In truth, Mithras wasn't surprised. From the moment he'd met Odoacer in the Blood Forge, the dragon youth knew that he faced his father. The looks might be different, but speech and manners didn't lie. Two people couldn't talk and behave in the same exact way, much less men from such different backgrounds. So for Odoacer and Mithras' dad to project the exact same sensation could only mean one thing:
They were one and the same!
As for why Mithras didn't get that sensation from Ricimer or the original Hadubrangr, it was simply because in those incarnations, Odoacer's persona was vastly different. Moral and upright in one, but incomparably violent and decadent in the other.
Vel'Asha, however, hadn't seen this one coming. And for good reasons.
"Struggling is good. Starting mediocre and climbing your way through the mud prepares you to appreciate greatness when you finally attain it. But for those born mighty, the ordinary man becomes an ant, and the exceptional the norm. How can such people appreciate the beauty of an ordinary person's struggle?
Mithras, your bloodsucker of a dad is one such case. Chosen, blessed, and cursed by the Weaver to become the leader of humanity. But perhaps due to the way his immortality works, Odoacer firmly believed that no one could rule forever, and so his empire—and consequently mankind's future—lay in the quality of his descendants.
You can therefore understand that he was more than pissed to find out…that not one of his sons could match one-tenth of his peak. And over the generations, it kept getting worse. As it got worse, the empire declined—slowly driven to madness by the Weaver's manipulations.
Eventually, Odoacer reincarnated as Ricimer, destroying the empire with his own two hands, and waiting for the right era to rebuild it.
Gaiseric was his last hope, but though remarkable by local standards, when you look at him as the son of the Fylkir, with the Queen of the Yaksha to raise him, Gaiseric's results…are simply catastrophic.
And so, as strange as it might sound, the thing that changed the Fylkir from an upright and moral gentleman to a corrupt and heartless fiend…is the mediocrity of his descendants." Akamana shrugged as she said this, she too finding the reality somewhat nonsensical.
And yet this was the truth. Vel'Asha would know since…the whole Lyssandra situation was a consequence of Odoacer's twisted paternal love. Accepting that his son could never become his equal in battle, Odoacer at least hoped to train Gaiseric into a "man of burning iron". A charismatic and untamable leader with enough willpower to shoulder the weight of the world.
To that end, he stimulated the insecurity and jealousy Lyssandra hid towards Elektra and turned her against her husband—relying on the unique talent of Blood Nobles, Majesty, to turn the queen into a traitor.
Initially, Odoacer believed that Gaiseric would arise from the event stronger than ever. But watching his royal son break down for a woman, Odoacer was filled with disgust.
But as the saying goes, the mantis preys on the cicada unaware of the oriole behind. Odoacer's changes didn't escape Vel'Asha, who tricked him into selling his soul to her by manipulating his thirst for the perfect descendant.
Had Elektra not ruined the ritual 18 years ago, Odoacer's soul would have stayed in Vel'Asha's control.
Sadly, she did, and by then, Odoacer had already found the woman most likely to give him the perfect prince. And so as the Queen Mother spent years trying to recapture Odoacer's soul, little did she know that he was still in the capital, hiding as a construction worker while raising his prince.
"Mithras. Only Menaka has the right to give that name. But it represents much more than your mother's love and expectations for you. Behind, you also have your father's belief…that you are the perfect prince he's been waiting for. The one worthy to conquer the world by his side.
Him ruling the night, whereas you rule the day—father and son dominating all till the end of time: the perfect story.
Truth be told, though a bit twisted, this much love from a father to his son should have been endearing. There's only one hic: Ishtar. Your sis was born to be sacrificed—sacrificed for you, Mithras. For in the eyes of the Fylkir, a woman is only as good as what she can provide the family. By the time Menaka had found out Odoacer had tricked Ishtar into signing away her soul to Ahriman…it was too late.
So yes, Mithras. Whether I'm involved in the deal or not, during the Night of Bleeding Angels, the Antigod of Malice will descend upon our world to take your sister as its vessel.
That day, alive or dead, you will be reborn as Ahriman's husband—ascending to godhood alongside your father. Humanity will then invade the Holy Continent and destroy the Holy Balmaria.
