Entry #18

The tranquil beauty of Lamia’s Post came into view—an ethereal lake stretched across the landscape, the water shimmering like silver under the sunlight. Ancient trees lined the distant shore, their roots tangled with moss and time. A light mist hovered above the surface, suggesting more than just elemental mastery lingered here.

Mira gasped in awe. “This place looks amazing...”

From the center of the lake, a voice called out.

“Greetings, mortals.”

They turned to see Lamia, standing gracefully atop the water as if it were solid ground, her expression serene.

Louis stepped forward and bowed. “Lady Lamia.”

“You’ve come for the trial?”

He nodded. “Indeed.”

Gabriel grinned. “Five out of seven down.”

Lamia offered a subtle smile. “Then rest for now. You’ll need to be in peak condition.”

That evening, the group pitched camp near the lake. The gentle sound of water lapping at the shore became a lullaby as the sun dipped beneath the horizon. Joaquin stirred a bubbling pot over the fire, sending up spirals of fragrant steam.

“Say,” he mused aloud, “we’ve been journeying across this whole island for a while now… What are you all planning to do after all this?”

Louis tilted his head. “Why do you ask?”

“I guess…” Joaquin stirred the soup thoughtfully. “I wonder if I’ll still have purpose when this is over.”

Louis leaned back on a rock. “Joaquin, you're the only one here with a degree. You could teach others, pass on your knowledge—maybe even open a school.”

Gabriel slurped from his bowl and gave a thumbs-up. “Or just teach how to make this soup. Damn, this is good.”

Joaquin chuckled. “Thanks.”

A gust of wind stirred the camp, and in the distance, a familiar silhouette descended—a dragon gliding across the sky, wings outstretched. It landed near Lamia.

“You’re here again?” she asked calmly.

“I want to watch the trial,” said Olentzo, dismounting.

Louis stood and greeted him. “Olentzo. You came.”

Lamia folded her arms. “Did you invite him?”

Louis shook his head. “No, his arrival is a surprise to me.”

Olentzo stepped closer. “I’d like to witness your trial, Louis… and cheer you both on. Before I go.”

“Go?” Louis echoed. “Where?”

Olentzo smiled faintly. “Confidential.”

“Well,” Louis said, gesturing toward the fire, “how about staying for dinner first?”

They all sat around the campfire as bowls were passed around. Lamia and Olentzo sat across from each other, the tension between them palpable.

“Is there a problem?” Louis asked carefully, breaking the silence.

Lamia looked away. “No. He’s right.”

Olentzo muttered, “Nothing at all.”

Nearby, Mira had her eyes closed.

Gabriel noticed. “Mira? What are you doing?”

“Practicing my mind-reading,” she replied, lips twitching into a smirk.

“Maybe practice later? Joaquin worked hard on this food. Don’t let it get cold.”

She opened one eye. “That’s exactly the plan.”

She focused that she can even hear the overwhelming thoughts between the two gods within the room. And then she frowned.

“You two!” Mira snapped. “Just say it already. You clearly have feelings for each other—I can’t focus with all this tension in your heads!”

Lamia’s spoon clattered against her bowl. “What?!”

Olentzo blinked. “Excuse me?”

“C’mon,” Mira huffed. “You’re both lying to yourselves.”

Louis raised a hand. “Alright, let’s give them space.” He stood, motioning to the two gods. “Come on. Walk with me.”

They wandered deeper into the forest, surrounded by the scent of pine and the hush of twilight.

Louis turned to them. “So? Neither of you wants to talk about this?”

“We have nothing to say,” Lamia snapped.

Olentzo frowned. “Now I know what it’s like dealing with someone colder than me.”

“You made me this way,” she fired back.

“Look—I’m sorry about what happened back then,” he said. “But I do care about you.”

Lamia scoffed. “That’s another lie.”

Olentzo stepped closer. “When you were under my wing, who patched your wounds? Who stayed up when you were injured? Every bruise, every scratch—I was there. Because…”

He hesitated.

“Because I didn’t want to lose someone special again.”

Louis let the silence settle before nodding. “Sounds true enough to me. I may not be a god, but I know pain when I see it. And I know when people are lying to themselves.”

“Forget it,” Olentzo muttered. “I’m leaving.”

He summoned his dragon and soared into the darkening sky.

Louis looked to Lamia. “Well? Are you going after him or not?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she transformed—a blue draconic figure with wings as she soared after him.

Olentzo flew high above the treetops, eyes closed against the cold air—until a blow struck his dragon. The creature vanished in a shimmer of ice, and he plummeted to the ground, coughing.

A shadow stood before him.

Tenebrae.

“Hello, son,” she said sweetly.

Olentzo’s eyes burned as he conjured an ice blade. “You have no right to call me that. You’re not my mother.”

“And yet I created this universe before your father even existed.”

“He never told us that.”

“I am the void, the eternal night. I was here before the light even dreamed of shining.”

“And I came here to end you,” Olentzo growled.

She clapped her hands—his sword shattered instantly.

“What?!” he gasped.

“You’re not ready,” she purred. “Lost for words, son?”

“Olentzo!”

Lamia’s voice rang out like thunder as she blasted Tenebrae with a pressurized jet of water. The goddess reeled back—her body fracturing as if made of glass—before vanishing in a flicker of darkness.

Lamia rushed to him. “Are you alright? I was so worried!”

He embraced her tightly. “I knew it. You do care.”

“Don’t do this again,” she whispered. “Don’t throw yourself into a death sentence.”

He nodded, voice cracking. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

Then—

SMACK.

She slapped him hard.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

He laughed, wincing. “I’m terrible at showing emotions…”

Lamia didn’t give him time to finish. She kissed him.

From afar, Louis turned and gave the two their space.

“Let them be,” he said quietly, smiling. “They needed that.”

Later, back at the lake…

Gabriel grinned. “So… how are the lovebirds?”

Louis chuckled. “Working it out.”

Gabriel laughed. “Good for them.”

Louis looked at the fire. “You know what? How about some tunes?”

“You can sing?” Gabriel raised a brow.

“Not well,” Louis admitted.

“I have guitars!” Mira beamed, producing two instruments.

Gabriel blinked. “Where did those come from?”

“I’ve been experimenting with summoning spells,” she said cheerfully. “Spawning something using your mind takes a lot of effort”

Louis shrugged. “Let’s do something light.”

The fire crackled, voices rose, and their chords drifted across the lake. Mira played, Gabriel clapped along, and even Joaquin tapped his spoon on a bowl in rhythm.

For the first time in what felt like ages, they laughed.

And somewhere, in the quiet between strums, the ripples on the water glimmered like stardust.

Entry# 18 End