Chapter Text
The cool morning wind blew around the Medjai camp as Kammus walked towards Atreus and Kratos. The two gods were coming out of their tent, Kammus stopped in front of them, sweating discreetly, and spoke without preamble:
— We have found what is creating the monsters. An artifact, hidden in an ancient temple. It's... active. — He took a deep breath. — We need to deactivate it before new creatures are summoned.
Kratos narrowed his eyes as he watched the Medjai soldier declare a new threat. There was no longer any way to trust Kammus, Thoth or anyone else. Kratos realized that he would have to be very meticulous with what he did from now on. He couldn't let himself be carried away by the concerns of others, but follow his own instincts and find a way to talk to his daughter. Atreus, however, was determined to do what was right, to protect not only Calliope but also the Medjai and the people of that place.
— Where is it? — Atreus asked with an uneasy look on his face.
Some Medjai soldiers were marching through the camp with swords, prepared for an invasion or a war that could break out at any moment. The climate in Egypt was not just the heat of the desert, but the premonition of a war that was rapidly brewing.
— It's in the Sokar Caves. These are a series of underground caves that lead to the temple of Apophis. I sent some men there to check it out, but they all died.
Atreus nodded that he would do the mission. Kammus was in a cold sweat from the attack on his son; he was extremely grateful to Loki for saving him. He was ready to tell him so, when the young man spoke first.
— Kammus, do you know where I can find Cassius?
The Medjai leader frowned in surprise at the young god's question.
— The Roman doctor? — He asked. — When he's not looking after the servents or my soldiers, he usually goes to the city's healing house. It's near the main square, behind the temple of Sekhmet.
— Atreus... she tried to kill Amnotep. If it wasn't for you...
— I'll protect him. — Atreus interrupted him firmly. - She won't hurt him.
Kratos remained silent at Atreus' statement, but he knew he would talk to him about it later, if Calliope attacked him she had a reason, even if they didn't know what it was. The atmosphere between the two was still a little awkward since the conversation about their past. Atreus was sympathetic to Kratos' pain, but he could see that there was a hidden hurt in him. The realization that his father had committed acts even more terrible than he could have imagined. His past was marked by pain and tragedy.
The young man stood his ground until then, he wouldn't show that he felt betrayed by Kratos for hiding so many things from him, even more so, a crime of such magnitude, but he understood that his silence came from the pain and remorse he felt. Atreus wanted to stop Eris from killing Amnotep, he wanted to help her save her people. He resented his father for hiding the truth from him, but he understood that he was a man of few words and harbored intense pain.
Atreus knew that Eris was fighting for something, for the camp of Seth's children, for Khepri and for other people he had no idea existed. Could she have sought out Kratos at some point? Did she hate him too? He hoped that she could think of him as a brother, just as he already thought of her as his sister. He wanted to help her, but he also wanted to get to know her. His feelings towards his father and sister were contradictory and intense. They all had their reasons, they were right and wrong at the same time.
The Egyptian general seemed to breathe more freely. He believed in the boy, the only one among the gods and monsters in whom he seemed to see something human. But the relief soon faded when Atreus spoke again, now with the serious tone of someone carrying a burden.
— Is there anything you haven't told us about her? Anything Amnotep did? Anything at all?
It took Kammus a second to understand the question. His brow furrowed.
— About Eris? No. I didn't know that woman until a few months ago. I only knew about the Sons of Seth, she helped them rise and now they're killing my men. The first time I saw her she told me that Amnotep would die, that she would kill him if he fought like Medjai. That's why I forbade him to fight. But apart from that, nothing else. She's still out there, we should go after her.
Everyone was silent.
Kammus felt the mood change. Atreus looked at him with something between pity and understanding. His sister was creating terror in these people for no reason. Kratos, for his part, was static.
— There will be no war against Eris. We'll have to resolve this peacefully. — Mimir spoke like someone trying to end an argument.
— Her real name... isn't Eris. — Kratos, with a tone of authority, a general who commanded armies.
Kammus looked at him, not understanding.
— It's Calliope. — Kratos added.
