As the Fates finished speaking, the air in the throne room grew thick with tension. All the council members were speaking at once, and Percy could hardly make out what they were saying. Some had wide eyes, while others couldn't care less about a new minor god of comfort. That didn't stop the room from erupting in murmurs and whispers, with many voices speaking at once in a chaotic melody. Ares was one of the first to speak up.
"What is this madness? The boy is only sixteen-"
"Twenty," Percy muttered under his breath.
"-And he already has so many domains?" His voice boomed across the throne room with such outrage and ferocity that for a moment, the Hearth seemed to shrink.
"Need I remind you, Ares, that there is no one more deserving of such domains other than my son," Poseidon said softly, his eyes glowering. "We're talking about the same person who rejected godhood to stay with his girlfriend and to ensure that all those minor gods we overlooked get their deserved status." The war god glared at his uncle, but nevertheless slumped down in his throne, quickly engaging in a heated, whispering argument with Apollo.
Even Percy was a little lost. He had been prepared for the Fates to grant him godhood, but he hadn't expected so many domains. I mean what even is Metamorphosis, and what kind of domain is Comfort, he thought to himself. It's time like this when he wished he'd paid more attention in Camp Half Blood classes instead of pulling silly faces at Annabeth.
Zeus was uncharacteristically silent, his thunderbolt clutched tightly in his hand, The god was stroking his beard, deep in thought at what this meant. Hera was studying Percy intensely, while Poseidon had his chest puffed out, and a proud look on his face. Athena, like her father, was also contemplating what these domains meant. Being the goddess of wisdom, she was probably already thinking what Percy would be in charge of, and what his responsibilities would be. Percy himself was feeling a mix of emotions. On one hand he was excited and honoured to be granted not only godhood, but all these domains. However, this all seemed like a lot of work and responsibility for such a young person.
"Silence!" Zeus finally yelled, his voice unironically ringing out like thunder throughout the chamber. The crackling of lightning followed from his master bolt, the bright flashes of blue-white light illuminating the room and causing Percy, as well as a few gods, to flinch in surprise. They all sat down and stopped talking, looking at Zeus as if awaiting further instructions.
"We are not going to behave like animals!" he bellowed. "Did we act like this when Hercules became a god?"
"I mean-" Demeter began.
"Oh forget how Hera acted for a second will you," Zeus muttered. "Not that I could ever forget about you…" he quickly added when his wife gave him a glare colder than Khione. "We must approach this matter with reason and wisdom," Zeus continued, his voice more measured now. "Let us act civilly and not forget that we are immortals. Behave!" His words seemed to have the desired effect, and the council members began to calm down, their expressions becoming more serious and contemplative. Grumbling about how immature the council is, Zeus finally took a seat, putting his master bolt down.
"Take the stage daughter," he said to Athena, motioning to the floor.
Athena, with a grin on her face, stood up proudly.
"As the goddess of wisdom and strategy, I propose we approach this logically, in a careful and controlled manner," she said, her voice clear and commanding. "Firstly, we must consider the accomplishments of Perseus Jackson. He has completed numerous quests and defeated countless foes, including giants, titans, and even gods." She gave a glare to Ares. "He has proven his loyalty to Olympus time and time again, and therefore I feel as if there is no reason to fear he will switch sides and go against us." Zeus nodded his approval, and Athena continued.
"Secondly, we must examine the domains bestowed upon him by the Fates. As the goddess of crafts and the arts, I am well-versed in the intricacies of weaving, and I can attest to the significance of the threats the Fates spin. They do not grant domains haphazardly, and we must respect their decision."
"But Comfort?" Artemis interjected, her voice tinged with scepticism. "What kind of domain is that for a god?"
"Comfort may seem like a trivial domain, but it is essential," Athena replied calmly. "Much like there is a God of Grief and Misery, an opposite is needed, to counteract this. It's a rather unique domain that focuses on easing the suffering of others. While more research is needed, I believe this domain will involve the ability to at the very least heal emotional wounds. It's a highly honourable and compassionate domain that I believe Perseus will do great justice to. In times of crisis, he has been a source of comfort for his fellow demigods, and even for some of the gods themselves. He provided solace to those in need and has eased their pain. It is crucial that we do not underestimate the importance of this domain." A murmur of agreement went across the throne room, as the council members nodded. Percy on the other hand was perplexed. Athena calling him compassionate? The goddess despised him. Something definitely changed her view on him, and he wasn't sure what it was.
