Chapter 28: The Harmatia of Impunity
Sleep was unheard of amongst the Gods. It wasn't because they couldn't, but rather that they wouldn't. Gods that slumbered could have dreams. Messages and torments from other unknown beings. Was it any wonder the Gods on high avoided slumber?
"Again!"
Well, most of them.
Within his internal world, Hephaestus was launched across the plains, tilting his head to dodge a thrown spear. Other weapons soon followed, his body lurching forward as he landed to go back into the fray. His arm slammed into his opponent's, Pallas smiling as they struggled against each other.
The Titan of War's joy soared as he was pushed back, the ground quaking beneath his feet.
"Good, you're hesitating less."
The two separated, Pallas' hands resting behind his back. A soft breeze blew across them, Hephaestus brushing off some of the dust on his chiton.
"You've grown," smiled Pallas.
"Thank you, still, these small adjustments are irritating," Hephaestus muttered as he eyed a destroyed patch of land. He had pushed harder than he meant to, destroying the surroundings.
Pallas only shook his head as he stood beside his student/saviour.
"I believe you're the only god I know that wonders when his strength would cease growing."
Hephaestus rolled his eyes, rubbing his wrists. The cracks across his body shimmered unevenly, his scowl growing as he forced them back into the shape of runes. His concentration didn't waver, yet the runes still fell apart after some time.
An irritating problem for later. Pallas couldn't help but let his worry ease into his expression. The slight depression of his features.
"...I worry you're focusing too much on control, my student. To be effective in combat, a warrior must be balanced."
His student narrowed his gaze to him, the Titan of War smirking as he felt the weight of his divinity.
"I need full control," scowled Hephaestus, "Even in here, that's still a concern."
They both looked in the distance, the destroyed surface slowly rebuilding itself.
"It will come with time," assured Pallas, his hand resting on Hephaestus' shoulder. "Most gods mature over the course of a century."
A slow turn of the head, and Hephaestus' dead stare drilled into Pallas, the two men staring stoically at each other.
"Pallas…my volcano almost erupted."
"...Hmm."
Hephaestus, at Pallas' urging, had surged his divine might to its maximum some time ago. It had struck him that he had never actively used his power to its utmost limit, a part of him always restraining himself to only what was needed.
It was a habit from EMIYA's memories. The ancient hero's strength lay more in his diversity and efficiency than in raw power. As a god, Hephaestus held power in droves, further altering his methods of combat from EMIYA.
An approach that ended in an almost catastrophic accident.
"Hecate could barely contain it," sighed Hephaestus, "Every time I feel like I have a handle on everything, I grow in some minuscule way, reducing all my work to nothing."
Pallas shrugged. The Titan was ordinarily helpful, a wellspring of knowledge. Unlike the gods or other Titans, Pallas cared little for political gain, as such his information was mostly unbiased. To a degree.
"Fantastic," muttered Hephaestus, "Still, regardless, I appreciate that you came on such short notice. You could have just remained with your wife, you know."
"I gave you my word," said Pallas, shoulders squared, "I would train you, hone you into the apex of the God you could become. Besides, I enjoy our little bouts, don't you?"
"I do," smiled Hephaestus, "it offers a chance to sharpen myself…"
Even after their bout, Pallas noted the way Hephaestus' shoulders remained squared, as if he was ready to move at a moment's notice.
"You mentioned earlier of a ringing," muttered Pallas, "I know of nothing that accompanies such a sound. No god, no monster."
"Hmm…"
Hephaestus' first instinct was to simply retreat. However, just as there was evidence to support a retreat, there was also ample evidence to support continuing on their journey. They were close to Athens; he could actually feel Athena, even from here. So he couldn't help but ask.
"Is it…possible that the ringing is my way of sensing negative energy?" asked Hephaestus.
It sounded weak, even to him.
"Are you asking or are you hoping?"
With Eri, there were a great many instincts that Hephaestus had learned to curb. When she first travelled on her own on the island, when she practiced some of the harsher magics, and even when she began petting animals. Though, to be fair, most of the animal familiars on the island were absurd things.
Lions, bears, hell, there was a godforsaken tiger on Hecate's island of all things. A beast that wasn't even native to Greece! There were so many things that he instinctively sought to protect her from, things that even he knew were ultimately overprotective, to a degree.
So many times he had to reach his hand back. Was this just another excuse?
"Danger lurks around every corner of our world," cautioned Pallas, "You can't ever hesitate, nor move back. The only way to live is to go forward. Is that not why we fight?"
A scratch of his chin, a small smirk graced Hephaestus' features.
"I know. Already we've seen more trouble than even I could have anticipated. I promised Eri that we would see Athena…and I will keep my word on that. I do not mean to doubt your goodwill Pallas, but are you sure you've not heard of anything connected to such ringing?"
The titan only shook his head. Water slopped to the ground as Styx appeared beside her husband, fresh from her river.
"I have not heard of such a thing myself. None of us have, for what that is worth, young Hephaestus."
"I am older than you," thought the fire god. Yet, what he said instead was, "I'm not that young."
Pallas didn't bother himself with things like pity, at least ordinarily. But in this, the Titan felt its withering touch most keenly. His wife's expression soured, her eyes closing in barely concealed rage.
Even the hand of her husband did little to assuage her growing hate.
"You are young Hephaestus. Your time amongst humans has dulled your sense of time. To the ageless, you are but a child." Pallas chuckled at the young god's scowl, "Yes, even though you may look and function as an adult, that is merely your shell. By divine terms, you are barely even an adolescent."
While Hephaestus's doubting look was irritating, Pallas pressed on. "Athena, Artemis, Apollo, and even Ares are in a similar situation to you. Why do you think the minor gods and Titans detest you and the Olympians so much? It took Kronos nearly a millennium to garner enough strength to consider harming his father," Pallas spat the word like a curse, before schooling his features. He calmed with a breath, a small smile growing as he eyed the young god.
"Imagine it. Being thousands of years old, yet children are stronger than you? It is no wonder to me why the minor gods and Titans rebel in their little ways."
The titan shook his head. While he maintained a calm demeanour, his wife's expression soured, her arms crossing as she lost herself in her thoughts.
"The minor gods and Titans cannot see what is coming. They cannot match any of you now, and more than half the Olympians are still growing in power. Zeus, who we assumed had peaked, has also grown in strength. Typhon failed and even the chthonic dissidents have faltered. You are inevitable. Which is why you must be careful. I applaud your caution, my young student, but be more wary of how things can twist, rather than what might be."
