[Deception]

Fate/Defiance

Chapter 13 [Deception]

By theMadLad

The whole household gaped at his declaration, clearly not expecting him to suddenly say it. Icarus smirked at their reactions, waiting for their jaws that had dropped to the floor to close.

"Really!?" The boy, Eugenios, screamed in excitement at Icarus' words while his two sisters watched from the sidelines in amazement.

"Yes, I'm Icarus." Icarus replied in affirmation with a nod and confident smile.

The house then quickly devolved into a live Q&A session between the kids and Icarus, with them quizzing him about his journey from Athens and things such as the name of his bow and how it worked.

"The bow, huh? I named it Promachos, after an aspect of Lady Athena. Without her, I would have never been able to make it this far. So I titled it not only to honor her, but also to express my utmost gratitude." Icarus answered as he looked upwards with a smile full of praise and gratitude before looking back down to the children and continuing, "As for how I made it, well that's a… secret." He finished with a mischievous glint in his eyes and a finger to his lips.

The children giggled in response, with one of the girls in particular smiling with shining eyes. Their noisiness however, seemed to draw Sythychia's attention as she started to walk over.

"Now, now children. Let's not disturb our guest too much." Syntychia spoke towards them with eyes full of mirth. She gave Icarus an apologetic smile, but one that still managed to convey the thanks she held towards him for entertaining her children.

The children pouted as they moved away, but the father, Kleitos, seemed to have his own question to ask as he put on an air of concealed interest, "I have a question for you as well boy… how did it feel to fly in the skies?"

Icarus' grin widened further as he stretched out his arms to the air while he spoke, "Like nothing else in the world! To fly through the clouds and above the forest will be something that sticks to me throughout my entire life. I could only give Lord Zeus my greatest of thanks for such a privilege."

Kleitos seemed satisfied with his answer as he gave off a slight smile and nod before moving back over to the background with the children as Syntychia walked back over to Icarus.

"I for one have a question as well for you Icarus." She spoke as she patted Icarus' head with a motherly smile, "While I am concerned that such a young child is venturing out into the forests all on his lonesome, I can't help but wonder what you're going to be doing next?"

Kleitos also spoke up from behind her, "That is true, I think it's strange that you have just been sitting around the forest."

Icarus made a resolute face as he brought up a tightly gripped fist to signify his resolve, "The Stymphalian Birds."

The others in the room gaped in shock at his declaration with Syntychia herself pulling Icarus into a tight hug that smothered his face into her breasts.

"Oh my, you may be a young budding hero—but that is by no means a reason to throw your life away!" She spoke as she separated them before leaning down to pinch his cheek in chastisement.

The youngest of the daughters even went to shyly clutch to his side tightly in concern, causing Icarus to decide and voice his reasons to the room with a sigh, "…Lord Zeus must have flown me here with reason, and for that I don't know. But, I have happened to meet you all through the will of the fates, what's to say that reason does not lie within these very walls?"

He looked between each of them as he engraved their faces to his mind before giving a genuine response, "The people here have long lived in fear of the birds that have plagued their lands and starved or even killed their children. I couldn't think of any other reason the Gods would send me here if not to answer the prayers of those begging them for help. If I were to pass by and do nothing, how could I ever call myself a hero?"

Icarus watched their reactions carefully as he spoke, maintaining eye contact while he continued, "That is why I decided to fight them, for even if I do not succeed—I at least have the confidence to bring them a generation that can grow without worry."

Icarus finished his words with a lazy smile, as if his life was a meager payment for a generation of children that could be raised well fed and full of innocence.

"Are you a fool?" The eldest daughter asked him with a haughty tone as she put her hands to her hips. She was the one named Roxana who seemed to be a few years older than him.

The boy, Eugenios, also gave him a strange look as he glanced at Icarus before speaking, "Indeed, so far you are the forerunner for the next generation of Heroes, why throw it away for some strangers? You could easily find glory elsewhere, after you have had time to grow."

"Fool? Hero? What's the difference?" Icarus responded with a smirk as he looked between them, "Fools rush in where the wise don't dare to tread. How could one become a hero without the foolishness to challenge the impossible? It is in overcoming that impossibly that one can grasp glory from the jaws of defeat."

The answer seemed to stun them as the girl took a pondering pose while the boy seemed to break into a crazed laughter, "I see!"

Eugenios pointed towards Icarus with a smile that seemed to stretch on his face to the point of pain, "Right now, you Icarus… are my favorite hero!"

As dinner finally truly ended, the family seemed to calm down to the point where the previous conversation seemed like nothing more than an illusion. With only the younger daughter, Chloe, still clinging to him as a reminder of it taking place.

