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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
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Chapter 10: Unwarranted Crime
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Running from guards was nothing new to Kratos, being accused of a high crime as Deicide was, however, a new one to his list.
He had been accused of 'attemping' to kill gods, Zeus having led the motions to set him into the dark path he took out of fear that Kratos would have killed him in due time. Deicide was also a common habit for the old Spartan, but it never occurred to him that none of those events had seen him go through lengthy plans or anything so... well, 'clean'.
The sight of the divine dragon that was supposed to be Rex Lapis falling down and appear dead was quite a shock for anyone but Kratos. The man had perceived a strange 'lack' of godly powers within the creature, but he failed to conjure these thoughts when it became clear that the guards of the harbor were already trying to capture them.
It was unnerving, but he couldn't blame them. They were strangers, foreigners. They had entered the city within the very day this crime unfolded. They were suspicious - without a doubt, Kratos saw how being captured would hardly warrant them any reprieve, especially when the Girl and the Brat were already bolting away from arrest.
Kratos gave chase, but it became clear that the notion of being caught was enough to put the two other members of his group on the edge. Enough for them to bolt and almost trip by the nearby staircase as they were running away.
Fighting their way out was also unapproachable. As much as Kratos would have started brawling for less, there was something about these events that didn't feel right. This 'divine death' felt planned, and he could tell that there was something else going on. He didn't need to become a pawn of someone's plan ever again.
"We're splitting up!" Kratos' voice boomed towards the rest of the group, knowing that picking up the pace for himself in such limited spaces meant damaging buildings and giving himself a proper crime to worry about.
He heard the brat squeaking something similar to 'What?!', but Kratos' mind was already set as he retrieved the Blades of Chaos and used those to pull himself over a gated alley.
Thud, after landing he was rushing once more, this time trying to reach the western gates of the harbor, those leading deeper into the region. He didn't stop until he was truly out of sight and reach of the guards, but he could tell that something else was going on behind him.
Kratos felt his ears twitching as he heard that he wasn't alone. He thought that the girl had decided to follow, but he didn't feel her behind him. Neither did he hear the constant nagging of the floating brat. Soon, he was truly out of the harbor, and onto one of the smaller hills just nearby the gates.
He stopped, but he didn't drop his guard as he turned to greet the one that gave him chase. To her credit, the familiar white-haired young woman returned the stance with hers. And she adopted a rather peculiar stance for a lance-wielder.
"You..." He muttered. "The girl from the food stall."
She blinked, blue eyes barely showing any recollection as she nodded. "My name is Shenhe. I was sent to monitor you."
Kratos held back a scowl. "I didn't kill this region's god."
"You did not," Shenhe confirmed without hesitation, softening her hold over her lance. It was firm, but less inclined to strike back at the slightest 'move' against her. "Which is why you should seek to warn the other Adepti. They are surprised as of now of your arrival, but they know you are not bearing any harm. If someone was to tell them that you are somewhat involved with Rex Lapis' passing-"
"Then it would be trouble."
The young woman nodded in agreement, finally dropping out of her stance and getting Kratos to do the same.
"Will you lead the way?"
Another nod, and they were soon moving. The tension persisted within Kratos' mind, but he wasn't truly worried about the two girls he had to forcefully depart from for the time being. He had no doubts about the Girl's skills, while the floating brat had a knack in avoiding trouble coming her way.
Yet, the woes of the old Spartan lingered on the entire situation: who had created this plot? Who had faked the passing of Rex Lapis?
Could it be Athena?
That very last thought left the man worried that more trouble was up in the horizon. Still, the man kept his mouth shut as he studied Shenhe. The young woman was clearly experienced in combat, her posture showed a degree of understanding that it is best to never be too at ease around a known path.
Likewise, he could spot a sense of dread that lingered within her steps. Not enough to color her expression, so blank and almost inhuman, but still enough to understand the girl was far from pleased with the current events.
After a lengthy walk that saw Kratos see more of those tall and towering tops of mountains all over the wide area that was hardly controlled by the harbor's government, Kratos offered for them to take a break and talk about things.
After all, he may be willing to ignore the fact she had been sent to keep an eye on him for a while, but he needed answers to his question to see if she was honest about it. What if Shenhe knew more than she was willing to let out?
"You don't trust me."
In a sense, this response surprised him. The fact she sounded so calm about it was suspicious, but he found a hint of her own unease doubling over this topic.
"I don't."
"I..." She paused, looking away as they were taking refuge under a tree's shadow. "I don't know how to prove I am telling the truth."
That honest response stunned Kratos, just not in the way many would expect. In a sense, he could understand her trouble. It wasn't like she had a way to confirm this but... she didn't know that Kratos didn't either.
It was a risk, one he was willing to take but he still decided to go for it.
He materialized Daupnir, surprising the girl with the appearance of the spear.
"This weapon can only held by those that can't lie," He referred this with a straight face, trying to hold back another scowl, this one for lying over this. "If you hold it and you are honest, nothing will happen to you."
"If I am lying?"
"It will explode in your hand."
...
"Okay."
Kratos blinked as he saw the girl reach out and take hold of Daupnir. Not only that, but she tested it out. Curiously so, Kratos allowed Shenhe to twirl and rotate the weapon, surprised by her knack in handling such a blade despite its weight.
To Kratos, it felt suddenly 'weird' in a good way. He never had any interest to teach anyone younger than him how to use a spear. He wasn't a teacher, and even as a parent he had some restrictions over what kind of training to provide Atreus.
The boy was good with a bow and with a knife, maybe he could train for a sword or a lance but... it never came up. And, as things were now, it hardly can come up in any conversation with him since he wasn't there. Then, as if they were both caught 'playing' by the very reason that had led Shenhe to hold Draupnir, the girl paused. "Oh right. It was a test for my honesty."
She returned the spear and... shortly after they resumed their journey. But while Shenhe appeared 'flustered' by what had occurred, Kratos couldn't help but wonder one thing as they returned to wandering to Mt. Aocang.
She looked quite happy to play with a new weapon. Maybe I should get her one.
AN
Dad and Daughter have some proper bonding time while also changing the plot by doing things. Lumine discovered Childe and... boy, Kratos is going to have fun with Childe.
But perhaps more fun being Dad around Daughter.