It was a strange piece of advice, but valuable. After all, the rules of engagement were strict in the sense that even the gods had to follow them. However, interpretation, authority, and, of course, justification played roles that were confusing and twisted.
Which reminded Hephaestus about something.
"Pallas…about what we discussed…has anyone attempted such a thing?"
"No," his voice echoing with surety, "they have not."
"I've already tested your assumptions," smirked the ancient river, finally deigning to speak, "our children were most excited to help."
"Right," drawled Hephaestus.
The children of Styx were all warriors in their own right. They defied the expectation of a standard minor god or even the average titan. They were similar in that, much like Hecate, they were more powerful than their station would imply.
They were also nuts. Especially Nike. He had assumed her to be similar to Athena. He was wrong. God he was sowrong. Hephaestus internally shivered and while Styx didn't notice, her husband did. His eyes narrowed at Hephaestus, a silent warning.
"So you've managed to actually visit your kids," smiled Hephaestus, desperately changing the subject.
"Yes. Your travels across Greece have expanded into our children's realms and spheres of influence. Styx is making the most of it. Most do not yet know of my wife's release. Those that do are keeping their distance."
The silence after his words was telling.
"...you worry for Oceanus?" asked Hephaestus.
"No. That old aspect has come and gone. What it feared most came to pass on its own, as we all knew would happen."
Pallas spoke of it like it were common knowledge, but the fact that he wouldn't expand on his own made Hephaestus restrain his own questions. An aspect of a primordial just being…gone? It barely made sense.
Pallas began to smoulder, a grim bloodthirst spreading with the smile that grew on his face. "No, Pontus is no longer a concern. It is the idiots who are the problem. I already had Hyperion's head on my spear when he approached her."
"Oh?"
"He believed he could control the fate of those who swore upon her waters, much like Kronos attempted. I dissuaded him of that notion."
The serene eyes of Pallas shuddered into a crimson hue, a violent promise of desecration upon any that attempted the same. Kronos did not achieve dominion over the Styx through strength, but rather trickery.
If it had been Pallas who was the general, the war with Olympus would have lasted centuries more. None had seen Pallas ever fight to his fullest, at least not until Hyperion. There was a savagery to this God, something beyond the war that was known even in ancient Greece.
Something more primal than even Ares or Athena.
"Darling," purred Styx.
They turned to the disgruntled frown of Hephaestus. He looked like a child who was watching his parents flirt. Disgusted and uncomfortable.
"Prude," muttered the River.
Hephaestus sighed, rubbing his neck. He shivered a bit as Styx suddenly popped in front of him. Her fingers softly traced the cracks that had remained on his face and collarbone on the day he took Eri's pain.
"I commend your worry for her," she smiled, "but you have to take care of yourself as well. Even now, you worry for others rather than yourself."
"My main concern–"
"Shush," she scowled, slapping a hand on his chest, "don't try to play me, boy. The only reason you're concerned about your own strength is the worry of its effects beside yours. That cannot be your concern in battle. Pallas is right, you're too distracted by those around you…it worries me."
"...I'm sorry," he muttered.
"If that damn woman did her job, this would never be a concern for you! Honestly, if I could, I would be your Parakletos, Hephaestus."
He blinked. Pallas chuckled a bit as Styx began muttering blasphemies to the gods. The words that spewed from her would have made the middle finger look like a welcoming gesture.
"Are they all stupid children!?" she grunted, "It's like they gloss over the simplest of things!"
She turned to Hephaestus, her eyes glowing. Her river in the distance shared that same glow, a shimmering pale blue that flowed through the sky. Yet, to Hephaestus' wandering eye, he noted that the glow was rather dull compared to what it had usually been.
"I'll need to make a trip, it would seem," he thought.
He blinked as Styx snapped her fingers in his face. He quizzically looked down, her diminutive stature doing nothing to dull the fierce look on her face.
"An advocate, Hephaestus, is what you are meant to have. They shoulder your burdens, bear responsibility for your actions, and filter your divinity throughout your transition from child to adult. It's what prevents divinity from distorting Gaia's work…mostly," she muttered.
He stilled. His eidetic memory recalling the runes that filtered in his home. How, in his youngest days, he was able to traverse around the property of his home, only to eventually become restricted in its walls.
"Bears responsibility," he muttered, "so…adoption?"
"Not…entirely," blushed Styx, "it is synonymous with the practice but it is more a necessity. For example, Pallas has been the Paraklatos for Ares in his youth, though they do not share a bond beyond that."
He blinked in surprise at the war Titan. Pallas gave a mere shrug in response.
"Zeus pushed his brother to allow me unfettered access to my wife's waters if I did so. At the time, it was the closest way to be with her. Bearing his son's actions was a small price to pay."
"So that's why Artemis spends some time with Selene," realized Hephaestus.
He had noticed the two in the sky one time. It was a surprise, to say the least. Artemis never mentioned the Titaness and it seemed incredibly out of the blue. It made some sense now, though it seemed needlessly complicated.
"This seems like it can get convoluted quite quickly."
"You have no idea," snarked Styx, "the sheer amount of oaths sworn to me is obscene when a child is born." The river rubbed her fingers together, a hand on her waist as she eyed the god, considering her words. "Hephaestus…I sometimes feel like you don't understand the full weight of what Hera did to you. Of the duties and responsibilities that she abandoned."
"Styx," he muttered.
"Just…think about it."
It was an old argument. Discussions of revenge and retaliation. She was always pushing him to exact his vengeance upon Hera. It hurt– his relationship with his mother was like a barb around the heart. So long as they were distant, he never felt it. More like a scar than a wound. Yes, it would tear open, but he never saw the point in blind retaliation.
He would use it if necessary. At least, that's what he told himself. Even now, he couldn't look Styx in the eye.
His eyes closed as he felt his inner world rumble, his slumber coming to an end.
"I have to go," he muttered.
"I know."
Her soft whispers did nothing to impede him, the youngest of the Olympians dispersing to the waking world. The river never believed in her entire life that she would be here. Her husband in her arms, the world at her call, her sisters freed.
All because of a single child. One that didn't take no for an answer…and yet allowed himself to be trampled. No…it was worse than that. Every time she looked at him, images from Tartarus would haunt her.
The sight of that poor child.
The sight of that knife.
"Styx."
His warmth suffused her, both in body and soul. Pallas' divinity wrapped around her, along with his arms, as he held her close. He never said a word, just allowing her to feel. After a few moments, she tapped her husband's arm.
