"While the reunion with my wife was joyous and the safety of the Kingdom of Acorn was enticing, my obligation to the safety of the Royal Family, including my unborn daughter, overthrows my own desires. Hermes, the former Greek God of speed and unfortunate messenger, warned me that Zeus, the one that had severed his head and imprisoned him for Millenia, had caught wind that I was the one that had freed him! With heavy heart, I had to leave behind my wife, my sister, and my in-laws, until I can somehow resolve the rising conflict of these near-forgotten Gods. However, I have had the great fortune to be accompanied by my new friends, who were unwilling in allowing myself to go on this dangerous mission alone! But even as I write this, we sail ever closer to Spagonia, where Mount Olympus looms over the land, and at the very top, the Pantheon of the Greek Gods. I pray to Elohim for his protection, and I pray that we will be able to stop Zeus and the other Olympians from enacting their own brand of 'Divine Vengeance'." Isaac wrote, closing his journal.
Isaac was sitting behind a desk in his quarters, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. The others: Rotor, Antoine, and Bunnie, were all still asleep. Sleep had alluded Isaac the past few days, his heart heavy with guilt that he had to leave his wife to resolve a situation he had inadvertently caused. It was now late November, Isaac himself having been sailing for the past several weeks. Hermes, only a sentient head, was positioned on an old bust, his head taking over the spot on the neck where the statues head would've been. His eyes were closed, signifying he was asleep.
Isaac looked down to his right, an old flip phone resting on the desk. Sally gave it to him before he left, a way of keeping communication with her while he was on his voyage. Taking it, Isaac silently rose from his desk, quietly walking out of his quarters. He could see the distant shores of Spagonia to the north of the ship, a distance that would still take until late evening to cover. Flipping open the phone, Isaac put in the number Sally gave him, the phone soon ringing.
Kingdom of Acorn- 10:27 p.m.
Sally's eyes were struggling to stay open, the sound of her phone ringing waking her from an uneasy sleep. She had only been asleep for roughly an hour. Her enlarged stomach impeded her from sitting up, Sally leaning on her right elbow as she reached for her phone on her nightstand. She turned the lamp on her nightstand on, the sudden light keeping her eyes squinted. She soon saw the screen of the phone, seeing it was a call from Isaac. Her face suddenly brightened, not expecting a call from Isaac at this hour!
"Lily, wake up! Isaac's calling!" Sally called out, Lily sleeping on a small bed that was moved into Sally's room. Lily had been staying with Sally in her room lately, keeping an eye on Sally in Isaac's stead. At least, that's what Sally told her. In truth, Sally didn't feel comfortable sleeping in her own room, alone, anymore.
"Huh? What?" Lily yawned out, rubbing her eyes. Sally motioned for Lily to come closer, showing her that Isaac was calling them. Lily quickly hopped onto Sally's bed, sitting next to her. Sally answered her phone, turning it on speaker phone.
"Isaac, can you hear us?" Sally asked.
"Sally, is that you? You sound tired." Isaac responded.
"Yeah, it's me. It's actually 10:30 in night over here. You're calling from a different time zone this time." Sally clarified.
"Really? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Isaac said.
"Hi, Isaac!" Lily exclaimed, wanting to get in on the conversation.
"Hey, Lily! How's school? Are you behaving yourself?" Isaac asked.
"Yes, Isaac. When are you coming home?" Lily responded.
"Not for a while, Lily. I can see Spagonia from here, but by the time we get there and resolve whatever we need to take care of, it's going to be a few weeks until we get back." Isaac explained. Lily groaned at this, not liking her brother being away for so long.
"You'll be back in time for the baby at least, right?" Lily asked.
Mediterranean Sea- 5:27 a.m.
Isaac's throat ached, feeling his guilt stop him from talking. It was a possibility Isaac hated to entertain, missing the birth of his own child. But it was better than the possibility of Isaac never coming back.
"I… I don't know. But be sure, I will do everything in my power to come back as soon as possible!" Isaac choked.
"Isaac, you just focus on what you need to do. Right now, we're second priority!" Sally interjected, trying to keep Isaac from worrying too much about them.
"Sally, you, Lily, and the baby will never be second priority to me!" Isaac responded.
"I know, Isaac. But right now, you need to focus on the task at hand. Listen, call us when it's evening for you. It should be early afternoon for us when you call back. You'll be able to talk to mom and dad by then." Sally said. Isaac nodded, even though Sally wouldn't be able to see it.
"Okay. I love you. The both of- the three of you. I'll be home before you know it." Isaac said.
"Goodbye, Isaac. We'll talk to you later." Sally said.
"Bye, brother!" Lily exclaimed.
