Chapter 211 - 27.2

She huddled into her blanket. Her plan, once foolproof, now unraveling rapidly in her mind. Save her father, earn his affection. Simple.

Yet, was he ever a father? Was this a father she wanted to save? He sold her off for money, using her ill-gotten blessing to scam her would-be buyers.

The sea god took her chastity from her, like an uncaring beast, and her father didn't care. The first time her father sold her, so desperate was his hunger for food, she cried for help. Her voice charred and broken by the time she had gotten to the ocean.

Her heart shattered when it wasn't her father that freed her…but him. 

The blessing he gave her allowed her to return home…all so that her father would use it again and again.

"Would it change?" she thought, hugging the blanket tighter, "...would it matter."

Watching Eri and Hephaestus only made that envy grow ever more, and now he was here, acting like a fatherly figure. It was too much.

Hephaestus sighed as he noted the way she fought to stay awake, before finally succumbing. He didn't blame her. He waited near the carriage for a moment, before nodding, certain of their safety. After all–

"CAW!"

The best guardian they could ask for was here.

"They took a while did they?" smiled Hephaestus, as Ifrit landed on his shoulder. Their sight was shared for a moment as experiences sifted between them. Ifrit didn't bother making herself invisible, there was no point. She was the deterrent for wild animals and bandits after all.

What she hadn't considered was the idea that the humans would go ballistic seeing her in the sky. It took them hours before they even reached home, racing through the woods in odd directions like she was hunting them.

She had even landed on a rock near one nad gave them the driest look she could muster. Did nothing.

"They were scared," laughed Hephaestus, "you're quite scary ifrit."

"CAW!"

"You're on fire. What else are they supposed to think? Perhaps next time be a bit more inconspicuous?"

"CAW!"

PECK.

He sighed, feeling her vanity flow through. He understood where her desire to be appreciated came from, after all a bird that burned with azure flames was unheard of. To other phoenixes she would be something to be admired, not feared.

He felt it was a bit foolish, admittedly.

PECK.

"Just because I heal doesn't mean it doesn't hurt," groaned Hephaestus.

She ruffled her feathers, flapping her wings to quickly flutter to the carriage where Eri and Mestra slept. It didn't take long for a log to be conjured and a small flame to be lit. He rubbed his hands, more out of habit than anything, and closed his eyes.

His body cracked as his divinity flowed freely. Unlike other gods, Hephaestus didn't have to worry about his daughter's health in his proximity. The constant flow that the gods could not was nary an issue. What little of his power she would interact with, would be safely disposed of by the morning.

His body ignited, the cracks flowing across his body as they always did. Rare was the chance for him to practice during their little adventure, so he would take the chance when it presented itself.

It was the first technique he had developed of his own violation, a skill not born from EMIYA's abilities but rather his own. Taking advantage of his unique biology, he could shape the cracks of his body into runes.

But, much like anything in life, it wasn't entirely seamless. The runes should have acted as intended. However, divinity, biology, or just fate's middle finger proved beyond his theories.

The rune for strength cracked onto his right shoulder. He could feel his skin tightened, his muscles becoming heavier. It was the first rune that he had managed to direct with some consistency.

He knocked on his skin, a dull thud echoing quietly around him. An increase in durability, rather than strength.

Runes, by their very nature, were representations. They were not fixed concepts and that showed, quickly.

The initial effects were always off in some fashion. Once upon a time he used the rune of fire, wondering what ways it could augment is already divine connection to fire.

He promptly exploded.

Hephaestus took a breath, crossing his legs and placing his hands on his knees. The divinity quietly swirled beneath his skin. His solution was obvious, lines of runic structure rather than single rune use. However, it was much guess work as it was practical theory. Even Hecate, who was a master of all things mystical, struggled with wondering what about Hephaestus made his runes so odd.

"Your fractured nature plays a part here, or it could be that your own understanding of the runes are lacking."

She never knew that his understanding was, quite literally, alien to this world. EMIYA's knowledge had forever tainted what Hephaestus knew. His assumptions played a greate role in his physiology than he admitted.

His chest ignited as a swirl of runes danced. On the pectoral, across the arms, and even some on his back. Gibberish, unfortunately, lacking proper coherence to bring greater effects. But it flowed quickly, and he could feel it getting faster the more he trained on it.

It was slow at first, dangerously so, but that had more to do with his perspective than he at first thought.

Mana.

Divinity.

Two opposing forces.

At least, that was what he had thought. Instead, he held neither. Both were aspects of the mystical energies that Hephaestus produced. It was not two, but one.

It was a realization he had months into his training, accelerating his once slow development to extraordinary speeds by EMIYA's standards. In other words, normalcy.

He looked to the trees, quieting his mind. Slowly, the first runic structure he had fully developed came to mind.

Gods self-actualized to an immense degree. Their very perspective shaped their abilities to an extent. It stood to reason that his understanding of his power brought about the schism. Now, he was contending with a flow of power that was utterly unique to him, with its own properties and rules that he had to learn.

It was difficult.

It was hard.

It was worth it.

He smirked as a runic sequence flowed across his body, before settling between his shoulders. It spoke of harmony and balance. His energy flowed into the centre of his stomach, across the reaches of his arms, and even to the depths of his spine.

With this runic structure, manipulation of his own power was a matter of will.

"A shame it lacks greater application," muttered Hephaestus. It was best when he wasn't moving as heavily. The rigors of combat contradicting the conceptual power of the runes.

But that was fine. Hephaestus smirked as the rune

He closed his fist, the rune for lightning fizzling at the back of his hand and wrist. Electricity arced between the cracks of his body. It shot out, the power quickly destabilizing with its initial burst.

The air popped as the rune of force seared across his shoulder, erupting from his hands in a weak show. The runes, in conjunction with the flow of his power, could change drastically in potency.

It was easier with the runic structure for harmony across his shoulders to wield his magic, but it was a stop gap at best. A way to practice and accumulate experience for actual combat.

As he tended to the fires, the runic symbol for Fagrahvel shimmered between his shoulders, before dispersing for the night.

-The Next Day-

The morning proved a more enjoyable experience for all involved. With a decent sleep Mestra was more alert and, unexpectedly, apologetic. As the trio rode in the carriage, Mestra simply kept apologizing.

"I'm terribly sorry," apologized Mestra, the dark circles beneath her eyes having receded.

"My dad says it's all good," smiled Eri from her position in the driver seat beside her father, "so it's all ok."

She grimaced. As angry as she was at her father…at Poseidon…she shouldn't have lashed out. Mestra kept reminding herself how dumb it was to agitate a God in the first place.

"So, what happened?" asked Eri.

"Demeter," muttered Mestra.

"...well…yea. But, what actually happened?"

"She cursed him," stressed Mestra, "over a tree. A TREE."

To her, the idea that a tree was worth more than a human life was preposterous. Yet, the way Eri grimaced was irritating. Surely they weren't the same?

Eri blinked, choosing her words carefully. She eyed her father, his gaze almost inviting her to try. Experience was a far better teacher than words.

"So…he cut down a random tree and Demeter cursed him?"

It was here that Mestra's anger faltered slightly.

"No," she admitted, "my father cut down a sacred tree and was cursed with unending hunger."

A curse made through witch-craft was bad enough, but a divine curse? Even if the two resulted in the same thing, the potency was a different matter entirely.

"Oooh," groaned Eri, "well, he's dead."

"Eri," groaned Hephaestus.

"What? He is!"

Mestra's face faltered as she looked away.

"I'm sorry but if you destroyed something a god genuinely likes, that's a sure way to die," drawled the child. "You said he was warned right?"

"It's just a tree," muttered Mestra, "was it worth driving my father mad over a tree?"

"Just a tree," muttered Hephaestus. "I wonder about that."

"What?"

He didn't elaborate, rather he changed the topic entirely.

"Mestra."

"Yes?"

"Before we proceed any further, there's a stop we have to make."

"A stop?" asked Mestra.

"I'll explain when we come near it."

He clicked his tongue, the horses beginning to speed up.

"Dad?"

"Eri, Mestra, hold onto something, We'll be speeding up a bit more!"

Mestra jumped as strange blue lines branched across the carriage. She could feel the wood beneath her hands grow smoother, stronger. Mestra stiffened as Eri plomped right into her lap, strange incantations under her breath. Soft green threads spread around them, sticking to the carriage like webs.

The girl beamed as she looked up at Mestra.

"No need to worry! I-I am here!"

Mestra actually smiled; the girl's energy was infectious. She hesitated, but she put her arms around the girl. She didn't trust the spell, but at least she kept a solid grip so the poor girl wouldn't tumble out of her lap.

"Father! Let's go!"

The man heeded the call.

"YA!"

The reins snapped, and the horses ran at full speed. A wooden carriage should have splintered apart, unable to handle the rough terrain. Yet, it held strong, the horses running at their best. She had never seen such a thing as strong as this. Carriages were rather rare for the most part. Most were barrels attached to a horse and broke apart almost instantly.