"Come…Nike is waiting for us."
Pallas scowled, his wife's laughter not helping matters.
"Are you still mad?" she chuckled.
"No."
"Oh, you're adorable. Our daughter has a crush, and you're losing your temper?"
"No."
Teasing her husband always brought a smile to her face, but even so, the melancholy in her heart would not so easily be dissuaded. She didn't care what happened to her. One way or another, Hera would get hers.
One way or another.
-Hephaestus and Eri, the waking world-
Hephaestus awoke with nary a sound. His ears twitched as the sounds registered around him. Eri snored lightly on his chest, some drool dripping onto his clothes. He smiled softly, but sharpened his senses. He felt beyond just the mundane, his eyes glowing as he enhanced his senses with divine energy. Yet, even with the senses of a god, he found nothing out of the ordinary.
Admittedly, he was growing apprehensive and a bit frustrated.
"Am I overthinking it?" wondered Hephaestus, his thoughts dancing with the idea. "Could I have…imagined it?"
It felt ludicrous, every instinct telling him that he knew what he heard. A part of him wanted to relax, but ancient memories kept his guard. Pallas was right. This world was rife with dangers. Even if that strange bell never rang, his guard should never be down.
"Hmmm."
He chuckled softly as he began to get up, Eri holding onto him, her legs and arms stubbornly clinging to him and the last vestiges of her sleep. He rolled his eyes, letting her rest on his arm as he held it beneath her. His daughter nuzzled into his chest, smacking her lips as she dug further into sleep.
"Such a lazy child," he teased.
It only made her nuzzle harder. The camp around them sputtered into sparks of blue. He moved, not towards Athens, but the settlement they had left behind. His voice rumbled, his throat itching at the surge of divine energy he put into it.
"Ceibero."
Her name echoed across the woods, the air shimmering as a spritz of mist shimmered around him. The vague silhouette of the water nymph shimmered before him, an expectant eye on him.
"Lord Hephaestus. You've called?"
"You are attending to the list of requests that have been given to me, correct?"
"Well, yes," muttered the nymph. "I have to say, it was a lot more than I was expecting. A few are even absurd."
He didn't even get to open his mouth as the woman continued speaking.
"I mean, crafting a river god a scepter is a bit much and–"
"How many from Poseidon?" he interrupted.
She smiled like a shark next to blood. A hunger for profit, clear as a spattering of runes surrounded her. All of them, orders.
"Well, quite a number actually. It would be quite lucrative to focus–"
"Cancel them."
The spirit's mirage stuttered to a stop, but Hephaestus kept walking.
"Excuse me, my lord, but I believe I misheard you."
"You did not. Cancel them."
"But, but my lord! That would–that can't–I, please, I advise strongly that you decide against this."
She shimmered a bit, mentally awaiting retribution for her rudeness. The only firm reprimand was from his words.
"Acknowledged. Cancel them."
"With due respect, Lord Hephaestus…the insult alone would be something to avoid."
He stopped moving, adjusting his daughter slightly as she began to groggily get up.
"Poseidon possesses the cyclops. Brontus was taught by me and, in turn, carries my skills. I would not dare to insult the king of the seas by implying that his smiths are inferior to that of Olympus….would you?"
She frowned a bit.
"That…might delay him but…you cannot seriously think that would stop the sea itself?"
She shivered a bit as he turned to face her. Ceibeiro was highly sought after as a servant. Her skills were second to none. However, her attitude made her difficult to work with to the point that those that knew of her personally didn't bother.
She had jumped at the chance to work for Hephaestus, not because she was bored of the ocean, but because no one else would take her. Binding oneself to a god was one of the few ways a nymph could actually travel the world beyond their birthsite.
Yet, even so, she was headstrong and stubborn. Yet, his golden eyes rooted her to the spot. She sweated a bit. Anger she was used to, belligerent she could handle. Patience was…disturbing.
"Cancel them, Cabeiro. No harm will come to you. If you're uncomfortable delivering the message, have Hermes do it in your stead. There's a reason he is the messenger of the gods after all."
"Oh, thank the gods," she muttered.
She dispersed immediately. Eri's head swivelled as she pushed against him, her eyes adjusting as she slowly blinked.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Of course," he thought, responding to the river within him.
"...if you're certain."
A silent request to be left alone, and the presence of the ancient nymph dispersed from his mind. Eri finally seemed to fully wake up, eyeing their surroundings. As they passed the white stump, she eyed the village beneath the hill.
"We're back here?" she muttered, "why?"
"For directions mostly," said Hephaestus, "and I also had a few questions as well."
She frowned a bit, but hopped up to his shoulders. There were soldiers there, one of them even reaching for a bow. Thankfully, they thought better of it, one running off into the distance.
He was slow, purposefully. As he got closer, the villagers dispersed quickly. It was fine. After all, they were not the ones he wanted to have a conversation with. A man came forward, rather gruff in appearance, with a scar on his cheek. Everyone bowed before kneeling on the ground, the man shivering a bit as he spoke.
"Welcome back, Lord Hephaestus. To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence?"
Hephaestus schooled his features as best he could. Eri gripped his hair, her eyes darting around at the way people knelt to the ground.
"I am only here for a–"
He felt her before he laid eyes on her. Mestra came running around a small home, her hair dishevelled and her eyes alert. Eri's smile at her appearance dimmed as the human woman crossed her arms.
"H-hephaestus," she stuttered, "you've returned."
"I have. I was hoping you might answer some questions I have and, well embarrassing to say, some directions to Athens would be nice."
He was as smooth and soothing as he could be, but even so, she remained on edge. Not that he blamed her.
"Then come with me. It wouldn't do for a god not to be welcomed as they should be," she gritted out.
It wasn't lost on the god the sheer malice between the kneeling soldier and Mestra. He eyed the soldiers as they walked, noting a manic gleam in their eyes. It didn't seem to matter that a god was amongst them, though to be fair, he doubted it was by choice. The majority of the villagers' and soldiers' glares were aimed not at them, but at Mestra.
Eri, thankfully, caught on and remained quiet. The villa that Mestra inhabited was a rather awkward walk. She remained silent, even as they entered through the unguarded doors. There wasn't a lick of sound within her home's walls. No servants, no guards, nothing.
They were brought to a room, most likely her own. For what made for her bed had a small pack on it, filled with valuables and cloth. The makings of a travel pack.
"Why are you here?" she whispered.
