Disclaimer: Dont Own Dark souls 1, 2, or 3, or percy jackson.
Lordran/Lothric -- MC POV:
The Unkindled... nameless accursed Undead... those who failed to link the first flame... because their souls weren't enough to ignite it... or so the stories say... I know the truth...
The Truth is... the Unkindled are just the ashes of those who succeeded in lighting the flame, returned to independent form by the flame, with no memory or even soul of their past.
The souls themselves are used by the flame as both fuel and as a protector against those who would snuff out the embers of the flame... The Soul of Cinder... an amalgamation of charred souls most of the memories that were engrained within were burned away all but one... the first to link the flame.
The Chosen Undead of legend.
"He was a man so determined that he fought demons, monsters and Gods alike. Never slowing down and never stopping." That's what those who knew the Undead personally always claimed... but in reality he was just a scared teenager who was taken to this cursed world not of his own volition.
He happened upon a bonfire... or rather the bonfire. The one that was directly connected to the flames, which had grown desperate and searched the universe for someone to kindle it.
And it chanced upon the boy who was taking a trip to a foreign country with his highschool world cultures class.
The boy had gotten lost in an old castle museum and came across the bonfire in an old armory, the weapons covered in dust layers too thick to be natural.
The boy had noticed the fire and approached... that's when the fire made its move. It wafted over the boy in a firestorm, transporting him and simultaneously branding him as an Undead, but not before leaving him to a pair of undead in the asylum.
The flame had sealed his memories of his old life to be safe. But in doing so nearly made him go feral and completely hollow. But it seemed the exposure to the flame had... awakened something in the boy, something that made the flame feel like it wanted to comfort the boy and make him feel safe.
It was here that the boy's innate talent for pyromancy made itself known to both the boy... and the couple who raised him.
The couple were a pair of Undead who resided in the asylum alongside the boy. A Knight, who had bathed in copious amounts of demon blood, due to him killing them. And a pyromancer... more accurately... one of the witch of izalith's followers who had left before the fall of her homeland.
The boy was given the name Inmortui Ignis, Undead Fire. A fitting name.
They taught him much... about knighthood, combat, magic, and of course, Pyromancy.
The boy was a natural born pyromancer, he used fire in ways that even the flame itself had never seen. He had taken the iron flesh spell and combined it with a magic spell one that created an ephemeral sword of souls and used iron flesh on the weapon to crystallize it!
He was a genius at pyromancy.
But when the time came for him and his new family to leave... Gwyn's black knights showed up... with a pair of demons.
One was placed in the lower depths of the asylum, and the other to guard the exit.
Still the family attempted their escape... but the aged knight fell against the lower demon... his body then went feral... and Inmortui had to end him...
The two remaining buried the knight, and Inmortui took his armor for himself, along with the knight's broadsword.
Then the two went to the upper cells of the asylum to face the upper demon, but the black knights had never left.
The Pyromancer had told Inmortui to run to a nearby cell, and the two did, but instead of locking the door behind them both... she chose to lock only the boy in. And use herself to distract the knights. She ran and ended up dying and going feral, with the key on her body.
The boy then was left to waste away in his cell for years... the flame almost felt bad for him... but to it.. the sacrifice was necessary.
One day a knight came to the asylum, searching for the boy, even if he didn't know it. And by chance killed the hollow remnants of the pyromancer, which fell into the boy's cell, key and all.
The boy, who had long since gone apathetic to everything and everyone, took the key and left the cell.
He had made his way out of the asylum and eventually through countless trials he did as his intended purpose was... to link the flame.
And his body was reduced to naught but ash.
That's how the real story goes...
Now you may be wondering... how do you know all this? Who are you?
Well you see... I was that boy, I was the one to link the fire, and I was the one rise once more to defeat the copy created by my soul from the flame. And this time... That! Accursed! Fire! Will! Fade!
I looked at the summon sigil beside the bonfire... and kneel to summon the woman who had been my closest companion... the Fire Keeper, a woman who wore a black dress, had beautiful long white hair in a braid, and a face mask to cover her eyes.
I stared at her hair for a time, my memories I regained from the soul of cinder reminded me of another woman with white hair, Priscilla... a dragon crossbreed created by Seath the scale-less.
A woman that Inmortui had found comfort in on his original journey... and had even mated with her. He had foolishly promised her he'd return before their child was born... he hadn't known that he'd die if he linked the flame.
His only consolation... was that he got to meet his daughter on his current journey... but his biggest shame was that she had grown up alone... in that tower by Sylvhan. Priscilla had most likely been killed by some other undead on their way to foolishly link the flame... one who truly didn't care that they'd orphan a poor girl.
Or perhaps it was Sylvhan himself who killed Priscilla.
I shake my head to clear my mental ramblings.
"Keeper... please take the flame." I say softly, in a hoarse voice.
"Yes Ashen one." She said in her soft and soothing tone.
She moved to the bonfire and slowly knelt to the dirt, the flame, weak and waning knew it was time for it to end and so it let the keeper take it onto her arms. She then held it to her bosom and cradled is as the flame began to fade.
I watch on in relief as I let myself sink to my knees beside the keeper before laying back into the ashen dirt below.
I stare at the growing darkness above.
"The first flame quickly fades..." The keeper said, I just listen to her voice.
"Darkness will shortly settle..." She says, as the darkness continues to creep in.
"But one day... tiny flames will dance across the darkness... like embers linked by lords past..." She says once more.
Darkness now set in completely as the fire fades.
The Darkness completely envelops the world now... and with it a sense of peace and calm over takes me as the rage and Stress fade.
I slowly allow my eyes to drift closed, but just as I had begun to allow myself to fade away I hear a soft voice.
One that I felt I haven't heard in ages, but it might have only been a few moments since last I heard it.
"Ashen One... Hearest thou my voice still?" The Keeper spoke one last time.
Suddenly a bright flash of golden light burst from my body of ash, it illuminated the darkness and the world one last time, before it immediately dims as my body turns to ash and fades into nothingness.
Germany/Burg Hornberg Castle -- 3rd POV
Deep beneath Burg Hornberg in an Ancient Armory a sword, coiled and twisted, sat stabbed in the stone beneath it, a pile of ash and bone lay scattered across the ground, a bonfire, one that's flame had long since been snuffed out... and then it wasn't.
The bonfire suddenly was set ablaze by a brilliant flame of a multitude colores. Orange, Blue, Molten Red, Crimson, Golden,... and Black.
The ash the lay scattered began to swirl and take the shape of a person, a teenager, barely even 16.
His messy hair is black at the base but it naturally fades into a gray at the tips with small red highlights, a side effect of his stress from being bullied, and being forced to dye his hair red, before his kidnapping by the first flame. His eyes were a pale pink, caused by a deficiency in melanin, a trait he inherited from his mother, before her death. There was only apathy in his gaze as he surveyed the armory around him.
He sighed in exhaustion.
