past, then what could be the Simera Cave symbolize?"

"Present."

Wel looked at Kairos, who nodded slowly as he seemingly tries to recall more.

"Yes, present. If the one in the northern reaches is representing the past, here in the western seas lies the doors to present which is said to show those who are willing to pay the toll the things happening now that are hidden to them."

"Kind of hard to understand but at the same time I get it," my cousin said thoughtfully as he looked outside the car window and view the setting sun, "We might think that we know what is happening in our lives right now, but it is also true that things are happening simultaneously that we are unaware of. After all, mortals are not all-knowing. Even the gods themselves are not."

I nodded and remembered what Gala told me before, "Athena herself said that she is continuously learning. No one knows it all, strictly speaking. It is the first step towards idiocy, to claim that you know everything. Or so a daughter of Athena told me."

The two boys nodded quietly in agreement as our car stopped at in front of the condominium of our host at last.