Chapter 2

Little warrior

The chest floated for days before being found by a fisherman on the Island of Seriphos. Using a nearby tool the fisherman, Dictys, broke the lock and opened the chest gasping, inside was a woman with her young child whom both had not eaten in days, without another word Dictys carried the two back to his small house where his wife nursed them back to health.

Hours later Danae's eyes fluttered open and she tossed in the bed like box stuffed with hay "Perseus" she mumbled looking for her child, a calm hand was placed on her shoulder "Worry not about your son, he is safe with us, now tell me how did you come to finding Seriphos" Dictys asked quietly as his wife cooed over Perseus in the corner not able to have her own children, After Danae had sat up and told him her story Dictys nodded sadly and gave a sad smile, Dictys stood from his crouching position and Danae stood with him "Then it is decided, you shall stay with us, you and your son will become a part of our family, together we thrive" Dictys cheered standing next to his wife Perseus in hand, a single tear slid down Danae's cheek as she pulled the couple into a hug "May the gods bless you both" the three smiled and Perseus giggled waking from his slumber.

Perseus age six

"Come on Perseus, you must be fast but also quiet" Dictys whispered, the two panted as they ran through the large island's forest barely making a noise, Perseus slowly began to pass Dictys and sprinted ahead leaving his mentor behind, Dictys stopped allowing Perseus to run freely as they came to the beginning of the corn fields,

"Good boy Perseus" he chanted resting, Perseus stopped running and turned looking at the small dot of his mentor in the distance before grinning wildly and running back, Dictys stood as he arrived.

"I must go now young Perseus, as your next challenge you must find your way home, it is far away and you need to use the things I have taught you to get back. If you do not return by nightfall I will come looking for you, otherwise your mother would not be too happy if you went missing" he said tapping Perseus' nose "Okay my boy" The blue eyed demigod grinned and shook his head ruffling his hair, the two said their goodbyes before Dictys left, the six year old sighed and started walking through the between of crops.

Line break

It was late afternoon as Perseus continued his venture home and came across a woman planting in the fields, he slowly walked towards her, the woman looked up and smiled "Hello Perseus" she greeted, his eyes widened at how she knew his name, the lady had bright green eyes and soft long light brown hair that was tied into a bun, she was in the form of an early twenty year old.

Sensing her powerful aura and location as well as her knowledge Perseus dropped into a bow and stood up nervous "Lady Demeter?" he said in a questioning voice, she looked up smiling again "Yes my child" she was very soft spoken and made you feel calm "Um, hello" Perseus said quietly.

"Would you like to help me Perseus?" she asked temporarily stopping her work, Perseus nodded vigorously eager to help a goddess, she gestured for him to come next to her, Perseus walked forward and crouched next to the goddess of agriculture, he followed the instructions and handed her seedlings of corn as she plowed and planted.

By the time the two had finished their task the sun had began to set and the twins of leto shifted their duties from day to night, Lady Demeter sighed and used the back of her hand to wipe the dirt from her forehead, Perseus played with his fingers next to her trying to get the dirt out from under them.

Demeter smiled and waved her hand over his, the dirt dried and before sliding off, he looked at the goddess in awe "You have helped me Perseus and have done a good job, now how can I help you" Lady Demeter asked, Perseus smiled remembering his set challenge "I am supposed to returned by nightfall Lady Demeter, can you please help me" the small boy asked, she smiled warmly.

"Close your eyes Perseus" he did as was told and cover his eyes with his tiny hands "Thank you for helping me, goodbye" she placed a hand on his shoulder and he vanished.

When the tingling sensation ended he moved his hands opening his eyes and gasped slightly while taking in his surroundings "Perseus" his mother preached as she wrapped him in a tight hug coming out from their home.

Perseus age eight

Small on large swords clashed as Perseus and Dictys fought, in a swift move Perseus' sword thrust upward, his older opponent leaned back avoiding the strike long enough for the hilt of Perseus' wooden sword to smash into his mentors wrist, Dictys gave a small yelp and gently clutched his hand as the practice sword clattered against the earth, Dictys smiled.

