Athena's General Reincarnated in Another World

Nathan Evenhart:

That morning, I decided to visit someone who was in the city. Someone who had offered me guidance as I grew, and more importantly, someone who might have answers I needed now.

Sifu.

I'd heard he'd been summoned by the royals as a historical consultant and had been accompanying my aunt in recent days.

Sifu didn't stay in the main estate. He lived in a small house in the garden— A simple cabin, but a warm, inviting one.

When I stepped inside, I found the monk sitting cross-legged on the floor, meditating.

He seemed to be training his Aura. Unlike in my previous world, where Aura was fueled by rage, his was grounded in calm—or the balance of both, something he'd once explained to me as Yin and Yang.

"Can I do something for you, young master?" he asked, still with his eyes closed.

"Your Aura detection is impressive," I said, impressed.

"I merely sense the ripples of life energy around me," he replied with a soft smile, finally opening his eyes and rising to his feet.

I sat in a nearby chair.

"You've heard what we've discovered about the demons," I began, putting on the act of someone freshly informed—though, in truth, I'd known for over a year.

Still, it was better to stay cautious.

The monk was quiet for a moment, then said simply,

"Something wicked..."

"I want to know what your culture says about these beings—demons. Anything you can share," I said, trying to sound casual but focused.

Sifu had always been a well of knowledge. He knew about phoenixes, dragons, and countless other magical beings. His people's traditions seemed to hold ancient truths that might shed light on the Nidhogg.

"Hmm… you know preaching my religion is considered a serious crime in your kingdom," he murmured, as if testing me.

"Oh, come on. I promise not to sentence you to death," I joked, lightening the mood.

He gave a faint smile, but his tone soon turned solemn.

"I made a vow of silence, young master. For a monk, a vow can mean never speaking another word for the rest of one's life. We take such things seriously."

"I understand."

"But," he continued, "I added a condition. If my silence would end up harming the family that saved me… Then what value would that vow really hold?"

"I see. Thank you," I said, recognizing the weight behind his words.

"What exactly do you want to know about demons?" he asked. "By the way, I was asked to consult—militarily and historically—this week by your teacher Sinclair. I had to share some details with her, your aunt, and a few of the kingdom's grand dukes."

"You already told them?" I asked, incredulous. "What happened to that whole speech about silence from a minute ago?"

He let out a peaceful laugh.

"There are exceptions, young master. The family's safety comes before any vow."

"Hmm... but I assure you, I've still kept some important things to myself," he said with a mischievous grin, winking at me. "So... what do you want to know?"

I paused for a moment, sorting through everything I knew so far about the Nidhogg, Asgard, and the royals of this realm.

There was no point focusing too much on Asgard for now—they were divine beings, but not openly my enemies. The real threat came from the other side. From that other world.

"I want to know about demons," I said. "Does anything like that exist in your culture?"

Sifu seemed to reflect quietly.

He walked over to a small table where a tea set had been arranged. He poured two cups, handed one to me, and took a sip.

"There are many fascinating—and terrifying—stories in my culture," he said, sipping his tea as his gaze drifted toward the wall. "Demons are one of them… though I always believed they were merely legends, or figures from ancient times who vanished long ago."

He paused.

"But the term 'demon' did exist. Many names were used to describe them—one of them was Yaoguai."

He reached into his robes and pulled out a scroll, tossing it lightly toward me.

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"In my culture, demons were once considered celestial beings," he said firmly.

Celestials...

I unrolled the scroll.

Grotesque images stared back at me—distorted animals with monstrous faces, twisted limbs, and bestial forms.

"They could take the shape of beasts or humans," he explained, "always in disguise… sowing chaos, manipulating hearts. Some preferred monstrous forms—devouring humans openly. Others used illusion. Foxes. Dragons. Serpents. Phoenixes. Mythical creatures from a sacred land, elevated above mortals."

He began pacing slowly, thinking aloud.

"Dragons are one example," he continued. "They could be good or evil—but always revered, regardless of their nature. Some demons resembled dragons. Which means it's very possible… that Cylla and those demons are two sides of the same coin."

This monk had known all of this for years. So much for his vow of silence...

"Did you mention this part—to anyone? About demons resembling dragons?" I asked.

"No," he said calmly. "Not even to your aunt. I told only you."

"Why only me?" I pressed.

He stepped closer, looking me directly in the eye.

"In our stories, there are humans who come into contact with these beings—serpents, dragons, tigers, monkeys. Those humans… always found themselves part of something far greater. They were chosen by the Tianming. No matter how much they struggled or ran… Those marked by Heaven are bound to walk extraordinary paths."

"Tianming?" I repeated, the word foreign and heavy in my mouth.

Sifu gave a faint smile, as if the meaning was obvious—but sacred.

