Hermes, the Messenger of Misery

Olympia. The City-State known for being the closest to the abode of the gods, Mount Olympus.

It was built here, long ago, when it was still believed that being close to the great sacred mountain, they would be protected by the presence of the gods.

Today, this is no longer believed, and the city once considered a special place of worship is now just one of many other polis.

It is not much different from the other great City-States. A huge city surrounded by a stone wall. Outside the walls, a few farms are scattered among the fields without forests.

This night seems quiet, and the sky is beautiful, enhancing the brilliance of the constellations with the darkness of the sky. Few clouds, little noise.

The city guards walk among the houses in the upper and noble part of the city, while a few others concentrate around the ramparts.

On top of one of the posts on the great walls, two guards seem to observe the sky in a relaxed manner. A recruit, apparently seventeen years old, and an older guard who appears to be in his mid-forties.

- Yes, it looks like we will have nothing to do again today. - The young man says, staring at the sky while balancing on a wooden chair.

- With faith in the gods, it will stay that way, kid. - replied the older guard rudely as he carved something on a piece of wood.

- Do you believe in the gods, sir? - The younger man turned to him in surprise.

- It's just a figure of speech. - replied the old man without taking his attention away from the work in his hands.

- People have lost faith in the gods lately. - remarked the young man in a helpless tone. - But I know they exist! - he said, looking up at the stars expectantly.

- If they really exist, they must be sleeping or fucking some nymphs out there. - The gentleman said in an ignorant manner as he pressed his knife even harder into the small board in his hand.

A sigh was given by the boy, who simply returned sadly to his original position.

The boy seemed annoyed by the way the old man spoke. However, there were two reasons why he simply returned to his previous action.

First, the old man in front of him is his superior, he will gain nothing by annoying him.

Second, the old man's reaction is the most common one given by the Greek population today.

With the end of the great age of heroes, all the stories about the great deeds of the gods, and their children, became just legends told to children.

Sadly, the young man remembers the brave stories told by his grandparents about monsters and unmentionable dangers, and how heroes always appeared to fight these evil forces. Unfortunately, there was no real evidence to support any of these tales.

In the midst of his inconclusive daydreams, the boy notices something strange appear in the night sky. A kind of beam of light, crossing the sky at an amazing speed, heading towards Mount Olympus.

He narrows his eyes, trying to understand what it was, until a light goes on in his mind. The boy jumps out of his chair in surprise.

- SEN-SENHOR! LOOK, IT'S HERMES! - He points to the large trail of light in the sky with an animated face.

- Stop your nonsense and get back to work, recruit. - The old man pays no attention to him, continuing his knife maneuvers against the small wooden board.

- No-You-You need to see this, I- He rushes toward the old man, desperate to prove his point. - Look! Look!

He holds the older guard's shoulders, shaking him and drawing his attention. The young boy just didn't expect, that with his desperate attitude, it would take away the concentration of the old man, causing him to cut himself with the very knife he was using to carve the wood.

- Argh! You brat son of a... - The gentleman stands up with a grimace of pain, cursing at the boy, who walks away scared.

Before he could explain himself he received a huge punch in the face that sent him flying against the thick stone wall.

- I don't care about dead gods! If you have so much time to talk about nonsense, then go get a mop and clean the floor of this damned wall! - The old man hissed at the boy with a threatening expression, and gestured with his knife, causing him not to dare to get up from the ground where he had fallen with the punch.

- Y-yes-sorry sir! - The boy gets up abruptly, running to the stairs in fright, hoping to escape the fury of his superior.

- AND DON'T COME BACK UNTIL YOU'VE CLEANED UP! - The old man shouted his last order with an angry face, pointing in the direction the boy had run.

Suddenly the old man feels a current of wind blowing past him, which sends a shiver down his spine. He turns around, startled, in the direction the boy was pointing earlier. And finds nothing but the still dark night sky and the noise made by the cattle on the farms.

- Rum, Hermes. Tch! - he mumbles in a mocking tone as he goes back to sit in the chair he was in before, looking for some cloth to bandage his cut hand.

...

Far away from that wall, the large beam of light continues to move rapidly. When approaching the luminous object, it becomes possible to observe a person. Actually, a god.

It is Hermes, the god of messengers. His elegant and gallant appearance matches perfectly with the golden and divine aura left by him as he runs through the air.

He is wearing his characteristic clothes. A white chiton with gold details at the edges that leaves part of his sculpted chest exposed, a red cape, a golden helmet with small white wings, and a leather sandal with straps that cover his shins, and has wings like those on the hat, the only difference being that the sandal's wings flutter ferociously at the speed Hermes moves.

In his hand is the object that serves as the symbol of the god, the Caduceus.

- Humpf! I can't even stop to have a snack if a mortal is already watching me! - Hermes complains with a mouth full of something yellow and sticky.

- That was the best honey I ever ate, hehe! - He celebrates with a happy expression. - Too bad it finished quickly... -An apparent disappointment takes over his face.

Not having much to do, Hermes decides to pick up the pace to get to Olympus soon.

He had received a large number of requests from his father today. Zeus had told him to notify all the gods, and then to have them assemble at Olympus. According to him, the matter was urgent.

