Chapter 6: A Promise and a Procedure

I was… stunned, to say the least. I knew that Hestia was capable of stopping Gods, courtesy of Ares' outburst, but this… I took a deep breath. This is reality now. This isn't what I knew… And this- this was a God's power. A being high above anything a human could ever imagine. A being capable of being called god-like… And she had just put the King of Gods directly on his rear.

I looked at my fellow teenagers and found that they were all unaffected, same as me. Not even the flames felt hot. Although they did warm me up. However, just like me, it seems they realized the gravity of the situation they were in: These were GODS. Literal Gods, with powers that can kill hundreds of humans- if not thousands with a snap of their fingers. And they all just witnessed first hand the power of one of these Gods.

Granted, it actually seemed this one God- or Goddess was more powerful than the rest but, it still didn't stop them from realizing just what was happening to them. They were kidnapped. By Gods. Divine beings with enough power to destroy cities, and they were to represent them? They were supposed to become their Champions? How could they possibly do that? How in the world would that even be possible? No, it's no-

"You guys okay?" I asked. I could literally feel the panic rising in them. "Like I promised you all… we're all safe. We're okay. Granted it's thanks to Hestia but I mean, I kept my promises. And I will keep keeping them."

Aundrea was the first to rise from her stupor of fear. "Right… Yeah, I'm alright, Eryl. You… you almost died."

"Hmm." Did I almost die? Not particularly, since Hestia promised to protect me. "No, not really," I shook my head. "I trusted Hestia to keep me safe, just as she trusted me to make the best decision I can."

Matthew let out a harsh laughter, shaking his head amusingly. "And that decision involved saying something that made them all attack you? At least… that's what I thought they were going to do."

"They were," Zach confirmed. "I could literally feel the killing intent… They wanted you dead, Eryl."

"What did you even say?" Scyla asked.

"The River Styx?" Zach repeated.

"'Swear on the River Styx,'" Elizabeth corrected.

"What's so important about a river?"

Aundrea racked her brain, trying to remember her Greek Mythology and history. "I think it's some river in the underworld," she answered Ben. "One of five or something… so why is swearing on it some kind of death sentence?"

"Funny you say that…" I chuckled. "Because… it kind of is. Swearing on that river, that is."

"I'm pretty sure I've sworn a few times with Hoover Dam in the same sentence," Ben joked. "Am I gonna be in the Colorado River and it'll somehow kill me?"

I shook my head, letting out a small laugh. "Not swear as in curse, but swear as in promise. An oath, sort of."

"And why is an oath so dangerous? I mean sure, it'd be fantastic if everyone honored their oaths but… it's nothing more than a promise. They're easy to break," Scyla said solemnly.

"You're right, Scyla, you are. But not this kind of oath. Should you swear something on the River Styx, then you will need to uphold that oath. Because the moment that you break it… you die."

"Huh."

"Lovely."
"I hate rivers."

"I love rivers!"

"And how could you know of this river?" one voice asked, laced with venom.

Zeus.

I turned around, looking at the King of Gods who was slowly getting up, albeit wobbly. "Me knowing is irrelevant until after you've sworn the oath. Until after you all swear the oath. If you think my deal is just and my reasoning is kind, then you shouldn't worry, since you'll follow the deal regardless of the oath."

"Then should we swear the oath, you will tell us how you know about the River Styx?"

I glanced at Athena. "The… chances do increase."

She narrowed her eyes through her fingers, holding her hands over her face as a gray glow washed over her body.

"...So? Will you swear it," I asked harshly, a small sneer on my face, "Or will you keep proving why I even have to ask in the first place?!"

A few Gods noticed the sudden edge in my voice, confused.

"Why does us not wanting to swear an oath anger you so?"

I looked at Artemis, whom was tying the straps on her limbs once more. "Why?" I chuckled scornfully. "How could it no- Why… Why does it make me mad? I… I don't know..."

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter. You will swear that oath. In turn, I will swear that in the end, I will always do things for the good of Hestia, Olympus, and the world."

"You speak as though you already know what to say?" Athena realized that the boy was controlling the flow of conversation a bit too well- and evidently knows things he shouldn't.

"You speak as though it's a surprise that I do. Why? Does it not make sense?" Can you not find the answer in my mind, Oh Goddess of Wisdom? I thought mockingly.

Her eyes widened, as did all the Gods present.

"You…" Hera breathed, slowly getting up on her feet. "You shouldn't know… And we should know that you shouldn't."

"That's true, isn't it? But here's a funny thing," I said, lifting a finger to my lips. "I didn't know. And since I didn't know, neither did you. You should know that I shouldn't? That's right… only if I know I don't. I mean, how could you possibly know something when it doesn't exist? When its non-existence isn't even acknowledged?

"…Wait, I confused myself." I shook my head, saying, "The point is, you can only read my mind- read my thoughts. And I can feel when you try to delve deeper, trying to look through my memories. But something stops you… Someone, right?"

Hera's jaw clenched, as she forced her eyes to not glance at her Eldest Sister. "You… you are dangerous."

"Hera!"

The Queen of Gods glared at the King. "The boy is, and you'd be a fool not to realize it, Zeus. So-"

"You'd do well to treat me well," I finished, knowing that she was not going to say that. "Someone is only dangerous if they are a danger to you. But if that dangerous thing is on your side completely… it becomes a useful weapon."

"..."

None said anything, so I spoke again. "Swear the oath for the deal, and I will swear the one I said."

"...Your oath prioritizes a single being, then Olympus, and then the world."

"Yes." I looked at Athena. "Is that so wrong? Because seemingly… the only one overwhelmingly supporting me- being kind to me- deserving of such an oath… is a single Goddess in this room.

"And you all will do well to only blame yourselves for this trade offer of oaths."

No one spoke for a few minutes, all the Gods carefully considering the oath, some more so than others. A few looked at the benefits, and looked to the future. Others looked at the flaws, and remembered the past. It was one voice, the one who is cursed with future knowledge that spoke first.

"Yeah, I'm down with making the oath," Apollo shrugged. "Like he said, he'll become a useful weapon that we can use for the good of Olympus. And what? The only drawback is just us promising to train our Champions for one month- not even constantly? Like I said, hand me a coconut with a straw and set a lounge chair by the beach, I'm chilling."

"I will take the oath, as well," Demeter spoke. "I trust in Elder Sister… I will then come to trust you, boy."

A few of the Gods were shocked by the Goddess' words, completely stunned that she would trust a mortal so quickly. Unbeknownst to them, however, was the knowledge the Goddess of Harvest knew: he truly did understand their domains. Especially hers. He felt the pain she felt every time humans polluted nature. Everytime they killed a small part of her… The boy would train her Champion well, and they'd help the world just as he said. There is no reason to not trust the boy, as he too will swear an oath that will keep him to his word.

"Since I have already agreed to the terms of the deal proposed, the oath should do nothing more than ensure I have truly agreed," Hermes followed. "There exists no problem here, unless I did not plan on going along with the deal… as he said: it's not a problem if it wasn't one originally."

Hephaestus raised his hand next, "Aye. I will take it as well. The boy is wise. He is creative. And if he swears an oath as well, then it's a fair trade- to an extent. His is far more affecting. Having another mind with me will be convenient, especially with another helper ensuring that the mind can keep up with me."

