Chapter 26: Achilles (1/2)
Alex couldn't help but marvel at the scene in front of him, appreciating the harmonious music flowing into his ears and his attention wholly focused on the music like a sunflower faces the sun.
The crowd was silent and the sounds of the orchestra rang out clearly in the auditorium, as if making a single sound would offend the gods.
The next track they played was refreshing, floral, humble yet at the same time, divine, like spring dawning on the snowy white landscape and turning it a bright shade of green. It was similar to Tchaikovsky's Waltz of Flowers.
Time passed by so fast while the crowd was entranced by the music and they soon concluded their play and the spectators, as if sluggishly awoken from a deep slumber, looked a little listless but proceeded to clap loudly, to which Alex also did the same.
From the distance between him and the pedestal, he noticed that there she was, Crista, looking at him and waving.
He waved at her and stood up, walking in slow steps and shortening the distance between them.
When they were face-to-face, she asked him with a slight smile on her face ”How did I perform?”
”It was incredible.” He responded simply, as this truly flawless performance didn't need any more words.
By now, he noticed a strange change that he probably should have picked up earlier. For the entire time they have been in the House, he hasn't heard a single curse coming from Crista. He was just making assumptions, but he thought that cursing was maybe a coping mechanism she had developed to deal with the loss of her relatives, and now that she had reunited with them, she didn't curse anymore.
”Crista, it's very nice to see you so happy.” Alex stated.
Crista gave him a bittersweet smile and said ”Well, some of my sisters have been lost eternally, their souls too broken to be in the Underworld still, but I feel like I needed this....which is why, I can't thank you enough.”
'Why should I be thanked? In fact, I feel like I should be hated for feeling envious that she is this happy and wondering if she'd ever come back...?' Alex thought to himself but didn't say out loud.
The two looked at each other, their reflections each shown on the eyes of the person facing them, and as they say, eyes are the windows to the soul.
This staring contest was however, interrupted by Elana, who looked unusually cheerful and exclaimed to Crista ”You did great, Crista. You upheld the musical talents of our species and stood out despite your extremely short training!”
”Ah...Thank you..” She spoke in a slow manner and her cheeks turned a bit rosy.
Elana then turned to Alex and told him ”You came here for Achilles right? We're going to pay him a visit so if you'd like to come, then let's go.”
Alex, equally stunned out of his entranced state, slowly nodded and followed Elana's lead along with Crista by his side while the crowd from earlier applauded the two as they passed by.
As the 3 were navigating through the House, Elana kept giving them information about Achilles.
”Achilles might be a great warrior first and foremost, but he is also one of the most talented mortal musicians. He also has nymph blood in him, explaining his musical excellence.”
”I often go to teach him the ways of instruments, but the Underworld population being very blabbing, misinterpret it as the two of us sharing an intimate relationship. He is much much closer to being a nephew or relative than he would ever be a lover.”
”Speaking of love, don't mention anything about it in front of him. He hasn't had the luckiest love life, and the labour contract he signed with the King restricts his movement, prohibiting him from visiting his lover.”
”He might seem a little...melancholic.”
With the two listening carefully to her, they promptly reached their destination, a large door in one of the emptier corridors of the Outer House.
Elana then knocked gently on the door and they heard a mellow voice ”Enter.”
She then opened the door, unraveling the interior design of the room.
It was simply decorated, and beyond that, the room was a bit gloomy, hosting dull colours and minimalistic decoration that also made it feel empty and depressingly spacious.
In the center of the room, on a plain bed was sat Achilles.
He had medium-length blond hair reaching to his shoulders and covering one of his eyes.
The other eye held a wheat-coloured iris and a dark pupil. He wore a very simple shirt and pants that exhibited his athletic physique.
He was handsome, but as Elana pointed out, he had a melancholic air about him, from the droopy eyes and shoulders, to his sluggish movement, he looked lifeless.
Achilles was currently playing a simple tune on a lyre, and did not raise his eyes to look at them.
”Hello, Achilles.” Elana greeted him.
He didn't greet her back and kept playing on the lyre, this time at a louder level.
”You have some guests.” Elana told him.
He still didn't pay them any heed and was solely moving his long fingers on the thin cords of the instrument.
Elana turned to Alex and whispered to him ”Tell him about the purpose of your visit.”
He nodded and said quietly ”Hello, Achilles. I'm here as sent by the god of war, Ares to bring you to the mortal domain for a military conquest with the god.”
Achilles, finally paused his play and very slightly raised his eyeline to look at him.
After the two exchanged a look, the voice they didn't hear too much of simply asked ”Are we passing through Elysium?”
'Elysium...? I suppose we'll have to go through it to leave this place' Alex pondered for a moment then nodded.
Achilles looked to be indifferent but certain small details couldn't escape Alex's divine eyesight. The man's fingers, which were placed on the lyre, were slightly shaking and his movement turned a bit stiff, as if to minimize his shaking.
'Does he have something to do in Elysium?' Alex didn't read the Iliad and there wasn't too much information about Achille's personal life in Athena's libraries, so he didn't know too much about the possible causes for such a reaction.
Nonetheless, his movements returned to the usual and he resumed playing his lyre, no longer giving them the time of day.