"Well done Perseus, you did good my boy" Perseus gave a lopsided grin and bowed to his teacher, Dictys bowed back before dropping to a knee and reaching behind him, from his pocket he pulled out a little pouch and tipped it upside down, a small silver necklace fell out of the case and Dictys grabbed it by the chain holding it up in the air.

"Perseus, the gods have been very generous and adore you tremendously" he tapped him on the nose and Perseus giggled.

"This is yours now, it is a gift from the gods and I, its name is Marcellus meaning little warrior in a new found language from the west, it will serve you well" he placed the silver into Perseus' hand and let the end of the chain slip through his fingers, Perseus immediately put the necklace on and held the bunch of ear wheat pendent.

"Pull on it" Dictys instructed, Perseus did so and a two foot silver gleaming sword appeared, the hilt and tip shone where the word 'Marcellus' was engraved "It is Olympic silver Perseus, it is very rare and precious, it will grow as you do, you must treat it very well" understanding the importance Perseus nodded seriously before giving the man who was like a father to him a tight hug.

"Thank you… Dad" Perseus said nervously, Dictys shook his head but smiled "No Perseus, your father is Lord Zeus, we would not want to offend him now would we" Perseus nodded sadly wishing for the appearance of his father.

"What about my uncle, you can be my uncle" Perseus said, Dictys smiled widely "I would be honored" Perseus hugged his uncle again and climbed on his back, he ruffled Dictys' hair and pulled out the present Lord Hermes had brought for him when Perseus helped his son, Perseus put the piccolo to his lips and began to play a soft upbeat tune as the pair walked through the corn fields.

Perseus age ten

"Perseus know that I love you and that I always will, now go" Danae told her son as they hid from the small battle behind them, fire burned through the roofs of small huts and houses as mortals ran from others "Run Perseus" Danae ordered tears rolling down her cheeks as enemy warriors closed in "No mother, I will not leave you here, I will fight" Perseus insisted wiping the tears from his eyes and pulling on his necklace to get his sword, Danae put her hand on her son's cheek and wiped away the remaining tears with her thumb, a loud bang was heard and the ground shook slightly.

"You are my little boy, my little warrior but it is not your time. This is a mother's choice. Now Please go Perseus, you must leave now" Danae leaned forward and kissed her son's head "Bye Perseus I love you" Danae whispered and ran from her son knife in hand to distract the soldiers long enough for him to get away, Perseus watched as his mother was captured and beaten before thrown to the ground.

Obeying her last wish, Perseus ran before being caught, he cried silently while running towards the corn fields.

He ran for hours not stopping once for a rest before collapsing in a pile of nearby wet hay, He cried, screamed and kicked letting out all his anger, he was so distraught he did not notice when three figures approached him from behind "Perseus" one asked softly, he raised his head and turned around, Perseus sniffled and stood dropping into a deep bow "Lady Demeter, Lady Hera, Lady Athena" he spoke his voice cracking as tears hit the ground.

Lady Demeter calmly placed her hand on Perseus' shoulder, he looked up and she gave a sad smile similar to the other two goddess' behind her, his eyes were red and brimmed with tears that threatened to spill.

Lady Demeter stumbled back when she was crushed in a tight hug by the ten year old, his body shook in sync with his sobs and his grip tightened, a warm sensation was felt in Lady Demeter's body filling a large gap, she smiled and bent down to pick him up, Perseus sobbed into the goddess' shoulder as she carried him away back to his home, Demeter gave a nod to Hera and Athena and flashed to Perseus' home where Dictys and his wife awaited.

Dictys bowed as the goddess walked passed him Perseus in her arms, she walked into the small room and placed him on the bed, tears stained his face, his eyes were closed and his breathing had evened out, the small boy had cried himself to sleep.

Demeter's eyes softened at his innocence as she tucked him into the light bedding, she moved the hair that fell on his face with her fingers and sighed "Goodnight Perseus" Demeter gently kissed his forehead, Perseus moved in the bed and gave a tiny smile, his hands moved forward and his head lifted slightly, Perseus in sleep placed his little palms behind his head and fell back on the hay mattress.