I bowed my head to the Gods and Goddess. I genuinely did appreciate them. And I made a mental note that should the need arise, I will owe them a favor.

"I truly don't understand why we're even considering it," Aphrodite dawled. "He knows of the river. So what? He did this oath so that his small little family- his Champions could actually survive. You should be ashamed if you are even worried that the oath could kill you. Ashamed that, as he said, it is a problem for when it shouldn't even be!"

I was pleasantly surprised at the Goddess of Love's small outburst, but I nonetheless bowed to her as well. Then let's make another mental note that her words hold more weight than the Gods that attacked me, same as Apollo, Demeter, Hermes, and Hephaestus.

The God of Sea's head shot up. "Yes! I, too, will take the oath. I always had the intention of training my Champion just as the deal said. It is of no concern to me, indeed."

I bowed my head. I'll make a small note for Posiedon. He still attacked me, afterall.

"I don't mind taking the oath," Hades said tiredly. "Because at the end of a month's time, it shall disappear assuming I trained my Champion just as I said I would, keeping my word. May we please get this over with? I will need to set up a schedule for the next month with my Queen so the time I use to train my Champion does not end with my Kingdom collapsing."

I bowed my head at the God of the Dead. "It shouldn't disrupt your schedule that exists already, Lord Hades. Like I said, a demonstration or few should do the trick- you just have to make sure your Champion remembers the ability."

"Oh, do not be mistaken, mortal," Hades corrected. "I refuse for my Champion to be inferior to my Brothers'. I will spend time training him, as will you, and ensuring he will be a weapon worthy of being called my Champion."

Artemis' head shot up at this. "I, too, will take the oath. I intended to train my Champion to an extent from the very beginning… but this deal and oath will simply assure that my Champion does not lack in any way."

Both of their words seemed to cause an effect on the Gods that had yet to agree. They realized that now it wasn't so much keeping your word as it is assuring your Champion is worthy of being called your Champion… Just like the boy had said from the start of his second deal…

"He's a smart man," Athena murmured. "Too smart… Smart enough to not be a puppet, yet be used so his own plans are kept true…"

She cursed. Once more, she was left impressed. "I will take the oath as well, boy. And if it is any soluce, I apologize for my reaction to your knowledge. Be rest assured, however, that my end of the deal shall be upheld, just as yours will be."

I nodded. "Of course, I will make sure my efforts will leave you all impressed. Some more than others- that I will make sure."

The implication was clear: I'd focus more on the Champions of the Gods and Goddesses that had readily agreed to take the oath.

Hera glanced at her Champion, saying, "I will take the Oath as well… I hope you do not treat her in a different manner due to… my actions."

"That depends on you."

She nodded, a small jut of her head making her nod gracefully.

Now all that was left was the Gods that seemingly hated Eryl the most: Zeus and Ares. It took a few minutes, but eventually as the anger and frustration grew on their faces, it depleted quickly.

"I'll take the oath," Ares grumbled, rubbing his shoulder as the bones slowly mended.

"I shall take the oath, mortal," Zeus seethed. "But you shall take your oath as well. Your priority shall be the Council, however."

I looked at him with a blank face for a moment. It slowly but surely morphed into that wicked, arrogant, and humor-filled grin once more. "That, Lord Zeus," I goaded, bowing and gesturing behind me, looking right into his eyes, "Depends entirely on my Patron. However, I have no intention of changing my oath unless she tells me otherwise."

"You dare…" he began, thunder rumbling in the background.

"Father, as much as it pains me to say, the boy has proven that even without any powers to speak of, he is a foe worthy of attention. And then should he become the Champion of Aunt Hestia, then his treatment of fairness shall result in benefits for us."

"Yeah, what Lady Athena said. However, I will translate what she was actually saying: stop treating me horribly, and I'll match."

"You dare treat me horribly?"

"You dare treat me horribly?"

"..."

"..."

"Know your place, mortal."

"Know your own," I shot right back. "You are relying on us to complete the Council's will and missions. I suggest you remove your pride and just take the oath."

If Zeus' jaw could be clenched any more, then it would, but all that happened was his face turning a brighter shade of red. I guess I know where Aphrodite got her shade of lipstick.

"Pfft!" Aphrodite quickly covered her mouth, looking down as her shoulders jumped and down. "Let's…" She cleared her throat, "Let us move forward with the oath, how about it?"

What followed was a series of events that I couldn't possibly begin to understand. The time they spent creating an oath from my words literally doubled the time me and the others had been here. Who knew it took so much effort to merely swear an oath about a deal? And I literally had to fight to make sure the oath was actually what I had said in my deal! Like, I genuinely had to go all "Objection!" on them, when one God or Goddess- cough Zeus cough- tried to adjust the oath so it let them have some kind of leeway. Imagine telling someone you're going to make a tiny stream by simply carving out an indent on the ground, and that someone says "Let's put a rock in the middle of the stream." …No!

The deal was that every day, the Gods would show their Champions all the abilities they could in the span of a month. Whether it be one time or several depends entirely on the Champion's ability to remember the ability. Once they do, then they could move onto the next ability. If the God or Goddess decides to train their Champion in an ability or few, they may alongside me as I train the Champions myself from the abilities they had already been taught. Once the month had been over, the Gods would be free from their oaths, but they may still train their Champion to further refine or ensure they have all the abilities they can have should they choose to. And once that first month has been over, I personally will train all the Champions together to ensure we can function as a team, synergizing with one another to become a good team.

That was the deal, and that was what should be said in the oath. It caused a few arguments from a few gods -cough Zeus cough- but they eventually conceded. All of the willingness, however, was due to the actions of the Goddess of the Hearth. Despite not officially being a member of the Olympian Council, her hold over the Olympian Gods seemed immense. Of course, she would never abuse it, but she would use it when she had to- and for her Champion, she felt it was necessary. Right before the Gods began swearing the oath, they all thought one thing: I hope Hestia knows what she's doing.

"Then let us begin reciting the oath, one by one," Athena announced. "I shall start: I swear…"

"...on…"

"...the…"

"...River…"

"...Styx…"

"...that…"

"...I…"

"...will…"

"...uphold…"

"...my…"

"...end…"

"...of…"

"...this…"

"...deal," I finished last, saying my very own oath, ensuring that my fate is tied to the good of Olympus, but first and foremost Hestia. Was it wise to place my faith in someone that I just met a few minutes ago? Absolutely not. But was it the right decision? In that specific scenario, I certainly think so. I was faced with twelve other divine beings, with Demeter probably being the most friendly one, and I was sort of blatantly disrespecting them.

I needed some kind of leeway or insurance for my words and actions- and I had one: My soon-to-be Patron Goddess. Was it wrong to pretty much use Hestia's influence and status on Olympus for my own use? Some would say yes, and I would be one of them. However, once I figured out that Hestia would be my Patron, I figured that she'd protect me to a certain degree, so I began to get a biiit more cocky. Seems like it paid off, though, and she trusts in me now. And I refuse to break that trust- I will show her that it was worth it.

Thunder boomed in the background, vibrating the very air itself as thirteen Olympian-level Gods all swore on the River Styx. It was most likely a record in history, but for this one instance, history was not recorded well. I don't exactly know how the River Styx works, but I like to think that Lady Styx just randomly got the thirteen Gods' souls in her rivers, absolutely seething at her. Oh, look! I was there too! My puny mortal self!