The ride was also impossibly smooth, though that was more Eri than anything. The speed however was something else entirely. It was as if the carriage was stronger and lighter than it could ever be, riding across the wind.

"HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!"

The girl was having the time of her life, laughing away, Mestra smiling as well. The feeling of the wind in her hair was infectious. Even when she flew as a bird, the rare few times that she had, never quite felt like this.

The wind was liberating and the horses ran hard, embolden by the seeming lack of burden. She wasn't an expert, but after some time, Hephaestus slowed the horses, which made little sense. These were work horses, easily able to run for long periods of time. They seemed fine, their breathing normal. Yet…he stopped.

Mestra felt uneasy as Hephaestus hopped off the carriage. He came around to the end, his eyes serious as he looked between Mestra and Eri.

"I need you to heed my every word," said Hephaestus.

"Dad?"

Mestra remained silent, concern growing.

"We are crossing into Demeter's territory," said Hephaestus, "it would be rude not to announce ourselves. Knowing her, she'll likely greet us in person. So I need you to stay quiet."

This man was insane. Summoning a god!? Mestra wanted to run, but she knew it was too late. The whispers of Demeter's presence was felt, her skin bubbling at the presence Mestra would never forget.

"They're insane," thought Mestra.

To summon a god was usually a death sentence, aside from the general impossibility of it. Yet, Eri seemed excited. Hephaestus did nothing but close his eyes. His body cracked open, his divinity erupting for only a moment.

She frowned, feeling the woods around them rattle in the presence of Demeter. When she had last seen the goddess, Demeter had appeared as a wrathful bunch of thorns, twirling around like nature's war beast.

Yet, light coalesced not into the shape of nature's nightmare, but instead a beautiful woman with hair like golden wheat. The goddesses eyes were warm, filled with a kindness she thought was absent from the gods entirely. Demeter's body was wide, a motherly shape to her that would have brought her father to his knees. Though she was shorter than Hephaestus, Demeter never felt small compared to him.

"Hephaestus," smiled Demeter, "welcome."

He noted that Demeter's smile was strained, something was bothering her.

Eri bumbled out of Mestra's lap. Mestra struggled to actually contain the girl, but Eri was many times stronger than she was. It was a bit embarrassing for the older woman for a child to just move her arms effortlessly.

Fear gnawed on her embarrassment, the woman climbing after Eri, intent on stopping the foolish girl from being eradicated by a Goddess for her disrespect.

"Oooh! Who's this?"

"...huh?" thought Mestra.

Her arms hung loosely by her sides as she watched Eri beam. Seemingly catching herself, the young girl bowed, the hard lesson learned as she kept her eyes down as she came to a bumbling stop in front of Demeter.

"I am Eri, m'lady."

The goddess of harvests smiled, grasping at Eri's bowed face with her finger tips.

"Let me see your face, child."

Eri looked up, smiling as Demeter smooshed her face.

"Oh you've grown wonderfully. I remember you as just a small babe. I trust you're listening to your father…especially now?"

Eri blushed a bit and nodded.

"Good. Now, what brings you so close to me, nephew? You know you didn't need to stop by just because of Olympus."

Eri blinked. She had rarely seen Demeter, not because of aversion, but rather due to being busy. Her father made concentrated efforts to visit his aunt, but when the opportunity came to bring her along, Eri was always busy with a ritual of some sort with her mother.

Honestly, if she didn't know any better, she assumed Hecate was keeping her home on purpose. She didn't know why though. Demeter was warm and motherly. The goddess even winked at her as Eri continued to stare. Her warmth tickled the same spot Hecate always did.

They were different, but she preferred her mother over this enveloping warmth, nice as it was.

"I didn't have to," admitted Hephaestus, "but I want to."

The goddess beamed, BEAMED, at the god before her. Mestra's brain was still trying to work its way back on. These were gods? But they seemed like…people? Demeter came across like a joyful mother, granted far happier and beautiful than any mother Mestra had in memory, but it was still jarring.

This woman cursed her father? Really?

Demeter placed a motherly hand on Hephaestus' cheek, rubbing her thumb across his face. Demeter laughed at the way he grew uncomfortable, appreciating that he allowed her touch, even if he lightly backed away from it after a moment.

"Such a sweet boy. How that shrew made you I'll never know," she muttered.

The sky darkened, and with a snap from Demeter, it dispersed.

"You have to stop that," muttered Hephaestus, "it's not worth the headache for you."

"Worried about me, nephew? Don't be. Me and my sisters spat about everything. Even Hestia has had some choice words with her. I don't even know why Hera is so stubborn about it all."

"Does it matter?" asked Hephaestus.

"...of course it does Nephew. It always does. Now…knowing you, there's another reason you're here as well."

Demeter's eyes locked onto hers and for a moment. Demeter's eyes widened in recognition. But rather than settle into something like indignation, she seemed perplexed.

"His daughter?" she muttered. The goddess turned to her nephew. "Is there a reason you have that human's child with you?"

Demeter's smile took on a cruel tinge, her eyes alight with the knowledge of what she had cursed her father with.

"Did he finally expire?"

Mestra's fists clenched, but she stayed her tongue.

"No," said Hephaestus, "I collected her from slavers. Her father sold her to them to feed his hunger."

"What."

The dead tone did little to dull the anger Mestra felt from her words. She didn't know? Bullshit.

"I see. You didn't know," muttered Hephaestus.

"Of course I didn't?" stressed Demeter, "I've been too busy trying to save Ceres!"

Demeter's eyes shone on her, her blonde hair turning white.

"That child's father cut her tree down, even after I warned him! A simple death was too good for that disgusting filth…and now he's selling his own child!? Humans, bah!"

Demeter eyed her deeper, her frown growing.

"Poseidon's filthy touch as well…I take it you wish for me to remove her father's curse?"

Her reluctance was plain. Mestra's hope shriveled as Hephaestus spoke.

"No. The man deserves his fate."

"What!?"

Eri was with her at least…but even she wilted at Hephaestus' stoic look. Mestra's desperation didn't move Hephaestus an inch.

"The man was warned. As much as I believe the curse is too much…the fact remains that he invited it onto himself."

Hephaestus was also unwilling to alienate Demeter over this matter. If it was a simple tree, of course he would. It was vain and stupid. But if it was Ceres, Demeter's trusted attendant and friend?

That was attempted murder, not arrogant stupidity. Saving absolutely everyone came at a cost…one that Hephaestus was not going to pay.

"My main concern is not the man, but his people. Demeter, tell me, has this not extended beyond what you intended?"

She remained silent and Mestra's anger grew as the goddess spoke.

"He was a punishment for the rest of them."

"What did we ever do!"

Mestra covered her mouth immediately. She was going to die. Demeter's finger pointed at her, but Hephaestus was already between them. Mestra could feel the confluence of divinity that echoed between the two gods. Her skin shivered from the feeling of fire warming across her body, and a few pricks of thorns scraping against her face.

"...her disrespect must be answered for Hephaestus, stand aside."

"Her father's actions are punishment enough I'd wager…and she has a point. You warned her father…but you punish his people?"

The oppressive feeling disappeared off Mestra's face, but Hephaestus' divinity still enshrouded her.

"They did nothing to stop their king," scoffed Demeter. "His so-called people didn't just cut down Ceres' tree, but demolished the forest that surrounded her, all because of his spite! I have nymphs dying, Hephaestus, dying!"

Demeter scowled, reigning herself in.

"I hold my anger for you nephew, but I will not be lifting any curses nor my punishment. They stood by and did nothing! They allowed my Ceres to die with their inaction…so yes…their punishment is deserved. After all, you've made a similar argument have you not, Nephew?"

Hephaestus got her perspective. After living with Gods for a few decades, he had come to understand that Gods viewed humanity's free will with an envy so potent it was nigh reverence. The ability to choose and act in anyway you choose? It would be a gift beyond any other for the gods.

To them, humans squandered it.

Yet, to humans, there were factors. Actions that if taken would have repercussions they didn't want to endure. They were not ageless and powerful like the gods. No convenient system like divine rules to shorten their actions.

They merely were trying their best. In some respects, he agreed with Demeter. A direct warning from a God and you did nothing to stop the idiot from cutting down a tree?

Something had to be done…but this?

"So…slavery."

Demeter looked away.

"That was not my intent," she muttered.

"Intent matters little with the consequences…that's what you told me."

She scowled, but sighed.

"What is your proposal then? Because I will not be lifting my curse, nor Dionysus'."

"Dionysus is involved?" muttered Hephaestus.

The god of madness and wine rarely got involved in human affairs, preferring to party and relax the night away. Unless it affected him directly than…he…oh. Hephaestus' face shriveled up a bit.

"Him and Ceres?"

Demeter nodded, her own displeasure visible.

"...seriously?"

"I am as confused as you," she drawled. "...you have a proposal."

It wasn't a question. She could see the way Hephaestus was already brewing something.

"You said it yourself, that he is a punishment for their inaction," muttered Hephaestus, "has Ceres passed yet?"

"She will be. I've…tried to ease their suffering as best I can, but the damage is done."

