Where The Dead Ones Go Book 2 -Republic-

Chapter 9

"Always remember, my daughter, nothing is impossible, if you believe in hope..."

I heard my mother's voice in my heart that lighted a fire of hope deep inside my heart as it gave me a second wind as the floating silver orb before us begins to pulse dangerously.

"If this is our end, then so be it. At least we have a good run, eh, Jeeves?"

"Ah, Master Atomo, that is correct. From a weak boy, a crying teenager, and a business leader to becoming the President of the Republic of Anoixi, you did have a good run, and I, just being there all along the way, feel the same."

"True, Master Atomo. At least we will die serving, right, Seola?"

"Indeed, Tina. To die in the line of duty is the best death we can ever hope for."

However, Morris looks relatively calm and oddly confident as he looks at me with utmost pride and belief, "Yes, you will all die, everyone will die, even I will die..."

We heard a loud pulsating sound, and the orb began to show signs of an imminent explosion as it slowly started to increase in size, and rays of silver light began to escape from it.

"...but not tonight, eh, my cousin?"

I smiled and threw my stuff into the air as the jar dissipates, and we are left defenseless.

"Elpis: Imperial Palace!"

Blinding light exploded from my staff midair, and the moment it dissipated, my companion gasped as to what just appeared from the radiance.

We are now inside a majestic palace made of pure ephemeral light several stories high.

"It can't be, this is the..."

The president nodded at his butler in awe, "Yes! I've seen this before in one of the ancient records back at the republic government's vaults. This is the Imperial Palace of the Empire of Plurinational Alliance Xenocracy!"

"Oh, gods! Here it comes!" Seola screamed as she pointed at the orb that is slowly opening.

"Brace yourselves!" Tina shouted as it completely opened and let out the light of pure, primordial power that leveled everything in its path.

The moment the obliterating energy hit my palace, it started to disintegrate it.

Just like how time will slowly but surely ravage anything and everything that stands against it.

But hope endures the test of time.

I willed my mayflies to swarm around the damaged parts of the palace quickly.

I can do this...

No! I must!

This is the only thing I can do, and I will make sure that I will do it right!

Everything around us was finally engulfed in Kairos' power, and my palace began to crumble around us. However, even though I am hurting and coughing blood, I still hold on to my faith as I spread my wings defiantly and opened my arms to unleash what is left of my powers to reinforce my walls.

And the onslaught suddenly ceased as the ravaging light began to dissipate, and my palace is still standing tall, barely.

"Kairos..."

I looked up as I heard the son of Thanatos whispered his name, and I quickly and saw him looking down on us all with his silver wings spreading proudly behind him as he summoned his two silver swords based on the hands of the clock.

He is beautiful, timeless, and unforgiving.

His eyes are glowing in faint silver light, and in a flash, he is now quickly descending straight towards me.

"Vivet! Run away, now!" Mr Atomo shouted from behind, but I don't think I can even do it even if I wanted to.

I tried to move, but as I summoned my staff to me, I know I will never even defend myself.

"Elpis: Benevolent Light!"

Several mayflies surrounded me and created a barely visible dome around me, and at that very moment, when the son of the god of time breached my palace and shattered my defenses, I know it may well be my end.

But as if deja vu, his swords hit something midair in a loud metallic clang.

"Is this how you will repay the one who returned your wings and saved you from a neverending pain, Kairos?"

Morris slowly came to view, and just like before, my cousin saved me again in my direst moment.

His voice seemed to wake up Kairos from his stupor as the light left his eyes, and he repeatedly blinked before lowering down his swords in shame as he slowly learns what he is about to do.

"What am I doing?"

My cousin heaved a sigh of relief and groaned in exhaustion as he smacked the head of the president's son.

"You awakened, and you tried to kill Vivet, that's what!"

He gasped and looked at me standing behind Morris and was about to fall over, but he managed to catch me just in time.

"Vivet! I am so sorry! I was just, and I don't know what I am doing anymore! What can I do to earn your forgiveness?! I am truly feeling horrible right now, and I don't know what to say anymore. I promise I will do anything. You gave me my wings, but I tried to take away your life. How can I possibly show you my sincerest apology?"