"Goodbye." Isaac said, hanging up. Isaac stretched out his arms, 'The Drunken Nephilim' still plowing through the Mediterranean Sea to Spagonia. The sun was slowly rising, beginning to warm the cold morning. Taking a deep breath, Isaac removed his shirt, his wings emerging from his back. Baking up a few feet, Isaac began sprinting for the bow of the ship! Leaping onto the prow, Isaac launched himself into the air, quickly taking flight.
Isaac soon broke through low clouds, seeing Spagonia in its entirety. While it contained the remnants of Greece, including Mount Olympus, it also stretched over along the Mediterranean Coast, claiming Spain and Italy, as well as the island of Lemnos. As fast as his wings could take him comfortably, Isaac quickly flew to the island off the coast of Spagonia, a tip from Hermes a few days prior. While he himself could fly to Spagonia singlehandedly, his friends couldn't, who were still fast asleep in the lower level of the sloop.
"Looks like it's about time for breakfast." Isaac said to himself, taking out a bag of rings from his belt. Isaac soon landed on the beach of Lemnos, seeing that a small shop was now opening. Isaac quickly put his shirt on, walking to the vendor who was putting up a sign.
"Καλημέρα. Τι μπορώ να κάνω για εσάς σήμερα? (Good morning. What can I do for you today?)" The vendor asked, never before seeing Isaac.
"Ψάχνω για κρασί και πρωινό. (I'm looking for wine and breakfast.)" Isaac returned, having read up on Greek during the voyage.
"Λαμπρός! Έχω ένα μπουκάλι προς πώληση, το τελευταίο μου! Επεξεργασμένο και εμφιαλωμένο στο παραδοσιακό στιλ της χρυσής εποχής της Ελληνικής Αυτοκρατορίας! (Brilliant! I have a bottle for sale, my last! Processed and bottled in the traditional style of the golden age of the Greek Empire!)" The Vendor reacted, beckoning Isaac to enter his shop.
The Drunken Nephilim-20 minutes later
Isaac landed on the deck of his ship, his wings receding back into his body. Isaac was carrying a bag of food from the shop, while the bottle of wine, a handmade pottery vessel painted with the image of the Greek God of wine, Dionysus, corked and sealed with wax, was hanging off of his belt. Isaac walked into his quarters, setting the bottle of wine on his desk. The thud of the bottle woke Hermes from his slumber, his head still turned away from Isaac.
"Isaac, is that you? Do you mind turning me around so that I may speak with you properly?" Hermes requested. Isaac obliged, removing Hermes from the bust, turning his head to speak to him. A makeshift harness made from cordage was wrapped around Hermes' head, allowing him to be carried with ease.
"I have acquired the Lemnian wine, as per your request. It was their last bottle." Isaac said.
"Good. Lemnian wine is the only thing made by mortals Zeus will accept. Especially when made in the style during his reign. Make sure no one drinks it! We lose the offering; we might as well kiss our asses goodbye! Well, you can. As of right now, I'm a bit lacking in that department." Hermes explained.
Isaac, fastening Hermes to his belt, walked out of his quarters and down to the lower level of the sloop, finding the others were still asleep. Rotor, Bunnie, and Antoine were still asleep, sleeping on bedrolls. Bunny and Antoine were cuddled together, their breathing almost in-sync to each other, while Rotor was huddled near a workshop bench, some kind of device in-progress of being assembled. Isaac placed the food on the table, opening the bag. The smell of breakfast soon roused the others from sleep, a significant difference in what they've been eating for the past few weeks.
"Good morning, everyone. Food from the island of Lemnos. Eggs, yogurt with honey, fruit, and bread." Isaac said, keeping the menu simple.
"That sounds great! A nice change from stockfish and limes!" Antoine said, quickly walking to the table and grabbing some food.
"If you got yourself over to Spagonia, does that mean we're close by?" Bunny asked, helping herself to a cup of yogurt.
"Not quite. We can see it on the horizon, but it'll still be a day's sailing to dock. But as long as the wind holds, we should be there before the sun sets." Isaac answered.
"You didn't by chance see any of the Greek Gods while you were flying, did you?" Rotor asked.
"No. It seems they keep themselves on Mount Olympus, and I was nowhere near the mainland." Isaac explained.
"That sounds about right. A God revealing themselves to mortals have always met with… unfavorable circumstances. Usually, it was Zeus impregnating maidens, them giving birth to Demi-gods, and Hera trying to kill them." Hermes responded.
"Like yourself, correct?" Isaac asked.
"Well, not quite. My mother, Maia, was a nymph, daughter of Atlas and Pleione the Oceanid. But… Hera found out about my origins, and then… turned my mother into a bear… You know, if I haven't mentioned it, Hera is not a very much of a friend of mine, either." Hermes explained.
"Noted. Don't anger Hera or Zeus. Got it." Rotor said.