"Looks like the flame brought me back..." He said in solemn exhaustion.
He fell to his knees and pounded the stone beneath him in sorrowful rage.
"Dammit!! Why!? Why won't you just let me rest!?" The teen says in tear filled anger, directed to the flame that slowly faded, leaving him in a dark room, the only light provided by the twisted sword that continued to glow with heat.
After several seconds of quiet time, the boy dried his tears with his sleeve, which when he noticed wasn't his armor, he nearly panicked, until he noticed a familiar bag at his side, one that smoldered like he himself after consuming an ember or killing a lord.
He reached into it and was relieved to see his gear, weapons, armor, rings, even items like his Estus Flasks, which were at a full load of 20 per flask.
He noticed the armor the Soul of Cinder wore, but the sword wasn't there, despite him knowing he picked it up from it's corpse.
He then looked at the smoldering sword in the stone behind him.
He made his way to his and grasped the handle, in a flash of sparks and embers he pulled out the sword and the blade came to life with flame.
He stared at the sword with contempt, before he put it into his bag, which was almost comical as the sword was way too big for the tiny size of the bag.
He took the time to rifle through the bag a bit more. And paused as he felt something familiar. He grabbed it and gaped.
The Drake Sword. The sword he used back when he was a regular undead, on his way to blindly link the fire. The sword should have been destroyed when he linked the fire. His Elite Knight armor wasn't destroyed in the blast but his sword was. All he had left was a broken estus flask, his armor, and his adoptive father's broad sword. The rest of his gear was either destroyed or scattered.
So... the flame gave him back his favorite sword... so what? Doesn't mean he forgives the flames... baka.
He placed his Drake Sword back into his back. And pulled out a dagger, but it's no ordinary dagger, this one was made to be able to cast magic with it's similar to the Aquamarine Dagger but actually casts magic instead of just makes a rapier blade, it was a blade he requested to be custom made from his friend Andre of Astora, as well as the other blacksmiths he'd met, in ages past, but it was finished only after he linked the fire, in fact the aquamarine dagger was an inferior copy made by a wannabe magic swordsman.
He stared at the dagger and took a stance of sweeping slash, the energy of his soul gathered on the blade and guard. And with a flash of movement he slashed the dagger, and with the slash a giant sword blade made of energy followed the movement of his swing.
The blade faded immediately as he pointed the blade at a nearby empty weapon rack. An arrow made of soul energy shot from the tip and impacted the rack and it exploded into wood chunks.
He reset his stance to normal and breathed out.
"Alright... looks like magic works in this world... what about Pyromancy?" He asked aloud to himself.
He put the dagger in the sheath, and strapped it underneath his hoodie along his back.
Then he closed his eyes, inhaled, exhaled, then snapped his eyes open and flourished his hands outward, intense red flames ignited on his palms.
He blinked as he felt the strength of his pyromancy was stronger than before, and it was plenty strong in Lordran and Lothric, but now it felt as if his fire had doubled in strength, and after strengthening it with Quelana and later on Cornyx and Karla, who taught him more modern pyromancy, such as the Dark Flame.
He decided to test his flames, he focused on his left flame and it turned into a molten magma color. The Flame of Chaos. He then focused on his Right flame and it turned Black with white ash flowing from it.
He gazed at the two opposing flames, one raging and primordial, the other with sickeningly hypnotic movements.
He closed his right hand over the black flame and Swung his fist, as he did so the black flame extended out into a brutal looking single edged sword with an almost batlike shape.
He stared at his right fist, the flame now gone.
"I required a weapon to use as a medium for that spell before... has my flame gotten that much stronger?" He marveled at the spell.
The Dark Edge. A pyromancy he learned from Karla. He used it only when he absolutely had to. But it was a good spell to have.
He looked at the Chaos flame in his left, and decided it would be better to test it another time.
"For now... in need to get out of here, I've navigated enough castles in lordran I can find my way out of here." He said to himself, remembering that he had gotten lost the first time he was here.
After he secured his pouch inside the school backpack, that he had on him when his normal clothing was returned to him, he made his way to the exit of the armory and made his way down the dark hallway, he had taken to igniting a small flame on his finger to provide some light.
He made his way through the hall until he heard sound, voices. His instincts from Lordran and Lothric kicked in and he snuffed his flame and hugged the wall to wear he saw an exit to the hall.
He peeked his head out and saw it was a gaggle of teenagers, led by three adults, two teenagers and one tour guide.
The class was just messing around as they mocked the architecture, and a few of the boys mocked a suit of armor by making fat gestures and laughing.
Inmortui's eye twitched at the sight.
"Right... I was here on a tour... for school... fuck me..." he groaned.
He slipped his hand into his bag and pulled out a ring. The Carthus Milkring, a ring that makes the wearer faster and invisible while they dodge.
The later trait is what he needed. But to be safe he pulled out a white tree branch. Which makes the holder invisible for a short time.
He put on the ring and gripped the branch tightly. And in a second he was invisible to all.
But he didn't have much time, taking off at a full sprint rushed the group silently, and just as the branch's effect was up he rolled and went invisible until he stood up and acted like nothing happened. And no one was any the wiser.
He pretended to pay attention to the tour guide as he explained the history of the Castle.
In all honesty he didn't care. Compared to Anor Londo, this castle was more like a larger than average brick house, and the history was more rich, hell he was even part of that history! So the history of man struggling again man meant nothing to a man who had fought demons and gods and came out on top.
He surpressed a yawn and ignored the rest of the tour and his classmates, some of which, who he had forgotten the names for, tried to get his attention by throwing paper at his head and laughing.
But he just ignored them with an annoyed sigh, which seemed to piss the group of wannabe bullies, because when the group was releasedfor lunch the group tried to pull him to the side, but he was just sigh and ignore them once more.
A tall boy with tan skin and blonde hair grit his teeth, before he looked sharply at a couple of his companions.
Both grin and move to surround Inmortui.
The blonde snarks at the Ashen Hero.
"You shouldn't have ignored us Match Stick." The blonde said.
Ironicly that nickname made him remember that his name was Matthew Smith. And he used to carry matches around cuz the fire made him feel safe. Oh the Irony.
He decided that he would change his name in this word to the one given to him by the only parents he's ever really known, Inmortui Ignis. With him going by either name.
"Grab him!" The blonde, Inmortui still couldn't remember his name, said to his group.
The group all lunged at him and attempted to grab him by his arms... key word: attempted.
Inmortui was too fast as he ducked down and rolled, luckily he removed the ring earlier or he'd have gone invisible.
But he was still to fast for them nonetheless.
As he rolled he lashed out with his leg and swept one of the boys off his feet before using his other leg to kick him in the jaw, stunning the boy.
Next he stood up and elbowed another boy in the ribs, which made the boy wheeze and cough as he held his chest.
A third boy tried to grab him from behind only for him to flip the boy onto the stone and knock the wind out of him.
"Compared to feral Hollows these brats are a cake walk." Inmortui thought with a smirk.
