Long time no see! Unfortunately, the slowing of my schedule I mentioned previously hit real hard and fast, since I've just moved to a new job. I was able to write every now and then because the company rules are not very strict, but the business of acclimating to a new environment took up most of my time. Another problem is that this update schedule will likely stick for the foreseeable future, so hopefully you guys can be more patient.
Now, on a more cheery note: A-1 Pictures has done a great job on animating the FGO anime. Its fight choreography - the standard I judge most animes - is right up there with Ufotable, who's industry leading no matter what anyone says. Also, I've been busy on the beta front lately - check out Kokosoko's, sarin555's, and Venompool's stories which I've worked on! I won't tell you which one of theirs I have a hand in... You guys have to guess from the quality alone! Give them my shout-out when you visit.
After a long while, the mailbag's back!
KRKing: Yeah, I deliberately used her tanned illustrations from the light novel, instead of the more Caucasian (and closer to Penthesilea) skin tone in the concept arts.
Serpent King: [the reviews' excerpt] Regarding your info, which one should take humanoid forms when summoned? Counter Force or Guardian? Because of this event, it should be postponed until much later in the story. As for who Andromeda's partner will be... I'll leave it to you to stew around. Alicorn is a female most of the time, though it can theoretically reproduce with both sexes. Being a mutation, the chance of it having offspring will be small.
Herpasuke: Those are legitimate constructive criticisms. I'll take some or all of it on board, because it's very hard to implement them all in one story, or even between stories, as it's inherent to my own writing style. I'm still striving to improve, and those areas are the ones ripe for development in future projects, or even latter chapters in this story - as you can see when comparing HV-S01 & HV-S02.
10: I don't entirely agree with you, solely because of the data we now have from Fate/strange fake. So we shouldn't hold his Prototype version against him.
"Maybe I'm rusty…?" Pandora questioned herself softly, as she made herself home in the makeshift place she'd chosen. "They've been able to track me down too easily and quickly lately…"
Dropping her body on the large cushion – forcibly stolen, of course – she pondered of the recent developments of things.
Of course, procurement of a base of operations was paramount, especially with her stunt in confronting the still-active Heroic Vessel SHIRŌ in the past. While she had full intention on following through with her threat back then, there's no doubt the risk she'd take wouldn't be worth it. Yes, she's afraid to perish, but what frightened her more was the fact her plans wouldn't be completed if she died right then and there, even if it meant a good, satisfying slap to Alaya's proverbial face when she killed him and everyone he cared about.
She took advantage of what weakness every Heroic Vessel had – including herself – the absolute refusal to settle for a compromise.
When faced with the option to sacrifice one to save ten, then they as a whole would only get strong enough to save all eleven individuals. No questions asked.
For her, it's her quest to destroy Alaya.
For him, it's his women.
Neither of them wished… no, they weren't even born with the ability or desire to compromise. Therefore, only combat served as a fitting conclusion.
To prove Alaya's methods were wrong. To make him see he's no different than its previous pawns. To make everyone witness its fall, and how it turned her into this version of herself.
Oh, she was no fool. With her access to the Akashic Records, how could she not know of her other 'selves' in other realities? It's not as complete and flawless as SHIRŌ's ability to do so, for sure – because she's, after all, incomplete – but enough to garner a good guess of what's happening around her, and how she grew under various circumstances.
And none of them showed her living happily as a normal person, or even living a satisfactory life like SHIRŌ's.
Did that not mean Alaya's efforts were futile? That, no matter how much time and possibilities passed, nothing would ever change from the fate she's ordained with? The fate to suffer indignations, one after the other, under those tyrannical gods' rule, expectations, and 'protection'. Alaya sweet-talked her with the claimed ability to change those very same fate… but what happened in the end?
Absolutely nothing.
So, it fell upon her responsibility to 'correct' this mistake.
