DA : Chapter 54: Protogenoi Rise II
"Hail! Perseus Theseus Jackson, Primordial of Night, Darkness, Shadows, and Cold! King of the Protogenoi Council! Lord of Wolves!" Phoebe finished as another wave of power erupted off Percy while his eyes widened as the new domains took their place with him.
...
A new domain, a conceptual one at that, added an unprecedented amount of power as he felt his control and awareness grow even stronger in the frozen lands of the earth.
He could also feel the presence of wolves around the world and he could swear he could hear them collectively howling to the night at the recognition of their new master.
He remained silent for a minute as he absorbed all the new input while the air around him flash froze for a moment. He then sighed while rolling his shoulders and looking to the other protogenoi who looked thoroughly god-smacked.
He would have given a sheepish chuckled but Phoebe wasn't stopping as she spoke again, this time the glow surrounding Rhea.
"Hail! Moras Rhea, Primordial of Earth and Nature! Queen of the Protogenoi Council! Lady of Lions!"
Like Percy, Rhea had a pulse of power come off her and Percy was reminded of the time he spent in Pan's presence before the god faded as an aura of peace and life radiated off her.
Her aura was so enriching that real plants, unlike the fake ones Percy made for the garden, sprouted at her feet. Rhea smiled at her full declaration of their domains. After a moment Phoebe turned to Jason and continued on.
"Hail! Jason Grace, Primordial of Light, Day, Upper Atmosphere!"
As she finished Jason glowed only for a moment but far more subdued, though he looked a little lackluster but then again he didn't have a natural animal like Percy and Rhea though then again, the others didn't either. It was rare as is to have a natural sacred animal rather than a claimed animal. After Jason came Thalia.
"Hail! Thalia Grace, Primordial of Heaven and Storms!"
Thalia was around surrounded by another ragging wind for a moment before she sighed and relaxed while Phoebe turned her attention to Andromeda.
"Hail! Andromeda Xena Jackson, Primordial of Love, Desire, Procreation, and Attraction!"
As with the others Andromeda had another pulse of power come off her before she remained standing straight. With all the heirs fully claimed and placed, the new council directed their attention to the center as Styx walked up to them.
The Titaness of the River of Hate fidgeted with nervous energy, her green and black streaked eyes looking at each of them for a moment or so before switching. Her dark green hair seeming to churn with the same waters of her river flowed around her while her hands played with the strings tied around her black chiton.
"Meris Styx," Percy started, gaining the titan's attention as she stood straighter, though in fear or respect Percy wasn't too sure. "You are called before the Primordial Council to ascend to our ranks as a new seat. Do you accept?" he asked to which she slowly nodded.
Percy smirked before all the protogenoi raised a hand and aimed it at her as they started to speak in the ancient tongue of the Primordial Gods as Styx was surrounded in a glow of power. Soon the glow was blinding before it exploded in a wave of power. Once released Styx stood with an air of a primordial, wings of seemingly solid green and black water resting at her back as Phoebe spoke.
"Hail! Meris Styx, Primordial of the River Styx, Hate, and Oaths!"
With Phoebe's words the birth of a completely new primordial was complete. Styx smiled before she walked and stood before the seat next to Phoebe leaving the throne to Percy's right and the last to Andromeda's right empty. Percy glanced at Nico before speaking.
"Nico, I know you can't take your place as a full primordial yet but I think you are more than clear to claim the title of heir," he said as Nico glanced at Tartarus. The last elder primordial nodded to which Nico responded by walking up to the center before speaking.
"I, Nico Di Angelo, state my claim and right to be heir of Tartarus, Primordial of the Pit!"
With his words a combination of elements ranging from darkness and purple flames to the ground shaking beneath them along with the Pit surrounded Nico.
The protogenoi watched as the new demi-primordial's power spiked to godly levels. Once the elements calmed Nico was visible again with an even stronger aura of malevolence around him but with a new addition.
Around his neck was a black steeled pendant with what looked like a ruby in the center glowing with in an ethereal red. 'His manifestation of power' Percy thought while also wondering what abilities the pendant carried.
Nico self inspected himself for a moment while Percy glanced to Tartarus, noticing the nearly hidden slouch the elder primordial now had. 'No going back with the next phase,' Percy mused before looking at Rhea to his left and after exchanging a nod, she spoke.
"Aera Hestia," Rhea called, making the goddess in question jump slightly while the others looked on curiously. "Please step forward."