"Now, as we all know, a person's domains are based on their own skills, as well as achievements," she began. All the gods gave a slight nod, reminiscing about when they were originally given their domains. "It's clear Perseus is the god of Rivers and Floods because of their linkage to the sea. I presume he will be responsible for the flow and cleanliness of all rivers, as well as making sure the right places flood at the right time. However, I must admit, I'm curious to see if Percy is also the leader of the Naiads and Oceanids of rivers…" Athena trailed off, her eyes glinting. She gave a moment for the council to digest this information, and digest they did, some a bit too literally. Zeus gulped, the cogs in his mind already turning to see what that would mean. The mention of these nymphs caused a stir among the council members, who were whispering furiously again. Some were excited about potential new alliances, while others were frowning, wondering if Percy was to be trusted with this leadership. Even Zeus couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry. He knew firsthand how unpredictable they could be, and the thought of Percy having to manage them made him uneasy.
"That being said, I'm not actually sure if that's the case," Athena continued, raising her voice to be heard over the whispers of the council, "but it would be interesting to see. Moving on, I'm not surprised about his Leadership domain. Percy has been there to guide demigods, satyrs, hunters and much more through numerous battles, as well as two great prophecies. His leadership has been exemplary, and it is only fitting that he should be recognised for this." Percy smirked, a sense of pride and accomplishment washing over him.
"I'm coming for the throne Uncle!" he yelled at Zeus, causing a few of the gods to face palm. "That's a joke by the way," he added. Still, Zeus glared sharply at him, his master bolt crackling for extra drama.
"Oh gods please don't kill me," Percy cried, causing Apollo to chuckle and Hestia to smile. Man he really loved that goddess. Not in that way of course, she's a maiden goddess but he liked her in the other way… Oh gods sometimes he really needed to stay quiet.
"We've already spoken about Comfort," Athena continued, giving Artemis a look. The moon goddess shrugged as if to say, Hey, it's a strange domain. "The last two domains are more than interesting."
"Illusions and Metaphoresis," Percy piqued up. Athena's expression hardened as she turned to him. The goddess glared at him, wrinkling her nose and straightening her back.
"Illusions and Metamorphosis," she said, fixing him with a hard stare. "Don't interrupt me unless you know what you're talking about, and even then, still don't interrupt me." It was like she'd lost all the respect for him in the space of two seconds. She turned to the rest of the council, ignoring Percy's sheepish expression.
"Now for those of you who don't know, illusions are perceptions that deceive the senses or mislead the mind, often leading to a mistaken or distorted view of reality. Illusions take many forms, such as visual, auditory, or tactile illusions. I must admit, I have no idea why that's even a domain. I suppose the mortals have taken a liking towards this kind of stuff recently."
"What would the god of illusions need to do, daughter?" Zeus asked curiously from his throne. Athena pursed her lips, before shaking her head.
"Illusions are a subject in which I lack experience," she admitted. Percy scoffed.
"And here I am thinking you were the goddess of wisdom?" he interjected, tilting his head to the side. Out of her view, Hades grinned at him. Athena on the contrary wasn't amused, her expression turning frosty again. She turned her sharp gaze on Percy, her tone cold.
"And me being the wisdom goddess, will tell you how to find out more, so shut up and listen." Percy gulped, waiting for her to turn around before returning Hades's grin with a wicked smile, giving the god a mid-air high five. The rest of the gods watched this interaction with amusement. Most of them had never seen Hades act so immature or childish, and no one had ever even heard of the Lord of the Dead giving Poseidon's son a 'high five.'
"Illusions are a relatively new thing to most of us," Athena said, quickly attracting the council's attention again, "but some of the ancients used them back in their own wars. During the second Tartarus Civil War, Hypnos and Hecate worked together to create the appearance of a giant, multi-headed serpent that rose up from the ground and attacked enemy troops. The soldiers, already disoriented by Hypnos, were convinced it was real and panicked. In the end, it's said that this is the only reason the Nocturnes gained an upper hand and managed to put up a fight against the Skotosians."
Zeus who had been listening intently furrowed his brow. "Wait a second," he interjected, frowning. "Since when was there a Tartarus Civil War, let alone two?" Athena rolled her eyes before giving an exasperated sigh.
"Yes, there were two civil wars of the pit. The first Tartarus Civil War happened so long ago, there aren't even any records of it. From what I've heard, it had something to do with Tartarus getting on the wrong side of Nyx… or maybe the other way round. Now, the second Tartarus Civil War happened not too long after the first Titanomachy. Despite many individuals being involved, very few records of the conflict exist, and those who fought in it refuse to speak about it. As far as I'm aware, there were two factions fighting either for something, or because of something."
Zeus scowled at this news.
"How come I was never informed about this?" he demanded, his tone suddenly angry. Athena raised an eyebrow.
