Forging Is Also Fun. Why Is He Crying?

After countless years practicing the art of the forge, Theodore picked up a good eye for those who knew what they were doing.

He hoped to pass on his forge to his child, unfortunately, the young boy had come to anger a minor God, causing an untimely death, leaving him alone once more, falling into a great depression.

This caused him to hold anger at the gods, but more so, himself. No pain could come close to the one of being a failure as a father.

Crafting weaponry was all that he had come to do since then, yet no more passion could be seen in his eyes; Darkness keeps his life from striving as his age nears 33.

However, when he saw a cheerful charismatic boy enter his forge, the string of fate seemed to begin to weave around him, as his life had yet to reach its end.

….

"Okay Hephy, remember what I said, spread this over yourself frequently as to not stick out too much, we don't want you to attract the attention of any god or goddess. I fear what they would do if they saw how handsome you are with your fire," She said, pinching my cheek.

It's funny to hear that since the last goddess to see what I looked like lobbed me from the highest peak in the land.

"I know mom, don't worry," I reassured her.

I quickly placed what I suspected to be some applicable mist; The perfect thing to stop mortals and lower Gods noticing my true form, into my makeshift backpack.

"Mom…is it okay if I go in by myself? I know that you don't really like places full of heat," I asked her, wanting to have my first bit of independence in this life.

She but her bottom lip slightly and her eyes began to wonder around everywhere except at me, here usual habit when I ask her anything, before looking back to me as she said, "Fine," followed with a sigh, "Remember to check your 'hourglass', as will I, and meet back here when it strikes 15,"

"Thank you, mom," I say before rushing towards the smoke engulfed building.

BANG!

Before I am able to get to the door, it is quickly slammed open as a few men, covered with sweat and grime, left, all with cheerful smiles and pounding chests

"Gotta say that wasn't the slowest day we've seen you have, Lasonas," One of them said.

"Hold on, is that a compliment? Because…honestly, I'm stunned," The man identified as Lasonas replied.

"No, you know what is stunning? Your smell," He joked, causing a smile to form on my lips

The group of men began to snicker as they had all now left the forge.

Lasonas also began to laugh louder than the others before saying, "I don't know, Adreus, I like it. Reminds me of your mother,"

Adreus looked offended while the others laughed louder, "That's rude, I'm going to tell her you said that, ghastròdes,"

I had never heard that word before. Ghastròdes? I'll have to ask Thetis or Eurynome at a later date.

I swiftly snaked behind them, entering the building, leaving them to converse between themselves.

TTANG!

I jumped slightly, turning towards the source of the sound. The sight I saw heavily resembled the image I had seen in the white abyss, of course with less…white.

The man who had been working his hammer in the smithy was rough looking and their physique was good. They reminded me of a blacksmith you would see as an NPC in a video game. They took a heavy-handed attitude as they slammed down another heavy TTANG! towards what he was crafting.

"Don't you know sneaking around gets you in lots of trouble boy? Go home, I'm sure you would rather spend your time sucking on your mother's breasts?" He grumbled with his deep voice

I smiled before voicing, "There is no time but the present sir,"

He gave a single, low chuckle before responding, "True that is,"

He then continued to work; I admired his craft and so questioned, "Why a Mycenaean?"

He raised a single eyebrow, looking up to me, "You can distinguish?"

"I have read lots of manuscripts," I told him

Hey…maybe I could introduce some people to books instead of having to use those long and annoying scripts, I can make things plenty easier.

"You can also read?" He gave another question

"I have a good teacher," I said, making my smile grow bigger

"You have a teacher?"

"My mom is quite clever, so she is my teacher,"

"Clearly. Allowing her child to wander around aimlessly into a place he probably knows nothing about,"

"My mom is extremely clever, thank you, and I do know plenty about smithy's,"

"You do?"

"I read lots of manuscripts with my teacher," I said, causing him to give me the stink eye.

"A parent should…a parent should keep an eye on their child," He said, getting strangely quieter.

"Enough of that, either leave or pick up a hammer. 'There is no time but the present' right?" He spoke tossing me a hammer.

