Chapter 14:
It had been naught but a few hours since a raging winter apocalypse had reared its head. Yet, you'd be hard pressed to see such a thing here.
The sky was brimming with life, the heat of Apollo brought to bear. Birds flew freely in the sky, and the trees that surrounded his home were vibrant with life. If anything, it seemed to be the start of spring.
CLUNK!
It was a fine day, truly. Especially for what he was doing. In his hands Hephaestus was currently repairing the legs that had been damaged. It was monotonous work, so he had taken everything that he had needed and brought it out to the open. It was a waste to simply stay within the walls of his home when the day was so beautiful.
"I thought so," muttered Hephaestus, basking in the sun.
The metal within his hands creaked slightly, the prosthetic limb seated right on his thighs. It wasn't a large space to work with, true, but creating the metal itself was a quick process.
Black adamantine. It sounded mysterious when one thought of it. The strongest metal of the gods dyed a black color. The truth was far less appealing than the name.
The prosthetic limb was currently a silverish white, the natural hue of the legendary metal. In his right hand a clump ash, burnt from divine wood. The process of creating it naturally took weeks. Yet, he did not have such time. While he found the short cuts of pure divinity…aggravating, there was some merit to it. Key in point, recycling the materials used in the creation of his limbs. Even with the power of divinity, doing this was ill-advised for one of Hephaestus' nature.
It would get the job done, but the materials scavenged were notably…lesser than before. Still, time was of the essence. It was at moments like this that the Demi-God of flames desperately wished his nature was lessed…cracked.
Perhaps than he could just conjure his consciousness wherever he needed it at divine speed.
"Woe to me," he muttered, a determined glance at his current project. Hephaestus closed his eyes, fusing the charred carbon of the divine wood directly into the strongest metallic substance of the Greek pantheon.
Alteration, Reinforcement, Adjustment, and Enchanting. All four processes were strongly tied to the creation of his prosthetic limb. The charred remains of the divine wood was merely a conceptual necessity, rather than an actual one. The concept of fire, transforming what was once a living thing, into a cold ashen remain.
The color of the metal began to darken as the black ash saturated into the metal. As it did so, countless enchantments and runes weaved across the sleek surface, glowing for a moment before dissipating.
This was a rushed job, with the various materials all compiled into a chunk to facilitate the faster processing. The limb before him settled, reverting to a lifeless limb, ready for attachment.
It was a temporary measure. Calculating the length of time it had lasted; he would get a few good weeks out of these limbs, rushed as they were. But after he was done they would have to go. They were not yet what he needed them to be, and the inspiration for the new process he wanted to enact was already underway.
It riddled his thoughts, dancing along the forefront of his consciousness.
"If I adjust the ratio going forward, I could probably strengthen the adamantine further…but is there much point if it causes disruptions in the flow of energy?"
He couldn't afford screw-ups, not to mention that he could feel it, like the tension rippling in a river, he was close.
"HEPH!
He sighed, letting his breath leave as he turned to what his oldest friend was.
Ifrit flew down and pecked at his skull.
"Calm friend," he chuckled, "we are a different sort. You know this."
The bird huffed, flying off into the air and leaving him. He smiled, watching the shimmering of Ifrit's blue feathers. It had been a fan of the sleek black fathers, lined with a fiery red. But Ifrit's new appearance fit her, that much he would admit. At least to him anyway. Though, he would admit it was difficult to see her, in a pure sky like this.
The galloping of hooves grew louder as Kassandra came running in with a big smile.
"You're a jerk, you know that! You should have called me down earlier when you got home! We got some unexpected guests and we're all-oh."
She lost her smile slightly, seeing him sitting there. The limb in his hand, and the destroyed one at his feet. It was a little awkward with the two of them staring at each other.
He placed the foot of his newly repaired limb at the open wound that was his left leg. It had taken some figuring out to keep the wound open, a concentrated effort of reinforcement and various other skills.
It was necessary though. The limb shivered, as thousands of tiny black tendrils burrowed into his leg, fusing with the nerves and muscle. The metal that encompassed the shell of his leg opened slightly, before snapping around the skin and muscle.
With a series of twitches, the metallic limb shivered into place, responding to his body like any limb would.
Kassandra just stared at it, looking slightly green.
"Uh…right. I have some news and uh…some guests!"
She was relaxed, so the guests were not enemies…he hoped. She bowed and let two women, no, two goddesses enter the clearing of his private abode.
One he recognized instantly, Artemis. Her silver eyes and auburn hair made it difficult to forget her appearance. She carried herself as she usually did, walking more like she was stalking prey than a leisure stroll. She wore some hunting leather across her shoulders and arms. Her feet were clad in sandals, with strong support that weaved across her ankles and up to her shin.
The woman behind her however, he had no expectations of.
"Hephaestus," stated Artemis, "I've come…hmm"
He rose an eyebrow. He honestly thought Apollo would have blabbed to everyone about this. He counted on it actually. It would seem he needed to revise his opinion of the God. The genuine shock on her face was more off-putting coming from her, than it was from Kassandra. Yet, she studied how his limb shifted slightly to perfectly sit with the muscle.
"Greetings Lady Artemis," he bowed his head, gesturing to the remaining materials, "my apologies. I'll be with you shortly. My limbs have been degrading slowly for quite some time and need repair. If I had known you were coming, I would have made proper arrangements."
He turned to her partner.
"Though, this is not a social gathering I take it?"
The girl beside her was one of the daughters of Atlas. She had an imperial look to her. Her face, scrunched in part disbelief and judgement.
He didn't care for her looks, but he would not punish her for it. Artemis, on the other hand, was surprisingly unimpressed.
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the Hesperide.