…Anywho. The oath had been sworn. The deal had been made… Our fates had been sealed. I was actually doing this, and I brought the other teens along with me. But I'll make sure I keep my promises. Did I mention I have an extreme sense of responsibility and need to keep my promises? Maybe there's a word for that, but I guess it's another quality of mine. How many have I mentioned now? Hmm… I don't like not knowing something, so I need to know why; I don't like not being in control; And now, I have a great sense of responsibility, and I intend to keep my promises. Every last one affects every decision I make, and changes things dramatically.

Is that good or bad? I didn't know, but what I did know is that I always make my decisions based on one or more of these qualities of mine. So, in my mind they were good decisions. They were my decisions, and I'd see them through. I'll train the Champions, I'll make sure they survive, and I'll make sure we end up happy. What happens between now and then is something I don't know, but I'll burn the bridge once I cross it. Once everyone's crossed it.

Zeus grunted, rolling his neck as he sensed a part of his soul be brought to the River Styx. "Now that the oath has been finalized," he boomed, "We shall begin the process of imbuing our respective Champions with our Divine Power and connecting them to our domains."

"Any advice?" Zach asked.

"Advice?" Poseidon frowned, looking at his Champion.

"Yeah, like is there something I- we should be aware of? Is it going to hurt? Do I need to do something special? Is there some combo I need to pull off?"

"I am NOT going up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right just to get powers!" Ben exclaimed.

"To say the truth," Apollo said, smirking at his joke, "We don't know. We've never done this before, guys."

"Oh, lovely," Scyla nodded, turning around and following Hera.

"Although the process is mostly reliant on your, dear," Hera explained over her shoulder, "I will ensure you are guided during the process. Do not look down on me."

"As Lady Hera said," Artemis ensured, "We- or I, at the very least, will attempt to make the process as easy as it can be, all the while ensuring the process is not hindered in any way."

Rebecca nodded hesitantly.

"Rebecca!" I called. "You're awake!"

She looked at me in surprise with an upside down smile. "Yeah… sorry, about that."

"No worries," I beamed at her. "Just so long as you're alright."

"I am, I am."

I smiled brightly at her, before being pulled out of my thoughts as the other Gods slowly brought their Champions to their thrones. This time, however, they were far more gentle and the Champions themselves were much more willing. I like to think I especially helped them by giving words of encouragement and thumbs up. Scarlett, however, wasn't as willing. And truth be told, I wasn't sure how to comfort her. I mean, I basically just went yoink and took her chance to not be the Champion of someone violent.

Luckily, however, Hestia came to the rescue and whispered words to the girl. Whatever the Goddess said had a profound effect on the red-head, as she slowed down her breath and followed Ares to his throne. Ares, on his part, didn't make any comments and was calm with Scarlett. I bowed my head to Hestia as she walked back towards the Hearth. She smiled gently at me before standing behind me.

The other Gods and Goddess did the same, standing behind their respective Champion in front of their own throne. Simultaneously, their bodies began to enlarge and grow. From the average six foot and above to all standing at a varying thirty feet height. A few of the Champions who were simply a few inches shorter than their Patrons were now dwarfed, not even bothering to try and look up to see their faces. As the Gods finally reached their full height, they all donned a look of concentration.

In a flash of light, each God and Goddess held their own respective symbol within their hands: Artemis held a glowing silver bow, so intricately designed that you could spend your entire life studying the bow and you'd completely ignore the arrow that accompanied it. Moonlight glittered around her form, dimming slightly before brightening once more.

Athena held an Ancient Corinthian helmet, yet even the most incompetent of beings could understand that once the helmet was placed on the Goddess' head, absolutely nothing was piercing through. Surrounding her lines of whirling gray. Maybe if I had better vision, I could've said they were quotes and math equations.

Aphrodite held… nothing? Rather, flying gracefully around the Goddess of Love were about twenty doves. Pure, white doves that- There's no way they're flying in the shape of a heart… They were. Both curves meeting together and everything, a perfect heart shape as Aphrodite held out both hands in front of her, controlling the doves.

Demeter held a cornucopia in one arm, and in her other was a sheaf of wheat. Flowers swirled around her body, forming floating rings that flowed around her at an angle. Tree branches sprouted out of the ground, intertwining much like her throne. However, slowly but surely, the flowers were moving towards the ground and the branches moving towards the front of the Goddess- moving towards Selena.

Hera also held one symbol in each hand. On her left was the most beautiful crown I had ever laid my eyes upon. I know I literally just met the Goddess of Love and Beauty but wow the crown was something you just couldn't help and appreciate. In her other hand, she held a gold scepter crowned with a crystal lotus flower. It was thickest at the top, allowing Hera to comfortably rest her hand on the grip, before the scepter slowly dwindled in radius the closer it got into the ground. And the bottom was placed directly next to Scyla, and the crown held above her head.

Zeus, on the other hand, certainly lived up to his "God of Theater." On one hand, his lightning bolt crackled with electricity as it was firmly placed beside Grant. Just like Hera, the opposite hand held a symbol above their Champion's head. However, unlike Hera who held a crown, Zeus had a small tornado on his palm, resting right above Grant's head. Wonderful.

Poseidon also held his own respective weapon next to Zach, glowing a bluish gold as it thrummed with power. His other hand didn't exactly hold anything. Rather, it was facing the Champion and sending a powerful stream of water. It surrounded Zach and swirled around him, forming both a water spiral and a small hurricane.

Hermes held his caduceus in his right hand, the end also placed next to his Champion. It glowed a firm yellow, bathing Brad in its light. The serpents on his caduceus grew in size, further intertwining themselves but also going down to wrap themselves around the teen. They spun and spun around him before winged sandals floated directly above Brad's head.

Apollo was much more flashy than the other Gods. Surprising. On his left hand, he held a glowing lyre, seemingly playing by itself as the notes rang out across the room. In his right Apollo held a swirling mass of… images? They're… visions? I was unsure, to be honest, all I knew was that it was that different scenes were playing out on Apollo's palm. After a moment, Apollo began growing blighty before the light seemed to constantly be sucked into a single point. A point that eventually grew into a miniature Sun that floated right above Ben's head, illuminating him.

Hephaestus held a giant hammer in his right hand, the bottom also resting right next to Crystal, who eyed it wearily. She noticed me staring at her and I gave her a thumbs up and a smile reassuringly. I then took very animated deep breaths, moving my arms up and down in tandem with my breathing. An amused expression appeared on her face before she nodded, taking a deep breath and steeling herself. Lava flowed out of Hephaestus' left hand, swirling around Crystal but never made contact with the Champion.

