“So… you want to meet Zeus…”

We were in my flat. I called Grace, Amy, and Brent, and Cherry came over as well.

“Yep.”

Aoi was doing a handstand and bragging about how strong she was to Ruby, who ate it up.

Brent looked at me.

“Zeus… like the king of the Grecian gods.”

“Yep, that’s the one.”

“Do you even realize how dangerous that would be?”

Taury snapped.

“The only danger you’d be in is if he got jealous, so William’s in more danger from him than you.”

“My point still stands. How would you even get to him?”

I smiled.

“Well, we have Athena/Aphrodite.”

I gestured at Taury who did an overdramatic bow.

Then Cherry blinked.

“Wasn’t Athena born from Zeus’s forehead.”

Then Taury started snickering.

“Oh, I remember when I did that. The Greeks were terrified. It was hilarious.”

“What’s the actual story?”

“So, Zeus got irritated that I wouldn’t listen to him, so he pulled up a random prophecy and ate me when I wasn’t looking, so I, with Excalibur, burrowed out of that atronachs head, and got out in front of a ton of Greeks.”

“Wait… so you were also Metis?”

“Who?”

“The mother of Athena, who Zeus ate…”

“Oh, then probably.”

She was snickering at the memory.

Brent focused on something else.

“Excalibur?”

“Yeah, that blade is much older than Arthur. It used to be mine until I decided to become the Lady of the Lake.”

Grace was focused on something else.

“Wait, so… that means you were in the battle of Gaia.”

“Yep.”

“Wow…”

I nodded.

“She told me a bit during history class.”

Grace looked in awe.

“I was told she was the most powerful spriggan ever.”

Taury nodded.

“She was so powerful that some of her trees are still around.”

I looked at her.

“Really?”

She smiled.

“Yep, ever heard of redwoods?”

“She was the redwoods?!”

“Yep, told you she was strong.”

“But… those trees are massive… and they used to be global…”

Grace asked in curiosity.

“How did you win?”

“Morgan had a strategy that worked. No one actually knows what it was, but hey, it worked.”

I spoke.

“I think I know what it is, but I’d rather not share.”

“Fair enough, a way to instantly kill a spriggan definitely shouldn’t be shared, but it could be useful if we are ever in a deathlock with Morgan.”

I nodded.

“It definitely would be useful.”

Grace snickered.

“Next you’re gonna say that you know a way to instantly kill atronachs.”

“I do with fire.”

She blinked.

“… Really?”

“Yep.”

Taury sighed.

“I’m guessing I know where you learned these.”

I nodded.

“Yep.”

She sighed deeply.

“Goodness.”

“Yep.”

Aoi looked at me.

“So, when are we meeting the god of thunder.”

Taury shook her head.

“He’s in Greece, so we’re going to have to wait for a break.”

Then I thought for a moment.

“Wait… how did he marry his sister, if he’s an atronach.”

“Not biologically, but they always called each other sister and brother, and still do, so it’s just kinda weird.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Huh…”

“Plus, he’s a downright scumbag in every other regard, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he would marry his sister.”

Amy looked at Taury.

“Doesn’t he go after some of his own kids?”

“Yep, he’s an irritating pervert. Thankfully, he doesn’t go after me anymore, but I do warn you, if you want to join us to meet him, he will likely try to get you in his bed one way or another.”

Aoi looked at her phone then squealed.

“WILLIAM!”

“What?”

“Daniel is coming to the college for the concert later this week. I’m so excited!”

I blinked.

“I swear, if he ends up being Zeus I’m quitting.”

Taury looked at me.

“What? Where’d you get that from?”

“It just seems like something that’d happen at this point.”

“… okay?”

Amy was a bit confused.

“What?”

“It’s nothing. Just the timing feels like comedic foreshadowing.”

“???”

_

“Alright, Ruby, the first thing you must understand about fire, is that it is what brings life, however, it can just as easily take it away.”

We were visiting Roman, who’d started a garden with the Seed of Humanity. They sent out a radio signal telling Roman’s story, so people knew that they didn’t need to fear the atronach.

He was currently giving me and Ruby a lesson. Ruby moreso. I was watching and following along.