"Because you were too busy boasting to whoever would listen about how your son at the mere age of three years defeated the mighty Python," she retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm. The king of gods huffed, but nevertheless motioned at Athena to continue.
"I would strongly advise you to visit both of them. They should be able to give you some advice on forming basic illusions at the very least. After all, mist and illusions are linked closely." Percy's face paled, something that did not go unnoticed by the goddess.
"Why so white?" Athena asked. Percy's face grew even paler, and before he could reply, Nico startled laughing uncontrollably, his body shaking.
"Oooh you're busted!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. The other gods who had been observing this frowned in confusion. Most of them were looking at Nico as if he were mad.
"Wait a second," Hades began, his eyebrows creased. "Is this about the books?"
"You bet it is!" Nico replied, unable to contain his amusement.
"Care to explain, brother?" Zeus asked impatiently. He didn't like being kept in the dark about anything. Ignoring Percy's furiously shaking head, Hades grinned wickedly, knowing he had a good story to share.
"So basically, Percy thought it was a good idea to replace Hecate's favourite spell book with a book about why Percy Jackson is the coolest kid in the world for April Fools… He didn't actually tell me about it. When he popped by to visit Hecate, Nico summoned some skeletons outside and pretended to scream for help. Of course Hecate gave him a hand, but she had no idea what Percy was doing in her little cabin." Hades shuddered for effect. "I was in the Fields of Punishment and could hear her roar of outrage all the way from there."
"Oh we're definitely visiting her together!" Nico grinned at Percy, practically bouncing with excitement. Percy glared back at him, still trying to figure out he was going to get out of this. He hadn't visited her ever since, and it was the winter solstice now.
"What about the last domain?" he asked, desperate to shift the conversation away from his prank. He'd worry about Hecate later when the time came. Athena smirked at his desperation, but nevertheless continued.
"Yes, Metamorphosis," she said, emphasising the 'sis' for effect.
"Okay, this is where things start getting confusing," Ares grumbled. "What kind of word is Metamorphosis?" A smile flickered across Athena's face.
"Of course, out of everyone here, only Ares wouldn't know what Metamorphosis is," she grinned.
"Hey!" he angrily protested. "Apollo and Hermes don't know either!"
"Oh, forget my idiotic brother," Artemis scoffed. "He thought 'lunatic' was a word for someone who lived inside the moon, like my chariot has little houses in there or something." Apollo opened his mouth to retort, but Zeus's furious glare kept him quiet. The king of gods was more interested in what Athena had to say, not what the twins were bickering about.
"Too many big boy words," Ares muttered, slumping back in his throne, and for once, Percy couldn't help but agree with the war god.
"For those of you who are as incompetent as Ares, Metamorphosis is the divine art of transformation and evolution," Athena clarified.
"Sounds like shapeshifting to me," Apollo interjected. Athena nodded.
"It can be," she agreed, "but it's much more than that. Metamorphosis can be used to alter one's size, to change the texture of one's skin, to create illusions or phantasms. It's an incredibly versatile power, and one that requires a great deal of finesse to use properly." A feeling of excitement was building up within him. The more he learned about his domains, the more he realised how much there was to learn.
"As the God of Metamorphosis, Perseus will be responsible for guiding and overseeing the metamorphic processes of all beings, from the lowliest creatures to the mightiest gods, ensuring each transformation is carried out with precision, grace, and purpose." Percy's heart sank.
"Wait a second," he began. "Does that mean I need to be there for every single transformation, helping them occur." Athena rolled her eyes at the question, while Apollo snickered.
"Do you think Hera is there for every marriage? Or Hypnos is there every time someone wants to take a nap? Or Apollo is there for every music festival? Or Artemis is there for every childbirth?" she teased.
"Uhhh…" Percy scratched his head, embarrassed at asking what must've been an obvious question for the gods.
"If us gods were at every event related to our domain, we would have negative freedom and trust me when I say that being impossible. As a god, you would supervise the domain of Metamorphosis and make sure nothing too aberrant, or as the mortals say, 'dodgy' happens. Essentially, it's a mere fragment of our essence managing it all. You'll be responsible for ensuring that the metamorphoses adhere to the natural order of things and that no one tries to manipulate the power for ill-intent. For example, I don't want any caterpillars turning into hellhounds any time soon, and no Hades, that is not a sign for you to come up with another elaborate prank to pull off any time soon."
The god sighed, his mischievous smirk quickly fading into a glare as his idea was shut down before it saw daylight..
"So how does one develop this power?" Percy asked.
