Isaac, Sally, Lily, and the Freedom Fighters were out in the middle of the Mobian Sea, Isaac having taken them out there via his sloop. While Isaac haven't had the chance to sail for several months, his feel for the ship hasn't been diminished in any significant way. Isaac was feeling much better than he had felt since he had come back home, no small part because of Sally.
"Oh, I bid farewell to the port and the land/ As I paddle away from brave England's white sands/ To search for my long-ago forgotten friends/ To search for the place I hear all Sailors end." Isaac sung to himself, remembering an old sea shanty his father used to sing.
"Isaac, are you sure it's safe to be sailing out here with that storm coming in?" Rotor asked, concerned.
"That storm won't be out here for a few more hours. And it's not like we're sailing too far from shore." Isaac responded, keeping his vigilance over his surroundings.
"Isaac… 'Do not underestimate the power of the sea, because the power of sea will take you down!' Jacque Cousteau, 1970!" Antione yelled out.
"I'm not underestimating the ocean, but I am giving an estimate on when a storm is going to make landfall." Isaac replied.
Suddenly, the ship lurched to a halt, something stopping the sloop in its tracks! Antione groaned, feeling that this was the beginning of something terrible!
"Well, this was nice, but now, if the women and children will follow me, we'll be making our exit with the life raft." Antione joked, gesturing towards the nonexistent life raft towards the stern.
"Calm down. We probably hit a sandbar. I'll check it out." Rotor said, grabbing onto the port side of the ship and lowering himself down.
"A sandbar? All the way out here?" Isaac thought to himself, looking around. They were almost in the center of the Mobian Sea, supposed to be the deepest part of the Mobian Sea. Soon, Rotor hoisted himself back onto the ship, stretching out his arms.
"The ship's snagged on something big! Not anything natural! I think it might be some kind of tower! Older than anything I've seen on land!" Rotor said.
"How do we free the ship?" Isaac asked.
"My best approximation is to remove bricks until the ship's unsnagged. Of course, something as old as that tower, we should be careful not to collapse it. Wouldn't hurt to explore it later." Rotor answered.
"Noted. How far under do we need to go to free 'The Drunken Nephilim'?" Isaac asked.
"Not far. But the size of the bricks might slow us down. I'd estimate them to be about eighty pounds… each." Rotor answered.
"We better get to work. Or else Antione will get the last laugh when we get caught in the storm." Isaac said, beginning to remove his boots and shirt.
"You sure you're able to work?" Rotor asked. Isaac nodded, walking over to the railing of the ship. Isaac leaped up onto the rail, standing straight, looking down into the water.
"Isaac, please… just be careful." Sally pleaded. Isaac nodded, before taking the plunge, diving straight down into the Mobian Sea.
Swimming down, Isaac soon saw the scale of the tower, recognizing it to be an ancient lighthouse! From what Isaac could ascertain from his parents' education and his own studying, the tower looked to be of Greek architectural origin. Of course, from how long it had been underwater, Isaac couldn't determine if it were from the Greek empire or if it was just a recreation.
"Wow! I never knew something like this was lurking under the Mobian Sea! But where did it come from?" Isaac thought to himself.
Isaac heard the tapping of something, looking towards the surface of the water, seeing Rotor near the hull of the ship, removing bricks to free the ship. Isaac quickly swam towards Rotor, taking out a knife from his belt. Isaac quickly began digging the blade into the space between the bricks, breaking the waterlogged mortar to separate the bricks. After a few bricks were sent tumbling to the bottom of the Mobian Sea, Isaac began clawing his way back to the surface, breaking through to catch his breath. Rotor soon broke the surface as well, not even close to being as out of breath as Isaac.
"You alright?" Rotor asked.
"Yes. Just need to catch my breath. That lighthouse… I think it might be Greek, but I'm not completely confident. How long do you think it's been underwater?" Isaac asked.
"Hard to say. Could've been a few centuries to a few millennia. But right now, we need to free the ship before that storm hits us! Start breaking off bricks!" Rotor answered, before diving back down. Isaac followed, chipping away at the worn mortar. After a few cycles of breaking off bricks, swimming to the surface, and diving back down, the ship was almost freed! But as Isaac was diving back down, something caught his eye. An ancient, stone chest resting on one of the floors of the lighthouse.
Against his better instincts, Isaac dove down towards the stone chest, swimming through the hole in the wall of the lighthouse. Isaac soon approached the chest, seeing that it was sealed. Isaac went to secure it but found that it was heavier than it looked. Too heavy to bring it to the surface himself. Isaac kicked himself from the floor, launching himself towards the surface. Isaac broke the surface, immediately eyeing the anchor on his ship.