“Now, the first thing we need to do is test your raw power.”

Then he stretched both arms back and launched a wave into the wasteland.

“Now, William, you first, fire at me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, it’s standard, besides, as a fire atronach, I can take it.”

I blasted at Roman, and he blocked it easily.

“You are quite powerful; with training you may even exceed me.”

“Um… really?”

“Yes, it’s quite impressive.”

Grace came to catch up with Roman a bit and was sitting with Taury, watching the lesson.

“Now, Ruby, do what your father did and launch a wave at me.”

“Okay, uncle Roman.”

She stretched her arms back and both me and Roman felt the heat. He shot up a very powerful shield the moment she released it.

The wave was the size of a tsunami, and I saw Roman release the full extent of his magic to match it.

He slowed it down, but the wave still hit him causing him to gasp.

He panted.

“Right… she’s half-light… I forgot.”

“What?”

“Light is the most powerful type of atronach. So… she has the potency of light, but the flame of fire as well… she may just be the most powerful atronach… ever…”

“Really?!”

Taury also seemed shocked, but Roman nodded.

“With proper training, she may be a match for one like Gaia.”

“Wait… so… how is she so strong?!”

“Beats me. I would say it’s because of the light, but… even Zeus couldn’t put me in that situation with just a wave.”

“Wow…”

“So, her raw is stronger than Zeus’s refined… you may want him to teach her light.”

“Could it be the way she was formed?”

Roman thought.

“Intertwining magic… hm… that may be it, especially if both of you were in mana furies when it happened.”

“Now… let’s work a bit on control.”

“Alright.”

“Produce a single spark.”

He raised his hand and a spark came off.

Then I raised my hand and did the same.

But, when Ruby raised her hand, a spark of life came out.

“Never seen a spark like that…”

“Wow… it takes a lot of magic to do that…”

“William?”

“I call it a spark of life, it’s a combination of light and fire. It’s what makes my synthetic arm and leg work.”

“Wow… and she… just crafted it.”

“Yeah.”

“Could she theoretically make new life entirely?”

“Maybe with enough training.”

“Incredible…”

Then I thought of something.

“What if she inherited my real magic?”

“That’s possible… I mean, if your magic is what allows you to use fire and other elements, then maybe… fire… William… have you used it on me?”

“Uh… maybe?”

Grace blinked.

“You did?”

I nodded shyly.

“It was the time I deflected his attack.”

Grace was thinking more on what happened then as Roman began guessing.

“Is it some kind of time control? No… that wouldn’t explain Wings’s immunity to the name command… command… hm… could it be mind control? No that wouldn’t make sense, how do you deflect an attack with mind control.”

“By making you think I deflected it.”

He blinked.

“Really?”

“Yep. I was quick enough to at least use it.”

“So… you didn’t deflect it?”

“I mean, I did stop it.”

“That… is still rather impressive, but how were you able to control my will?”

“I… don’t actually know. It may have been the surprise.”

“That is possible.”

“Still felt like a hot iron dropped on my skull for the slightest command.”

He gave a prideful look.

“So, my will is still incredibly powerful.”

“Yep.”

“Nice.”

Then he considered Ruby.

“If she can use such a power… an atronach’s will in addition to her nigh limitless raw potential… she may be almost a god-level being.”

“Wow…”

“We should test it… How though.”

Ruby thought for a moment.

“Control.”

Then Roman blinked.

“I guess not.”

I nodded.

“Yep, I don’t think it worked.”

Ruby moped.

“Don’t worry, you’re still ridiculously powerful, you just don’t have one aspect.”

“Yeah… but papa cool when controlling, I can’t be cool.”

“No, you’re cooler. You’re so much stronger than me.”

“Woah, really?!”

“Yep.”

“WOW!”

She seemed really happy and began doing a little dance.

I laughed, then Roman got us focused again.

“Ok, do a fire flow.”

“Fire flow?”

I was confused, so he smiled.

“Yes, flow the fire like water.”

He raised his hands and moved it like a water bender.

Then fire flowed from him like a stream, that he guided in a circle around him. It was beautiful. Like a stream of light moving.

