The battlefield…
It had fallen silent.
The monsters had been destroyed.
The screams had faded.
But the tension…
Remained.
---
I stood there, breathing heavily.
So A was beside me.
Aki stood a little ahead, a whip in her hand.
"That was too strange…" So A said quietly.
"Yes…" Aki added. "And it's not over yet."
…
I clenched my fist.
"That bloke…"
"Alikantios," Aki interrupted.
"Do you know him?"
"No."
Pause.
'But I can sense him.'
…
And at that moment—
'Ooh, are you talking about me?'
---
I spun round sharply.
He was standing there.
As if he'd always been there.
Alikantios.
Hovering in the air, smiling as if nothing had happened.
---
— Did you miss me?
— No, — I replied.
— Oh, how rude.
He clutched his heart.
— I'm hurt. Emotionally.
---
So A frowned.
— What do you want?
— Hmm…
He thought for a moment.
Seriously.
For a second.
"A hug."
…
Silence.
---
"No," I said.
"Hey!"
He puffed out his cheeks.
"I'm actually a god!"
"Then behave like a god."
"But I am!"
---
He suddenly found himself right next to Aki.
Too close.
— You know, you're very—
---
BAM!
---
The sound was loud.
Very loud.
---
Alikantios froze.
He slowly turned his head.
---
Behind him…
She was standing there.
---
Maria.
---
— You're at it again…
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
— Are you harassing the children?
---
…
I froze.
So did A.
Even Aki…
Was looking on in surprise.
---
Alikantios scratched the back of his head.
— Well… I just—
---
BAM!
---
A second blow.
Harder.
---
"Ouch!"
He clutched his head.
"Maria! That actually hurts!"
---
"It's meant to hurt," she said coldly.
---
Silence.
---
"Apologise."
---
— …
He lowered his head.
— I'm sorry…
---
We were silent.
Trying…
to make sense of what was happening.
---
— One more time, — said Maria.
— Sincerely.
---
— I'm sorry…
He sighed.
— I just wanted to have a bit of fun…
---
…
And suddenly—
He stepped sharply towards her.
And…
hugged her.
---
— Mariaaa…
His voice became…
childlike.
— Come on, don't be angry…
---
…
I froze.
---
— Are you serious?.. — whispered So A.
---
He buried his face in her shoulder.
— A cuddle…
— I need a cuddle…
---
Maria closed her eyes.
She took a deep breath.
---
— You're impossible.
But…
She didn't push him away.
---
A gentle movement of her hand.
And she…
hugged him back.
---
— Only because you're acting like a child again.
---
— I'm not a child!
A pause.
— But I still want a cuddle.
---
…
So A turned away.
— I don't understand what's going on anymore.
---
Aki smiled quietly.
— But one thing is clear now.
---
— What? — I asked.
---
She looked at Maria.
— She's more dangerous than him.
---
…
I nodded.
— I agree.
---
At that moment, Alikantios peeked out from behind Maria's shoulder.
— Hey! I can hear everything!
---
'Shut up,' said Maria.
---
'…All right.'
---
Silence.
---
But inside me…
something had changed.
---
If even God…
could be like that…
---
I looked at So A.
Then at Aki.
---
And for the first time…
I felt a strange calm.
---
But Alikantios suddenly smiled.
And whispered…
just to me:
> "Don't relax… it's going to hurt more."
---
The smile vanished.
It became…
mad again.
---
And I understood.
---
Even if he can be struck…
he remains a god all the same.
---
End of Chapter 8