Danmachi SI-The Silence's Heir

Part 24

Chapter 24

GODDESS FREYA

"I am much grateful to you for coming here at my request," she whispered rather tiredly as her feet came to a halt, and never more she had cursed the human frailties of this body as she found herself tiring after but a few dances, with the person infront of her.

The boy in question though was not even winded as he gave her a small nod.

"I was going to come regardless," he replied somewhat callously, yet it did not bother her. Not at all. She was just elated to have him in her arms. Momentarily, it may be, but still looking into those eyes, into the heaviness that filled that gaze, it made her heart race.

And once more, she lamented the war game she had lost and all the years that she had lost.

"Come, we should rest," she saw him hesitate as he looked up. Immediately, her mood soured as she followed his gaze and saw him looking at Hestia. His patron Goddess stood there with Hermes.

"I insist," she said and saw him hesitate before he nodded. They walked to one of the tables and sat down, and she found herself mesmerized by that gaze.

"It has been years since I have asked this of you, but tell me, Inumaki-kun, why don't you join my familia?" she asked and saw him still at those words.

"You already know why," he answered after a moment of silence.

"Because of Hera, it has been years now. Have you not in your heart to forgive a poor soul like me," she asked tiredly, and his eyes narrowed.

"You were behind the attack that had her ascend," he replied heatedly, and it broke her heart seeing the animosity in those eyes, seeing the hate and rage in that gaze.

"I only ever desired you and the best for you. Hera was a shell of herself, exiled and out of Orario. She would only ever be shackles holding you back from reaching your true potential," she added sharply and saw his lips thin.

"And you can help me do that, reach my full potential," he challenged, and she nodded.

"I gave up a part of myself for you, Inumaki-kun," she teased and saw him still at those eyes softened.

"I would do anything for you, yet you still deny me this. Deny yourself this, all because of what? A grudge from so long ago," she asked. He could tell her lies from truth, it was a power of his, and she was telling the truth.

"I cannot, I just cannot," those words broke her heart as Freya's mind was made up. She knew what she must do, what she had to do.

"You have always thought me to be the person behind Hera's ascension," she began as she rose up from the chair.

"But have you ever asked me that? Is that really the truth?" she added and saw the gears in his mind turn.

"Ask me?" she said as she beckoned, Ottar to escort her away, and he had not yet spoken up and just as she turned away from him, she heard his voice.

"Were you behind Hera-sama's ascension?" she closed her eyes at that question, her heart screaming at her to tell him the whole truth, yet she knew how it would affect him. And yet she was tired of this loneliness, tired of seeing that hate-filled gaze.

"I wish," she answered and did not turn back as she let Ottar escort her away. The journey to the tower of Babel was quiet as Freya reached her home and began looking down at the city with sheer contempt and hate.

This city. This city was what had destroyed him. This was the burden that had taken him away from her, and in that moment, that hate overpowered her as she thought of Dinoysus's offer.