The blonde teen stood dumbfounded at the sight of his punching bag absolutely demolishing his gang.
Inmortui stood up straight and stared at the other remaining teen, and tilted his head to the left, cracking his neck.
"Who's next?" He said calmly.
The blonde teen took and involuntary step back.
"Not you? Well... too bad.. cause I remember just last week you said my mother was probably a whore and killed herself when I was born..." Inmortui said which was true. It had been only last week earth time since those words were spoken.
The blonde teen backed up and stumbled into a rack of wooden swords that were made to look like training swords and shields. He knocked it over and one bounced at both his and Inmortui's feet each.
The teen quickly picked up a sword and a shield, while Inmortui only had the sword at his feet.
But he was used to fighting without a shield, after all... you only need one hand to cast pyromancy.
So he decided to go with the fighting strategy he used with his pyromancy and sword.
As he picked up the sword his other hand picked up a handful of dirt and gravel that lined the stone floor of the courtyard.
A crowd had begun to form, and the teacher were even watching. But to be honest they didn't care, neither of the boy's were rich or important. So there was no reason for them to step in.
The tour guy on the otherhand was watching with baited breath as he was trained in sword combat and he knew and experienced swordsman when he saw one. And the way Inmortui moved as he picked up the sword was calculated. And he knew he should stop the fight... but the tour guide wanted to see more, he was eager and hungry for this fight.
Inmortui stood up, sword in his right hand, the dirt concealed in the other.
He only had one shot... but this isn't the first time he's done this, oh no definitely not his first time.
The blonde boy attacked first running wildly at Inmortui, who sighed.
Inmortui struck out with his sword which the blonde boy barely blocked with his shield. This made the boy realize he needed to fight defensively. And kept his shield up, and sword poised for a thrust.
Inmortui blinked at that.
"Hmm.. not bad. Your learning." He praised.
"But... You're not the only only one with a trick up his leave." Inmortui said.
He then swiped his left arm out throwing the dirt into the air, the gravel hit the boy's shield as he hid behind it.
This was fine for Inmortui, who only used the Dirt as a smoke screen to get closer.
Before the boy knew it he saw Inmortui in front of him, sword in both hands in a stance poised to strike.
And Strike he did.
With an upwards slash his heavy hitting strike knocked the boy's shield up and the boy himself went off balance.
Inmortui then slashed at the teen's wrist, knocking his sword out of his grasp before he kicked him to the ground and placed his sword in front of the bully's face.
The crowd was silent at that until fellow student who were bullied by the boy began to clap and cheer in amazement. The teachers just shugged and didn't care as long as they didn't have to work.
Meanwhile the Tour guide gaped at the masterful strategy for dealing with a Shield using opponent.
The blonde boy himself stared into the eyes of Inmortui, and suddenly felt as if he were a child in front of a king.
Ashamed and fearful.
He lowered his head in shame, and Inmortui lowered his sword at his acknowledgment of defeat.
Inmortui made his way to te fallen sword and shield picke them up and returned them to the rack with the other wooden practice weapons.
Before he turned to the rest of the class and held up his sword to the others who would bully him in the past.
"Anyone else?" He said apathetically.
The class went silent at that almost in shock, none more so than the other bullies, of which a girl who asked him out once only to mock him and pretend he didn't exist, she was also shocked but she also "knew" he had a crush on her, and could use that to get in his
Keyword "had."
The rest of the day went by with everyone avoiding him, except for the girl.
Inmortui had trouble remembering who she was, she was pretty by human standards he guessed, but Priscilla was beautiful in a more ephemeral way, a way only gods are capable of being.
The girl was getting too close for his liking. She made multiple flirtatious advances on him.
Which made him all the more confused as to who the hell she was.
"Hey~ why won't you talk to me~?" She pouted, her eyes shining, and a familiar feeling of magic pulsed from her words, lucking he had a high magic resistance, and used magic himself so he could tell, but he chose not to act on her attempt to use magic to make him speak.
He did however stop walking and look at her, and decided to talk a note from a certain masked spikey silver haired ninja.
"I'm sorry... did you say something?" He said. The girl stood still as if struck by lightning, which Inmortui knew the feeling of all too well.
Inmortui then turned to walk away but she recovered from her shock and giggled (fakely as she was really annoyed internally.)
"Oh you joker I asked you if you wanted to hang out sometime." She giggled.
Inmortui stopped as those lines made him remember who this girl was, Drew Tanaka, a girl who he once had a crush on, then one day she asked him out and then broke his heart by mocking him in front of everyone a week later, before throwing her lunch trash onto him, with food still on it, after that the boys and the rest of the blonde boy's gang started bullying him and made his life... well not hell... that title was reserved for Lordran and Lothric, but it still wasn't easy.
But he didn't care anymore, he'd been through worse things than a bunch of children being immature.
"Honestly what did I even see in this girl...?" Inmortui asked himself.
He opened his mouth to respond, and she perked up waiting for him to respond, meanwhile he grinned devilishly on the inside.
"Who are you, again?" Inmortui asked.
As if Antarctica itself was dropped on top of her she froze. And he walked away.
"Priscilla was way more beautiful than that girl... so was Gynnevere..." He muttered to himself as he walked away.
Unknowingly Drew had heard him and recoiled and began to fume at the insult, her mother would hear about this she would make sure of it. No one insults a child of the goddess of beauty.
Let alone compare her to not one but two different women... she would make him pay.
That's what she swore.
For the rest of the day nothing eventful happened. They continued the rest of the tour until around 6pm where they got on a bus that would take them to the airport, it having been a month since they came to germany and Burg Hornberg was their last stop on their tour.
After a few days of driving, Drew fuming, and Inmortui quietly sitting in the back of the bus alone, taking the time to examine the Magic Casting dagger, which needed a name.
He stared at it... he remembered the materials he gave up to make this. Several dragon scales, four demon titanite, eighteen magic coals he found when he invaded evil people's worlds, and 27 twinkling titanite, along with a single gem of each element, by far it was the most expensive weapon he'd ever had commissioned.
Sure he probably could have made it himself and spend less Souls but he was too busy. And besides he may have been taught the ways of smithing from the three legendary blacksmiths of Lordran but his skills were still nothing compared to theirs.
It was an investment, one he never got the chance to use until his second journey, but an investment that paid off nonetheless.
But he still needed a name for it.
He examined the dagger once more.
It was straight with a 3 inch by 12 inch double edged blade, there were rose thorn barbs along the base of the blade, it's a pure white and glowed like snow under there moon, and as he looked closer he could see scale patterns that shined across the entirety of the blade, and swirls of magical energy could be seen within each.
The hilt was black in color, like that of demon Titanite. It was shaped like the hilt Qin Jian, a Chinese long sword, but it was fitted wide enough for the blade to seamlessly fit into.
