HEPHAESTUS

Hephaestus's dreams were usually the happiest memories they had when they were a kid. Even if they were inside a dark basement, the horrible smell of mold from the dark walls, Hephaestus could not forget how happy they were when their first friend was telling them stories, moments of his life.

The man's hands were soft and cold. Hephaestus could feel his wrinkles changing every time they were touching them. They tried to see his two moles better but the eagle next to him started pinching their hands. They held their scream from the pain and took a few steps back. Someone was walking right above them. The dust on the ceiling was falling. The small candle was slowly ending its life span. So was the man.

''Here''Hephaestus lifted their hands 418up holding shakily a small artifact made of steel and copper. There were pointers around a circle as if they belonged to a clock but unlike a clock the pointers were crooked and the artifact's materials were almost wide open, ready to get cracked.

Prometheus' heavy brow rose slowly and studied the machine the young mechanic made and then faced down on the screwdriver and hammer they used for it. Hephaestus blushed as they tried to pull another lever with their own fingers, dirty from the hard smoke making a cracking sound. Then, the gears of the artifact made one ticking.

''What is it?''He asked curious.

''A timer'' Hephaestus anounced.''I have seen a lot of mechanics using them.''

A smile appeared on Prometheus face.''You mean you spied on them.''

Hephaestus' eyes moved away, the moment the timer broke, making the gears inside fall to the ground.

''You need oil for it to work better'' Prometheus added.''Maybe they will have some scraps for you to use.''

''It smells. My parents will notice it.'' Hephaestus said ashamed, tapping their fingers on the copper.

''They haven't noticed that you are taking loose scraps like a thief?''A laugh barked from his crusty lips.

'' I am not a thief''They said, standing on their own two feet.''I am a great inventor.'' Hephaestus' smile curved wide.

The bird started moving and pinching on Prmetheus's skin but there was no reaction.

Hephaestus tried to speak, to say the right thing but instead, Prometheus' mouth parted. His hands started stretching his cuffed wrists, preparing himself to narrate one of his stories. Hephaestus didn't know if they were real, real moments of his life or not. But they were grateful, happy to listen to their friend speak with a grin on his face.

When I was younger, I was living in Diyu. You know, that place wasn't as bad as it is now. But I was a greedy person. I wanted to see more, to feel more. So... I walked outside of Diyu. It was the first time that I ever felt sunlight... I wanted to feel like this forever. And then...I looked up to the Great Wall. I was so close to it.

I thought that it would be interesting to see...what it is like outside. Total darkness? Just a forest? Or something else?

I had people after me. My debts were not paid. I had to escape. Just once to see how it is. So, I had a rope and a hook with me. I started climbing the wall. When I was in the middle, I could see the entire dark veil covering Diyu and Naraka. It was beautiful...but also terrifying.

The ones from Diyu were now on the same side as me, ready to shoot at me with their weapons. But something strange happened. Their faces started looking like raisins, eyes yellow with tears falling from them and mouths drooling with blood. I was not. I was just looking at them, enjoying their suffering. And then it hit me. The wall exists cause if mortals pass the other side, Mortals die.

Even if they rule in this kingdom. They are still no better than us.

When I stood on the other side, I saw a huge river right before me. There was no way I could just cross it. On the other side, someone was helping a small horse to drink from the river. They noticed me. They looked me in the eyes. Or so I thought. I took a deep breath and a few steps back. I saw them...I saw them walking above the river. They weren't even touching the water.

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They were now standing right in front of me.'' What are you ?'' Their voice was calm and sweet. I had never heard a voice like that. And you should have seen them. Actually, I should have seen them. Their face was covered by a hideous white mask that looked like an old man. The only thing that I saw was their fingers. They had been cut off and stitched again.

''I am Prometheus'' I kneeled avoiding any other contact. ''I am a warlock'' I raised my hand and offered a fire. I could hear their breath of shock but also their breath of relief. ''Are you a spirit? I asked them with a shaking trembling voice. They sat down to the autumn leaves. ''I am a friend'' They admitted and sowed a small orb of water appearing from their palm. They were a warlock... I suppose. I touched the small orb and then they offered me to drink it.''Thank you... how can...'' They stopped me. They offered me their hand. ''Come with me ''

HEPHAESTUS a familiar screamed to their head and woke up from their sleep. They were still at the workshop, all alone. Or so they thought. Someone was hiding. They stretched their wrists and grabbed the pistol that was now finished.

