Parodos: Strophê (V)
Disclaimer: I own neither properties
A/N: Thank you for sticking around!
I'm sorry for the long waits between chapters. I wanted to thoroughly plan out where I wanted to take the story before I started uploading again. I'll try to be faster and more consistent with the uploads from here on out.
This chapter is kinda heavy in telling not showing, but hopefully the small hints in the previous chapters will allow things to make sense/not suck balls.
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- / Bell / -
A poignant expression had fallen over his face as he knelt before the peaceful countenance goddess. Only his whispers broke the silence within the church's vast main hall. Furthermore, multi-colored moonlight was bathing him in a wondrous, holy glow as it shone through the central rose window.
Under his breath, he continued to mutter a prayer. "...oh, hear my voice... I hope you understand... please forgive me... I miss you."
Due to his deep focus, he never noticed Cyd joining him at the altar until she spoke up after his prayer. Only a slight jump and a small 'eep' were the reactions she got from him, though.
"I never took you for being a devotee, Bell. Maman told me you always hated staying in this room, willingly or not."
"I-... uh... I guess you could say I found a different perspective since then." He briefly paused while looking at the offering bowl before continuing. "I just thought that if my strength wasn't cutting it, then maybe it was time for me to start asking for a little help from above instead."
"Heh, can you imagine it? The goddess finally descends, and it's to Mollywhop my grandpa's stupid butt six ways from Sunday! WHAM! POW! SPLAT! Wouldn't that be a sight?" He playfully joked. The depressing ambiance in the air partially lifted as a smile tugged at his lips.
"Anyhow, I just came up here to make this one official. I thought admitting to being a bit bratty back then sounded like a good start."
His head was comically pushed back when she suddenly flicked his forehead. Her tongue then clicked at him before following it with a dark expression.
"Only a bit, huh? How about the times when you graffitied the church or set fireworks in the latrines? Who do you think Maman assigned to clean up all those messes?"
"Urk!" He cringed before avoiding her narrowed eyes with a nervous titter. "O-oh, right. Um... I'm sorry for that too, Cyd. I-I hope you're not still mad?"
After a few frosty seconds, he was starting to wonder if he should've just booked it after she brought that stuff up, especially since he was hoping that she never picked up any of his Nanna's infamous punishment 'games' either.
When his inner terror reached its peak, her stern expression suddenly broke to reveal a surprising bout of cute, idiosyncratic giggles.
"Kufu ki-hi-hi! Oh- kufufu! -relax, Bell! I'm only messing with you. I know you are (and better be), but to be honest, it wasn't that bad. I remember when your mother used to lash out with a lot worse."
Her eyes then took on a funny, dream-like glaze, as if she was lost in a memory. "She was such a terror around the church that it drove maman nuts. There's a reason she was the only one that got out of having to wear these silly robes. A little like mother, like son, hmm?"
- X o X -
He knew it wasn't quite the same, but her expression and teasing laughter had nevertheless overlapped with a phantom image of his mother doing the same.
It only made the guilt and melancholy festering inside his heart grow even stronger.
- X o X -
"I guess."
An awkward pause then hung in the air following his meek response. Which the clear, poorly hidden distress on his face did not help.
"Um... hey, Cyd?" He twiddled his thumbs, still unsure how to start. "I know it's a strange time to ask for a confessional, but-..."
With a dramatically phony gasp, she clapped his shoulder. '...ow.' With a surprising amount of strength behind it.
"Oh, Bell~! I'm flattered, but what would the children think?"
"...Huh?" He had dumbly replied before realizing what his words sounded like. "Oh. OH! T-that's not what I meant! What I was trying to say was-!"
"Pftt! Bell, you're just too easy sometimes."
He turned away in embarrassment, slightly thankful that he didn't get to finish the rest of his sentence despite what occurred. Now that he had a second chance to mull on his thoughts a bit more, it's probably wiser if he doesn't open up.
"...It's getting late. I should go."
However, before he could fully close off his thoughts and worries, his hand was gently wrapped in her grasp.
"Wait. I-... I'm sorry, Bell. That came off as really tactless and insensitive, didn't it?"
He simply sent a so-so gesture in her direction as the only response.
"Ah, I... I only wanted to ease you up a bit. You just looked so stressed and clamored up. I guess I shoulda' went with my 'Holy-Sister' persona to cheer you up instead, huh?"
But he shook his head with a wry smirk on his face. "Honestly, I think you did make me feel 'a bit' more relaxed than before. Albeit not in the most ideal of ways. "
He then gave her a more honest, beaming smile. "Besides, I like your real self more, Cyd. You're perfect; even storytelling-n-all."
With her cheeks slightly reddening, she immediately turned her face to the side. "Jeez, aren't I the one supposed to be cheering you up?"
After a brief pause to recompose herself, she spoke up again. Except that this time, it was with a softer, sisterly tone.
"Hey, Bell?"
"Hm?"
"I'd like to hear what you were going to say. If you're still okay with of course."
"..."
She then overlapped her hands over his and gently squeezed. "Whenever or wherever you need me, I'll always listen to your troubles."
"I've-..." After taking a deep breath, he quietly continued with, "Well, you asked me why I didn't carry my pack on me earlier, right?"
He waited for her to give a slow nod before continuing.
"...it's because I've been feeling like I'm at a crossroads lately. Even though I see one path that is visibly better than the other, I still can't push myself to choose." With a bitter bite to his words, he added, "I keep mulling over if all this training... all this preparation... is a waste or not.
