Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 164: Confessing the secret

Narinder stood firm in the area of ​​the portals, his regal figure standing out among the mist that covered the place like an ethereal veil. His eyes burned with determination as he stared directly at the Mystic, who continued to float in his usual serenity, as if time itself had no authority over him. The dim light of the place made the moon-like shape of his head glow softly, and his expression, always neutral, seemed to observe beyond the obvious.The silence between them was heavy, as if the air itself held the weight of the unsaid. Finally, Narinder broke the tension with a harsh, demanding tone. "Well?"The Mystic turned his moon-like head with infinite calm, as if Narinder's plight was irrelevant to him. "What is it?" His voice was neutral, almost disinterested, as if he already knew the answer.Narinder gritted his teeth, struggling to contain his frustration. "How am I still alive? I know I lost that battle."The Mystic watched him with his mysterious eyes, blinking slowly, before answering in his usual tone of distant wisdom. "It wasn't a battle, it was a test."The answer, far from calming Narinder, further ignited his impatience. He ran a hand over his face, pressing his nose as if trying to hold back a scream. "Whatever! I'm not supposed to be... permanently dead if I lost." His voice trembled slightly at the end, betraying the fear he was trying to hide.The Mystic remained silent for a moment before speaking with disconcerting calm. "If you lost, that was the end of you. But tell me, what exactly happened there at the end?"Narinder closed his eyes, trying to reconstruct the last moments of that duel. His mind was a chaos of images and sensations, but he finally spoke, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I... I'm not sure... The ram grabbed his blue bell, squeezed it, and... everything went white. Then black, and then... I appeared in my cult."The Mystic tilted his head slightly, as if processing the information. Narinder, for his part, frowned and added, "Was it... a tie?" The idea seemed absurd to him, but it was the only thing his mind could suggest.The Mystic calmly shook his head. "There are no ties in trials. Only a winner and a loser."The tension in Narinder's body became palpable. His hands trembled slightly as his voice rose, laden with anxiety. "Then how? Tell me the truth! How am I still... alive?"The Mystic closed his eyes, remaining in a deep silence that stretched on so long that Narinder felt like every second was torture. Finally, he spoke in a low, enigmatic voice. "Three nanoseconds."Narinder blinked, bewildered. "What?"The Mystic kept his tone neutral, as if explaining a simple concept. "Because of the distance of the explosion. It hit you with a difference of three nanoseconds. You survived longer than he did."The impact of those words fell on Narinder like a physical blow. His legs buckled and he fell to his knees, his shaking hands staring into nothingness. "It was just... luck..." he muttered, his voice cracking with disbelief. "I won not by skill, not by my rival's carelessness... not by my effort... just... luck..."The Mystic watched him in silence, as Narinder stood there, sunk in a mix of shock and self-assessment, questioning everything he ever believed about himself.Narinder slowly sank down onto the cold ground in front of the portal, staring up at the sky that was barely visible through the thick mist. His eyes, which used to shine with determination, were now dull, filled with uncertainty. The mist was imposing, as if it were trying to hide the answers he so desperately sought. But he could find no solace in the landscape.With a sigh, he turned his gaze back to the Mystic, who remained floating in a state of serene indifference, as if Narinder's drama was nothing more than a small moment in the endless flow of time."That..." Narinder began, his voice cracking with bitterness, "wasn't even a battle. Really, he didn't stand a chance." A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "The worst of it all is that... the ram held back throughout the fight."The Mystic watched him with his fathomless eyes, letting a moment pass before answering. "A test is not the same as a normal battle. Just as he had the physical advantage, you had the psychological advantage. The ram's test was you."The Mystic's words struck Narinder with a strange mix of truth and confusion. He clenched his fists as he processed the thought, his pride wounded by the reality of what had happened.Finally, he stood up, shaking his robes in a mechanical motion. His mind seemed to be somewhere else, beyond the portal, beyond the Mystic."And I have rewards, don't I?" he asked in a monotone voice, as if the words barely held any weight."That's right," the Mystic replied calmly, "since it was a fair duel, the laws of causality will be respected. You will be able to choose three concepts from the loser."Narinder nodded slowly, but his mind was too exhausted to make decisions at the moment. His shoulders slumped slightly, and in an almost resigned tone, he muttered, "I... let's wait until tomorrow. I want to think about it with my pillow."Without waiting for an answer, he turned around and began walking back to the cult. The fog enveloped him, causing his figure to slowly blur until he disappeared completely. But even in the midst of the fog, his mind was still caught in a whirlwind of new thoughts. Despite his victories and rewards, the weight of the truth kept him restless, as the Mystic's words echoed in his mind.Narinder walked through the cult grounds, his gaze fixed on the ground and his thoughts heavy as a fog that matched the one that enveloped the environment. When he reached the dining room, he stopped for a moment, watching his followers enjoy their dinner. The dim lights of the torches barely managed to pierce the fog that crept in even inside. The bustle of the cultists filled the space, their laughter and conversations creating a contrast with the silence that weighed on Narinder.Almost without thinking, he took a plate of cooked meat from the center. He didn't need to eat, but he felt the urge to do so, as if the routine of mortals could offer him a distraction from his restless mind. With the plate