"Don't mind her." Eugenios spoke as he gave off a light wave, "She clings to those she holds affection for, but it is difficult for her to show it due to her shyness."

Chloe gave Eugenios a punch to the arm in response to his words as her ears tinted red, causing Eugenios to cry out in pain between bouts of laughter.

Time passed quickly as Icarus finally decided to leave while thanking them for their hospitality. Kleitos seemed to have left for work while the children and Syntychia waited for him by the door as he left.

"I'm sure the gods will watch over you on your journey Icarus, I wish you the best of luck!" Eugenios spoke with a knowing grin as Syntychia leaned over to give him another motherly pat on the head, "Stay safe child."

He was about to leave but noticed a small tug on his side that caused him to look over. It was Chloe, who looked up at him with a soft whisper, "W-wait." Before bolting off back into the house.

Roxana gave off a mirthful chuckle as she watched her sister race back inside, bringing her hands up to her mouth to cover her teasingly smug grin.

Eugenios just laughed once more in amusement, as if this day was simply one of the most entertaining he had in some time.

Soon enough, Chloe stepped back outside and brought out a small piece of metal that she quickly shoved into Icarus' pouch. He was a bit stunned at her audacity but she quickly spoke up, "It will make things very hot when placed under the sun, make sure to use it to dry the cork!"

Simply saying those words seemed to be a struggle as she quickly ran back inside in skittishness.

"We live on the opposite side of the marsh, so I would recommend you head to the other side of town to inquire more about the birds." Syntychia spoke as Icarus began to leave.

He gave off a final wave and shout of thanks as he disappeared down the road, headed into the town.

Syntychia and the children headed back into their home, shutting the door behind them tightly. They then entered the living room, where Kleitos was sitting alone calmly in a chair.

"What did you think of him?" Syntychia asked as she and the children gathered around Kleitos in a conspiratory manner.

"A fool." Roxana spoke as her form seemed to shift, gaining a foot of height and a small set of brown wings on her back as her hair rapidly grew enough to reveal an orange tint. "But, a likeable one. Perhaps I could make him into a man when he reaches of age?" She finished with a sultry tone.

Chloe directed her a harsh glare which Roxana only responded with a teasing grin while she stretched in a provocative way as she returned to her original form.

"I quite liked him as well." Eugenios interrupted as he laid his head back on his arms while outstretching his elbows.

Although he rather liked what little he saw of Icarus' character, he couldn't help but pout a bit in disappointment at how Icarus' determined and mature demeanor clashed fiercely with his cute aesthetic face.

Such a shame, he thought, but perhaps there is some appeal to it as well. He then turned to Chloe with a question poised on his lips, "What about you?"

She gave off a faint nod but one could still see the faint tinge of red burning at her ears, before she turned and spoke with a more confident demeanor that contrasted her previously shy reactions, "You think he suspected anything?"

Roxana snorted as Kleitos rolled his eyes and spoke, "Does it matter?" With a dismissive tone.

Syntychia gave a soft smile towards her husband, "Not much I suppose. Although it seemed you cared the most about the act, halfway through the others seemed to stop caring entirely" She finished with a harsh glare directed at Eugenios in particular.

He put his hands up in surrender as he sheepishly apologized, "Sorry, sorry, I was having a bit too much fun. It's rare to meet a human like that."

Syntychia's glare seemed to only become more intense in response as Roxana attempted to cool the air before things could break out into a fight, quickly speaking towards Chloe and bringing up her earlier inquiry, "Perhaps he could have suspected, he was rather sharp—but unfortunately for him, the moment he stepped inside the house it was too late."

She had placed a spell around the home that would inhibit suspicions and would influence one to be more genuine in their answers the moment the target stepped inside. It was a bit manipulative but nothing overtly malicious, they simply wanted to see his true character.

While she could have just forcefully charmed him into giving answers… there was no fun in that. The number of mortals that could catch their direct attention was pitifully few, why spoil your newest entertainment before reaching the first chapter?

"…So unless he long suspected us before walking inside, then it was impossible for him to deceive us." She finished as she flipped her hair behind her shoulders with an arrogant flair.

"You all overestimate him too much, he is just a boy. He would never have suspected us to be Gods… no matter how clever or precocious he is." Kleitos declared with absolute confidence as he disappeared with a flash of lightning.

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They were definitely Gods.

Icarus had Syntychia pinned down as one before they even stepped inside the house. He then reached into his pocket and picked out a small orange berry before throwing it into his mouth and chewing it.

The berry was a Sea Buckthorn, or sometimes referred to as Hippophaes which was a word that derived its meaning from "ippos" (horse) and "phaos" (eat).

But most importantly, it was not native to Arcadia.

He had spent his time in the forest researching all he could from his father's various books, and one of them in particular was related to forestry as it was extremely relevant to his situation. There he learned all he could about the types of berries and herbs that he could safely consume.