Ares… I may as well describe the scene since I was also describing everyone else: The God held a giant Battle Axe in his right hand. It thrummed with red light, slowly flashing in luminosity. His left, on the other hand -Heh- was held right above Scarlett's head. It glowed brightly with red light, and it grew and grew until it covered Ares' entire body- his Champion included. I couldn't see her face anymore, but I just hoped she was alright. I'll make sure to check on her more than the others…

Hades was… Woah. In his right hand, he held out a Black Gladiator Helmet, similar to Athena's own Corinthian in terms of quality, at least. It was a void black, and much like Zeus' lightning bolt and Posiedon's trident, it thrummed with power that very well overwhelmed the other God's auras. His left hand, however, was extended above Matthew's head. Falling out of the God's palm was… blackness? Shadows, I realized. They swirled around the Champion, like tentacles that spun as if to create a vortex. Floating above Hade's head as well as the teen were spirits. Ghosts that tried to fly free, but seemed to have some kind of limited space to move. Slowly but surely, they were moving towards Matthew.

Hestia was also doing as her fellow Gods and Goddesses did. From her right hand, flames blasted into the air, arching downwards and enveloping me in a small tornado of fire. From her left hand, a bright orange light shined as the Goddess' body followed suit. An extreme look of concentration appeared on her face, and I could see the very same expression appear on the other Olympian Gods. Right before the flames covered my eyes, however, I could see that a glow came from every Gods' and Goddesses' body. The glow grew and grew until each one shined their respective colored light.

Right when I was about to get flashbanged again, Hestia's flames saved me, filling my view and enveloping my body whole. The flames got closer and closer before wrapping around my body, burning me. I grunted in pain, concentrating on who knows what as the flames entered my body.

Let's see how this goes.

Chapter 7: Champion of the Hearth

Pain. Searing pain. A hot, burning pain that filled me with anguish. A pain so great I realized that death was mercy. My mind was instantly shattered, and if it wasn't through my own sheer stubborn will it would have been gone forever. Even so, with my mind on the verge of breaking, there was a larger problem in my mind: The others. Aundrea. Grant. Zach. Ben. Matthew. Scyla. Rebecca. Elizabeth. Brad. Scarlett. Crystal. Selena. If I was going through this much pain and was struggling to handle it, then they were most likely losing their sanity. They were most likely going through even more pain.

So I focused, I grit my teeth and concentrated on my ears. No good, they were burned off… I think. It didn't matter, I could still hear things. Muffled sounds. Loud, muffled sounds. They were constant. A steady stream coming from different directions. Twelve different directions… The others! They were screaming. Screaming in pain. I grit my teeth, snapping my eyes open in hopes of seeing through the flames. Nothing. If anything, I was just flashedbanged again. I cursed in annoyance.

But I could hear their screams, and I could hear the despair. I could hear the pain. And I could hear their wills slowly slipping away. Talk to them, Eryl, I cursed. DO SOMETHING. What could I do? I didn't even know what was happening. Two seconds. Two seconds to think, that's all I need. Me. Eryl. Others. Teenagers. Champions. Gods. Turning us into Champions. The process. The process to imbue us with divine power. And it was hurting us, if not killing us.

So how can I possibly ease the pain? I didn't know. And it didn't matter. Their cries filled me with anguish, and all I knew was that I had to reassure them. I opened my mouth, ignoring the flames that instantly burned my tongue, gums, and throat. And I spoke. I let the words flow, my own brain refusing to function. So I simply spoke… to them, as if I knew exactly what I should say. As fate would have, it seems I did.

"FOCUS," my voice rang out, surprising me at how loud and commanding it was.

"Focus on my voice!" I told them, shouting over their own scream of pain. "Focus on comforting things! A happy memory! A happy thought! Maybe something you like! Something that can make you focus and distract you! Something you know well! Think of something that you can connect to! Think of-"

The realization hit me like a truck. "THINK OF YOUR DOMAINS!" I bellowed. "Think of what you represent- No, screw that! THINK OF WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND. Let them guide you! Let them help you! Help yourself!

"Let your mind guide you! Rely on your brain to create a path!" Aundrea's screams suddenly quieted down.

"Let your desire to control what you hate so much guide you! Force it to show your way!" Grant's shouting dropped.

"Let your understanding of a force of nature guide you like the waves! Force the very ground to pave a path!" Zach's screams stopped.

"Let your Sun and songs guide you once more! Let your voice shine your way!" Ben's screams quickly disappeared.

"Let your understanding of the End let you see the beginning! Let the End guide you to your path!" Matthew's shouts faltered before disappearing entirely.

"Let your yearning for a happy family- a loving family guide your way! Make the path bend to your will!" Scyla's screams turned into a gasp, before they too quickly stopped.

"Let your respect for wildlife guide you on a path where you can protect them! Where you can protect them all!" Rebecca's cries seemed to turn into a choked sob, but it quickly disappeared as soon as it was heard.

"Let your yearning for love light your way! Let your desire to understand it make you open your heart!" Elizabeth's cries were silenced, and I could've been convinced she was staring at me.

"Let your legs carry you past the pain! Escape it and let your feet guide you!" Brad's shouts turned into a deep breath before I was met with silence.

"Let your strength carry you! Don't let it dictate your path! Control it, and survive!" Scarlett's cries grew louder after a moment of realization before stopping.

"Let your creativity open your path! Survive like you've always done! Do not stop now!" Crystal's screams hitched, disappearing in a moment.

"And!" I grit my teeth, the heat and pain was close to killing me. Don't stop, you pathetic man. "Let your love for plants- for life fill your mind once more! Let it find your path and always be with you!" Selena's cries slowly dwindled down, until the final sound I heard from her was a big sniff.

Now there was just one last person. Who was it? I… I didn't know. They were still screaming, and it was obvious they were near death. My words had clearly not connected to them. Who… My thoughts began to get muddled, and I struggled to breath. Who's left over? I thought I got through everyone… I fell onto my knee, screaming even louder as bare flames burned through my already exposed burning muscles. Ah. It's me. I'm the one screaming.

I clutched my head, gritting my teeth to try and muffle my cries. It only made me scream through my teeth. And burned my hands, since my head was on fire! What was it I said? Connect to something you understand? Think of your domains? What are my domains? Hearth. Home. Family. Fire. Hearth… Uhh… It's a sacrificial altar of fire? Somewhere where people pray and sacrifice offerings to the Gods? The pain remained.

Home then, since Hearth also meant home. Home… A place where you feel safe. You can't relate. A place where you are always welcomed. You can't connect to it. A home is where your family is at… Family. Something you don't have. Family is the people you love. The people you care for the most. They don't exist. The people you are both willing to die and live for. You can't understand it. Hearth, home, family….

I grit my teeth once more, and I could feel them digging into my gums along with a few cracking. I collapsed onto my hands and knees as my screams of pain turned into cries of anguish. I cried into the ground, making me hear my own disgusting pleas. Hearth, home, family…You don't understand- I KNOW I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DOMAINS! I KNOW I CAN'T RELATE TO ANY OF THEM- CAN'T CONNECT TO ANY OF THEM! Even if I could, even if I was the perfect person to represent these domains… it didn't matter, because I couldn't remember any of it.

Everything I had experienced from the moment I could remember- age twelve and up was nothing but hell. I had to struggle to survive in a world where no one cared about me. A world filled with more than seven billion struggling lives, and I was only one of them. A world where my life was irrelevant. A world where my life didn't matter. A world of pure hell. A world where humans lived.

And I was forced to survive through it all. I couldn't hold friendships for very long since my thirteen year old self was too busy working just to keep the junk car I bought in usable condition. My fourteen year old self who spent his entire time trying to get accepted into a highschool. My fifteen year old self who was juggling two part time jobs and school work, along with attending school in the first place. My sixteen year old self who fell into a deep depression when his grades slipped, and he was fired from his better paying job. My seventeen year old self who kept living simply because it would be insulting to his younger self.

My twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen year old self struggled through so much- fought tooth and nail just to claw through this hell of a world! And my seventeen year old self survived because he refused to tarnish all their hard work. He had gone through so much, and he refused to stop now… I refused to stop now. And now, my eighteen year old self who finally got two part time jobs, where both could turn into a full 9-5. I honored my younger selves. I fought through this hellish world into adulthood. I struggled to survive. I fought to live… I kept my promise. I kept myself safe. I kept myself alive.

"AND THAT'S ALL I NEED!" I snarled at myself. "Alone… Always alone… Never ONCE, HAD THERE BEEN ANYONE THERE FOR ME! AND YOU THINK I'LL FALL NOW OF ALL TIMES?"

I cursed at fate. "YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SO MUCH MORE TO EVEN MAKE ME KNEEL! I refuse…" I wheezed, panting heavily, swallowing and tasting iron. "I refuse to fall now… I refuse to die! I will survive. I will keep myself alive… like I've always done…"

I grunted and tensed my body, shouting harshly at myself. "GET UP! UUP!" I stood wobbly, planting my feet firmly into the ground as determination filled my body upon a realization. "...But I'm no longer alone, am I? …I'm responsible for others now… I hold twelve lives in my palm…

"I… I will no longer just keep myself safe. I will no longer just keep myself alive." I panted, staring up into the sky as the flames grew bigger and burned hotter, absorbing into my skin at an even faster rate. "I will be responsible for their lives… I will make sure they survive… I will make sure they are happy. That is my family."

I looked down on my palm, seeing the muscles repair themselves and my skin appearing once more. "I see… I don't understand family, yes. You're right, mind; I don't. But that's irrelevant. It doesn't matter. I've always chosen my own life. I'll defy fate, and continue to choose my own. So… I'll choose my own family. They will become my family… and I will be their Hearth… I will protect them, and be responsible for them… I will be their Champion of the Hearth. Their Home and my Family."

As both my mind and heart resolved themselves, I suddenly felt an influx of energy… of power. I felt more alive than I had ever been before. My senses were heightened to a degree where I could even tell the temperature of the flames surrounding my body. 1,997 degrees Fahrenheit. I felt the energy flowing through my body, filling every cell in my body and then some. It filled me to the point that I could feel myself melting. The power was so great- Wait, what?!

I grunted in pain, I took a knee, looking down and realizing I was several meters above the ground. Cool, but also not cool! I was burning alive. Yes, before I was being burned by the flames, but this time it felt like my body was heating up from the inside. Like every cell that was filled with power was melting under all the energy. Under all the heat, I realized.

The flames grew and grew, and I couldn't help but let out a roar. It shook the air, and for a split moment, I felt myself getting colder. By exactly twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit. What… How was that possible? I, what, have to keep screaming to cool down? Heck no! I just spent minutes on the ground breaking my vocal chords! A little more and I won't ever be able to speak again!

While the cells within my body were melting, I could tell that I had at least a minute or two before completely being vaporized by the flames. So think, Eryl. Use the time and think! Why had the scream lowered my temperature? The obvious answer was that it transferred heat away, but that didn't make much sense. A scream can't do that. I mean, maybe it could but not more than twenty degrees, that's for sure. So what exactly happened for me to lose heat- to lose… energy. Ah, I see. I had used energy…

So be it. I yelled into the air once more, feeling the energy within me. I grabbed onto it and yanked it out, blasting the flames outward. I wasn't entirely sure how big the flames around me were, but I knew they grew at least four times their size. I couldn't hear a single thing except the crackling of the flames burning whatever they could. The marble? Oh yeah, it was melting. The air itself? Burning. Flames burning other flames? Why not! And I was the one causing it to save myself.

But it wasn't working. I roared in greater pain, feeling my body melt even faster. The energy had increased! HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I used power so I got more? What? I cursed, feeling my time remaining alive decrease even more. Think, Eryl. Think! What did I do? What happened? I screamed. It let out energy. I made the flames grow, all it did was increase my energy. So why did the scream cool me down… What was the difference? I rummaged through my brain, trying to find some sort of scientific explanation despite knowing that I was literally burning in a tornado of fire.

Fire.

Heat.

Energy.

Flames.

Flames are energy.

Flames are energy being used?

No, obviously not.

So flames are energy being created.

Screams are energy being used,

Why?

What's the difference?

Both are from my actions.

One created energy, the other destroyed it.

No- That's not it, because energy cannot be destroyed…

I was beginning to understand,

I created flames… and I created more energy,

I used energy to scream, but it wasn't destroyed, it was…

"It turned into something else," I breathed. "The energy was converted into something else… It was transformed. So… How could I possibly do the same?"

Twenty seconds and I break the conservation of mass and energy law.

"The scream turned the energy into something else… and if my flames are energy," I thought aloud, "...Then, what if I turn my flames into something else?"

Ten seconds and I go boom.

What can flames even be turned into? Smaller flames- Smaller flames. Yeah! What about- No! Okay then. But that does make sense, since that wouldn't be converting it into anything. It would simply scale them down. Five seconds until bye-bye. AUGH! WHY DO I BECOME SO UNCREATIVE IN TIMES OF NEED! FIRE. IT'S SOMETHING COOL. SOMETHING COOL! Uh… Uhh… A SWORD! Sword! I concentrated on the flames around me, focusing on the energy as I felt my body begin to melt. I "grabbed" the flames, contorting them and controlling them so I only focused on the energy. I grabbed even more energy from the surrounding flames, using all I could to stuff as much into a single spot.

That point appeared in the palm of my right hand, and it only grew and grew as even more flames seemed to be sucked into it. The flames became so bright that rather than having color, it was just a bright light of white. More! I grabbed even more flames, stuffing it into the shape of a sword around that point. First, the hilt. A sharp pommel, shaped like a jewel. A good grip, morphing it to fit my hands perfectly. A secure guard, made into the shape of two obelisks with a slight hook at the ends, roughly four inches long on each side.

The blade was long, maybe thirty-ish inches. It wasn't very thick in the middle, although considerably noticeable compared to the edges. There was also a slight groove that followed the spine of the blade up until the tip. The edges were sharp to a needle, allowing it to slice through nearly anything. But even I could tell that it would take a lot for the blade to even chip. The edges ran parallel to each other for about twenty four inches, before the final six-ish quickly met at a sharp point.

I knew nothing about smithing, nor have I created anything remotely similar to weapons but… I had to say the sword was beautiful. Beautiful to the point that I wondered if I should even use it all. I'd rather just take it out randomly to appreciate. I shook myself. I still wasn't done. Even if I had grabbed a large- and I mean large amount of flames and energy from my surroundings, it had only taken a third of all the flames. It was still burning me, although I knew I had a decent amount of time before my life ended.

What now, then? I have a sword- a weapon, what else do I need beside a weapon? …Did I seriously just ask that? Armor. But I knew for a fact that I was not skilled enough to create armor from flames themselves. The sword was simple, and it only took me a few seconds to create, but armor? It would be difficult.