"Trust me when I say this, the other Gods of Olympus are kin to me. And know that when I say this, it's the truth: The others would be willing to perform a coup against Zeus, if they knew power was in their favor. Many of them would be hopeful for a future without Zeus as their ruler." Hermes said.
Isaac nodded, knowing that from the stories of Zeus, many of them have a grudge against the King of the Greek Pantheon. But Isaac also knew they had grudges against Hera, many of them being of illegitimate births.
"What about Hera?" Isaac asked.
"You must understand, Hera's anger stems solely from one person: Zeus. Out of the hundreds of children Zeus has fathered, only a small handful of them were Hera's. But once Zeus is out of the picture, Hera's anger shall be gone with him. And who knows? Perhaps she has mellowed with age. Like I said, it's been 3,700 years since I've seen my kin." Hermes answered.
"And if she tries to become a tyrant like Zeus?" Isaac asked.
"Hephaestus, her son, trapped her once with an enchanted throne that could only release of her if he had willed it. We, the Greek Pantheon, are a clever lot. If the worse happens, we'll find a way." Hermes answered.
"I just hope we don't run into Poseidon while we're sailing." Isaac commented, grabbing a large piece of bread from the box. Hermes quickly became concerned, remembering where he had been imprisoned for Millenia.
"He may have not appreciated his favorite sunken structure being damaged. But if he had a grudge, he most likely would've done something weeks ago. Just ask Erectheus." Hermes responded.
12 Hours Later
'The Drunken Nephilim' was docked in Spagonia, the sun beginning to set in the West. Isaac was in his quarters, preparing for the climb on Mount Olympus tomorrow.
"Rope?" Hermes asked, reading from a list placed in front of him.
"Check." Isaac said.
"Harness?" Hermes asked.
"Check." Isaac said.
"Lemnian Wine?" Hermes asked.
"Check." Isaac said.
"Climbing Axe?" Hermes asked.
"Check." Isaac said, still keeping inventory in his travel pack.
"That's really all you need. There'll be plenty of places on Olympus to forage for food. You'll need to travel incredibly light!" Hermes said.
"Right. Hey, I'll be right back. I need to make a call." Isaac said, taking his phone out of his pocket.
"Isaac, in case I forget, make no mention of your heritage to anyone! The Gods of Olympus, they are not as traveled as I am. They will see you as a threat. And Zeus… he will throw whatever he has to kill you! He will not hesitate to kill the offspring of an angel or demon, especially one who is both!" Hermes warned.
Isaac nodded, feeling a pain in his throat. Isaac didn't know if a God who possesses a physical form could actually be killed, Hermes being an example. But he had no intention of jeopardizing the mission. Zeus was after Hermes, and that would mean Isaac was on his list as well. Isaac stepped out, the cold air of Spagonia in November relieving the ache in his throat. Isaac put in Sally's number, waiting for her to pick up.
Kingdom of Acorn: 3:56 p.m.
Sally was with her mother and father, putting together a crib that they had when Sally was a newborn. It was an oak crib, hand carven and treated with beeswax. It was older than the three's ages put together, being a family heirloom.
"Four generations of Acorn royalty have slept in this crib, Sally. Your great-grandfather, my father, myself, and you. Now, we will soon have a fifth have peaceful dreams while sleeping in it. It's a shame Isaac can't be here to help us. He seemed rather hesitant to leave in the first place." King Nigel said.
"I know, dad. But he knew that this was for the best. He didn't want to see any of us get hurt. But he promised that he would be here as soon as possible! And that's the best we could hope for." Sally responded.
"If he brings back something, like another head of a Greek god, I swear, I don't think I'll be able to sleep peacefully in this castle anymore!" Queen Alicia said, popping a rail into place on the frame.
"Mom, Hermes was very polite and respectful. And he's the one that told us what had happened to Isaac, since Regina Ferrum had thought him a statue head and ignored him. He's the reason we were able to find him and the other survivors." Sally reminded her.
"Granted, he did do that, but it's just… unnatural! But I swear, if he brings back some cursed object of myth, I will forbid him from entering the castle!" Alicia said, not wanting to be exposed to something potentially dangerous. Suddenly, Sally's phone began ringing. Sally took it out of her pocket, seeing that Isaac was calling again. She quickly answered, putting it on speakerphone.
"Hi, Isaac! You called at the right time! Mom and dad are with me, helping me put together the crib!" Sally exclaimed, excited to be speaking to her husband.
"Hello, Isaac. How's Spagonia at this time of year? I imagine it to be cold right about now." Nigel greeted.
"It's a bit of a bite, but nothing I can't handle. We're preparing to climb Olympus tomorrow. I had to stop at the Island of Lemnos to grab a bottle of wine for Zeus as a peace offering. I hope Hermes is right about this." Isaac responded.
