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cafeinthemoon · 1 year

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Ruins - Part VII

Chapter 7/?

Wordcount 3k

Title Part VII

Fandom Shuumatsu no Valkyrie / Record of Ragnarok

Pairing Hades x reader

Previous chapters

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6

Symbols ⭕ . ➕ . 💛

Warning(s): none

Tagging: @darling-imobsessed (if you want to be tagged in any of my stories, just leave a comment here or send me a message)

N. A.: So this chapter ended up longer than I first expected, and I didn't even start narrating the part of the story I'm most excited about 😭 But we did have the introduction of new characters! About them, I need to say that they might be a bit OOC, but this happens simply because I like my interpretation of them more than what they are in canon. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this version of them too 🤭

Though you’ve spent so much time running up and down that corridor to work on the festival’s preparations that you started to find it short, now that the day finally came, you had the impression that you would be walking between those walls forever, never reaching your final destiny nor having excuses to come back to the room – and not knowing which one would make you feel better.

Hermes, going on his calm journey by your side, was probably aware of your inner battle despite choosing not to speak about it until you were far enough on your way to the party.

– It’s scary, isn’t it? – his voice echoed despite his low tone.

You glanced at him, your hand trembling under his while your arms were entwined.

– Do I look that scared?

His response was to giggle.

– If I had to describe what I’m seeing now, your face is like that of a girl about to receive her life sentence instead of being led to a party that she helped to organize.

You smiled to hide the nervousness.

– Maybe – and, looking at you with genuine surprise, – But, you know, I could swear there were regular festivities in honor of Poseidon-sama and other sea deities in the region you came from.

– This is the biggest party I attend in my whole life – you shrugged – I suppose this feeling is normal.

– Well, there are festivities of this sort, but they’re never as crowded and elegant as the one we’ve been preparing here, Hermes-sama – you explained – The majority of our people are common folks living in communities that are far from each other, so that it would be impossible to organize great events too often. I’m not exaggerating when I say everything here is new to me – you sighed – I really like the place prepared for us here, but they’re so distant from my reality that I can’t help feeling lonely and small sometimes.

– And you fear the increase of these feelings once you enter the room?

You moved your head in a positive sign.

A couple more steps and you reached the end of that corridor, where it divided itself in two directions; you took the right and walked through a longer path, a corridor that connected the tower where you were accommodated and the one beside it, used to important, daily activities. It was a splendid path, decorated with delicate, flower shaped lamps on both sides of the ceiling and large windows which parapets reached an average individual’s waist, having white sculptures of humanoid, male and female figures in heroic, noble positions between each of them.

As you walked, the great doors that indicated the room’s entry, a pair of white, wooden rectangles with floral notches painted in gold, became more and more visible, and now you were sure that your heartbeats were audible even to Hermes.

When you took your arm off his, you held your hands together to disguise the trembling in them, but had no success in this. Hermes put his palm upon the door and was going to push it open, but stopped once he noticed your state.

– I’m going to return to the other girls to lead them to the elves once you enter the room – and frowning, – Will you be alright by yourself, y/n?

You took a deep breath and let your arms fall down on your sides before giving him the answer you had to give.

– Yes, I will. I have what I need to succeed – you smiled – And I'm glad for everything you’ve done until now, but... may I ask for your blessing one more time?

Hermes laughed.

– You can ask me anything in my reach, child. And this is something I’ll certainly give to you – the god started pushing the door, its smooth sound echoing in the quiet corridor alongside your voices – Ready?

Your heart jumped inside your chest. So, the time has come.

– How… – you stuttered – How do I look?

Your tutor observed you with sympathy.

– Beautiful... And, to use his words, with a beauty such as we rarely see even among the goddesses.

Your cheeks burned with the compliment, but you kept your composure and gave him a respectful nod.

– Thank you.

Hermes smiled.

– Okay. Now, go. He's waiting.

The door was then completely opened, and the smooth lights of the room filled both the corridor and your sight as you stepped inside it.

Though the room chosen to receive the guests was the largest of that tower, it looked small when you passed your eyes around to observe the results of your hard work alongside the dozens of dedicate girls, each of them giving the place a special touch from their home lands, personalities and tastes.

***

Based on the time Hermes took to lead the first groups of girls there, you calculated that the reception started about an hour ago, but most of the corners were already crowded by gods, goddesses, heroes and elves surrounded by beautiful human girls, eager to please, dressed in the prettiest clothes and entirely involved in cheerful conversations with the other groups. The lights you’ve helped to hang on the ceiling, attached by the thinnest chords, descended from above like the lights of fairies, oscillating to mimic their dance; their reflection on the floor, on the walls covered by cascades of tiny flowers and upon the happy faces of the people granted you the sensation of entering a dream.