— Calliope? — he murmured.
Kratos nodded.
— She's my daughter. No one will touch her. — Kratos' gaze was sharp, he didn't need to tell him that if Kammus ignored the warning, he would die.
Kammus looked at Atreus to see if what he had heard was true. He looked back at him sternly and he knew instantly that he could no longer count on them to protect Amnotep. Kammus lowered his eyes reflexively. If Eris, or Calliope, was Kratos' daughter, he wouldn't fight her, he'd made that clear. He wouldn't stop the sorceress. And Amnotep would suffer greatly.
Kammus took a step back. The ground seemed a little less firm. He looked at Atreus, then at Kratos.
— Your... daughter?
Kratos held his gaze.
— That doesn't change what we need to do. — he said at last. — The artifact still needs to be deactivated. If we don't stop the monsters now, people will die.
Atreus nodded. Kratos wasn't interested in the mission, his interest in finding Calliope was infinitely greater than helping those people, as cruel as that may sound. It was reality. But Atreus wanted to do the right thing, and Calliope was missing, or avoiding them, so he agreed to go with him. Atreus noticed Kratos' hesitation even without him saying a word.
— Let's go to Cassius first. Then we'll go to the artifact. — assured Atreus.
Kammus handed them a small, hastily drawn map. The location of the cave was marked in red ink. His hands were shaking slightly. His face was pale and he swallowed dryly with a serious expression.
Kratos took the paper and looked at it in silence.
Kammus looked at the map, at the Spartan, and for a moment, the Medjai warrior faltered. It was like looking at a piece of a jigsaw puzzle that never fits, but is still there, taking up space. He had probably made a terrible mistake, in his attempt to get help against the desert sorceress, he had gathered powerful allies for her. Stupid mistake, but he had no way of knowing. The desert sorceress, someone untouchable, no matter how many forces he gathered, it seemed she was always one step ahead. Fortune favored her. Now, the only man who could defeat her simply wouldn't.
He, the leader of the Medjai, could not have the privilege of crossing his arms as he watched his men die, innocent people and his son. Kammus watched as Kratos and Atreus headed towards the city, if Eris was Kratos' daughter and came from Greece in ruins, then someone from that place might have information about her. One of his men approached him.
He followed the entire conversation from a safe distance.
— Send a spy to ancient Greece, consult the priests of the great Thoth or some god who might know that place. Then send someone there. I need more information about the sorceress. Enemies, her origin, anything that could help us kill her. I need an absolute description. No one can know about it.
— Yes, sir. — Said simply.
The spy went in search of information, he knew that Greece was no longer the same as it was when Kratos was god of war, the place was destroyed and then taken over by a new empire that rebuilt it from the ashes, the same empire that Cassius came from. Rome rose from the ashes of Greece like a furious phoenix, taking over the whole of Europe like an unstoppable plague, invading unimaginable places. He knew that there must be someone there capable of stopping her, and if there was, he would find them.
The parchment was still open in Atreus' hands when the two entered the city. Kratos had a closed expression, his steps were firm, but Atreus knew that inside he was at war with his thoughts.
As Atreus walked further into the city, his mouth almost dropped open when he saw that people were organizing the place. There were flags with symbols of the sun, vases with inscriptions in Egyptian in front of the doors of the houses. People were placing offerings and objects in honor of the gods. There were drawings of an insect on the walls, on the vases and on the banners that people were hanging, which Mimir recognized as a scarab beetle. It represented the god Khepra whom the city worshipped.
They followed the path until they came to a building behind the temple of Sekhmet in search of Cassius. There were people lying on the sidewalk, sick people and beggars there. They passed people who looked at them strangely. Outside, the place smelled strongly of urine and sweat. When they passed through the arch at the entrance to the place, the smell of myrrh and burning lotus leaves hung in the air, a sweet, earthy aroma, enveloping the place like a veil of comfort in the midst of the sick. But it also masked the smell of death that Atreus smelled when he entered the place. People with fetid wounds, some were coughing up blood, others looked listless and lifeless. The sight disturbed Atreus. Kratos remained impassive, but not without noticing the suffering of those poor souls. They walked further into the healing house. It was silent, sheltered by light linen curtains that danced gently in the muffled desert breeze. There were a few torches lit in spaced out places, and the shadows flickered between the stone pillars decorated with inscriptions dedicated to Sekhmet, goddess of healing and war. A few more people were lying on makeshift beds, coughing and others moaning in pain as they begged for healing.