Ceres and the other nymphs had served her faithfully for centuries. They deserved every effort she could expand to lengthen their lives, even if only for a few moments.

"Can you regrow the trees?"

"Regrowing that forest matters little, Nephew," she whispered, "once their tree is severed…their fate is sealed."

"If the damage can be repaired can you regrow the forests?"

"Hephaestus, you're not listening–"

She stalled as she eyed him, the confidence of his gaze. She had heard rumors that Hephaestus could give his divinity freely and accept divinity in return. She had thought it the mad ravings of Zeus and the others.

"..."

"I can help them," said Hephaestus, his hand on her shoulder, "I promise you."

Apollo declared that the sun was filled with the hopes of man, Dionysus proclaimed that he alone was the "enlightened one" whenever he became drunk, and even Athena proclaimed that no other god could match her in warfare.

The gods were always full of hot air, so she had assumed this rumour was another round of boasting from another god. Admittedly, she had given it some thought when Ceres mentioned the rapid recovery of his home and the nymphs that remained there, but they had both dismissed it.

Impossible was impossible….until someone made it possible. It would explain why the nymphs were so tight lipped with Ceres.

"The rumors are true?" she whispered.

"If they are alive, I can help."

The human power of free will allowed them the power to choose. But, the freedom to choose was not the absence of consequences. Mestra's father had to suffer for the choices that he made.

"After they are saved, I humbly request that her people no longer suffer under his rule."

Demeter looked more peeved than ever, but she sighed, nodding to his request.

"Very well."

She eyed the horse carriage.

"...it will take you two days to get to Ceres' tree with that carriage. Come with me."

Demeter eyed Mestra. With the hope that her friend could be healed, she eyed the girl with a more pitying gaze.

"Come child, I won't leave you to fend for yourself."

Mestra was hesitant, but she followed Eri and the others as they huddled around Demeter. The goddess waved her arms and the world shifted entirely. Hephaestus had been here before, in Demeter's personal realm. Here, the sun was always shining, the flowers in full bloom, and the nymphs and spirits frolicked without care. Mestra cringed at the sheer color but her eyes widened in wonder as she saw the realm of Demeter with her own eyes.

It was a beautiful sight, nature at its finest with flowers and plants that Mestra didn't even know could exist. It made the next sight so jarring. Amidst a sea of color and life, there was a patch of plant life that was withered, drained of essence.

Within it, were husks of women. Mestra almost gagged, seeing their cracked pappery skin. Their lips were chapped, their slight shivering breaking their skin little by little. Wisps of energy was wafting into them, but it did nothing to cease their symptoms, only their pain.

"I've kept them comfortable," admitted Demeter, "but without their trees, they cannot truly recover."

"I take it that simply regrowing the tree does nothing?" questioned Hephaestus.

"No," muttered Demeter aggressively, "they are connected to their tree for good or ill."

If the tree dies, so does the nymph. The necrotic energy, once infested, could not be removed with something as simple as rejuvenating the tree. The necrotic energy would strengthen the tether between the spirit and their tree.

To the gods, divinity was everything, and looking for a solution for who they considered lessers, was not high on their priorities, with Demeter being one of the few exceptions.

Her research had allowed her to extend the lives of nymphs who had been infected, and ease their pain. Far from her goal, but progress. Though it did little to assuage her anger or her despair.

Hephaestus smiled as Eri came forward, her arms outstretched, effort clear across her face. She muttered under her breath, words of power, of solace, and of peace. A pinkish hue was weaved from her hands, draping across the women in agony. The sigh of relief that escaped them sounded like twigs breaking in her ears.

"These are spirits?" muttered Mestra.

"Thank you little one," smiled Demeter, ignoring the human woman.

Eri pouted, but kept her focus.

"Is this all of them?" asked Hephaestus.

"No. Only the ones that I could safely bring here. The others, and Ceres, remain with their broken homes."

Mestra recalled what her father had done. After cutting the tree and taking the wood, he took an axe to the stump and simply hammered on it. His petty greed clouding his better judgement. Hephaestus knelt to the first nymph.

She moaned in pain as his hand touched her skin, but before their very eyes torrents of fire eased from his arm, the cracks that glowed seeping a flame that didn't burn. Rather, it was funneled into the weeping crinkled skin of the nymph. Her features eased, her dull grey hair returning to a vibrant shade of yellow. The once sickly nymph reverted to a youthful lady. She stood up abruptly, looking at her arms. Her voice echoed no words, just the swaying of branches.

The connection to her tree was burned away. His divinity a searing, almost purifying, force. Demeter's eyes were wide, her heart swelling with hope as the nymph eyed their own body.

Seeing a nymph directly made Mestra twinge a bit. Having seen a wreck of a person rejuvenated was a good thing…but the idea of it brought a new devastation to what her father had wrought. They weren't simply trees that they had almost killed. Not anymore.

The nymph's hair was already starting to wilt a bit.

"Go on," urged Demeter, "my realm is open to you until you find a new home."

The nymph smiled, dispersing into a tree not far from them. The once emerald leaves turned a yellowish hue.

"What a relief," muttered Demeter, "so it can be done."

Hephaestus placed his hand on the ground, closing his eyes.

"Aunt Demeter…can you please keep Eri back?"

"Dad?"

"Of course, dear."

Eri went to speak, only to murmur as fire surrounded her father. This was not the spurts of fire he would summon, nor the flames he'd breathed when he needed the extra heat at his forge. For a brief moment, the restraint was lifted, and the flames roared.

It was a vicious thing, seeping from the cracks of Hephaestus' body, screaming as if to burn the world. Mestra felt the heat even from here, her lips cracking from the dry heat. It funneled around him, the fire cracking like thunder. Ash blossomed, the nymphs logically having perished. Yet, from the ashes they rose, laughter and cheer amongst the hellish flames.

To her, it was pure madness, the nymphs alive and well, dancing amongst the fire. It should have devoured them, a voracious appetite to burn and yet it wasn't. An affront to nature itself, and they revelled in it. Their laughter faded as Demeter assigned each a new home, until the last one bowed to Hephaestus, but this time in human words.

"Thank you, Guardian." 

Demeter stiffened at the word, the meaning of something to her. Mestra struggled to try and understand what it meant. There was a weight to it, something beyond just the standard meaning. It eluded her and she let it rest. She was sure that thinking further on it would be what teetered what was left of her sanity after such a sight. The cracks on the god's skin closed, leaving unmarred flesh. The flames sputtered

"It is done," muttered Hephaestus.

The flames sputtered out, leaving a perfect circle of blackened earth. The ground shuddered as new life flowed, replacing the scorched earth.

"Thank you, nephew," whispered Demeter.

He may have been standing strong, but Demeter could feel the sheer effort it took to rejuvenate them.

"Nephew," she muttered coming near him, "are you sure–"

A smile silenced her concerns. Demeter couldn't help but laugh as Eri came running up, almost jumping around them.

"That was so cool! W-w-what was that!"

"Adorable," thought Demeter at Eri's stutter.

"I simply gave them a boost," explained Hephaestus, smiling at his daughter's exuberance, "and burned the connection from their tree."

His lessons with Hecate had given Hephaestus a greater perspective on his rather erratic divinity. He had once thought his mana and divinity were separate, yet entangled. That was his own interpretation at play. As gods self actualized, so did their power to a degree. As he embraced his unique nature, his talents grew. He could actively direct and intervene with other divine energies.

Blessings remained, um, explosive unfortunately.

"That poor bird," thought Hephaestus.

Still, those failures allowed him the skill needed to weave his energy freely in the way that he desired. It was a feat that Demeter was jealous of, to a degree. But her petty nature had no place here, as she urged Hephaestus forward.

"I'll bring you as close as I can. Ceres was one of the few that I trusted as an anchor for my realms."

There was a silence as Demeter struggled to weave a portal from her realm. With Ceres's life waning, Demeter's hold was slipping as well. At Hephaestus' patient expression she couldn't help but look away a bit.

"I lack Hera's skill to weave without assistance."

He nodded. There was no anger, no disrespect. It was a bit of a sore topic for her admittedly. Both Hestia and Hera had greater skill in weaving than she did. Whenever her lack of skill would become apparent, no god ever remained silent at her deficiencies. Even Hephaestus, from what she saw, eclipsed her entirely.

Yet, his gaze remained consistent. The only thing on his mind was the task at hand. She waved her hand. Even now her lack of skill showed itself, the gate taking a moment to form. Her vulnerability laid bare and yet he did nothing.

"..."

It struck her then. No one had ever been good enough for Perspehone. They were all the same. Brutish, forceful, disrespectful, the list went on. Was it so jarring to ask for a bit of respect? To ask someone to respect her boundaries and desires? Here was a God that she would have been proud to call a son. His core may have been a cracked, rather ugly, thing but the content of his character were unmatched.

The realization dawned on her. Her pride for being his aunt that actually loved him withering in the knowledge that…in someways she was just as bad as her sister. A single name echoed in her head.

Zeus.

