Letting Go
Kratos nods, "Good," he responds, standing from the chair.
Atreus stands from his chair as well, handing Mimir to his father as they step towards Hephaestus. Kratos suddenly turns, his eyes set on Eina, "Are we finished?" he asks.
Eina stands with parted lips, her vision switching between Kratos and Hephaestus. Finally, her green eyes settle on Kratos, "Yes, but... You know Hephaestus?" she asks.
"They're my customers," Hephaestus answers for the God of War, her hands folded at her waist.
Eina nods slowly, a brow raising, "Moving up in the world, eh?" she says with a giggle, "Well, I'm sure I'll see you all soon. Come to me if you need anything related to the dungeon!"
Kratos nods in response, turning to step past Hephaestus as the woman holds the door open. Atreus follows close behind, waving to Eina with his lips curled, "Thanks, Eina!" he says.
The group steps into the stone streets of Orario, the night sky like a dark blanket covering the city. Hephaestus leads the way to the Tower of Babel, donning that same dress shirt and skin-tight black pants, along with black gloves extending to the sleeve of her shirt.
"How did you know we were at the guild?" Atreus asks, stepping up beside Hephaestus as he stares up at the woman.
The Smith God's crimson eye drifts to the boy speaking to her, and she giggles slightly," I was actually on my way to the Hostess of Fertility when I saw you two... or three," the woman seems to be in a good mood as she giggles again, "...Anyway, I saw that Eina took you to the back, and I was going to wait outside, but... I couldn't hold the excitement."
Atreus stares up at the Goddess with furrowed brows, "You sound like a kid. Father never gets excited about anything..." he says.
Hephaestus' cheeks take on a red hue, "I know, But it makes me happy..." she says as her chin drops slightly, "...It's not like I chose to be this way."
Atreus raises a brow, "What?" he asks.
The Goddess shakes her head, "Nothing... Anyway, how has your week been?" she asks as her head turns to glance at Kratos.
Kratos hums, "It has been... Strenuous. Training has taken most of our time," he responds.
"We've been training in the dungeon, and I've been getting better!... I think," Atreus follows his father's words.
Hephaestus nods, "That's great!" her eyes drift to that spear, "How has your new weapon been treating you?" she asks.
Atreus' lips curl as he looks up at Hephaestus, "It's been great! This is the first spear I've ever used, so I can't say it's better or worse than others, but it's just the perfect weight and length for me!" he responds.
The Smith God giggles, "I'm happy to hear that! I spoke to Dante and he said that you are the first person to buy his wares. He's around the same age as you and said that he'd love to meet you... Though you'll have another weapon soon, and I can't promise Dante's weapon will be of the same quality," she says.
Atreus' smile widens, "Thank you…" he says with that familiar glimmer in his eyes, "…I have been wanting to meet Dante though."
Hephaestus' eyes return to the path straight ahead, adventurers' and civilians' eyes glued to the woman and those traveling with her, a clear reminder of why she doesn't get out much, "I'm sure I can set something up, and you're welcome," she responds.
The group arrives at the tower, stepping through the hallways with swift strides. The elevator slides vertical through the shaft, and a ding rings out as the silver doors retreat into the wall. Hephaestus leads the way into her office, that hidden door already opened as they step through into the dim workshop.
Tools and materials litter that rectangular table, and Atreus wipes his forehead, "It's hot in here," he says.
Hephaestus hums, "I only finished a few hours ago... Sorry about that," she says, walking towards the back wall.
The Smith God pulls on a steel handle, and the stone wall swings open, scraping the floor and adding to the older scratch marks. Hephaestus stares at the wall inside the door with weapons and armor organized on stone slabs. She grabs one of the weapons, leaving the stone door open as she walks back to the duo waiting patiently.
"A hundred and sixty-eight hours later, and this is what I've created," Hephaestus says with pride flowing from her lips, chains and metal clanking the stone table.
"Woah..." Atreus studies the weapons with raised brows, gently rubbing his fingers across the cool metal. There are two black blades, metal jutting the edges like thorns. Similar to Kratos' Blades of Chaos, lines run across the sides of the blades, a dim purple light leaking from the lines ever so slightly. The hilt has more of those thorn-like pieces of metal attached to an oval cuff above the handle. At the end of the handle, a black circular piece is set with another piece of metal overlapping the middle.