"Eyes up girl. You have a lot of courage to look at him this way, especially when you've demanded to do your reparations here. If it were naught for the oaths you swore, I wouldn't even think to bring you here."
"Ah" he thought, "so that's how they entered."
The oaths she had sworn would act as a sort of key. Something to consider in the future. Artemis had slight distortions, forcing her way through his eased barrier. It wasn't as strong as it could be, considering her role as an escort, but it must have still been annoying. He ease the restriction, allowing her as a guest thus far. He spoke to her as the distortions passed.
"You're escorting her?"
Artemis nodded.
"Queen Hera brought up concerns for how their oaths can be used against them. Requested that some of us escort them until their duties are complete. I've volunteered for Zoe here."
"So, her name is Zoe," he thought.
"I see."
Cordial as Artemis was, she was still a God. He nodded to Kassandra, who was all too quick to leave. Subtly, Ifrit was close behind her, just in case.
Ifrit shivered at the look the Goddess gave her, the slight smile as Artemis' eyes narrowed at the legendary bird making her squirm.
Her nature as a huntress was obvious to him, but he still paid close attention, just in case. Hephaestus lifted the broken metal beside him. The materials that made up the limb slowly shuddered apart, breaking into their core parts.
It was a process that Hephaestus had termed DISMANTLE. It separated objects down to their base raw materials, though how he designated it as such was entirely up to him. There were some side effects to it. For instance, the Adamantine was not a 1 to 1 ratio, requiring Hephaestus to replace the lost material with his reality marble. Theoretically all Gods were able to do this. After all, many atomized their enemies often. The difference was the intent of the matter. With a thought and burst of his magic, the damage parts of his broken limb were reduced to their base components. With a thought he merged what he could, the two pieces of carbon and metal fell as separate units, landing in a circular shape.
The raw materials clumped down to the ground beneath him. He reached to get it, but Artemis was quick to pick them up.
"Which one do you need?" she asked.
"The adamantine first. The solidified ash will be added afterwards."
She gave the circular adamantine, eyeing the solidified ash with a quizzical look in her other hand. Artemis had been a pleasant surprise this entire time. Her demenor a different sort than last they spoke.
Zoe however, was what he expected from Gods. She was agitated, annoyed, and look about ready to explode. It would have been funny if not for the dangers associated with it.
"My apologies," he said, turning his attention to her. "Please, tell me what you need, this will only take a moment."
It was slower to do it while talking, but creating the shell wasn't overtly difficult.
The metal expanded in rigid lines, twirling around each other to create the seamless mobility of the limb overall.
"I've come to…repay your mercy," she whispered.
The way her face soured almost made Hephaestus laugh. The poor girl. He looked at Artemis, his amusement clear. Again, she proved to be far different than he expected. She rolled her eyes, almost shrugging. Was the Goddess of the hunt always so calm? Then again, EMIYA's memory of the Goddess was rather….odd.
Who forcibly turned their lover into a teddy bear of all things?
"The damage to my home has already been repaired, I promise. I take it the other areas have been taken care of?"
Artemis nodded.
"Yours was the only one left."
"Of course," he muttered, "unfortunately I will be leaving shortly. I have business that takes precedence over this."
"Precedence" muttered Zoe.
Her imperious look grew as she glared at him, but she sputtered at the look Artemis gave her. It was cold, calculating even.
"Even I would not steer one from a hunt," stated Artemis, "do not presume your ego is more important than that."
His work ceased as he turned to Artemis. They shared a moment. It would seem her domain was far more expansive than he gave it credit for. A single look, before they shared a nod. Zoe remained silent as he finished his work, creating the limb in full. He aligned the new limb to his bloody stump, the metal opening as the other hand. The sharp pain was temporary, and soon his right leg joined the left. He stood at his full height, only slightly taller than the Goddess of the hunt.
Zoe however, was dwarfed entirely. The poor girl barely came to his chest. Her scowl remained, but looking down at her like this, he saw a scared young woman.
"I apologize for the discourtesy," said Hephaestus, "but as I said, I have business. You seek to repair that which is already completed. So please, feel free to go home in peace. I have no such expectations of you that need to be adhered."
"That's not the problem," she scowled.
He blinked, then realized the issue.
"…your oath," he whispered, "of course. With the damage repaired you…I am terribly sorry. I did not think repairing my home would prevent your oaths from being actualized."
This was a dangerous state to be in. Without the realization of the oath she had sworn with her sisters, Zoe in theory would never be free of it. Hephaestus had no such desire to use this in any form, but the tricks of the Gods were vast and cunning. There was no telling how others would twist this against her, unlikely as it seemed.
Hephaestus turned, eyeing his home.
"…you require the damage to my home to be fixed, correct."
"Yes, the damage that me and my…family are responsible for."
Hephaestus gestured to the ground beneath him. Artemis rose an brow as he smiled at her.
"Punch the ground for me please, as hard as you can."
She blinked. Then it dawned on her. She moved so fast that Hephaestus lost track of her. The ground erupted violently as the earth splintered around them. Hephaestus jumped upwards, his divinity protecting his immediate abode. The trees around were protected by the divinities of both Artemis and Hephaestus.
His foresight was not perfect though, as Kassandra's poor stable was reduced to splinters.
"Thankfully she didn't actually personalize it yet," thought Hephaestus.
Zoe got to work, repairing the land around her. She scowled a bit, a slight concern burrowing in her brow. The work was slow, tediously slow. The earth beneath her was saturated in Hephaestus divinity, hammered by Artemis power, and was constantly abused by some form of interference.
Zoe growled, turning to the woods. Various Nymphs gave her a cold look, one of the younger ones even sticking her tongue out at her.
"How dare-!"