''Who’s there?'' They waited for someone to answer.

No response. They grabbed their cane and tried to walk with their head remaining heavy.

''I know that you are here...'' They pressed the cylinder with their thumb, listening to the ticking sound, and pointed around. Their hands were shaking. They heard someone right behind them lifting a big box.

''Aha,'' They shouted as they turned back. But they didn't use the gun. Right at the top of the table, a few pieces of steel had been left from the soldier's request. They swing their hand, making those pieces move by their mind, by their command.

When they realized what they had done, the light of their eyes faded away. The steel piece hit the person holding the box right to their arm. Hephaestus could not see their face as it was covered with a white mask that looked like an old man. A hideous old man the one whose smile could haunt a young child's dreams.

The masked person let out a painful groan but did not let the box out of their grasp.

''No'' Without any second thought, Hephaestus jumped towards him grabbed the white mask out of his face, and threw it down. His head turned down, and got on his knees, making Hephaestus unable to see his face. The wound on his hand seemed to shed blood on the dark fabric he was wearing but only for a second.

''Who are you?'' Hephaestus panted, aiming the pistol at him, hoping that he didn't realize what they had done to him. And then, it hit them. They noticed the wound. The wound was now gone. The mechanic realized what both of them were hiding.

They lowered their gun and stared at him frightened. ''You are a warlock.''A breath escaped.

The warlock's hands finally found the mask and moved it on the face. ''So do you'' And his feet swiped to theirs.

Hephaestus lost their balance fast, falling to the ground and hitting the back of their head. A shouting escaped as they watched the warlock with the familiar cranky mask holding their inventions with their own signatures.

They tried to reach him with their hand but it was too late as he had vanished.

Two minutes passed and Hephaestus was still on the ground, trying to think of what happened. They could see their work, their creations get stolen, and instead of fighting. They froze.

Reaching for their cane was the easy part as they now stood up with a great panting getting from their lips.

One, two, three. They thought and looked around, thinking of how fast they could do both their work and creations before passing out. Maybe if they could eat coffee seeds and keep them awake for hours, days even. Who was it?

Hephaestus tried to think about his voice. A husky, deep voice. His mask. The mask...

There was a ringing sound from the megaphones once more, making Hephaestus jump out.

ONE OX GUARD JOINED FORCES OF WITCHCRAFT, BETRAYING THE ROYAL FAMILY. THERE ARE RUMORS THAT HE IS FROM A MILITARY FAM...

Hephaestus ignored the sentence as they kept trying to stand on their own two feet.

''Do you need help?'' A familiar voice asked them. Hephaestus turned their head back and saw Venus sitting against the door.

''You were late and '' He looked around the mess. ''I was worried'' He looked back at them with a smile. Hephaestus grabbed his hand and pulled themselves closer to him, feeling the pain growing.

''What happened here?'' Venus asked and saw that Hephaestus was stretching their wrists.

''Another nightmare?''

They silently agreed with him. They couldn't say what happened because both they and that warlock would get caught. And they felt that something was off. They remembered the memory that they had when they were asleep.

''Is this true?'' They mumbled. And walked around thinking

''It can't be...'' They leaned down and grabbed their device. Should I go after them? They have my devices and ...but...

Venus's arms surrounded their body as it was melting slowly from exhaustion. The smell of cold rain filled their nostrils. Their heartbeat became steady. They touched his hands shakily. For a moment they felt stupid, thinking that there might be a chance of a place from Prometheus's story existed. That they could live freely without fear. And even if that place exists, why should they go there? They have everything they need where they are. Did they think that they needed more than this? They were safe. They had Venus with them. And in time they would become an inventor. They would show their work to Akhet, to the world.

''You know you can talk to...'' Hephaestus mumbled a no and pushed themselves away.

''I am fine'' They tried to smile and stretched their wrists.