We heard a fake cough behind us as Mr. Atomo raised an eyebrow at his son disapprovingly, "You know, I have never said anything even if you did a lot of things that I am too embarrassed to say out loud. But this particular one is just despicable. To raise not just one but two swords against a respectable and beautiful young lady that gave you your life back is just truly shameful."

"I know! But how can I..."

He fell silent as his father raised his right hand and smiled at him a little, "That's enough, Kairos. Less talk, fewer mistakes. Just do what your heart tells you what you ought to do right now."

Kairos then looked at me straight into the eye before kissing me softly, which made me even weaker than I already am.

"Now, I know that he did try to kill my cousin, my foster sibling no less! But I can forgive him now that he showed me the moves..."

"Shut up, Morris."

"Oh, don't you worry, my beloved cousin, I will. This is your moment..."

Kairos opened his eyes and finally let go of my lips as he smiles rather awkwardly, "I am sorry, believe me."

"I believe in you, Kairos."

He shed a tear and nodded as he spread his wings and started to fly, "Come, Vivet."

I shook my head and looked at my white wings sadly, "I can't fly..."

"Then, I shall be your wings."

He then hugged me once more and carried me high above the dark skies full of stars, and the moon is shining ever so brightly.

"You know, the moon is gorgeous tonight," I said as we stare at it.

"Not as beautiful as you, Vivet."

I laughed softly at him and raised an eyebrow, "What, are you now throwing pickup lines at me, Kairos?"

"Do I look like someone who will waste time spouting such things?"

"No. You're different, Kairos."

"I hope it is a good different, Vivet."

"You are so unreachable and unfathomable, and I thought you will never say things like these ever..."

"I don't even know why I am saying this, but what I do know is that I am grateful that I finally meet you again..."

"Again?"

"It's the feeling that we had once met a long, long time ago..."

"So you will say, "You look familiar, have we met before?", Kairos?"

He just chuckled and showed his perfect set of white teeth and his sweet innocent smile, "Even I know not to say such things."

"Now, what?"

"What now what?"

"Why did you bring me here?"

"So, I can have you for myself?"

I laughed a little as I pinched his cheek, "Aren't you just adorable right now?"

"Am I?"

"Yes."

We spend just a few more seconds staring at each other's faces before I heaved a sigh of contentment.

"I am sorry, Vivet."

"You are already forgiven, Kairos."

"I don't know if you can trust me ever again after what I have done..."

I sincerely nodded at him and touched his face fondly before slowly letting him go, "I trust you enough to believe that you will catch me when I fall."

I closed my eyes and pushed him away, and I let myself fall from high above the sky.

Honestly, I was expecting to feel pain and then die, but I didn't.

Instead, I feel nothing at all.

When I opened my eyes, I am still staring at the moon above, and the winged boy was slowly descending from the skies.

He then wrapped his arms around me before relinquishing the power he used to make me stop from hitting the ground like stopping time itself.

"Are you insane? You could have died!"

"Maybe I am out of my mind, but at least I showed you that I trust you with my life. The same life that you tried to take."

I got up on my own and began walking towards Morris, Mr Atomo, Jeeves, Seola, and Tina, all waving at us.

"Vivet?"

"What?" I asked without looking back as I willed my wings to disperse into countless feathers that transformed into the light that exploded into countless dust motes.

"How can I remove my wings?"

I looked back, and my heart melted when he looked at me shyly in embarrassment as I just chuckled and shook my head as I continued walking.

"He's all yours, Morris."

"Leave him to me, Vivet."

I suddenly heard a surprised yelp as I saw in my cousin's mind's eye that he just appeared unexpectedly next to Kairos and began to tell him how to animatedly will his wings away.

"How can I ever thank you, Vivet?"

I looked at Mr. Atomo, teary-eyed as Jeeves, and the maids are wiping their tears of joy.

"A nice meal of hot lugaw, and we can call it even, Mr Atomo."

He looked behind him as the two maids clung on my arms as they help me stand steadily as the backlash of everything that I did tonight is finally making me pay for all the punishment I forced my body to endure.

"How about you sleep first, and we can call it your day off tomorrow, young Lady?"

"That sounds perfect, Jeeves."

-0-

IRIS DELIVERY SERVICE: A Multitrillonaire Rainbow Company!

