12 chapter 12

"I volunteer to be the one to seek for it"

"isn't that pointless though?"

Apollo spoke right after Ares and  not  giving anyone time to  think about what Ares just said.

"the oracle foretells the future sure but  the future is forever changeable meaning the  future you sees might not actually bee  the future that will pass, it only  shows the various possibilities, and  if you think you can sift through infinite possibilities without your head exploding each time you look at even two possible futures then you're a masochist"

Apollo explained, the  information contained within a single future is enough to  overwhelm the brain of any God. Apollo had searched for the Oracle back when he was younger, he  found it and used it to  help humans prosper, unfortunately the oracle can't be wielded by a single individual for too long as such it disappears after a few days.

"A little bit of pain is nothing, You and Athena will look for the Oracle, while I and everyone else try and  figure out who might this potentially traitor is"

"but father I can accomplish this task Myself"

"No, you will be accompanied by your sibling, that's final  and  this meeting is over."

"Father,  I volunteer in Athena's stead, surely my strength would be valuable for the search"

Ares spoke with vigor slamming his fist on to his chest, he can't have anyone find the oracle before his otherwise what he wants won't happen and  he can't have that.

"no, you aren't needed"

Zeus said, before leaving the  room rather quickly, he seemed to be  still quite angry because the  roaring thunder never stopped.

..

With the meeting over, Everyone was now exiting the meeting room. Aphrodite had wanted to speak with Hephaestus more but couldn't because it seems  that the God queen wanted to speak with him as well as such she settled to wait for him.

Exiting the meeting room She was suddenly given a hug by Hestia from  behind.

"Hey Aphy, can I invite you for some tea in my palace and maybe talk about how Hephaestus can make me a dress"

"sorry I can't. I actually have some things to discuss with him, I'm  just waiting for him to finish his talk with Hera"

Aphrodite explained,  Hestia released her hug with a smile on her on  her as she understood what Aphrodite meant.

"I see, I understand"

She said patting the Goddess of beauty on the shoulder causing  Aphrodite to shake her head, Hestia was misunderstanding her intentions but she decided not to correct her anyway.

"Alright, I'll Just have Demeter or Leto be my tea companions both of  them have nothing to do, just like me so it works out"

 She said as  she walked away, waving goodbye to Aphrodite and tried to catch up to the other Goddesses, Aphrodite stood  near the entrance waiting for Hephaestus to finish his talk with Hera, she was kinda curious how  their conversation was going to go.

..

Exiting  the meeting a little displeased Ares had  a frown on his face, he failed to understand what his siblings had that made their father consider them  for the job of looking for the Oracle. He was going to look for it himself anyway but Zeus telling him he wasn't needed struck him greatly, he was both saddened but at the same time he felt the need to prove his father wrong.

With his eyes now focused straight ahead he saw Hestia bidding farewell to Aphrodite, he then smiled as he saw that she was now alone. Brushing his hand across the top of his head he adopted a confident look and strutted beside Aphrodite. Now that the meeting was over he needed something to unwind and Aphrodite was just the perfect Goddess. Perhaps may be he can get her on his side regarding his plans.

"Aphrodite"

He spoke with a voice that oozed a confidence worthy of a God, his muscles appeared slightly bigger and denser now he seemingly showing them off.

Having turned her head towards his direction, she raised a curious brow at him, the smile on his face was one she recognized after all it's a smile all the Gods give her when they see her or talk to her, it easily told her about their intentions.

"do you need something Ares?"

"Yes, I need you"

....

Back inside the meeting room, once everyone had left leaving two individuals in the room who stayed silent for a couple of seconds letting an awkward silence settle in. One of them  seemed to be trying to find words to speak while the other tried to pretend no one was in the room with him, it was clear that the relationship of these two was quite strained.

"my Son, you seem better looking  now"

She began, one could say  that she should have worked her sentence better but those were genuine thoughts on Hephaestus's current appearance.

"is that all you have to say and when did I start being your son?"

She replied, ignoring the rather insulting statement Hera had made. He was never handsome to begin with so she was right, he did look better than before.

The two individuals Hera and Hephaestus were now the only people in the room, Hephaestus was seated while Hera stood beside him, She looked at him with an unreadable gaze, One could not tell what she was thinking when she wore that stoic expression.

Once everyone had exited the room, these two remained, Hera wanted to have a talk to him about the sudden appearance change and perhaps mend the relationship they have so she asked him to stay and talk and Hephaestus only complied because he held out hope that their relationship would be at least civil.

He looked better now, less disgusting and more handsome, still far from being the most handsome but handsome nonetheless. He didn't seem to want to look at her as he didn't turn his head even a little as they spoke.

"You were always my son, I never denied that"

Hera moved her hand to touch his shoulders but Hephaestus, quickly slapped her Hand away.

"never really got that impression, I mean throwing me off Olympus sent a different kind of impression"

"I know it may have looked like that but…."

She tried to explain but Hephaestus suddenly stood up and interrupted her, a small tinge of anger spike in his heart though he didn't show It on his face and maintained a neutral facial expression.

"But what? You wanted to build my character or perhaps make me learn how be strong? Or was it because of a prophecy that predicted that'd I'd die if you didn't throw me away?"

He asked calmly with slight octave rise in his voice, of course these were just random guesses he thought off, in his past life there were many stories quite like that, where there reason why the parents abandoned their kids is because they want to be strong which was just ridiculous.

"it doesn't matter what your reason was, as none can justify your actions, even now you're approaching me because of my sudden appearance change."

"you will not speak to me in such a manner, I was trying to be civil with you and forget your childish prank with the golden throne but it seems I was wrong"

Hera spoke with a venom, it seems Hephaestus was not willing to talk to her and  she wasn't about to be disrespected like that. If he wishes for their relationship to stay the same then so be it. Hearing her words, anger bubbled up from within his Heart, the sheer audacity that was  laced within that sentence was palpable.

"if you had any remorse for what you did this  would have been a Good chance to apologize but I suppose the God queen apologizes to no one."

He  spoke as his voice Increased in volume, his anger rose once more along with  the temperature in the room.

"apologize? You are a God Hephaestus a simple toss off Mount Olympus would not have killed you"

Hephaestus grasped his face as an attempt to  calm himself and not let her words rile him up, she wasn't his mother, she was a stranger and he didn't need the love or validation of a stranger,  the God queen was simply that a God queen and nothing more. With  a breath he quelled his anger and calmed himself.

"I am…. Honestly I shouldn't have expected anything, I suppose I'm at fault for my expectations"

This  woman was his mother in this life,  the person who  brought him fourth and  blessed him with life. He had foolishly let the memories of his past life  give him hope,  when  she asked him to remain and  talk he complied because he  thought she might have had a change of heart, perhaps it was his own fault as  well, he should have  let her speak  instead of suddenly getting angry but then again does he really lose anything?

"I will take my leave now Your majesty, have  a nice day"

Hephaestus abruptly ended  the conversation and  left, speaking with her any further would yield zero results and a waste of time, perhaps talking to  Aphrodite will  cheer him up. He  shook his head and  exited the room  leaving Hera with  a frown.

...

A/N: after this, the word will be 2k words, incidentally last chapter was 2k words lol, I cut this chapter because I felt that interaction with Hera was a good stopping point.