She saw it. Her small, frail body, used as a vessel of sins, just like her previous weak self before meeting Alaya. Only this time, and several other times, she met other people: humans, demigods, Titans, Protogenoi, time-travelers, and so on. Learning so many things from them, tasting what they called 'happiness', and feeling like she'd harnessed the [Hope] rooted deep inside her as a safety mechanism for the myriad of things sealed in herself.
Only, at the end, she was still sacrificed for other people's goals and ideals. Those very same people whom she trusted, she considered friends and new families.
Betrayed her. Just like what Alaya did.
"That's a nice look on your face."
The one speaking wasn't her usual companions, which meant her tomes – or what remained of them.
Of course, the mocking tone clearly indicated this person held no good will towards her, given their current circumstances.
Hera glared at her, despite her mouth widening in a demeaning sneer. "I've seen that look before. 'Betrayal', wasn't it? That's what you're thinking? Well, let me tell you- G-GAH!"
- Squelch.
Impassively, Pandora twisted her palm, which was now redecorating Hera's stomach. Getting pleasurable shivers whenever her fingers made contact with the goddess's various innards, she gently caressed and squeezed and scratched and twisted…
Each eliciting a beautiful scream from the blonde-haired Mother Goddess, wife to the man who ordered her birth.
"…g-guh – T-That's your response, huh, little brat? No… should I say 'traitor to humanity' instead?!"
- BANG!
A well-placed punch obliterated Hera's head, but it's rapidly growing back to the same arrogant face which had been talking back to her the past several months. As was the wound in her stomach, which made it more satisfying when Pandora kept on reopening the healed wounds to elicit soft whimpers from the restrained goddess.
Truly, these Olympians knew how to run their mouth, every damned time.
The most annoying part was Hera's opportunistic move when she was captured to parasitize her life force onto Pandora's, given the goddess was in possession of Eros's Divine Graph at the time. Combining the Authorities she had at hand – despite the male god's own wasn't fully optimized for her due to the rush-job – she created a lifeline between her soul and Pandora's.
Meaning, she'd continue to heal, despite Pandora's best efforts, so long as the little girl wasn't prepared to take permanent damage to her 'self' to kill Hera.
It's an attribute unique to her position as the 'Mother Goddess' – meaning the element of [Birth] was under her control, as the Goddess of [Families]. Whether she actually gave birth to many beings was irrelevant – only that the act itself being associated with her was enough. In a way, it, too, was a subsidiary of [Life], a subset of the long-lost Ophion, the deity who held the original Authority in his palms.
Oh, Hera wasn't so arrogant to say she's as powerful as that Protogenoi. As was the law of the universe, the successor would generally be inferior to the predecessor. She was two generations removed from that being – whom she suspected was no longer on the planet anymore – and thus only had superficial understanding of that aspect of nature.
That said, she was a goddess, thus 'superficial' for her was leagues above any demigods or mortals, or even some of her fellow Olympians. It was simplicity itself when she held power enough for two deities to create a pseudo-contract with Pandora's being, especially when the girl let her guard down in thinking of her successful capture.
She maintained a haughty expression on the outside, knowing this was the face which could – and would – rile up this girl the most.
This kind of opponent couldn't be reasoned with, either verbally or physically. Her only hope of surviving was play the damsel in distress, and hope her champion could wrap up whatever was holding him from embarking on a grand quest to save her RIGHT NOW very, very quickly.
Preferably, like… now?
How long had it been? Or did they even not notice her disappearance?
Yes, that must be the case. After all, she herself didn't fully comprehend the anomaly ravaging Olympus – no doubt Pandora's doing – until Athena came and discussed the basics with her. Zeus, Poseidon… these were key figures, and not only her, but their most trusted priests and priestesses couldn't put a finger on what truly was wrong either.
Until it was too late.
She mentally shook her head hard. There's no sense to be pessimistic now, because doing so would only weaken her spirit. She didn't care whether Pandora was aware of her thoughts or not; now was just a matter of surviving. However long it took.