Her words never finished, for the divinity she had conjured to lash out at them was smothered.
The smell of ash and fire wafted into her nose and she slowly turned around. His face was as calm as ever, but there was a coldness to his eyes now.
"These nymphs are those that call this island home," said Hephaestus.
He slowly walked around her, his body blocking the view she had of the tricksters.
"Their residences were destroyed by the actions of your father. If they decide to impede your efforts then that is a burden you must carry."
Hephaestus looked at the sky, before looking back down on her.
"You are under my protection," he said, "none will harm you on this island as you work. If I return and you are still not done, I will free the land of any distractions."
He didn't really care all that much if he was being honest with himself. However, those that lived on the island bore a different view of this matter than him. Their home was almost destroyed, some of them even needing Hephaestus to regenerate their trees to survive.
If this petty display was their way of venting that trauma, then so be it. He wouldn't stop them.
This had nothing to do with the girl's rudeness.
Oh no, nothing at all.
He turned to Artemis.
"Thank you, but she will be safe here."
He exerted his will and the land beneath him shuddered. Unbeknownst to him, the sheer joy on the faces of the nature spirits was wide and genuine. For the first time, Wis' successor had stood forward.
The island shuddered for a moment, a brief shaking of the ground. Artemis could feel the way the Island was pushing against her, as the domain of any God should.
"You hunt a quarry," she smiled.
"I do."
The thought came to him suddenly. But he bowed to her.
"If you would please bless this hunt, I would highly appreciate it. I cannot afford to lose this man."
Artemis struck him as an honorable sort. If she needed something returned for such a boon, then so be it. Calliope's family would be avenged in full today, one way or another.
"My blessing," she muttered.
At first he thought her reprehensive. But when he looked to her, she seemed more bewildered than anything.
"…"
"…"
Artemis eventually raised her hand. There was no different feeling persay, but he felt sharper in a sense. Like something had instinctively clicked. Artemis looked to his hands, than his shoulders.
"You are a bowman?"
He blinked.
"Of a sort. I have yet to use my bow."
EMIYA's bow was a marvel of structural ingenuity. The entire composite was strong enough to launch noble phantasms at an incredible rate, even before it was elevated to a nameless phantasm in his death.
With divine energy forming its structure, the bow itself was even more resilient. In comparison to the ancient bows of old, Hephaestus black bow would be a bewildering sight.
After all, the damn thing was almost as tall as he was at 180 cm (5.9 ft). It wasn't the largest construct in human history, the Yumi bow took that crown. However, it's sleek appearance and impossible draw weight were a different story.
Artemis smiled at him admitting to his bow.
"Offer your prey to me and I will bless this hunt."
"My prey is a man," stated Hephaestus.
"Oh?"
Artemis smiled.
"Then a different beast will have to do."
He frowned. It was obvious this was her intent to begin with. A God enacting her domain was a rarity for any deity. He didn't know what effects would come of this but the need to hunt this man was greater than it has ever been.
"Deal," said Hephaestus, "so long as the beast is a danger to others I will hunt whatever you request."
Artemis stilled for a moment. There was not a sense of hostility to her, but there was undeniably a question.
"Speak plain."
Or, rather a request.
"I will not slaughter some senseless animal simply to appease others," stated Hephaestus, "I will fight any beast you request but only if there is a need for the kill."
This was a sentiment that was shared with EMIYA in life. It was one thing to hunt another for sustenance or to protect others. It was another thing entirely to kill something simply for sport. Thankfully, Artemis appeared to be of the same mind. It was easy for mortals to forget that she was just as she was a lord of the wild as much as she was a huntress.
"An easy enough condition."
She held her hand out, and he clasped it. It was a more western approach to deals than he thought, but he could follow the way his divinity swirled around hers, invoking the most ancient of powers to bind them to their words.
It was odd. It felt so powerful but hollow. Like a system without oversight.
The moment their agreement ended; Hephaestus got to work. He knew where to go, a little tidbit from Hades that would help navigate to the island. There was also the fact that said Island was currently home to Dionysus. Hiding his intentions, like he had done with Poseidon, was no longer necessary. Whoever had done this either knew about what he was doing or was ignorant of his investigation.
Either outcome meant a trail, but one that could fester and dissipate if left alone. He jumped as far as he could, his metallic limbs creaking already from the strain. It took several normal jumps for him to traverse most of his home, barring into the beach away from the others. He didn't visit this part of the island much so he wasn't that surprised at the bewildered looks of the local spirits.
A small boat appeared in front of him, a metallic turbine etched firmly into the back of the boat. It sat on the frame much like a modern engine would, but without the mechanical developments.
A quick jerk of his foot and the boat was launched into the waters, with him landing into the water.
He closed his eyes, feeling his senses expand. It was easier than it had ever been, a fact that he attributed to Artemis inclusion. Using his sight he shifted the boat ever so slightly. It wasn't a large vessel by any means, more a rowboat than anything.
The turbine was the only strange part of it, but one that proved its worth within the moment. From the back of his limbs, the metal creaked open. Like flower petals peeling away from the bud, the hollow interior was ignited in a show of brilliant orange flames. The savage torrent pushed into the turbine, launching the boat forward at impossible speeds. He cut through the chopping waves, reinforcing this small dinky vessel to withstand that high seas.
"Quite the interesting way to cross Poseidon's waters, no?"
His eyes snapped open, staring directly at Artemis who sat at the end of the boat. She chuckled as his flabbergasted expression.
"You didn't think I'd miss this hunt, did you? A god actively engaging in my domain for the first time?"
"I'm more shocked I can't sense you," thought Hephaestus.
