Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 124: Shadows in the Stillness

Narinder suddenly clapped his hands, a sound that resonated energetically in the temple. His intention was to break the atmosphere and cheer the others up, but he also noticed how Goliath seemed distracted, lost in his own thoughts. The goat was pondering with a slight smirk, convinced that he didn't need a halo to stand out; he was strong and unique just the way he was.

Lambert, on the other hand, looked at Goliath curiously, observing his self-satisfied air with a mix of amusement and slight bewilderment. But instead of commenting on anything, he simply kept his gaze fixed, almost as if trying to decipher what was going on in the goat's mind.

Narinder broke the silence. "Well, I'll go to Anura to find Haro."

Lambert immediately replied in a dramatic tone, pursing his lips in an amused pout. "Are you leaving already? Are you planning to leave me alone all day?" Despite his exaggeration, his tone was clearly playful.

Goliath didn't say anything, but inwardly he longed to spend more time with Narinder. He remembered the swordsmanship practice they shared, enjoying the god's attention and the challenge he had provided. However, as was typical of him, he preferred to remain silent.

Narinder turned his head to Lambert first. "Let's see... Lambert, you can go with Sozo and continue chatting. I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about." Then, he turned his gaze to Goliath, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And you... take a bath. You smell like sweat."

The comment took Goliath by surprise, but before he could process it or react, Narinder quickly stepped forward, lightly ringing both of their bells as he left the temple with a mischievous grin.

Goliath finally reacted, frowning and exclaiming indignantly, "I don't stink!"

Unable to contain himself, Lambert let out a chuckle as he began to walk towards the exit. "I think you've been left without arguments, Goliath. Good luck with your bath." And with that, Lambert left the temple, encouraged by the idea of ​​going to see Sozo and learn something new.

Goliath stood there for a moment, still grumbling under his breath, but eventually, a small smile crept across his face. "Narinder..." he muttered, thinking about how unusual it was to feel so much appreciation for someone he barely knew. With a light sigh, he made his way to the exit, considering the god's "advice."

Narinder arrived at the area of ​​the portals, a place shrouded in a faint magical mist that resonated with ancient energy. In front of Anura's portal, he paused for a moment.

He transformed his crown with a snap of his fingers; the golden glow expanded and reshaped into a sleek black sickle. The curved blade reflected the dim light of the place, a reminder of the power that still flowed through it.

Without further hesitation, Narinder stepped through the portal. The sensation was immediate: the air of Anura enveloped him, warm and filled with unfamiliar fragrances. Yet something was different. The landscape before him was not what he remembered. The trees, once covered in the reddish and brown leaves of an eternal autumn, were now vibrant, filled with deep, emerald greens. Flowers bloomed in colors that seemed almost unreal: radiant yellows, heavenly blues, and deep purples. The nearby river, once calm and tinged with fallen leaves, now flowed with renewed vigor, sparkling under the light that pierced the foliage.

Narinder moved forward, his footsteps echoing lightly on the ground covered in fresh grass. "This... is not what I remembered." His voice broke the silence, but he got no response. He walked through the trees, his sickle resting in his hand, ever alert.

There was no sign of Haro, which struck him as odd. Nor did he find any trace of the heretics of the Cult of Famine, those fanatical followers who used to infest this place like a plague. The atmosphere was... peaceful. Too peaceful.