Besides, if their connection could truly share thoughts, either one-way or both, then Hera had a new game to play. She'd bombard Pandora's thoughts with annoying and disturbing information, just to distract her from whatever she's plotting.
Because whatever it was, it's clearly something big… and was about to be completed.
She could take heart in the way Pandora was desperately running away from… something, because it meant she'd hit a setback in her plans, despite her confident aura. While Hera didn't know beforehand the little girl was confined within Olympus's heart – a secret she's cursing her husband for keeping, as with his various mistresses – Hera did know from conversations with Athena and Ares that one should be hard-pressed to vacate a position of superiority unless something had gone wrong.
And, judging from how hard she's torturing the goddess today in particular, it'd gone wrong in a spectacular manner.
Perhaps Jason was even more formidable than she thought? Hera's experience with Pandora told her she's no match for the little girl, both in terms of attribute match-up and raw power output. The goddess herself didn't have a good grasp on other deities' battle prowess, either – bar Athena and Ares, who're both famous for it – so she didn't have too much data to compare to.
So… Jason was stronger than her all this time? And she was ordering him around just like how a normal deity would to a mortal champion?
She had to admit, this realization was embarrassing.
While there were plenty of occasions where a successor overthrowing the predecessor – Olympus being the prime example – there's always support from a being of a higher plane of existence. There was no account of someone using their own power to overthrow the dynasty before them…
But this redheaded boy could be the first. No, he's no longer a boy, now – he's a man, in accordance to the ritual she herself blessed.
Thus, it wouldn't be far-fetched to hope Jason could defeat this lost creature in front of her. From what she'd observed from humanity, there were too many times when their prayers were simply ridiculous and far-fetched, purely because the deities couldn't do everything for them, right? The natural degeneration of their powers when crossing from Mount Olympus to the mortal plane was bad enough, and now their worshipers wanted them to do things even more complicated and exhausting?
Get real!
For instance, praying to Hera to safeguard a family from a volcanic eruption, despite the clear fact the time they spent praying should've been used to evacuate! What kind of powerful Authority she must wield to cure these people of their idiocy?! Seriously!
Perhaps she could bless them with a temporary force field, if she found them to be pious enough. However, it's certainly not on a level which could withstand Hephaestus's 'accidental discharge' for a long period of time, and if her words of caution failed to reach the family, then they're too stupid to be worth the hassle, after all.
She cared for her believers, but only those who proved themselves continuously to be worthy would receive her constant vigilance and effort. If they didn't care for their own safety, then why should she? She's not the kind of deity like Ares, who prized glorified deaths and suffering.
However, this was not arrogance on her part. She truly believed she'd done enough for Jason, if not for the entire world, to deserve to see out this Pandora's destruction.
At that time, she didn't care whether she'd survive the process or not – the continuous torture had ensured the whittling of her sense of self-preservation – only that her grievances would be avenged.
Just like the very thing driving Pandora forward… it, too, would be her downfall.
She's sure of it.
Before long, she lost consciousness, with her last memory being Pandora's adorably frustrated face.
Close by, Meleager was carefully eyeing the Mother Goddess, arms folded in a secure pose.
Unfortunately, good things rarely last. Those which did usually came at a great cost – one far too taxing for anyone involved to enjoy those aforementioned good things. The temporary ones usually felt the sweetest, solely for their fleeting nature, while the eternal ones generally grew to be underappreciated and taken for granted.
Was it due to mortals' own… well, mortality? The fact they usually required challenges and setbacks just so they could enjoy the momentary joy and pleasure?
In any case, Medea certainly wasn't very happy right now.
The fact she needed to steel herself just to ask a simple favor from her fellow wives and husband made her angry… at herself. Hadn't they gone through enough? Weren't they close and intimate enough? This was simply disrespectful to the bond they had!