Hermes was the lord of thieves, the father of stealth. Yet, Artemis was a complete blank. She had somehow dissolved herself of every conceivable means of detection. If not for his sight, he wouldn't even know she was there.
If Hermes housed similar skill, then the two of them were arguably the more dangerous of the Olympians when unbound. Artemis' hair flowed wildly as she closed her eyes. The scent of the ocean always brought her some sense of joy, though the ruler of said seas she could do without.
She didn't entirely know why she felt so averse to her uncle. In many ways he was warm and welcoming. Perhaps it was the arrangement he had with his wife that bothered her…or perhaps something deeper. She couldn't quite tell yet.
In many ways, it was why she was spending time with Hephaestus right now. He too was an oddity, though for different reasons.
Zeus was her father, and while she had some discomfort with the God he was ultimately someone she loved dearly.
Her brother Apollo was annoying. Drastically so.
Ares was…Ares. She couldn't read him, but she didn't need to. She detested the savage glee he took from harming his enemies, slaughtering for the sole and only purpose to slaughter. Yet, he was a God she could respect for the other duties he took on without question.
Demeter, Hestia, and even Dionysos all suffered the same conundrum. They were boring.
Athena had proven to be a starling sister, though oddly blank at times. If she didn't know any better she would assume that Athena housed no emotion at all with how stoic and cold she was.
Yet, Hephaestus was a different sort. He was…calm. There was no friction with him. It felt…natural. Nice. She had gone to her mother about this not a day prior, when she had seen him intervene with Persephone.
She grimaced slightly, remembering that embarrassing moment.
"You don't like him, do you dear? Because that sounds a lot like you—"
She banished the memory. She still didn't understand this obsession with carnal delights her entire family tree had. The way Apollo would lose himself over the beauty of Aphrodite and his muses was stupid and honestly a little disgusting to her.
This was something else, a comfort she had found only in a few. She had lost it with Apollo as they aged, found it again with Athena, and now she hoped she had found it in him.
A friend.
His desire to hunt was strong, centered around a need to gather information and learn more. It was eerily similar to what Athena had requested of her, to figure out what kept Hephaestus out of Olympus.
She told her newest sibling straight that she didn't care, but would keep her apprised if she learned anything.
Many targets and one arrow as she was fond of thinking. The best way to hunt.
"You…wish to follow?"
"I do," smirked Artemis.
Though the winds blew her long hair around her face, she still took the time to give him a look.
"Is that a problem, cousin?"
He shrugged.
"Not entirely. So long as you do not interfere, I don't rightly care. I'm just more confused than anything."
"I am bored Hephaestus, nothing more. Besides, Athena wishes to know more of what keeps you preoccupied from Olympus."
He looked around, narrowing his eyes at the sky.
"Names carry power," he said.
She scoffed.
"You haven't learned to null that…ah."
Hera. The last of the Goddesses. It was a twisted thing, her relationship with the Queen. In many ways, Artemis looked up to Hera. The way she ran the roost so to speak was awe inspiring to her. No matter the enemy or political foe their kingdom face, Hera was a stalwart defender. Her statesmanship had dwindled the forces of the minor gods to nothing but a few sputtering gasps. Whatever authority they had once held with her father's original democracy, had been reduced to a smoldering pile of waste.
The thought of crushing your enemies so thoroughly to a point they were subservient to you admittedly scratched a particular itch that Artemis had. She detested the way some of the 'male' Gods flaunted their power. As if Gender alone dictated their standing. It was pathetic. The sight of Hera having rendered them to nothing was a cathartic feeling.
Yet, here before her stood proof that her queen was not perfect. As a Goddess of childbirth and a self-proclaimed protector of children, a literal piece of Artemis raged at the actions of her queen, just as parts of her revered them. It was why she avoided Hera as much as she could, even though she was as welcoming as a woman of her station could be.
"So there are means to weaken the names?" stated Hephaestus.
"Less so a means to weaken their utterance and more so a means to ensure they're never heard. It's…complex. I'm willing to teach you, if you are willing to pay."
In many respects, that made it all the more comforting for Hephaestus. He'd be concerned if Artemis wanted this transaction with nothing to be traded.
Their trip was only moments but soon he touched base about a few meters from the coastline of Naxos. The home of Dionysus was…pungent to say the least. It didn't smell bad, on the contrary quite the opposite. But it was a sweet and alluring scent that threw Hephaestus off the most. He pulsated his power clearly, awaiting a response. Artemis was quick to do the same.
A moment was all it took for a response to be heard. Vines grew at the very edge of the coastline as the God of wine himself stepped forward. He had the demeanor of a man that was drunk yet seemed all the sharper for it.
He stumbled out of the wines that had grown, showcasing a body most men would kill for. Masculine and yet not bulky. Beautiful, rather than impressive. His face was clear of any stubble and his hair shone a brilliant purple, much like the grapes he so revered. In his hand was a goblet that never emptied and his eyes shone with the revelery of the parties he so espoused.
"Cousins, welcome!"
He turned to Artemis.
"Wasn't expecting you today sister, nor you Hephaestus!"
He laughed as they entered his domain;. Artemis braced herself, but was shocked when she was politely shoved aside for Hephaestus. The God of fire blinked as Dionysus eyed him up and down. He was substantially taller than the other God, easily dwarfing him. To be honest, he was a bit put off. Dionysus had always been asleep for the most part or at least hungover.
This was the most animated Hephaestus had ever seen him.
Suddenly the God cozied up to him, wrapping his arm around his waist.
"Man, it is good to see you!" he stated, "you've been nothing but a blast since you've joined Olympus."
The effeminate man bit his lip but quickly separated at the visible discomfort of Hephaestus.