Hestia gulped at the commanding voice of her mother but did so, walking slowly while looking at each new primordial in apprehension as their audience remained rather silent. Once in the center she stopped as Percy decided it was his turn to speak.
"Hestia," he said in a warm tone as the goddess locked eyes with him. "You've been a quiet observer to the time of the Olympians and always helped keep the peace.
Though few ever noticed you, you were key to maintaining hope even in the gravest of circumstances. You were also humble and able to set aside your pride as a goddess to set a balance in the Olympian Council.
But now to us, hope is needed more than anything. We are about to go to war and the trust in our family matters above all. That is why I ask you … would you accept a new seat among the Primordial Council?"
If Hestia's eyes could get any wider Percy wasn't sure but it looked like she was damn well trying. He had to suppress a chuckle at her face, lest she think he was joking.
However, he and the other protogenoi remained rather stern though not unkind as they waited for the goddess to process the invitation. It took several minutes before Hestia finally shook off the shock before looking directly back at Percy again.
"A-are you sure?" she asked in a near whisper. "… I mean … I …"
She trailed off as she looked down at her feet, her frame shaking slightly making Rhea sigh with a small and understanding smile. She then walked forward towards Hestia and brought the younger goddess into a gentle hug before speaking softly.
"Hestia … you have no idea just how important you are to not only Percy and I but all of us. We want you with us, to be our warmth and guidance. So … what do you say?"
Hestia kept shaking for a bit before slowly looking up, showing that she had been crying silently but the warm smile on her face told Percy that those were happy tears. To being finally recognized and accepted rather than the quiet goddess dismissed by most of her family for several millennia.
"Yes …" she replied making Rhea beam before giving her a quick kiss on the forehead.
Rhea stepped back to her throne and turned as the protogenoi gave Hestia encouraging smiles before raising their hands again. The chanted once more in the primordial language as Hestia was surrounded in a red and orange surge of divine power, the air around them starting to steam around them.
They wrapped up the chant but just as they lowered their hands Percy's eyes widened as he felt the surge of power coming. With a flick of his wrist a wall of darkness surged before their audience as several of the other protogenoi raised their own defense, mostly covering themselves with their wings.
Not a moment too soon an explosion of the strongest Greek fire Percy had ever felt burst around Hestia. Percy, even being immune to fire damage thanks to Hestia's blessing from so long ago, felt the heat surrounding him to the point of mild discomfort.
The blaze died down in a few seconds and he glanced around at the others that rested their wings, none looking hurt at all even though some of their wings were steaming. Percy also lowered the wall of darkness cutting off their audience before focusing back on Hestia.
His jaw almost dropped as he looked at her again but this time really looked at her. Her once brunette hair was now nearly as black as his own but with orange and red glowing tips reaching her mid back.
Her light skin had gained a tanner complexion while her irises were glowing in deep tones of red flame similar to his black flaming eyes while her pupils became narrow while remaining dark.
Her modest chiton became far more form fitting, hugging her curves in ways that made him focus on his self-control. And lastly on her back were a pair of wings looking like a fusion of bright red feathers and scales.
Each scale covering the top gleamed in deep crimson with waves of heat radiating off them as a polar opposite to the cool darkness dissipating around Percy's raven wings.
While Percy continued to imprint the sight before him to his mind permanently Phoebe shook her head a little before clearing her throat. That broke Percy's stupor as he glanced at the new primordial of fate as Phoebe spoke.
"Hail! Aera Hestia, Primordial of Hope, Unity, and Fire! Second Queen of the Protogenoi Council! Lady of Dragons!"
Percy's jaw dropped again at the mention of Hestia's domains as well as her newest title. Dragons. Of all the sacred animals to naturally attain Hestia had to get the rarest.
There were few true dragons in Greek mythology but the few known were some of the most powerful, Ladon chief among them. Hestia herself marveled at herself before looking at Percy again with a more confident air around her.
Percy smiled at her before glancing at the empty throne beside him. Hestia smiled as she walked up to it and sat down, looking as though she was born to be on that throne.
With her sitting so did the others before their audience stepped closer themselves, looking on in awe. Percy smirked slightly before he cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. Once he had it he spoke calmly.
"Now that the new council is formed be ready." He then moved his hands to his sides and took a hand from Hestia and Rhea each, getting a reassuring squeeze from both.
"Our war … is about to begin …"
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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.
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