"What is this?" Atreus asks with furrowed brows, pointing to the circular piece at the end of the handle.
Hephaestus leans over the table, "Oh, that's where the chains are attached. Look..." the Goddess grips the circular piece, pulling the overlapping metal to the side. The circular piece clicks open, and Hephaestus attaches one of the chains on the table to the piece, "See?" she says, glancing at Atreus.
"That's so cool!" Atreus says, picking up the blade and inspecting it closely with squinted eyes, "Do they have a name?" the boy's blue eyes drift to Hephaestus.
The Smith God shakes her head, "They are yours, Atreus... You should give them a name," Hephaestus responds.
Atreus' lips curl, and he stares at the blades as the cogs in his mind begin to turn. Suddenly, he turns his head and looks up at Kratos, "What are yours called, father?" he asks.
The Greek God stares down at his son, "...The Blades of Chaos," he responds.
Atreus nods, his eyes drifting to the blade again. The boy imagines himself throwing the blades out just like his father, stepping swiftly as his enemies fall like dominos. The image dissolves, and fire enters his vision, a lonely flame that grows with each moment. Suddenly, a massive flame appears, towering over the smaller flame, and little by little, the massive fire usurps its own flame, funneling it to the smaller one and helping it grow, "...The Blades of Kindling," his words flow through the long silence.
Kratos raises his brows, "The Blades of Kindling... What brought on this name?" he says.
Atreus turns his head and looks at his father, his blue eyes set hard with determination, "These will help me become stronger. They'll kindle my fire, and that fire will be as big as yours someday," he says.
Kratos scoffs, "We will see," he responds.
Atreus looks to Hephaestus with his lips curled, "Thank you for this… I don't know how I can pay you back," he says.
Hephaestus smiles slightly, leaning forward as her eyes fall to Atreus, "I only ask that you use them, and maybe make a name for yourself with those blades... I have a business to run after all," she responds.
Atreus nods with his own smile, "I can do that," he says.
The Smith God returns her own nod, "Now..." her crimson eyes drift to Kratos' brown, "...Shall we get to creating your familia?"
Kratos steps up to the table, picking up his son's new weapons, the chains and metal clanking together as he stuffs them into the knapsack, "...Yes, I believe it is time," The Greek God's rugged words flow through the dim room.
"So how do we do it? Is it difficult?" Atreus asks, staring up at Hephaestus with his hands on the table.
Hephaestus shakes her head, "It's quite simple actually. First, we'll need you to take off your shirt," she says.
Atreus furrows his brows, pausing as he looks at Hephaestus, "...Why?" he asks.
Hephaestus raises a brow, suddenly gasping as she waves her hands and shakes her head, "Oh, no, it's not like that..." she releases a nervous giggle, "...It'll be for the blessing tattoo, that's how falna is given to an adventurer. I'm sure you've seen the tattoo on other adventurers, right?"
"Oh..." Atreus says, "...Yeah, I think so," The boy removes the bow, quill, and spear from his back, and his fur tunic soon follows. The boy stands with his pale skin bare for all to see, rubbing his hands together as a slight red hue appears on his cheeks, "Uh... Now what?" Atreus asks.
"I'll need you to lay on the table, face down. Kratos will need access to your back," Hephaestus responds, patting the stone table gently.
Atreus nods as the Goddess finishes her words, climbing onto the large table. Goosebumps litter his skin as his stomach meets the cold stone, "Okay, I'm ready..." he says.
Hephaestus looks at Kratos who stands directly across the table from her, "You'll need to choose a symbol for the familia, this tattoo will be on every member that you recruit," she says.
Kratos hums, his eyes trailing from the woman to the boy lying on the table. The Greek God sighs, and his mind drifts to cold forests, towering mountains, and a boat floating along a lake. Millions of steps taken across Midgard, all in the past, an intangible treasure that fills the man with overflowing pride. Kratos reaches to his waist, his rough hands gently gripping fabric. He brings a small bag before him, golden embroidery sliding under his fingers.