You only took a few steps away from the door and were already feeling at will in the new environment, your anxiety little by little staying behind.

Well, guess my fears were unfounded.

Before you could notice, your feet were leading you to a contiguous room where more people were reunited in small groups around one of the large tables prepared for them. You observed the arrangements – those being a work of the elves, finished moments before the beginning of the festivity – and observed that, before each plate, there was an elegant card with a name written in golden, cursive letters.

You took a few steps around the table and recognized some of the names, seemingly gathered by pantheon. So, that was one of the tables prepared for the gods; which ones the elves prepared for the humans, then?

Your thoughts might have been guessed by one of them, for you heard a soft, female voice behind you asking if you needed help. You turned to its owner and found one of the prettiest elven women you’ve met in Valhalla; she had thick curls of red hair falling over each of her shoulders and a crown of yellow flowers covering her forehead.

– I do need some help, thank you – you spoke with your softest tone – I’d like to know where I’m supposed to seat.

The woman asked your name and you told her your first and second ones. If it was just an illusion produced by what remained from your anxiety or something else, you didn’t know, but you had this impression that her smile slightly faded when she heard your answer, but her composed manners were kept, so that you ignored it and followed her while she led you to a second table beside that one.

You two stopped behind a chair located in what would be the middle of the table if it had a rectangular shape, but that one was elliptical just like the others. The elf indicated the card with a polite gesture of her hand; you read your name, and your eyes followed an automatic path to the cards on both sides.

At your left, you saw Hades’ name. At your right, Zeus’.

You turned to the woman.

– Is this table also prepared for the gods?

She confirmed it with a cheerful smile.

– Yes. This side is entirely reserved to the Greek pantheon. The seats on the other side are for the Nordic pantheon.

You asked her what everyone in your place would ask in such situation.

– I don’t understand why my name is here, my Lady – and, trying to force a playful smile, – I mean, I believe it’s obvious that I’m human.

The elf woman didn’t show any signs of disturbance by this.

– Oh, yes, it’s pretty obvious. Still, your presence will be required here, among the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Underworld.

After the few, yet meaningful encounters with one of the said Lords and the gift sent by him, you knew you’d feel stupid to ask what you had in mind, but you asked it anyway.

– But… for what reason?

– The Lord of the Underworld, Hades-sama, decided so.

Yes, you were surprised by this, but you wouldn’t stay without reaction, not after all you’ve seen and heard until that moment: Hermes stating that he was eager to see you; the hairpin he made for you with his own hands; your names together on the table... The god of Hellheim was sparing no efforts to create a bond with you, or to strengthen the one that already existed through your dreams.

But isn’t it getting serious too fast? Isn’t it getting out of control?

There was too much you wanted to put together before the next encounter could happen, so you thanked the woman for her kindness and excused yourself to catch some air at a balcony a few steps away from the tables. As you walked toward there, you noticed some looks from humans and gods around you, something you haven’t sensed when you arrived; soon you understood that they were probably observing your hairpin, or they might have heard your conversation with the elf. You didn’t look at them long enough to see if their looks were of fear, indignation or admiration, and you didn’t stay to find out.

The balcony’s entry was partially covered by a translucent, champagne shaded curtain that could be moved out of the way by the hand. You passed by it and sighed in relief when you saw you were the only one outside, with a pleasing, spring night breeze blowing around you, the scent of the gardens below reaching your nostrils and calming down your nerves.

You went to the parapet and leaned your arms upon it, only then realizing how tired you felt.

I don’t understand. I just arrived here and it’s like I’ve been around for hours. It’s like something is about to happen, but I’m not sure if it’s for good.

You barely had the time to finish this thought when something indeed happened, making you scream: a hand coming from behind held your hairpin and started examining it.

The hand was followed by the voice of an elderly man.

– Hm… This one is made of Hellheim’s materials, right, child? So beautiful!

When you turned to the speaker, you found a man whose appearance corresponded to his voice in all the possible details: a senior individual, shorter than you, with a simple, white clothing around his frail form and in barefoot, something that would set him off among the other presents, all in their best garments; he was bald, but the thickness of his white eyebrows, almost covering his eyes, and his beard of the same shade compensated this circumstance. You thought it was a comic figure.

You took a deep breath and put your hand upon your chest.

– You scared me, Sir!

The man didn’t seem offended by your reaction, neither he apologized for the interruption. Instead, he kept observing you with a hand under his chin.

– You’re so skittish, girl. Are you alright?

Everyone would be skittish after what you did, Sir.

– I’m a bit anxious, nothing more. But thank you for asking – you smiled, trying to show some sympathy – None of my friends arrived yet, and I’m not used to stay around so many strangers.

The old man looked behind him, to the balcony’s entry, covered again by the curtain. The silhouettes of the guests passed from one side to another, unintelligible murmurs of conversations escaping to the outside.