"Questions and directions. As I said."
"Ask…then please go."
"Do you know of a creature or entity that rings?"
She turned to him, her face scrunched in disbelief.
"That's why you came back? There's no such monster. As for your directions, merely follow the river just north of here. It will eventually lead to a path that will bring you to Athens."
He lifted his daughter off his shoulders, a knowing glance her way. Eri nodded, keeping quiet as she moved away from them. The tension between him and Mestra was already awkward, but there was something he needed to do.
"Mestra, it may be a weird request, but I would ask that you allow me to shoulder your burden."
She blinked.
"You–that doesn't make any sense, what?"
She would, of course, take it in a literal sense, but he needed to get her to agree.
"Be as it may, I would ask you of it regardless."
She was more apprehensive than ever. Mestra's lips twisted as she tried to imagine in what way this could possibly screw her over. He didn't blame her for her conflicted feelings. On the one hand, he had freed her from her father. On the other hand, he was also the man responsible for directly killing said father.
"I refuse to be a part of your games," she shuddered, "just leave."
"I would," he said, "but I wish to settle our dealings permanently."
Of all the answers, it was obvious that this one threw her for a loop. Mestra's mouth opened and closed, her thoughts trying to comprehend.
"I…I don't understand," she whispered.
"For gods, justification can be found in the strangest of places." Hephaestus moved across the room, lifting a small ball. It was old and ratty, but well made. A quick analysis showed that it was an inflated pig's bladder wrapped in leather. It wasn't a perfect bounce, but it was enough. "Think of it like this," he said, tossing the ball to her. "I have just performed a service, now the expectation is that I receive something in return."
"That's absurd," she muttered, chuckling humorlessly.
"For humans, yes. But for Gods? Such a thing can allow them to intervene in…ways that they would prefer."
His knowing glance made her stomach twist, but she got what he was saying.
He pointed at the ball in Mestra's hands.
"Just like the ball in your hand, I can, in theory, have you pay it in some way, in the future, at my discretion. One way or another, an equivalent exchange would be due."
Her mind began to swim at the sheer possibilities.
"Which is why I make the request I do, so that such a thing would not remain open to abuse. After all…I am a god."
For all that she felt sick to her stomach, even Mestra found it hard to believe the man before her would be abusive in such a way. The utter confusion from his daughter also sold that idea. Which was precisely what put Mestra on edge. The Gods were beautiful and twisted.
Illusions of assistance and…and…
"Is that why he blessed me?" thought Mestra, the taste of bile spreading in her mouth.
Her eyes locked onto Hephaestus' the silent question clear. She hated the pity that bloomed across his face, but it was the nod that bade her reach for her mouth.
"Oh gods," she muttered, trying her best to keep the bile down, "Oh gods."
Did that mean she could have done something? Achieve retribution in some way?
"Take it," she muttered, "my burdens or what have you. Please, just go."
She stiffened a bit, eyeing the small girl who looked up at her. Her red hair framed her golden eyes, adding to the small pout she held. Her hands raised, and Mestra's stomach settled, the taste of bile still rich in her mouth.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
Such an innocent question, one that the poor girl couldn't answer honestly.
"I will be," she lied.
Hephaestus nodded to her and Eri quickly followed. Yet, before he left, he turned to her. He looked as if he wanted to say something, perhaps to reassure her in some way.
Yet such a promise never left his lips, only a silent resolve.
"I wish you luck on your travels…I would prepare soon," he said quietly.
The moment they exited her room, Mestra quickly got to work, adding more and more to her pack. Her unwanted foray into the world was the bleakest experience of her life, but it had shown her what she would need to survive on her own…at least she hoped so.
Her body shuddered as the power of the sea washed over her. Where once stood a woman, was now a massive bird. Mestra pecked down to grip her pack in her beak, shuffling forward to the window. The blue feathers were odd, an azure hue that mimicked flames, as if it were a phoenix unignited.
She took to the sky, the light shimmering off her feathers like fire. She would never return to her old home, the memories and the people far too savage to bear.
She was, of course, not the only one to never return. The moment Hephaestus and Eri exited the Villa, he could see the soldiers in the distance. Were they waiting? Doubtful.
But honestly, he wasn't in the mood for it.
"Papa?"
Her father turned to her, an eye raised. Eri played with her chiton for a moment, a calculating gaze eyeing him over.
"Wh-why did you-you ask for her burdens?" she stuttered.
"It was as I said," he smiled, kneeling beside her, "I wanted to give her a clean break. Even if I would never use my service to her against her, that doesn't mean such an opening could not be used with others. Her…burdens in a way, are things that she can give that are of no consequence to her."
Eri scowled a bit, a finger on her lip as she tilted her head, a trait inherited from Athena.
"But…you didn't mean the burdens of the body…because she didn't have any burdens with her?"
Her questions trailed off as she eyed her father. There was a depth to his gaze, a clear warning to stop. She didn't know why, but there must be a reason her father didn't want her to dig further.
So she didn't.
She looked around, frowning as she looked away.
"I don't like this place."
"Neither do I," said Hephaestus, eyeing the flying form of Mestra. He noted in the distance someone nocking a bow. "I think it's about time we leave. Ifrit!"
Eri blinked, eyeing the large Phoenix that formed above them, the blazing form taking everyone's attention. Her eyes slowly bugged out as she realized what was happening. She promptly shut her mouth, not letting a single sound escape.
The screech echoed like thunder, a cascade of fire wrapping around the father and daughter…and they took to the skies. For a moment, he was worried Eri would object. Hephaestus almost fell off the phoenix from Eri's yelling. The girl's arms were raised as she curled her fingers through the clouds.
Flames wrapped around Eri's waist, keeping her secure. Hephaestus, of course, still held her close anyway.
"HIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHI! DO IT AGAIN!"
It dawned on Hephaestus and Ifrit both that Eri had never flown. A combination of Ifrit's own aversion to touch and Hephaestus not giving it a second thought had resulted in Eri never having flown on Ifrit's back before.
It had never come up, not on an island filled with mystical wonders. Hephaestus smirked as Ifrit barreled through the clouds, spinning and swimming through the air. Hephaestus willed his divinity forward, protecting Eri from the G-force.
"Alri–GRK!"
Ifrit shot forward even faster, Eri's laughter growing. Hephaestus gripped the maverick that had overtaken Ifrit, Eri hollering away without a concern. A sharp bank to the left, a barrel roll, a loop de loop. It ended as Ifrit flew beyond the clouds and for a moment, Eri could see it all. She could see the moon, and to her vision, the sky intertwined with mystical forces, she could see the weave of the constellations.