"Tianming is something like 'Mandate of Heaven' or 'Chosen by the Heavens.' An old legend says that a human who bonds with a legendary creature—like a phoenix—is destined for greatness. Tianming is the force that steers that destiny. For some, it leads to power and rule. For others, something more personal… but no less meaningful. Those touched by Tianming leave echoes through time. They are never forgotten."

I lost myself for a moment in his words.

There was something about the stillness of his voice that made it all feel… true. Deeply true.

"But… how can Heaven choose a human?" I asked, my voice quiet. "Wouldn't a dragon or a phoenix be more extraordinary? Shouldn't they be the chosen ones?"

Sifu took another sip of tea, unhurried, as if time itself bowed to him.

"Heaven," he said softly, "is beyond creatures. Beyond divinity. Beyond judgment. It is the force behind everything. It does not choose based on appearances—but by the threads that connect all things. So ask yourself—what is the true miracle? A dragon finding a human? Or a human… finding a dragon?"

I sat there, speechless, until at last I nodded.

"I think I understand now... The true miracle is the human meeting the dragon."

Sifu's smile was barely there—but it warmed the room like sunrise.

"Exactly. Your Tianming isn't just any destiny, young master. It is a path only you can walk. But remember—along your journey, others will have their own Tianming. Each just as important."

I paused, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a mantle.

"And what do you expect of me now, Sifu?" I asked, unsure if I was ready for the answer.

The monk looked at me— His gaze soft, yet unwavering.

"I hope to see you walk this path," he said calmly. "Your Tianming... it speaks of something within you. Something that, once it matures, may change many things."

He paused.

"What you want… and what fate wants… may be two very different things."

I looked away, uncomfortable with the weight of what he was suggesting.

"I only want a quiet life," I muttered. "A peaceful one."

Sifu let out a soft, knowing laugh— The kind that made it clear I wasn't the first to say such a thing.

"You've been gifted with great skill in the sword since you were a child," he said. "You encountered a phoenix when you were only five… and with it, a magical artifact. And not just that—you discovered that the phoenix could become a dragon."

He stirred the tea again, each movement deliberate, precise—almost like a ritual.

"I can't help but find it curious, young master… That your Tianming doesn't seem to promise the kind of peace you're looking for."

He poured himself a final sip of tea, still calm, still smiling gently.

"As I said… I hope I'm still here to see where it all takes you."

***

It had been about a week since the Inquisitors returned from the academy dungeon.

Naturally, a portion of them had stayed in the city. From what we were told, four remained on the surface, while the other three continued investigating inside the tower.

When they finally returned with their reports, it was just as Siegfried had told me: The half-demons were gone.

What remained were only their monstrous soldiers scattered throughout the academy tower.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder—how had the half-demons vanished?

There were so many questions I hadn't had time to ask Siegfried. Could demons access the Bifrost as freely as he did?

And if they could…

Why hadn't they seized power already?

They could've sent Arcbishops and Heralds straight into the heart of the kingdoms—right to the royal families.

I kept turning that over in my mind. The only explanation was the Pact.

The ancient agreement that pushed the threat forward in time had saved our world once before— But now, the enemy was returning, as the seal began to weaken.

Our last true line of defense was the Ice Wall. If my theory was right, the other side either lacked permission to break that seal—or they simply couldn't.

At least not in time before Loki reincarnates.

That would explain why they were using the True Humans—agents from our world—to do it from within. But the fact that they were also sending their Heralds and Arcbishops to work in the shadows across the continent…

It meant they were worried. Running out of time.

Is this a sign that Loki truly will return in this world?

So many thoughts flooded my mind.

And I wasn't foolish enough to fully trust a god just because he'd chosen to speak with me. To the divine, humans are pawns—lesser beings. Their game is a different one entirely.

Still… Cylla was one of them.

I'd be lying if I said the truth didn't make me uneasy. I had suspected it for a long time, but confirmation struck harder than I expected.

Even so— Nothing in this world would ever change how I feel about her.

"I heard those mages combed every cavern in that tower," said Marquis Eldric Ursfeld beside me, "even with private armies from each royal house."

All the nobles currently in Apsalon had been summoned to a banquet hosted in celebration of the kingdom's 'success' in handling the recent threats.

"These things are hideous," my aunt muttered, looking into the display case ahead of us.

Inside stood several of the monsters' corpses—mounted upright behind glass, as if on exhibit. Various types of orcs. Their crude weapons lay beside them.

The royal houses had arranged this as both a morale booster and a reminder.

A way to say: "Yes, it was dangerous, but we prevailed."

A silent campaign against panic.

"They're even uglier with all these lights shining on them…" my cousin mumbled.

"That's because you haven't met my mother-in-law!" Eldric laughed, slapping the back of Marquis Caelan beside him.

Caelan sighed, long-suffering, while Eldric kept chuckling at his own joke.

"Come on," my aunt said, already heading toward the table area. "Your mother should be arriving soon. They're about to open the ballroom to those without political titles."