The Demigod's Reckoning

Chapter7: The Demigod's Reckoning

Chapter 7: The Weight of Immortality

The city lights of the evening painted a vibrant tapestry across the vast glass windows of Theo’s penthouse. From this height, the world below looked like a glittering constellation, a stark contrast to the dim, brooding atmosphere within. Theo sat alone in his private library, a sprawling room lined with towering shelves of ancient books, artifacts, and journals chronicling the centuries he had lived.

The soft rustle of paper echoed as Theo turned another page in the thick, weathered book before him. The leather cover was cracked with age, and the faint scent of parchment and ink filled the air. His fingers brushed over the faded golden lettering on the title page, barely legible after countless years. This wasn’t just any book—it was his diary, a collection of memories, battles, and secrets he had preserved since the beginning of his immortal existence.

He leaned back in his chair, the dim glow of a single reading lamp illuminating his chiseled features. Theo’s emerald eyes scanned the text, and his lips tightened as he reached the first entry, written in an elegant yet forceful script.

“To my loyal serpent, Theodorus Stavros,

This gift of immortality shall grant you the strength of the blazing sun. Use it to find the one I seek—the reincarnation of Veneez, the priestess of Aethera.

Fail me not, for the burden of failure shall weigh heavier with each passing age."

Theo’s jaw clenched, his thumb brushing over the faded ink. A gift. That’s what Krevec, the God of the Sun, had called it. But to Theo, this so-called blessing had turned into a curse. A cruel, unending hunt for a woman who seemed to vanish into time itself, again and again.

His deep voice broke the silence as he murmured, “Lord Krevec… I’ve been searching for your woman for a billion years, yet I’ve failed you a billion times. I’ve been your loyal serpent, but in this modern age, I’m starting to believe you’re punishing me.”

He closed the diary for a moment, running his hand over its rough cover. The book bore the marks of centuries, its edges frayed, its pages brittle and yellowed. The faint scent of time lingered in the air as if the memories it held were fighting against oblivion.

Theo’s eyes hardened as he reopened the diary, flipping through pages that detailed centuries of devotion, battles waged in Krevec’s name, and endless searches that led to nothing. His fingers stilled on a page containing a sketch—Veneez, her delicate features framed by flowing hair, her eyes captivating even in a drawing.

“Were you even real?” he whispered, his voice heavy with doubt and weariness.

A faint heat began to pulse in Theo’s chest. He sat up straighter, his hand resting over the glowing sigil embedded near his heart. It was the mark of Krevec’s power, dormant for the past year, as silent as the god himself.

Theo closed his eyes and let the magic stir within him. It started as a faint warmth, building into an intense heat that spread through his veins like liquid fire. His body began to glow faintly, the golden light radiating from his skin, his eyes igniting like miniature suns. The power hummed, resonating with a deep, ancient energy that seemed to echo beyond the walls of the library.

Theo’s breathing deepened as he focused on summoning Krevec. The light grew brighter, spilling into the room, casting flickering shadows that danced like flames. His hands burned with energy, and his voice was a low, commanding growl.

“Krevec. Answer me.”

But the room remained silent.

The golden light flickered. Theo’s brow furrowed as he tried again, his voice steady and unyielding.

“I’ve served you for centuries, done everything you’ve asked. Speak to me!”

The power surged briefly, the glow intensifying before fading again. A deep frustration twisted Theo’s features as he realized the truth—Krevec wasn’t listening. Not anymore.

His mind wandered as he sat back in his chair, the glow from his body dimming until only the soft light of the reading lamp remained. His hands, once blazing with power, now rested cold and still on the diary.

He exhaled sharply, his thoughts turning dark. Was this all a punishment? A cruel game? Had Krevec abandoned him because he had failed too many times?

Theo’s gaze drifted back to the sketch of Veneez. The priestess of Aethera. Krevec’s secret love. The one who had ignited a forbidden affair under the nose of Luthera, the jealous God of the Moon. That affair had left Theo entangled in a divine feud he never asked to be part of.

And yet, even now, Theo couldn’t shake the feeling that his failure wasn’t entirely his fault. Perhaps Krevec’s obsession with Veneez had blinded him. Or perhaps, Theo thought bitterly, this task was never meant to be completed.

Closing the diary with a heavy thud, Theo let his mind wander to something—or someone—else entirely.

Her.

The girl from earlier.

He leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes staring up at the ceiling as her face filled his thoughts. Her golden-flecked eyes, so fierce yet vulnerable. The way she had confronted him without hesitation, her voice laced with anger and defiance.

“This is different,” Theo muttered, his voice breaking the silence. “She’s not just another woman.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his fingers interlacing as he pondered the strange connection he felt. The memory of her gaze lingered, pulling at something deep within him—a sensation he hadn’t felt in centuries.

Was it possible? Could she be…?

“No,” Theo said, shaking his head. “It’s too soon to tell.”

But the thought had already taken root in his mind, refusing to be dismissed. The timing, the circumstances—it couldn’t be mere coincidence.

“I’ll find out,” he murmured, his voice filled with quiet determination. “As soon as possible.”

Theo stood, the weight of his immortality pressing on him as he moved to the window. The city stretched out before him, its lights twinkling like stars in the night. Yet despite the vastness of the world, his focus remained singular.

He would uncover the truth about this girl, no matter what it took.

And if she truly was connected to the gods, to the divine entanglements of his cursed existence, then perhaps his centuries of searching hadn’t been in vain after all.

But in the back of his mind, a small, nagging doubt whispered.

What if she wasn’t the one?

What if this was just another cruel twist of fate, another reminder of his eternal failure?

Theo clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he banished the thought. He couldn’t afford to doubt himself now.

For the first time in years, he felt something stir within him—hope, fragile but undeniable.

And with that hope came a quiet promise.

“This time,” Theo said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I won’t fail.”

The room fell silent once more, the soft glow of the city lights casting long shadows across the walls. Somewhere beyond the horizon, the gods remained silent, their plans hidden in the darkness.

But Theo’s resolve burned brighter than ever. And as he stood there, gazing into the night, one thing was certain: the game was far from over.