Kratos crossed the threshold in silence, Mimir as always tied to his belt followed by Atreus. The filtered light gave the Spartan's skin a ghostly glow, as if death were passing through the place. Even in a place consecrated to life, his body seemed to carry the weight of death. Atreus held his head high, but his eyes roamed the place, seeing the suffering of those people. In the human world there was pain, suffering and disease, something that for a god might sound like a distant reality, perhaps even indifferent. But Atreus felt their anguish and sympathized with their pain; it was impossible not to be moved by it.
Then they passed some sick people lying on straw mats, being treated by apprentices with gentle hands and respectful murmurs. At the back of the hall, surrounded by small clay jars, papyrus and bowls of ointments, a fair-haired, blue-eyed man was writing by the light of a lamp. His typical red cape hung from his broad shoulders. Cassius.
Cassius looked at the immortal beings before him, but he lingered more on Kratos. He recognized him immediately.
— Kratos. — He spoke almost to himself.
— Do you know me? — He asked.
— I believe that, where I come from, there isn't a single living soul who hasn't heard of you.
— Humph.
— Cassius, we need answers. Do you know anything about Eris? — Atreus approached the doctor, who placed his quill on the table.
— I know a few things. — He answered.
He stood up slowly and reached for a pot of herbs on a shelf next to the table. He placed it on the table and wrote something down on his papyrus.
— Where is she? — Kratos asked almost with an imposing tone.
Cassius took a deep breath, looked at them both, then ignored the question.
Kratou advanced without patience, but Atreus was quicker.
— We need to talk to her. — He spoke hurriedly. — If you're her friend, then can you convince her?
Hearing the discussion, a woman came out of another room. She passed through a curtain that covered the opening to a new room. Atreus lost the air in his lungs when he saw her. She was beautiful, but not just any beauty.
There was a divine aura about her, an energy that covered her, Atreus knew instantly that she was a goddess. She had light brown hair, deep blue eyes like the ocean, was tall and had a noble posture. Unlike everyone else, she wore more elegant clothes, her hair was neatly tied up and her clothes were well decorated contrasting with the place. Almost like a loose diamond in a forge with dirty, thrown weapons, completely out of context. It seemed as she was ready for a banquet and not in an environment full of dying people.
— I could try. — He thought for a moment.
— Are you talking about Eris? — The woman asked.
Cassius reluctantly nodded and looked at her with a gesture that could have been translated as a warning to be careful. But she ignored Cassius.
— She came here this morning, she seemed in trouble. Her magic... — The woman looked at the two gods in front of her, she didn't seem very impressed. — Tomorrow, at noon, go to the temple of Sekhmet, just behind here. She'll be there. I'll convince her.
Cassius smiled slightly, no one could say no to Harmonia, not even Eris. Surely his wife would convince her to finally have a talk with her own father after so long ignoring his existence. If anyone could do such a thing, it was her. Cassius was wiping his hands on a blackened cloth, he approached Atreus and Kratos to give one last warning about Eris' real situation, when the back door was slammed wide open.
— Amir? - said Atreus, before the boy could speak.
The young Medjai gasped. His hands were shaking, his eyes wide.
— They're dead! — he said, loud enough to silence most of the room.
Cassius stepped forward, frowning.
— Who?
— Amnotep. He gathered fifteen men. They went into the caves. After the artifact. — Amir pulled in air as if he had run until he lost his voice. — Hardly any of them came back.
Kratos took a step forward.
— Hardly?
— Two escaped. They're being attended to at the city's south gate. They talked about... things. Snakes with red eyes. Claws coming out of the wall. Echoes that drive you mad. They were delirious.