"When I started, it was only because I was tired of feeling so angry... so lonely without them being here. I wanted to bring them back home and return things to how it used to be... or at least get some closure.
"But you, grandpa and nana, and all the other villagers have become more precious to me than I could ever expect. You all kept showing me love and continued support after their disappearance. So much that I weakens my commitment to fight against my grandpa to escape.
"Today, was supposed to be the last day. I had promised myself that I would go all out that into doing so... and I still failed..." He refused to lift his gaze from the floor to cover his eyes behind his bangs.
"What I'm trying to say is, am I wrong for wanting to move on? Because all I keep feel is shame and guilt about what they'd think about me abandoning them too."
He clenched his fists and tightened his jaw as a familiar pang of heartache ring through his chest.
"My goal to finally leave this place... t-to find them... has just s-so... so-..."
He was stopped from his mumbling when she pulled him close to her chest. The rhythmic beat of her heart making him lax in her embrace.
- X o X -
It was here that he was reminded of his mother once again. She could always soothe him with calming coos and the gentle combing of his hair.
For a brief second, he imagined the ebony locks tickling his nose flashing into a comforting, iridescent white. It would be a lie to say that he didn't hug her back just a little tighter after that.
- X o X -
"Bell... I'm sorry, but I can't tell you what path you should take. That's ultimately something you can only decide for yourself and hopefully accept with no regrets. However, I can give you another perspective and some wisdom based my own experience."
She separated from him to tilt his chin up and make him focus only on her eyes.
"It isn't wrong for you to be happy here. You won't be able to enjoy your childhood if you keep your eyes fixed only on the past. I can't say I speak for them, but even they'd wholeheartedly agree that you should embrace all the joys of life while you can. It's a finite thing."
Rustling his hair into a curly mess, she gave him a surprisingly, motherly smile.
"A parent's love isn't so cheap that they'd be upset with you for wanting to move on and living your best life in their memory. Trust me."
"..."
"Besides. I have a feeling that things will get better for you quite soon. Perhaps even sooner than you might think."
He only gave her a doubtful brow raise at her positive reassurance. "Do you really think so?"
"I know so."
"I-... thanks, Cyd." A more joyful grin then slowly grew over his face. Whether it was going to be true or not, he could still appreciate her gesture anyways. "Hah. Who knew your true self could also be so wise? I thought you were just secretly dorky like 'Mets."
"Hmph! Give me a little more credit than that." She phonily whined before sassily hip bumping him. "I have my moments."
Just before his hands were about to press against the oak doors, though, she tugged at his sleeve.
"Hang back a sec would you? I actually have one last thing for you before you head home."
He curiously tilted his head as Cyd cutely rummaged around in her robe.
"I know it's still a few hours too early, but…" This time, she was the one that hesitantly stepped forward to him for a change. "We can keep it between us, right? I believe you deserve some extra happiness to finish off your stressful night."
A beatific smile formed on her lovely face as she pressed a small, ornate box to his chest. The gift became even sweeter when she wrapped it up with a wink that plucked at his heartstrings.
"Happy Birthday, Bell." She whispered before placing a chaste kiss on his now burning-hot cheek. Nope, this had to be the best part of the unexpected present.
After that unforgettable moment, he was felt confident enough to brave an attempt at another withheld secret. Especially, when the moment was so perfect with her being illuminated by the increasingly bright backdrop behind her.
"C-cyd… I-I lov-!"
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- / ! / -
A massive explosion tore through the doors and windows, scattering flaming debris in all directions across the room. The searing blaze that followed had blown over their prone forms and began consuming everything in its wake.
While Cydippe had managed to escape the destruction with only minimal injuries, Bell had fared worse in his desperate attempt to shield her.
Splinters of wood staked their way across his back, and shards of colored glass shredded his innards. His lifeblood had also pooled to the floor from the wounds and partially stain his hair red.
However, none were worse than the patchworks of charred, cracking skin still melting into his tattered attire. Adhered to them were sinister embers that crept into his lungs and used his every wheeze as fuel.
- X o X -
From her alter, the goddess silently laid broken and crumbling. Yet, down her scorched alabaster cheeks ran endless streams of crimson. For she could do nothing but watch as all her children synchronously cried out to their beloved mother.
- X o X -
From the sounds of deathly wails to roaring infernos, all eventually went silent under the rise of a rumbling hiss.
With the echo of its cry alone, it shattered panes of divine defense from sheer malice. Even the poisonous miasma it casually exhumed had corroded all it ensnared into blackened husks and rusted metal.
For those unfortunate enough to cross its infernal gaze, they knew its rebirth heralded the beginnings of utter ruination.
The prodigal king has arrived.
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Author's Note:
I'm kinda ashamed that I wrote this to be so cliched... sorry.
Anyways! The whole "peaceful prologue" was just to get a surface-level idea of everyone's personality, history, and relationships with each other.
This is where shit actually starts going down.
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Admittedly, there are definitely sections I rushed or forced to all hell in order to drive the plot forwards. So, I'll either be going back to make the emotional parts flow better or expand on them in later chapters.
I also cut down on the Greek usage in the previous chapters, but let me know if I should also add parenthesized translations next to the sentences.
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I cleaned up things as best I could from the previous chapters. If you find anything that still sounds funky, I'd really appreciate it if you could comment or PM me about it. Thank you!
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Until next time, Peace Out.