At the center of the hilt guard there is a diamond styled star shaped multi colored Gemstone that glowed with numerous elements within. And the Pommel had an orb of the same multi colored Gemstone slotted within, with the gem acting as the pommel itself.
He marveled at the beauty of the blade before he felt the bus begin to slow, and smelt smoke in flood the bus from the overheated engine.
The driver began cursing in german as he pulled over to the side of the road.
He quickly put the blade back into the sheathe as a teacher began to escort the students out of the bus.
The heat didn't bother him but for appearances sake he also left the bus.
The teachers began to take a role call and upon hearing his old name he said "here"
After that the tour guide came and told us that the engine was too hot and needed to cool down. And that the adults would get on the bus and open the windows to air out the smoke.
The teachers, driver and tour guide, and the few parents who chose to chaperone the trip, did as asked and after 10 minutes they were allowed back into the bus, just in time too as it started to rain.
"Hahaha!" the tour guide laughed.
"What luck! The rain will help the engine cool faster!" He laughed.
Inmortui smirked in amusement. The man reminded him a bit of Siegward.
Just less armor.
Inmortui then returned to his previous seat, and closed the curtain, which each seat has their own of.
He went back to inspecting his dagger, after a few more minutes he noticed that everyone else had gone to sleep, so he decided to do the same.
Even if he no longer needed to.
(*Clash-ring! ... Clash-ring*)
The familiar sound of a hammer on steel rang out as Inmortui opened is eyes to see a heavily muscled man with a rather ugly face, which was mostly covered by a large beard and mustache combo, sparks ignited in the beard from time to time.
He's shirtless with an apron meant for metal working. His left leg was missing but it was replaced with a mechanical prosthetic, while the other was in a brace.
He hammered his steel at a large anvil, forging a sword but it wasn't just a sword. It seemed to be made out of mechanical parts.
Has he finished he examined the sword and pushed a button on the hilt. The sword attempted to shift, from a Xiphos to a long bladed spear.
The keyword in this sentence being attempted.
Instead it just extended the blade to the length of the sword used by the Abyss Watchers.
The man cursed under his breath and made to the throw the sword away.
"Another failure... dammit why did Ares have to request this accursed thing!" The man said as he tossed, without looking, the sword at Inmortui's feet.
Inmortui picked up the Xiphos turned greatsword, and examined it.
"Ah... I see how he did this... he used enchantments on the steel while he hammered the blade to shape... but they're on the wrong object..." Inmortui thought as he looked at them.
"The enchantments are in the wrong material and the wrong object." Inmortui said before he could stop himself.
The man paused and slowly turned to him. His eyes seemed to widen in recognition of his face, before it was turned to a impassive look.
"And what would you know about forging enchantments boy?" The man asked.
"More than you it seems." Inmortui said calmly.
The man raised an amused brow.
"Oh then show me where I should be placing the enchantments." The man said.
Inmortui didn't respond, he just walked to the forge and was about to grab the hammer but stopped.
"What is it boy? Cold feet?" The man smirked.
Inmortui looked at his side. His pouch was still at his hip, he reached inside and pulled out a hammer.
It was the Hammer of the Skeleton blacksmith, the man who taught him enchanting alongside Andre and the Giant blacksmith.
The man rose a brow at the hammer, but he backed away.
Inmortui looked around and found a long metal pole, possibly from a previous failure, as there was a melted blade at the tip.
"What you were doing was trying to turn the blade into a pole and extend it..." Inmortui said as he pulled out his magic casting dagger, which he just now decided to name Priscilla.
With Priscilla he cut the melted tip off in a swift slash of the Farron Flashsword spell.
The man's eyes sparked in wonder at the sight of the dagger, but the sound of a hammer on steel took his attention.
The man's eyes went wide as he saw the hammer impact the metal and glowing blue lines of magic began to coil around the pole and slowly, with each strike the Pole shrunk and turned into the hilt of a Xiphos.
But he wasn't done. He quickly pulled out a bright purple crystal from his bag and slammed it into the pommel of the hilt. Then he used his hammer and pulled out a small chisel. And delicately began to chip away at it until it was a perfect rectangular shape. Before he used magic to insert the gem into the pommel.
The gem he used was a crystal gem, it gave weapons magical properties. This gem will allow the hilt to shift between its long and short forms at will.
The man watched on in amazement at the technique that he had never seen. and felt pride.
However Inmortui noticed something wrong with the metal, there was an impurity that made the metal weak, and he needed to burn out.
His palms and hammer ignited with the flames of chaos and he burned the inpurity in the metal away, with each hammer blow.
The man gaped as he witnessed the flaming hammer hit the metal over and over with a resounding crash, that shook the very forge at its core.
Inmortui's ashen blood pounded violently with adrenaline and magic with each strike, a savage grin on his face as he felt the impurities in the metal become altered, purified by his fire, and what once were bronze sparks became golden.
The man swelled with a sense of pride at the masterful art that was this boy at work with his forge like he'd been in one his whole life. His use of his fire to aid in his shaping was ingenious.
And he grinned at the boy, who was too busy to notice, and resolved he would tell him who he was. And who he was to the boy.
The man then saw the boy pause, set the hilt to the side, and grab the chunk of metal that he cut off earlier.
The boy examined it closely, before he narrowed his eyes.
"Bronze...? No... this bronze has had Divine Energy added... if that's the case... then I can do this!"
The boy then pulled out a golden Chime from that small pouch on his hip.
And shook the chime, and suddenly orbs of lightning floated around the air and bolts of electricity swirled from the balls in the air.
The boy directed the lightning to the chunk of metal which sparked.
Inmortui then grabbed the electrified metal with his left hand. The Chaotic Flame still alight upon it. The bronze began to melt into the magma based flame.
He manipulated the flame to control the melted metal and converted the lava into more of the bronze.
Then he reached into his pouch again and grabbed a brilliant golden piece of coal.
He floated his flame to just above the anvil and tossed the golden goal into it. The flame turned gold and the newly made Bronze could be distinguished from the magma.
The man stood in shock. The boy had just made Celestial Bronze. The formula of which was only known to himself and the elder Cyclops'!! Yet this boy... no his son just brute forced his way to making the metal of the god's themselves.
More and more pride swelled up in his chest.
But Inmortui wasn't done yet. He molded the heated bronze into the shape of a Xiphos and reached into his bag again and pulled out a large glowing golden wisp of energy, a soul, one that belonged to the Old fire demon in Carthrus' Tomb.
He held it to the molten metal and crushed it in his hands, the souls rushed into the metal, and Inmortui immediately began to force the metal to cool enough to solidify.
The results were a molten bronze colored Leaf shaped blade with golden magma like patterns on the blade along with a single lightning bolt streaked down the center.
Inmortui then grabbed the tang of the newly shaped blade and placed it on the anvil, and began to hammer the edges down to shape.
Then he moved to the forges grinder and paused.
He inspect the machinery. Before he recalled how to used the more modern ways of grinding an edge to sharpness.