"Welcome, to the land of revelry! The humans aren't much to join the festivities, but they join when I let them. Today is such a day, so please be careful with them."
He smiled, bright and joyous.
"The parties are always better with them around. Do you want to join? If you want your names out there for the common people, this is the best way to do it!"
Hephaestus cleared his throat.
"I, um, no I do not wish to join. I am here to find someone. A man actually. I was seeking permission to locate him as I've come to learn he was last seen here in your abode."
The God of wine deflated.
"Come on, it's always work with you! I thought you finally came here to relax, have a drink, get laid or something!"
He chuckled a bit.
"I can help with all three."
Hephaestus blinked. Being hit on was something EMIYA had no experience with, as the man just simply ignored it.
Hephaestus had no such experience at all.
So, it stood to reason that he had zero clue as to how to respond to something like this. Calliope was so easy. This? This not so much. Though, that was probably due to the fact he had no such desires for the man in front of him to begin with.
Or men in general.
"I'm quite alright," said Hephaestus politely, "I am not…well that is to say…"
He actually turned to Artemis, hoping for something. Instead he was privy to the way she was smiling and holding her laughter in. The sudden laughter of Dionysus only added to his embarrassment.
"This is new," he thought.
"Oh what's wrong?" spoke a voice husky with smoke and desire, "is it so hard for you? I can make it hard—"
Hephaestus almost blushed a bit at that, completely caught off guard at the sudden voice.
"Ooooh," muttered Acheron, "this looks fun. Can you imagine it, hmm? All five of us and just little bitty you?"
"HMPH!"
The sudden shriek killed whatever fun these spirits were having. For the first time, Hephaestus was thankful for the shy nature of Lethe.
"Bah, damnit you always ruin shit!"
He tuned them out, though he made sure Styx was still connected. A fact she silently thanked him for. She was silent and distant. If he was to hazard a guess, she was absent from his reality marble.
"So he really does do that huh," muttered Dionysus.
"I always assumed they were lying," muttered Artemis.
He turned his attention to his…relatives? Calling them his cousins was accurate, but they seemed to be more in line with siblings than anything.
"Apologies, I got distracted."
"I can see that/We know".
Apparently this was more well known than he'd like. Did he have a problem?
"So, you're looking for a man, do you have a name?"
"Yes. His name is Deimos."
Unlike himself, Dionysus was a God in full, he should know the location of the man…probably.
Hephaestus was not entirely certain of his origins. In EMIYA's world, the god before him was borne to a mortal woman. In many respects the God had only been born afterHephaestus in such stories. He was a full God, of that there was no denying, since his face showed no strain in accessing the multiple perspectives of his consciousness.
It was interesting, watching the slight distortions from Dionysus splintering his view. There was no visible body, no cloned entities. Yet, he could feel the way his eyes searched the island.
"Ah. That one."
The God pouted as Hephaestus perked up.
"You know of him?"
"Oh quite. The man dares to be a recluse in the island of revelry. That alone brought my attention to him. He completely avoids my people. He's a thief as well. He's yours to do with as you need to, though…"
"What?"
"...He's shrouded in a way. Not to my sight, but certainly to the others of this island. A..strangeness to him I find familiar but can't quite place."
He smirked, making Hephaestus tense slightly.
"Oh well. I can direct, if you'd like."
"What do you want?"
"Well, my symbol to start with. Oh, and you must attend my festival!"
He blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me," grinned the lord of madness.
There was a strange glint to his eyes. Only now did Hephaestus really try to study them in detail. The swirling colors shifted from the hues of grapes, landing to a vibrant darkish red. There was merriment mixed with the chaotic feeling. He shivered as he felt Dionysus' madness wash over him slightly.
It was a slight prick, but it felt all the same. Joyous perhaps, but a poison regardless.
"Your…festivities," he drawled, "what do you expect of me?"
Dionysus shrugged.
"Relax! Drink! Let me hype you up a little bit! I got a load of people wondering who the 12th Olympian is."
He blinked.
"They care about that? Why would they know about that?"
The people that lived on his island didn't even know he was an Olympian…didn't they?
"You live under a rock or something?" muttered Dionysus.
He placed a delicate hand on his waist, his hair wrapping around his frame beautifully. What had once been short and cropped around his skull, now wrapped around his shoulders and draped across his eyes slightly.
"Zeus announced it to the world? I mean the mortals don't really hear that kind of thing, but the nymphs and satyrs do and they talk cousin. Besides, Atlas was a dick, so people have been celebrating his defeat for a time now."
"Like you need an excuse for your debauchery," growled Artemis.
"Hey, I don't force anyone into anything" he smirked.
"That is a lie!"
He stepped between them, though he detested the knowing glint in the eyes of the God of Madness.
"A conflict here solves nothing. Fine I'll…attend your festival."
The grin stretched a little too far to be human. To be fair he just wanted to give the symbol of power for the God of madness as soon as possible. This was more efficient for a place he had little desire to return to.
"Fantastic! Oh this will just be an absolute delight. I'll see you the moment you're done cousin."
The wine God still as they turned, another smirk growing.
"Let's make things a bit spicier, make me that symbol during the party."
His first instinct was to reject it. That was stupid, nay, borderline idiotic. Yet…as he stewd on the thought Hephaestus found himself reevaluating Dionysus a tad.
"This is his realm," he thought, "and such a festival would be saturated with the very source of his domains. This might be more of a boon than a hindrance."
The familiar cadence of Styx echoed in his mind, though it was distant.
"Careful, Dionysus is known for his tricks. He's mostly a passive God. Kind even, as the mortals would describe, but he's known to drag his thorns across others for his enjoyment."
"I'll be careful," he responded.
He nodded, playing off his mental correspondence as a musing.
