1st Saga: Cain

3 Years after the Massacre of the Hermes clan,

On a sombre, overcast day, a youthful boy with cascading brown curls and eyes the shade of warm chocolate stood firmly at the water's edge.

The waves, like gentle caresses, embraced his knees, their soothing rhythm matching the beat of his hopeful heart.

With an aura of innocence that clung to him like a second skin, he gazed out at the expanse of the ocean, his eyes alight with anticipation.

"Ozzy! Come to shore it's dangerous." A soft feminine voice yelled concernedly as she sat on a large rock on the sand.

The boy: Oizys, didn't say anything as he continued to stare at the ocean impatiently.

"Papa's late..." He muttered under his breath as he looked at the dull blue water.

-sigh- "That boy's just like his father..."

'If it's something he enjoys doing, he'll hear nothing else.' Pan giggled to herself as she watched her son.

Amidst the brooding nimbus clouds, bursts of brilliant white lightning illuminated the sky before a colossal bolt unleashed its raw energy upon the body of water enveloping the young boy.

KRLK KRLK KRLK

BOOM

Yet, as the sky's fury met the sea's embrace, an incredible phenomenon occurred.

Oizys remained untouched by the electric cascade that had just seared through the water around him.

However, a space a few hundred feet away from him was forever altered — the water that once danced there vanished, leaving behind a small crater.

"Three hundred and ninety-three seconds..." The boy whispered to himself as he waited for all the steam in front of him to clear.

As the dissipating steam unveiled the scene's secrets, it unveiled a tall and mysterious figure.

This stranger, garbed in attire that whispered of distant lands, materialized before the boy's eyes.

An aura of mystery surrounded him, amplified by the unusual mask that obscured his features, rendering them inscrutable. The mask, reminiscent of an oni with its telltale cracks, seemed to bridge the realm between the living and the ethereal.

Adorned in a blood-soaked white kimono, a stark and chilling contrast to the paleness of his mask, the man emanated an air of ominous elegance.

At his hip, a long, ebony katana rested in its scabbard, the blade's darkness juxtaposed against the vibrant red liquid that tainted it.

The man clutched his abdomen in pain as he limped towards Oizys.

"Papa, you travelled twenty megameters, meaning you're three hundred and forty seconds late." The boy pouted as he walked towards Percy.

"Sorry Ozzy..." With a tender gesture, Eurodos placed his hand on his child's head, a gesture of both affection and apology.

A soft smile graced his lips as he carefully removed his mask using his free hand, revealing the features that had been shrouded in mystery just moments ago.

Adonis' dream was interrupted as he felt the movement of the wagon slow down.

***

Phyla City- Facere Kingdom, Caelum Empire

Now ten years old, Adonis reclined within an aged merchant's wagon, its weathered wheels turning in sync with the plodding steps of a weary donkey.

The boy had hitched a ride with a travelling merchant, embarking on a journey that now led them through the gates of Phyla City.

Facere, one of the five kingdoms of the Caelum Empire is known for its blacksmiths, high economy, and its large population.

The city of Phyla being one of its six major cities each managed by its own respective Duke.

The city burst forth with life, an orchestra of children's laughter echoing through the streets.

A bustling scene unfolded before Adonis's eyes: countless children immersed themselves in games, small stalls boasting an array of goods, from low-level magic items to freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.

Amid this vibrant tapestry of life, tall buildings stood, bearing the weight of centuries gone by.

The city's architecture embraced a Renaissance Italian aura, an essence familiar across human cities worldwide.

Yet, there was a touch of otherworldliness woven into these structures, a whisper of magic infused into the mortar and stone, proof of the marvels that humanity and magic together could create.

From his nest within the cart, Adonis roused from his drowsiness with a yawn that stretched his lips, revealing gleaming white teeth.

Recognition dawned upon him as the city's atmosphere seeped into his awareness; he had arrived at his destination.

Clad in a worn, oversized tunic of a muted white hue, secured by a simple black rope.

His once-cropped Russian violet hair now cascaded just above his eyebrows and brushed against his upper ears, a tousled mane reminiscent of a bird's nest.

A sturdy staff, solid and ebony, stood as his steadfast companion. Three and a half feet in length and four inches thick, the stick exuded an air of strength.

This pitch-black tool had been Adonis's partner in countless drills and exercises over nine months, a testament to his tireless commitment.

As its weight rested in his hand, he was reminded of the journey it had shared with him, a reluctant reminder that it might soon be time to part ways.

The boy nimbly jumped out of the cart moving cart and used his stick to prevent him from losing balance.

"Thank you, sir."