Me and Ruby were both enamored by the stream, and Roman smiled.

“Your turn.”

Both me and Ruby failed to do it. The max we could do was a little spurt of fire before it fizzled.

Roman smiled.

“Tell you what. Homework. Don’t come back for more training until both of you can do it.”

We nodded in determination, and Taury snickered.

“They’re so excited.”

Grace smiled.

“You can definitely tell how they’re similar.”

_

“Hm… so, you are thinking of meeting Zeus.”

I was talking to Roman while Ruby and Taury went on a hunt.

“Yeah, if I’m going to face the Hunter and his master-“

“Who told you about his master?”

“Astella.”

“Hm… I see, that makes sense. Sorry, its just… I don’t think that you quite get who exactly you are planning on facing.”

“He already has some focus on me, so I need to be prepared.”

“What?”

“Yeah, the Hunter said that his master wanted me alive.”

“I… that’s not good.”

Roman began shaking.

“I won’t elaborate now… but yes. Zeus would definitely be a massive boon to facing that one.”

“Yeah… is he as bad as Taury describes?”

“Worse, she was somewhat of a late comer when it came to that group. He was the epitome of scumbag and womanizer. He thought that if a woman existed, she was his for the taking.”

Then he smiled.

“I tricked him once, that way.”

I blinked.

“I’m interested.”

“I’m sure that Grace has shown you how many appearances we can take on as atronachs.”

“Yes?”

“Well, once I made him think I was a female fire atronach, and he showed great interest. After he spent the better part of a day trying to seduce me, I spoke and he fell flat on his butt after recognizing my voice. Hera would not stop laughing for weeks after that.”

I snickered.

“That sounds hilarious.”

“Oh, it was.”

Then he leaned over.

“Bit of advice when dealing with him. Make sure you have one woman with you. If not he won’t listen to a word you say. Though, with Athena with you, you should be good.”

“Wow…”

“Yep, he in fact, barely listens to his own children,”

Then I thought for a moment.

“If atronachs can interbreed, then why hasn’t a hybrid like Ruby appeared before.”

Roman smiled.

“Good question, that’s because when they breed, either the weaker type is born or twins, and with light, it’s almost always the weaker one.”

“So… does he have any children with insane light magic?”

“Yes, he dated some fey, and some humans.”

“Hmm… wow. May I ask a bit about mythos?”

“Sure.”

“Who was Chronus, actually?”

“Hm, he was Gaia’s life partner, and Morgan’s father.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Morgan actually was more kind in those days. She inspired Demeter, but that’s less known.”

“Wow… who was Hestia?”

“Ah, that’s actually one of Wings’s names.”

“I thought you said that she was a newcomer.”

“Yes, but she was still there rather early. She joined shortly after Chronos’s defeat.”

“Wow, how was he beaten?”

“Well, I’m sure you heard that he ate us, correct?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, in reality, he set up conduits to siphon our magic into him, spiraling his own magic, as three of us were atronachs, he had a near limitless source. Morgan eventually fled and pleaded for help, but she was caught and Chronos was about to simply kill her when a meteor fell near him.”

“Was that?”

“Zeus. He stepped out and saw the elf.”

“Elf?”

“Yes, elves and spriggans are close enough related that their child will be one or the other.”

“I see…”

“Yes, anyways, he stepped out and saw the elf. Upon Chronos attempting to subjugate him, he simply annihilated him. The infantile marked Hera, and she raised him…”

“So…”

“Yes… that’s why most of us found their relationship odd.”

“Jeez.”

“Indeed. That was certainly an odd scenario, anyways, that was the defeat of Chronos and Zeus’s arrival on earth.”

“Wow…”

“Yes.”

“So, when I meet him…”

“He’s going to definitely go after Wings… and get rejected again.”

“Yeah… let’s hope he doesn’t try.”

He sighed.

“Just don’t go overboard, he is definitely stronger than the Hunter. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was comparable to the demon leader.”

“Oh…”

“Yes.”

“Well, I should get going, thank you for the mythology lesson.”

“No problem, I have plenty more stories.”

I walked out and towards the tesseract.