Diomedes woke up in the strangest of settings. This was not the forest outside of Thebes, this was not his personal tent situated outside of Troy, this was not the undiscovered lands of the Mediterranean Sea.

This was Olympus, land of the Gods.

Diomedes found a mirror and could not believe what he saw. Himself, not a day removed from when the siege of Troy was reaching its climax. Suddenly, an otherworld force begun to make itself be known to the former king and commander.

“Long have I been waiting for this opportunity, for this moment, to meet you, Diomedes.”

It was Athena, Goddess of War. Not in the disguise of another human, but as her true, divine form. Diomedes, however, was not interested in her unending grace and beauty.

“Why have you brought me here? Am I to be dragged to trial for my transgressions against your brother and sister?”

Athena could only chuckle, even in the face of such absolute power and authority, he would challenge that power, even in words. It was part of why she loved him.

“For far longer than you realize, I have been watching you, King of Argos. I have been by your side in many battles, ever since that first one in Glisas, many lifetimes ago. It was there that I have been with you ever since, watching you in battle, and by your side in your time of mourning. It was I who blessed you with ability to see Aphrodite during Troy’s siege.”

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Diomedes, Diomedes did not know how to respond. Only to ask.

“Why, why do you tell me this now, Athena? That all this time, there was but one God who acknowledged me? When I was ready to die, knowing that there was none who ever did…”

“I tell you this, because of my love. My love to you and what you represented. Unyielding bravery, unmatched strength, and yet, a heart and soul that could make steel weep. And my love could not be contained anymore in secrecy, after a lifetime of support I chose no longer to hide my admiration towards what you are, Diomedes. A soldier, a warrior, and a king, but most importantly, a man.”

Diomedes was speechless. He thought himself alone in the world, that no God had bothered or cared to bless him or acknowledged his feats. He accepted this and pledged himself to be the greatest soldier and warrior he could possibly be. But even a man with such unparallel strength had his limits. He knew one day; he would reach that day soon enough. And yet, it never came, and it was thanks to the blessing of one single Goddess, one who he had been by his side all this time.

The same Goddess who had watched over his father.

“Diomedes, King of Argos. Would you humble this Goddess by walking side by side with her into making his first steps?”

“First steps, into what?”

“Why my dear.” Athena offered Diomedes her hand.

“Your first steps into Godhood.”