"There are many ways," Athena said. "Some are born with a natural affinity for metamorphosis, while others can develop it through years of study and practice. The key is to understand the underlying principles of transformation - to know the limits and possibilities of the power, to understand the mechanics of how it works."
"Okay," Percy began, thinking. "Well where do I go to learn about these principles?" he cocked his head to the side, looking intently at the goddess of wisdom.
"Hmm, us gods are actually decent at the art of Metamorphosis." Percy nearly choked on the air.
"There is no way you all know more about my own domain than I do," he said, causing most of the gods to crack a few smiles.
"I'm sure you can ask any of us about the domain of Metamorphosis," she said, a wide smirk slowly forming on her face. "In fact, why don't you ask Zeus how he got Hera to marry him. Or even better, ask your Dad and Demeter where Hazel's horse Arion came from." All four immortals were blushing hard, refusing to meet Percy's gaze.
"Well, if they don't want to say," Athena quickly added after being given a threatening look from Zeus, "you can always ask some of your… brethren." Percy gave her a confused and curious look.
"Honestly, do I really have to spell everything out for you," she sighed, glaring at his inability to understand her. Jeez, it's not like he was the god of wisdom. "First of all, before we had a God of Metamorphosis, there was one certain individual who basically had an honorary title as the God of Transformations."
"Wait who?" Demeter asked, frowning.
Poseidon grinned leaning forward in his seat. With a twinkle in his eyes, the sea god whispered one name.
"Nereus." Upon hearing the name, Percy internally groaned. He'd only met Nereus once, and it was an interaction he prayed he'd never have to witness again. Plus, Nereus brought some painful memories with him. Every time he heard the name, the horrifying deaths of Bianca and Zoë, a sense of pain and loss washed over him.
"I'll pass, dad," Percy said in a sullen voice.
"Well there is one more person," Athena said, pursing her lips. "A friend of yours I guess, although you haven't seen him in a while. Old Nereus would be ideal, but I suppose the other one can suffice." Percy nodded his head, understanding who Athena was talking about. They had a lot to catch up on, and he'd been delaying it. Part of the reason was more painful memories, but the other was that he was a praetor there, and so was she. Well now he had two people to catch up with, and an angry goddess of magic to apologise to.
"There is one more thing Perseus," Athena said, her tone cold and calculating. Percy raised an eyebrow, but let her continue.
"Metamorphosis is the art of transformation, but it's much more than that. You see, Metamorphosis is also the domain of magic that deals with transformations, both physical and mental." Percy looked around the room, noticing some of the gods looking uneasy.
"What do you mean by mental transformations?" he asked cautiously. Athena's expression grew serious.
"Some say that Metamorphosis can alter memories, personality traits, and in some cases even one's very essence." Percy felt his legs get weak.
"Their es-essenence?" he stuttered out. The goddess gave a teasing grin.
"Oh yes." Now everyone in the room was frowning and glaring at Athena, as if she'd given Percy the domain.
"However," she said, raising her voice. "Hecate, the goddess of magic hasn't been able to do something, and the chances of Perseus ever being able to mentally metamorphosis is astronomically small. Honestly, it's more likely that Zeus and Hera will be a happy couple for a year than Perseus will even dream of changing someone's memories. Believe me, the boy will never cause such an event."
"But how can you be so sure, daughter?" Zeus asked. Athena sighed, the cogs turning in her mind as she considered her response.
"Remember when Apollo got the domain of prophecy?" The king of gods gave a small nod, unsure where this was going. "And how I said there was a chance he could gain the ability to interfere with the Fates. Well, Apollo, have you ever intervened with the Fates, or managed to change a prophecy drastically.
"Umm…"
"That's all of your worries answered for you," Athena declared, a proud expression on her face. "You see, even with such immense power at his disposal, Apollo has not been able to change the Fates' designs, despite it being in his domain, so what chance does Percy have of changing someone's memories or personalities. Trust me, he's in no danger of becoming a master of mental metamorphosis." Percy felt a weight lift from his shoulders, and it looked like the same weight had been lifted off the council. A few members breathed out sighs of relief. Athena however, had her gaze fixed on him, giving Percy a hard stare that sent shivers down his spine. Percy wasn't an expert at reading faces, but he knew that look all too well. It was the same look his mother would give him when she was about to lecture him on getting kicked out of another school. Percy could tell Athena wanted to have a word with him later, in private.
"Thank you for that enlightening talk, daughter," Zeus's powerful voice echoed throughout the room. Beaming, she went back to her seat, sitting down with such a regal, prideful expression that made Zeus look like a humble priest.
