Chapter 12: My little sun
The four transients were lying unconscious in an unknown beach, there was a salty breeze in air and the sound of waves was flooding the environment, the summoner wakes up first and goes to the Olympian to wake him up, the imp and the robot were waking up too.
-Hephaestus, wake up! Please, wake up! – after hear Jūtarō's voice, the crafter grunts and opens his eyes, seeing the summoner's face.
-w-what happened? Where are we? - the crafter wondered about that place.
-I don't know…but I feel I have been here before- Jūtarō commented still confused.
-Master, look! – Salomon yells to his master and points toward the sea, Talos tries to investigate their whereabout.
-Papa, I can't confirm our location, my scanner cannot process where we are- the android says, but Hephaestus watches the sea, and recognizes it like the palm of his hand.
-It can't be, this place…I k-know this place- suddenly, he hears a voice singing at far, he remembers very well that voice, and in a second, he runs toward the direction of that voice, the other transients in that place are surprised and try to reach out Hephaestus, who he had run a considerable distance.
-where are you going, Papa?!- Talos asked him, but Hephaestus didn't answer, he only concentrated in the singing voice, after some unknown lapse of time, he ran until reach the other side of that beach, until he saw a familiar silhouette playing a string musical instrument and singing a song, he believed he had forgotten.
I was lost in the dark,
Drifting in loneliness,
Until see a little sparkle,
That was you…
You gave me all your warmth,
And I gave you all my heart,
You became my everything,
My little sun…
When summer gives us sunshine,
And when winter give us cold,
We will always be together,
The ocean, you and me…
I was lost in the dark,
Crying inside the void,
You became my own sparkle,
My little sun…
You gave me all your warmth,
And I gave you all my heart,
You became my love and hope,
My little sun…
My little sun…
Hephaestus stopped running when he saw the songstress, it was a lady in an Olympian dress playing a lyre, her silver hair was flowing with the breeze, then she turns the gaze toward Hephaestus, she drops her lyre and her hand covers her mouth because of the astonishment of recognize the man that was at her side, her eyes overflows tears and says a name she always remember.
-Hephy… it's r-really you…my Hephy…my little s-sun? - the crafter was silent and falls over his knees, and says the only word he could say that moment.
-Mama!- the woman hugs him with all her strength, the crafter hugs her by the waist and both cries aloud, then the summoner and the others finally reach Hephaestus.
-Hephy, you're so big and strong now, I always imagined you like this! – Eury compliments him and pats his head, then, the Olympian rises from the ground and keeps hugging her with all his self.
-I missed you so much Mama! I w-wanted to see you all the time! I felt so lonely without you! but now, come with me to T-Tokyo, you will love it! Come with me to my guild, you will like my guildmates, they're like another f-family to me! – Hephaestus keeps saying many things about Tokyo, his work as crafter and his guildmates, but Eury interrupts him out of nowhere.
-I know, I wish to stay with you again too…but…I can't- Eury told to her beloved son with sadness and pain.
-Why, Mama? Why did you leave me? Am I really so ugly and disgusting to make you abandon me? -Hephaestus implored to her mother the reason why left him with despair.
-I would never abandon you! you're the most precious child I could ever love! But I was forced to leave you…because I didn't want you to see me die! I didn't want to see you cry for me as the last image in my eyes! I didn't have the courage to told you I was dying! - Eury revealed that hurtful truth to her son crying.
-Mama…you really can't come with me? Please, tell me that's not true! - the crafter supplicates her to don't be separated again, but the lady wasn't lying.
-Hephy…is the truth, I can't come back to life, but my love for you is eternal, you have a life to live, a family to care, big things are waiting for you yet, you are not alone my boy…you will always be my little sun…- she gazes him with her violet eyes and kisses him in his cheeks and forehead
Hephaestus keeps holding her in his strong arms, making his body remember her and hold tighter that memory in that moment, then she gazes to the other transients, and recognizes the summoner.
-Thank you, Jūtarō…I asked you to give him my message, but you did more than that- Eury was pleased and joyful to have his son once again.
-you're welcome…Eurynome…- the summoner answers to her gratitude.
Then, she notices the android looking at her with curiosity she surprises because of the robot's semblance with her son.
-Hephy, who is him? Why he looks like you, but a little different? - Eurynome asked to Hephaestus about Talos.
-He's Talos, a creation of m-mine, I made him as my ideal self…and is…like my s-son- Hephaestus told her with some shyness.
-I'm Talos…and you must be…Mama…the real Mama? - Talos asked her a little nervous.
-if you want…Talos, you can call me Grandma…-Eurynome told him and hugs him too, Hephaestus gets jealous, he clenches his teeth and his flame burns stronger.
-Hephy…do you remember what I told you about burn your flame like that? – Eurynome tolds him in a classical mother nag.
-Yes, Mama…never b-burn stronger my flame because I could cause a f-fire…but…- Hephaestus was going to complain but Eurynome interrupts him again.
-Talos must know his grandma, at least this only time, and Hephy…that idea about make him take your place…please stop with that…the only perfect Hephaestus I love…is you as yourself, you don't need to create a another you, because you're perfect as you are, if nobody else can see that…is because is an asshole- Eurynome said that last vulgarity surprising her son.
-Mama! You said that word! You always berated me every time I used bad words because you said it was rude! – Hephaestus commented with shock.
-well, I don't like that words, but it was the best way to describe whoever dares to make you feel bad and call my son ugly- Eurynome answered a little ashamed and laughing, Hephaestus laughs and hugs her again, making her look small at comparison with him, time passes while mother and son enjoy their time together and the sun was setting in that place.
-I really wish to never leave you Mama, are you sure there's no way to come back with me? – the crafter asked her again, waiting for a different answer.
-I wish the same thing too, but there's really no way, but what can I tell you is that someday, we will be together again, I don't know when, but we will be together, you, me, and the family you made in Tokyo, I only ask you… to live your life as you want to live, I'll be happy if you're happy, my Hephy…- Eurynome kisses him in his forehead one last time.
Jūtarō's ring shines again and a hexagram is glowing in the sand opening a portal to transport them again, Hephaestus holds her hands one last time while she looks at him with love.
-I love you forever, Mama- Hephaestus says that last words before being sucked through the portal while she responds him.
-I love you forever, my little sun- Eurynome says good bye to them, and the vortex is closed after they cross.
Kamata Crafters Workshop, Hephaestus' Lab
Jūtarō opens his eyes and sees Hephaestus sleeping while his head was lying in the table, Talos was sleeping too in his maintenance bed and Salomon snores at Talos' lap.
The summoner notices he holds the hand of the crafter, the Olympian starts to wake up and sees Jūtarō when he opens his eyes.
-Mama? – the crafter asks still sleepy.
-yes? - the summoner asks him back quietly.
-I want…to stay with you, with Talos and Salomon…f-forever too… Jūtarō - Hephaestus said and blushes.
-then… that means…- Jūtarō was going to say another thing, but he blushes and he's silenced by an unexpected kiss from Hephaestus in his lips, it was warm and full of tenderness, as the heart of the Olympian.
- I-I love you Jūtarō, but I still see my mama in you… can I still call you like that? - Hephaestus asked.
-occasionally…my little sun- Jūtarō replies and kisses the crafter back with a longer kiss.