So desperate for affection and love, so needy. He was annoying. He didn't suffer as she and the others did, yet he claimed blood ties to them. As if family was something made, rather than built. Honestly, she spent a night with him simply to quell his foolish desires for a family.

"Demeter?"

Did she not do the very same thing to Zeus that Hera did to Hephaestus? He was her brother, her genuine family, but she rejected him…because they were different.

"Lady Demeter?"

…She had made amends with Persephone…it was still rocky, but her daughter always remained in contact with her. Demeter looked to the sky, her eyes feeling clear for the first time.

"Aunt Demeter?"

The voice shook her from her thoughts, the steady hand on her shoulder warm with concern.

"Are you alright?"

"I am fine, Nephew," smiled Demeter, "just lost in thought. The gate will open soon."

Her heart swelled a bit at the way he looked her over. When he was satisfied, he merely nodded.

"Eri, come."

The girl scrambled from Demeter's side, running up her father to land on his shoulder with a graceful plop. She smiled as she turned to Demeter.

"Bye Lady Demeter! You're a lot nicer than–EEP!"

Hephaestus' finger lightly tapped Eri's sensitive sides, making the girl screech as she held them.

"What did I tell you about being careful with your words?"

"Sorry!" she muttered.

The gate opened, a swirl of energy. Demeter turned to Mestra.

"I don't believe I've extended an invitation to you?"

The human girl moved quickly to match Hephaestus's stride. As the gate swirled closed, she couldn't help but wonder what it was that made Hephaestus this way. The abandonment only explained so much. What made a god not even close to his first century so steady and focused?

She sighed.

"Zeus…."

Once upon a time, even muttering her brother's name would invoke a reaction. The serene sky was her only response.

-Hephaestus, Eri, and Mestra-

As they exited the gate, Hephaestus was brought face first to the realms that Mestra called home. It wasn't a large domain. Merely the home of a noble and the village that surrounded him. The homes of soldiers and farmers alike littered the vast domain he saw, with a large villa of sorts acting as the head. It was obviously the home of the nobleman himself.

They were just outside the village itself, a pair of soldiers patrolling around.

"Give me a moment," cautioned Mestra, "I'll make sure they let us pass."

She moved quickly, Mestra's thoughts cnetred less on getting back home and more so with making sure the soldiers didn't get themselves killed facing a god. Hephaestus knelt beside Eri, noting the way she was looking around.

"What do you see?" he asked.

While Hecate taught her magic, her father taught her other skills. Reading the stars, following the position of the sun, navigation, fishing, hunting, the list went on. The only direct thing her father had yet to teach her was outright combat, but that would come with time.

Lately, he had been asking her to analyze their surroundings, taking note of what she saw and how she interpreted what she saw. Eri's eyes shone a bit as she droned on.

"The people are scared."

He nodded, agreeing with her. The people that worked through-out the village were on a razor's edge.

"They're filling carts with food?" she muttered, "that's weird."

She pursed her lips.

"...if he's really eating that much, the curse must make it where he doesn't just feel full, he's not full."

She grimaced.

"Brutal. The soldiers are well equipped, at least more than back home."

Lemnos, for all that a sense of community had been developed, was far from a paradise of any sort. While the villagers were happy, the work days were long and hot. The number of people didn't grow with the economy, resulting in most being farmers. Trade was stifled, for now, as they were still recovering.

This village was more developed, with numerous workers of all sorts.

"Their homes suck," drawled Eri.

"Be more specific," urged Hephaestus.

"They're breaking apart, mostly made of thatch. Most of their resources go to the…um…that's a bit large to be a house right?"

"That's correct. The typical term for it is a villa."

"...hmm…yours is better," she scoffed.

"Focus."

"...they don't have magic, their defenses are negligible, and they don't have easy access to the ocean. They're trapped, kind of."

She looked at her father, Mestra slowly making her way back to them.

"Why don't the soldiers overthrow Erysichthon?"

"That I can't tell you," sighed Hephaestus, "perhaps he was a decent lord before all this. Loyalty, fear, ambition. The reasons are plenty."

Eri stood beside her father as he rose, Mestra coming to them near tears.

"...it's gotten worse," muttered Mestra, her words watery and weak, "how could it have gotten worse? I was only gone for a few days!"

Eri pointed at the other side of the village, where a beaten path led to the centre, along the road were numerous carts of food and other goods, all steadily making their way to the villa.

"The curse must affect his stomach," muttered Hephaestus.

"Probably destroys whatever food he eats, papa. At least, that's how I'd do it."

He gave a dry look to Eri. It was easy to forget sometimes that she was taught by a witch.

"He's already spent everything and more…he's starting to ransack some of the villagers. This needs to stop."

"It will," promised Hephaestus, "but first, we have to address the matter at hand."

"Ceres," muttered Eri seriously.

Mestra's watery tears flowed freely, even the sight of the girl trying to emulate her father did nothing to ease its fall. Mestra had allowed herself to be sold over and over again precisely to avoid all of this. To see that her efforts to protect the people were in vain, it was almost too much.

Still, she was a survivor. She swallowed her tears, holding back the sobs as she focused. She turned to the God and pointed westward.

"I know where the tree is," said Mestra, pointing at the hill over yonder. It had been stripped bare of any trees, nothing but stumps in its wake. Several radiated necrotic energy was so intense, it had leaked to become miasma in the air.

To the humans, it looked haunting, like a light mist had shrouded the once lively woods.

Amongst the collection of stumps, was one that was larger than the others, a tree whose bark was almost stark white. Even with the naked eye, the black decay was visible. Hephaestus' eyes glowed, divinity allowing him to see the realm between, to a realm only gods and spirits could dwell within.

A swirl of necrotic and earthen energy was placed above the tree stump. Too weak to take proper form. He needed to hurry. Hephaestus was about to move, when he felt something. It was quick, barely a blip, but he felt it.

He looked around, ignoring Mestra and Eri.

"Papa?"

He looked to the left, locking eyes with a woman sitting on a bench. She was beautiful, her eyes shining with the colors of a rainbow. She blinked, smiling mischievously with a little wave.

"Ap–"

"WHO GOES THERE!"

He stiffened, turning around.

"Eri."

She went around, hiding behind him, hood up.

It was a collection of guards, all surrounding a shriveled husk of a man. His eyes were sunken into their sockets, the man chewing on his thumb, a bit of blood from the ceaseless gnawing. Mestra swallowed, as the man locked eyes with her. Bits of food hung from his jaw as he spoke.

"Daughter," he rasped, a jovial light amidst his madness.

"I've….returned father."

Hephaestus ignored the knowing gaze of the woman seated away from them, and turned to the man cursed by Demeter. He was hollowed out, just skin and bones. His stringy hair fell in front of his face, the flickering flames dancing shadows over his maddened eyes. He was jittery and frail.

From the wound on his thumb was a small wisp of miasma. It was the first time that Hephaestus had seen it, though Hecate had regaled both Eri and himself with substance.

He had heard that it was a substance created from the byproduct of sentient will. Human will was a tangible force, to some extent. Even EMIYA's memories showed a great deal of human mysticism relying on positive and negative energies permeated by humans.

Natural curses, entities born from certain actions, the list went on. However, he didn't actually expect to see miasma radiating from a person.

It flickered around the man, like a smoke trail. He noted how the soldiers just stood around the man, as if they couldn't see the dark smoke. He looked to Mestra. He was curious if she could see it.

Riiing

He stiffened at the sound, his eyes darting around.

"Miasma," muttered Eri, "that's not good papa."

"Did she not hear it?" thought Hephaestus, "no, focus on the matter."

"Anything we should be concerned about," he whispered to his little witch.

"It's not overflowing, but if we can see it, then it's just going to get worse."

He nodded, positioning himself a little closer to Mestra. She shivered a bit, but stood strong, even with her father's wide, sunken look.

Erysichthon's crooked smile cracked against his dry skin, his chapped lips bleeding as he urged a shaking hand upward. He didn't even register Hephaestus' frame behind his daughter.

"Come Mestra."

The girl remained rooted to the spot, eyeing her father. She looked to Hephaestus for something, anything. At his calm expression, she seemed to relax, a decision made.

"No," she whispered, shivering at the word.

It was quiet, the word not carrying across the distance.

"MESTRA!"

For all that Erysichthon was a bag of bones, his voice carried strength.

"I AM HUNGRY!" moaned the man, "AND YOU WILL OBEY! NOW COME!"

She made to move, but a small hand held onto her leg.

"MESTRA!"

She looked down, locking eyes with Eri. The scowl was a reprimand, a reminder. It echoed within her chest, her resolve growing. .

"No."

Hephaestus smiled, but kept his gaze on Erysichthon. The broken man began gnawing even more on his thumb.

"YOU WILL…"

His desperate eyes found Eri. Even with the hood her unusual hair still spilled through. A unique find. But it was her eyes. The golden sheen was entirely unique, shimmering even beneath her hood.

"Guards…arrest them!"

He said it with such dead calm, used to his orders being followed. Yet, it was also the confidence born from authority that always remained unchallenged. Until today.