It was all so beautiful…and then they fell. Ifrit hung limply, a smirk obvious even on its avian face. For a brief moment, Eri was weightless.
"T-t-this is amazing!" she laughed.
She looked up, her father's soft smile making her scowl.
"Come on! A-A-At least have some fun!"
"Oh? Am I not having enough fun for you?" laughed Hephaestus.
"No!" teased Eri, "you're never fun. N-never never n-never."
"Well…we'll just have to fix that."
He leaned forward, becoming as Aerodynamic as possible, Eri firmly protected between him and Ifrit. She giggled in her strange halting way, Ifrit closing their wings close to their body.
The air began to screech as they tore through the sky, building more and more momentum. The clouds burst apart, the ground coming up faster and faster. Eri was screaming, and Ifrit pulled up right before the dirt. Flawlessly, Ifrit avoided every tree and obstacle before retreating back to the safety of the open sky.
The once insane speed had left Eri's hair a wind sheered puff. She blinked, eyeing everything around her.
"That…was…a-awesome!" She yelled.
"Look," said Hephaestus.
Far in the distance, Eri could see it. Large structures, albeit small at this distance. The bustling nature of a city.
"Is…is that Athens?" muttered Eri.
"It is. Ifrit had reduced our travel down quite a bit…I hope that's alright."
He gave her a moment, letting her bask in the truth…that they were almost to Athens…that they were almost to Athena.
"What is she like?" asked Eri.
A question that she had never asked before, but he answered it like he always would.
"She's a woman of efficiency," stated Hephaestus, "she lives her life adhered to the idea that emotions are distractions. I'll be honest, I–"
"You're wrong," said Eri simply.
"...pardon?" he muttered.
It wasn't that she disagreed with him. He would understand why. They never talked about Athena much, and what child would want to hear their mother abhorred emotion?
It was the surety of it. The almost lazy dismissal. As if…she knew otherwise.
"Eri…I know you want to believe otherwise, but I assure you I would never lie to you."
"Oh I know," smiled Eri, "it's just that you're w-wrong."
"...how do you know?"
Eri held her hand to her chest, an indescribable feeling spreading on her face.
"I just do," she smiled.
A part of him wanted to tell her that she was wrong, but he held his tongue. How much of that was his own bias? How much of it was him trying to protect her from the same sorrow?
Life was to be experienced…and as much as he thought it would hurt her, this was something she had to experience on her own. EMIYA's long life had shown that even the most well meaning parents could have catastrophic effects.
Some from being overbearing. Others from being neglectful. He struggled to find the optimal balance, but on this matter…on this he was confident. Eri's relationship with Athena was her own to forge. He could only support her.
"I hope you're right," he muttered.
"I am. Hmm?"
He felt it to, a sudden dip. Ifrit had cut of their connection, the bird's shoulders struggling.
"Ifrit are you alri–Ifrit!"
The bird squealed weakly, her voice shuddering as if she were sick. Her wings levelled out as best she could, fire blazing from her wings to get them to ground as quickly as possible.
Hephaestus reforged the connection, his vision swimming as he took on Ifrit's weakness.
"Vertigo!?" he thought.
He powered through it as Ifrit landed, smashing through some branches as they landed within the woods. The once large avian shrank to a more manageable size, being picked up by Hephaestus.
The vertigo was getting worse, even after he cut off the connection.
"Dad! Dad!? What's wrong!?"
"Eri, stay close," he muttered
Ring.
A single echoing note.
"Dad!"
He stood, only to sway. Ifrit was worse off, the bird actually heaving and spasming in his arms.
"Ifrit! I–I need herbs! I got this, j-just wait!"
"ERI DON'T!"
Hephaestus tried to get up, but lurched forward, his vision swirling in strange ways. Vertigo wasn't like this, more a sway back and forth. Yet, the trees he saw were bending, his stomach churning at the twists in his sight, his heart sinking at Eri's retreating form. He absorbed Ifrit, the swaying growing worse as he took it from her.
Ring Ring Ring Ring
That damn ringing. He heightened his senses, peering into the world between. At first there was nothing. Just a smidge across his vision. Whatever this was, it was hiding from mortal and divine eyes.
"This is so easy it's pathetic," muttered a woman.
Her voice was smug, the utter arrogance scraping against his ears. As he reduced the divinity in his eyes, a black haze shimmered around him.
His eyes latched onto it, maintaining the the strange haze between the natural and supernatural. Like a lens focusing, the haze became more and more defined. Black hair, black wings, and alabaster skin. Her face was right in front of him, her features hard to describe. He kept his eyes focused beyond her, letting her loom even closer.
"A little discord in your balance and you drop like a potato. Maybe sis has a point. You gods are too high on your thrones to be worth much."
He had never seen her before, but the pieces came together from what he knew of her. Eris, the goddess of discord. More importantly, she was Eris, the sister of Nemesis.
"Discord in my balance?" thought Hephaestus.
His very nature was that of two. Mortal and God intertwined. The cracks of his skin broke as he invoked his power. They were larger, more distorted than before.
Eris swirled around him, smirking. He sputtered the cracks away…all but one. Between the shoulder blades, a shape took place, hidden by his chiton.
"Aww, that's cute. It's always thrilling to watch little things like you squirm," she said as he stood. She laughed as he stumbled around, the world spinning even faster. She laughed, but the sound was reminiscent of the ringing that he heard.
The sound of discord.
"Poor thing," she mocked. "You don't even know what's happening right now, do you?"
The rune was slow going, the shape faltering if he tried to force it to grow. He needed time.
"...this is discord," he muttered, "but why?"
She stilled.
"Oh? Figuring me out are you?"
The gods could appear to those they chose to, but they could also be completely absent from sight. Hephaestus had assumed that meant the gods could be hidden from mortal sight…it would appear that it extended even to the gods.
That, or Eris, was special. It mattered not.
"This…this–"
Eris swooped in, bringing her ear close, her smile crooked as she waited to hear it. The rune shone as it stood in place, the swirling lessening rapidly.
"Why is Ares' lapdog here," he growled.
She immediately formed in his face, a row of sharp teeth forming. A loud gong erupted around them, her face demonic as she growled at him.
