37 The First, Pandora

" S I L E N C E ! ! ! " Zeus boomed, sending shockwaves around the room from the sheer voice of his command.

The room shrank and the mood turned completely tense. Ares and Apollo had sat back down, and the rest visibly straightened themselves. Despite all his faults, Zeus was king, nothing more, nothing less.

Which means his authority was never to be questioned.

" Now... that I have ALL of your attention... " He began slowly, sending looks to everyone in the room.

" We are going to make another mortal, and she will be the first woman. She will be given gifts and wedded to that Epimetheus... Hephaestus.. you will forge her from the very ground. " Zeus continued, looking towards the Fire God.

" Aye.. It'll be done. When do ya need it? " He asked, slightly interested in the prospect of forging a life.

" Now. Demeter? If you would please. " Zeus confirmed, looking expectantly towards his sister.

' Why don't we just get it outside? Jeez.. Zeus and his theatrics..' She muttered in an extremely small voice as she conjured a giant pillar of clay.

Hephaestus looked at the pillar for but a moment, took out his divine hammer and a chisel that he keeps on him, and started working as the Olympians bore witness.

Minutes upon minutes he toiled, delicate and precise in his work.

As he worked, some of the Olympians would give suggestions in their boredom.

" That.. doesn't look beautiful enough. She's the first mortal woman! She's gotta be special! " Apollo voiced out, intentions not entirely pure.

" Sigh.. why do I do this to myself.. " The God of the Forge only sighed and started shaping more details.

" Where are the muscles? How do you expect her to fend for herself? " Ares shared his very biased opinion.

" I don't know if your ape brain noticed Ares, but she will be plenty strong without the muscles.. she's made out of divine clay you dolt! " Apollo retorted, keen to stop Ares' suggestion for some weird nefarious reason.

" Listen to your brother Apollo, Ares. " Zeus added as Poseidon nodded sagely.

At this, Athena and Artemis scoffed and looked away as some Hestia gave a wry smile at their 'antics'.

As they bickered, Hephaestus completed the figure's body and face, with much interruption from the audience.

" Her hair is too long. " One chimed.

" Too short. " Another rang in protest.

" C'mon! Why can't anything just please you guys! " Hephaestus said exasperated as he finished her facial features, though if he meant the figure or his situation within their family was unclear.

" Aaalright! All done! Ain't she a beaut? " The stout God said as he backed away from the figure, proud of his work.

" It's.. adequate. " Hera said lamely, uncaring of her son's feelings.

Hephaestus deflated at that.

" It will do... Hermes! " Zeus called.

" Here!! What do you require, sire? " A lithe figure appeared in a blur, practically hopping in place.

Hermes was presently the God of Roads, as well as the esteemed Herald of the Olympians and protector of travelers.

He had a baby face with delicate, effeminate features. Curly dirty blond hair, and slanted auburn eyes that shone rather excitedly. He had an affable smile and an energetic and cunning temperament. He was quite lean, and a considerably younger stature compared to the others. He wore all kinds of leather cloths and satchels above his white chiton.

He also wore his most treasured sandals, the winged sandals that was forged by Hephaestus from imperishable gold and allowed him to run faster than Apollo's sunrays.

He was the youngest Olympian, being born only a handful of decades ago. He was appointed the messenger of the Gods by Zeus himself.

" Call Epimetheus, he will be the one to take and guide her. " Zeus explained.

" Roger! Roger! " Hermes made a small salute and sped out of the meeting hall faster than the eye could see.

" Now, let us bring her to life. Athena, Hephaestus." The king declared.

" Aye! "

" I understand. " Two voices agreed in unison.

Athena stepped up to the clay figure, and with an approving nod from the Fire God, channeled a familiar power, and sent life coursing through the figure's now existent veins with but a breath.

Blink!

The figure blinked, seeing for the very first time.

She had beautiful brown hair that reached just below her nape. She had elegant features, and lively brown eyes that flittered around the room. She was dressed in only a chiton that Hephaestus had quickly draped over her.

She saw...

She saw her own lithe hands, she saw the majestic walls of the room.. and she saw the most beautiful people she would ever see. She blinked and blinked, subconsciously gathering her bearings.

She felt a welling in her throat as she looked at the figures before her.

And so, she spoke.

" Who... am I? What am I? Where am I? " And instantly fired off question after question.

The figures looked on amusedly at her, with one in particular having a proud glint in his gleaming eyes. A blacksmith's work was never complete without a signature, or at least something to make it unique to every other creation.

He had made her especially capable, and with the help of Athena's gift of wisdom, her most important trait;

her curiosity.

" Hohoh! Now now, young one, let's slow down there alright? " The God of the Forge addressed her.

The newborn just blinked in confusion and affirmation.

" Now, ye' must be wonderin' where ye are! You, my dear, are in Olympus! Home of the Gods, and we... we have a special purpose for ya! " Hephaestus explained.

" O-oh... Gods.. I see.. what about me? What am I? " She asked owlishly, Athena faintly smirked, approving her inquisitive nature.

" You. You, are the first. The first mortal woman. " Zeus declared.

" The first? Oh dear, o-okay... I'll try my best.. " She said meekly.

Hestia smiled, already liking the young mortal.

" Uhm... Oh God's, what is my purpose? " She continued.

" You, we will bless you with our gifts.. with them, you shall pave the way forward, and to equip them for the... storm... that will befall them.. " Zeus explained ominously.

The rest of the Olympians just raised an eyebrow in confusion.

' No matter.. ' Most thought.

Some however, were quite expectant, a storm? How very like Zeus, the bearer of lightning. This might be fun..

" Okay... I'll do it! " She said determined.

Zeus just barely quirked a smile at this, the reasons for this however were unclear.

" And one last thing, your name.... it will be.. Pandora. " The King of Gods had bestowed upon her a name.

" T-thank you. " Pandora expressed in gratitude.

--- To Be Continued ---

( I'm just setting up the events for the next part of the story, so sorry if it's a little lackluster. This is all in preparation for the future however, so no avoiding it.

Remember to support the novel if you like it. Power stones, comments, reviews especially, anything is appreciated! That's all bye! )