"Is this what you want?" asked Hephaestus.

His voice was a blade to the maelstrom that was their master. Erysichthon gnawed even harder on his bloody thumb, the taste of his own blood a slight solace to his unending hunger. His soldiers stopped moving, looking at each other. They were all haggard, their eyes downcast. Their exhaustion was evident.

"I understand the need for loyalty," said Hephaestus, "but if you approach my daughter or myself with the intent for violence…I will respond."

Fire ignited off Hephaestus' body, the soldiers screaming in fright as they backed away.

"Please…don't make me hurt you," asked Hephaestus.

"ARREST THAT MAN! TAKE HIS DAUGHTER AND ARREST THAT MAN, NOW!"

One soldier looked at Erysichthon, his mouth twisting in a self-loathing sneer…yet he didn't move, one way or the other.

"What are you?" whispered one soldier.

"..."

As usual Hephaestus remained silent. He had no need for fame or–

"He is Hephaestus, the Olympian God of Fire!"

He blinked, turning to see Eri, hood down, beaming loud and proud. His face grew more annoyed as he narrowed his eyes at his child, the girl grinning up at him, eyes sparkling.

"H-h-he is the strongest!"

Hephaestus looked up, the sky thankfully remaining blank. No names were invoked, though he could feel Styx' mirth from his chest.

"It's not funny," he thought.

"You're right," smiled Styx, her face obvious even in his mind, "it's adorable." 

He covered his face, a small blush of embarrassment. Eri eyed her father, her smile growing like a cheshire cat's. After all, today, she had learned something new. Whenever her father's face blushed, it also steamed. It was a tiny wisp of condensation, but it was there.

"A god?"

The men looked at each other, then at the flaming god.

"..."

They, of course, lowered their weapons.

"How dare you!" yelled Erysichthon, "the gods are nothing! NOTHING! ARREST THAT GAWD!"

His words became a mumble as his teeth grinded into his thumb, a black mist seeping from the wound. He was just so hungry! Mestra stared at her wraith of a father. She tried to pity him, love him even, but even the most dutiful child had their limits. Her father kept chewing and chewing and chewing.

For a moment, Mestra felt a different presence. Not the volatility of the seas, nor the grandeur of nature, it was deeper. Something human. A presence that whispered from the depths of the self.

It was as if she could feel the barren fields that were her father's heart. His desire for a son that never came.

Her tears finally flowed.

"I'm sorry," she said to her father, the man gnawing even now. His crazed eyes lingered on her. "I'm sorry I wasn't the son you wanted," she whispered.

The man's gnawing continued unabated.

"Do your duty then!" he growled.

That was all you're good for. Mestra's eyes shut, stubbornly trying to kill the tears. She didn't want to cry. She was stronger than this…and yet it flowed ever more. She took solace in the fact that she didn't cry, that her voice didn't stutter.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Bits of muscle flawed away at his thumb, but Erysichthon kept on chewing.

"I'm sorry," Mestra whispered, "...but I can't fight for you anymore. Hephaestus."

The god's flames dispersed as he turned to Mestra. The woman eyed the god, her distrust waning. The way Eri looked at this God, her father, she could at least trust that he had good intentions. But still, it was best to get them out of her community as fast as possible.

"I will lead you to the tree my father cut down…just please free my people from him. Just…let this end."

He nodded, Eri's smile having withered with the seriousness of the situation. If anything, she was solemn. To the young girl, this village was dead. She couldn't find anyone besides the guards. What few citizens she could see through the windows looked to be at death's door, their eyes disheveled and crazed.

There was one though, a woman whose beauty was pristine. Her hair was grey, framing around her stormy eyes. Her body was built for war, yet still bore the hints of motherhood. Around her mouth were markings, just like Hecate. She was perfect, the epitome of feminine beauty to Eri. The woman's eyes flashed like a kaleidoscope, eyeing the girl herself.

"Eri, come."

The girl shook her gaze away, following her father.

"MMEEEESTRA!"

She shuddered, but kept walking. Hephaestus readied his divinity, but as he knelt to jump a single searing ring echoed in his mind.

Riiing. 

His vision swam for a moment, making him look around.

"Again?" he thought.

CRUNCH. CRUNCH.

SNAP.

"HHHHH!"

They all stopped, turning to face the man that had begun the unthinkable. His gnawed thumb had snapped off…and was being chewed by the man. Blood dripped down his hand, sploshes of blood seeping from his mouth as he chewed his severed thumb. The utter euphoria on the man's face made even Hephaestus a bit queasy.

Mestra covered her mouth, but her eyes began to shake as her father's body twisted.

CRUNCH! 

Black mist erupted from Erysichthon's mouth, making the people back away from him.

"What is that!?"

"Papa, it can be seen by normal people, t-t-that's not normal!" she stuttered, "something is w-wrong!"

She tried to conjure magic, but the miasma distorted her mana, preventing her weak spells from forming. For all Eri's talent, it did nothing to change the fact that her mana was young and fragile, a fact only time and experience would fix.

Hephaestus moved, the air snapping as he rushed forward. The still transforming Erysichthon tumbled as Hephaestus grappled him. Several noble phantasms fluttered into existence around him, all of them weapons and tools of purification.

They did nothing, their resonance lacking anything to grip to. A curse it may have been, but it was still of divine origin. The miasma shuddered, some dispersing, but ultimately remaining within the transformed man.

RIIIIING.

He scowled as the miasma surged even further. An aggravating disturbance causing the miasma to shudder.

"What is it feeding on?" thought Hephaestus, "a single person shouldn't–"

His eyes widened as he realized too late what was happening. The air shuddered as the weight of Demeter and Dionysus' curses came to bear. He was blasted off Erysichthon's back, landing on his feet and charging back in.

To even Hephaestus' disbelief, Erysichthon was already taller than most men now, his skin emaciated and pulled to the brink. Once human teeth now gave way to shark-like canines. The white of his eyes overtook his irises, leaving a soulless gaze. Ashen skin was twisted as his remaining hand became clawed with black fingers. Blood seeped from his face as black mist intertwined with the now monstrous man.

"GRAAAAHHHH!"

His throat rattled with the sharp cry, making everyone cringe. Villagers surrounded them, but kept their distance as Hephaestus kept the monster to the ground.

Blades shattered against the pale skin of the monster, but even its new strength buckled under the heavy fist of the god that struck it. It slammed into the earth, its ghoulish cry cut off as Hephaestus grappled with it again.

"Eri!"

His daughter was already chanting, her eyes glowing green. Several strands flowed out from her, snapping before they got near Erysichthon. Sigils then formed, each breaking like glass.

"Nothing!" she yelled, "Should I call mama?"

"You know why we can't," yelled Hephaestus.

Eri nodded, trying several other spells as best she could. Hephaestus' head snapped up as a soldier charged in.

"DON'T!"

The man swung his bronze sword, the metal warping as it struck the hardened flesh of the now monster. The soldier's face paled as the large claws swiped for his face.

THUNK!

The soldier blinked, a sword having taken the brunt of the attack.

"Go," muttered Hephaestus, "I have it from here!"

The warbly screech was a mockery of any animal, a chittering sound that rattled the spine. It lunged its teeth at Hephaestus' throat. It gurgled as the god wrapped an arm around its neck, trapping it in a hold.

RIIIING!

The world snapped back into place, Hephaestus grunting as a claw unexpectedly nicked him in the neck.

"DAD!"

His wound, barely a nick, healed rapidly.

"GAH!?"

The fingers of Erysichthon did not. The pale skin smoked from the raw heat of his blood, the creature shuddering and paling away from the fire that surged within Hephaestus.

He didn't hesitate, his divinity shrouding him as he pressed further, the heat making the creature roar even more.

"This is not a possession," thought Hephaestus.

Curses that transformed someone were always slow, in theory. Transformations that occurred this quickly were usually supported via rituals, bounded fields, or other outward means.

"GRAH!"

It struggled in his grip, or at least tried to.

"...it's breaking apart," thought Hephaestus.

The shoulder, the elbows, and across the back. The pale skin of the monster was breaking apart, seeping blood and miasma in equal measure. It was growing stronger, but at a cost it would seem.

"GRK! RA!"

SHUNK!

Hephaestus blinked as the creature tried to sink into the earth.

"W-what?" muttered Eri, "no you d-don't!"

She slammed her hands into the ground, words of power echoing from her. Sweat formed as she closed her eyes in total concentration.

"GRAH!?"

The earth hardened around the monster, trapping it as it struggled. A final act of desperation, its neck elongated, its teeth growing larger as its head lunged for the tendon in Hephaestus' leg.

CRUNCH!

"GGGGGRRRRKKK!?"

Its teeth broke on the divine metal, clawing at its jaw and broken teeth. It tried to sink into the ground again, to no avail. Hephaestus lifted it up, tearing the earth apart as he socked a blow to its stomach. It echoed in the clearing, the ground fluttering at the force that brought the monster to its knees, its arm still in Hephaestus' grip.