Cassius was already getting supplies to heal the sick, steadying his feet.
— How long had this happened? - Cassius asked.
— Just a few minutes. — Amir replied.
Atreus exchanged a look with Kratos. They didn't need to talk. They were already on the move. The woman went back to where she had come from. That wasn't her job.
Cassius accompanied them.
— If the artifact is still active, and Amnotep's group has disturbed it... — he muttered, more to himself. — There's no telling what the consequences will be.
Kratos just clenched his fist.
— Then we'll close.
The group hurried out of the side entrance of the healing house. The sky was painted in darker tones, although it was still early morning, a heavy, almost supernatural cloud seemed to hover in the distance, like a smoke of death and bad omen that swallowed up the Egyptian sun.
Outside, the city was still buzzing with preparations for the Khepra Festival. Children sang, merchants shouted prices and offerings.
But as the four men rode west into the desert, the sounds became rarer and the air drier. When they reached the entrance to the cave, Atreus felt the hairs on his arms bristle. The magic of Eris was there, he could feel it. They walked slowly towards the cave entrance.
— How did you know my sister? — Doubt arose in Atreus' mind as a way of dispelling the strange sensation he felt. There was also curiosity.
Cassius looked at Atreus for a moment, thinking about how much he could share with these people. They entered the room, darkness engulfing the atmosphere.
— When I met Eris, I was a normal human. I was never a god. I was mortal like everyone else. — He leaned against the cave wall as he looked up, it was very dark. — She made me immortal.
Kratos listened attentively to what they said, almost as a way of getting to know his daughter through other people.
— Can she do that? — Atreus asked. Every day he discovered something different about his sister. He wanted to talk to her about her powers, he wondered who would win in a duel, he had seen her fighting in the pyramids. She was skilled with a sword and her magic was strong. He imagined for a moment a duel between the two of them, just a joke, a way of comparing strength. His smile crumbled when he remembered that there was the possibility of a serious fight between them. No. There won't be, he wouldn't allow it.
— Yes, she can.
— Curious. — Mimir said. The idea of a goddess possessing the gift of granting immortality to a mortal put a flea behind his ear.
— I can't say much, I think it's best if she tells you her story herself.
— So you know? — Kratos asked, he had been listening in silence until then, but he wanted to know more.
— That you're her father? — Cassius reached for a white stone with an unusual glow in his pouch, the jewel sparkled, he lifted the stone, illuminating the cave. — I know.
— Since when did you know?
— Since forever. — He answered.
Kratos turned to Cassius.
— Don't you think you should have told us?
— Yes. But she asked me not to tell you. Or anyone else.
Kratos was perplexed.
— She told me not to interfere.
Kratou exhaled sharply. They walked down a damp corridor, the sound of a few drops of water falling on a stone in front of them. Suddenly the sound of grunts of pain were heard, Atreus and Cassius were the first to rush to the aid of the wounded. Kratos drew the blades of Chaos. They left the corridor and found something like an iron gate made of bars separating them from a large hall. The bars were red, incandescent and as hot as Kratos' Chaos blades. Inside the hall, the floor was stained with blood, the bodies of Amnotep and his men scattered around the cave entrance, some already covered in the evil energy that seemed to emanate from within.The deadly silence only added to the anguish, but there was no time for lamentation. In the center, an immense creature, a monstrous vulture with wings as black as night, stood over the fallen bodies. Its feathers moved slowly, as if absorbing every drop of life that passed by. The monster had glowing red eyes, fixed on the intruders.
The monster, still inside the cave, looked at them, but didn't attack them, it was busy feeding on the remains. Atreus looked at Kratos.
— We need to get inside. They are there.
Kratos, his countenance closed, took a step forward, but Cassius held him back briefly.
— Be careful, — he said in a deep voice. — The monster isn't just a vulture, it's fueled by the magic that this artifact awakens. It won't be easy.
