Azreus turned around as he looked at this frail old woman standing before him with a bent back and worn-out wooden stick in her hand.
Her face was filled with wrinkles, her nose was pointy and crooked, and her hair a pale white. Her overall appearance would make anyone think that this old woman already had one foot in the grave.
And seeing her frail and short smaller stature in front of this tall, muscular man only made her seem even tinier.
Azreus pulled back his hood as he stared blankly at her and said, "It has nothing to do with you, Xona."
"Nothing to do with me?" Xona asked with a frown as she pressed her finger against his chest and said vehemently, "Do you have any idea how much trouble I have gone through to make sure we stay hidden? You couldn't even think of at least letting me know before you go somewhere and risk getting exposed?"
Azreus briefly looked at her finger as he moved her finger away and said flatly, "It couldn't wait. I had kept a promise—"
"You and your promises. The promises you made as Azu doesn't matter. You are not that mortal anymore. You are a divine being who doesn't have to bother about insignificant matters of the mortals. We have way bigger issues at hand. You know that, right?" Xona said in her raspy voice as she looked at him.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAzreus narrowed his eyes as he said, "My promises are the only reason I am even listening to you. Don't forget that. That day you granted me my wish, and even though it wasn't exactly what I wished for, I am honoring my end of the deal as promised even today. If I had forgotten about those promises like you said I wouldn't have to do anything you say."
Xona closed her eyes briefly as she let out a heavy sigh, "Azreus…You know I am telling this not to be a headache to you but for the greater good. You are the key to everything. So if you get exposed, everything we did so far would go down the drain."
Azreus looked away with a wandering gaze as he said, "You don't have to worry about that. I didn't leave any trails."
Xona shook her head as she said with furrowed brows, "You don't think when you unleashed your divine presence in a mortal realm, the Guardian Gods wouldn't notice? Trust me when I say you don't know them like I do. So you should at least listen to me on this matter."
Azreus's gaze returned to her as he said nonchalantly, "Even if that's the case, I will deal with them. In the end, we will have to do that anyway,"
"You what? Uhh…I don't even know what I expected to hear from you. I told you before. We can't afford to deal with them right now. We are not ready yet. We can't afford to take risks. This is a very sensitive time, especially with your other half of the soul running around and attracting attention. Why did he even wake up now? If only he slept for a few thousands of years more, we would have fewer things to worry about," Xona said with a tired headshake.
"No. It could be a good thing. He will distract any unnecessary attention that could have fallen on us. We will use him as bait as once discussed before," Azreus said without a change in his expression.
Xona nodded with a look of contemplation, "I guess that is the only thing we can do," She then looked at him and continued, "But right now, we have to leave this realm just to be safe. You go and get her while I prepare things for us to leave."
"That girl is an unnecessary burden. I still don't understand why we even need her. She hasn't shown anything that supports your theories about her origins," Azreus said flatly.
"As far as you know. But I am telling you she is the final incarnation of a very dear friend your previous self knew. We just have to wait till she awakens her true potential. Till then, we aren't ready," Xona firmly said.
Azreus didn't say anything anymore as he walked past her when Xona said from behind, "Be nice to her!"
Azreus continued walking towards the small hut located on the top of the same cliff.
The hut was small enough with no rooms inside. It was just one big space that made up the inside.
Azreus had to bend his back to enter through the door only to have his gaze focused when a bucket of water suddenly swung right towards his face from the top.
Before the water from the bucket could splash on his face, it froze and dissipated away, including the bucket.
"Ayiii!! How come you reacted so fast? I was sure it would work this time. You even destroyed my poor bucket…" A girl's sulky yet mischievous voice sounded from behind one of the beds, hiding behind it.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAzreus shifted his emotionless eyes towards her as he said in a stone-cold voice, "This isn't the time to play games, Evra. Pack your things. We are leaving this place right now."
The girl looked around 19 years old and had fair peach-like skin with flawless features, especially her well-shaped nose, her puffy, heart-shaped red lips, and her enticing, constellation-black eyes.
She had a sculpted figure with a tapered waist and arched eyebrows that looked down on her sweeping eyelashes. Anybody would feel it a pleasure to admire her desirable appearance, especially the swirls of caramel-brown hair that curtained her oval face.
Evra pouted as she slowly got up timidly and slowly walked towards him, "Why? Why do we have to leave now? I like it here. I don't want to go. I promise I will be good. Pretty pleaseeeee?" She asked as she looked up at him, standing just a foot away from him.
Despite seeing her puppy eyes, Azreus's eyes didn't flicker as he said, "This decision is final and something Grandma Xona agrees on. You can come with us, or you can stay here alone till the beasts come and eat you up."
Evra's chin quivered upon hearing his words and threw her fists at his chest as she cried out, "You big meanie! I won't let you leave, hmph!" Evra said with intense determination as she hugged his arm tightly as if to prevent him from moving.
"What is going on here? Evra, my dear, what are you doing?" Xona asked as she stood at the door.
"Hey!"
Azreus casually lifted his arm along with her hanging down on his arm and asked coolly, "Are you really sure you were talking about the same person?"
Xona sighed as she placed her hand on her forehead, thinking that she would have to deal with things like these for who knows how long.