"Sit down."
Sou Yen led the man into a private room so they could speak face to face with God Mervous.
A long sigh escaped from his mouth as he shifted his gaze and took a seat directly opposite the figure of God Mervous.
In the silence that now enveloped the entire room, Sou Yen observed every detail of the man sitting before him.
He tried to recognize something—perhaps from some feature of the man's body—that would help him identify this person as God Mervous.
Unfortunately, he couldn't recognize that face at all, as if something prevented him from simply believing what he was told.
It could be that this was merely a trick fabricated by the man before him to secure his release from prison.
"You don't believe me and doubt everything I've said, don't you, Lotus?"
This special nickname, known only to certain people, made Sou Yen raise his face, trying to reassess the man before him.
"Unfortunately, I don't find anything that makes me believe you're really the person I know," Sou Yen replied honestly.
God Mervous smiled slightly; he had anticipated this reaction, but what mattered now was getting Sou Yen to listen to him first.
"How could I not recognize my close friend? I know you know who I am. I am Zeus, God Mervous."
Sou Yen was momentarily shocked, his eyes widening, but again he couldn't bring himself to believe the man's words.
"What if I tell you a story about a poor village girl who became a goddess beloved by a God? People don't even know that the God's wife was actually just a poor village girl with no noble lineage, contrary to what the God fabricated. Do you know about this God, Lotus?"
Sou Yen fell completely silent, unable to say anything more.
Only a few people knew that fact, one of them being his friend Zeus, better known as God Mervous.
His eyes glistened with tears; he felt guilty and foolish for being unable to recognize his close friend.
"I'm sorry, Zeus. I didn't recognize you at all. I was too foolish to ignore you," said Sou Yen, regretting his actions.
God Mervous didn't make an issue of it because this wasn't entirely Sou Yen's fault. Rather, God Mervous was in a situation that even he couldn't fully explain.
"So, how did you end up like this?"
That question began the long story told by God Mervous. From the attack he carried out to avenge his young goddess to his Mother being taken by the other Gods who then attacked him.
After he regained consciousness, he found himself in the body of a man called Kayrus.
Sou Yen's face showed how intently he was following God Mervous's long tale.
Until finally, he remembered something important.
"God Balder," he murmured softly, but clearly enough for God Mervous to hear.
God Mervous turned his full attention to Sou Yen, as that name was familiar to him.
"One of the Gods who attacked me back then and ultimately caused me to wake up in this man's body," said God Mervous, making Sou Yen snap his fingers.
He now remembered everything in detail. "Not many know this, but I've been quite close with God Balder. Once, when we met, he told me about a spell or punishment specifically meant for a God. Only 7 Gods know about this. One of them, God Balder, leaked all this information to me."
God Mervous listened carefully, needing to clearly understand what was happening to him.
"I remember it clearly. He said there was indeed one God who was exiled. That means the God he was referring to is you, Zeus. So, what now? Do you know how to free yourself from this exile?" asked Sou Yen, to which God Mervous shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
Honestly, he knew nothing about all this.
"That's why I want to ask for your help. You'll help me, won't you?" asked God Mervous, wanting to be sure first.
Sou Yen nodded firmly; of course he would listen to everything God Mervous had to say.
"Of course, I've prepared a special room in my palace for you to stay in. You can live in my palace," said Sou Yen to God Mervous.
However, God Mervous immediately declined the offer, aware that there was something he had yet to finish and couldn't leave behind.
"I still need to stay at this place. Please keep my identity secret. It's for your good and mine."
Sou Yen wanted to protest, but a gesture from God Mervous silenced him. "And I also want you to find out how to restore my powers. This exile shouldn't have made me so weak and powerless."
Again, Sou Yen nodded; he would certainly carry out all of God Mervous's orders.
***
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Teressa sat at the edge of her bed.
Somehow, after hearing King Sou Yen's decision that Kayrus would be taken away, she couldn't think straight.
There was a feeling of rejection at the thought of the slave getting a new master.
"I don't understand how life works. How can he just leave like that now and forget everything?" muttered Teressa angrily.
She began talking to herself since she had no one else to speak with.
"I can't accept him leaving. I mean... why did King Sou Yen take him and agree to an exchange with a deal that my brother said was very difficult and impossible for him to accept?"
Teressa couldn't stay still; her mind was filled with thoughts of Kayrus.
"What am I thinking now? Why am I worrying about that slave?"
Teressa shook her head, trying to cast away all these thoughts.
"Damn it! He won't leave my mind."
Creak!
The sound of her bedroom door opening didn't even snap Teressa out of her consuming thoughts.
"Teressa?"
Libradon entered his sister's room, calling her name, but she didn't respond.
He furrowed his brow, seeing Teressa still talking to herself.
"So annoying!"
"What's so annoying, Teressa?" asked Libradon, which finally got a response from the woman.
"You're here? Since when?" Teressa asked back, slightly panicked.
Libradon frowned, "Are you okay? It seems like something heavy is haunting you right now."
Teressa smiled and let out a small laugh, then shook her head to reassure her brother. "It's nothing. I'm just anxious about my unfinished training, that's all. That's what's annoying me."
Libradon was doubtful at first but eventually believed her.
Not wanting to arouse more suspicion, Teressa prepared to leave; she needed to get out before her nervousness caused trouble.
"Hmm... it's getting late. I want to go back to training. I'll go ahead."
Without waiting for Libradon's approval, Teressa quickly left for the training grounds.
She felt relieved that Libradon didn't have another chance to question the meaning behind her words, which might have made him suspicious of her.
"Lucky I escaped," she murmured happily.
She then put on some body protection, picked up a sword, and practiced some moves she had learned before.
She tried to focus, not wanting to be distracted even slightly.
"Nothing will disturb my concentration," muttered Teressa, trying to clear her mind of those wayward thoughts.
She continued practicing her skills until finally, "Is it proper for a student to train without her sensei?"
That voice caught Teressa's attention. She turned toward the source of the sound and found a familiar figure.
"Kayrus? You're back?"