Chapter 8: A goddess's perspective

"We can't keep running Tacitus," Forge said sternly.

"What are you implying, Forge?" I replied.

"We haves to stay and fight. We're not running anymore."

Forge suddenly ran towards Zoe, dozens of arrow hurtled towards us at incredible speeds. I couldn't afford to use a spell, it would drain almost all of our reserve energy. I summoned celestial and ran to join Forge. He threw westenra at Zoe narrowly missing her.

" Dammit Forge, we can't hurt her," I said.

" I know, but how are we gonna get Zoe back?" Forge hissed.

I felt an immense God like aura surrounding us and I knew it was slowly draining our energy. Forge fell to the ground and I sensed hundreds of hunters had caught up to us. Artemis looked down on us with a smirk. She said with hint of admiration," I admire your bravery, but give up now."

I looked at Forge who was struggling to even walk and I could sense the hunters only getting closer, we had to stay or else Forge and I would never forgive ourselves for leaving Zoe. I knew what we had to do. I immediately ran and teleported behind her. I grabbed her from behind, she fell to the floor. I took out my book and quickly read a few spells, Artemis escaped, leaving behind a half dead girl. Zoë. I checked her pulse and she was breathing, barely.

I suddenly felt several arrows hit me and I fell to the floor with a thud. Forge was the only one who could help us now. How could you possibly help the ones you love if you can barely protect yourself, Tacitus? The voice said to me as my surrounding slowly blackened.

I woke up with Zoe in a bed opposite mine, Forge sitting beside her.

"Where are we?" I asked. Trying to get up. I was stopped by an acute pain that ran through my whole body.

"We're back at Athens."

"How long have we been here?"

"Just over a week but it might take longer with Zoe, considering she doesn't have regenerative powers like us. You were hit by three arrows in your back and two hit your leg."

I nodded in agreement and looked outside to see a huge city and people roaming the streets.

"Can't you use a healing spell or something Forge?"

"I can but it could takes a day or two to prepare,"

"Than do it, it won't take long for Artemis to track us."

The next morning I woke up to see Zoe healed and Forge was probably hunting. I that it was probably time for training. Zoe was surprise to see me but was too tired to say anything, I walked out into the woods and found Forge sitting on a side of the hill.

It was time for us to leave and by the time I was outside Zoe was sitting with Forge beside the hill overlooking the huge City. "Forge," I asked, "why would Artemis and her hunters come after us?"

Forge looked at me bewildered. "It must have been something important, a goddess wouldn't attack us for some random reason. She must have wanted something."

"I know but I can't stop thinking of what she could've wanted."

"Anyway, shouldn't we be leaving?" Zoe said hastily.

"Zoë, do you have to go somewhere? " I asked.

"She's right Tacs ." Forge added

We headed off into the woods. Are you sure that girl had nothing to do with that attack? She can't be trusted. I looked at Zoe and pretended to ignore the voice. As we continued through the woods I thought that what if Zoe couldn't be trusted, after all we did find wondering the woods with no memory of how she got here. I refuse to believe that, she is our only friend. I walked behind Forge and Zoe racking my brain around what the voice meant when I realised something.

"Forge we're being followed."

"By who?"

"Hard to tell, but they're getting closer,"

"You're right but we need to move quickly, we won't last very long in these woods." Zoe looked very worried. But Forge was right we had to get out of the woods before night fell. We reached a large tree an I decided that we should camp here.

"Forge," I said,"can I talk to you in privacy." Zoë stared at me with her innocent eyes.

"Sure," We walked a few meters from the camp sight.

"What do want?" Forge asked.

"It's about her," I pointed to Zoë who was roasting a fish over a fire.

"What about Zoë?"

"Can we really trust her?" Forge found it hard to understand what I was saying.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why would Artemis come after us? We couldn't have done anything."

"But she's our friend."

"We found her in a forest, Forge!"

Forge walked away and refused to listen to me any more. I eventually joined Forge and Zoe back at the camp sight. Zoe was sharpening her arrows and Forge was practicing with westenra. I sense something very unusual.

We were surrounded.

"S…," but I thought of a better idea," so Artemis why do want us."

No answer.

I repeated what I did and still received no ans…

"You and the other boy." She replied with malice in her voice.

I summoned Celestial and was about to throw it at her when I dropped my sword. I dropped to my knees clutching my head. Forge replicated my actions but with Westenra.

The world spun around me. I felt nauseous, I felt powerful, I felt weak, I felt like I was on top of the world. I felt like I was merging my body with something or someone? Finally, you have accepted me. The voice said in glee

The world was pitch black. I saw someone in front of me. A tall man. He was muscular but overly. He had shining white armour that fits with my sword. He had flowing white hair with calming caramel eyes. He had my sword Celestial and just looked like an epic boss. His skin white but not pale. He had a halo on top of his head.

My name is Cecilo and your are my host, my friend and companion. Nice to finally meet you… Tacitus.