"I AM NO ONE'S LAPDO–URK"
The rune for harmony shone brightly on his back, his hand catching her by the throat. She dangled uselessly in the air, her eyes wide as she stared at him. He looked around, eyes frantic. The woods seemed darker, covered in a fine mist. This wasn't natural, not by a long shot.
"ERI!" he yelled, "ERI WHERE ARE YOU?"
Eris chuckled a bit.
"Adorable that you–"
He snapped her neck, forming Harpe to pierce her heart as he slammed her into the ground. Eris twitched, her form cracking as the curse of the weapon severed her divinity. Hephaestus took off, Ifrit flowing out of him soon after. Ifrit slammed into the ground, the effects still lingering. She bursted into flames, remerging with Hephaestus.
"ERI!" he yelled, the mist swirling around his legs.
There was a rustle of leaves and he took off. Time slowed as he noted a single black feather falling in front of him. It warbled like ink, barely able to contain it's shape. He dodged to the left, Eris landing where he once stood.
The goddess of Discord scowled as he rose, brandishing a large sword.
"We're not done here, welp."
"...you survived," he muttered.
"No thanks to you and that odd sword…But I don't fight alone," she smirked.
"Your sister and mother empower you."
"I have–what?"
"It's obvious to anyone with a brain."
In myth, Hypnos once spied on Zeus for Hera. Enraged, he chased the god of sleep for revenge, only to be halted by the primordial of night herself. A simple story, but one that revealed that Nyx would fight for her children if need be. The gall that Nemesis had only made sense with the idea that she had connections to such a power. It stood to reason that Eris shared a similar connection.
"...Alright," smirked Eris, a cruel smile forming, "I admit when I've lost. I'm not stubborn like my sister."
Hephaestus's eyes narrowed. So it was Nemesis that sent her here. Yet, he kept silent. Eris' smirk fell, and for once apprehension began to fester in her heart.
"You failed…why are you still here?" muttered Hephaestus, eyeing the way she just kept her distance.
His mind began to race, her objective failed yet here she still stood. His head slowly turned, eyeing the mist that surrounded him. He pursed his hands through it, shivering a bit at the quantity of divinity that was saturated in it.
He reduced his divinity and before his very eyes, the mist disappeared. He turned, seeing the broken trees and the landing site of Ifrit.
"You're delaying me, you're after Eri!"
Eris smirked.
"Too la–"
Her vision went black, but not before every ounce of divinity was expunged from around her in a storm of fire.
"ERI!"
His ragged voice was carried by his divinity, dispersing power around him. Eris' form splintered, breaking into ash at the sheer power that exploded from him, along with every inch of grass and trees around them. The ground rumbled, the earth growing more agitated by the moment, the magma deep within roiling with its master.
"DAD!"
He turned, blitzing through everything in his path with no concern. Trees ignited, the ground steaming as he raced past, he was fast enough that he could still hear the echo of Eri's voice as he neared.
"Dad, help!"
He charged through, heedless of the obstacle. He broke through a tree, sliding as he found his daughter…and the back of Medusa. He saw Eri's arms and feet, a bit of her red hair as he came to a sliding stop.
The petrification of Medusa was no simple malady. A remnant of the divine power that transformed her in the first place created a curse that transmuted someone into pure stone, rather than a shell. He knew it was too late the moment he arrived. Every aching moment stretched for an eternity as he slowly slid to a stop.
He conjured countless blades ready to kill Medusa into a paste, but when he went to look at his daughter's petrified face…he instead found a pair of shaking hands covering her eyes.
"Damn you! DAMN YOU!"
The owner of the hands smirked, even as her delicate skin splintered. The cracks flowed upwards, her eyes shining as she scowled.
"You cannot interfere, divine law–"
"Buzz off," muttered Aphrodite weakly.
Eri reached for the hands covering her face, Aphrodite's body wrapped around his daughter like a shield. She tightened her hold, both the goddess and the monster turning to see Hephaestus. Medusa's face went white as the Goddess' relaxed.
"You–"
"DIE!" roared Hephaestus.
The sun was blotted out by unlimited blades, the qualities of which had never graced this world. Magics so potent that even Medusa felt her skin peel at the sheer force of them. They launched, only to be brought to a complete halt right before they struck her.
"What?" muttered Hephaestus.
He didn't hesitate, his fist cocked back and already in front of the monster. Yet, for all his strength, it fell short. His body refused to listen, his mind trapped within it.
"What is this!?" he thought.
It wasn't Medusa, the monster just as surprised. She slithered off, disappearing as fast as she could. The moment he went to check on his daughter, he could move freely, yet when he decided to kill Medusa, his body halted.
It…it felt like when he recieved orders from Alaya. Completely and utterly undeniable. No amount of will could fight against such a thing. For a moment, he was afraid, his breath coming in ragged coughs, his arms shaking as he tried to fight whatever this was.
Delicate hands grasped his face, cracks slowly closing. He looked, seeing Eri bundled between him and Aphrodite.
"She's here," wheezed the goddess, "she's here."
His daughter's eyes filled with tears as she hugged him close, Hephaestus gripping her tight enough that she almost wheezed.
"You-you're alright," whispered Hephaestus.
He looked to the goddess, her form faltering even before his eyes.
"I…how?"
Aphrodite sputtered, actually sputtered, as she tried to say something.
"Well…we are…married…right?" she chuckled. "I…I felt you…felt Eri. When you thought you lost her. I–"
She didn't know how to say it, still couldn't understand it. The mist that surrounded them wasn't something that could just be done away with. Sure, the god of fire burned it away, but even that required nuance. A nuance that Aphrodite normally didn't have.
She wasn't sure where she got the strength to get involved, nor the resolve if she was being honest. She just acted. Yet, for all the pain that she was feeling…she couldn't say she regretted it. Seeing Hephaestus and Eri together…it felt right.
"Eri, are you alright?" asked Hephaestus.
His daughter coughed, holding her stomach.
"I…I'm feeling better. I think."
She was pale, but even so, the young girl turned to the woman that saved her. Once luscious silver hair was replaced by a flow of crimson locks and yellow eyes. Bounded curls that rested on her chest, rather than flowing across her back.
"Thank you for saving me," muttered Eri.
The goddess stiffened as the girl hugged her, the delicate child soft in her arms. The swell of emotions between them all was too much for her.
"...no," thought Aphrodite, her arms coming around Eri, "No, it's not."
The surge of emotions funneled into the goddess, her form slowly restructuring itself. The emotions that she would normally ignore surged and danced within her. It ached, hurt even, but it felt…good. She had always enjoyed pushing her physical form with Ares the rare times they sparred. This pain…it felt something akin to that. As if she pushed herself. As if she had grown.