Golden sparks flew as the edges were grinded down. Once he was satisfied with the edges and took the blade to a nearby oil pot for quenching but narrowed his eyes at the black tarlike substance.
One final time he reached into his bag and pulled out three items.
One was an ice blue crystal. The second was a piece of red scaled leather. And lastly a small glowing white orb.
He held the orb and the crystal in his right hand, which no longer had any flames on them.
Before he plunged his hand into the black ichor and crushed the orb and crystal in one hand.
The oil suddenly glowed a frosty color and Inmortui plunged the blade into the icy oil.
The oil seemed to scream as the blade heated the oil, in truth the screams were from the souls the white orb contained as they swarmed the blade and they fused into the gaps in magical energy the blade had been intentionally left with.
The oil lit up in frost blue flames and Inmortui immediately pulled out the blade, wisps of white mist floated from the blade, and the gold of the magma became outline in blue.
The man's eyes widened in awe at the craftsmanship.
Inmortui then grabbed the hilt and slotted in the blade, an ethereal chime came from the two as the sword slotted in perfect and seemless.
The boy then extended the hilt into its pole form and wrapped the red scaled hide around it.
Then the boy pulled out an ink pen, the tip glowed blue as he wrote enchantments on to the wrapped hide which began to tighten around the pole shaped hilt, until it was perfectly snug to the metal.
Inmortui held up his finished creation.
"A name... it needs a name." He muttered.
"μάρκα λάβας..." the words of a language he didn't know came to his mind, and he spoke them.
"Lava Brand..." The man whispered, as he took in the complete weapon.
The sword glowed like molten gold and the words "μάρκα λάβας" became engraved into the metal.
Inmortui stared at the blade for a split second before he expertly spun the Spear like a baton before quickly stabbing forwards, an ethereal blade of fire and lightning stabbed outward with the thrust, before the spear was rapidly turned into it's sword form.
Frosty mist began to ooze from the blade as he slashed right, from the thrust position the spear had left him in.
The mist spun into a frosty tornado that suddenly ignited into icy blue flames.
Inmortui looked that the blade.
It was definitely one of his finest work. Even if he was rusty.
"Tch... If I wasn't rusty it would have a bigger fire storm." He grumbled.
The man gaped at the display the weapon gave off.
Inmortui wiped the sweat from his face and turned to the man.
He held out the blade to him.
"Done... Now this Ares guy's weapon is finished. And I hope you learn something about enchanting an effect into steel. The desired effect needs to be placed into the piece that requires the effect, not the entire item, just the small pieces.
Making an object grow is not possible, as the material has to come from somewhere, so instead make the material shrink into itself and have the magic turn the excess matter into energy to later be collected for when its required to return to its original form." Inmortui lectured the man, who was amused but took notes nonetheless.
"I would recommend studying Alchemy. Matter can not be created from nothing, it can however be converted into a different form. Alchemy would help with this concept." Inmortui reccomended.
The man nodded, it was worth looking into, he'll have to ask Hecate about it.
"Hm... not bad advice. And I must thank you. I have been working on this for Ares for a very long time... and my knowledge of the necessary enchantments were... limited. I do not get out often." The man said.
Inmortui shrugged.
"And now you do. So it's not a big deal. You get Ares' weapon finished and get to learn more about enchantments. And I get the chance to forge a weapon, and shake off the rust from my skills." Inmortui said.
The man nodded with a smile.
"Indeed but I feel I still owe you one thing." The man said.
"Ah! I know how about I give you my previous failures. You can used them for scrap or even improve upon them." The man said.
"Thank you Mr..." Inmortui paused as he realized he didn't know the man's name.
"Hephaestus...God of the Forge and fire... but you can just call me Dad." Hephaestus said with a smirk, expecting the boy to go blank at the mention of him being a god.
"Ah, ok." Was all that was said.
"...huh?" Hephaestus said blankly, not expecting that reaction.
"Ok." he repeated.
"What do you mean Ok!? I'm a god. Mortals barely believe we exist and one appears right in front of you and all you say it Ok?!" Hephaestus said in shock.
"Sheesh... calm down it's not like you're the first god I've met." Inmortui said.
"First god... Matthew! I've been watching you grow up since the day you were born! You've never met anyone related to us gods! Or even a monster!" Hephaestus said.
"True... at least in this world anyways." Inmortui said.
Hephaestus stood still as he took in what was just said.
"This world?" Hephaestus asked.
"Yeah. I got kidnapped by a living mystical flame and shipped to another world. Seems like only a second passed when I finally got sent back though. Also don't call me Mathew. My name is Inmortui Ignis." Inmortui said nonchalantly.
Hephaestus paused as he let his mind process what was just said.
"I..." Hephaestus paused.
Hephaestus resolved himself to ask a question.
"May I view your memories?" Hephaestus asked.
Inmortui grew cautious at that but knew it might be the only way he would ever be believed.
"Go ahead... but let me warn you... I have seen and killed things that would made this world burn..." Inmortui said.
Hephaestus held out his palm to the boy's head and watched the memories unfold.
He viewed everything. From start to finish, even the uh... naughty bits. And he understood exactly what his son had become.
From Demigod to Undead, to Unkindled. But above all... he was a slayer of gods. Gods and Demons. He was a force of pure willpower and fire.
And by far the most powerful Demigod he'd ever sired.
Not that it mattered. Hephaestus was just glad his son was safe.
"Matth-... Inmortui my son... you have been through so much... I'm so proud of you." Hephaestus said, as he patted his son's head.
For a second, to Inmortui, Hephaestus was over lapped by a brown haired man wearing Knight's armor, doing the same motion as Hephaestus.
His eyes widened. And a small smile came across his lips.
"And I also eventually want to meet my Granddaughter." Hephaestus teased.
"Oi! Those parts were private!" Inmortui blushed.
Hephaestus bellowed a laugh and patted him on the shoulder.
"I'm glad you took after your mother's side in terms looks! I'd feel bad for what was her name... Priscilla? If she had to see my mug instead of yours! Bahahahaha!" Hephaestus roared with laughter.
Most children would pause and ask more about their mother, but Inmortui no longer had any attachment to her. She was his mother. But he never really got the chance to know her and after being pretty much adopted by Perelune, the pyromancer who took him in while he was in the Asylum. All other's were pushed to the back of his mind, even his deceased mother.
So instead he just nodded, although his heart ached at the remembrance of Priscilla and his daughter, and as a melancholic sigh escaped him he felt it father pat him on the shoulder.
"Cheer up son. I know you miss your girl and daughter but you gotta keep moving like you always did. Tell you what I'll try and call in a few favors and I'll try to see if it's possible to bring your daughter here." Hephaestus said.
Inmortui nodded. Even if he doubted that his father would succeed. The thought was what counted.
"Now... I'm afraid I have something else to tell you..." Hephaestus said.
"Hm? What is it?" Inmortui asked.
