Page 22 of Third Offense
Have they, though?I wondered.If their origins are unknown, they could simply be other.
“And you base that on his gifts,” Layla hedged, clearly following my line of thought. I would have smiled if I wasn’t still focused on Ketos and hisgodlikeabilities.
“Yes. He’s not only particularly skilled with wealth management, he’s also able to control force and energy. The former comes from Bia. The latter from Chryus.”
My blood went cold at the direct correlation of those names and the history they represented. Novak’s eyes narrowed, clearly feeling the same way.
We were bothveryfamiliar with those fallen entities and the sins they’d committed.
Only, we were told they were powerful Nora who had let their gifts manipulate their judgment, hence causing their fall.
Bia had fallen for her greed, having stolen the fortunes of many to increase her own wealth.
And Chryus had fallen for his sloth-like approach to his ‘gift.’ He’d been in charge of fortifying the balance of power by ensuring the energy remained even among the Nora race, thus providing everyone with equal strength and support.
Only he’d chosen to laze around instead, keeping his power to himself and living a life of energetic gluttony instead.
All Nora warriors had been taught their histories, mostly as a way to keep us informed of potential threats.
“A Nora with too much power cannot be trusted,” King Sefid had often said. “We are just not created to maintain those gifts on our own, it’s too heavy a burden. Should a time come where you see signs of such greatness, bring the being to me. It’s a matter I will need to handle personally.”
He’d always sounded so grave when he made that speech, like he hadn’t wanted to be responsible for that task, but he would take it on as king of our kind.
But now… now I wondered if he’d feared the re-manifestation of the gods.
If he’d known a “new era” would eventually come to be.
Because as Queen Gaia had just said, the souls live on.
That was true of all angel kind. Our bodies might die, but our spirits reincarnated.
It was part of what made reformation acceptable to the Nora. We were healing the souls. And those who couldn’t be healed, were reborn as pure once more.
That was how the warriors justified killing.
So many truths and lies, I marveled, my head spinning.
“And the others?” Layla asked. “Are they considered the children of gods because of their powers?”
Her mother nodded. “Yes. Certain Noir who have been born in the new era have exquisite abilities, all of which go back to our ancestors. To the era that gave birth to the first line, otherwise known as your father’s generation.”
“But he knew his, umm, parents?” Layla asked.
“Yes. Very well. I knew them, too.”
“And they were gods?” Layla’s voice held a hint of unease, probably because she was essentially asking if her grandparents were gods. Which yes, it sounded like they were.
Her mother smiled, the expression gentle. “It’s a lot to take in, I know. However, yes, his parents were gods. But they looked like us. Like Noir. They were just incredibly powerful.”
And taken down by a majestic plague,I thought, my lips flattening.Does that mean Layla could be injured if another plague happened?
I stepped up to her side, instinctively taking her hand. Because I didn’t like that train of thought, or the way the answer twisted my stomach.
“So Vasilios…my father… knew his parents. But Ketos’s origin is more of an assumption or a guess, right?” Layla asked, her fingers threading through mine as she gave my hand a squeeze.
She was seeking comfort, which I gladly gave her.
Her mother’s expression turned amused, perhaps because Layla appeared to be questioning Ketos’s origin story. However, it was a valid question on Layla’s part. Because it did seem to be a theory more than a solid truth.