With a nod, Kratos disengaged, the blades of chaos still in his hands. Atreus, Amir and Cassius followed him, their footsteps muffled by the cold earth of the caves. He gripped the bars tightly, and they emitted the distinctive sound of red-hot iron brushing against his skin. Kratos grunted in pain, but continued to push until the bars were bent. When Kratos managed to bend them enough for a hole to appear in the gate, they stopped glowing.
Soon, darkness overtook everything around. The rocky walls and blood trails led to a large underground room. Amir swallowed, and Cassius went to help the wounded nearby. The vulture let out a shrill cry that echoed in the caves. Kratos stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the creature.
Atreus didn't hesitate. He already had his bow in hand, ready to fire if necessary.
With a sudden movement, the vulture attacked, launching itself at Kratos. The force of the impact made the ground shake. Kratos dodged, raising Faye's axe and slashing at the monster's claws. Atreus fired an arrow towards the monster, but it bounced off the creature's tough skin.
The monster rose up, flapping its huge wings, creating a gust of wind that knocked everyone off balance. It turned with a new attack, its sharp claws slicing through the air like blades. Kratos lunged forward, catching the monster by surprise and delivering a precise blow to its wings. The vulture screamed again, but didn't fall. It crouched, preparing for another attack.
The vulture attacked Kratos again, its claws were sharp, and even Kratos' shield was destroyed in one of its attacks. Amir saw Amnotep lying unconscious on the ground, next to a black stone on top of a structure that embraced it. He ran quickly and stopped next to his brother, seeing that Amnotep was still breathing. The vulture was attacking Kratos with fury. Atreus ran up with his sword and pierced the monster's flank. The vulture ignored Kratos' attacks, its spins holding the blades on fire creating a whirlpool of heat and deadly slashing.
The vulture stood up shaking its wings like a demonic bird and walked towards Atreus. With a flick of its wings, it cut through his armor; he had no time to react. The vulture was advancing again. Kratos swiftly dodged the beast, and his axe cut off the monster's other wing. He then used all his strength, throwing the vulture away so that Atreus would have a chance to act.
Taking advantage of the gap, Atreus fired a string of poisoned arrows, aiming for the monster's exposed parts. Each arrow hit it squarely. The vulture roared in pain, its wings flapping uncontrollably. It turned towards Atreus again, almost killed him, but stopped suddenly, turned its head towards him, as if recognizing him. Kratos took advantage of the gap and struck a final blow, using his blade of chaos to pierce the creature's heart.
With one last scream, the monster collapsed to the ground, its huge heavy form spreading across the cavern.
Kratos gasped, the blood of his battle still warm on his hands. He looked at Atreus, who was panting, but standing firm.
— It's done, — said Kratos, his voice low. — Now, we need to figure out how to deactivate this artifact.
As if its breath was coming back, the creature that had been dead began to move again, and with a quick spin, it stood up again. Amir saw the artifact and ran towards it. With one swift movement, he pulled the stone out of its socket.
Without the jewel's interference, the vulture squirmed and grunted, its size shrinking until it became a normal vulture. Kratos looked at the animal with disgust, but didn't try to kill it again. It wasn't necessary. Amir looked at the stone in his hands, it was dark, made of obsidian.
Cassius approached Amnotep, who was waking up.
— He's fine. We need to get him to the city. — Cassius looked at Kratos. — Now we need to know what to do with this artifact.
Amir handed the jewel to the Spartan who put it away with his other belongings. The group returned to the camp, along with a few survivors. Amnotep remained unconscious for most of the journey back; if they had taken any longer, they would all have died. They put the wounded Medjai on their horses. Kammus greeted them at the entrance with a gloomy look on his face.
That night, the men celebrated by drinking and dancing around the fire. During the week of the Khepra festival, they found the artifact that summoned the monsters that were killing people. The priests of the Temple of Thoth said it was a good omen, a confirmation that they need fear nothing more. The dark times were behind them and from that day on the sun would shine on Egypt with great glory. They also told the soldiers that Eris would no longer be a problem. Evil had been destroyed. Several people greeted them, grateful that they had managed to stop the attacks.