"There is a place... for people like you, the children of gods and goddesses. In new york at long Island Sound. It is a place called camp halfblood. Because you're of the undead sort you will have to be either let in by the tenants or escorted in by myself. Which the later of the two will be your best bet of getting in." Hephaestus said.
"And why do I need to go there?" Inmortui asked.
"... My father. Zues... he is very paranoid... all the time. And doesn't trust easy. The camp doubles as a training camp... and a place he can keep an eye on our children." Hephaestus said.
Inmortui paused.
"Reminds me of Gwynn... he was paranoid to the point he thought the Undead would end his rule, so he had us locked into Asylums." Inmortui said.
Hephaestus hummed his agreement.
"I'm guessing you think it best to bring me there. So Zues won't try anything?" Inmortui asked with a raised brow.
Hephaestus nodded.
"Yes, you can take what I said I would give you. Use them as you see fit." Hephaestus said.
Inmortui sighed but agreed.
Hephaestus snapped his fingers and a huge pile of scrapped projects appeared into view.
Inmortui blinked at the sheer size of it.
"Wow... how long were you trying to make that weapon?" Inmortui asked.
Hephaestus sighed.
"Eight years."
"Damn... that's a long ass time." Inmortui said.
"Yeah... longest I've ever spent on a weapon... and here you come and make it in two hours." Hephaestus pouted, which looked odd on his face.
Inmortui rolled his eyes.
"Alright alright! sheesh... anyways how am I getting there? I was just in Germany on a tour for my world cultures class." Inmortui said.
"Yes... you're an odd case. Most Demigods have out of body experiences or prophetic dreams of the near future. But when you fell asleep you instead just teleported with your soul... so you actually teleported to my forge." Hephaestus said.
"... well shit..." Inmortui said.
"I will send you back... but when the summer comes. I will come to pick you up from your apartment and take you to the camp." Hephaestus said.
Inmortui nodded and began to pack the pile of scrap metal into his bag.
He also collapsed the failed sword that Hephaestus had throw at him in the beginning. It would be useful in the future... with some improvements.
"Ready?" Hephaestus asked.
Inmortui nodded and said.
"Also tell that Ares that I hope he's satisfied... I used the last of my Drake scaled hide on the grip of that weapon... do you know how much I went through to get that!? I was burned alive literally 1400 times!" Inmortui said.
Hephaestus cringed at that before he snapped his fingers and Inmortui vanished into ash.
Hephaestus sighed and turned to look at the weapon on the anvil. only to notice something in the corner of his eye.
A coiled sword stabbed into a pile of ash.
"The bonfire..." Hephaestus said before he smiled.
Perhaps this means he'll have some company in his forge more often than not... maybe that wouldn't be so bad after all.
Inmortui materialized in a swirl of ash, back in his seat. He peeked his head out from the curtained seat and saw everyone was sleeping peacefully with the adults taking turns keeping watch, to be safe.
He ducked his head back into his seat when he heard whispering, female whispering.
"I'll teach him to compare me to other women! I had to pray to mom for this charm speak enhancing perfume. I'll make him love me! Then I'll make him mine! And he'll do everything I want him to!" The voice said, which was familiar.
Inmortui narrowed his eyes.
He then heard movment nearby, and he quickly put his hood up and leaned back to the metal wall and pretended to be asleep.
"If that bitch wants to try to brainwash me then she's got another thing coming. I'll let her have her fun. But... I'm too much for her to handle." Inmortui thought with a smirk.
A figure peeked their head into the curtains, before they ducked back out and the sound of something being sprayed could be heard.
The figure opened up the curtain and closed it behind her.
The figure was revealed in the moonlight to be Drew. Who pursed her lip as she saw that he was "sleeping"
"Alright... mom said I just have to kiss him... and say to "be mine" and he'll forever be my love slave." Drew said.
Drew crept closer to him and straddles him and slowly leans closer, and kisses him.
And as she starts to moveback she felt him kiss back, but it was... slow but intense, in a way she'd never experienced and it made her very flustered.
Suddenly Inmortui snapped his eyes open and switched their positions, with her pinned below him.
"So... trying to brainwash me with a kiss Eh?" Inmortui asked.
Drew was blushing furiously and sputtered, she'd never been this flustered from a kiss before.
Inmortui laughed.
"My my... it seems I was too much for you to handle after all." Inmortui smirked.
Drew was about to speak and say the needed words to control him but he suddenly interrupted her.
"Sorry sweetheart. Magick based Mind control doesn't work on someone who's mastered the arts of Magick." He said as he held up a pair of orbs, one made of Soul magick and one of fire.
Drew went still as she looked at him kn shock. All this time she'd thought he was a regular mortal, not a demigod... and that fire means...
"oh gods..." She finally managed to squeak out.
"I was turned on by a son of Hephaestus!? Why does he look hot and not ugly!? Wait!? Did I just think he looks hot!? Gaaaaaah!!! It was the kiss!!! I don't really like him! ... Right?" Drew screamed in her mind.
Inmortui suddenly got off her and she sat up and rushed out to the bus' bathroom, still blushing.
"Did... did her pupils turn into pink hearts just now?" Inmortui said kinda freaked out.
Olympus/ New York -- Aphrodite's temple.
The goddess of beauty relaxed in her bath as she watched her daughter rush to the bathroom.
"Oops... I forgot to tell her that if you don't say the words immediately the one who used the perfume will be the one to fall for the other... Meh... oh well. Although I am interested in meeting that boy. To think my ugly husband could produce a good looking son... I wonder who the mother is?" She said before she went back to her bath.
Back in Germany
The next few days were... odd for everyone, not just Inmortui.
The reason?
Drew was sitting next to Inmortui and humming happily as she hugged his torso.
Inmortui was... creeped out, and kept trying to get her to let him go.
He succeeded once... but she looked like she was about to cry... and he has a weakness to crying girls, so he let her continue to hold him.
Several boys were shooting him dirty looks, and to be honest he couldn't blame them... as Drew was... well developed in certain areas.
But honestly Inmortui couldn't wait till they got to the airport.
And after days of too much hugging they finally made it to the closest airport. Where the they got their tickets and boarded the flight to Michigan.
Side note apparently his bag couldn't be seen by regular people, His Priscilla dagger was stored safely inside by the way.
The flight was thankfully less eventful than the bus ride. There were some turbulence than came out of nowhere.
But Inmortui figure that Zues found out about his existence and was a little angered about him being there even if Inmortui was his grandson.
Inmortui didn't sleep the whole flight. He didn't want to dream and accidentally teleport to who knows where.
Instead he pulled out a notebook and a sketchbook he'd bought at the airport. Luckily gold coins were still worth something in Germany.
He pulled out a pencil from his backpack and began to write. He began to transcribe Alchemical Forging techniques.
Alchemical forging was something he'd come up with using magic, pyromancy, enchantment spells and the forging techniques he'd learned from the blacksmiths of Lordran.
He wrote about the best ways to convert magma into metals and ways of adding special properties without the use of coals and gems on the metals.