Why did that matter? Well, when I was creating the sword, I struggled to create the grip for a moment. And I mean a moment. And within that moment, it was almost as if all the energy within my body just plummeted into nothing. Luckily I managed to imagine the grip how I wanted, and the energy returned in an instant. It gave me a heart attack, but I made sure to not let it distract me otherwise it would have happened again. It seems like if I struggle to create something from the flames for even a moment, I can die. Lovely. So armor was out of the question.

What was left then? I still needed something to protect my body. What's something I can wear that covers a good percent of my body? Something I understand everything about so I can imagine it vividly… A coat. A trench coat, to be exact. As silly as it sounds, I could probably imagine a trench coat so vividly that the greatest artist would struggle to capture an image the way I would capture that coat. My coat, specifically.

I forgot when I got it… Sixteen, perhaps. It was before I got fired from my well-paying job, and I had just worked overtime and managed to get a big payday. After managing my money, and putting some cash into my account, I had a hundred dollars left extra. An entire one hundred dollars more from over time! I was overjoyed! Maybe I should get new headphones? Maybe some second-hand console if I bargained hard enough? But, at the end of the day, I had always promised myself something: the moment I had some extra money, I would buy nice clothes.

Trust me, I had clothes. Five pants, five shirts, and two sweaters that I had gotten over the years. Although, I did always make sure to go a few sizes up just to make sure my future self could fit into the clothes- and thus would have no need to waste money on new clothes- but those were the only clothes I had. Two pairs of shoes- some regular sneakers, and some "fancy" dress shoes that cost like twenty dollars at some retail store, and that was it. The only regular type of clothing I would buy would be socks, and the occasional pack of underwear. I wore the rest for years, and I planned on wearing them for even more.

Heck, the clothes I had on now were some of my best! I was wearing my fancy dress shoes, a well-fitted -cough too small cough- dress shirt, some black jeans that weren't denim, or maybe they were I wasn't sure, and finally… my trench coat. So that brings me back to that extra one hundred dollars I had at sixteen. I chose to spend those hundred dollars on some nice clothing, although I wasn't entirely sure what nice clothing was. I mean sure- I knew it involved fancy stuff and things like suits, but what exactly made it fancy? Price? Exoticness? I wasn't sure, and since I wasn't sure, I was nervous.

A retail store wouldn't buy me nice clothes, that much I knew. Maybe some type of clothing store? But I remember that one instance I went to a mall and entered the first brand store- HOLY! A shirt- a regular shirt with nothing but the brand on it… fifty dollars. I could easily buy five shirts for that amount! So I quickly got out of there. Afterall, at that time, I was only thirteen and barely had forty dollars to freely spend. And it was on that day that I promised myself that the moment I had extra money to spend, I would spend it on nice clothing.

And there I was at sixteen, three years later and ready to fulfill my promise of three years. I was older, so I knew a couple things that my younger self didn't. Clothing brand stores just over prices their things, especially if it was at the specific brand store, so those were no go. Then the best choice would be some kind of clothing store that held a collection of different brands. So I went to a nearby plaza and entered a few of these stores- nothing. Although I did have to try my hardest to not buy an entire set of clothes with those one hundred dollars. But no! I intended to fulfill my promise. It had to be near one hundred or it was a no-go.

So I went from store to store, trying to find some kind of nice clothing and not deciding on anything before it suddenly hit me as I passed a store filled with suits- I had no clue what "Nice" clothing was, as mentioned before. I concentrated on the flames, grabbing all the energy I could from the fire, and then some, as I vividly imagined this memory of mine…

I sat down on a bench, my feet slightly sore from walking on smooth flooring for hours on end. I was used to working outside on dirt or walking the same flooring tiles from my job as a waiter, but this was something else… I looked at all the other teenagers walking around with their friends, bubbly and filled with energy, How in the world are they note tired… I let out sigh and looked up.

Four hours. I had spent four hours walking around all different kinds of stores just to find the "nice" clothing I was looking for. But I couldn't find anything. Or, I actually could, but it wasn't what I wanted. I wanted… What did I want? That made me pause. What didI want? Nice clothing, that much was obvious, but… what was "nice clothing?" I forced the feeling of shame and spite to leave my body, and made myself think logically.

Nice clothing is clothes that people wear when they want to look nice.Wow, I'm so smart! It's clothing when you want to look good… When you want otherpeople to think you look good… But I don't care what other people think, I have bigger things to worry about. So nice clothing is something I think Ilook good in… And that is…I didn't know, because I didn't know anything about nice clothing, and definitely couldn't remember anything about it.

I sighed and slowly looked back down, trying to stop the tears of shame from flowing. I wasn't fortunate enough to know what nice things were… I wasn't lucky enough- I grit my teeth, forcing my eyes to focus and ignore my feelings. I had four years to deal with these things, and I wasn't going to succumb to it now. I looked around and my eyes suddenly locked on something. Woah… What is that? A coat? No… its too long for a coat…

A man was walking towards me, a fairly tall guy, who had dress pants and a dress shirt on along with fancy shoes that were clearly fancier than my own fancy shoes. Everything about him was black- save his skin and eyes, and the… long coat of his. It was a some hue of brown, and the contrast between the black and brown made my eyes instantly get drawn to him. And it instantly formed a single thought: That is nice clothing. Thoseare nice clothes. And I wanted them. I actually almost had the full fit- a dress shirt, some pants that were similar, and fancy shoes- albeit not as fancy. All I needed was that long coat of his.

It was made out of a light material, and the lack of thickness supported this. It had a folded collar, covering a good portion of the neck. The shoulders were straight, and the sleeves were slightly larger than the arm, so it would fit me even if I grew. The cuffs seemed to be able to get smaller, however. So it would be able to look decent on me since I planned on buying it a size larger- I was hopeful that I would keep growing. The coat itself, however, reached all the way down to the calf. The chest part was folded, much like a suit would be. It even had buttons that trailed the middle of each pec. That means it's 100% nice clothing, right?

It flowed down behind the man, making it seem as if he always had a breeze flowing on him. Thatwas when I decided I needed that coat. So I sat up quickly, my feelings of inferiority quickly leaving as I got closer to the man. I had never met this man before in my life, but if you lived like me, talking to strangers was a skill you needed. I didn't want to be rude, however, so I slowed my pace as he neared. I turned my head towards him, making it obvious I was looking at him before meeting his eyes just two seconds before he'd pass.

"Hey, excuse me! You mind if I ask where you got your coat?" I asked in a friendly manner.

The man paused, slightly frowning at me but answered me nonetheless. "I bought it from Hollysuite Woods. It was a good hundred bucks."

I raised my eyebrows in excitement. "Can you tell me where that store is? I like your coat and thought I'd buy one for myself."

"Sorry, kid," he spoke with a kinder voice, liking the fact that someone complimented his fashion. "Store is easily a hundred miles from here; Not sure if your parents would drive all the way down to the coast just for a trench coat."

I clicked my tongue, ignoring the pang in my heart at the mention of parents. "Dang, that sucks…" I sighed.

"But, I think you're in luck, kid." He gestured with his head to the store beside us, saying, "I have a good feeling you'd find a similar trench coat here, that or any store that sells suits like this one."

