3 Jude? A God? Hepheastus?
Hera, the Queen of Olympus, knew her name would be tarnished if the word had gotten out about how she had hurled her child from his rightful birthplace.
Knowing that his reputation was not one that everybody respected, unlike hers, she decided to have the rumors spread that it was her husband, Zeus, who had banished the child from Olympus, hurling their child from the other gods.
With this, she was sure that she would never be associated with anything crude to tarnish her name, hoping nobody would find anything out.
However, a rare moment of foolishness had occurred, that the mere presence of a servant became unknown in the spur of the moment; The only one to hold the knowledge of Hera, the lava drinker, and the one to banish her child.
….
Feeling my body free fall through the sky, I realized that I had no control of myself.
I presume that I am but a baby, so my immature body was completely undeveloped and I could not control myself at all. Not that I knew that if I was in my normal body I could anyway since I was never tossed into the sky or did any parachuting.
My speed began to hasten as I felt my trajectory begin to drop, gravity suddenly becoming my best friend.
I saw the incoming sea searingly teleporting in front of me, the vibrant reflections hastened my worries.
I don't want to die here!
It's obvious that I've just had a new chance at life, yet I was dashed hod knows how many miles into the sky!
Instinct suddenly kicked in, like filling a cup with water; My vision suddenly engulfed with flames. Surprisingly, it didn't feel harmful to me at all it felt like it was protecting me, embracing me softly.
The areas which the fiery figure had traced all suddenly became a pleasant attraction, digging into my heart.
I landed in the water; It felt like a season softened bed of leaves; My body relaxing as it had finally escaped the previous danger.
I attempt to breathe in relief, but I soon begin to worry as I inhale an abundance of water, forcing my eyes to go wide open and my feeble attempt of swimming upwards with my noodle-like arms.
I try to use the mysterious power from earlier but all it seemed to do was send out pulsating flames, somehow still able to move around in the water.
My mind dropped as my hope became despair once more, as my chance of a new life shattered what had only just been fixed.
….
Thetis, a sea nymph, daughter of Nereus and Doris, had been having a normal, relaxing day in Poseidon's domain.
"The sea is beautiful, and so the perfect resting place for beings that are as equally as beautiful"
Those are the words my mother always told me. It seems extremely arrogant, something that I would want to avoid because I want to become a good nymph in the future so that when I feel like the time is right, I will be able to raise my child to know the pain and the suffering of others.
It's precisely because I understand the pain of others, that I am able to recognize the slight disarray of the ocean currents nearby.
Pulses of divine energy spread across the countless waves; Pulses of struggle, one's that show clear signs of being a call for help.
I swiftly swam, arriving at my destination even quicker; I became surprised at my findings. Strong waves of fire, surviving through even the waters of the ocean, danced around abruptly; Imperceptible to sight from afar but up close, my mind became lost to the extraordinary instrument played before me.
"Hello?!" I yelled aloud.
No response.
"HELLO?!" I tried to shout once more.
No response.
Braving myself, I contracted under the shroud of the fire and dashed into the blazing destination.
Surprisingly, however, my body felt welcomed by the flames; The word 'HELP' softly called throughout my mind, and so I did, heading towards the center of the built-up fire.
I was greeted by something I had expected least. I would have thought to see a drunken God, or some inhabitant of the sea, fooling with something they shan't have done.
Instead, my eyes laid themselves on the most peculiar child I had seen in my life. My many years and infinite lifespan had gifted me the treasured sight of many babies and newborn sea spirits.
However, I had never seen a babe that had seemed to be the personification of fire itself. Still humanistic in appearance, but graced beautifully with patterns of conflagration.
I hurriedly increased my pace, carefully clutching the child in my arms, molded by the fires, and swam off, towards my home where Eurynome was waiting.
Her thoughtful concern reassured me that she too realized the perculiance of the child.
….
Murmurs and constant unrest laid itself upon Mount Olympus.
The polished pearls are wet with the night's rain and made slippery by the wintry temperature, casting the water film into ice; Displaying the God's current state of distraction, having a serious time of contemplation.
"So…" a drawling and annoyed voice began, "What are these rumours about the banishment of your child, Hera?"
The Goddess in question turned to her husband and spoke in a bitter tone, "It is better off gone from here Zeus, I am aware my actions were foolish. Trying to make a parthenogenesis child was a silly mistake. Let us just forget about it,"
"I take it that was the baby I saw speeding through the air," Apollo said, making it known he knew all along…of course, he would, who do you think he is? Helios? Ha! You're funny.
"Sister, I know the love you felt for your child was not fake when we spent the time nurturing him," the voice of reason spoke out.