He used it to create more of the Celestial Bronze he used with making the spear/sword. As well as convert the pole into a sword hilt. To be honest the gem he used wasn't necessary. But he somehow doubted Ares could use magic enough to change the shape himself.
He drew examples in the sketchbook. Luckily he was talented at drawing before going to Lordran.
He would make more copies of this forging technique and send one to his father, Hephaestus.
Then he'll put other copies in the Camp's forge. When he gets there anyways.
Writing the Book took the entirety of the trip to the states. And eventually they landed in Michigan and took a connecting flight to New York, which made no sense to Inmortui.
After the second flight the class took a bus back to the school.
The class filed into the classroom, exhausted and jet lagged.
The teachers stood at the front of the classroom, with parents in the back.
"Alright everyone... I know that you're all exhausted from the flight and after this you may go home. I was also informed that you all will be excused for the next month and essentially you will get an extra month of summer." The teacher said.
The class tired, but still excited, cheered at that.
The teacher chuckled at the group.
"I'm glad you're all excited. And I want you all to know that I am proud of you all. This trip was exciting and I was happy to share it with you." The teacher said with a smile.
Most of the class cheered again. Those who didn't just gave a thumbs up. Inmortui was of the later.
"This is odd... why would they let us have a month off especially woth summer just around the corner...?" Inmortui thought before he realized.
Hephaestus had something to do with this for sure. Zues probably demanded he go to the camp immediately and Hephaestus pulled stings and made the school let them go earlier than normal.
So that means he'll be going to the camp earlier than agreed.
Inmortui sighed, and turned to his left... where Drew was clinging to him.
"I'm gonna have to leave... and you're gonna have to let go..." He said to her.
"Vie Fwon't Mwana!" Drew said muffled by his hoodie.
"Well too bad. Cuz I have a meeting with someone." Inmortui said.
"A girl!?" Drew asked panicked.
"What? No. He's taking me to this camp... for people like-"
"Us!" Drew giggled.
Inmortui nodded.
"Then we can go together! I only really leave the camp because I need a highschool degree to get a modeling job." Drew said.
Inmortui sighed and said.
"The person who is taking me is a god." Inmortui said.
Drew's mood shifted immediately and she got a bit skittish.
"I... don't have the best reputation with the gods... I guess I'll just have to wait for you there..." Drew said depressed.
Inmortui rose a brow at that but patted her on the head.
After they were released Inmortui took the bus to his apartment while Drew was picked up by a man with many eyes.
When Inmortui got into his Apartment he found Hephaestus already on the sofa.
Inmortui stared at him.
Hephaestus stared back.
"Zues?" Inmortui asked.
"Zeus." Hephaestus nodded as he stood up.
Inmortui sighed.
"Alright let me pack my things." He said before he reached into his backpack and pulled out his notebook which he had cut his examples from the sketchbook and glued them into the appropriate page in his notebook.
He tossed the notebook to Hephaestus, who caught it with a curious look.
"Read it while I pack up. Feel free to make a copy." He said to his godly father.
Hephaestus huffed halfheartedly and opened the notebook. His eyes widen in fascination as he read the detailed descriptions of his son's ingenious Alchemical Forging method. He also appreciated the examples he drew for certain techniques.
He snapped his fingers and another notebook appeared. Hephaestus then snapped his fingers and the notebook was filled with everything that the original had.
He would definitely be practicing this method later.
The subject of forging reminded him of what happened when he gave Ares the weapon Inmortui had forged.
Hephaestus teleported to the throne room, weapon wrapped up beside him, and approached Ares who sat beside Aphrodite, flirting as usual.
When Ares noticed Hephaestus he frantically looked around for a golden net.
When there was none he sneered at Hephaestus.
"What do you want?" Ares demanded.
Hephaestus rolled his eyes and just placed the weapon on the tabe with a resounding thud.
"Here." He said blankly, completely ignoring Aphrodite, which she was slightly put out by.
Ares cautiously opened the wrapped object and gaped at it while Aphrodite gasped at the sight of it, the other gods in the room also stared in awe at the object, including Zeus.
Ares as a God of war knew when to appreciate the craftsmanship of a weapon. And this was one of if not the most beautifully crafted weapon he had ever seen.
Hephaestus noticed that the dim fire lit forge did this blade no justice.
Aphrodite herself never cared about the craftsmanship of the weapon but she felt the emotion, the passion, within it, and that's what drew her to the Xiphos in front of her.
"Wow Heph... you really out did yourself this time..." Ares said as he moved to lick up the weapon. Only for Hephaestus to stop him.
"That's not all this blade has to show." Hephaestus said as he grabbed it and willed it to turn into it's spear form.
The icy mist from the sword form disappears as the hilt elongates and the blade begins to glow molten and spark with divine lighting.
Ares' jaw drops to the floor as he see the weapon's second form.
"Heph!? You actually made that idea I gave you!? I said that as a joke!" Ares said in shocked wonder.
Hephaestus paused at that discovery.
"Yeah well... your "joke" is something I spent 8 years making." Hephaestus said.
"Damn..." Ares said. "Well at least you can say you made a really badass weapon?"
"No I can't. Cuz I didn't make this." Hephaestus said.
"...a say wha?" Ares said as he looked at Hephaestus then the weapon with Divine level of Craftsmanship.
"I didn't make this. My son did." Hephaestus said.
"Leo?" Aphrodite asked disbelievingly.
Hephaestus shook his head.
"No. Not leo. My other son. Mathew Smith. Or rather Inmortui Ignis. He's also a fire user, but he wasn't born with it like leo was." Hephaestus said with a grin.
"Then how did he learn to use fire?" Athena asked.
"He learned from a Pyromancer who took him in and gave him his name. He's also a good swordsman and a Mage." Hephaestus said with pride.
"Oh?" Athena asked
"Sounds like he's fairly well rounded..." Hecate, who appeared out of nowhere said, she had felt magic being used in Germany and in Hephaestus' forge and suddenly Hephaestus suddenly tell them about a son who can forge divine level equipment and use fire magic with out being born with it.
So Hecate needed to find out what's going on.
"And powerful... how come he's not at the Camp? And why have we not heard of him before now." Zeus growled with narrowed eyes.
Hephaestus sighed.
And held up an orb, specifically a memory orb. And displayed Inmortui's memories to the rest of the gods before him.
The gods watched in horror, awe, and amazement at the willpower one boy possessed.
Even Zeus had a begrudging respect for the boy.
Ares wanted a fight with the boy.
"Father..." Hephaestus began, "I believe he is too advanced to be at camp. But... I think he could use the companionship. He is... scarred by his time in that world. Even if he himself doesn't show it. He needs to learn to trust others. But if possible I'd like him to work alongside us and the Demigods."
Zeus scratched his beard and thought about it.
"What did you mean by work with us?" Zues asked.