"Don't mention it," whispered Aphrodite. "Seriously, don't. No one can see me like this."
"I don't understand…you…you can't involve yourself in mortal affairs without justification."
The gods could, in theory, get involved in their children's lives. As parents, they had that justification. However, it came at a cost, one that would in most circumstances be less than ideal. What was the point of helping your kid if it dispersed your consciousness for months or even years at a time?
It was a weak excuse, considering Thetis and Zeus both showed it was doable, but it was the prevailing theory. Yet, here was Aphrodite, protecting his child.
"I…technically have a right," muttered Aphrodite.
It took him a moment to realize.
"Our marriage?"
"Our bond grants us many allowances and rights, dear husband of mine," she snarked, "Most gods just don't bother."
"...I…I don't know what to say. I owe you more than I could ever repay," he whispered.
She looked at him and for a moment, she was ready to cash in on that. Instead, her mouth moved before her brain.
"I guess we're even," she smiled.
The divine holdings that would enforce cooperation fizzled out, forever lost to the winds. The shock on his face made her smile, a warmth settling in her chest. She ran a hand through Eri's hair, her tired eyes softening at the child.
"We're even," said Aphrodite, this time with greater strength. "Now, I'm exhaus–EEEP!"
She shuddered at his touch, but that wasn't the problem…or rather it shouldn't be? The warmth that surged in her body was unnatural, a flow of his energy seeping into every crevice and crack of her divine form. Her own divinity had taken a hit from the aftereffects of getting involved. Her exhaustion would have taken her weeks to recover from.
For as much as a right as Aphrodite had to be involved, that didn't change that Eri was no child of hers. A lessened strain that she was thankful for. Yet, it was a moot point. It was unlike anything she had ever felt. She was an ocean compared to his spark, a primordial entity against a God. Yet, it was seamless. The fire seeped into the depths of her core, easing the strain.
It kept coming over and over. She briefly inspected it, just a peak–
CRUNCH
SNAP
She had to rear back. The flow of early memories was simply too much.
"Aphrodite?"
She was jilted out of her shock, eyeing Hephaestus.
"I'm sorry, I assumed that—I shouldn't have–"
"It's fine," she muttered, "Just never felt that before…that's all."
It wasn't a lie, but he looked at her as if she spoke one.
"I can offer more, if you'd like. I meant it when I said that I owe you more than I could ever repay," he whispered.
She waved it off.
"I'm more concerned about you at the moment. Didn't think you swore an oath not to harm Medusa."
"I didn't."
His face was as calm as ever. Yet, his heart, it rung with a fear dark enough to make her think it was Tartarus itself.
"Well, you must have," muttered Aphrodite, lazily getting up. She eyed Eri, the girl still holding her tight.
"I can promise you I swore no such oaths to any entity."
"Really? No promises at all?"
"I've given promises but…"
Aphrodite crossed her arms.
"Well?"
"...I promised Athena I wouldn't get involved in her business anymore," he muttered.
"...She cursed Medusa, so it is possible. The fates did decree Perseus' life to Zeus lately. I heard Medusa was involved."
"Fuck," growled Hephaestus.
"Bad word," muttered Eri, her voice watery and weak.
Hephaestus typically didn't veer from his word. Athena felt different, more involved certainly, but he didn't think his word would bind him so. He had meant his words to Athena, invoked them with–
"Divinity," he muttered.
The weakest of the promises a God could invoke. It was the equivalent of a pinky promise. Something that showed sincerity but could be broken easily with only social consequences.
"Hilarious," growled Hephaestus in his thoughts, "The weakest promise a god could invoke, is the most binding!?"
Aphrodite shared in his apprehension. Swearing on Chaos was the only thing she had seen stop a god cold like that. The Styx would ravage a god, sure, using its own power in conjunction with her own, but that was different. There was time to break such an oath, disastrous as it would be.
Yet another of his secrets she would keep. Her mouth opened, echoing with primordial power.
"Forget."
A single word, and all mentions of his secret dissipated even from Gaia herself. Aphrodite eyed her hand, the power that slipped through her fingers now being called so easily.
"...I don't know what that was, but thank you."
She waved him off again, patting Eri's head to get her off. The girl sniffed, a bit of snot dribbling down her nose, her eyes covered in tears. It was rather gross, yet the goddess was not as averse as she thought she'd be.
"I have to go kid," she smiled, "but you're safe."
"You are Eri, I promise."
The calm glint in his eye had been done away with entirely. There was a madness there that woud turn the world to ash if need be.
"Aphrodite…it is best you go."
The goddess blinked as Hephaestus looked up. She dispersed, leaving with a pop.
"Hermes," he growled.
The god of speed appeared, smirking away.
"Man, it has been a while bro how–ooh."
The trickster wilted at the sight of his brother. The heat blasted him in the face, his eyes drying out. It was far from pleasant.
"So I take it that I won't be delivering goods. Got it–"
"Deliver a message to Nemesis and her sister Eris."
"...what's the word?"
He was flippant, but at the very least Hermes appeared to be taking some of this seriously. A few trees spontaneously combusted, the earth beneath them groaning as Hephaestus' concentration slipped.
"Nemesis' is next! You tell her–"
Hermes didn't move. If anything, he looked more disappointed.
"Take a breather–"
"They almost murdered my child! The only reason I do not storm Hades is to prevent the god forsaken war that idiot and his minions would wage if I did!"
Hermes rushed forward, eyeing everything around them.
"You are lucky I like you big red, or I would be telling Hades you called him an idiot. Breath."
The ever calm Hephaestus finally showing some cracks in his behaviour would have, ordinarily, made Hermes' day. But actually seeing it felt like he was two steps away from a volcano erupting, literally.
The god looked as if he was about to erupt and destroy everything around him.
"Look," sighed Hermes, "let's be straight here. Nemesis would just twist it as she always did and this whole thing would start again. You're almost there, just remove the last of her deals."
The realm was silent, the bubble Hermes had around him bringing it all to a silence.
"...you knew?" growled Hephaestus.
"Course I knew. I'm the lord of secrets and messages bro. You seriously think I wouldn't find out the so called cost for your wares?"
Hermes smirked.
"I have to admit, clever move having them swore non-agressions against you. The way you worded some of those contracts to screw over Nemesis without her realizing it? Oh, beautiful."
