Chapter 9 9

Kratos woke up slowly. His body felt heavy, like every part of him had been drained and left hollow. Even breathing felt like work “Where…?” His voice was dry. He blinked a few times, trying to clear his vision “Oh, I’m still here”.

“Fortunately” Zephyr responded.

Kratos turned his head slightly. Zephyr stood near the doorway, arms crossed, watching him, Kratos let out a weak breath “You always this welcoming?”

“Only when someone almost got us all killed” he answered coldly.

Kratos winced slightly as he tried to sit up “I didn’t plan any of this and I didn't even sign up for it either”.

Zephyr didn’t respond because there was nothing else to say to that. Kratos pushed himself up slowly, ignoring the protest from his body “How long was I out?” he asked.a

“A few hours” Lyra then repsonded.

Kratos nodded slightly “Feels like it was longer” he said.

“That’s because your body isn’t used to what you did” Lyra said.

Kratos looked down at his hands. They weren’t shaking anymore but they didn’t feel right either “What did I do?” he asked.

Zephyr’s gaze hardened slightly “You pushed back Archon”.

Kratos let out a dry laugh “Pushed back Archon?”.

“You didn’t win though but you survived” Zephyr said.

Kratos leaned back against the wall “That seems to be the pattern though”.

Silence settled between them… “They’re talking about you” Zephyr added.

Kratos frowned “Who?”

“Everyone” Zephyr said.

Kratos exhaled slowly “Of course they are but who cares!”

“You broke the training chamber” Zephyr lashed “You nearly tore the place apart”.

Kratos closed his eyes briefly and exhaled deeply in frustration.

“They’re not sure what you are and some are afraid” Lyra said.

Kratos opened his eyes again “What does that mean?”

Zephyr didn’t hesitate “It means some of them thinks you’re more of a threat than a saviour”.

Kratos’s chest tightened slightly “Some?”

Kratos let out a slow breath “Great… Maybe I should just get the heck out of here before I get you all killed”. He swung his legs off the side of the bed “Or I should probably go see for myself”.

Zephyr didn’t stop him. The moment Kratos stepped out of the room, he felt it that eyes were on him. Conversations stopped, people watched him like he didn’t belong there.

“You’ve always been an outsider” Zephyr said, brutally.

Kratos looked forward again “Yeah… I guess that's your motto”.

Zephyr continued “But this feels different”.

Kratos didn’t ask how. He already knew. Before, he was just another nobody and now, he became something unknown and people feared what they didn’t understand. A voice cut through the silence “Is that him?”

Kratos stopped. It was a small group stood nearby.

“Yeah, but that's him” one of them said quietly.

Kratos felt something twist in his chest “They shouldn’t be this scared” he muttered.

Zephyr’s voice was calm “They watched you lose control, what else do you expect!”

Kratos clenched his fists slightly “But I didn’t hurt anyone”.

“You almost did” Zephyr affirmed. That hit harder than he expected but Kratos didn’t respond. He just kept walking and ignoring the stares and the whispers.

“Kratos” Lyra shouted.

He stopped, he let out a small breath “Finally, someone not looking at me like I’m about to explode”.

Lyra didn’t smile, that wasn’t a good sign “Come with me” she said.

Kratos frowned slightly “What now?”

“Just come” she ordered.

Kratos hesitated but he knew he had no choice than to follow. They moved to a quieter section of the base, away from the others. Kratos leaned against the wall “Alright. Say it”.

Lyra crossed her arms “Say what?”

“What everyone else is thinking” Kratos said.

Lyra held his gaze “You’re unstable and maybe dangerous right now” Lyra added.

“So, I'm a problem now?” he answered reluctantly.

“No, you’re not the problem” Lyra assured.

Kratos smiled “I’m not?”

“No” Lyra said.

Kratos pushed himself off the wall “Then what is the problem?”

Lyra stepped closer “The fact that Erebus knows you exist, definitely other forces or kingdom might be after you too”.

Kratos’s chest tightened again “Because of what happened”.

“Yes… And because of what you possess” Lyra said.

Kratos ran a hand through his hair and sighed frustratingly “So what now?” he questioned.

Lyra didn’t hesitate “Now, they are going to come back harder and steonger”.

Kratos let out a short laugh “Good to know things are goona get worse”.

“Life has always been worse” Lyra said.

Kratos looked at her “You really know how to make someone feel better”.

“I’m not here to make you feel better, I'm here to make you be a better warrior” Lyra said.

Kratos sighed heavily.

“Shadowborn” Kratos said quietly.

Lyra’s expression shifted slightly “You heard that?” she asked.