More than anything, she was angry at her own cowardice, which was suddenly springing back with vengeance after a spell of self-confidence – one she bragged about mentally to herself just a short while ago. Where was the confident wife-cum-magus who regularly competed with two other amazing women for the love of her life's attention? Where was the intelligent and efficient woman who handled Arcadian internal court duties in record time?
She was frustrated when the people around her was the first to notice something was wrong with her, and felt the need to spend energy to reach out to her for something she should've dealt with herself and in an instant.
"Oh? Just something that simple? Of course we shall march!" Atalanta boldly declared inside the royal studies, where they're dealing with another wave of paperwork related to the recent developments and reformations within Arcadia. "Should we raze everything to the ground?"
"O-Of course not! Discreet! Quiet!" Medea, flustered, quickly rebuked, to which Atalanta's excited ears and tail flattened in disappointment.
Earlier, she muttered how she'd like to investigate the rumors her little brother was in a pinch, due to some unknown forced brewing around Colchis. Her father's behavior had been erratic, at least publicly, and there's no way Medea could maintain her Thaumaturgical connection to Colchis after all this time and between such a long distance.
While their husband was dealing with the matters regarding Iolchos, it's left to them to run Arcadia's day-to-day operation – which was what's acceptable to the people, anyway. Humans were fickle like that – perfectly competent rulers like Iasus and Pelias were quickly dishonored and forgotten in favor of the more 'fashionable' and 'popular' choices, namely Atalanta and Jason, simply because their stories appealed better with the masses. It's not even a given they would govern and grow better than their predecessors, but people were quick to jump to any bandwagon they saw in their boring daily life.
Of course, Atalanta had no desire to remain at the same level as her hateful father. She was determined – despite her tortured expression at times – to be a queen so great her father's name would be erased from history, just to spite his decision to abandon her to die in the wilds.
An overreaction? Medea and Medusa thought it was only fitting. It's a miracle Atalanta hadn't stormed the Arcadian royal castle and execute her father publicly already, given her occasional uneven temperament. It's not as if her younger self cared of what the public thought of her anyway – only what Shirō, and perhaps Chiron, did – so the chances of it happening had things went differently was quite great.
Still, she felt like the older woman was forcing herself out of character recently, trying to go beyond her comfort zone a little bit too much.
And with Shirō often unavailable now…
Recently, Arcadia's new power structure had finally disseminated to the public. Medea wasn't sure who first caught wind of it, but it's surprisingly both accurate and respectful in its spread. Obviously, Atalanta reigned as empress, but Shirō's position, while initially misunderstood as 'the man behind the woman', was finally accepted as mostly a figurehead who preferred to continue his adventuring whilst helping his wife part-time. When Atalanta had that action itch, she'd dump her work onto Medea or Medusa – the latter's cuteness had inadvertently been cast as Arcadia's new national mascot – and rampage on several quests herself.
To be frank, if she didn't know Atalanta as well as she did know… perhaps in the near future, they could be enemies, instead of fellow wives of a wonderful man.
Medusa popped her head over the table – her current height meaning she had to adorably stand on her tiptoes just to read the documents on the table – with curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Is there a problem in Colchis?"
Medea looked over to where the young girl was usually seated. Naturally, her chair had been boosted with several pillows to allow Medusa to actually do some work, but it laid empty now that its occupant was here at Medea's table. "W-Well… because of what happened with Atalanta's father, and the rumors of the disappearances among the ruling class in both Iolchos and Colchis, I fear for his well-being. We know our opponent this time was crafty."
The little girl nodded, though that action merely made her chubby cheeks puffed out after her jaw pressed repeatedly against the tabletop.
Medea felt an itch in her fingers. An itch to hug.
"The Olympic Games?"
- BAM!
"Yeah! It'll be the biggest shit in town! Are you invited to participate?" Herakles boisterously slams his bowl of soup down, having invited me over for lunch at his house. "Oh, I'm sorry – the life of a newlywed must be more interesting than some stinky, sweaty sports event, right?"