Especially Amir, who, being Kammus' son, had saved his brother and some of the Medjai soldiers, possibly saving all the remaining Medjai. They embraced him and together celebrated the new era that was coming.
Nefertari was also there, they exchanged glances and chatted quietly. In that atmosphere of joy, Nefertari kissed Amir, saying that it was a thank you for having been so brave. She smiled and looked away from him, the shyness of someone with whom she had feelings that had grown so quickly. The two of them went to a place where there was a practice bow and arrow. Amir taught her how to shoot while the two laughed and eventually hugged. They had an incredible night in front of the stars, Egypt was celebrating.
Amnotep, on the other hand, was frowning the whole time, even though his injuries were superficial. He had gathered the group together and taken them to destroy the monsters, but somehow the spotlight was on Amir. That was enough for him to lock himself in his room planning what he would do next. He wasn't happy that they had stopped the monsters, he would be able to go to the cave again and activate the artifact just to have the opportunity to be the one to deactivate it. Amir had deprived Amnotep of the taste of victory, of being remembered as a Medjai soldier. He needed a plan, something to reverse the situation.
Kratos saw those people in the Medjai camp, they were celebrating the fact that they were fighting his daughter and he just didn't want to stay there anymore. He couldn't stand looking at those people any longer. Kratos and Atreus made their way to the city the same day, where they found a small inn, humble for many, but comfortable enough for the two of them, and it became their new temporary home. Atreus followed Kratos, but the two spoke little.
Kratos no longer bothered trying to sleep, his nights were filled with nightmares, the same ones, but increasingly frightening, suffocating and strange. Always the bloody well, the child's cry, and the sight of shadows walking through burning houses. The sword with the blood that, in an infinite cycle, returned to the blade. All night he watched the city from his bedroom window. People dancing with torches in their hands, singing and celebrating.
The day came quickly. As if time was shortening. The city was still celebrating when Kratos and Atreus went to the temple of Sekhmet to meet Eris. Kratos entered the temple with firm steps, but the weight on his chest made every movement a burden. Atreus walked behind. The temple of Sekhmet was well decorated; there was a statue of a lioness next to a large container of red liquid.
The walls were red with gold details, hieroglyphics on the walls and there were many statues in the place.
In the background there were two other images, but not of her. The same ones he had seen in the tent of the gods in the Medjai camp. Sitting at the black stone table in the middle of the hall, Kratos and Atreus waited for Eris.
They waited for a while, as the afternoon drew to a close and night began to fall. A few hours passed, but for Kratos it seemed like an eternity, he maintained his usual upright and austere posture. But inside, he felt as if the whole world was collapsing on his shoulders. All he feared most was that he wouldn't see Calliope again. Almost as if guessing his thoughts, a female figure entered the place through the same door that Kratos and his son had come through. She wore ordinary Egyptian clothes, impeccable posture and a serious look.
Kratos looked at the face of the woman who walked calmly in front of him, she looked like the same Calliope from the vision he had at the pyramids. But she wasn't the same. Her face was not as full or rosy as the Calliope in the vision, but thinner and paler, serious and sad. Her eyes were deeper, showing an old tiredness, there was none of the joy of the Calliope he saw in the vision, nor the easy laughter he remembered from his daughter.
Behind her, almost invisible in the shadows of the temple, a black panther watched him with golden eyes, its muscles tense, its posture ready to pounce at the slightest sign of hostility. Kratos didn't look away, but he took note of the creature. If Eris wanted to, he knew that the beast would not hesitate to tear out his throat.
The same beast that attacked him in the pyramids.
Eris seemed indifferent. Silently, she studied Kratos for a long minute, as if examining him, searching his soul, his sins, his scars. He showed neither anger nor fear. But there was something about him that he couldn't hide: his broken heart.
Kratos walked carefully towards his daughter, but she held up her hand, ordering him to stop. He respected her wishes. Then she sat down at the table, Kratos did the same, Atreus watched them both with slightly wide eyes.
The tension between them was almost palpable, it seemed that at any moment Eris might raise her sword and kill him right there. She had an apparently calm look on her face, but one of contained fury. It was coldness, anger and most of all, the feeling of someone who was about to lose everything that was most precious.
