The Ancient Prophecy

67 : The Artifacts - Charis

The Altar Room of the Resistence was full of chatter and commotion between the demigods and mortals of the Resistence and the demititans of the Finders .  They were all waiting for the same thing . For the same someone . 
        The people of the two factions finally got to know eachother . Centuries they have spent being taught that the other was the villain . That the sole purpose of their faction was to eradicate the other . Now those times were gone , the start of the new era of allience overlooking both the two factions along with their people .
         Charis stood waiting in the crowd , looking around the room . She was searching for any sign of a shift in the crowd , making room for someone to pass . Or the distant sight of weapons gleaming in the sunlight through the massive windows that let the ones inside be witness to the green hills and valleys spreading outside the base .
         The High Priest stood in the centre of the circular room , overlooking the altars filled with relics .
         The daughter of Apollo tapped her foot quickly on the floor , impatience slowly taking hold of her . And worry .
How much time had passed ?
Did she make it to the Vault ? Please gods tell me she did .
The artifacts...Did Phedora manage to get them all ?
I hope she is alright ...
         She was shaken from her thoughts when someone tapped her shoulder . Charis turned carefully , trying not to bump into anyone . Sot and Petros stood behind her , probably back from the infirmary . Charis could not tend to Sot's wounds herself since she had to coordinate the army of the Resistence and the Finders' , for they did not have their defined leader either . The son of Hermes gave a small wave , as best as he could with all the injuries on his arm .
"Did anything occur while we were gone ?" Petros asked , helping Sot walk as they both paced closer to Charis .
"No , nothing happened ." Charis responded .
"Any sign of Phedora ?" Sot asked .
"No . We are all waiting for her return ." the girl stated .
"Then we are not late to be witness to the ritual ." Sot smiled , seemingly excited .
"Yes ." Charis agreed "Though if you arrived maybe slightly later you would not have to endure much waiting ." she tried a chuckle but it sounded sort of forced .
         Despite her effort of appearing calm she knew that her unease faintly showed . No matter how hard she tried , Charis never managed to shake off the feeling that something could go wrong in Phedora's mission , that something might appear in her way to stop her and manage to do so .
          Then she felt a hand on her shoulder .
"It will be alright , Char ." Sot reasured her , his grip on her shoulder clumsy and weak "Phedora will manage to bring the artifacts , I am sure of it ."
"Yes , to have blessings from all gods and still fail could be impossible ." Petros added .
          Charis smiled , feeling slightly reassured by the two boys' words . But not enough so her worry could fully disappear .
          Before her mind could have enough time to produce new thoughts of uneasiness , Charis noticed that the muddle of voices from the crowd was reduced to low mutters . The people were all staring to a point of the large window , whispering between themselves at what they saw .
          A large dot appeared in the distance , advancing down the green hills . Charis' heart stood inside her throat until the dot was closer enough to distinguish it properly . As she realised what approached the base , the daughter of Apollo let out a breath she did not realise she was holding .
          A swarm of floating weapons was getting closer and closer to the Resistence's base . The midday light  glinted onto them , making the artifacts look like some detached pieces of the sun dispatched towards them all . Charis gazed in awe at the sight . Her mouth curved into a smile . She did it .
          The whole crowd speeded out of the Altar Room , eager to get closer to the scene outside . Charis followed suit , almost tripping in the process .

                                                 ***

          When the mass of people found themselves in front of the base , they were just in time to see the artifacts being laid onto the grass . And with that being done , Charis noticed who stood shielded behind the relics that whole time .
"Phedora !" Charis did not hesitate to make her way through the crowd towards her best friend . She ran , careful again not to bump into anyone .
           Phedora's eyes catched with Charis' when the daughter of Apollo speeded close enough to be in the girl's line of sight . The daughter of Zeus did not have  enough time to react before Charis pulled her into a bone crushing embrace . Her worry from just some moments ago was gone all at once .
"You did it ! You really did it , Phedora !" Charis beamed , holding Phedora tightly . She felt the other girl shaking in her hold "You are shaking..." Charis parted the hug with a worried look , steadying Phedora by both her shoulders .
          Phedora let out a small chuckle "I summoned lightning two times and carried the weight of dozen ancient artifacts with a pale of wind , pacing by foot the distance between the base of the Finders and ours . I am shaking because I am on my last ounce of energy , trying not to faint so I will be awake for the ritual ."
          Charis laughed , pulling Phedora into another hug .
"Alright , Char , I get it ." Phedora hugged her back , still shaking .
"I am just glad you made it out alive ."
"Me too ."
          They both laughed .
          At the same time , both Sot and Petros arrived behind them . Petros stated his congratulations to  Phedora while Sot patted her shoulder clumsily , probably aching to pull the girl into a hug too . All four then chattered soundly as the crowd of people started taking the artifacts one by one inside the Resistence's base . It was the first time since the battle that they were all reunited .
"What is with him ?" Petros suddenly pointed out , gazing at a spot behind Phedora .
          Charis did not realise until then that Phedora had arrived to the base along with someone else . When her gaze shifted to look where Petros glanced , she recognized who stood there immediately , as so could anyone of the Resistence . General Alkaios ? Charis gazed between Phedora and the general , confusion clear on her face . She noticed the blank stare of the demititan , seeming almost disconnected from his surroundings . He was gazing at the ground , not even moving a muscle . He did not look like the usual mighty general he showed to be all those years .  Without a weakness , undefeatable . Now he looked like a traumatised boy that had seen too much for his own mind to handle . Charis felt somehow sorry for him . But it did not last long when she reminded herself that the boy was a general that had been tormenting the Resistence for the past two years .
           The daughter of Apollo glanced back at Petros and Sot , seeking their reactions . Charis' confusion was mirrored on Sot's face , the son of Hermes slightly glaring at the general of the Finders . On the other hand , Petros seemed unfazed , the boy gazing at the general as if he had been expecting all that was happening .
           Charis glanced back at Phedora , searching for an answer . Phedora stared back at her with an expresionless face that got its message across clearly,"I will explain later ."
"Let us return to the base for the ritual now ." Phedora dismissed any questions before they could be adressed .