I feel one of my eyes twitching in irritation, but Megara soon arrives with another small dish and slaps her husband behind the head for his comment.
Naturally, this berserker of a man doesn't even register the act because of his current level of excitement, simply smiling sheepishly at his wife before speaking to me once again, even though there's no way I can reply because I'm still chewing a piece of stewed pheasant, "Colchis has generously opened its reclusive doors for all capable people! It even provided invitees with a detailed and blessed map to its domain – and as you must know, the way there is treacherous even for the most hardened crews!"
'You know nothing…' I grumble inwardly, though still keeping my composure out of respect to the lady of the house, who's eyeing the two of us from the kitchen. Naturally, I shouldn't disclose the matter of the actual Argo's treacherous voyage to Colchis, because Herakles experienced several personal losses in historical canon which drove a wedge between him and Jason. "I see."
The large man shakes his head, finally getting my current thoughts. "Hmph… Scheme all you want, like usual. I won't be there to bail you out every time!"
'When have you actually done so? Helpfully?' I snark back in my head, though I busy myself with chowing so my venomous mouth won't say anything untoward. Outside, things were different. I'm under his and Megara's hospitality now, so I shouldn't make a scene. "You sound interested in participating. Are you going swimming again?"
A monstrous killing intent erupts from Herakles, as the memory of Atlantis's siege replays across his eyes. "Shut the fuck up."
"Language!" Megara's voice immediately harks back, warning him his children can hear him just fine.
He waves his arm roughly at her, though he manages to refrain from making any further rude gestures. "What's your point?" He asks grumpily, eyeing me with caution.
"Can't say yet until I know everything."
"Even then, you won't tell anyone anything!" He argues… which sounds correct. "Stop bullshitting!"
"Then, answer a few questions from me calmly. This is a lunch, after all; I don't need your usual boisterousness in the Guild. Do you think that kind of thing is still in vogue nowadays? The youngsters just look at you like you're insane," I point out harshly, as Megara giggles in the background. "However, going back to the topic, do you think it's a coincidence Colchis is finally opening its doors now? Without any precedence or pressure?"
"People change, you know. And that includes kingdoms," Herakles casually answers, loudly slurping his soup in-between phrases. "Not everything needs to have a reason, you know. 'Coincidence' is as good an excuse as any."
"As good, yes, but not as acceptable." I nod my head at Megara's desert, as she gracefully replaces the used utensils with a new set. A chilled and candied fruit set. How novel. "Especially to people like us."
"Hmm…"
As Herakles groans in thought, I use the time to evaluate Megara's cooking. Course meal was uncommon in the current era, with only a select individuals even privy to the custom. Usually, not even rulers employ this method in small banquets, as the buffet-style was far more ingrained in the culture and their own upbringing. After all, it's too much of a hassle cooking course after course of food and drink step-by-step, instead of doing and serving everything at once, even with the help of Thaumaturgy. It's more apparent if the lady of the house herself was cooking, and while she's a skilled cook, Megara…
Well, she's not me.
However, for what I infer to be one of her first few attempts at constructing this kind of dining experience, she'd done a fine job. Pushing new concepts as the wife of a popular public figure is never an easy decision to make, because much as the current Greece respects women, any wrongdoings on her part will be taken advantage by her husband's and family's detractors. Such is the political life of a spouse, male or female.
Perhaps I can coach her for future attempts? It's not like Herakles will be around all the time…
Ah, I think that sentence can be interpreted wrongly. First of all, Megara's not my type, purely from a physical point of view. Hey, Heroic Vessels are allowed to have preferences, okay? However, we mostly grow our relationship with others through mental and spiritual aspects, and for me, this woman too is rather lacking in these attributes. While she's a good match for Herakles, she won't do for me.
As to whether I'll actually take someone else's wife if I have the chance… I'll leave that problem to Future!SHIRŌ, because I'm not interested in tackling a problem which hasn't presented itself to me yet. Later on, I will have grown some more, and perhaps will gain some more relevant perspective as to what I will and should do.
