The kitchen is filled with activity, slaves scurrying between the blazing hearths and long wooden tables laden with an array of dishes. A large man rushes over to one of the large cauldrons, wisps of steam rising from the simmering stew.

"Kallisto! More salt in that lamb and barley pot," bellows Criton, the kitchen master, his booming voice carrying over the clamor. He lumbers over, nostrils flaring as he leans down to inhale the fragrant steam. "And don't be stingy with the coriander this time."

Kallisto nods, unflinching under his glare. She pinches herbs from the nearby bundles and sprinkles them into the bubbling mixture, stirring slowly with a long wooden spoon.

Nearby, young Timothea kneads a mound of dough, her slender arms straining with the effort. "Keep at it, girl," Criton growls. "Master Thais will want fresh bread to soak up her wine."

Timothea flashes him a mischievous grin. "Of course, master. This dough will be so light and airy, it'll make even your leathery palate sing with joy."

Criton's brow furrows, but a ghost of a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth before he turns away with a grunt, scanning the kitchen once more. "Kalos! Those olives had better be pitted properly unless you want to replicate that pretty smile of yours with a few missing teeth..."

"Yes, master!"

Lucian navigated the room, snatching a crusty loaf of bread and stuffing it into his mouth as he scooped up a handful of plump olives and crumbled feta cheese. A jug of rich pomegranate wine caught his eye, and he poured a generous helping into a clay cup.

"You're one hell of an eater, aren't you?" Thais appeared in the doorway, arms folded across her chest.

Lucian grinned, the bread still in his mouth. "Can't help it. I'm a growing boy."

"That you are. It’s surprising that you don’t get fat with that appetite. Do gods have that kind of fast metabolism?"

"Kinda."

"In that case, I’m jealous."

"Trust me, you don’t want a very fast metabolism."

He squeezed past her, the fragrant blend of roasted lamb, garlic, and herbs wafting from the kitchens making his mouth water.

Settling at a table in the dining hall, he arranged his spoils before him and dug in with gusto. Thais trailed behind, amuse at what she’s seeing.

"Your appetite is becoming quite the expense, my friend," she settled across from him, reaching for an olive. "At this rate, we'll need to start selling your weight in drachmas just to cover the cost of feeding you."

Lucian paused mid-bite, fixing her with an owlish stare before giving an unconcerned shrug. Thais sighed, shaking her head, but her lips quirked upward.

"No matter. I've secured you a fight in the arena. A chance to put that insatiable hunger to good use, earn your keep."

Lucian perked up, the bread falling from his fingers. "When?"

"As soon as you're ready. But you'll need to decide quickly. This slot could go to another hungry soul if you dawdle."

A competitive gleam entered his eyes, and he gave a sharp nod. "I'll do it."

"Good," Thais rose, brushing crumbs from her tunic. "Don't keep the crowd waiting, then."

She strode away, leaving Lucian to his feast. He reached for the wine, but a sudden twinge in his temples gave him pause. A familiar, godly presence prickled at the edges of his consciousness. Linus.

Casting a furtive glance around the empty hall, he abandoned his meal and slipped through a nearby window. There, on the street outside, stood the slender figure of his uncle, one hand raised in beckoning. Lucian hurried toward him, glancing around as to not appear to be suspicious.

"You've got to give me some warning when you plan on popping in," he muttered. "I can't keep guessing when you'll appear."

Linus dipped his head in apology. "My movements must remain discreet. Have you learned anything more about Aristos and this Kyra?"

He hesitated, recalling his startling discovery. "You're not going to believe this. Kyra... he’s no ordinary man."

"Oh?" Linus arched an inquisitive brow. "Do tell."

"He's a god. Thanatos, to be precise."

The color drained from Linus's face as shock flitted across his features. "Thanatos?" he said, dumbfounded. "But why would the god of death meddle in human affairs?"

Lucian studied his uncle's expression, sensing the weight behind his reaction. "I take it Thanatos is kind of a big deal back on Olympus?"

His uncle met his gaze. "I did not expect him of all gods to involve himself so brazenly. Thanatos has always been among the most loyal servants of Zeus. To deceive mortals in such a manner..." He shook his head.

"So he was a good guy up there?" Lucian pressed. "Never tried to, I don't know, hurt a fly?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. He upheld the natural order, ushering souls to the afterlife without malice. For him to take human form with ill intent..."

"Maybe he was corrupted somehow? Or someone's controlling him?"

"If that's the case, then we face grave news indeed. Thanatos wields formidable power."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"As powerful as you or my mother?"

"Not really," Linus gave a measured shake of his head. "We never battled, but that doesn’t mean he’s not powerful."

"But you saw him fight before?"

"Indeed," he nodded. "But that was a long time ago. I saw him battle alongside Zeus during the Titanomachy. His scythe cut through the Titans' ranks like a farmer's blade through wheat. But that was eons ago, and much has changed since then."

"That doesn’t sound so good."

"Thanatos's dominion is over the souls of the dead. The more spirits he reaps, the vaster his power grows."

Understanding dawned on Lucian as the pieces fell into place. "Then this invasion... it's all about gathering more souls to increase his power. If that's true, we have to stop him."

"Easier said than done," Linus cautioned. "Thanatos has never exhibited such ravenous ambition before. For what purpose does he now strive to amass greater power?"

He shrugged. "Maybe he wants to rule over the mortal world?"

"Such worldly dominion has never been his aim. No, there must be a more sinister force at play, manipulating Thanatos for its own ends."

