Leon POV

I got up the next day and headed for the mines with John, who was surprised that I came back in one piece. I haven't really told anyone about me being a demigod yet, well, except the shopkeeper. I didn't want such useful information to get out yet. As I swung my pickaxe, I noticed a familiar figure slinking around the edge of the mine. It was Viper, the talking cat from my so-called therapy session. He weaved between the workers, occasionally stopping to chat or offer advice. Most of the people he spoke to seemed grateful, some even pausing to thank him before returning to their work.

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes as he approached me.

"What're you doing here?" I asked, not bothering to hide my suspicion.

"Mining, just like you! I need my sentence reduced too, you know." he replied

"Ah Viper, nice seeing you here." Sasha greeted

"You know this bozo?"

"Bozo, he's one of the more respected prisoners here?"

"Respected? The unqualified therapist with no certification?"

"Hey, we've all been down here for a very long time...he's one of the better ones. The ones with certifications are psychopaths and are only labeled 'safe' after being here for a really long time, I rather go with a cute talking cat over people like them."

"You're the only one who doesn't like me." Viper chimed in

"You don't like Viper?" John questioned, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Fine...I may have not been too respectful, so I'll work on it. I apologize."

"Good for you." Viper replied

"So...how do cats mine? You clearly don't have hands. You can't hold a pickaxe properly."

"What is it with you and discriminating me?"

"What do you mean?"

"You think just because I'm a cat, I can't do what you can? That's pretty narrow-minded, don't you think?"

"I'm just saying, you're not exactly built for this kind of work."

"Humans." he then rolled his eyes, "Always so quick to judge based on appearances. You'd be surprised what I can do."

"Alright then, show me how you mine. I'm curious. Prove me wrong."

"I don't have to prove anything."

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"I'll pet you if you do."

"What do I look like? A needy dog?"

"Oh, so you can discriminate against dogs?"

"Of course, I'm a cat, I'm cute."

"That's...not a good reason to get away with anything."

"Of course it is, all you have to be is cute, and the world will do whatever it can for you."

"Looks don't matter, doesn't beauty come from within?"

"That's what ugly people say to make themselves feel good."

"Aren't you a therapist?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Nevermind."

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Back in my cell, I settled down with the book I'd bought, flipping through the pages of the Hermes information book I bought as I tried to piece together where Hermes could be found. I had no idea which leads to follow, but I figured understanding his patterns was a start. He was a messenger, so he could literally be anywhere, but from the document, they do said that he currently spent a lot of time in the underworld.

The book said that he currently spent a lot of time in the underworld due to how his role had changed. With the rise of emails, social media, and instant messaging apps, the world no longer needed a divine messenger to carry their words across vast distances. Apparently, this shift left him with more time on his hands, so he's now down here guiding souls in the underworld 5 days a week. But finding a god-like Hermes, even in the underworld, wouldn't be easy. The place was vast, and he was one of the quickest gods.

I was enjoying the peace and quiet since most of these guys spend their time sleeping to pass the time, however, I was suddenly interrupted by a ruckus outside. I heard shouting, followed by the sound of something...or someone...being dragged along the floor. The noise grew louder, and I could make out the desperate cries of a man resisting with all his might.

I sighed, closing the book and putting it aside as the commotion grew closer. I poke my head out a bit and saw this guy being dragged along by 2 of the guards. He was about 167cm tall, slightly older than me, and had black hair and blue eyes. The guy was making a real scene, shouting at the top of his lungs, waking everyone up.

"Get your hands off me! I'm the son of Zeus! You should be respecting me!" he shouted

You don't have to be an idiot to know that resisting like that was a sure way to get demoted to the 'risk' or even 'danger' category. It's not the kind of label you wanted to pick up. The guards finally managed to throw the guy into a nearby cell, where he continued to scream and kick at the bars, desperately trying to escape. His voice echoed through the corridors, filled with rage and frustration as he kept repeating the same thing over and over:

"I'm the son of Zeus! The son of Zeus!" he kept repeating

John, who had been quietly watching from his cell across from mine, let out a low chuckle.

"Son of Zeus, huh? Ain't that rare, kid!" he shouted back to which a lot of the prisoners let out a chuckle.

"You there! The woman across from me, where am I?" he asked

"Did they not tell you?" Sasha replied

"Answer the prince of Olympus!"

"If you really are the prince of Olympus, I guess Don the Dolphin is too...I guess you don't know who that is, but he's the son of Zeus too."

"Are you implying that my beloved father slept with a Dolphin?! He will punish you for this!"

"You really don't know Zeus...heck...Are you even actually the son of Zeus?" I chimed in

"Of course I am, but that stupid brother judge of mine still let me get sentenced!"

"What the hell did you even do?"

"Apparently, I can't use my abuse my status as a demigod to be promoted and become a full god."

"Anyone here willing to guide Zeus boy?" Sasha shouted

Most just said no and rejected the offer entirely before Sasha and John decided to take the role again. They asked him a bit more as he threw stuff at the cell and started to scream. The guy's screams eventually subsided into muttered curses as he paced back and forth in his cell.

"300 years," he finally answered, "They gave me 300 years just for trying to claim my rightful place in Olympus. What a joke! I'm the son of Zeus! If Heracles could become a full god, why can't I? Not only that, they took away my ability to fly."

"That 300 years does sound a bit harsh. What's your name?"

"Michael Hawk."

"You go by Mike?"

"Yes, why?"