"Before I dismiss you all, I want to bring one more thing to the council's attention. Athena and Hermes had a good idea of giving Perseus a guide to help him adapt to his godhood. While an assistant might be a foolish idea, Perseus should definitely have a fellow god teach him how immortality and controlling domains works. For the foreseeable future, he should remain in the company of that god and learn everything there is to know about godhood." A murmur of agreements rang through the council as they all nodded in approval.
"Well the only question then is who?" Demeter mused, voicing the question everyone was thinking. Nodding, Zeus went back to stroking his head as he pondered the decision. Gods, he really loved doing that.
"Well definitely not Poseidon or Hades," he finally said, causing a sudden uproar from the two gods.
"What!?" Poseidon yelled. "If anything, I'm the perfect god for this. We have so many linked domains!" Zeus shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. I want the new god where I can see him, and I definitely don't want him stowed away in some secret room, being manipulated to overthrow Olympus."
Poseidon laughed mirthlessly. "You're too paranoid, brother," he said, but Zeus wasn't swayed.
"I know Perseus is very loyal, but after fighting two wars in the last 10 years, I am in no mood to even allow the chance for Percy to be slightly swayed away from Olympus."
"That's flawed logic, Father," Athena began, her eyebrows creased. "Perseus, despite being the honorary god of stupidity, has never gone against Olympus, and I know he has no plans of doing so, because as you said, his loyalty is one of the most striking things about him." Zeus silently growled, irritated at Athena's smart, flawless response.
"I know Perseus won't go against Olympus," he muttered.
"He speaks the truth!" Apollo chimed in, either trying to ease the tension or trying to act like he had a role in the conversation.
"Then why can't we mentor him?" Hades asked, glaring at his brother. "Zeus, you were literally beaming at Percy earlier on. What caused such a change in heart
"Because-" All of a sudden, the anger in Zeus's eyes was replaced by a much calm, mischievous glint. He grinned, leaning back in his throne, legs crossed. "Because now that the girl Annabeth has left him, it would be wise for Perseus to spend some time with a female goddess, so that he can fill in this empty gap in his life, and maybe gain a new perspective on his own abilities." There was tension as Zeus looked into the eyes of his two brothers, before eventually, Poseidon cracked a smile. The other gods soon burst into laughter, with even Athena unable to keep a straight face.
"Well, you heard him," she said to the council, chuckling. "We've got to find Perseus a lady friend!" Zeus nodded, still grinning.
"After all, the brains of a woman can provide some strikingly unique ideas and possibilities," he said, causing the other gods to grin once again. Percy was not one of those gods, partly because he was fearful to face Zeus's matchmaking skills.
"Father, even though watching Perseus' face morph into horror as you assign him a companion does sound entertaining, I must add that your logic is still flawed- " Athena began, her voice cool and level, but she was quickly cut off.
"Athena," Zeus glared, anger returning to his eyes. "Unless you want to mentor the sea spawn, I suggest you respectfully shut up!" The goddess stared back at her father, her expression cold and unyielding, but she leaned back in her seat, clearly not willing to argue further. So is this how my Uncle maintains such an authoritative position on the council, Percy mused in his thoughts.
"Now normally I would tell Athena to mentor him, with her brains and stuff, but it's clear the last thing she wants in this world is to be stuck with the boy. Perhaps my other daughter Artemis would like to teach him?" The moon goddess immediately shot her dad a furious look of outrage and annoyance.
"I may tolerate Perseus, and even have a bit of respect for his loyalty, but it does not mean I have the time, nor the energy to give him godly tutoring." Zeus immediately regret asking her. Now he had two daughters mad at him.
"Hmm well I mean I don't know who is left." Athena facepalmed at her father forgetting half his family. As Zeus fell into deep contemplation, his eyes darted around the room, as if looking for something specific. His fingers drummed a slow, steady beat against the armrest of his throne, something Leo would do. With each passing moment, the silence grew heavier and thicker. Percy felt a pit forming in his stomach as slowly, he watched Zeus's expression shift from pensive to a troublesome, vexatious one. There was only one god in the pantheon who he dreaded to be paired with. Inside, Percy was silently pleading that it wasn't her, but knowing his luck, it probably would be.
"Perseus, under my decree, you are to become the protégé of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love," Zeus's voice boomed, a wild, devilish grin consuming him.
THIS IS NOT A PERCY X APHRODITE STORY! Sorry just had to make that clear lol. Also, Percy is NOT going to be some really powerful person in this story. What Athena said was purely hypothetical and she said, it most likely wont happen.
Now that that's out of the way, how was the chapter! I tried to explain everything. Sorry its a bit short, but I felt like this was the perfect place to stop. As always, I'd love to get some more reviews and PMs! Really makes me happy.