When I got rid of Fenkil-Odoacer and tried to destroy his soul, he revealed his true form and cut me a deal—adding me to the whole thing. Didn't even care about Menaka's reaction. Truly ruthless," Akamana laid the secrets bare, making poor Ishtar's jaw drop as the world around her spun.
This time around, Mithras too lost his composure, trembling at the news. But the moment next, the youth regained his composure, putting a reassuring hand on Ishtar's shoulder, and facing her with a radiant smile.
"Akamana, Odoacer, Ahriman, whatever, it doesn't matter. The Lord is our savior and will not let us down. We just gotta do our best, control what we can, and trust in the Lord," Mithras said, speaking with such confidence that Akamana's brows furrowed in frustration.
"I wouldn't. Ask Belphy, the Lord can be one hell of a dick when he doesn't give a fuck. And you gotta understand that the Lord doesn't have the same definition of pain and death as you do. We're all eternal inside the Lord. Destroyed soul or not, all that ever was and all that will ever be…exists within the One True Paradise: the Lord's Heart.
That being the case, why would he care about a temporary version of you?
Of course, the scriptures could be wrong. But I still wouldn't put my fate in a stranger's hands—especially one notorious for going silent at the darkest hour.
No matter how kindly he might have treated you in the past. When you need him the most, the Lord will not show up," Akamana didn't hold back, casually speaking such sacrilegious words that, if not for the laws of the universe, the Weaver would have obliterated her soul on the spot.
The Elektra sisters agreed in silence. Even Vel'Asha, daughter of the Lord's First Devotee, found truth in Akamana's words.
Mithras, however, didn't waver—as calm and confident as ever.
"If the Lord doesn't help me, it simply means he knows I can deal with it. If I fail anyway, then I'm sure I did something wrong along the way.
I can't speak for others, but the Lord has always been fair to me. And as gratefulness is the most basic human quality, I will always say these words:
The Lord is my savior; praise be his name. In his heart I trust. To his mercy, I surrender," The Human Aphrodisiac declared, and as Akamana's mood soured at Mithras' devotion to the Lord, no one noticed Ishtar's eyes shining at his words, for a second reflecting a myriad constellation.
Her lips curled up, and unbeknown to all including Mithras, a floral crown made of pure divine light formed on his head.
A white-haired figure appeared at Mithras' back. And as that person's hand rested on his shoulder, all the pain that his body still carried…injuries that even the Inversion Skill struggled to reverse…vanished instantly.
It was…a miracle.
"Interesting. Before he died and was replaced by Ahriman, Vritra was the lord's first Adversary. They say he broke the Lord's heart and caused him to stop meddling with the world's affairs. Funny that one of Vritra's descendants is now the closest to accomplishing what the Weaver cannot and replace Ba'al Agan as First Devotee.
Oh well. If you can find a way to save your sis from the Antigod of Malice, I might just drop my side of the deal and help you keep her safe. Cause of all the girlies that have had the misfortune to cross my path, Ishtar...might just be my favorite," Akamana said and turned heels, waving the audience goodbye.
But as Mithras lowered his guard, the Grand Priestess blitzed him out of the blue, taking his lips into a passionate smooch.
"Farewell, cutie pie. We will meet again…in the Angra Theocracy. Till then, love or hatred, it doesn't matter. But make sure you remember me. At every waking hour, and with each breath that you take. Remember me Mithras, for I will be doing the same…and looking forward to holding you again." Akamana whispered in Mithras' ear, vanishing the moment next.
That final move left no doubt in the ladies' minds.
The Grand Priestess had made her intentions clear and gone on the offensive!
"You have caught the attention of Akamana di Angra. Mithras, doesn't that terrify you?" Vel'Asha asked in an honest and straightforward tone.
But as the girls stared at Mithras, waiting for his answer with torches in their eyes, the dragon youth pulled out his Sid Card, revealing his account screen. And to the ladies' shock, a transfer of 666 million ener crystals appeared at the top of Mithras' transactions, coming straight from…the Angra Theocracy!
Attached as a gift, a private mansion on the Jade-Faced Academy campus!
"It's fine. I will take the risk. Because of all the madwomen in this motherfucking world…I got the one with rizz."