– I see – he mumbled, his hands behind his back – If I’m being honest with you, it’s been a long time since I’ve saw such a crowd here. Since I arrived, I’ve seen some people I haven’t met in ages. It's so nostalgic...

Ages?

An idea crossed your mind. Was it possible that this man...?

– You asked about my hairpin, Sir – you touched it in an unconscious gesture.

He suddenly remembered what made him start that conversation.

– Ah, yes, yes, your hairpin! – his eyes were hidden under his eyebrows, but a glimmer of cleverness appeared in the depths of them, followed by a cunning smile – Such a fine little thing, isn’t it? I was saying that it seems to be made of gems from the Underworld. It’s curious, don’t you think? Perhaps it was a gift from my big brother?

Big brother? Well, I didn’t realize he was a god right from the start, but...

But he was one of Hades’ three brothers. Which one, then?

The man did you the favor of answering the question you didn’t dare ask.

– Oh, no, how could I forget to present myself! – and with an exaggerated nod that was supposed to have a hint of flirtation (or so you thought) – I am Zeus, Lord of Heaven. You must be y/n s/n, I suppose.

You stared at that curious, eccentric man without containing a little “Oh!”. There you had the Ruler of Heavens and the Leader of the Olympian gods, the one who defeated his own father to grant the position where he was now – in a domain where only a few were allowed to go, according to the enigma you just solved. And he already knew who you were.

Well, your surprise was more than evident, that you were sure, but you didn’t just stand there with no reaction: you took a step back, bowed your head and spoke in your best tone.

– I apologize for speaking to you in such an informal manner, Zeus-sama – and, lowering your tone a bit, – I had no idea it was you, my Lord.

A raw, slow laugh was heard, followed by a cough and, finally, Zeus’ answer.

– Well, well, don’t worry about this, my dear – he moved a hand between himself and you, as to push the subject aside – Now, the hairpin! My elder brother, Hades, must have sent it to you as a gift, just like the other gods sent things to their disciples. However, he didn’t spoke to us about you as such.

Really? What did he mean?

– To us? – you tried to emulate innocence despite the heat coming up to your cheeks – Who are you referring to, my Lord?

– Us, his family, of course! – and narrowing his eyes to you, – Judging by what I see, he made this ornament with his own hands. I suppose he sent it to you through my son, Hermes, but he would’ve ignored the protocol and give it to you personally if he could. You know, child, he has been committed to all of this in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. At the beginning I just couldn’t understand it, but now that I’m seeing you, I do.

He finished that sentence with a second, playful laugh, and you didn’t know what to say in response.

You were saved from having to do something in this sense by the sound of heavy, steady steps that approached the balcony. You both looked toward the entry and found a tall, broad figure passing by it with a bit of impatience: the curtain that separated both spaces was positioned too low for him to pass without having it wrapped on his head, where he seemed to wear a sort of crown. He mumbled something to himself, still not acknowledging your presence or Zeus’.

Before you could think of something, your feet moved toward him and your hands stretched to the curtain.

Your words also came out before you could modulate them.

– My apologies for this inconvenience, Sir – you started adjusting the fabric while the man moved away from it – The girls who hanged this curtain couldn’t do it higher. I can ask someone to fix this…

The man’s response was immediate.

– That’s not necessary, now that I managed to pass through it – and, looking around as to understand the situation, – So, little brother, he hasn’t arrived yet?

– No – Zeus responded.

Only then you had the time to observe the newcomer.

He was a tall, humanoid individual with dark, greenish skin with blck marks on his arms and thick strands of red hair around his head, where he indeed wore a hairpin that shared an immense resemblance with a spider; around his neck, he had what you thought to be a pair of horns, but it wasn’t possible to tell if it was a garment or part of himself.

He didn’t look at Zeus while this latter replied to him; instead, he had his eyes glued on you, measuring what he had before him. It was when you thought of how strange your reaction to his arrival was: why would you offer yourself so quickly to solve a minor inconvenience to a stranger? What kind of force he might have used to influence you?

The gaze of the tiny human girl in front of him, whether from curiosity, fear or awe, seemed to annoy him a bit, judging by the assertive tone he used when he spoke to you for the first time:

– Anyway, I suppose you are the chosen girl. What’s your name? – and, glancing at Zeus after getting your answer, – I hope my little brother has received you decently since he was the first one to reach you.

You glanced at the elder god, with an unsuspecting smile on his wrinkled face, and gave the politest answer you could think of.

– Yes, of course. He was very gentle.

The god with green skin looked at Zeus in a way that showed all his lack of trust in his little brother, as he referred to him, and turned back to you.

– I see. Well, I suppose you weren’t informed yet, so let me present myself. I am Adamas, Hades’ younger brother and god of Conquest.

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