The Goddess said goodnight once more before leaving.

Perseus age fourteen

Perseus and Dictys battled staff on staff on the light sanded beach. The sun was on its final stage of setting and the full moon was already out.

Using two hands Perseus gripped his wooden staff blocking of a hard blow from his right, he ducked under his mentors right hook and spun the long wooden stick between his fingers before slamming it into his mentors right foot, Dictys stumbled back kicking up sand, using the distraction, Perseus snapped the staff on his knee and held the two sticks in a criss-cross position by his opponent's neck, he panted ending their long training session.

"Do you yield" he asked tilting his head knowingly, Dictys grunted and nodded, Perseus dropped the broken weapon and helped his teacher up "Well done Perseus, ever since the beginning I have known you will be a great hero" Perseus face was neutral he never smiled anymore, his mentor smiled trying to cheer him up before it changing into a deep frown, Dictys fell on his knees in the soft island sand holding his hands over his chest, he choked trying to form words as his right arm fell going numb.

Perseus' eyes widened as he too dropped to the ground "Uncle!" he shouted alarmed, Dictys wheezed using his left hand to support himself against Perseus' chest.

Perseus age sixteen

Perseus had never been the same after his mother death and his uncle recent illness, Dictys could no longer work leaving Perseus to support their small family of three, he worked many jobs trying to scrounge as much money possible, his current in the islands corn fields.

His body was drenched in sweat as he manually plowed in the dirt under the blaring sun, the soil was dry and cracking in the intense heat making his job harder and increasing the workload, he stood and with a slight grunt. Easily he lifted the four twenty kilograms sacks each of seed, he rested the weight evenly on his shoulders and back before making a slow walk towards the stables.

Meters before reaching, one of the King Polydectes, the king of the islands, guards approached him out of breath from his run "King Polydectes request your attendance immediately" he panted before running off into the distance, Perseus watched as the skinny guard disappeared into the trees also noticing the waves of heat that rose from the ground.

He sighed deeply dropping the sack to the ground outside the stable doors. They landed with a thump as he dusted his hands and ran them through his jet black hair.

Perseus turned and looked in the other direction at the king's castle that stood on a tall hill miles away on the other side of the large island, shrugging his shoulders he started his long walk.

Perseus reached hours later, his body aching from the walk, and the long climb, he nodded to the two guards who stood at the top of the last set of stairs directly in front of the main doors. He walked passed and took a deep breath before opening the doors to the large creamy white Greek style palace.

The king acknowledged his presence but paid no other attention, respectful Perseus bowed before kneeling before the ruler of the island "How can I help you King Polydectes" Perseus asked gritting his teeth, the king smiled "Ah, Perseus how nice it is to see you" Perseus resisted the urge to punch him in the face as he was the reason that the island was stormed six years ago, if he had protected his people instead of sending all the guards to his palace, his mother could have been with him today.

"Do you have something to say my King; I have many things to do"

"Yes Perseus, I am to inform you that the tax has been raised, every family is to now pay two horses every solstice, if you do not pay my tax, you, Dictys and his wife are to be removed from the island of Seriphos"

Perseus heart skipped a beat at his words, he stood angered and approached Polydectes closer than supposed to, the king's guards acted fast moving forward to pin him down but stopped when the king waved them away "You know it is impossible for me to pay the new tax. Neither my uncle nor I have any horses, we are too poor" the king laughed at Perseus as he pleaded.

Unable to give the king what he wanted Perseus made a desperate offer.

"My King, I am willing to give you anything else, choose what your heart desires and I shall bring it to you"

"Those are foolish but brave words Perseus" the king scolded, King Polydectes saw his chance to get rid of the boy whom he hated so much and thought for a moment.

"Very well Perseus, I promise to leave you and your family alone. In return you must bring me the head of the gorgon Medusa, but of course you must kill her first" he bellowed, Perseus visibly paled "But that is truly impossible-" he stared before being pulled back by the kings guards and thrown out the palace "The king has spoken, now be gone" one of the men roared.

That night Perseus slept on his makeshift bed, thinking about the suicidal task he had yet to complete, that is if he ever does complete.