"Very well. I will try. But if it is too distracting I will leave to finish my work elsewhere."
The God dispersed without a sound, but a trail of vines was left in his wake, leading him deeper into the island. Artemis stewed a bit, turning to him.
"You agreed?"
He shrugged.
"Easier to just agree to it. Besides…he never told me how long to stay."
She blinked, before a small smile grew.
"I see now why Athena wanted to talk to you."
He blinked.
"I've been meaning to ask, do you know why she's so obsessed with talking with me?"
He detested the shrug he got in response. It made him uncomfortable.
"She's sharp. Eerily so. But…there's something off about her. I like it, but I know it rubbed Ares and Apollo the wrong way. She doesn't really talk much to anyone aside from me and Aunt Hestia. Perhaps she's looking for the same thing I am."
"That would be?"
"A friend."
He blinked.
"Truly?"
She gave him a blank stare.
"I know you are not as well versed in our…social circle shall we call it. So tell me cousin, with your little foray into our politics. Would you call anyone amongst us an ally? Know that I will know if you speak a half truth."
Her eyes shone with an eerie silverish hue. The twin Gods were prophetic in different ways. It wouldn't surprise Hephaestus if Artemis shared in some sliver of her brother's prophetic powers. Divulging what was missing out of a statement would be child's play in that case.
"I'll ask again," she drawled, "is there anyone amongst us that you would call an ally."
"No."
It was immediate and truthful. It stung a bit, to be this honest. Afterall, Hestia had been a great support thus far…but she was a limited support. One that could not be called on to protect anyone, barring obvious exemptions in her situation. She was friendly, certainly, but she was no ally.
Artemis grinned, her fanged teeth open.
"Good. You've felt it just as I have. We're a pack of wolves, Hephaestus, all prowling around the same Alpha that is Zeus."
He nodded. Zeus was…a surprisingly charismatic figure, but one that he was prepared to face off against if need be. He'd doubt he'd survive the battle, but that was irrelevant. He would serve no one unwillingly again.
EVER.
The shard of authority that he had been inserted with was largely autonomous. If it was directed by the will of others, like Zeus, saying he would raise hell would be an understatement. Still, he obeyed so far ina s he wanted to. Hephaestus shuddered a bit, wondering the outcome of him disobeying an order he didn''t like would be.
"Best to shore defenses up at home as soon possible," he thought.
Artemis was stewing in her thoughts, coming up beside him. Her eyes carried a weight, a seriousness to them.
"Finding true friends is…difficult. You've proven to be true to your word the same way my father is. Open and uncaring of what others see. Case in point."
The gesture to his legs raised a brow.
"You care not if they see such a deformity," she shrugged, "their opinions of you are irrelevant. You live as you please, I respect that. What you did for Persephone and Demeter only cemented my earlier opinions."
He ignored the fact that she was rude the first time they met. He preferred this attitude if he was honest.
"A friendship I have little concern with," he admitted, "though I will be honest with you, as you have with me. If I disagree with you, I will not be cowed to shoulder the same opinions. If you can respect that, then you have my friendship. My trust on the other hand, must be earned."
"Like respect?" she smirked.
Her smile grew as his own did. He held his hand out and she shook it. Her grip was strong, though he was of greater strength. Yet, only a fool would believe strength to be the only indicator of lethality.
She looked human in her guise, a beautiful human, but he knew her whole body was etched into a predator of few equals.
"Come, you have prey to hunt. Though, we'll do without this."
With a snap, the vines that led to his quarry popped into petals.
"This is a hunt cousin…show me what you can do."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
His quarry was a simple man. Not overtly tall, an average 5'7. Hair that was a chestnut brown, paired with tanned skin and equally brown eyes. He had a sunken disposition, though it was offset by the large smile he had seen him with. Wiry with hands that were calloused from farm work.
All in all, an average man.
An average human man.
An average man that should not have been able to escape the dozens upon dozens of chimeric creatures that he had come across all those months ago.
Answers would be had today, one way or another.
He was off. Sprinting at full speed, he was a blur to the average human. Yet, Artemis lightly ran beside him, as if she was just on a simple jog. Hell, this was probably a walk for her. Crossing the distance of the island was rather easy, as Daxmos' current topography was rather flat, in comparison to the more mountainous region of Lemnos. In many ways Daxos was less an island and more a broken fragment of Thebes, Dionysus actual birth place.
He could feel the way this island was sectioned off, the divinity saturating Dionysus power into a smaller location. Here the Greek God could enjoy greater freedoms, limited as they were. Like a private beach, if one were the size of an island.
There was no scent to follow, well not a traditional one. Perhaps Artemis would still call it cheating, but it didn't take much to reinforce his sense of smell. It was easier than expected and the scent of wine grapes was concentrated in the pathway of Dionysus divinity. It was probably due to this that the scent was still lingering.
It was too late before Artemis caught on, she gave a slight scowl, muttering something about not overlooking it next time. Across plains and open grass, Hephaestus came to a rather small village. The people were nice enough, though they gave him the most bewildered looks. Artemis had disappeared from sight the moment one of the farmers approached them as he neared.
"Uh, hello traveller. Can I help you?"
The man gripped the bushels in his hands tightly. He used no tools, the idea of such not yet widespread. Farming was only in its most rudimentary stages. Which made it even worse when raiders and thieves took what little they could grow.
"Hello sir," he nodded.
The poor man swallowed thickly as he grew more discomforted as he approached. It was startling to the human man. Hair that was the color of blood, eyes that were golden, not to mention the sheer muscularity of the God before him.
If this was a human man, the poor farmer called bullshit.
"I am looking for a man by the name of Deimos."
Without meaning to, the farmer frowned deeply.