Calliope looked at Atreus and spoke softly.
— Could you give us a moment?
Atreus looked at Kratos, who nodded in agreement. He left quickly. Kratos removed Mimir from his belt and placed it on the table. Eris's eyes widened at the sight of Kratos holding up a severed head, something she hadn't realized he carried around as if it were a common accessory. Calliope looked at Atreus and spoke softly.
— That's the most disturbing thing I've ever seen you do. — She said.
— It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady. — Mimir said. Eris looked in disbelief at Atreus as he took Mimir by a string tied to his horns. — Your father has only good things to say about you.
— I'll bet. — She said this with a smile, disbelieving.
Atreus walked out of the door. She shifted slightly in her chair, quickly changed her expression to anger, and with a wry smile she began to speak.
— Have you come to call a truce? — Eris asked, her arms crossed, her voice filled with impatience. — You came all the way to Egypt to look for Atreus. You've already found him. So why don't you leave?
Kratos remained silent for a moment before finally answering.
— There is no war between us. You are my daughter. — Kratos' voice was hoarse, his posture calm. He took a deep breath.
— Daughter? — She laughed, almost mocking his words. — Go back to Midgard, Kratos.
— Do you want to go with me?
The question took Eris by surprise. Her hardened countenance faltered for a brief moment, and her eyes sought out Kratos', as if trying to decipher his intention.
— What? — she let out, more in shock than because she hadn't understood.
— To the Nordic lands, — Kratos continued, his voice deep but unimposing. — Maybe you'll like it there.
Eris blinked, not knowing how to react. For a moment, her defensive posture wavered, as if that was the last answer she expected from him. But then she pulled herself together, letting out a short, humorless laugh.
— I don't like the cold, — she said, turning away. Her tone was light, but the underlying meaning was much deeper. — I'm willing to leave you alone, you can go on your way. If, and only if, you leave immediately. Take your son with you, you'll never have to deal with me again. It will be as if I never existed.
Kratos watched his daughter propose this, she was distancing herself from him. Negotiating his presence as if he didn't want her around.
— Let me help you.
— I don't need you. Go away, Kratos. Get out.
— Don't. — Kratos' refusal made Calliope's face harden. — Not without knowing what's going on. I can help you.
— I don't want your help. I want you to go back to the hole you came out of and never come back here again.
Kratos remained motionless. Watching Calliope look at him like that. Years of resentment souring inside her, she simply couldn't hide the hurt she felt. — Don't do this to me, child. — He said, his voice coming out lower than usual. — Why are you at war with the Medjai?
Eris took a deep breath, gathering patience. She was trying to push him away, but Kratos was determined to stay.
— Do you want to help me? — She looked at the statue of Sekhmet, her voice becoming calmer. Almost a momentary truce between the two. — Kill Amnotep for me.
Kratos took a deep breath, feeling a lump in his throat. Calliope, his daughter was there, in front of him, but there was a wall between them. He wanted to hug her. To cry at seeing her again after so long away, but she was cold, she spoke as if he were a setback in her plan. She no longer called him father. It destroyed him.
— What did he do to you?
— Nothing... yet.
— Yet?
— You're not leaving, are you?
— I'm not.
— Consider this your first and only warning. If you somehow disrupt my plans... If you decide to stay and it harms me in any way. I'll kill you both. You and your son.
Kratos swallowed dryly, in all the years of his existence he never thought he'd see Callipe again, let alone hear her threaten him. He approached her, close enough to try to convince her that he wasn't at war, that he was her father. That he loved her and would never harm her. That's when he saw a mark on her wrist. It was magic, but he didn't know what magic it was. Her skin looked like it had been burned with runic symbols. Kratos looked at her, his face now more troubled. She was impassive, looking at him coldly. He remembered the words he had heard from the Egyptian gods, that she suffered for her magic.
— Speak to me, my child. Tell me what's going on. How are you feeling?