"Well, he is Zeus' son. I'd imagine he'd be the best one to ask." Sally returned.
"Hello, Isaac. Just a warning, if you bring back something else like Hermes, don't expect to get inside the castle easily." Alicia warned.
"I don't plan on bringing back souvenirs, Queen Alicia. As soon as this is over, I'm sailing immediately back home!" Isaac reacted.
"Good. But while you're over there, would you mind bringing back a trophy of some sort? The missus may not appreciate it, but something for the hall would be a nice commemoration for future generations, considering we are preparing for one as of now." Nigel requested.
"If I find something, I'll bring it back. Might just be an old shield, but even something small can tell a good story." Isaac said.
"Isaac, I'll make you a deal. Bring me the hide of the Nemean Lion from Hercules, and I'll give you a favor of any choosing." Nigel joked, not being profoundly serious with his request.
"Actually, sir, the Nemean Lion was slain by Heracles. Hercules is the Roman name for Heracles. But I'll see what I can do." Isaac corrected, taking his request seriously.
"Isaac, that was a joke. I don't really expect you to bring back the hide from a lion. Just… be careful. I have spoken to Hermes once or twice before, and from what he had said, many of Zeus' own children will not take to seeing their own father being threatened lightly." Nigel warned.
"I understand, sir. If it were my own father, I wouldn't stand aside to let it happen, either." Isaac responded. Nigel passed the phone to Alicia, letting her speak to Isaac for a bit.
"So… how was Lemnos?" Alicia asked, not quite knowing how to continue the conversation.
"It was genuinely nice. Thankfully, that book on Greek you lent me came in handy when buying our supplies. But if I have to talk to Zeus or the other Gods in Greek, we may be in trouble." Isaac answered.
"I thought you'd find a use for it. Ήμουν στη Σπαγωνία πριν από λίγους μήνες, οπότε το βιβλίο ήταν σωτηρία όταν μίλησα με τους απεσταλμένους (I was in Spagonia a few months ago, so the book was salvation when I spoke to the envoys.)" Alicia said, using Greek.
"Και είμαι ακόμη πιο ευγνώμων για αυτό (And I'm even more grateful for that.)" Isaac responded.
"Wow! You pick up languages fast!" Alicia responded, surprised.
"Thank you." Isaac replied.
As Isaac was talking to the others, outside of the hull of his ship, the water was churning, a rough form beginning to materialize, slowly rising towards the rails of the sloop. Soon, a pair of hands gripped the rails, hoisting itself out of the water and pulling itself onto the deck, making an audible thud. Isaac quickly spun around, but he couldn't see anyone there.
"Hey, uh, I'm gonna have to call you guys tomorrow. Something has come up" Isaac said, quickly hanging up.
"Hey, he hung up on me!" Alicia said, slightly outraged. Sally quickly became concerned at the mention of this.
"Uh oh." Sally said, knowing Isaac wouldn't do that if it weren't an emergency.
Spagonia: 9:03 p.m.
Putting his phone into his pocket, Isaac silently took his knife out of his sheath, crouching down and stalking towards a few barrels on the deck. After getting close, Isaac quickly used his free hand to throw the barrels to the side, revealing the one who had sneaked its way onto his ship! It was a human male, very thin and pale. He was dressed in a heavy cloak, wearing a pair of cotton pants and a rough-woven shirt, still soaked from the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
"Who are you?!" Isaac bellowed, alerting the others below deck. Isaac had no knowledge of anyone else being on the ship, and neither did he see how he could've boarded without anyone else knowing.
"Wait! Please, do not harm me! I am Amphios! I have come to warn you!" He pleaded, shielding himself. The others quickly ran out onto the deck, seeing Isaac with his knife.
"Warn me? Warn me about what?" Isaac asked, still keeping his knife at the ready.
"Olympus is incredibly dangerous to navigate nowadays! Ever since Hermes was freed, it was almost as if everyone was awakened from a great slumber! Sphinxes, Harpies, Furies, they are all active again! Creatures once thought to be myth are back! And the Gods… they grow stronger every day, more and more mortals believing in them again!" Amphios warned.
Isaac, taking in everything, slowly put his knife away.
"Who exactly are you?" Isaac asked, not believing him to be a simple wanderer. Amphios slowly stood up, Isaac able to see his eyes from under the cloak's hood. His eyes were milky-white, indicating Amphios was actually blind.
"I am a Satyr. Well, my father was a Satyr. My mother was a water Nymph. I have seen the rage of the Gods during their golden age, and I know they do not need a resurgence. I have come to help guide you to Olympus, so that you may satiate Zeus' rage from erupting into a terrible, terrible event." Amphios explained.