Kratos nodded “He called me that”.

Lyra didn’t deny it, she sighed “It’s what you are”.

Kratos frowned “You said Arcus. Now this”.

“They’re all connected” Lyra said.

Kratos’s chest tightened “Then, explain”

Lyra hesitated just for a second and then she said “Arcus is the power you possess”.

Kratos listened…

“Shadowborn…” she continued “…is what happens when someone can use it as a protector, guardian or destroyer”.

Kratos went still “That’s it?”

“No” Lyra replied.

Kratos narrowed his eyes “Then keep going”.

Lyra held his gaze “It’s very rare and we all believed they've been wiped out not until you showed up”.

“How rare and why were they wiped out?” he asked.

“You’re the only one left, that's all I know” she said.

Kratos stared at her “That’s not possible”.

“Yes, It is… How it's possible is what we really do not know” Lyra said firmly.

Kratos shook his head in disagreement “No. Those that were wiped out, what happened to them?” he questioned.

She paused for a while… “Erebus” she said finally.

Kratos’s stomach dropped “They killed them?” he asked, surprised.

“Or they took them” she added.

Kratos’s fists clenched “For the Arcus power?” he asked.

“Yes” she answered.

Kratos looked down at his hands again “So, you’re saying I’m next?”.

Lyra didn’t sugarcoat it, but she said bluntly “Yes, you are and that's why he's seriously after you now”.

Kratos let out a breath “Great. Guess I'm going to have to die soon then”.

“Maybe or maybe not” she replied.

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?” he questioned.

Lyra’s expression didn’t change “Because you wouldn’t have believed it”.

Kratos let out a dry laugh “Yeah… probably not”. “And now?” he asked.

“Now, you've seen for yourself and I know you'd believe whatever you're told now” she replied.

A voice echoed from the corridor “Lyra”.

They both turned. Thorne stood there “…It’s time” he said.

Kratos looked lost “Time for what?” he asked.

Thorne’s gaze shifted to him “For the truth”.

Kratos’s chest tightened “You said that before but you said nothing tangible”.

“And now I mean it” Thorne assured.

“Is it about my mother?” he asked.

“Yes” Thorne answered.

“And about this?” he asked, touching the amulet.

Thorne nodded. Kratos didn't hesitate to move closer, every instinct told him this would change everything “Then say it”.

Thorne held his gaze “You were not born by chance”.

Kratos paused and smiled “No one was born by chance of course”.

“You were born because something chose to return” Thorne said.

Kratos felt that same cold feeling again “Return?” he asked.

Thorne’s voice lowered “The Arcus line was not meant to continue cos of what happened with the last true shadowborn”.

Kratos’s breath caught “Then, why and how am I here?”

Thorne stepped closer “Because something or someone broke that rule”.

Kratos’s heart pounded “What?”

Thorne’s gaze didn’t waver “Your father”.

Kratos’s voice dropped “What about him?”

Thorne exhaled slowly. Then, he continued “Your father was not human”.

Kratos froze “What?”

Lyra went still. Zephyr who was eavesdropping at the far end of the corridor, lifted his head slightly.

Kratos stared at Thorne “Say that again”.

Thorne didn’t look away “You are not fully human, Kratos”.

The words hit harder than anything before. Kratos shook his head immediately “No, that's impossible. My mother always told me my father abandoned us”.

“She lied and you felt it” Thorne said “The power and the way it reacts” he added.

Kratos stepped back “That doesn’t mean…”

“It means everything” Thorne interrupted.

Kratos’s breathing grew uneven “No. That’s not possible”.

Thorne’s voice stayed calm and assuring “Yes, It is”.

Kratos was perplexed “Then what am I?” he asked.

Thorne didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he said one word “A protector or a destroyer…either one your Arcus chooses”.

Kratos stood there, and not speaking, not moving, but just… processing everything. Then, a voice echoed from deeper in the base “We are under attack!”

Everyone turned. Another member rushed in “They’ve made a move”.

Kratos’s chest tightened instantly “Already?”

The man nodded “Erebus forces are larger this time”.

Lyra’s expression hardened. Zephyr stepped forward “They’re not waiting anymore. We really provoked their king”.

Thorne looked at Kratos and then at the others “Then neither are we waiting anymore”.

Kratos clenched his fists “What do we do?” he asked.

Lyra looked at him. Her voice was steady “We fight” she declared.

Kratos swallowed, his heart was pounding relentlessly again and filled with rage “Then this time…” He took a slow breath “I won’t lose control”. But deep down, he wasn’t sure if that was true.