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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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Chapter 5: Moderated Wrath

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What is an Act of Wrath?

The question didn't even exist in my mind when I first arrived. To me, due to what I knew of Greek Mythos, Gods were keen to be wrathful all the times someone scorned them, without a specific term to address it. I soon learned that there is indeed a term for that. And it was through what could be defined as Kore's first Act of Wrath that I learned of this slang.

It's been a few days since I met Hermes, two since he had been set free and would hang around and ask questions, and he would tag along whenever he was free and Kore needed some moral boost. Recent events had led the pink girl to behave somewhat more annoyed to others- a clear case of frustration towards her own mother when she wanted the girl to go through something which she wasn't exactly looking forward to: college.

Yes, this world has college- why? Why would that be a thing? I mean, Hecate told me about Olymphus being some sort of 'ideal' and somewhat modern version of what mortals got but... why? Still, why the hell is college a thing?

Still, I didn't do much about this matter. I would talk to her these times she stormed off from a discussion with her mother, but never once I dared to talk back to someone that could screw hard on me with her divine power. Plus, I could get where Demeter was coming with this notion as she wanted the best for her daughter but... it felt more like she thought Kore was her carbon copy but younger. Kind of wrong on multiple levels, but not enough for me to stand a case in that matter.

The 'Act' happened during one of those circumstances. I was going through my shift, spotting Kore pacing fast as her 'guards' struggled to keep up with her fast walk. Holding my scythe over my shoulder, I took a break from work to talk with her, thinking that this whole situation would have resolved as usual: her admitting that she felt upset about her mother's decision, thinking of alternatives, surrendering to the notion and then focusing on what to do today to ignore the upset. Was it a bad and unhealthy response to this? Yes. There is no denying to it, but there's a point where I can do something and then there is stuff I can neither say or do to support the girl.

The walk took me deep into the left side of the sacred holding, and I looked around in an effort to find her. It would be a lie to say that I didn't find her, but it definitely wouldn't be one to say that she was merely upset when I found her. Not when she just finished decapitating one of the mortals that had entered the realm without permission. And the worst part was that I could tell this was a rightful reaction as... I couldn't see the Nymphs she stood by as trees have been brought down.

Two mortals remained, both slowly realizing what just happened and, in a moment where adrenaline was kicking in before the notion that they could really hurt Kore, I just snapped into action. Now, I don't have any martial education, but I knew how to swing a scythe, and I know that gore is ugly but necessary with this kind of messy weapon. The blade cut one in half and the other was decapitated. Quick, fast, my mind burning up in disgust at what I just did, but as I dropped the scythe with trembling hands, I focused on a single thing alone.

Kore had seen me, and she teared up a bit as I bolted to her and pulled her in an embrace as she fell on the ground.

"Kore-"

"J-John, they- they killed Krokos and Withy- they- they are dead, I- I couldn't- I just couldn't do-"

"It's alright," I muttered, hugging her tightly, the girl returning the intensity as she sobbed strongly on my shoulder. "It's alright, they are gone and- and you are angry."

"I-I want to hurt them-" She paused, gasping for more tears to flow. "I want to make them pay."

"You will, you have all the rights," I muttered, ignoring the growing pain of feeling her fingers claw onto my skin. Gods were known to be quite strong, and Kore's youth did little to lessen the pure power behind her physical might. "But not like this, not when you are too deep into it."

"I just need this, John. Please."

The desperation couldn't be ignored and, as I pulled slightly away to see her face, I saw something that made my blood grow cold. Kore looked so angry and yet so sorrowful, her eyes were what got me so unnerved as the normal pink eyes of kindness were replaced by two red scleras with black dots within them. Dark holes in two lakes of blood.

Never before I thought I would have seen Kore lose it so badly, and the sheer amount of hatred in her gaze was pure horror for me. Still, I nodded, carrying her back to where her mother was, knowing that she would want something immediate but- fucking hell this would cause so much trouble for me, her and definitely Demeter. Thus more problems for me once again.

Luckily for us, Demeter was not busy with anyone as she was chatting with Hecate. But from where she was calmly addressing something with the fellow goddess, to her swiftly checking on her distraught daughter with a worried look and tone, the events turned into something more quick-paced than I needed. Especially when the adrenaline was wearing off.

We were allowed to sit down for a moment, but while the plan was for Kore to take a seat too, the girl reacted negatively at the option, with vines wrapping her tightly on me and preventing me from letting her go completely. Demeter was annoyed by this, but she seemed to be quick to calm when I said that Kore was coping with something bad.

