Athena

Athena was a Goddess and she had been among the first of her kind to descend into the lower world.

Every God had their own reason for wanting to descend into the lower world, whether it be trying to avoid working on their godly duties or for simple entertainment. For her, she had simply wanted to see more of the heroes from the lower world and of the stories that followed them. The first heroes that had fought back valiantly against the monsters of the Dungeon with the spirits at their side had always interested her after all.

Athena had seen Argonaut's story unfold from her seat in the heavens and she had held a vested interest in the heroes of the lower world ever since. After her descent into the lower world, she had watched many heroes come and go as the years passed by. She had seen many of their stories play out in front of her eyes and their feats become cemented into legends.

After some time, many of her contemporaries had begun to create Familias, families that they could call their own and she was no different.

Athena had welcomed the children of the lower world into her ranks and raised them as if they were her own kids. She watched as they grew and even hoped that one day a hero would emerge from one of her own flock. It was a foolish dream because reality did not always follow the same path as the stories she loved so dearly.

For every hero that had emerged in the world's time of need, thousands of other adventurers had their own stories snuffed out by the monsters of the Dungeon. Her own children were no exception and she soon found herself as the only remaining member of her Familia as the years passed by. Adventurers perished on the job all the time while some simply gave up and retired, fed up with a lifestyle filled with nothing but fighting and bloodshed.

Heroes were rare, and even then, not every hero's tale held a happy ending.

The Sword Champion's story was one that had ended in tragedy, falling to the Black Dragon after taking one of its eyes. Many other heroes had their stories end prematurely because of that beast and Athena could feel the resentment in her heart growing every time. She hated that damned beast, it ruined any enjoyment she once had from watching the heroes of the lower world.

The heroes weren't supposed to lose to a monster like that.

Athena waited and watched as the years passed by, hoping a hero would finally complete the story and defeat the One-Eyed Black Dragon. She had thought that the Zeus and Hera Familias would have been successful. They held many of the famous heroes throughout land within their ranks after all. The One-Eyed Black Dragon did not care however and snuffed out their stories just like all the rest that had dared to challenge it. Another hero had fallen short and she could feel the malice in her heart threaten to pour out.

Athena had waited long enough.

If a hero native to these lands was not enough to defeat that damned beast, she'd call on a hero from another realm. Cosmic energy began to leak out from her body as she channeled it into the palm of her hands. The use of one's Arcanum was strictly forbidden and would result in her return to heaven, but what was the point of staying in the lower world when the hero she sought never appeared?

Her decision was already made.

She had watched the first hero and his story unfold from her seat in heaven, and she'd watch the hero of her choice play out his story from that very same seat. She held her hand up and reached out into the heavens. A request to the resting place of all heroes, past, present, and future. The throne of heroes was not her domain, but every God held power over the souls of mortals, albeit some better than others.

Many heroes answered her call, but she could only summon one at the most before all the other Gods noticed and sent her back to heaven for her transgressions.

Many heroes caught her eye, their stories as impressive as any of the legends she had seen so far. A young girl that had pulled a legendary sword from a stone and saved her country. A famed spearman that possessed a cursed spear that always aimed for the heart. A legendary figure that overcame twelve trials to cement their legacy as one of the greatest heroes of the land.

Athena saw all of their stories and wanted to see them all unfold before her eyes once more, but she could only choose one. It was one of the hardest decisions that she had to make in her life.

In the end, she wasn't sure why she picked the hero that she had chosen. In terms of stories, there were many heroes that possessed greater legends to their names. In terms of strength, there were many heroes that were said to be stronger. In terms of heroism, he wasn't even considered to be the greatest hero of his lands.

His life was a short one, one that burned brightly for a brief moment before being snuffed away by an angry God for his defiance.

He was not perfect, far from it. His early demise had been a result of his own decisions. He was a hero, but he was flawed. His mother was a Goddess, but his father was a mortal. He was heroic, yet arrogant at the same time.

So why had she chosen him?

The last of the cosmic energy left her body so she wouldn't have any more time to ponder on the thought. A pillar of light fell from the sky and she felt herself begin to get pulled back up into the heavens. It was too late though, she had already completed her objective. Her hero had already been summoned.

A body that had been blessed by the Gods with weapons and arms forged by none other than Hephaestus herself, once upon a time. He carried her insignia on his back just like all of the others in her Familia before they had perished. She had marked him with her Falna so that the world would know that it was Athena's hero and no one else's that would be the one to complete the last of the three great quests.

It was selfish to use her Arcanum and cheat the game of Gods and Adventurers, but she had always been someone that acted on her own accord and her hero was no different. Perhaps that was why she had chosen him in the end? They were similar in that regard and she found herself drawn to him.

Two free spirits that each marched to the beat of their own drum.

"You chose well, Lady Athena." Her hero began, his voice brimming with confidence as he jutted a thumb onto his chest plate. "I'm the best hero that you could have picked."

Ah yes. There it was, the arrogance with the audaciousness to back it up.

Athena just smirked in response.

"I look forward to watching how your story unfolds, Achilles."

Author's Notes- I thought it'd be fun to write something with one of my favorite servants in it. Does this seem like a fun idea and would anyone want to see more?