It was young, still weak by monstrous standards. The chocked gagging sound was cut off as Hephaestus placed it in a different hold, lifting it away from the ground it kept trying to escape to.

"Father?"

Mestra was distraught, still struggling to understand the transformation that just took place. She wasn't alone, as Hephaestus scowled even more.

"What is this?" he thought.

Memories surfaced of EMIYA slaying beasts that were similar in size and concept. Man eaters that were born from the desperation of survival. However, the issue was that such creatures were native to the realms of North America, with strong history related to Algouquian tribes.

They were eerily similar, but the ability to meld with the earth was unusual, not to mention the lack of possession. This was something else. He could feel underneath his chiton the muscle and bone shifting beneath him, like the creature might burst apart as it tried to become larger.

"GRK. RA!"

The cognition of the creature was also lacking. While cannibalistic and starved, Wendigos were dangerous precisely because they retained the cognitive strength of a person. They could mimic voices, use strategy, and use their enhanced strength to hunt prey. A cursed monster.

This?

This was just a beast.

"Dad, we can cure him right?"

He stilled, the countless blades he was ready to form faltering at her hopeful voice.

He said nothing and adjusted his hold to free up his hand. He summoned a dagger, Rule Breaker. It wasn't perfect, Zeus having already shown the weakness of the weapon. However, years of tutelage with Hecate had given Hephaestus a new perspective on using the powerful dagger. It was also bathed in the blood of a child of Helios. Out of all the curse breaking weapons he had, Rule Breaker was the closest to a divine artifact.

He had several projects in production, but each had a critical failure at this juncture.

The blade lightly hit the skin, Hephaestus expertly weaving his divinity between each curse, shattering it apart. He wasn't overly concerned with Dionysus' curse. Even with divine law, his claim to any sort of backlash was weak.

Yet, even with the curses reduced, Erysichthon remained unchanged. As Hephaestus expected.

The damage had been done.

"..."

He looked to Mestra. They didn't need words, the poor girl's eyes sinking deeper at his silent request. She nodded however, looking away.

"Eri…I need you to turn your head," he muttered.

"Dad?"

It hurt, to see his daughter realizing what was about to happen. She, as Styx had mentioned, idolized him. Admittedly, it felt good to be seen in such a light by her. To fail to live up to her expectations was a bitter feeling.

But reality rarely coincided with vision.

She was slow, but eventually she turned away. It was a loud single crack…and the noble was dead. His body did not alter, his deformed corpse warped by the curses that were bestowed to him. He lifted the body, turning to Mestra.

"I'm sorry," he said simply.

The girl only nodded, looking away. Hephaestus eyed the woods, narrowing his eyes. Something happened earlier in that fight, though he wasn't entirely sure what it was. For a moment, he thought it was Aphrodite, but in truth that made little sense. Her divinity would have saturated the area.

It was like a ring, from a bell. That was the only sound he remembered hearing before this all happened.

"Something to keep an eye on," he thought darkly.

"We should cremate the body," said Hephaestus, deciding to play it off as a cursory glance.

"Cremate?" she muttered.

Again, the modern words mingled in his speech. He cleared his throat.

"It means we should burn his corpse." The explanation only soured her mood. Not all of the Greeks followed the idea of cremating their dead. Some buried them, others drifted them off to sea, and a rare few buried them within forests. Traditions varied across the regions of Greece this early in their history. It would seem that–

"That's too good for him," muttered Mestra.

Hephaestus blinked.

"It seems I was off," he thought.

"Be that as it may," stated Hephaestus, "leaving his body as is only allows for more mutations to possibly grow. Burning his corpse removes any concerns of that happening."

She nodded but made one request.

"Do not mark him a grave," she nearly begged, "just let the ashes flow to the winds."

He placed the body down, and with a snap, flames embroiled the corpse. It quickly broke down, the smell of burnt flesh making Eri gagged. With a wave of her hand, a sigil appeared cleaning the air.

"SHE'S A WITCH!" yelled a random villager.

"RUN!"

Doors shut forcibly and a few villagers just straight up ran. One just kept running even into the woods. Eri blinked, frowning a bit. Were they all stupid?

A god just conjured fire and nothing happened. She used magic during her father's scuffle. Yet, now that she was using spells, they lost their marbles?

"...it's just magic," she muttered.

"RUN!"

Eri rolled her eyes, wondering what the big fuss was. It wasn't like her father didn't just ignite himself on fire and then grappled a monster.

She had learned to live with it, following in her father's footsteps in helping others when they needed it, but it was still annoying the way people assumed the worst with her magic. It was one thing to shrug off jealousy…fear was another. She frowned, not liking the way others simply ran, their eyes wide as they beheld her magic.

"Jerks," she muttered.

She appreciated her father's hand as he ruffled her hood. He turned, and nodded to the tree.

"Me and Eri will go to the tree. Time is of the essence."

Mestra said nothing, just staring at what few pieces of her father's ashes remained.

"Me–"

Hephaestus shook his head at Eri, motioning for his daughter to follow. She quickly clambered on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck, leaving the poor Mestra to her emotions.

Eri hugged tight as her father ran, feeling the wind in her hair as he quickly rushed to the nymphs that remained. They were better off, the few that they say, pale but hearty.

A slow, but definitive death. Eri struggled to comprehend it, the hollowness in their eyes. It wasn't until they approached the white tree that they saw why they were better. Ceres…she had taken in as much of their necrotic energy as she could.

She couldn't maintain a human-esque appearance anymore, appearing instead as a wooden specter, in the rough shape of a woman. Her bark splintered with decay.

Eri couldn't help but cover her mouth. Hephaestus knelt by the tree, holding a hand against the rotting bark. He closed his eyes his divinity swelling to his demand.

He had been fortunate thus far to reach nymphs before they had progressed this far. She was literally at death's door. For a moment, he felt Thanatos' gaze, his judgement clear.

He could scowl all he wanted, it wouldn't make a difference. Near death does not mean they are within Thantatos grasp. The torrent of fire engulfed the stump, Ceres decayed state erupting with divine fire. It spread across the forest, several nymphs sighing in relief.

The necrotic energy did not go quietly. It bit and clawed at his power, screaming against the tide. The energy of the gods was infinite, in some respects. Their ability to replenish their power was usually greater than the cost.

Usually.

His strength was waning, death's whisper in his ear.

"Just let it go."

Still he endured.

"Let. Go."

He cared not for death's threats. Especially when the necrosis finally whimpered in defeat, dispersing entirely. Ceres stood before them, her eyes wide as her human form returned.

There was a glow to her, her lips trembling slightly. Demeter appeared beside him, her hand outstretched to her dearest friend.

"Ceres," whispered Demeter.

"My lady, I–"

The goddess of harvest swiped her hand, her servant/friend safely in her grasp. They would find her a home, free of human influence. She turned to her nephew, and to the shock of the remaining nymphs, bowing her head slightly.

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

His hand reached out to her. His exhaustion was plain, but as they shook hands, the godling before her never felt stronger. Her friend was alive, Thanatos' grip absent, death's hollow condolences gone, today was a beautiful day.

"Will they find suitable homes?" asked Hephaestus.

"Of course. Ceres was stubborn and refused to move when humans first arrived here. I've found a place, far from human hands."

His shoulders sagged, his smile growing into a smirk.

"Good. Come, Eri. It's time we start making camp."

"Already? But….ok."

For a moment, Demeter was tempted to replenish the energy that Hepahestus had lost. But such a thing seemed more intimate than she was comfortable with. A soft smile and an appreciative hand just made her scoff lightly.

"I appreciate the thought, Aunt Demeter, but I promise I'll be fine. Now as recompense, can you please cut off Dionysus. You know as well as I do that he would make something of this, however weak his claim would be."

Destroying his curse was barely an offence in this situation, but Hephaestus didn't want that party animal anywhere near his daughter. Call it paranoid or what have you, but it wasn't going to happen.

It was also an added benefit of removing Demeter from his service, a fact that she appreciated.

"You must be tired, please," she gestured outwardly, "make camp wherever you wish. So long as you are within my territory, nothing will disturb you."

"Appreciated. Come Eri."

He knelt down, the girl climbing onto his shoulders. The nymphs were long gone, having been gathered by Demeter. The sun, while up, was starting to wane ever so slightly.

Making camp soon was for the best. Ifrit unfurled from his body, taking to the skies as a scout. Within moments a suitable camp sight was found. As they traversed through the woods Eri couldn't help but speak.

"Dad?" she questioned as he jogged through the woods.

"Hm?"

"Why didn't we stay?"

"I killed the girl's father Eri. No matter how much love was lost, that fact doesn't change. Besides, the community will mend itself, given time."

"...we could have helped."

He smiled, a soft chuckle escaping.

"What? I-it's not funny," she pouted.

"It's not," he agreed, "but what help would you provide Eri? Their community is their own. Do you even know what it is that they need?"

She frowned.

"I…I don't know," she admitted.

"To help is admirable, but it must be tempered by circumstances and your own strength."

He landed in the spot that Ifrit had found, the phoenix ruffling her feathers as she perched on a branch.

