This world appeared peaceful and beautiful on the surface, but the deeper I delved into its roots, the more I realized its true face. Most people chose to ignore the darker aspects, continuing to believe that their beloved gods watched over them.
For me, life had taken a tragic turn two years ago when my mother died in an accident. She was my only family, and I was left to recover from the mental pain and depression that followed. As for my father, he had passed away when I was just six years old.
In the absence of my parents, I found myself living with my cousin, Ady Verten. His life, too, was filled with struggle, despite being a devoted follower of Dionysus, the God of Harvest. I did my best to support him in any way I could.
The Verten family mostly consisted of followers of gods like Shiva, the God of Destruction, and Indra, the God of Lightning. However, there were exceptions like my mother and Ady, who chose to follow a god that the verten family hates.
I, Asher Vol. Verten, was considered an outcast in the Verten family because my mother had chosen to follow the goddess Martha, the Goddess of Life.
But enough about that. I needed to focus on preparing for my upcoming science presentation, even though it felt like a pain in the ass. Should I ask Ady to do it for me? However, I realized that I had already asked him for help with my English presentation, which made me feel somewhat useless.
Deciding to pay a visit to Ady's room, I found it empty. My heart sank as I scanned the other rooms, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. The heaviness of anxiety settled upon me, constricting my chest. Where could he have disappeared to at this late hour? The uncertainty gnawed at my thoughts, refusing to be ignored.
Searching for answers, I hurriedly checked each room, my footsteps echoing through the silent apartment. The emptiness surrounding me intensified my worry, amplifying the absence of my cousin. A thousand possibilities raced through my mind, each one more troubling than the last. Was he in trouble? Had something terrible happened?
A wave of unease washed over me as I ventured into the familiar hallways, desperately seeking any sign of Ady's presence. The apartment seemed to hold its breath, as if mirroring my growing concern. With each passing moment, my restlessness grew, urging me to find him. Perhaps he had made a quick trip to the grocery store, I thought, clinging to a glimmer of hope.
Urgency propelled me forward as I made my way towards the grocery store, footsteps quickening with every stride. The familiar surroundings offered little solace as I scanned the streets, my eyes searching for any trace of Ady. Time seemed to stretch, elongating the minutes into an eternity. Anxiety gripped me tightly, tightening its grip with each passing moment.
The entrance of the grocery store loomed ahead, and I stepped inside, the scent of fresh produce mingling with my apprehension. I scanned the aisles, my eyes darting from one face to another, desperately hoping to spot Ady amidst the crowd. The storekeeper became the recipient of my anxious inquiry, as I mustered the courage to ask if Ady had been there. But her response brought me no solace. Ady had not graced the store with his presence that day.
A sense of dread settled upon me as I wandered through the neighborhood, my footsteps heavy with worry. Shadows danced around me, whispering their ominous secrets. Where could he be? The question echoed in my mind, bouncing off the walls of my apprehension. The sun began to sink, casting long shadows that mirrored the darkness in my heart.
Returning to the apartment, I was met with the same locked door, a symbol of Ady's absence. My unease deepened, the weight of concern pressing down upon me. Minutes stretched into hours as I anxiously waited, hoping for Ady's return. The ticking of the clock seemed to mock me, each passing second intensifying my fear.
Just as despair threatened to consume me, a shrill ring pierced the silence. I rushed to the door, my heart pounding in my chest. Opening it, I was met with a sight that chilled me to the core. Ady stood before me, his body adorned with the unmistakable marks of violence. Blood stained his clothes, and wounds marred his skin, visible evidence of the ordeal he had endured. Shock immobilized me, my voice caught in my throat as I struggled to comprehend what had befallen him.
Questions tumbled through my mind, desperate for answers. I reached out to him, my trembling hand hovering over his wounded form. But he could offer no explanation, his strength failing him as he succumbed to unconsciousness. Panic surged within me, propelling me into action.
Without wasting a moment, I gathered Ady in my arms and rushed him to the hospital, my steps fueled by a fierce determination to save him. The doctors examined him, their faces etched with concern. Their verdict was grim: Ady's critical condition required the intervention of the Goddess of Life, Martha. Yet, finding someone blessed with Martha's power proved to be a daunting task. Her followers were scarce, and inheritors of her blessings even rarer.
A sense of helplessness washed over me as I stepped out of the hospital, the weight of the situation bearing down on my shoulders. I knew there was only one option left—to seek aid from the Verten Household, despite the probable rejection that awaited us. My attempts to reach my aunt Mary proved futile, her unanswered calls adding to my frustration. Determined, I resolved to personally visit the household, bracing myself for the uphill battle ahead.
As I arrived at the Verten Household, resistance greeted me in the form of vigilant guards, determined to block my path. Undeterred, I pushed through, my desperation spurring me forward. The familiar faces of the guards transformed into stern masks of disapproval as I pleaded with them, my voice filled with a mix of urgency and despair. But my pleas fell on deaf ears.
I reached out to my grandmother, Frey, my voice trembling with a raw desperation. Yet, she turned her back on me, treating Ady and me like strangers. The realization pierced my heart like a blade, the rejection a cruel blow. We were outsiders, unworthy of their aid. Anger surged within me, fueled by a profound sense of injustice.
Unleashing my frustration, I confronted her, my words laced with righteous indignation. How could she uphold such a heartless rule? The air crackled with tension as I challenged the validity of a system that prioritized blood ties over compassion. But my words were met with indifference, Frey dismissing us as insignificant, mere remnants of a forgotten past.
As she walked away, the guards moved to forcibly remove me from the premises, their actions a stark reminder of our powerlessness. I fought back, resisting with every fiber of my being, but it was a futile battle. In that moment, I knew that all hope of finding aid within the Verten Household had been extinguished.
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