I caught it as he said, "Just…be careful, don't want you taking it too far, eh?"

"Oh? Well if you're concerned about keeping me safely don't you worry, I'll shock you right away. If I do, then you'll let me come here every day. How about it?" I bribed with him

"Sure…go ahead," He said, not looking up to meet my eyes, instead of focusing on his artwork.

"The name is Theodore," he suddenly said

"Nice to meet you, Theo. I'm Hephaestus,"

….

"This…whore, wouldn't know how to even swing a small blade!" Ares shouted, fuming at a nearby goddess.

He signals to his two horses before walking away.

"Honestly you are the most bearish pig-headed man I have ever met," the goddess responded.

"Hey, lady, I know the high-born boys your type hangs around with…I'm the only man you've ever met," Ares replied, a smug smile plastered across his face as he vanished in a dashing golden light.

Reappearing, Ares strode confidentially towards his mother's residence.

"Mother!" He shouted as he neared

The garden was always a shade brighter in the rain. It was as if the gift of the skies wasn't water, but liquid magic, washing our world to show what was there all along, nature in her in humble brilliance. The buttercups became gold, the grass the shade of every dreamers meadow, roots quenched, soil renewed. And after the patter of the rain came bursts of birdsong, their hearts rejoicing the occasion of the rain.

"Son? What do YOU want?" She sighed, "Start another war again?"

"Always nice to see you as well mother. But no, it's because Oizys seems to be causing unrest along the shores of Lemnos. A few sea nymphs were seen fleeing. I don't know what she wants there, but I can feel the tides of war brewing," Ares informed her

"You told me this because?" Hera asked him

"Because it is too well-timed. First, you banish my brother to somewhere unknown, now a goddess is wanting to take a random island. It may be possible that they are there," Ares told her

"You are not this clever, how did you figure this out?" Hera questioned

"I swear to Zeus if one more cretin doubts my intelligence-" "I did," A smooth voice perked up

Both Ares and Hera turned and saw:

"Athena," came a grumbling sound from Ares, "I told you, we shall see each other once more on the coasts of Lemnos, where I will finally kick your as-"

"I told the brute not to inform you. Of course, he does the exact opposite I ask of him, I suppose I should be taking that into account," Athena spoke

"I don't see how you could have stopped him," Hera said.

"I assumed I could just wait for him to calm himself down," Athena replied.

"That's what you'd think! I'm an eternal flame woman!" Ares shouted proudly

The two women just gave him a simple "Mhmm," before leaving him to do as he wants.

"Well, I too am just here to remind you, soon, your actions will catch up to you, of that I am sure," Athena worked her step-mother before retreating away.

"I wonder," she mumbled, "If this will bring them out of hiding?"

Thousands of different events constantly flood in and out of her mind, yet none come to a solid conclusion. Such is the curse of knowledge.

….

I was happy. Heating up in front of the fire gave me a sense of fulfillment.

This was art. A carefully sculpted piece of work that surpasses the mere phrase 'labor'. My breathing is in harmony with the hammer.

Then I used a special technique. Tempering involved reheating the quenched metal and then gradually lowering it to decrease the metal's brittleness. It was adding a flourish to the production method, which could strengthen the metal in the end.

My concentration increased further and the enjoyment that flooded into me increased just as much.

I may get addicted to this.

TTANG! TTANG!

I complained but still immersed myself in the actions.

I alternated between the hammer and metals, producing my first craft. The effect of my concentration was noticeable in the blade. It might've been because I made it myself, but the parts were really beautiful.

Before this life, I had no talent so I felt no pleasure no matter what I did. I had to work my guts off just to fall behind. But now I had talent. It was a talent that could be enjoyed by all.

TTANG! TTANG!

I felt stable, my body harmonious with my surroundings.

Finally, I had finished. A beautiful piece of work, shining in the sun as if it were fashioned from the brilliant rays themselves.

I took a small breath and looked over to Theodore, to see him staring at me, tears pricking at the edges of his eyes, lost in a trance.

"Oh…oh dear,"

….

Note: Ghastròdes - big-bellied, fatso