"Lily! Drop the anchor!" Isaac yelled out, Lily looking out from the railing.
"The anchor? What for?" Lily asked.
"I need it to break something loose! When I come back up, get the others to start reeling it back in!" Isaac instructed. Lily nodded, running to the anchor release. The anchor soon plummeted into the water, Isaac diving down to retrieve it. Isaac grabbed the anchor, launching himself towards the lighthouse. He sank towards the chest, securing the anchor around it. Isaac soon began swimming back, breaking through the surface.
"Alright, start reeling the anchor!" Isaac yelled out, before the chain suddenly went tight. Rotor broke the surface of the water, having noticed the chain leading into the lighthouse.
"ISAAC, STOP! THAT WILL…!" Rotor began to yell, before the chest impacted the side of the lighthouse, collapsing the roof of it onto itself.
"…collapse the roof of the lighthouse." Rotor finished, sounding defeated. Suddenly, the ship lurched forward, nothing holding it in place. Isaac and Rotor quickly latched onto the chain, the ship moving forward as the chain was continuing to be reeled up. Soon, Rotor and Isaac hoisted themselves onto the sloop, Lily already changing course, sailing towards the Kingdom of Acorn's harbor.
"I hope collapsing an invaluable discovery of architecture was worth the chest." Rotor said, noticing the old, stone chest.
"I hope so, as well." Isaac said, taking out a knife and working on the lock. While the lock was submerged for who-knows-how-long, the metal it was made out of somehow didn't rust, something which tipped off Isaac that the chest was placed down there sometime after the lighthouse was submerged. After a few minutes, Isaac unlocked the chest, the lock falling to the ground.
"Alright, now if it's some kind of Philosopher's stone, I get first pick." Rotor commented. Isaac soon opened the chest, finding it had no water, somehow being airtight. Isaac reached into the chest, grabbing a statue head from the chest by the back of its head, holding it up.
"An old statue head?" Sally asked, wondering why it would be locked up. As Isaac stood up, wondering on the nature of this head, it suddenly began turning colors, no longer its marble white, instead adopting more realistic flesh-like colors. Its hair became soft, no longer stone! Suddenly, its eyes opened, before releasing a torrent of coughing!
"By the grace of Hestia, finally I am free from that prison!" The head exclaimed, before Isaac accidentally dropped it in surprise! The head groaned, before Isaac hesitantly picked it up again.
"I would appreciate it if you would refrain from dropping me again, mortal." The head calmly said.
"Who are you?" Isaac asked, not knowing who this head was, and how it could have survived being underwater for so long!
"I am merely a shadow of my former self, but once, back when I still had a body, I was known as Hermes, ambassador to the Gods and their fleet-footed messenger! Of course, my current predicament was instigated by a particular cruelty wrought upon me by one of the cruelest Gods of the Pantheon!" Hermes explained.
"Pantheon? You mean the Greek Gods?" Isaac asked.
"The very same! Of course, the only crime I have committed was defying my father when he began speaking of ensuring his dominion of the mortals of Greece. Unfortunately… I was not fast enough to escape his wrath." Hermes answered.
"Yikes! How long have you been in there?!" Rotor asked, mesmerized by this talking head.
"Oh, let's see… uh, carry the two… 3,700 years?" Hermes calculated. The others stood in shock, seeing that this cursed head was from the Golden Age of Greece's empire!
"You're the Greek God of mischief, then?" Isaac asked.
"Well, I like a joke as much as the next demigod, but my antics, I say, have been blown well out of proportion! Furthermore, I've always been one for education and sports. Of course, I guess the sporting part of me was removed from me… along with the rest of my body." Hermes answered.
"Alright, this is insane! We are literally talking to a talking head of a 'supposed' Greek God! Isaac, you don't actually believe this to be a God, do you?" Sally asked.
Isaac wasn't quite sure of what to make of Hermes. While Isaac only worshipped one God, which Isaac holds no other God above, his mother and father have once told Isaac stories of other Gods, but mostly of their volatile nature. Isaac had no reason to have disbelief in this talking head of Hermes.
"Wouldn't be the craziest thing to happen. I do not reject the idea of more than one god existing. Of course, I wouldn't worship any other than Elohim." Isaac answered. Hermes' eyes widened at mention of the name of another god, himself not quite remembering last he had heard of that name.
"If Zeus would hear that name, it would send him into a tirade! He can't stand that name! Of course, it may have to do with many mortals veering from his path, in favor of Elohim's. Zeus is as hateful, as he is petty!" Hermes responded.
"You have heard of Elohim?" Isaac asked. Hermes attempted to nod, but the lack of a neck only allowed him to move his chin.