"Strength?" she muttered.

"Yes. If you can't help yourself, you have no business helping others."

"...because you'd only add to the problem," she deduced.

"Precisely. Now…the sun is still up, shall we hunt?"

She nodded eagerly, hopping off her father's back.

"Stay close to me, but see if you can't find some tracks, alright."

"Hmhm!"

She moved, Ifrit keeping a sharp eye on her as she dutifully looked around the camp for anything. Hephaestus quickly got to work. A fire pit was made within moments, the fuel tossed in. He made some log like seats with his magic, along with rolls of fur. He smiled as Eri emerged from the bushes.

"Dad, dad! I found–"

Her face spread into a look of awe, her eyes wide and sparkling. He turned, grimacing at the sight of Aphrodite behind him.

"You know, most men have a better reaction to me," she chuckled.

"Aphrodite," he muttered awkwardly.

He had never thought of it much. After all, his and Aphrodite's arrangement was ultimately to mind their own business for the most part. But now, here she was, before him and his…er…daughter. Though, that was secondary to the fact that he hadn't felt her near him at all.

Eri shook herself out of her stupor, bowing.

"I greet you, Lady Aphrodite."

The woman gave an awkward smile.

"How polite," murmured the goddess.

Her grace returned as she turned to her husband, all smiles.

"I have to say, quite the drama that unfolded. I do appreciate a good showing every so often, husband." 

At Eri's simple blinking, love pouted.

"Oh boo, you already knew."

"You thought I'd hide it?" asked Hephaestus.

"I assumed you would. Not as if we're married by our own will to begin with."

"Why are you here?" he questioned.

"Would you believe me if I just came to say hi?"

"Of course."

Eri's eyes bounced back between them. There was a strange tension there, as if either one didn't know what to do with the other. Her eyes brightened as an idea came to her. If they didn't know what to do with each other, then it was a rather easy fix right.

"Lady Aphrodite, would you like to join us for dinner?"

Her father's eyes nearly bugged out of his skull as he gave her the father of stink eyes. Aphrodite's smile widened at Eri's own little mischievous glint.

"Oh? Well, if you so insist darling."

To Eri, Aphrodite was a tall woman, with hair as white as snow. Her eyes were like emeralds, her body fit and toned. What images of Athena that Eri had seen in her life and the mother that raised her, were basically melded together to create Eri's ideal "woman" in Aphrodite.

To Hephaestus however, Aphrodite's appearance was always shifting with each meeting. Today, she looked more like Sakura, from EMIYA's memories, though with hair that was black rather than purple. Grown to adulthood, she was a stunning woman, but that did little to detract from the idea that his own daughter was working against him here.

"So, how about you go hunting Papa? We can start the fire!"

He scowled.

"Eri–"

"Oh that's a wonderful idea," teased the goddess, eyeing his growing discomfort.

The phoenix suddenly ignited, screaming into the sky. Both girls looked upwards, a quizzical glance at Hephaestus stern expression.

"She's getting the food," he muttered. He turned to Aphrodite, gesturing for her to sit. She was dressed in fine silks, but even in the middle of the woods she never lost her smile. She gracefully sat down, conjuring a cushion beneath her for support and comfort, right beside him.

"Imagine my surprise to see you here," questioned Aphrodite.

"Me? I'm surprised you've left Olympus in general."

"Oh, don't get snarky with me just because I've shown up…I'm your wife, I'll have you know."

"I know…you constantly remind me," he grumbled.

"Is my presence such a bother?" she laughed.

"Under ordinary circumstances, never. But I'm here with Eri, on a trip to see her mother. I assure you, we are not one to be bo–"

"I don't mind!" smiled Eri.

Her father's slow head turn to her only made her giggle more.

"That's sweet. Well…I guess I'll stay then, if for a bit."

"Hehe!"

The one male amongst them could only smirk. Aphrodite scowled at his look, but was unable to maintain his gaze. She didn't interact with children at all, speaking with one was…weird.

"So…you guys know each other," smiled Eri.

"We are married," she said simply.

"...ok, let's try something else," muttered Eri, "you know each other well?"

"Oh, somewhat. We talk on Olympus during the meetings, I've visited once or twice. Why, worried your father is stepping out?"

Eri blinked. She then laughed, laughed as if what Aphrodite said was the most absurd thing to ever be spoken of. Hephaestus rubbed his eyes.

"Eri," he groaned, "we've talked about this!"

"What, it's your wife? It's rude to not offer her anything when she arrives. Can you imagine if you just told her to go away?"

He couldn't actually refute that, the snarky smirk she sent his way only added fuel to his annoyance.

"Did you learn nothing?"

Eri giggled, looking at Aphrodite.

"But she's nice, right! That's what you said."

"Oh," he grumbled.

Aphrodite giggled some more, adding to the sound.

"You talk about me?"

"She asked about you once, I obliged, it's really not–"

THUMP!

The carcass of a dear landed behind him, a silent thank you emanating from deep in his soul. Aphrodite watched the beautiful bird fly around, the azure flames a unique sight, even amongst divine beasts. It was then she smelled the blood.

"...you're….cooking meat," she muttered.

"Yes."

That was all he said as he turned around to start butchering the deer. Eri grinned at the now awkward looking Goddess.

"...um…"

"So…you're Aphrodite, Goddess of Love right?"

"That's right," she muttered, twinging at the sound of meat being ripped.

"That's cool. How do you do that?"

"...do what?"

Eri grinned, leaning in.

"You know what."

Even as the Goddess narrowed her eyes, nothing came to her. Eri gestured to her mouth. Slowly her eyes widened, leaning in.

"You're talking about charmspeak?"

"Charmspeak? I don't know what that is, I'm talking about how you meld your power into your voice with every word! It's fascinating, how do you do that?"

"Um–"

"I mean mom, Hecate mom you know, s-s-she can't do that. S-she has to bind her v-voice or it just echoes wildly when she d-does spellwork. Yet, you're speaking every word and I'm not going mad!"

Eri's eyes widened, peering into Aphrodite.

The goddess was uncomfortable, not having ever been praised for her voice before. Well, not in this context. Hephaestus however relaxed, breathing a sigh of relief. So it was about magic. His poor kid was obsessed with it, looking at every unique detail that she could. It was a boon for her learning, but she became short sighted about who she directed her questions to.

"I…"

Admiration. It was a different sort than she was used to. The way the girl's eyes sparkled not for her beauty, but for her prowess was odd. Her red hair framed her inquisitive golden eyes, making even Aphrodite smile a bit.

"Well…that's a secret."

"Oh…poo," muttered Eri, all cutesy pretense done away with. Heph stiffened but Aphrodite only laughed.

"Oh, you are good!"

Eri preened.

"I know."

"Oh, you are just adorable. Why aren't other kids like you? They're all so…"

"Gross," supplied Eri.

"Yes! Finally, someone that gets it!"

Heph slowly turned around, eyeing the two as they spoke, Eri's feet excitedly hitting the wood. He looked to Ifrit, the bird equally disturbed.

"So, you use magic in your words?"

"Well yeah. Without mana, our words can't invoke spells. It's not a lot, but the point is that we tether our larger spells together in some way. Some use runes, others incantations. I know one girl that signs everything."

"Signs?"

"Like with her hands or something. She calls it signing, won't ever catch on. Anyway! She's not very good with it. Kind of annoying too."

"Oh? Do tell."

Gossip…the two were gossiping. Eri's bubbly nature intermix with Aphrodite into the worst combination he had ever seen.

Bonding. 

Even when Hephaestus sat between them, Aphrodite simply appeared beside Eri, the two engrossed in the dirty details of Hecate's island.

"So they do use potions to make themselves more beautiful. All that talk about natural beauty was always off to me, especially that Gadral girl."

"They all do," said Eri with an eye roll, "it's just so weird. I don't get what the obsession is about it."

Aphrodite eyed the young girl. Clear skin, white teeth, beautiful hair. It was like she was oblivious to it all.

"You'll get it when you're older," smirked the goddess.

"Food's ready," muttered Hephaestus.

So engrossed in conversation that even a Goddess didn't notice the smell. Ambrosia and Nectar would always be perfect, suited to the taste of the person drinking it. So perfect, that it was kind of monotonous. So when the smell of sizzling meat, doused in seasoning, hit her nose the goddess noticed.

Aphrodite's eyes narrowed as she realized just how much she missed. Over the flames was a metal rack, the pan sitting on top of it. He conjured disks of some material she had never seen before, with metal tools. One was shaped like Poseidon's trident, just tiny, the other a small knife.

She blinked owlishly at Eri, who took her plate , mouth wide as she stabbed her fork into the meat and began cutting it. Aphrodite accepted her own plate, mimicking the young child.

"This is so much cleaner," thought the goddess, savoring the rich taste of meat. She had cooked meat before, the taste being nothing like this. It didn't beat nectar by any means, but it was so different that it certainly felt like it in the moment.

"I have to ask, why were you here?"