I mean… who cares? I have a loving and completely satisfactory marriage life now – why will I want to change that? While I am blessed with understanding women, any new additions will need their approval and permission – and that's not even including the research I must do to ensure they can all get along together.
In this aspect, even my previous flings aren't necessarily suitable, like Hippolyta or Circe. Or many other girls…
…maybe I've played around too much in the past?
Yeah, how hypocritical of me to criticize Herakles's reckless behavior, right? After all, dealing with injuries as 'collateral damage' is easier than dealing with newborn babies and pregnant ladies, right?
I fight the urge to pinch my nose and groan out the sudden frustration blooming inside me.
Meanwhile, Herakles finally comes to a decision.
"Then I'll be your inside man. How about that? I have the confidence to 'not die', so I'm a good candidate, right?" The tall man bangs on his chest, full of pride… as if that's something which one can boast about freely. "Beats having any other one of your colleagues, right? Oh, I forgot… You don't have any! BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!"
- Pak!
"You're being rude," Megara chastises, having finished her cooking duties and joining us on the table. "Besides, 'colleagues' and 'comrades' are completely different things!"
"That's exactly my point, dear," he grins, not even feeling the slap at the back of his head just now. "All this guy has is extremes of different positions: precious comrades, or enemies. There's no in-between – I mean, despite his personality, I'm sure he treasures me very much, too!"
"Alright, I have to admit that's disgusting."
Megara hums approvingly of my comment, seemingly to have thought up a similar barb of her own.
"Anyway!" He forcibly continues, "Therefore, he can't – or won't – allow those around him to endanger themselves, because he's way too overprotective. That's why he trains himself until this point: so he can afford to be that way. Am I right?"
I shrug, not wanting to commit to an answer, but the wise Megara catches on my intentions quite quickly.
"No matter how correct you are, is this something you should discuss over the dining table? How about talking about my cooking instead, hm? How do you find the experience, dear?"
"Ah… Well, it's quite sudden, so…"
I have to admit, seeing the usually overconfident bruiser stumble for words isn't something one can quickly get bored of.
Compared to other city-states, Colchis could be described in one word: extravagance. Not only did their royal palace, capital city, major ports and business hubs were lavished with excessive amounts of gold, their study of precious metallurgy, processing, distribution, and design was the best across Mycenaean Greece was unparalleled. People who had the fortune to visit there always described the place as 'elegantly gaudy', which was as close an adjective as human language could get.
As a result, its human capital, too, was highly sought after. Clients who could afford the riches Colchis could produce didn't necessarily know how to use them as efficiently or effectively as natives who're living and breathing it since they were small. The future Hellenistic states would be a loyal customer, giving Colchis a lifeline through the transition between the destruction of Greek culture and the enforced Roman one, though that wouldn't last long before the Roman Empire flattened everything to the ground.
Therefore, Medea's self-description of her home as a 'gilded cage' wasn't necessarily wrong – in fact, it's frighteningly accurate and literal. While most of its inhabitants didn't share her sentiments, the first part of that phrase was quite real – after all, who wouldn't envy the life of a princess, despite how every member of the royal family explained it's far more complicated than what they dreamt of?
With the entire territory shining with splendor matching the sun, it's no wonder the Olympian Helios, God of the [Sun], favored them somewhat. It's well-known the royal family descended straight from his bloodline, though unfortunately, they didn't exhibit enough talent to use his Authorities, in the form of Domains, like most other demigods. In fact, Medea had been their most outstanding member in terms of divine affinity, but even she suited Hecate's teachings and inheritance more than Helios – meaning her in-born ability was nothing more than chance, just like other champions who suddenly earned favor with their future patron deities.
Thus, it's not strange seeing him in the private royal temple hall, a place where important and blessed individuals were able to request more personal conversations with their patron deities. Because of their ancestry, the Colchis's version was dedicated to Helios, though there certainly were other major temples located in the capital for other, more popular deities.