Men's Suits. Huh, simple.I looked through the glass, and saw the store was filled with… well, suits. Who would've guessed? It was a fancy store. It was a nice store. With nice clothes. My eyes lit up at the thought of finding the coat- the trench coat here.

"Really? Thanks, man!" I looked at the store with a bright smile, before looking at him, and nodding. "I appreciate that."

The man gave my shoulder a pat as he walked past, giving a nod back and going about his day. I never saw him again… Not that it mattered or meant anything, I just never really saw that guy again. Oh well. I walked into the store, steeling my nerves. It had never occurred to me to look to a store of suits. I mean sure, I knew suits equaled something fancy, but I… I don't know, it just never came up. I never considered it. Yet, here I was, searching for a trench coat in a suit store. Makes sense. The guy seemed genuine though, so I'll just look around and see if he was right. If not, then I'm sure I'll find another suit store before the day ends.

Walking around, I frowned at the seemingly endless aisles filled with nothing but suits on hangers. I never entered any aisles because I never saw anything else but suits. One row, two rows, four rows, eight rows… Each row had suits going all the way up to the ceiling, and each aisle was filled with a rainbow of colors. Although, not exactly since most suits were a black or gray. I was beginning to doubt there was an end to these rows until the final tenth row, where the store opened up into a different area.

Here, there was an open space, filled with different kinds of clothing. At a corner with a glass wall that revealed a parking lot were shoes. The other corner was a bunch of dress shirts all folded neatly into some kind of glass cupboard. Scattered throughout were many clothing racks, both round and four-way. Some held ties, others socks, but most had different kinds of jackets on them. I obviously didn't recognize any.

One was made out of leather, another was made out of some cheap material that made an obnoxious sound when the sleeve scraped against the jacket, and there was even a puffy jacket… There were also a few coats. They all were above seventy dollars. Isn't that lovely?I walked through the clothing racks, hoping to see some kind of coat that was longer than the rest. There were some fluffy coats, some coats that reached my knee, but no trench coats.

Even though I was only halfway through the clothing racks, I was beginning to doubt there were any here. But since there were coats that were similar to the one that man wore, then I'm sure they'd definitely be found here.

"What can I help you with, sir?"

I turned around, a man wearing a nice suit with his hands clasped together, smiling at me. "Uh… I'm looking for a trench coat?" I asked unsurely, not exactly positive if that was the only way to call it.

"A trench coat?" he asked. "Of course! They're right over here, follow me."

Oh dang, I thought, quickly following the man. I guess he works here?I wouldn't know, since I've never been in a store like this.

"Right over, sir." He gestured to three clothing racks filled with exactly what I was looking for, albeit with a few differences.

Even then, I couldn't help the smile that grew on my face. There were white trench coats, brown ones, gray, and black. There were even some that were a very dark green and blue. They all looked nice, but they weren't exactly what I was looking for…

"Uhh… I'm not sure how to ask this, but are there any trench coats that are… less full," I said, gesturing to all the buttons, straps, and belts on these coats. "Or can I remove these myself?"

"I apologize, but these are the only long trench coats. But yes, you could remove them yourself, or we could tailor it to fit you."

"Ah, no, that's okay, thank you," I smiled. "I'm actually planning on buying it one size up, just so I can grow into it- A little gift for my future self, you know." A white lie. Or gray lie? Who knows.

"How kind of you, sir," the man smiled. "In that case, a large may fit you more. Which design do you prefer and which color would you like?"

"Hmm…" I looked at all the coats, trying to find one that was very similar to the one the man wore. All the rest had too many things on them, and seemed just too bulky. I wanted one that was light, and had fewer things so all I had to do was either cut them off or somehow unsew them.

"I think this one, in black," I replied. It was the closest trench coat to the one the man wore. The only additions were a belt that tied around the waist and two straps on the shoulders. There was also some kind of thin strap on the collar that connected both parts up front.

The man scanned through the coats before quickly whipping out the black trench coat and putting it on before I even realized he moved. He then gestured to the mirror to our right. I looked… nice. That coat wasn't actually too big on me, despite being a large, but I knew that even if I grew a few inches more, it would still fit me just fine. It didn't look as good on me as it did the man, but it was still nice. Although, the only problem was the length- it reached my ankles. But a few inches in height should fix that, so it ended below my knees rather than at my feet.

I cocked my head, smiling at my reflection. "Yeah, I'll take this one. Let's hope I grow into it," I joked.

"I'm sure you will, sir," the man smiled back. "Is this all or will you buy something to match this. I recommend a white or black shirt to really compliment the coat."

"As much as I want to, I think I'll just buy the coat for now. Who knows? I might come back for that shirt you mentioned."

The man nodded, taking the trench coat off me and flicking it quickly before putting it back on the hanger. "It shall be on the counter," he said, gesturing to the place where a few registers sat. "If you decide to buy anything else, just bring it there and we'll scan it along with your coat."

I nodded gratefully at him. "Right, thank you."

He nodded back, and walked to the counter. I loitered around for a minute or two, just wanting to appear as if I did plan on buying something else before walking towards the counter with a shake of my head. Sign me up for Broadway, holy moly…I reached the counter, and I wish I could say it was eventful but nope- over in a few seconds and I had my new coat in a garment bag, I think it was called? As I walked out the store, I let out a breath and couldn't help the bright smile that grew on my face. I exited the plaza, walking towards my car, placing it in the back seat before hopping into the driver's seat and sat there for a moment. I covered my eyes with my right hand and wrapped my left around my chest.

I had done it. I had fulfilled my promise. I was… I was actually doing good in life. My chin quivered and the tears I had been trying to hold back flowed. I… I bought myself something nice…The tears flowed past my hand, falling onto my shirt for a minute before I took a deep breath, quickly wiping away the tears and starting the car. I did it, I said to my younger self. I did what we promised ourselves… You did well to fight, me… One last tear fell past my cheek before I left the plaza and drove onto the street. You did well to survive…

I opened my eyes, concentrating on all the flames around me. The tornado of fire had decreased by a third thanks to my sword, but it wasn't enough. So I grabbed the flames, and then I grabbed some more. Even more. I concentrated all the flames into points scattered across my body- my shoulders, my forearms, my chest, and my back. A total of seven dots. More. I grabbed even more flames, pushing it all into those seven dots. I was waiting… Waiting… There! Just like the sword, the flames had condensed to the point that it couldn't remain as flames, and was converted into energy. Which meant that those once-orange dots were now bright white points.

My feet were touching the ground, yet there still remained a good tenth of the original flames. I brought back the image of the trench coat in my mind. The one I adored so much, the one I could vividly imagine as if it were the back of my hand, and the one I was wearing right now. The seven points rested within the cloth of the coat, burning through but stopping at my shirt. I grabbed the rest of the flames, stuffing it into the seven points and slowly spreading them across my body to drape them over my trench coat.

The white energy trickled over my coat, covering both the inside and outside as more and more flames were absorbed into the white points instead of me. As the energy spread, it morphed perfectly around my coat, and even fit me better than before! Not only did it feel lighter, but I could also tell that it would keep my cold, yet warm whenever needed. Don't ask me how I know, but I just do. I shook my head. I still wasn't finished. I concentrated on the white energy, making it slowly ripple over the bottom of the coat. Just as it reached the bottom, I grabbed the remaining white energy- which was at least a good 80% of what it was- and returned it to the seven points.

