Chapter 77: Sons of Helios Part 4

Gar heard the train that was fifteen blocks away. Never thought he’d be back to the house that he ran away from. It didn’t matter how much disdain they looked at him. Gar wanted to live. He didn’t want to die because of his pride. So he returned to the House of Cheery, the Ancestral House of his family, an old family that has existed ever since the foundation of the Empire. The current matriarch of the Alician Family was acquainted with the Cheery house.

The house name started with their great grandmother finding a wife. The Ancestor of the house of cheery was quite the person who held strange knowledge that helped in developing the current state of Empire. Of course, the knowledge he had was built on the foundations of many scholars who helped created the vision that Gar’s great ancestor had visualized.

“Fool!” the older servant said. “Why return? Was your pride as shallow as you resolve?”

Gar couldn’t care about the older servant. He had angered everyone in the house but he was still allowed to stay. The Cheery Family had a weird fixation on not leaving anyone behind. Because of this principle that he was allowed to get inside the house.

“You are back, Gar?” said a voice.

Gar turned towards the voice. A blond haired young woman wearing a military coat, the banner of throes, one of the oldest organizations of the Empire. She had bright blue eyes and apple lips.

“Lady Melissa,” Gar bowed. “It is a pleasure to see you.”

“The same,” Melissa nodded. “I heard you were looking for a new path in life. You came so quickly.”

“I had to make due, milady,” he balled his fist. “I thought of being a courier to the Sons of Helios, but they were wiped out easily.”

Her face became stern, “I see. I did hear you were part of the Sunspawn Knight’s affiliate group. So three districts in a span of a week. Did you personally see the monster?”

Gar thought that the monster didn’t really say anything about telling others about him. He had to keep silence about the matters of the monster coming to him.

“I saw him personally, milady,” he said with a shaking voice. “The monster had already scouted us before we could even prepare ourselves. The caravan I was in has been guarded with the best equipment they could be armed with. Nevertheless, the monster plunged on one of the carriages, made use of the recoil-operated Gatling to annihilate the guards. He then followed us into the district — we thought that we’d be safe but we were not safe milady. He took out all the watchers on the roofs and killed the gunners sneakily. When things were quiet he attacked and he sought fear and chaos while he attacks. Each of his attacks was brutal and visceral. It was clear that he was laying down fear on us. It worked.”

Gar tried to calm himself. He couldn’t easily do so while recounting the events. Melissa was watching him with a serious expression, her eyes as sharp as blades.

“I saw those tough men die easily. Bullets didn’t work. Even if it did he would only start bouncing around, making use of others as meat shields. His abilities made him even more dangerous, milady. He could shoot out black flesh that could pierce even through padded clothes. I am only alive because he let me go when I pleaded.”

She folded her arms and reclined back, “Then this monster is not done with you. Clearly, he had intentions of catching up to you? What did he say?”

“He said he wanted to know my background. I think the monster is reasonable, milady. Ah, please, I beg of you, milady. Do not try attacking the man all alone. I believe that you are strong and you have been trained by the blessed maiden herself, and your family does not lack in magical talents. I had not seen you fight but I doubt that such an experienced monster could be dealt with by you.”

Melissa’s brows met. Her fists tightened as she points her eyes coldly at Gar. Gar didn’t turn his eyes away. He dared to look her right in the eye.

“I see.”

“I know you do, milady. I can tell that you are strong. You and brother are strong but you should not face this monster alone and without a battalion of huntsmen that could prevent the monster from using his powers and agility. We need hard-hitting combatants that could break through his armor and defeat him. Sister Melissa, if you and brother could be married in any given month or day. I would hate to lose both of you because of your recklessness. The monster can be reasoned — but I don’t think he has any patience to rid of things he finds wrong. Evil or lesser or necessary. He wouldn’t care. Those eyes had no intention of letting the Sons of Helios go.”

Melissa palmed her knees. She looked up for a brief second at the chandelier of the house. Her eyes were lost for a second.

“We had been given the word that we’d be chasing that monster.”

“What?” Gar said. “No, that would be suicide!”

“Hearing it from you who had personal experience with such a monster? I think now so too. Your brother will accompany me, but I don’t think that we should go on with the plan. I had to reevaluate our approach.”

“Please do!” Gar pleaded.

“I’ve never seen you this scared, Gar. You and your brother have nerves of steel. But if this monster can leave a dent on your hardened wills. Then we shan’t be cocky or dare to underestimate the opponent. Great Grandmother had said as well, and knowing Great Grandmother, she would be right.”

Melissa rose from her seat with a smack of her boots. She adjusted her uniform and grabbed hold of her rifle and slung it on her back. “I will go back to inform the rest of what you have said. Your brother will be notified by this as well.”

She started out of the door and disappeared from sight. Gar clambered up the stairs and opened his old room. In the room, he saw a lone figure wearing a mask.

Gars legs stiffed. His eyes shrunk down as he stared at the skulled-masked man.