chapter 16 (edited)

The iron hammer struck the heated slab, sending dazzling sparks flying as scalding magma splashed from the forge.

"Shift the hammer slightly to the left," instructed Hephaestus, her eyes closed, sitting in her wheelchair and tapping the armrest.

"Understood, Lady Hephaestus," replied Cyd, his mouth twitching as he lifted a hammer almost as large as his head, pounding it onto the glowing iron.

Magma spewed out again, and Cyd quickly dodged the splash.

"Lady Hephaestus, what exactly am I doing?" Cyd asked helplessly.

"Hammering," Hephaestus replied, opening her eyes that burned like flames, gazing at Cyd's bare upper body.

"I mean, what's the point of this?" Cyd asked, discarding the iron slab he had been pounding. "I have no experience in forging weapons."

"Don't worry, these scraps will be remelted and reused," Hephaestus said, gesturing toward a pile of discarded iron slabs.

"Doesn't this seem like a waste of your time, Lady Hephaestus?" Cyd wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling increasingly tired.

"No, I am creating a treasure," Hephaestus replied, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "I know what you seek, but I can't help you without a reason. You must meet my condition."

"If I had to forge a weapon to satisfy you, it might take generations," Cyd shrugged.

"Relax, no one in this world can surpass me in forging," Hephaestus said, twirling a fiery-red strand of hair. "My condition is simple: just keep hammering. You're almost done."

The hammer fell from Cyd's hand as he staggered, clutching his forehead.

" My consciousness is fading I never felt this tired before even when I was training with Chiron..."

Cyd weakly leaned against the forge, thankful that his body had been tempered in the Styx River, rendering magma harmless, though still uncomfortably hot.

"Strange, isn't it?" Hephaestus smiled slightly, moving her wheelchair closer to Cyd.

Cyd's mouth opened and closed, but as he struggled with fading consciousness, he uttered a few indistinct sounds before collapsing.

"The hammer you used is the same one I used to forge Zeus's lightning bolt, Poseidon's trident, Hades's helmet, and Apollo's chariot," Hephaestus explained, holding out her hand as the hammer flew to her. "This is a divine hammer; mortals can only handle it with great difficulty. Wielding it tempers one's spirit."

Hephaestus glanced at the scrap iron pile Cyd had made, sighing.

"Honestly, looking at this mess makes me a bit angry," she said, snapping her fingers. "Let me help you."

The scrap iron floated into the air, enveloped in molten magma. Thirteen pieces of divine iron gathered in a swirling vortex, forming a pure white jade bracer around Cyd's left wrist.

"The carrier is complete. To finish it, you'll need to do the rest yourself," Hephaestus said, looking intently at Cyd.

Cyd's head throbbed painfully. But why did he feel so comfortable?

He slowly opened his eyes to see a pleasant expanse of snow white, and...

Cyd immediately shut his eyes again.

"Awake already? You took less time than I expected," Hephaestus said, finishing dressing herself.

"Lady Hephaestus, am I in...?" Cyd tried to move, but could only manage to twitch a finger. Why was his head resting on the goddess's lap?

"My room," Hephaestus replied, using a finger to lift Cyd's eyelid. "Gods should always be addressed with open eyes."

"Sorry!"

"It's fine. You can open your eyes now," Hephaestus said, placing Cyd's left hand in front of him.

As Hephaestus leaned over, her chest brushed against Cyd's face, leaving a fragrance.

"This is what you asked for," Hephaestus said, shaking Cyd's left hand to display the bracer. "A sacred tool capable of resisting the gods' curses."

Cyd opened his eyes slowly.

"My normal life must be starting now!"

"If it's completed."

"This isn't finished?" Cyd's expression froze.

"Of course not. What you asked for is more than just an item. It's close to a blessing," Hephaestus said, patting Cyd's face. "I can make general curse-resistant equipment easily, but something to counteract divine curses requires a ceremony."

"What kind of ceremony?" Cyd asked, smiling awkwardly, sensing he was on a path of no return.

"Very simple. You must obtain the blessings of the Twelve Olympian Gods and the God of the Underworld," Hephaestus said, pointing to thirteen transparent crystals on the bracer. "All thirteen are necessary."

"Could I return this, Lady Hephaestus? I don't mind using something simpler," Cyd said, eyes wide with panic.

"Blessings or curses, there's no turning back. When you put on this bracer, you were destined to be either blessed or cursed by the gods," Hephaestus said, looking deeply into Cyd's eyes.

"I don't recall putting on this bracer voluntarily," Cyd said bitterly. "Besides, this seems impossible."

"The gods love to see humans achieve the impossible," Hephaestus said with a chuckle. "Pure Son of Man, you delight me."

"Could you give me your blessing first?" Cyd asked, smiling flatteringly.

Hephaestus smiled mischievously. "Only if you get the other twelve to bless you first."

"You really leave no room for negotiation," Cyd sighed, closing his eyes. "But I can't turn back now, can I?"

"There's no turning back in this world," Hephaestus said, placing her hands on Cyd's head, pressing her face close to his. Her breath was warm against his cheek, and for a moment, their eyes locked, and Cyd's heart raced.

"A hero is often blessed by a beautiful woman before embarking on his path," she whispered, her lips almost brushing his.

Cyd swallowed hard, feeling a surge of warmth that had nothing to do with the forge. "Let's hope I don't end up as a clown..."

Hephaestus gently placed the pure white bracer on Cyd's left hand, her fingers lingering on his skin.

"I swear to the gods, you are beautiful," Cyd murmured his voice barely a whisper.

Hephaestus smiled, her eyes softening. "Deceiving the gods brings a curse."

"I am very cautious, so I wouldn't dare deceive the gods," Cyd said, closing his eyes, and feeling the weight of her touch.

I've known since eight years ago...

Hephaestus's smile deepened a tender, almost vulnerable look in her eyes.

"You will become an extraordinary hero."