"Of course! I know many of the other Pantheons on this Earth! Of course, a God that can actually hear all and see all is very rare. The only one that comes close is the Allfather, but I digress! A God coming into existence with such power isn't one to be trifled with! Although now that I think about it, Zeus had angered quite a few gods in his day. Especially me!" Hermes explained.
As they conversed, the storm continued to rage closer, while 'The Drunken Nephilim' continued to make its way to the docks. Antione was eyeing the storm, becoming more and more concerned as the storm raged close.
"Now, while on the subject, who might you be, who had come to free me from my underwater tomb?" Hermes asked.
"My name is Isaac. Isaac Abaddon. This is my wife, Princess Sally Acorn." Isaac said, introducing himself and Sally.
"Princess? Oh, many apologies to you, for not recognizing you as royalty! I would bow if I could, your Majesty!" Hermes responded, showing reverence.
Sally giggled at this a bit, seeing a parallel with how she and Isaac had first met.
"No need to bow, Hermes… uh, even though you can't. But I have to say, this is rather odd. I never knew there were other gods. Especially so close to our home." Sally said.
"There are gods everywhere, Princess! Of course, even when I was imprisoned, I could feel their influence fade from the realms. The Greek Gods have faded as well, but not entirely, as of yet! If they had, I wouldn't be speaking to you! But a strong influence comes from Glacier Peaks! The Allfather and his people still find worship there." Hermes explained.
"Being a messenger of the Gods, you must be very knowledgeable." Antione assumed. Hermes smiled widely at this.
"Not just knowledgeable! I know every language in the land, every war fought, and every deal struck!" Hermes proclaimed.
"Do you know the origin of the lighthouse we found you in?" Rotor asked.
"Too simple! The lighthouse was once part of Pavlopetri, an ancient Greek city built long before Zeus' betrayal! Earthquakes had gone and sunk the rest of the city, but Poseidon, seeing the lighthouse as a symbol of his own eyes watching over his domain, instead decided to move it where none may be able to find it! Of course, once Zeus beheaded me and imprisoned my head, he decided to put it where no one would be able to find it. The joke is on him, cause look at me now!" Hermes answered.
"I mean, you are still a talking head." Rotor observed.
"Yes, but I am a free talking head! Something he had not intended to occur! A break in his plans!" Hermes corrected.
"I don't mean to interrupt this conversation, but that storm is getting dangerously close!" Antione commented. Hermes' eyes shifted to the storm, before releasing a sigh of relief.
"Thank Hestia! For a second, I thought it was Zeus coming after me! Well, by my calculations, we should make it to shore about 30 minutes before the storm hits. Should give you all enough time to seek shelter." Hermes analyzed.
"I cannot wait to see the look on Dante's face when I bring him the head of a Greek God." Isaac thought to himself, taking over the wheel.
Soon, the sloop made its way back to the harbor, the storm almost making landfall as they departed the ship. Isaac locked the wheel as the others made their way off of the ship. Isaac looked to the storm, never before seeing a storm cloud look so green!
"That doesn't look good!" Isaac observed.
"I've seen enough storm clouds to know that this has a good chance of tornadoes and hail! Get yourself inside! Now!" Hermes instructed, Isaac quickly getting off the ship.
"Hey! Don't forget about me!" Hermes yelled, Isaac quickly running back and grabbing Hermes from next to the steering wheel.
"I might be a reanimated head, but I'm not risking exposure out here!" Hermes exclaimed.
Isaac soon got themselves inside, a loud thunderclap shaking the foundation of the castle. Isaac breathed a sigh of relief; grateful they weren't still out on the ship in the middle of the Mobian Sea.
"Hmm, nice décor. Very Byzantine. Certainly beats a leaky, stone chest. An abandoned God could get used to this." Hermes observed.
"Speaking of which, where are we going to put you?" Isaac wondered, walking to the Common Room.
"Hmm… as long as it's not drafty, doesn't leak, and I can have a sense of privacy, it won't really matter." Hermes responded.
"The sink cupboard, got it." Isaac said, the door to the Common Room in his sight. Hermes only grumbled, not finding the suggestion as humorous as Isaac thought it to be. Isaac walked into the Common Room, the others laughing as the storm raged, a nice fire roaring in the hearth.
"Can you keep me near the fire?" Hermes asked, Isaac obliging, placing him onto an ottoman, a few feet from the hearth.
"Ahhh… this'll do." Hermes sighed, relaxing. Isaac walked over to Sally, sitting down beside her. Sally responded by holding onto his arm, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Snagged a ship, destroyed a ruin, and freed an Old God from his eternal prison. All in all, not bad for an outing." Rotor commented.
"And, and this goes to Antione, we didn't get caught in the storm." Isaac added.
