The World Of The Venerate: Everwhite
Chapter 21 - Death of Artemis' father
“Flame martial...” The man jumped and took his fire-kick towards Hefaistos.
The attack was immediately repelled by Hephaestus by tightly grasping the man's legs.
“Ventus sillabare.”.
“Akh..!” By launching his wind element boost attack, the man instantly crashed.
The hordes of hunters seemed surprised to see their strongest companion easily defeated by Hephaestus, but this did not scare them, the hunters reactivated their power, which also made their hands emit flames.
Simultaneously and alternately, the hunters launched their assault on Hephaestus.
Whether a stroke of misfortune had met the wrong opponent, various attacks from hunters were easily avoided by Hephaestus.
The young men one by one began to launch attacks that were loud enough to make the hunters finally bend their knees before him.
“Sial, who exactly are you?” Ask one of the hunters.
“I am nothing.. Only someone who suddenly crosses paths with you,” replied Hefaistos, unwilling to reveal his identity.
“It's a shame that you are from Fuegonia, but your ability to use the fire element is just like that.”.
Hephaestus raises a long-handled hammer from one of his hands. Suddenly a fire appeared and immediately burned the tip of the hammer.
The hunters were surprised to see Hephaestus raising a weapon. They finally realized that the Venerate they were fighting had abilities far above them.
“Let me show you how to play with fire.” Hefaistos wags the hammer he holds until it gives rise to a huge blaze.
The flames immediately burned the trees around them to the point of scorching.
The hunters became more shocked and frightened to see it, even one of them fainted due to his fear.
“Quickly leave this place right now or you are forced to burn to ashes.” said Hefaistos, threatening the hunters by pointing his hammer.
“Good..”.
Without a second thought, the remaining hunters lifted two of their unconscious colleagues, then fled the place towards the country of Fuegonia.
After confirming that the hunters had actually escaped, the young man turned towards Artemis. He let out a perplexed look at Artemis' surprised expression.
Hefaistos smiled at Artemis knowing that she was shocked to see the first time a Venerate had launched such a large attack.
“What weapon are you holding?” Ask Artemis, curious.
“This is a holy weapon.. A container that has sealed a power in it..”.
“This hammer I hold is named Vulcan..its main ability is to project fire elements on a large scale,” replied Hefaistos, explaining it to Artemis.
Although she had become a top-tier Venerate, this was only the first time the woman had seen firsthand the power of a holy weapon. Understand it because Artemis has only never come out of the area that is at least the safest in the country.
He had also never once faced a Venerate that had a level equal to his current level, therefore a holy weapon was still not needed to support his strength.
“Then let's continue our journey..” Hefaistos said.
The young man eliminated his holy weapon and then went back on their way.
***
Hephaestus afterwards accompanied Artemis on the hunt. The young man looked dumbstruck looking directly at how to hunt.
In addition to watching Artemis hunt, Hephaestus was thinking about his feelings for the woman. She wanted to tell Artemis her feelings, but was at the same time confused about the right time and how to say it.
***
Time passed, unknowingly they returned to the village longer than the previous days.
“Artemis, anything I want to tell you?” As they were about to enter the village, Hephaestus stopped Artemis from saying anything.
“Sorry, since we are back longer than before, I must return to my house immediately to take care of my father.” However, Artemis could not wait any longer on the grounds of wanting to take care of her father immediately.
Hephaestus reluctantly let Artemis go and left her alone in front of the village. He actually wanted to say about his feelings for the woman right then and there.
“Maybe next time..”
Hephaestus believed that it was still the next day to say this. He would not give up on telling Artemis his feelings, no matter what answer the woman would give.
***
“I came home father..” said Artemis, greeting her father, despite knowing that his father could not answer his greetings.
Artemis began to take care of her father, but the woman felt that there was something different about her.
“Dad..”
Artemis tucked her ear into her father's chest to try to hear his heartbeat.
However, he could not hear his father's heartbeat.
Artemis panicked, holding her father's wrist and now trying to feel the man's pulse.
***
“Mr Timonar!” After not being able to also feel his father's pulse, Artemis frantically ran towards where Timonar was while shouting to call the village elder.
“Artemis, what is it?” Timonar asked with a puzzled expression looking at the woman looking frantically half-dead.
His shout also made the residents who were inside their homes immediately come out.
“My father.. I why can't I feel his heartbeat or his pulse.”.
“What happened to him?”
Hearing Artemis' statement all who heard looked shocked. They simultaneously went to the house of Artemis to confirm this.
***
After summoning the village taboo and trying to save Artemis' father, it turned out to be a waste. The female father can not survive anymore because all organs in his body have been functioning due to the disease he suffered.
Hearing this, Artemis could only resignedly accept the fact that her only family had left her.
The woman was sitting on the floor, looking very sad to see her father had turned stiff in front of her
–10 September 2999–
Two days later after his father's departure, Artemis could only sit in silence while staring at the sky. He could not believe that his father had to leave so quickly leaving himself alone.
Not far from the place, Hephaestus was staring at Artemis. He hesitated to approach Artemis now because he realized that he did not know how to comfort someone who was grieving.
Suddenly a communication device in the young man's pocket rang.
“Iya, what's up?” He took the communication device and then answered it.
“Sister, you must return as soon as possible. The enemy forces have successfully taken over the city of Xemico.”.
“What..?”
It turns out that the one who contacted Hephaestus was Lucierence. The younger brother informed them that now the enemy forces that were being fought they had succeeded in taking over one of the cities in their country.
“Ship of soldier Lightio is heading there to pick you up.. They will soon reach the edge of Lake Superior..”.
“Alright, I understand... I'll be there soon..”.
Hefaistos closed his communication link and then left the place.
**
While Artemis who was contemplating suddenly recalled the time when Hephaestus always asked him to participate in the war.
Artemis stood up from where she was sitting and ran to her house.
**
Inside her house, Artemis opened a secret door, behind which was a staircase to the basement.
Artemis went down the stairs and came to a room filled with books.
Artemis's gaze was fixed on a golden bow that hung on the wall of the room.