"What do you want with that lying thief?"
"Retribution," he stated coldly.
The farmer blinked, and a crooked grin spread. His teeth were slightly yellow as he gestured towards the hills just outside the eastern part of their village.
"No good lazy bastard hides out in those hills. Comes stalking in here at night taking the fruit from our trees and the fruits of the ground. Takes enough to fill a basket at a time. Left a neighbor and her children starving because of it."
Hephaestus knew that Deimos was a thief, though he doubted the man before him as entirely truthful to the consequences of it. The village he saw was positively swimming in the bounties of the earth. If a neighbor was starving with that large bundle in the distance, then the man was an idiot.
"I do not need a fabrication to ensure I hunt this man. I advise you not to lie to Gods again. You would likely implode for the effort."
The man paled slightly, giving a slight nod.
"I…of course sir. He's in the hills."
He wasn't entirely comfortable showcasing anything, but the idea of just walking around the village was stifling. He ran past the mortal man and tried his best to move as fast as he could without drawing too much attention. It was a trifle to move around the circumference of the village at his speed, though his legs creaked ever so slightly at the pressure. He gave a light hop over a small hill, grown with patchy grass. The dirt around it was disturbed slightly, as if it was a fresh grace. It was a strange location for one, just at the outskirts of this wooden path.
For a man that was a thief, Deimos had left quite an obvious trail. A petty thief then. Enough to be annoying, but not necessarily a thorn to be removed, not worth the effort to hunt down. He felt his chest heat up at the thought of being so close. He closed his eyes, taking a cooling breath into his lungs.
Steam left his mouth as he stared down the wooded path. It was a sparse wood, not overly dense. He could see between the trees and rolling hills. From the path, a pair of faded footprints was embedded in the dirt, littered with clumps of clay. One foot was covered by a sandal, the other was bare. He jumped into the tree, grunting as it creaked at his weight.
He hopped back down, staring at his metallic limbs.
"Note to self," thought Hephaestus, "find a more…appropriate material."
It felt so weightless to him that it was easy to overlook that his limbs were far heavier than they might appear. He had hoped to look from above, the foliage of some of the trees thick enough to obscure him.
Yet…was that necessary? He stalked the woods, careful not to rush, but the thought persisted. He was being careful, sneaky, but the man before him was completely human. Weak even, from the way the footprints shuffled over one another. The image that Hades had shared of the man showed someone that was lacking in food and nutrition, lanky in limbs, wasting away bit by bit.
He narrowed his eyes as he noted the stumps that were around him. It was the odd tree here or there. None of them were divine in nature, thankfully, but it was a sign. Over another hill…and he saw it.
The small little hut, barely put together.
Yet, despite the disheveled home, there were trees and rocks that created a perfect circle around it. The sigils shone brightly on the trees and stone alike.
It bristled his hair, his eyes feeling as if they were burning the runes he saw etched into stones around his…property.
They were practiced, if used inappropriately. A show of experience.
Yet, the rest of the home lacked this sense of skill and unity. Shards of wood that were discarded. Some were broken, not thick enough to support weight, others were cut incorrectly. A poor man's attempt to mimic a skill they did not yet achieve.
He crouched low, laying on his stomach. A shimmer of blue light and a light green hood wrapped around his head. A small bit of camo to hide his body for a moment. Artemis was beside him. Her presence was entirely erased, even to his sight. But he could feel her. He conjured his bow to his side, ignoring the feeling of her focus shifting from him.
A creak from the shoddy door and he saw the man. He heightened his sight, zooming to focus entirely on the man's scraggly appearance. There he was. Life was hard on the man, no doubt. But there was a sense of calm to him. There were no bags under his eyes, a small smile on his face. Everything seemed to fit the image of a content hermit. He watched a bit longer, though he didn't know what at first.
Perhaps an excuse?
A reason to avoid it, what he longed for.
What this savage emotion dug at the pit of his stomach. A reason to push it down as he had done so many times before this moment. With Hera it was…complicated. He could push it down, ignore it, even twist it as he needed to.
But this person invoked the same darkness he was saturated in when he created the Heavenly Queen's throne. The familiar taint that closed his heart, that focused his rage, that made life worth living in the moments of her construction.
That made it worth the isolation.
When he…became what he was now, that darkness was suppressed. Ignored. Was he afraid?
Hephaestus hands shook as the thought rummaged in his mind. This was fear. Not of battle or of death. Nay, fear that he was no better than the very Gods he compared himself to. That his hypocrisy was far deeper than he ever wanted to admit.
That he was just as much a monster as the Goddess beside him.
A flash of light, a familiar necklace. Yet, the necklace did not belong to Agnes…but rather it belong to the wife of Adamantius.
What fragile restraints finally gave way, shriveling into a steel surety.
Hephaestus stood. Perhaps he was a monster for this, for what he was about to do. Yet, if that's what it had to be…
Then so be it.
-OST: Dark Aria-
His face calmed into a distant look, an outstretched hand. In his grip, a new noble phantasm had arisen. One that EMIYA had never used in life. It was a nameless Phantasm. A long pike that belonged to a torturer under Vlad the Impaler. One of the many nameless soldiers that added to the legend of Dracula.
It was not a strong weapon, barely E-rank in terms of strength. Yet, it held a particular ability.
The pike twisted, screwing into a familiar nail like form. He lifted his bow, easily a kilometer away from the man.
He pulled, pulled with all his strength. The bow creaked loudly, almost cracking at the sheer strength he possessed. He reinforced the bow, the cracks glowing an ethereal blue. His arms cracked themselves, spewing flames in his silent rage. A breath in, the world falling silent. It was just him and the man. All else fell away.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, a slight adjustment to the left ever so slightly. His taller frame skewing the legendary accuracy of EMIYA just minutely.