"My son will not age due to his Undead status, and he is essentially just like the monsters we face. But he is also far better option for sending to do... certain jobs, better than a child who has barely had any training." Hephaestus said.
Zeus leaned forward.
"You want him to join the Raiders?" Zues asked.
Hephaestus nodded.
The Raiders are a group of Demigods, monsters and mortals from all different sorts of pantheons, who act as a neutral party that's sole purpose was to hunt down monsters.
"Us in the greek pantheon hasn't had a Raider representative in nearly two hundred years. Not since what's his name? Gregory Washboard?" Dionysus asked.
"George Washington." Athena glared at the drunkard.
"Potato, Tomato." he waved off the glare.
Athena huffed at him before turning to her father.
"He is right though father. Our Roman counterparts have their own representatived, but we ourselves do not. We've left the Roman take charge of Greek matters for too long. And while she is no doubt one of the best, for a roman, she has shown signs of burning out, and needs a rest. Or at least someone to aid her in battle." She said.
Zues nodded before he turned to Hermes
"Hermes... you are our Olympian representative for both Greek and Roman... what is your opinion on this subject." Zeus asked, which shocked everyone that he was even asking their opinions.
"Zeus? Are you feeling alright?" Poseidon asked with a disturbed look on his face.
"Of course I do? Why do you ask?" Zeus asked confused.
"You just asked Hermes for his opinion..." Hera said, also disturbed.
"..." Zeus deadpanned at them, and they do the same to him.
"...ALRIGHT FINE! The boy reminded me of myself when I was training to fight father... before I freed you from him. Back then... most of the monsters that I cast into Tartarus were free and wreaking havoc upon humanity and the land... and seeing him go from a boy to a man. It made me feel nostalgic... reminded me of the good old days." Zues sighed.
Hera smiled at her husband and kissed him on the cheek.
"Now Hermes speak. What do you think about him being the greek representative of the raiders?" Hera asked.
"Ahem... Personally I say he's a good match for them. The Raiders are a group dedicated to collecting precious artifacts from our respective pantheon era's as well as delving i to mystical dungeons like the labyrinth. And he already has the experience in both combat and dungeon crawling that is desired in a raider." Hermes said honestly.
Zeus nodded at that.
"Very well. I have decided that he will be our Raider. However, he will need time to familiarize himself with his peers. So he will spend his time at camp during the summer like the rest. That is non-negotiable. During that time he may only take missions for raids meant for the labyrinth. He can use the entrance that is within the camp." Zeus said with finality.
Hephaestus nodded happy that his son won't have to die and revive after being zapped by his own grandfather.
Hermes also nodded and pulled out his phone shaped cacaedus and looked at the labyrinth raids available.
"There's a few he coul actually... Hephaestus would you mind getting him set up with a raiders map?" Hermes asked.
Hephaestus nodded and was about to flash away when Zues stopped him.
"Hephaestus... when you go to bring the boy to camp. Give him this for me." Zues then snapped his fingers and a large stone box appeared.
Hephaestus recognized the box as the container for a Greek Artifact, a Raider is bestowed with an artifact as a symbol of their status. Hephaestus shrunk the box and placed it in his pocket.
"Thank you father." Hephaestus said, before he flashed away."
Hera turned to her husband.
"You gave him that?" She asked curiously.
Zues nodded.
"The Hourglass Blade of Chronos, Primordial god of time..." Hera muttered in remembrance. The sword that Chronos used to split time between day and night, to keep Nyx from fighting with her daughter. Before he cut the very foundation of time into being.
He had faded once he did so, and became part of time itself. And the blade was later used by Kronos, their father, as he learned how to control time through that very blade.
And now the blade was in the hands of a... mortal?... Demigod? Undead? Unkindled? Whatever he considered himself!
She could only hope this didn't backfire.
End of Flashback.
Hephaestus was broken from his memories when Inmortui appeared with a backpack of clothing.
Hephaestus rose a brow, which Inmortui noticed.
"There's only regular clothing in here. My Weapons and Armor as well as other items are in this bag." Inmortui said as he patted his pouch.
"Ah..." Hephaestus replied.
"Anyways I'm ready whenever." Inmortui said.
"Mm. Before we go I need to tell you something and give you a couple items." Hephaestus said.
Inmortui rose a brow.
Hephaestus then told him of the decision of Zues, his new Raider status, as well as gave him the artifact box and a watch-like object.
The watch object turned out to be the Raider map, in actuality it's a smartwatch used by the Raiders to take on missions as well as creat a map as they explore the lost mystical dungeons that they explore.
They also let Raiders know when one another is in the area.
"So this watch is basically a soapstone like on Lordran... as well as a covenant roster..." Inmortui said as he inspected the watch.
Hephaestus shrugged at the comparison, but it was correct nonetheless.
"Yes. I must warn you before we get to camp. Do not tell the other Demigods about your... condition. Those related to deities of the underworld will be able to tell. But their parents have informed them to leave you alone." Hephaestus said.
"Alright. I personally don't care who knows about me being undead. Nor do their opinions matter to me. But if you think it best I'll consider it." Inmortui shrugged.
Hephaestus sighed but was relieved. He didn't want his other children to hate his son for no longer being human.
Plus he kinda wanted Inmortui to teach his other son Leo about properly manipulation of fire. With Inmortui's consent of course.
Speaking of...
"Inmortui... could I ask a favor?" Hephaestus asked.
"Hm?" Inmortui looked at him.
"I have... another son... named leo, he was born with the power of fire... unlike my other children... he was part of a great prophecy that was fulfilled a few months ago... I was hoping that you could teach him Pyromancy? His control of fire is... not even rudimentary... it's volatile and uncontrolled. And he's hurt people in the past by accident... and he believed his fire was what killed his mother... so for the longest time he avoided using it. And now he can barely use what he knows, even after all he's been through." Hephaestus explained.
"Oh yeah sure. I can teach the other's about pyromancy if you'd like too. The Alchemical forging method requires the use of pyromancy in order to purify and create metals from magma. And I planned to leave a copy of the method in the camp anyways. I thought that all your children could use fire like myself." Inmortui said.
Hephaestus shook his head.
"No... unfortunately very few of my children are born with the ability to use fire. You werd only able to gain the ability because of Lordran's pyromancy meant giving a flame to their practitioners. If you wish to teach pyromancy then feel free." Hephaestus explained.
"Hm... perhaps it's more like they hold the potential butbjust can't access it. I had an unnatural talent for pyromancy. But I want born with fire at the ready like this Leo guy. Perhaps... your children who possess the fire naturally struggle with controlling it while those without have the talent for it." Inmortui mused.
Hephaestus rose a brow at the theory, it surprisingly matched up with past event with his natural born children.
"Perhaps... but there's never been any of my children who weren't born with fire suddenly gaining the ability to use it. Except for yourself." Hephaestus said.
Inmortui hummed in response.
"Anyways... shall we get this over with?" Inmortui asked.
Hephaestus nodded and flashed them to their destination.