"Alright, I'll admit, the worst hadn't happened. But I still think it was too close for comfort. Especially with Sally expecting." Antione said. Hermes' eyes widened, studying Sally further.
"Say… now that it's mentioned, you do appear to be a few months in. And you may not be able to tell, but I can sense a well of power from the womb. Almost… I'm sorry, I was trailing. What was I saying?" Hermes said.
"A well of power?" Bonnie asked. Hermes did his best attempt to nod, but it only resulted in him falling over, his vision going sideways. Lily got up from her seat, sitting Hermes' head upright.
"Oh, thank you little sister. Yes, as I was saying, for an unborn child to radiate such power is really uncommon! The last time I had felt such power, it was preceding the birth of my daughter, Angelia, a goddess of messages and proclamations." Hermes explained.
Isaac felt a disturbance in the pit of his stomach, remembering from his visions of how his father had concerns of Isaac inheriting his powers. Isaac barely had control of his own powers, and they were still in flux! He had absolutely no fathom of what control his daughter would have with her own powers!
"I wonder how she's doing. Zeus probably put her in my place after he cut my head off and put me in that cursed chest! Of course, she has always been a rebellious one. Isaac, is a trip to Mount Olympus out of the question?" Hermes asked.
"Sorry, but I don't see myself sailing all the way to Spagonia." Isaac said, mustering a look of confusion from Hermes.
"Spagonia? What nation is that?" Hermes asked.
"Well, that's where Mount Olympus is now. Greece hasn't been Greece for well over a Millenia." Rotor explained. This actually caused Hermes to uproariously laugh, something thought to be impossible by someone without a pair of lungs.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Hahahaha!" Hermes laughed, his laughter echoing throughout the castle. Soon, a pair of footsteps began echoing through the hall, the sound coming closer to the Common Room. The door suddenly flew open, Queen Alicia and King Nigel being the source, breathing heavily from running from their point of origin.
"What the hell was that laughing?!" King Nigel exclaimed, not knowing who could have been laughing so loud as to notify the entirety of the castle. Nigel soon looked around, seeing the head of Hermes on the ottoman, being the only thing out of place in the room. Hermes' gaze shifted to the royals, letting them know that he was coherent. Their widened eyes were the best-case scenario of seeing a conscious, disembodied head.
"Uuuhh… alright, I'll bite. What's with the head?" Queen Alicia asked.
"Many apologies, your Highness. I seemed to have lost myself in my merriment. To simply introduce myself, I am… well, I was the Herald of the Greek Gods, but right now, I am simply a glorified paperweight." Hermes humorously said, introducing himself. Queen Alicia and King Nigel did not know what to say, never before being in the presence of a fallen God before, let alone ever thinking such an even would happen in their lifetimes.
"Alright… dear, please remind me to keep my expectations high next time Isaac goes out on a venture. If he keeps bringing back things like severed heads of Gods, I think I'll be needing a valium prescription." Nigel said, before making his exit.
"Uh… Hermes, Greek God of Knowledge, thank you for your presence and make yourself at home. I'll just be… somewhere else." Queen Alicia said, still confused and shocked by his presence. She soon followed her husband, their footsteps beginning to become faint.
"Well… I believe that went well. By the way, where am I actually staying for tonight? I refuse to believe you will be sticking me under the cabinet of a sink." Hermes asked. Sally's eyes motioned towards Isaac, making the connection that Isaac told him that, being the last one with him alone.
"Isaac, can I keep him?! I'll take care of him, I promise!" Lily begged, speaking of Hermes almost as if he were a stray animal.
"Wait! 'Keep me'? I am a God, young one! Not some stray dog! What? You'll soon expect me to fetch your slippers using my teeth?" Hermes asked, not believing what he was hearing.
"He's not just any severed head, Lily. He literally harbors the knowledge of the Greek Pantheon and so much more! You will treat him with respect and ensure nothing happens to him!" Isaac said, bestowing the responsibility of caretaking Hermes' head. Lily quickly got out of her seat, picking up Hermes.
"Wait… Oh no! No, no, no, no, no! Ugh, fine dammit! But I am not happy about this! I'm only accepting this since it's not the under of a sink!" Hermes said.
"Don't lose him, Lily! He is invaluable!" Rotor said, thinking of all the knowledge he could learn from him.
"He's only a head. How much trouble can he get into?" Lily asked, walking towards the Common Room door. Hermes soon adopted a nervous look, not quite knowing where he was going.
"I have so many questions to ask! And thankfully, I don't have anything to do tomorrow." Lily said, intent on asking Hermes everything he could possibly know all night.
"Just come and get me in the morning… please?" Hermes pleaded to the others., his voice becoming faint the further Lily walked from the Common Room.