Irene Iridis, C.E.O, the first multitrillonaire mortal in Tiera?

In a surprising turn of events last night, demiurges of the god of death, Thanatos, and goddess of hope, Elpis, acted as representatives for their foster mother's company as the supposedly small-time private parcel company headquartered in the downtown district of the Viceroyalty of Auralia swept through the expensive monarch collection of the Republic of Anoixi as quickly as it bagged the One Trillion Drachmas feather which the bettors are bidding a record high of Four Hundred Million until the foster daughter of Irene Iridis stepped in and ended the war in a single sentence.

"ONE TRILLION DRACHMAS FOR IRIS DELIVERY SERVICE!"

In a single statement, the financial world was turned upside down when the mythical goddess's firstborn said the words that will forever be etched in the memories of the bidders and the viewers of the live auction last night.

However, the firstborn of the feared god of death handled all the first bidding for his foster mother. She adopted him posthaste after he gallantly assisted her first foster child in a now-legendary entrance examination this year of the prestigious Hellenic Citadel.

He swept easily through the monarch collection rather quickly as he also bagged an expensive mechanical contraption and a lotus staff worth Eight Hundred Million.

But the main event is the feather of unknown origin and contains mysterious powers found in the republic.

The continent's elites, socialites, businessmen, and women all took their gloves off, and some even prepared to pawn off their businesses to get the feather that was rumored to bless the owner with vast powers.

No immortals have laid claim on that particular feather, so as one can guess, and it became a free for all.

What started as One Billion Drachmas quickly escalated to Four Hundred Billion in a span of just a few minutes. The fight continues to rage bitterly until the daughter of Elpis stepped in and ended the fighting.

"I CAN NEITHER CONFIRM NOR DENY THAT OUR C.E.O AND OUR COMPANY IS VALUED AT OVER A TRILLION DRACHMAS."

A spokesperson for the elusive private company faced the hoard of media with a short statement neither confirming nor denying that the Iris Delivery Service is the most valuable company in the world, easily surpassing Lord Hermes' own publicly owned company.

Financial experts and pundits are now scratching their heads on the mystery of how the company of a daughter of the rainbow goddess managed to hide its unbelievable value this long.

A small company composed of a few retrofitted scooters for small, fast deliveries was started by then newly graduated Irene Iridis, propped up her business with help from her siblings from Iris that acted as her investors and advisers.

Several years later, business analysts now have just realized how much the company has grown into a gigantic delivery land behemoth with branches from the northernmost settlements of the magistracy to the small arid villages at the southern emirate. Her company has cleverly and humbly didn't try to dip its fingers on the god of messengers' target customers that are composed of multi-national companies, educational institutions, and government institutions.

Instead, it catered to everyday mortals who want to send a quick parcel from point A to point B even if A is located at the easternmost reaches of the union to B's western mountain ranges by the ocean as fast as possible without so much fuss costing a few coins of Drachmas at worst and a few cents at best.

This allowed the company to amass fortunes by personally making sure that their motto, "No parcels undelivered before sundown," will be remembered and appreciated by their satisfied customers from those living in the lively downtown or the glitzy uptown to the remote, sometimes never heard, settlements to goodness knows where you can be sure that they might not have a telephone line. Still, they sure have a branch of Iris Delivery Service to cater to their delivery needs.

"As I always say, I am eternally thankful that Iris and I didn't share the same line of business because my predecessor will easily leave my own company to eat her rainbow dust."

The god of the messenger himself released an official statement of relief when asked for her comments regarding his mentor's private company's supposedly gigantic valuation.

He is glad and nothing but praises to the goddess of rainbows' success and wishes her nothing but even more future achievements.

Lord Hermes said that he is just glad that finally, after all these eons, his venerable and humble mentor is reaping the kindness and magnanimity she has sown for a long time.

As of now, the elusive C.E.O of Iris Delivery Service and her siblings cannot be seen nor heard amidst this mindblowing purchase and undoubtedly the most memorable auction night not just in the Republic of Anoixi but the whole Gearth as well.

For that very night, more than Two Trillion Drachmas will be funneled to charity institutions taking care of orphaned children.

Thanks mostly to the goddess of rainbow's generous and wealthy company.