One of which was Sea Buckthorn, he had learned that it preferred to grow in chalky and sandy soil alongside the seaside dunes of northern Greece and into Europe.

—Which was entirely different from the thick forests of Arcadia, and when taking into account that Syntychia told him that she had picked those berries… the conclusions seemed to draw themselves.

It was impossible for her to have picked them there, and as such, she had to be lying. But, who could have obtained them there? Only a God—or in this case, a Goddess.

Perhaps there could be other possibilities, but there was no need to think too much—as he believed sometimes the simplest answer was correct.

Occam's razor existed for a reason.

While he had initially panicked at the revelation, he was able to muster up every scrap of skill he had gained under the watchful eyes of Daedalus to deceive them.

It was a dangerous situation, but one ripe with opportunity.

Icarus was sharp. He had to be.

This was why he was able to decipher their reasons through their actions. He was first approached by 'Syntychia' in a coincidental meeting in the forest, but this already contained numerous red flags when one peaked below the surface.

How would she be able to find berries at the outskirts of a village not only plagued by man eating birds that ravished anything in sight, but also so close by people who were starved of any resources?

It was impossible.

Why would she even be out there in the first place?

It didn't make sense… unless she wanted him to encounter her and invoke Xenia before anyone else.

It was strange that they were so accepting of his declaration at being Icarus without any suspicion or need for confirmation. Why wasn't there any?

There definitely would be, unless… they already knew he was Icarus.

Icarus found the likelihood of them being gullible as ludicrous. In an age where superstition and distrust were at their absolute height, how could that be so? Not to mention their conjured up backstory that made this even more unlikely.

All their questions prodded at his character or opinions, in a way which veiled their true intent.

…and when he realized this, he decided to do the same thing. But instead of prodding them through questions like they did to him, he did it through reactions.

The responses he gave to their questions were not only intended to give false information about his character, but also intended to dig out information from their responses to his answers. Icarus considered if their acting could demerit this method… but then they seemed to drop the act when asking more intense questions.

Which brought him to the conclusion that their act meant far less than their pride. And if he could appeal to that pride in his responses, then their reactions would become genuine.

He watched them with unnerving intensity hidden behind his gaze, and was able to garner some form of perspective on their characters. Although he wasn't quite sure which Gods and Goddesses they were… it was strange to see them in such a human way.

The Goddess who was disguised as Roxana seemed to genuinely care for the people in the village, and likely humanity in turn, it's just… she seemed ignorant. As if she had only truly realized their suffering with his words.

The God disguised as Eugenios didn't seem to care much about the villagers at all, and was more interested in the situation or individuals in the room instead.

The Goddess disguised as Chloe seemed to only care about him.

Creepy.

The one disguised as the father, Kleitos, seemed to only care about himself. He not only directly exposed his identity in his inquiry towards Icarus, but also his character in his alibi, in which he had made himself a clear 'hero' or 'protagonist' who was rewarded with a bride though an extremely unlikely scenario.

Why would a noble marry off his daughter to some random guy who saved him? They would at most be compensated with land or some money, not a direct relationship through marriage. Especially to a minor noble who would highly value a marriage for political purposes.

Icarus would have found this story extremely suspicious even if he did not already know he was a God.

Icarus was willing to bet that Kleitos was actually Zeus.

But, in regards to Syntychia… he was unable to get any read on her. The Goddess disguised as her gave no tells in her acting and stuck to it the entire time.

He was only able to guess that she was most likely Hera, from her relation to Zeus and calling Kleitos her 'husband.'

He took a risk during that entire interaction. One mistake and all the cards came crumbling down.

But he succeeded.

Not only did he gain information on them, but had also given them a false impression on himself that would only further their opinions on him.

He not only acted heroic to a fault and with a large amount of pride in regards to revealing himself, but also unflinchingly loyal to the Gods and very 'self-aware' about his accomplishments being due to them.

And it seemed to work out, Icarus thought as he patted his pouch. He was unsure of what 'Chloe' gave him but he would make sure to check later when he was in some shade.

He still felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest from the stress of the situation, but was able to gradually calm himself down as he reaffirmed his success in his mind.

While the Gods may be paragons of strength… wisdom was the tool of men. There may be Gods and Goddesses of Wisdom throughout the world, but they lacked the means to sharpen it—the paranoia, the fear, and the weakness needed for wisdom.

The arrogance and pride in themselves bloated from their power and might only dulled their wit.

That's why his deception succeeded over theirs.

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Author's Notes

Icarus encounters the Gods and is given some divine assistance! Really starting to become a hero huh? Sorry for the slow pace so far, it will pick up soon I promise!

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