The warmth of the hand fled, leaving nothing but the cold certainty.
The arrow flew.
"GRK!"
Right into the chest of the man. The force was strong enough that the pike blew through his chest like paper, digging into the ground. The man fell back into the pike, stabbing straight into his kidney. Hephaestus launched himself forward, the creaking of his limbs ignored. Deimos stared at him, his eyes widening as blood pooled from his mouth. The hole in his chest was twice the size of a fist, taking out his heart entirely. He should have died.
Yet, he persisted. He was not immortal, but he was not dying either. Suffering at the hands of the noble phantasm he had been struck with.
"Artemis…I have one last favor to ask of you," he whispered.
She rose an eyebrow, appearing before him.
"…ensure I am not disturbed. There are forces at play here that I would rather not get in my way. Before you ask, it is not any of the Olympians."
She had questions obviously. Yet, she proved herself a different sort than what he knew, a directed expression on her face. Her form splintered into countless birds of different species, all bearing the same silverish glow. They flew around them, keeping on eye out as he had requested.
He would pay for it later. Whether she requested it or not was irrelevant. She had done enough to warrant him paying her back in his own way. A blade perhaps, a weapon to call her own for close quarters?
He moved, kneeling beside the gasping man.
"Hello Deimos."
"Y-your—"
He hacked more blood, staring at the copious amount. His form was paling, yet he was still tethered to his form. His eyes widened, staring at Hephaestus.
"A peculiar tool," he admitted, "it has the power to tether a spirit to their body, making sure they feel every bit of pain as their body slowly dies. Eventually there will be no stimuli left for your body to thether you."
He grasped the man by his hair.
"I'll be done long before then. You didn't run away; you were let go."
He made to argue, but Hephaestus pulled his head back, exposing his neck as he glared down at him. He grasped the necklace he stole, ripping it from Deimos' possession.
"Do not lie to me," he growled.
The sheer…perversion was disgusting. The man before him had fallen for Agnes in the basest of senses. A narcissistic sociopath that wooed the wealthiest family in the village. The way he ogled Agnes, stared at Calliope, and worse yet lapped at the sight of Yena.
He remembered her, Adamantious' wife. Bountiful in both body and spirit. She was a quiet woman, pious of her husband and her child. The necklace she wore was of Adamantious' design. Crude perhaps yet was a brilliant and beautiful depiction of his commitment to her.
He saw it all. The love and happiness they shared. The moments he should not have been privy to…and the moments of this man's behavior. The way he slid up to her, constantly involving himself in her presence. What she witnessed as the man was just that tad too close for comfort for Calliope or herself. He was a witty man, clever with his words. Never too overbearing, never too blatant. Just enough to be suspicious of every now and again. But it was more than that.
This man…he knew magic.
This man, knew of the chimeras.
This man…had taken the necklace off the corpse of Yena after he…after he!
Hephaestus couldn't contain it anymore. His hand ignited, bursting Deimos hair into open flame that peeled at his skin. The man groaned in pain, his weeping cries echoing across his home.
"Tell me who let you go," he whispered.
The same enchantments that bound the cyclops were wrapped around his tongue. The human's throat even expanded a bit to cut off any air. Hephaestus' calm expression began to wither into a disgusted wrath, his eyes peering straight into the man himself. How could he have overlooked this!? It didn't make any sense. He shook him harshly as even more of his history flittered into his mind.
"You disgusting piece of filth! You didn't deserve them!"
His hand clasped the side of the man's face, gold lines splintering across the man's burning skull.
"I know you cannot utter a word."
The divinity slowly crept from his body, entering the convulsing human beneath his hand.
"The God who bound you did so thoroughly. I doubt any item I see will bear any hint of who they were."
The lines spread across the man's head, overlapping his eyes as it spasms in pain.
"…I hate this," whispered Hephaestus, "no one should suffer this."
His fingers dug into the skull of the man, his structural analysis ravaging every cell he could get his hands on.
"But for you? You, I'll let suffer. Remember this, when you finally get down in Hades' realm."
The history of the man's body flowed into his mind. The arrow did its work, keeping the spirit bound to the torturous flesh. His eyes glowed as more and more images flowed through his mind. The sick urges, the disgusting acts, the graves plundered. The magic learned. The veil that had covered the man until now.
Nuggets of truth hidden in decades of memories, all mostly useless. Until finally, a face.
A NAME.
Deimos screeched as his voice pitched into an unholy terror…before his head promptly burst with a wet squelch. Hephaestus' was bloodied, the splotches bubbling as the blood on his form boiled away at his heat. The grass around him gasped into a cinder, the trees beginning to smoke. A breath to reel it in,. Nature didn't have to suffer just because he was angry.
With that said, Hephaestus burned the body to ash as he stood. The swell of Artemis divinity dispersed, the countless birds converging into Artemis once more. She looked down at the splotches of blood and the bits of ash fluttering in the wind.
"Did you get what you need?"
"…Yes," he muttered.
"You said there were powers that you didn't want involved. I take it this is about that human woman? Callope?"
"Calliope," he whispered, "her family was eaten by chimeras."
"…The large beasts?"
"Not the naturally occurring kind."
What nonsense that was to say.
"I…see? So it's true, there was a God involved?"
He hated the implication that this entire tragedy was just another drama for them, but truth be told he did little to hide it.
"Yes. A god was involved."
His fist clenched at the very thought of their name.
Artemis grinned, her own eyes taking on a wolfish tint.
"Your hunt isn't over."
"No."
He turned to her, his golden eyes narrowed like a bird of prey.
"Tell me everything you know of Nemesis."