Kratos was not known for being good with words, nor for consoling people or showing feelings. However, he needed to. He needed this right now, to somehow connect with her or he would lose her forever. He knew that this was his chance to show her that he loved her, he probably wouldn't get another chance. He looked at the woman in front of him and saw only his daughter, nothing else. She was his child, whom he would die protecting. He didn't see a powerful sorceress, a warrior or the leader of a mercenary group. He saw that little girl who got sick, who played the flute beautifully and always welcomed him with joy when he returned home.
— I could tell you what I'm feeling, but I think it will be hard for you to hear.
— Tell me. — He waited for her to start talking. Calliope didn't look away, she looked at him as if she could strip away his soul. It was almost as if she were digging deep down into his guts and finding the truth about him. It was painful to stand in front of her, not just because of the guilt, but because of the shame he felt for almost killing her twice.
— My bloodthirsty. Cruel. And vengeful... father. — She began, her words not only serving to hurt him, but to increase the barrier between them. She didn't want him to see her as his daughter, but as the enemy who could destroy him. — A man who can't prevent himself from turning his blade against his own flesh and blood.
The knot in his throat tightened. Her words were sharp as a blade, piercing deep, hitting scars he had tried to forget. But he didn't fight back. He wouldn't give in to provocation. That's what she wanted: an explosion of fury, a justification for continuing to hate him. But he just took a deep breath, letting silence be his answer.
Eris watched him more closely. Her eyes analyzed every wrinkle, every mark of time on his face. Then her voice changed. The sarcasm, the hatred, the resentment... disappeared.
— You look different... — she murmured, almost to herself. — Older.
It wasn't Eris who spoke. It was Calliope. For a moment, she wasn't the angry goddess who wanted revenge. She was just a daughter watching her father grow old before her eyes, realizing the time they had lost, the time that would never come again.
The change in her voice made something inside Kratos break. He felt his eyes sting. But he didn't cry. He couldn't. Not yet. He just clenched his fists and stood firm, absorbing the pain, allowing it to consume him in silence. Eris leaned back in her chair, absentmindedly playing with her fingers, as if the previous moment hadn't existed. Her voice became cold again.
— When I was a child, I remember... — She smiled, but her eyes were watery. — I remember when you came back from your missions... Everyone in Sparta believed in the gods. They had faith in them, that they were there for us. But not me. I didn't need them, you know? Because when I looked at you, I saw the strongest man in the world. The one who I turned to, who would protect us. I didn't need any gods or guardians because I had you. You were my Hercules, my hero. — She paused. Long enough not to allow herself to cry. — When I came back from the dead, I didn't know what had happened. I was so proud to be the daughter of such a noble and brave man, someone who would die for his country. For Sparta. But that didn't last long. Because I soon discovered what kind of person you really are. The monstrosities you've done. That you're no better than ...
Her anger grew, her words less spaced out and more rapid. She realized that if she continued to speak, she would lose control of the situation, of herself. So she stood up, making it clear that the conversation was over for her.
— I understand, or almost understand, your curiosity about seeing me. But I can't waste time here. I have things to do.
Kratos nodded, without objecting. He watched her walk away, her steps firm and resolute.
Horkos was no longer hiding in the shadows, at some point in the conversation he disappeared as if he could walk between realms. Calliope crossed the threshold and found Atreus in the corridor.
Atreus hesitated for a moment, but something inside him urged him to follow her. He watched her for a few moments before she stopped and looked directly into his eyes. For a second, Eris changed her expression of anger as she looked into Atreus' eyes, now she seemed upset.
— Don't hate Kratos,— she said, her voice calm but carrying a silent weight. — What happened between us has nothing to do with you. What you two have, I'll never have.
Atreus frowned, confused.
— If he's changed and decided to be a better father, then you shouldn't resent him for something that happened so long ago. If I were you... — she looked away, as if considering her own words. — I'd make the most of it. You have a father who loves you, who would die for you and that's what matters.
Without waiting for an answer, Eris turned and continued on her way, leaving Atreus behind, immersed in his own thoughts. He didn't know what confused him more: her severity with Kratos or the way she somehow seemed to defend him.