Absyrtus was kneeling with both palms touching the ground, though his back was more upright than a prostrating figure would suggest, enabling him to stare at the non-humanoid deity with his own eyes.
Now, normally, such feat would be fatal for those who accidentally did so, as staring right at the embodiment of the [Sun] at such close proximity would suggest. However, with Helios appearing in his spherical form to reduce the pressure the universe exerted on him in the mortal plane, it's significantly reduced into a welcoming warm glow – the light of [Life], derived from the Protogenoi χάος of the [Void]. Lately, with the increasing gap appearing between the two worlds, Helios preferred this form because he could also double-duty as the sun. there's no sense in working overtime if it's unnecessary – which was why he was particularly annoyed by the summer's solstice, a day where he had to work the longest.
How his sister adored the winter's solstice was beyond his understanding.
"Hmm… This eminence has to admit, this idea from Lord Zeus was unusual for his character." Under Absyrtus's curious gaze, Helios continued, "Esteemed Hera is also uncontactable, as is Ares. Perhaps… this has something to do with your brother-in-law as well."
The acting ruler of Colchis nodded, having already suspected this to occur. The political situation around Greece was just too strange, too outlandishly chaotic to happen naturally as a result of the passage of time. Given his father was also one of the 'casualties', at the very least, he had to secure this ancestor's blessing and backing… for Colchis, if not for his family.
Those words made his mind wander towards the image of his lovely sister.
Unlike their close neighbor Amazon, Colchis was quite patriarchal. Their mother was one of many – fortunately for the two of them, they were the most talented among their half-siblings, legitimate or otherwise, thus their position in the royal court was never in doubt.
In that arena of political chess games and silent backstabbing, Medea was the one true family he had.
He felt sorry for his mother, who couldn't experience how a real family should behave because of her heritage. Their father had a clear line of divine ancestry to Helios, and their mother descended straight from Okeanos, the Titan who was the successor of Protogenoi of the [Sea], Pontus. Then… why was her children bereft of any divine qualities?
In a patriarchal society, no matter how faint, the blame would first lay on the mother.
Inadequate. Traitor. Embarrassment. Failure.
Such words drowned Idyia with intangible substances she'd never known, leading to her taking her own life in front of her children.
He could still remember vividly Medea's ultra-tight grip, almost fatal in nature, as she attempted to shield him from the sight and act.
Other than that, he couldn't remember much. Whether that's fortunate or not… he still couldn't decide even until now. Was it good to prevent that trauma to affect him, potentially leading to the ruin of Colchis's future, as he's its crown prince? Or was it heretical and unfilial, for casting aside their mother's last legacy for them?
Not that their father cared much. No matter how good he or Medea was, the fact they couldn't produce even a shred of Helios's or Okeanos's powers merely reminded him of his own failure.
Like them, Æëtes was the 'mere mortal' out of Helios's descendants. Not the only one, for sure, but certainly the most high-profile, given his status. While most rulers and monarchs – his contemporaries – also exhibited very little supernatural inclinations, as if the price for the talent of administration was exactly that, his pride and shame took the better of him.
He should be special. He should be better.
And if he couldn't do it, then his children should replace him to become that beacon of admiration and worship.
In a twisted way, that's why he locked Medea inside the royal palace: to nurture the 'perfect' being to be presented to the public. To show that even though she's merely cattle, ready to be wed at the best available opportunity… it's a prime, exclusive breed they're getting.
This was why he didn't report Circe's 'kidnapping' of Medea to their father, even though he knew of the deed far before it's revealed.
The only thing about it was the fact Medea's chance of receiving a proper, official wedding wouldn't happen until their father suddenly had a change of heart… or had his heart removed altogether. Preferably along with his head too.