"What happened to her? These eyes- John, you are pale."

For a brief moment, she actually worried for me too. Maybe it was the motherly side overruling her divine self for a short amount of time but... I appreciated.

"Oh, but John does have an idea~." Hecate chirped in delight, causing Demeter to look at me and for me to look surprised at the blue woman. "I can see it on your face. You want retribution too and you have something good."

"I think it's something good, yes, but..."

"And what do you suggest we do then, mortal?"

I sighed. "I think that punishment should be measured. Which is why the ones that should be punished are the king and those those noble families which are tied to this whole mess."

"How should they punished?" Demeter pressed on, noticing I purposely deflected that topic entirely. But rather than speak up about it, I turned to Kore and gave her a questioning look.

"That's not my role. I believe that should be asked to Kore."

"She is not old enough for this-" The Goddess rebuked, but I wasn't done just yet.

"And yet the people that killed Krokos and Withy didn't care for that. And she is going to college where she will need to have a defined backbone. If she doesn't get a headstart, it will really mess her up and I have been in college, so I know what would happen if she is not given the means to experience some independence."

...

Demeter looked ready to refuse again, but she considered my words and saw Kore's begging look. There was a brief amount of silence, with Hecate nodding in my direction, agreeing with what I just said. Still, Demeter took a decision and-

"I will accept this. However, this will be seen as an Act of Wrath from me. Zeus will give this to me, and it will prevent anyone from noticing Kore just yet."

I glanced back to Kore, the girl easing a bit more in the embrace as her vines thinned a bit and loosened around us. Despite that, Kore had to pick a punishment and it couldn't be something too simple or too complicated. It had to be within Demeter's acceptable limitations and reasoning. The one she picked was rough, but got her mother's approval.

The king was turned into a tree and planted down on the garden city's palace as a reminder of his crimes while his family was to become farmers. The new king was chosen by Demeter herself, a pious farmer that worshiped her and was known to be a kind family man. Zeus' approval rendered any worry for any future issues void and...

I couldn't still accept the outcome. I was fine with what happened to the punishment, but I was very concerned on Kore's reaction and what this meant. I doubted that it was something all gods could do, and Hecate would confirm this suspicion to me- Something was making Kore more aggressive when angry than she should be. And that just put her in a more hurried spot to see if her worries were indeed true.

Another week passed, and I was enjoying a proper break from work by sitting under the shade of a tree. Eating some apples and trying to still ponder on the many possibilities of what to do once Kore was up and ready to leave for college. I was not sure if I was going to tag along, but I had a growing thought that Demeter was going to hook me with Kore for that adventure. Why? Well, I was proving myself to be a 'reliable babysitter'. And the best middle-ground she could get for her ideas, and Kore's.

I was deep in this thoughts that I kind of ignored that a large dark entity had shifted close to my position, with the only thing snapping me out of my thoughts being a canine growl coming from the side. I turned to see the source of it, expecting some stray mutt but...

Fuck, I was greeted by a big ass abnormal doggo. He growled again and I frowned at it. It was demanding something, not trying to be aggressive without purpose and I saw he was looking at the apple in my hand. I glanced back at him with a questioning look and the doggo started to wag his tail. That was a 'yes' as he wanted the apple.

I calmly threw it at him and he ate it mid-air, and then stared at me with less of an aggressive look. I picked another apple and his tail wagged faster. It took very little for the doggo to find it acceptable to sniff my hands, lick it when he realized I smelled friendly and then take a rest for his head on my lap.

What I didn't expect however what happened next. Two more heads appeared from its body, whining for food and making me realize a big thing I should have picked up from the notion I was feeding and playing with a demonic big puppy.

Oh lord, I am feeding Cerberus and- wait, if Cerberus is here then- Then shit may be close to hit the fan really hard!


AN

First huge butterfly- Kore's Act of Wrath was attributed to a legal one ordained by Demeter. And now Hades is here too! And Cerberus is here too, mighty good boi~!

REVIEW Q&A!

Coldblue2015:
1) I would say Hecate will be looking into the case of 'Open Relationship' in the near future, but more because she will be interested in the extend on which a normal relationship can be expanded upon the limits of a healthy one;
2) Maybe;
3) Considering how powerful some beverages are? Close to zero if it's him willingly drinking that;
4) You can expect Leto getting a bit more expansion in terms of personality and characterization;