Despite this, the god of speed did not seem very concerned about the whole situation. It was common knowledge that Hermes didn't give a damn about these kinds of serious and, as he always said, "dull" meetings. However, being the herald of the gods and their official messenger, he was always responsible for delivering the notifications and invitations to the other gods, and he did this masterfully.

But, there was something strange about this summons. Apparently, no one had any idea why they were summoned to Olympus. Not even Poseidon, king of the seas and brother of Zeus, had the slightest idea of the subject that would be addressed by the King of the gods.

In a way, this relaxed and irritated Hermes. The fact that no one on Olympus had any idea made the subject that much more dangerous. Was it some new imminent danger that Zeus had discovered?

Hermes remembered very well the fight against Typhon and how Zeus had suffered along with the other gods to defeat him and imprison him in Tartarus. He still had nightmares about the huge monster whose head touched the stars and whose body consisted of a heap of other frightening and powerful beasts.

However, the God didn't have much time to think, by the time he resumed the reins, he had increased his speed too much and ended up passing Mount Olympus. As if there was nothing he could do about it, he came running back and stopped exactly at the top of the huge hill.

Standing on a flat part of the top of the hill, he finds himself in the center of what appears to be a huge altar, with marble pillars and black stones with letters of the Greek alphabet carved into them.

After a few minutes of waiting, he begins to stare up at the sky impatiently.

This is one of Hermes' main traits, everyone who knows him knows that he hates to stand in one place.

He then hangs the caduceus around his waist and puts his palms together, as if to start a prayer, and closes his eyes.

- Come on, Dad. - He says with an impatient face as he rubs one hand over the other.

Suddenly, even with a clear sky and no sign of a storm, a bolt of lightning streaks down from the sky towards the top of Mount Olympus. When it finally reaches the mountain's surface, and with it the body of the god, an incredibly high and overwhelming smoke takes over.

When the dust clears, nothing can be found on the altar on which Hermes stood, not a sign of the god who stood there.

...

Above Mount Olympus, on a kind of floating island, is Olympus. The abode of the gods.

The island, which somehow floats, has very well made constructions that are of use to the gods, both for leisure and other purposes.

Coliseums, large buildings, houses and even huge gardens. All the elements put together give this place a pure and divine aspect.

...

At what appears to be the entrance to the large island is Hermes, dusting off his clothes. Soon, he notices a familiar figure a little in front of him, sitting on the fragment of a pilaster on his back and playing a lyre.

A young man with blond hair and a lean, slender build. His clothes looked very similar to Hermes', except for the absence of a helmet and wings on his sandals.

Without hiding his smile, Hermes approaches stealthily, and when he sees he hasn't been noticed, he gives the boy in front of him a huge slap on the back of the head, who simply falls face down on the ground.

- Apollo! - He calls out to his brother, smiling.

- Hermes, you bastard! - Apollo stands up with his hand on the back of his head, gritting his teeth at Hermes.

- Why so much hatred little brother? - Hermes asks, raising his hands in an innocent manner and with a face feigning fear.

- It's because of all this nonsense that nobody likes you! - Apollo says as he bends down to pick up his lyre that had fallen to the ground.

Not wanting to waste this opportunity, Hermes uses his speed and jumps on Apollo's back, pinning himself on him.

- Come on, brother, I know you love me! - He mocks, jumping on Apollo's back.

- Let me go, damn you! - Apollo ordered as he gritted his teeth and danced on the marble stones trying to keep his balance.

- Only if you tell me you love me! - Hermes pouts at Apollo as he tightens his grip on Apollo and sways even more.

Apollo tries to balance himself, but, afraid of falling on the floor and breaking the lyre in his hand, he accepts his brother's demands.

- Okay, I love you! - He shouts, his face flushed as he continues trying to balance himself. - Now let me go, you bastard!

Hermes smiles at his brother's declaration, clearly not interested in letting go just yet.

Suddenly a third figure appears from behind the two of them.

- Could you leave this brotherly love for later?

Soon Hermes jumps off Apollo's back, clearly recognizing the voice behind them.

- He-Hera, ungh! - Apollo speaks with a startled expression and his yellow eyes bulging.

It is Hera, the goddess of marriage and fertility. A mature and experienced looking woman with long brown hair. Her sharp purple eyes narrow and form with the rest of her beautiful face a serious and demanding expression.

- How nice to see you, Hera. - Hermes says with a cheerful smile, waving to the lady.

Hera stops in front of them, seeming to analyze the two of them for a while. Until she snaps her tongue and speaks with a bit of disgust in her voice.

- Hurry up, your father is waiting.

Hermes and Apollo watch as Hera walks away. Hermes with a smile, and Apollo with a worried face.

- See what you did? - Apollo asks Hermes angrily.

- What? - Hermes asks, still looking at Hera. When she disappears through one of the entrances to the coliseum, he turns to Apollo with a smile. - Did I make you say you love me?

- No, you idiot! - Apollo scolded him, his face embarrassed. - You pissed her off!

- What are you talking about? - Hermes asks as he tilts his head to the side with a confused face.