She perked up, eyeing her husband. Hephaestus had always been a bit of the stick in the mud, but he was always genuine. She didn't sense any reproach to his tone, simply curiosity.

"Honestly? Studying."

His face was so blank that she threw her fork at him. He blinked as it bounced harmlessly off his face.

"I didn't say anything–"

"You didn't have to! That girl…her love was dying."

Eri perked up as Aphrodite looked to the sky.

"I usually avoid that stuff, not my purview…at least, I didn't want it to be. Love is eternal, it can never die, never wane. Mine doesn't. Love is…"

She smiled, lost in her little world.

"It's beautiful. That swell of emotion you have when you lock eyes with your lover, the taste–"

"Eh hem."

She stilled, eyeing Eri's confused glance.

"...she's old enough," muttered Aphrodite.

His eyes glowed as an oppressive heat sweltered her in the face.

"Or not," she croaked, her throat dry.

Aphrodite's eyes lit up though, snapping her fingers as she pointed between them.

"That! That's what I was studying!"

"What?" muttered Eri with her mouth full.

"Swallow your food before you speak Eri, it's rude."

She swallowed the food, bites large enough to choke a normal child. She blinked as she asked the question again.

"This emotion, this love I feel between you two. I usually bask in the one in my…other acquaintances but I've begun to expand my view. It's been interesting."

Aphrodite chewed another piece before swallowing. Eri marvelled at the way the goddess seemed so graceful eating. Eri just chewed it as she normally did, but she attempted to mimic the careful way Aphrodite ate.

"I watched a love die today," sighed the goddess, "I always thought it was eternal, even with humans. Changed maybe but always present. I…I was wrong."

She smiled, enjoying the way Hephaestus' expression changed. Oh, it looked as stoic as ever, but the bond between them had unintended side effects that she doubted the god even knew about. His emotions…she could feel them. They were muted, easily ignored, but she could feel his heart as if it was her own if she focused on it.

He was impressed, happy for her, and also surprised that she could make such a deduction for herself.

It was both flattering and insulting.

"So, you're traversing Greece for inspiration?" asked Eri.

"That's one way of looking at it I suppose." Aphrodite drummed her fingers on her lips, "more…expanding what I know. I had someone show me the world is not as simple as I thought it was."

She eyed Hephaestus as he ate, laughing a bit at the blank look in his eye.

"What?"

Eri's grin fell as she eyed the way Aphrodite looked at her father, slowly narrowing as she chewed her dinner. The two girls locked eyes, Eri almost hissing at the smirk the goddess had for her. The soft fingers of the goddess ran through Eri's hair.

"Cute."

Eri's hair suddenly puffed up. Literally. Both adults blinked at the sudden flair of hair as Eri got mad. Aphrodite giggled as her cheeks glowed.

"Oh, that's just precious!"

Eri's hair had taken on a frazzled like state, sticking out like a plumage of feathers. Ifrit stopped feeding to stare at the child, eyeing the ground as it came to terms with its own existence.

"That's…new," muttered Hephaestus.

"EEEEEEH!"

Eri shuddered as Aphrodite played with her hair, the girl blushing horribly.

"Oh this is just adorable! I–"

Aphrodite stilled looking up.

"...do I want kids now?" she muttered.

"Let go of me!" pouted Eri, the small expression only adding to the goddess cooing. A quick hug was more as a whisper eeked into Eri's ear.

"We're not like that Eri, so don't worry."

Eri looked at the goddess, the power of words echoing as she felt the sincerity in them. A bit of charmspeak brings a sense of peace to Eri, her hair relaxing into its usual fine strands.

"That was…polymorphism. I didn't know you had cultivated that skill," said Hephaestus.

"I…didn't know I could do that."

"That's mostly likely Hera's doing."

Aphrodite held both hands up as Hephaestus made to rise.

"Not like that. There's power in blood Hephaestus and in your blood flows in Eri's veins. A small fragment of Hera's power is now in Eri. In this case, transformation."

"Hera has a talent for that?" muttered Hephaestus.

"Oh, huge talent for it. She loved transforming into different animals and creatures that she envisioned. Why do you think Zeus turned into a bird to woo her? Back then no one else could do it as well as she could. Took him months from what I remember," she muttered.

"...you were around before Zeus married Hera?"

Aphrodite scowled a bit at the wide eyed look Eri gave her.

"Whatever thoughts you have about my age, stuff it."

"Sorry," muttered Eri quickly, "I…I just didn't know. I thought Zeus was your father."

The disgust was deep enough that Aphrodite's chin sunk into her neck.

"That…who the? NO! Zeus is not my father! Who spread that around!? Is it Hermes? Oh, I bet it was Hermes! I am never letting that as–erm, jerk in my bed again!"

She looked to the sky, her voice echoing.

"You hear that! NEVER AGAIN!"

She savagely took a piece of her meat, chewing it roughly before calming herself.

"The point…where was I?"

"Hera's power," supplied Hephaestus.

"Right. She's a grandkid of Hera. Much as that…women may reject that relationship, blood doesn't lie. Blood carries power and that power expresses itself like this."

"...fuzzy hair," whined Eri, "I got fuzzy hair out of it?"

"At least you didn't get the ability to turn a finger into a bush," cringed Aphrodite.

"...seriously?"

"I wish I was kidding. One of Pan's grandkids can turn any singular part of their body into vegetation. Useless for the most part."

"Pan had kids?" scowled Hephaestus.

"That goat does nothing but have kids and ditches them. If they're not immortal he doesn't bother…actually Pan's been missing for a while now, you know anything about that?"

She had meant it as a genuine question, yet the savage violence that rammed into her heart made it skip a beat. She had always seen the calm exterior, the unmoving rock. The molten rage that simmered beneath it made her a bit tizzy with how abrupt it came up and was crushed down.

She schooled her features to hide her concern. Something like that…it couldn't be healthy, right?

"I have zero clue," stated Hephaestus.

"I figured you wouldn't," smiled Aphrodite softly.

"He just lied," she thought.

Her mind was racing, the sheer impossibility of what she just witnessed sending her thoughts haywire. In theory, she should go straight to Zeus about it. A god that could lie…that had consequences. Yet, her first thought had nothing to do about it.

Rather, it was to keep her mouth shut and keep it to herself. It was a strange feeling that blossomed within her, an odd protective emotion that she hadn't actually felt before.

"Are you ok?"

She turned to Eri, the small girl eyeing her with concern.

"Oh I'm alright, I am a goddess after all."

The girl eyed her, but assented and kept eating. The form that Aprhodite took, it was a meld of the mothers this girl had, love for both, longing for one. Aphrodite preferred love in its purest state. Yet, this girl and Mestra had shown her that love carried depths she had never explored. She avoided it. She eyed Hephaestus. The love he felt for Hecate was sweet, like aged wine.

A maturity to it that she rarely felt. The love for Eri was an unending mountain, constantly growing larger and stronger with each passing day. But that wasn't all there was. In his heart, there was weight…perhaps?

Aphrodite turned to Hephaestus, the man eyeing her as he finished his food.

"Yes?"

"I hope you both have a good and restful night," she said.

Her words shuddered with the primordial power she secretly wielded. Ever since she had begun this exploration of emotion, her control over her power steadily grew.

It wouldn't take effect right away, but if even only for a moment, she hoped it brought peace for tonight.

"I…"

Artemis words echoed in his head. He stood, the plates dispersing in blue lights as he held his hand out. Aphrodite blinked, her hand clasping his own as he smiled.

"This was pleasant, thank you. I know Eri enjoys your conversations…if you ever want to stop by again, by all means. Just…give me a warning, please," he stressed.

He didn't need a repeat of Kassandra seeing Aphrodite again. That poor centaur's infatuation was DEEP. He had to console Kassandra for days over her embarrassment.

It was funny though.

She squeezed his hand, almost like to reassure him. Before he could ask she turned to Eri.

"It was nice speaking to you Eri. Listen to your father."

"Did everyone hear about that!" moaned Eri.

The goddess merely winked.

"You'll listen, right?"

The girl only nodded, her mood soured with the memory. A soft wave and the goddess dispersed.

"...she was nice," muttered Eri.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," her father drawled.

"It might be…it might be."

"...Eri wash up, it's time to sleep."

The two went to the river, washing their hands and bodies for the night. Yet, as they walked back to their camp, exhaustion hit not one, but two.

"I'm tired?" thought Hephaestus.

Ifrit screeched, standing vigil amongst the trees rather than seeking refuge within his world as she usually did.

"Dad?"

He blinked sleepily, smiling as Eri yawned. He climbed into the first that he had conjured, the softness of it wrapping around him slowly dragging him deeper.

Ifrit cawed once more, a softer call. Yet, his eyes didn't shut. Not until Eri climbed onto him as she sometimes did.

"I want to sleep with you, papa."

He didn't even respond, his daughter snoring almost immediately afterwards.

"...how do you do that?" he muttered.

It was strange to him, this little talent of hers. For the first time in years, Hephaestus slept. His dreams were peaceful, the words of his wife lulling him into a restful slumber.

Riiing.