The smell of freshly baked bread mixed with the aroma of herbs that dried on the window sill, creating a familiar and cozy perfume. Cale took a deep breath, trying to record that moment in memory. That could be the last breakfast he would have at home for a long time.
Gaspar watched him from the other side of the table, golden eyes hiding something that Cale could not tell if it was concern or resignation. When his father stood up, Cale thought he was just going to say goodbye normally, but then felt the weight of a strong hand on his shoulder.
"When you were seven years old, you had a nightmare and came to sleep in my room", Gaspar said, with a quiet tone. "You asked me if monsters really existed."
Cale blinked, confused and with the sudden memory.
"And you said yes", he replied, frowning.
"Yes, because it was true. But he also said that there are two types of monsters: those who can be defeated and those who live inside us. Fear, doubt, shame. And that these were the most dangerous, because we can not cut them with a sword."
Gaspar smiled slightly, but his look remained serious.
"I know you don't want to be going to Othea, but don't let these monsters take you over, Cale. If you need to run, run. If you need to fight, fight. But do not let yourself be consumed by what you cannot control."
Cale swallowed dry, looking away.
After all, how could he fight against a fate that was already sealed?
The sun began to rise over the green fields of the Arkalis estate, casting golden tones on the stone and wood house where Cale and Alinys spent their entire childhood.
The hour of departure had arrived.
"You have everything you need?", Silene asked, closing the bag of Cale.
"Yes, mother", he replied, trying to hide the knot that forms in his throat.
She stared at him silently, and Cale knew that his mother had noticed his discomfort with such a sudden departure. Sighing defeated, he ended up admitting.
"Amazing, isn't it? I spent years hiding our secret, and now I'm throwing myself right into the wolf's mouth. A brilliant plan, worthy of someone desperate."
Silene laughed and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Nobody ever likes to leave home. However, Cale, the hope that you have before problems is something that many demigods forget in their journeys. See this as a time to strengthen your faith."
Cale took a deep breath, feeling the weight of that decision. Even if he made a thousand prayers to the gods of Keonna, nothing would be able to relieve the expectation that grew inside him. The anxiety and fear of being a problem simply because you were born twin. But his mother's words sounded like a promise that his future awaited him.
Perhaps Othea was not a place where he would find only training. Perhaps it was where he would find his true destiny. Well, it was an academy run by one of the twelve gods of Keonna. Cale couldn't help but get anxious.
The place that only carefully selected demigods could enter. The only space for those who wished to become a god in the future. Othea was surrounded by legends, stories of heroes who passed through its gates and ascended to the side of the gods.
But it was also a place where failures were forgotten, erased from history without leaving traces.
The weight of that reality hit him like a violent tide.
"Well... I don't have a choice, do I?"
"I know it's uncomfortable to leave your home, my son", Gaspar took off his tunic, and put it on Cale's shoulders. Carefully he pulled the hood, covering his head. "And for your safety, avoid crowds. Do not be seen by any god. You and Alinys should avoid being seen together for now, okay?"
Alinys heard those words, and held Cale's hand looking at him with determination. Then she turned to her parents.
"Don't worry, Dad. I intend to stay close to the training tower. As long as Cale is not seen there, I believe we will have no problem."
"Wouldn't it be easier for me not to go? I'm not a warrior, and I've already made the decision not to follow the divine path..."
"Unfortunately there are things that we can not avoid. For having my blood in your veins, you two will have to go through the coming of age ceremony in a month. And this will be the last trial. After all this is over, both will be free to follow the path their hearts desire."
Cale lowered his eyes, to the scroll in his hands. A last trial. Just one month.
"A whole month being a ghost? Great. I'll start talking to myself to get into the character."
"Own, he's using irony to hide his shyness, how adorable."
"Please, children, no fighting", Silene said categorically, crossing her arms. "I expect you to behave yourself, since you need to be careful."
"Ha... right, right. I'll do my best to be a good behavior ghost."
Alinys uttered a loud laugh, and Gaspar nodded proudly, though his eyes still carried doubt. But inside Cale, a disturbing feeling whispered that that month would change his life forever.
Saying goodbye to their parents with a long hug, and praying for a safe journey, the twins got into the carriage that would take them directly to the city of Othea, where their new destination was.
—-
Seven days later, the carriage clattered when it stopped at the main gate. When Cale left, he felt the sun hitting his face, but it was the visual impact that took his breath away.
Othea was not just a city. It was an empire of stone and light.
Carved towers rose to the heavens like golden spears, reflecting the brightness of the sun. Wide avenues meandering between buildings of light stone, interconnected by ornate bridges. The city was bustling with its own rhythm: merchants shouted their offerings, human children played under the eyes of their mothers, and harpies messengers crossed the sky in fast flights.