Hephaestus watches Kratos with furrowed brows, wondering just what is so interesting about that bag. Though with the sudden dour atmosphere, and the gentle nature of Kratos despite his intimidating look, the Smith God bites her lips, letting the man have his moment.
Kratos exhales hard, tightening his grip on the bag and bringing it closer to his face, "...Rest... Our son is growing into a man, and somehow... Somehow I've managed to help him with that growth. I will miss your touch unto my last day, but I must let you go if I'm meant to continue..." he mutters to himself, an unheard promise, at least by the souls around him.
Calloused fingers lower the small bag to the table, and Kratos sighs as his eyes set on Hephaestus, "...I am ready," he says.
The Smith God nods, "You'll need a drop of your own blood, and a prayer must be said. I'll say the prayer and you repeat after me. Other than that, you just need to focus on the symbol you've chosen," she says.
Kratos hums in response, his hand gripping the smooth handle of the Leviathan ax. He sets the blade against his finger, pulling swiftly and cutting his own skin.
"Good, hold your finger over the middle of his back," Hephaestus says, and Kratos follows her words, "...Now repeat after me..." the Goddess begins to speak in an unknown language, and despite the fact that Kratos has never heard the language, he repeats her words with fluidity.
A single crimson droplet hangs from Kratos' finger as he speaks, and after a few moments just like this, the prayer ends, and the blood drops. The blood splashes onto Atreus' pale skin, and a blue light suddenly shines bright, causing Kratos to put a hand up as he squints his eyes.
The blue light lingers for a moment, outlining a symbol with numbers organized over it. That light dissipates, and a black tattoo is left behind, a greek war symbol over a small bag with pale skin showing through the uncolored embroidery. There are several numbers all stacked atop one another, all reading zero with the letter I beside them.
Silence permeates the air, and after a moment, Atreus leans up from the table, "...Is that it?" he asks with furrowed brows directed at Hephaestus.
The Goddess nods with her lips curled slightly, "Yep... You'll need to register with the Guild, but the Kratos Familia is pretty much in action now!" she responds.
Atreus throws his legs over the edge of the table, staring down at open palms with his brows still furrowed, "I... I don't feel any different," he says.
Hephaestus shakes her head, "That's normal. Falna does not make an adventurer strong, it gives them the ability to become stronger," she responds.
Atreus turns his head as he sits on the table beside his father, his icy blue eyes meeting Hephaestus' crimson, "That makes sense... Thank you again, Hephaestus. You've already helped us so much... And we haven't done anything for you," he says with sagging shoulders.
The Smith God stares at Atreus with a gushing smile, shaking her head slowly, "You have though... You and Kratos may not realize it, but you've given me something to create, and that has made me more happy than I can put into words. Plus, I've begun to think about things differently since meeting you two," she responds, soft words permeating the dark room.
"What do you mean?" Atreus responds.
Hephaestus hums, her eyes switching between the father and son duo for a moment, "Before I met you two, I found it hard to think of the children in my familia as... Well, my children. They did not come from my womb, and that has been like an inscalable wall, blocking me from truly caring for my children. But after meeting you... I've learned that being a parent is not that simple. A parent is someone who raises, nurtures, and loves their children, whether they gave birth to them or not," she says.
Atreus hums, his eyes roaming to the wall as his minds drifts from the place, "...I guess you're right..." he responds.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I know, I could have done this on the Author's thoughts, but I wanted everyone to see what I'm about to say:
Love your family. If you don't have a loving and healthy relationship with every member of your family, then this is the sign to do that! Life is too short to squabble over stupid and irrelevant problems, and just like that saying, "You only have one life," you only have one family too. I know that sometimes, it's not that simple. You can't just simply get over any problem just because someone tells you to, but I do believe that communication is the most important thing in any relationship. We can't read minds, and if you're bothered by something that someone has done, then tell them! Sit down and lay everything out to them, and give them the chance to do the same. Who knows, you might just find out that the problem wasn't as big as it seems.
Of course, there are some situations that are terrible, and I know everyone has family problems (I'm adopted and my entire blood family is either dead or I haven't seen them in years, so I know.) All I'm saying is to give out love, you never know how much someone needs it.
Love you!