To be frank, Absyrtus had very little negative opinion of Æëtes as a man. The fact the latter managed to develop and push Colchis to its current glamorous state spoke enough volumes of his ability as a man of the state. It's always easy to squander and difficult to save, invest, and actually make profit. The balance between exclusivity and isolation was a thin line to maintain, and Æëtes played it as best he could.
The former raised Colchis's stature as both a destination and producer in the eyes of the world. The budding Latin and Persian Empires directly bordering its lands were starting to take notice – and Absyrtus was planning to take full advantage of this situation, now that Æëtes wasn't available. The difficult and perilous journey one must undertake to enter its lands without invitation casted a romantic image on Colchis, painting it as a treasure island bursting with profits.
In a way, it's a similar technique to the one he suspected his current brother-in-law employed whenever it concerned Jason's and Pelias's respective public reputations. Of course, this meant neither of them would ever be able to pinpoint and present the evidence this manner of manipulation occurred, so players like them usually stayed out of each other's way whenever convenient.
As usual, though, Helios's thinking wasn't that deep. If there's something strange happening, then get a more experienced and knowledgeable party to investigate. The issue whether the act itself should be public or hidden was another matter entirely – all which was important to him was the results. So long as he could 'optimize' his efforts to gain the maximum benefit, he'd do it in a heartbeat.
Besides, he's a god. Who could realistically threaten him? Olympus had reached a stability not found in their predecessors – there's no reason to antagonize each other deliberately behind the scenes. Why should he be bothered by the machinations of a mortal?
Indeed, it's a sentiment shared instinctively by all Olympians, despite some of their members actively trying to subvert this through their personal character developments. Athena, Artemis, Hestia, and deities with similar temperaments were pushing themselves through this ordeal lately, as their favored mortals began to influence them. Again, not something Helios was particularly opposed of – if that didn't concern him directly, he wouldn't think much about it.
Given the current fractured state of Olympus, perhaps he should care more… But this event was something Zeus ordered. Helios did see the value in a festival like the Olympic Games: an event to honor the name of 'Olympus' and the Olympians, by showcasing the mortals they nurtured after all this time competing against themselves. Striving to reach beyond humanity, battling to race towards the peak…
…only to be slammed back down to earth as they realized the distance between mortality and divinity was insurmountable.
To these deities, the word 'nurture' was no more than taking care of cattle out of responsibility. The sense of 'affection' was missing even until now in certain individual gods, because the common sense and living environment was so different from the start.
This wasn't even including the Olympians' origins, which was considerably different than humanity's.
Therefore, for Helios, questioning the current acting king of Colchis was merely a form of entertainment… because he's bored. Why not listen to the words of the workers actually building up the event? After all, he's got nothing better to do. Perhaps there would be something of interest to him, simply from the sheer scale of the first iteration of this event planned.
"Will he be attending? That son of Iolchos; your brother-in-law?" He asked casually, not particularly caring of Absyrtus's casual behavior in his prostration. "If so, perhaps this event holds something more than meets the eye."
It was simple deduction, yet often times, humans heard of this with awe and respect. Really? With such a small thing, they're already impressed and happy? How easy…
Why he allowed this young man – barely out of his teens – to stand in his presence in such a way was because he's smart. He knew how to tread the fine line between disrespect and mutual conversation, always erring towards the latter to boost Helios's thin ego. The god didn't like to place himself in the same category as the more arrogant one, such as Zeus – though he wouldn't admit it – so he mostly saw himself as Absyrtus's mentor.
"Apologies, esteemed Helios. I haven't heard word from my sister yet, but considering Lord Jason's temperament, perhaps this event indeed interests him," the young man suggested. "Will you be gracing us with your presence as well?"
"Wasn't the sponsorship matters resolved with Lord Zeus's backing? Why are you still asking this futile question?"
"Merely confirmation, milord."
Helios nodded. "Keep up the good work. I shall… return to my duties."
Most people wouldn't think much of the pause in-between the words, but Absyrtus knew what its subtle meaning was.
'He's about to slack off again, wasn't he?'