I let out a breath, feeling my throat and mouth heal- a very uncomfortable feeling. My body no longer felt like it was burning, although it was still hot. The last few flames were still getting absorbed into my body, but I let them be as I looked up. Twelve pillars of different colors were connecting the floor and ceiling. They were very vibrant colors. The ones in front of me were a flashing yellow, a dark blue, and a vibrant white. To my left was a pillar of glowing silver, a pillar of every shade and hue of gray , a pillar of an ever shifting pink, and a pillar of green and brown that seemed to intertwine with itself. To my right was a pillar of void- pitch black, although there was the occasional ripple, a pillar of dark red, almost like blood, a pillar of… lava? Then there was a pillar of blinding light- Ugh, I couldn't even look at it without burning my retinas. I am NOT getting flashbanged again. The final pillar was an ever flowing gold.

The other Champions. Seems like they were also going through what I was… Although their pillars weren't as large as mine. The only comparable ones would be Grant's pillar, Zach's pillar, Matthew's pillar, Selena's pillar, Scyla's pillar, and Elizabeth's pillar. Although the rest weren't as large, I had to give props to Rebecca and Aundrea. If I were to assume the pillars meant the amount of power or energy they have, then the Champions of Artemis and Athena were comparable to the Elder Gods' Champions. They were far larger than the rest of the Champions, but they weren't exactly close to the Elder ones. They definitely aren't far, though.

I suddenly clutched my chest, right above my heart. My sword instantly reverted to the point on my right hand, almost as if it were sheathed. I took a deep breath and tried to stabilize myself from this emotion I was feeling… A sense of deep sorrow. Anguish. Pain, and misery… What is this… Agony, and sufferment- I felt it all. Yet despite that despair, I felt an ever greater emotion. Or rather, I felt the blatant lack of it: hope. There was none of it. Absolutely none… I felt… empty. I felt as if there was a giant hole, never to be filled and I was alone in this desolation of mine…

My teeth clenched, and my face distorted with rage. I knew exactly what I was feeling: my domains. The Hearth, Family, and Home. I felt them all… and I felt myself being left hollow. I was being cut from the inside, scraped away and left to rot. Families and homes were broken, and although happy homes weren't few, they were nothing compared to the many more broken homes. And there were especially no hearths. I mean sure, it makes sense since this was the twenty-first century, but still. Although I did feel one… to my south? And one far west along with a few scattered here and there… Huh, that's actually cool that I can sense them.

But… A small snarl appeared on my face, and I attempted to hold back my rage. I slouched over, trying to control my breath before peering over my shoulder. Many of them were seemingly impressed by me being out of my pillar, but I didn't care. I ignored the nods from Athena and Poseidon, showing they were impressed. I didn't see Hades and Ares silent-clapping. Nor Hephaestus' and Artemis' eyes narrow of acknowledgment. No. I was staring at one person. A single being. A God. The God. The King of the Gods. Zeus.

"You," I whispered harshly. "It's your fault."

The moment I uttered that sentence, a pressure slammed down onto the Gods. A pressure that instantly made them go on the alert, eyes widening. It made a few Gods summon their weapons, in an attempt to not fall face first into the repaired marble. To their surprise, they didn't fall. In fact, they could stand. Of course, they had to put effort into standing straight, but it wasn't… The pressure was indeed great, and would have made any minor God kneel, but to them… It just felt as if someone were pressing down onto their shoulders.

It confused the Gods as they glanced at the Eldest Daughter of Kronos, but found her standing with a patient expression. It wasn't her. If it wasn't her then…

"You," I whispered harshly, the pressure increasing as I lifted my arm to point at Zeus. "You are to blame."

Zeus looked at me in bewilderment, tensing his legs to stand up straighter. His anger at my expression disappeared for a moment, asking "What exactly is to my blame?"

"But what did I expect," I murmured to myself. "Yeah… it does make sense doesn't it? It makes so much sense…"

The pressure suddenly increased even more, making a few of the younger Gods grip their weapon tightly in support. Zeus' eyes zapped with lightning and it slowly grew to cover his body. "Do not mistake my willingness to let you live as mercy. And do not think that simply because you have become my Elder Sister's Champion that you may do whatever you want, mortal."

"It's exactly because I'm her Champion that I'm doing what I'm doing…" The pressure steadily increased as the flames in the Hearth grew taller. They burned brighter, and turned a menacing shade of red as I let my head fall back, letting me stare directly at Zeus. "You deserve to be punished…"

A lightning bolt struck Zeus, fully enveloping his body in lightning. Trails of electricity striked the ground and air around him randomly as the lightning only grew stronger and brighter. He extended his hand, calling his Master Bolt instantly and slammed it into the ground. Thunder shook the world as he sneered down at me.

Now, I should mention that these Gods were powerful. Like, obviously, they were Gods so they'd be powerful beyond anything human… But I just didn't know how much. Just a few minutes ago I didn't see what I was seeing now. Each God had their own "aura" of power that surrounded them, the color matching their own respective God or Goddess. The stronger they were the larger and more noticeable the aura was, and the more imposing it felt… The more it beared down on those that were able to see it. And although every God's aura was surprisingly relative, there were three that absolutely dwarfed the rest- Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus.

The moment my eyes looked at the pillars, so too did they see the auras. And the three that were absolutely dominating the other auras were the Big Three. The amount of power they had was so great. Their show of power was stifling. It was nearly incomprehensible… Nearly. Yet, here I was, threatening the very God who had the largest aura as he stared down at me… But it didn't matter.

"You dare threaten me, you pathetic human!" Zeus spat. "It seems my Elder Sister will need to find another Champion because-"

"But…" I made the flames from my eyes disappear, turning around. "It is because I'm her Champion that I cannot harm you… At least, not without it being for the greater good."

I walked towards the Hearth, ignoring Zeus' shouting. "It is exactly because my Patron is who she is that I won't harm you all… without reason. I do still remember my oath, don't worry," I called over my shoulder.

"DO NOT IGNORE ME, YOU IMPERTINENT MORTAL," Zeus bellowed at me.

I paused in my tracks, turning my head ever so slightly to see juuust over my shoulder. There, acknowledged. I kept walking, going past the Hearth and to the right side, where a woman in a brown dress stood, staring down at me. My patron, Hestia.

I walked slow with purpose as I got closer, my steps echoing across the room. I stopped in front of her, then kneeled and bowed my head. I rested my left elbow on my knee, calling to my sword and resting the point on the ground. I grabbed the blade right above- or below since it was upside-down- the guard, holding it still. I bowed my head to the lowest it could without changing my position. The fire in the Hearth exploded in size and heat, causing all the Gods to look at me.

It grew to a great height, nearly touching the ceiling but lacking the height. The fire grew and almost spilled over the edge of the Hearth, but once more, it was lacking the last bout of energy. The temperature began rising as so too did the flames in color. From a dark red, to a warm orange, a bright white, and burning to bright it almost appeared white. The Hearth's flames were no longer just Hestia's… They were also…

"The Champion of the Goddess of the Hearth, Home, and Family…" My voice rang across the Council room, across Olympus, and even the Divine World- although they would only sense a change. "The First Champion greets his patron Goddess… Your Champion is here, Lady Hestia."