Exiting the plane, Hephaestus made sure that he does not forget any stuff or tools by checking his luggage which he actually already done before going to the airport. But a double checking won't hurt right?
Done with checking, Hephaestus proceed to exit the small airport before he takes a good scanning around and finally spotted a taxi.
Paying the taxi driver, he opens a map and observe it. The location where this resort was is on his south, the volcano is only behind the resort although it is a bit far away according to the map.
" Got your mind on a place now sir? " Asked the taxi driver.
Hephaestus hummed, " Aye, take me to south, where the resort is located. "
" Wheels tight, then. " The driver said before they took off.
On the way to the resort, Hephaestus suddenly remember something that made him sigh deeply while massaging his forehead, " I forgot to ask her name... "
The taxi driver, upon hearing this, he says, " Ya forgot to ask a lass' name lad? "
Hephaestus just look at him, "...what? "
The driver laugh, " Aye lad, ya heard me well. Don't worry lad, ya will get some coochies when ya got to da resort!! "
Hephaestus decided to just ignore everything else the driver is saying.
After arriving, Hephaestus step out of the car and take his luggage. Before he could walk away, the driver called out to him, " Go get 'em coochies lad!!! "
The people around them was whispering, mostly giggling and laughing. Embarrassed, Hephaestus quickly walk away from the scene without saying anything.
He checks the map and found his way towards the hotel he booked. After registering and then settling his luggage in the room, Hephaestus wasted no time to take a shower first before he starts his first step of the plan.
-- [ Time skip - 5 days ]
The Olympus has been... Chaotic.
The news of Aphrodite and Hephaestus divorcement spreads like wild fire. The male gods, who claims that they are a better husband than Hephaestus immediately asked for her hands in marriage.
Though, they got refused in the end. This actions by the gods, brought jealousy among the goddesses. Day by day, the minor goddesses who follows Aphrodite is getting less and less in numbers.
Aphrodite noticed this of course, what can she do about it? Absolutely nothing, because this is what her past actions has caused. But this is only the first part of things the goddesses did to her.
After certain points, gossiping about the Goddess of Love is no longer a secret between some goddesses. Almost everywhere Aphrodite goes, she can hear them talking behind her with any chance they can get. This situation got worse to the point of Aphrodite not leaving her palace as often as she usually does.
The male gods also didn't stop pestering at her door, she just ignores them of course. Eros couldn't do anything too, he is the victim between the past deeds of her mother and the decision Hephaestus made.
Eros is not saying that he is not happy with what Hephaestus did. He's glad, because Hephaestus can finally find his happiness somewhere else. But, that doesn't mean he is not sad that his mother got divorced and him losing a father. Ares? No, he will never admit the God of War as his father.
The only thing he could do everyday is comforting his mother when he saw her sitting on her bed, hugging her legs and crying endlessly. Helplessness slowly getting into his heart. He don't know what to do, only praying that Hephaestus will return from wherever he is, soon.
Today, again, he finds his mother doing the same thing on the bed. He slowly approach her mother and embrace her with a comforting hug. Aphrodite flinch a little before she returns the hug after she recognized the person hugging her was her son.
Eros remembers one night, when he found his mother at the same condition. After he entered the room, he heard his mother suddenly asked, " Hephaestus--?? "
That night brought Eros into silent tears as he hugged his mother tight, whispering comforts to her ears as he listened to his mother's sobbing.
About Hephaestus, no one knows what happened to him after the divorcement. He just suddenly gone. Weirdly enough, none speak up about this when a meeting occurs.
Only a handful of gods and goddesses knows what exactly happened to him and where he is; Zeus, Hera and a certain Goddess of Hearth.
Today, Zeus gathered the Olympians for another meeting.
Every Gods and Goddesses has already arrived, only Aphrodite hasn't come yet. Zeus sigh, " Will Aphrodite not be attending another meeting today? "
No one answered, Zeus frowns, " I had enough..!! This is an act of disrespecting me..! I should drag her by hair and throw her to her throne myself...!! "
When Zeus gets up from his throne, Hera suddenly speak, " Let her be, Zeus. We can continue this meeting without her. "
Zeus turn towards her, obviously angered, " No, I shall not ignore this anymore or the Olympians will think that I have grown too soft and they will start causing trouble everywhere!! "
Hera sigh, " You are just being paranoid, Zeus. "
Zeus was about to retort when suddenly Aphrodite enter the hall and sit on her throne.
" Aphrodite? How dare you come in just like that!? You should ask for forgiveness!! " The King of Gods roared.
Aphrodite, not wanting to anger Zeus any further-- though she already did, " Forgive me Lord Zeus, I do not wish to be absent on the previous meetings. It's just, I have to take time to adapt to the current situation I am in. "
Athena cuts in before Zeus could say anything, " There is nothing wrong with taking time given her condition, father. "
The other Gods and Goddesses, weirded out when Hera stood up for Aphrodite, and now with Athena covering up for her, it got even more suspicious.
Zeus, of course, lost in words when even his daughter is defending the Goddess of Love, hump in defeat, " If this happens again, I will not ignore it and you will face punishment from the council. "
And thus, their meeting continues.
Back to Hephaestus. 5 days has passed and he only managed to find only strands of the raw divinity. To say he is disappointed is an understatement.
He did managed to find a way on how to convert the raw divinity so it could be safer to use, so all thing is fine for now he said. He just started for 5 days, so this much of a result is not really an issue since raw divinity is very rare to find in this era.
Hephaestus sips the hot coffee without care and all while reading and understanding better the map of the island. A few marks can be seen on the map in various spots, indicating that the place was already checked and harvested.
When he puts the coffee cup on the desk, he was interrupted by someone knocking on the door. He hummed in wonder before he gets up and walk towards the door.
He hold the doorknob, and he spin it before he pulls it. His eyes registered a beautiful figures smiling at him.
" Well hello there again~ "
-- [ End Chapter ]