Chapter 66: Doubts
[ ETHEOME ]
Adeu sat on the edge of his bed, the soft glow of the sunlight casting long shadows across his room. The Blessings Ceremony had shaken him. He had witnessed countless mortals endure trials that should have broken them, and yet many had emerged stronger, or sacrificed themselves for their comrades. It was unlike anything he had ever seen, and among them was the boy named Dune.
Something about Dune stirred something within him. It wasn't jealousy or admiration, but a deeper, inexplicable connection. When the god Bethel chose to bless the boy, Adeu had felt... drawn to him. The pull defied reason, like a thread linking their fates together.
His mind raced as he considered the implications. What was this bond? Why did it exist? And what would it mean for his future?
A sudden knock at the door snapped him from his thoughts. He blinked, startled, before standing to answer it.
On the other side were his closest friends, Charmy and Echo. Charmy's golden hair glimmered in the dim light, her soft features tinged with concern. Echo, ever the stoic, stood in his usual black attire, arms crossed and eyes sharp. "What's with the face?" Echo asked as they entered the room.
Adeu sighed, shutting the door behind them. "Sit."
Charmy perched on the elegant couch by the window, while Echo leaned against the wall, his arms still crossed. A heavy silence fell over them.
It was Echo who finally spoke. "That ceremony was... not what I expected. This whole situation is just messed up."
Adeu ran a hand through his golden hair, his frustration palpable. "I hate this," he muttered. "I hate all of it. Lowly creatures? That's what we've always called them. But when I watched what happened to those humans..."
His voice faltered, and he stared at the floor, lost in thought. *Would I be able to do that? Would I survive in their place? Would I risk my life for... Charmy and Echo? Those humans... they weren't weak. They were brave. They died for their friends, their families. Most of them didn't even seem afraid.*