In response to this, Hera only turned to not face her, falling into contemplation as she replied, "What's done is done, Hestia, that's enough talk about…'it',"
"Sister, we both saw their connection to the fire, it was incredible!" Hestia tried to coax her sister with words of the child's potential.
She knew that Hera may take the child back if she realized the greatness it could achieve; turning to Hera's wanting to achieve personality, high lifting the child's greatness.
"I say one less man on Olympus hasn't done anyone any harm," A cold voice said.
"Truly…you know how to read the room Artemis, no wonder Dionysus didn't invite you to the party yesterday," Hermes told her snappily.
"Hm? Party? I didn't see any?" Ares chipped in.
"Exactly," Dionysus and Hermes replied in harmony.
"You fuckin-" "SILENCE!" A voice bellowed.
"Enough with the games…we need to know what we are going to do about what my wife has done," Zeus demanded the other 10 in the room.
"I'll be the one to keep a lookout. There is no point in searching for something that Hera says doesn't belong," Apollo said.
"She never did have the best eye for that sort of thing though, ay nephew?" Poseidon joked.
"Haha! Nice…I get it…because of Zeus…nice," Apollo laughed heartily, leaning back in his throne, trying to get comfortable.
"Honestly, I just think that we should see what he looks like, could be interesting," Aphrodite's melodious voice called out.
"That is truly the only thing you care for isn't it?" Dionysus voiced with clear annoyance.
"Yes," was the swift and simple response.
"Dear Zeus," he grumbled lowly, "I really hate your guts," he said, debating whether to just leave now.
"I wonder why? Is it because you can't reach them?" She said, causing the men in the hall to snicker.
"Hey Ares, where is Athena?" Apollo said, still trying to get comfortable.
"Don't know, don't care, little brother," Ares said, also trying to get comfortable.
"She better get here soon, or else I'll have to finally reveal my true might to you all," Apollo replied haughtily
"Have you ever been yelled at by Athena?" Hermes piped up
"I'm not scared of her," Apollo replied confidently
"So that's a no," Hermes said aloud to no one in particular
"I've come to a decision!" Zeus calls out
"Oh?" "Really?" "Forgot about that," The three all murmured, too caught up in their conversation
"Apollo!"
"Yes Father," Apollo stood with an arm across. his chest
"You shall observe, when you gather any information on this child, report it to me immediately," He commanded.
"Understood," Apollo said with the little amount of respect he could muster.
He then quickly fell back into his chair, starting conversation with Dionysus, seemingly forgetting all previous conversations.
And thus, the meeting of the Olympians concluded with Hera, looking down to her hands, her eyes showing either regret or relief, possibly both?
….
When I was saved by the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, I truly thought that I was hallucinating, still trapped in that white abyss, going crazy from the isolation.
Perfect shades fell onto the walls built ahead of me, coupled with the sight of another majestic woman, doubled down on my denounce of this situation.
These two women looked after me with the care I had never seen from my previous mother. Years passed with them carefully teaching me right from wrong when I grow older. Truly, they believed in the good side of the world. My life as Jude began to look more and more depressing.
However, now, I am Hephaestus, the beautiful name given to me by Eurynome.
Firstly, I began to suspect that I was in some fan-crazed mythology family, but the sight of both of my mothers, Thetis and Eurynome, having the lower body of a fish, clearly confirmed my thoughts to be incorrect.
Well, that was when they entered the seas. When at the beachside they were able to become fully-fledged humans. God things I guess.
Partnered with my strangely incredible talent for fixing things, crafting things, sculpting things.
Also, the ability of Pyrokinesis at the level that would make Iroh jealous. Thetis told me that even as a baby when she had found me, my fire was strong and beautiful. She told me to use this gift for whatever I felt best to help others and never for something so selfish it would harm others. A wise lesson when taught to one who was willing to listen
It became obvious to me that, being thrown into the sea by a random woman, being saved by a 'Sea Nymph', and being an incredible craftsman, led me to the conclusion of one thing.
I was a God. One known by many names. The crafter of the Gods. The ugly God. So on so forth.
However, I have seen my reflection when I had sculpted myself a perfectly clean shell, and I am by no means something that you would revolt at the sight of.
I rapidly grew, my body reaching heights I could not measure, not until I could compare with others. My hair was made from fire and all across my skin were beautiful carvings, seemingly cutting my skin to reveal an ever-flowing flame.
It became clear to me that the markings across my body were the same as the fire being from the white abyss had traced into me. That most likely explains my hair too, since his final act was washing his palms across my head.
My life had not been a much eventful one. From my occasional fixing of the house and the constant need to use a smith to create something bigger, something better.
There was something that was always bugging me, a small itch I had yet to scratch. Something that when I saw I knew could be better with my expertise.
That thing was Olympus, the domain of the Greek Gods.