The air was different. There was a smell of spices and hot metal coming from the forges, mixed with the perfume of flowers hanging from the balconies. The mountain wind brought a freshness that contrasted with the heat of the busy city.
Cale looked at the main avenue, which led directly to the colossal castle in the center of the city. Every brick of that fortress seemed to exude a divine presence.
His stomach has turned.
"Ok... it's official" he muttered, feeling smaller than ever. "I'm a grain of dust in this city."
And, to make it worse, Cale would have to go a whole month without being noticed.
The idea of spending a month being a ghost in such a gigantic place suddenly seemed impossible. How could someone not be noticed there?
But before he could drown even more in that thought, a street vendor almost ran into him, followed by a group of magician apprentices arguing about fire spells. The movement was intense, and Cale felt the adrenaline go up. Fear? Maybe. But above all, a strange excitement took over him.
He's never been in a place like this. And despite the suffocating feeling, Cale could not deny that part of myself wanted to explore every corner of this legendary city.
Even if he needed to hide.
"Come on, newbies! Don't scatter and follow me! I am the instructor of Othea's Academy, and I will take you to the main gates!"
The huge group of demigods wandered into the streets, following the huge instructor who had no time to waste. If anyone was left behind, he would not mind.
The winding path leading to the main gates was lined with immense statues of ancient warriors and sages, figures who, according to stories, had ascended to heaven as deities after completing their training there.
The fresh mountain wind brought with it the smell of old trees and wet earth, a contrast to the nervousness that accumulated in Cale's chest.
"It's time for us got separate" muttered Alinys under the hood.
The twins, holding each other's hands, exchanged glances. Throughout the journey they had been united. Either to calm one or the other or to take advantage of the little time they had left before avoiding each other for a month.
The idea was absurd, but necessary.
"Remember, Cale, avoid the training tower. From what Dad said, the garden area has a temple, there should be the safest for you."
"Do you think that really no one will realize that we are twins?"
"We can fool the demigods, but the teachers and even Melli? Never."
Cale clenched his lips, and sighed low with indignation. Of course they could not fool a higher god like Melli, this brought the feeling that all effort was useless.
Only that, what else could they do? It seemed mandatory both participate in the training before the holding of the ceremony of maturity.
"Let's meet in a few days, at night, after the curfew. Can you let me look for you, okay?" Alinys shook the brother's hand, who replied with a nod.
Watching her twin sister adjust the hood, Cale felt his chest tighten slightly. Despite all his irony, there was no way to hide the concern he felt. Alinys gave him a smile, in a silent and disguised farewell. Stepping back, Alinys mixed with the demigods who were gathered at the gate of the Academy in the city center.
Now he was alone.
"Well... time to be a ghost."
A huge, muscular figure, looking like a bear, appeared in front of the main bridge. With arms crossed and an expression of a few friends, he contradicted the water-green robe he wore with a symbol of a bird.
"The new demigods will be divided into groups! Line up and we'll separate them! Don't wait, we don't have all day!"
It took a long time for the demigods to form a huge line. Cale realized that there were various types of figures there. Half-humans, man-beasts... the diversity was so great that it was impossible to recognize all species. But they all had something in common: the divine blood.
As the line walked, the demigods were divided. When it came to his turn, Cale noticed the curious look of the instructor, probably strange to see someone hooded that way.
Cale lowered his head further, trying to hide in the shade of the hood so that his face could not be seen. The instructor sighed and wrote something on a piece of paper.
"Name?"
"Cale..." he hesitated to answer.
The instructor looked at him as if she expected him to continue, and Cale hesitated. Should he say his last name too?
"Cale Arkalis" he added.
"Another Arkalis?" she raised her eyebrow and then sighed low, taking notes. "It seems that the wheat god and his mistresses really are thriving in their seeds."
Mistresses? She was saying that his father had more than one woman?
Cale clenched his fists with such lying words, but held himself to avoid creating problems. If he reacted and ended up saying what he shouldn't, it could be discovered. No one should know that he and Alinys are twins.
Swallowing his pride and frustration, Cale just stared at her under the shade of the hood.
"You will stay in group 4, right there."
Looking to the right, Cale saw a medium group, not seeing his sister among the demigods. Great, they were in separate groups. It was good news and bad news. The good... would not be caught. The bad... he would be alone with a bunch of unknown demigods.
And so, more instructors came to take care of a group, and they could finally cross the bridge to enter the famous academy.
When Cale crossed the first gate, an uncomfortable weight settled on his shoulders. Perhaps it was the divine energy... or maybe it was just your instinct saying that place was a bad idea. Probably both. Each step forward was like crossing an invisible veil of power that, for others, was a source of inspiration, but for him, a burden.
"I will take you to the main hall, where a reception has been prepared. Follow me, and don't get away from me!" cried the instructor.
Cale sighed heavily, the discouragement involving him.
"If the gods really love me, don't let the speech go beyond five minutes."