- Why were you late?

- Late?

- Yes! You are so fast that you can show up anywhere in the blink of an eye, but somehow you manage to be late for every meeting! - Apollo complains with an increasingly annoyed face, noticing that Hermes can't keep his smile off his face.

- Oh, I like to come and enjoy the view? - Hermes answers with another question and a confused expression, as if he doesn't understand his brother's doubt.

Apollo simply gives up arguing with Hermes, and then takes him by the arm, pulling him towards the coliseum.

...

Arriving at the arena, headquarters of the meetings, Hermes could see how all the other gods had already arrived.

Athena, the goddess of intelligence, a strong-looking and fearless young woman. Her brown hair and strong face, as well as her shield in her left hand and her spear in her right, give her a strong and courageous air. Her brown eyes narrow as if they are constantly analyzing something.

At her side is Dionysus, the god of parties. A pot-bellied, ruddy-looking man, his red hair is held back by a crown of grapes, and his face is flushed. As usual, he looks drunk. His eyes have a purple color similar to that of grapes. In his right hand is a glass full of wine.

Next is Ares, the god of war. A tall, strong man with long red hair and a smooth, even handsome face for such a brute, his bare chest reveals countless scars of war, and a statuesque body. His red eyes burn with the fire of battle. On his back are a sword and a shield with the symbols of Sparta.

Next is Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. A young woman of rustic appearance, bright green eyes, short black hair with a single white fringe, a strong face, a bear tattoo on her shoulder, and wild clothes, very different from the rest of the gods present who prize elegance. On her back is a bow and on her knee a quiver with only three arrows.

After her is Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. A woman with fragile features, long elegant red hair, a thin face, accentuated curves, and elegant and provocative clothes, with much more jewelry than the other gods. Only one of her beautiful blue eyes is visible because of her bangs.

In the center of the whole coliseum are three figures, two of them sitting on two of the three marble thrones.

The woman seen earlier, Hera, the goddess of fertility, leans against the side of the central throne, smoothing the shoulder of the man sitting there. An elegant, mature woman with beautiful features and an equally beautiful body, her hair is black and long. Her purple eyes look at Apollo and Hermes with disgust.

In the center chair is the King of the Gods, Zeus, the god of lightning. A man with a strong face and body, white hair and beard, both long, his eyes have no pupil and he wears only a kind of white skirt.

Next to him, a man very similar to the previous one, Poseidon, the god of the seas. Strong face and body, and a huge scar that crosses from his chest to the side of his abdomen, his clothes are a blue cloak and a gold crown. His eyes are blue, his hair is gray-black and short. On the side of his throne is his great trident.

The third throne is empty.

"It seems that Uncle Hades could not appear again..." Hermes reflects. "And the baldy didn't come either.... Alas, alas, Hephaestus..." He sighs.

Receiving scolding looks from everyone, Hermes enters the main hall with Apollo. The god of speed has removed the smile from his face, he doesn't want to irritate his father. And Apollo enters with a calm face, as if to show class.

After a while, Zeus rises from his throne.

- Mankind has lost more and more faith in the gods. And as you all know this causes us to lose more and more influence in the lower world. - He said with a serious face as he stared at everyone in the room.

"So that's what it was about?" Hermes wonders in his mind.

- Did you call us here just to state the obvious, brother? - Poseidon complained in an impatient tone.

Everyone in the hall remained silent, but they seemed to think the same thing as the god of the seas.

After staring for a few seconds at nothing, thinking about something, Zeus sighed.

- No... I've been doing some research and found out that Pandora is still alive. - He states with what sounds like regret in his voice.

- But-but this...

- Yes, the one that harbors all the evil present in the world. The one who should be locked up in Tartarus. - With each word he spoke, his sorrow diminished, giving way to anger. - One of the evils released by the box, and imprisoned inside that woman's body, is doubt, lack of faith. And it is because of this that we are being forgotten by men!

- But isn't this woman already dead? This story is centuries old since it was solved! - Hera asks with an irritated expression.

- Yes, she must be dead. But, her soul was not delivered to the underworld, as she is still wandering around, all the evils are still with her. - Answered Athena in a sharp manner, she was known to give answers to questions that were not asked of her. - Right father? - She asked Zeus for confirmation.

Then Zeus nodded in confirmation.

- So there are two possibilities, either she ran away, or someone took her away. - Ares stated dryly.

¬- Or she wasn't even delivered- HUAHUAHUAHUAHUAHAHAHAHA - Dionysus said in a joking tone, his face red and laughing non-stop, apparently for no reason. He's certainly very drunk.

Murmurs and more murmurs begin to take over the hall. The gods could not believe such a risk.

- Who could think of acting against us, father? - Apollo asks with a frightened face.

Hermes was quiet, his face was serious, and he listened attentively to every whisper made by his half-brothers.

Zeus looked up, raised his head, and looked directly at Hermes.

- Hermes is the traitor. - Zeus said, looking the boy in the eye with unnameable fury.

Everyone turned to the messenger god, as if they couldn't believe what they had just heard, especially Apollo, the closest to Hermes.

Hermes smiled at his father in a nonchalant manner.

...