Lucian's brow furrowed as he pondered the disturbing implications. People - or in this case, gods - might not be who they seemed. Their motivations could shift, perceptions warped by darker influences. He stared at his uncle, realizing that even immortals were susceptible to corruption, greed, and the intoxicating lure of power.

Before, Linus might have believed Thanatos maintained an unbreakable loyalty to Zeus and the divine order. But like humans, deities too could falter, their allegiances swayed by unseen forces. The question was - who or what had turned the once-impartial reaper of souls?

An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. If a god as formidable as Thanatos could be manipulated, what other betrayals might lurk on Mount Olympus that led to it’s destruction? And the more terrifying question; who is the puppet master that’s stringing him along?

Lucian furrowed his brow. "Have you considered that gods can change the same as humans do? That deep down, Thanatos is just a greedy bastard after all?"

Linus held his gaze. For a moment, he said nothing, letting the weight of Lucian's suggestion hang heavy between them.

He raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, forget I asked."

Clearing his throat, Linus pressed on. "Did you broach the subject of Olympus's downfall with him?"

"I was about to. But then we were interrupted by some workers passing by."

"I see..."

Lucian studied the deity's pensive frown. "You know, I have a suggestion. Why don't you just confront Thanatos directly? You can teleport anywhere - wouldn't that be easier than this cloak-and-dagger routine?"

"That’s not a great idea."

"Why not?"

"Because discretion is paramount," Linus replied. "We must first uncover the true enemy pulling the strings before we can react. If they knew that I was involved, they'd kill you, your family and everyone else involved. I will not put innocent human lives at risk with such rash action."

"I guess that makes sense."

Linus placed his hand on his shoulder. "Have faith, my nephew. We will unravel this menace soon enough. But it requires patience and prudence from us both."

Lucian sighed, still unconvinced but knowing better than to push further. Linus's wisdom seemed sound, even if it grated against his instincts to charge head-on at threats.

As the two walked on in contemplative silence, flashes of Lucian's recent visions resurfaced unbidden. The image of Thanatos's scarred, twisted visage looming over him filled his mind's eye. He shuddered at the god of death's cold, merciless stare seeming to bore straight through him.

Something wasn't right about those visions. There was more to them, more lurking beneath than mere premonitions. He could feel it in his gut - a deep, gnawing sense that the key to this entire mystery lay hidden in Thanatos's puppet master.

Maybe Linus is correct, and discretion really is the path forward, he mused. At least for now. We're still blind to our true enemy's identity and motivations. Charging in recklessly could prove disastrous.

The drunken ramblings of his master, Drakon, echoed through his thoughts. "Patience, boy! The river cuts the deepest canyons by taking the long way 'round..."

Lucian smirked. The old lush wasn't wrong, even if his memories were muddled by a never ending wine haze. Perhaps a stealthy approach truly was wiser against such an unknown, deadly adversary.

For now, all he could do was keep his blade sharp, his wits sharper, and trust that the path would become clear when the time came to strike.

As Lucian and Linus continued their conversation, a familiar voice cut through the air, interrupting their clandestine exchange.

"Lucian!" Thais called out. She strode towards them, her eyes darting between Lucian and his mysterious companion.

"Oh my, I didn't realize you had a guest," she said. "Care to introduce us?"

Lucian cleared his throat, forcing a casual smile. "Of course. Thais, this is... an old friend from Sparta. We were just catching up."

Linus, ever quick on his feet, seamlessly slipped into the role Lucian had crafted for him. He offered Thais a polite nod, his demeanor perfectly matching that of a visiting Spartan.

"A pleasure to meet you," he said. "Lucian has spoken highly of his new acquaintances here."

Thais returned the greeting with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Is that so? I’m flattered then. I'm Thais, a local businesswoman. Lucian has been... assisting me with some ventures." She turned to him. "Speaking of which, your 'fight thing' is ready. We need to go now if you want to make it in time."

"Right, of course. I'll be there in a moment." He turned to Linus, clasping his arm in a farewell gesture. "It was good to see you, old friend. Safe travels back to Sparta."

"Of course, take care, my friend. Remember what we discussed."

"Sure. No problem."

As Linus departed, melting into the crowd with preternatural ease, Lucian fell into step beside Thais. They walked in silence for a few moments before she spoke.

"So, is your friend another god?"

Lucian stumbled, caught off guard by her directness. He recovered quickly, meeting her gaze with a measured look. "Yes," he admitted, seeing no point in denying it. "But I prefer that you don’t spread it like wildfire."

"Oh, hush. I’m not like your master who has a big mouth."

"Well, I can’t argue with that."

To Lucian's relief, she didn't press further, instead focusing on the task at hand as they made their way to the arena.

"So, about this fight... What can you tell me about my opponents?"

Thais glanced at him. "You know I'm not supposed to give you insider information, right? It could affect the betting odds."

"Come on. You know I need this win. Just a little hint?"

She sighed, shaking her head but unable to hide a small smile. "Fine, but only because you needed the money."

"Thanks."

"You'll be facing two opponents today. First up is Kyros, a brute from Thebes. He's all muscle and no finesse, but don't underestimate his raw strength."

"And the second?"

"Alexios, a former soldier from Athens. He's lean, quick, and fights dirty. Watch out for his sneaky moves."

"Any tips on how to beat them?"

"With Kyros, use his strength against him. Let him tire himself out. As for Alexios, stay on your toes and don't let him bait you into making mistakes."

"Thanks. I won't let you down."

"See that you don't. Now, let's get you ready. The crowd is waiting, and so is your payday."