The old man driving the cart nodded silently as he acknowledged the boy's salutation.

{Mortal, why come all the way here to buy a blade?}

'Lord Eos, I don't plan on buying a second-rate weapon that'll break easily. I need a lifelong companion.'

{Weapons are merely tools, don't rely on them too much.}

'Yes sir.'

***

The boy explored the city's streets for a few hours looking for his destination.

His journey brought him to a sprawling estate guarded by imposing iron gates.

Beyond those gates stood a significant building, its size easily doubling that of a typical Roman bank.

The bank's main structure exuded an air of elegance in its pale white façade.

There are twelve stately columns that stand tall, providing both support and a grand aesthetic.t

Ascending towards the entrance was a series of elevated steps, welcoming patrons with an air of grandeur.

The scene before him painted a picture of bustling activity.

A steady stream of individuals flowed in and out of the bank, each bearing bags of gold or slips of paper that held untold value.

The hum of transactions and commerce reverberated through the air, a testament to the vital role this institution played in the lives of many.

{I thought you wanted a blade, what are we doing in this place?}

'Collecting the Hermes' Code Red Fund.'

{Makes sense.}

The boy walked up towards the tall iron gates where he was confronted by two guards, one a young man in his early twenties and the other an older woman the two guards stared down at the boy irritably and raised their eyebrows.

The guards wore Roman iron breastplates on top of their red tunics and had groin protectors covering their crotch area. They also had spears which were about 7 feet long and wore heavy metal helmets.

{These mortals are fairly weak, the man with short hair doesn't use magic, meaning he is a Novice knight while the taller woman is a Tier 7 magic knight.}

'I don't plan on fighting, Lord Eos.'

{Tch...Do you ever want to fig-}

"What are you doing here peasant?" The guard on the left looked down at the young boy with purple hair in front of him.

"I've come to withdraw funds from an A. account." Adonis tried to sound as polite as he could as he looked up at the guard.

"An A. account? What kind of joke are you trying to pull?" The guard on the left scrunched his eyebrows as he hissed at the child.

(A. account- An anonymous account used to store funds. It isn't registered to any families or names, making it perfect to keep secret money for an emergency)

Among these guards, one stood distinct with his deep blue eyes that seemed to hold an unspoken story within their depths.

His short brown hair was neatly groomed, contrasting the chaos surrounding the busy bank. A clean-shaven countenance revealed no traces of past battles, no marks to mar his youthful visage.

Yet, as Adonis's gaze met his, he sensed a flicker of hostility within those azure depths.

Despite this, it was evident that the young man's eyes hadn't witnessed the brutality of a true life-or-death conflict.

His stance, and his demeanor, bore the innocence of one who hadn't yet been pushed to the brink, a reminder that behind the facade of sternness lay the untested essence of a mere Novice Knight.

"Hey... Let him in. There's no rule against children withdrawing money." The other guard looked at her partner without even glancing at the boy.

"Senior? " The guard on the left said in a confused tone.

"Let him in." The female guard with the long hair repeated her statement but with a more intimidating tone.

"There's no rule against allowing children inside."

As the boy walked through the gates, the guard on the right looked at him for the first time and spoke in an intimidating voice.

"If you cause any trouble commoner, I'll kill you myself." The guard said flatly as she waited for the boy's reaction.

'There's that word.' Adonis thought as he tried to suppress his rage.

Adonis suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked down at the ground. He sighed and cracked a gentle smile as he looked back at the guard.

"Don't worry ma'am, I'll be out of your hair in an hour!"

The boy carried on walking with a polite smile plastered on his face till he reached the entrance of the large building where he then completely erased it from his face as if it was never there.

The building had a large wooden door that was opened widely, although it didn't look like anything special it was heavily reinforced with mana.

Roaming the area near the door were dozens of guards of varying strengths looking for suspicious activity.

{The strongest person here is, 6th Tier Low tier.} The Devil God assessed.

Adonis nodded as he looked around before walking through the wooden door.

Although it looked like no one was paying attention to him, he was the most suspicious person there, so he naturally received the most amount of gazes. The seasoned professionals simply knew how to hide it.

As he walked into the bank, he looked around curiously.

Inside the bank, numerous sturdy beams extended several meters in height to provide structural support. The floor, a serene pale white canvas, featured intricate artwork depicting celestial figures like angels and deities.

{Ew!} The deity said as it identified the figures in the art.

Extra Information:

There are 5 Kingdoms in the Caelum empire, each boasting a population of about 220-270 million people.

These kingdoms are larger than countries like the USA in terms of surface area.

The Planet is 80% water.