"Your flattery won't stop me," said Hephaestus, his voice acidic, his hand rubbing Eri's back as she coughed a bit more.
"Then let's talk facts," said Hermes. The switch-up was instant, an eerie stoicism that rightfully did not belong on Hermes. He wore it like a suit, his jovial attitude slipped away in the corner of his aspects. Zeus' fixer was the one talking now. "You go down blasting away it won't just be you paying the consequences, but all of us. You have zero substantial prove that it was Nemesis that pulled this off and you already dusted Eris."
Hermes looked in the distance, as if seeing all the specks.
"Literally. Even with Nyx aiding her recovery it will take her years to reform. You've already exacted your vengeance on the person that targeted you. It's how Nemesis rolls. All play, no consequences."
The way he spoke was irritating, especially as Hephaestus realized something.
"You know how she does it."
"I do," shrugged Hermes.
They both knew they were speaking of more than just avoiding consequences and divine law.
"She can manipulate fate?"
It was a ludicrous statement, and also completely illogical. Which was precisely why he said it. He eyed Hermes, the trickster's eyes widening as he settled into an easy smile.
"I can neither confirm nor deny such a thing," said Hermes glibly. "Nemesis is the arbiter of all conflicts, both vengeful and justified."
They shared a look, Hephaestus nodding along. Eri coughed a bit, but he held her close, Eri's face turned away from Hermes. Not that he was a fan of it.
"Of course…how silly of me. It would be completely unreasonable for her to have any sway on the scales of divine law itself."
"Oh yes," smirked Hermes, "the scales of divine law don't exist as a physical object after all."
But they did exist, a conceptual idea of fairness…one that Nemesis could nudge to her advantage. It was beginning to make sense, to a degree. But, there was still more to learn here. Hephaestus' rage simmered, held in a vice grip as he eyed Hermes.
"What would you suggest then, Hermes?"
The trickster shrugged.
"Just leave it be, nothing you can do about it. It would just get messy and more involved than it needs to be."
If he attacked Nemesis, others would come to her aid. It was why Hephaestus had begun to ply his trade, using agreements and contracts as payments. He was severing her alliances one way at a time, unbeknownst to Nemesis and her allies.
It was something outside of that. But he needed to be sure.
"Hades?" asked Hephaestus.
"Hmm?"
No, it wasn't him…it couldn't be.
"The night," he muttered.
"I've come across her a few times," admitted Hermes, "but I can't be sure what you're talking about. Speak sense brother."
Eri was bouncing between the gods, wondering what the actual hell they were talking about. But Hephaestus wasn't deciphering, but rather paying attention to how things were said.
He only said the night, not mentioning Nyx at all in proper context. Yet, Hermes admitted to having met the night in response. Nyx was the one that cursed him, limiting his knowledge of Nemesis. She was, of course, ready to protect Nemesis as well, as expected. But to what degree?
"Protective?" he asked.
"Extremely."
Protective beyond sense.
"Collateral?"
"Massive."
A nuclear response, escalating the conflict.
"Does origin matter?"
"I would say no. Others would… vehemently disagree."
Hermes knew, now Hephaestus knew. However, spreading this knowledge accomplished nothing as Nyx would just go nuclear anyway.
"...ease of movement?"
"Barely. One region."
However, she was restrained to the Underworld, and hopefully, Tartarus.
Hermes was having fun. His little spy games were rare between the gods, even his father not bothering half the time. But that was the fun of it, the plausible deniability.
"Hermes…I have a different message for you."
Hermes smirked.
"Oh?"
"Send an invitation. One she can't refuse."
Hermes rose a brow, eyes widening as he realized what he was doing.
"You're–"
"The summer solstice. Invite her to Olympus, under my authority. Tell her that I have need of her services against Eris, if she's interested."
Hermes bowed, the air around them thick in his divinity. Normally, he would be adjusting the memories of the land, ensuring that nothing would remain, yet it was if the entire place was already scrubbed clean by something.
It definitely wasn't Hephaestus, which meant someone else was here.
"I'll deliver the message accordingly."
He dispersed and Hephaestus lifted Eri close and moved. Athens, while relatively quiet compared to the region, was not without its mystical problems. At least, usually.
What few monsters were near shivered and died as Hephaestus simply waltzed past them. His mind was ablaze with the possibilities. The summer solstice. Of the celebrations, it was rather tame. Important, yes, but nothing overtly celebratory…until now.
Over the years that he had been an Olympian, he had basically been allowed to skip over much of the so-called big celebrations in lieu of more important things. Eri and Hecate for the most part, along with assisting in developing Lemnos in his minute ways.
This year was a different story. Zeus had all but confirmed this was the one event he could not skip. He had a feeling why, but that wasn't important. It was a highly classy event and the only one that he could think of that would bring Nemesis to him.
It would take years to find something more suitable, years that would bring Eris back. For now, Nemesis knew nothing, only that he had slain Eris successfully.
To her, he would be inviting her to exact further vengeance, with the invitation being proof of his sincerity.
"Dad–"
"Not now," he rumbled.
He would have to accelerate his timetable. He forged on his own time, creating weapons, armor, and even strange items that peaked his interest. He would then spend time with family, friends, and on his own. Work was, admittedly, a secondary concern, with him putting it off until a day or two before the deadlines.
Now?
After this trip, he would have to readjust his time tables.
"Dad?"
He stopped, bringing Eri up to eye level. She had smudged her face clean, still coughing a bit as she eyed him.
"You're getting sick," he muttered.
"No…I don't think so."
Eri was leaking divinity, a consequence of her actions.
"Your head is warm," he muttered, ignoring the short quintet coughs she fired off. He placed a hand on her, noting the way her body was heating up. He sighed a bit in relief. He knew what this was.
"Come, we'll rest."
"B-but Papa–"
"None of that, sleep."
Zeus, Demeter, Hera, Eris, Aphrodite, and even Hepahestus himself had all allowed their divinity free reign around Eri. It stood to reason that she was beginning to feel slightly off from it all. He found a tree, just outside the city limits of Athens.
For all that Eri pushed against him, she soon settled into sleep, a final cough for good measure. She was here, alive and well. His fingers softly threaded in her hair, holding her close.
His golden eyes shimmered, the cracks of his body shattering into place. The once golden lines shining an eerie blue. His body shuddered as he closed it off forcibly, the rage returning to the darkest recesses of his mind. It would not be fire that would win the day. No.
Hephaestus' eyes began to dull, the once golden sheen withering into that of a cold, steel, grey.
Never again.