in hand, he turned his gaze towards the tables and walked over to the one his husbands shared.As they sat between Lambert and Goliath, they were both surprised. It was rare for Narinder to join them for a meal, and even stranger for him to choose to eat. However, they both respected his silence and continued with their plates, careful not to disturb him.Lambert couldn't help but glance sideways at Narinder as he bit into a piece of meat. There was something about his movements, the way he chewed slowly, that indicated something was troubling him. But there was also something different about him. Watching him enjoy the food, though strange, was reassuring in some way.Goliath, on the other hand, ate with the roughness and enthusiasm that characterized him, but he moved a little closer to Narinder, gently pressing his side against his. He liked the closeness, a silent way of showing support without the need for words.Narinder, meanwhile, let the warmth of his husbands and the taste of the meat distract him, at least for a moment. He chewed slowly, finding that despite his divine status, there was something comforting about a simple meal. His gaze strayed a couple of times to Lambert and Goliath, silently thanking them for their presence, though his mind was still caught up in the events of the day.For a moment, as the day faded into darkness, Narinder found a small spark of normality among those he loved most.The night was growing darker, and though the atmosphere was still permeated with the bustle of the cult, Narinder decided it was time to retire. When Lambert and Goliath finished their dinner, Narinder invited them with a subtle gesture to return to the house. Lambert, noticing Narinder's unusual initiative, felt his heart race and a warm blush on his cheeks. He imagined that perhaps the night could turn into something special.Goliath, on the other hand, was still hungry after his third plate, but he decided not to complain. He didn't want to ruin a moment that seemed like it could be romantic.Upon arriving at the house, the atmosphere changed to a more intimate one. Narinder, with fluid movements, removed his robe, revealing his slender but powerful figure. Lambert and Goliath imitated him, removing their cloaks and preparing for the nightly routine. Without saying a word, the three of them headed to bed. Everything happened with the naturalness of those who share an established routine: each one took their usual place, as if they were synchronized.However, this time, Narinder broke the usual calm. Gathering his courage, he inhaled deeply and said:—I have something to tell you...Lambert and Goliath looked at him attentively, both expecting something different. Then Narinder let out the first revelation:—I... I think I fell in love again.The silence that followed was as thick as the fog that covered the cult. Lambert, surprised, blinked several times, clearly confused by the confession. It was not what he expected to hear.Goliath, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow and blurted out with a mix of disbelief and jealousy:—Wait... what?Although he was not upset, his competitive instincts awoke. Despite having accepted Narinder's polyamory, he could not help but feel a pang of jealousy.Lambert, always the calmest of the three, settled down, resting his head on Narinder's shoulder. With a gentle side hug, he said with a serene smile:—Well, the bed is big anyway.Lambert's relaxed response calmed Goliath down a bit, who, though still somewhat jealous, sighed deeply and walked over to Narinder's other side, wrapping him in a protective hug.Narinder, feeling surrounded by the warmth and affection of both, blurted out the last part of his confession:—And he's a ram. I defeated him in another great test.The room, which had seemed to be quiet, was filled with amazement when Lambert and Goliath's eyes widened in unison and exclaimed:—You did what?!Narinder, in a nonchalant tone, added:—Oh, right, I did another great test. But that's the least of it.The mix of surprise, disbelief and slight frustration on Lambert and Goliath's faces was almost comical. They both knew that this night was just beginning and that, clearly, there was much more to discuss.Narinder, now blushing, couldn't help but feel deeply touched as he noticed the concern in Lambert and Goliath's eyes. That simple gesture of attention and care filled him with warmth, as if the weight of his worries was suddenly lightened. Inspired by the love they shared, he let himself be carried away by his emotions and enveloped them both in a strong and tender embrace.The atmosphere changed to one filled with pure love when Narinder leaned his face towards Lambert and gave him a deep and passionate kiss. Lambert, initially surprised, gently closed his eyes, reciprocating the gesture with the same intensity. Narinder's touch was warm, full of security and devotion, as if he was telling him with that kiss how much he appreciated him and how much he meant to him.Without separating much, Narinder turned towards Goliath, who looked at him with a mixture of expectation and nervousness. Without hesitation, Narinder gently took the goat's face and kissed him with the same passion. Goliath reciprocated immediately, his usual roughness softening in this intimate moment. The kiss was full of strength, a reflection of the deep connection they shared.As Narinder pulled away, breathing with a slight tremor, the three of them looked at each other in silence, an unspoken understanding passing between them. It was a moment of calm, a silent pact to put aside their worries and enjoy what they shared in the present.Lambert rested his head on Narinder's chest, seeking comfort in his warmth, while Goliath wrapped a strong arm around them both, creating a haven of love between the three of them. Without needing words, they snuggled together, letting the tranquility and affection envelop them.The room fell into a peaceful silence, only interrupted by the slow breathing of the three of them. Little by little, the doubts and worries of the day faded away, replaced by a serenity that seemed almost magical. And so, as the stars hid behind the mist outside, Narinder, Lambert and Goliath gave themselves over to rest, focused only on the here and now, without worrying about tomorrow.