"It's….Ahmm. Interesting."

"Interesting she says." My captor echoes as she floats behind me, twirling in the air as if she were swimming through water. She has long violet hair, so silky smooth that it shines in the light. Her red ribbon dances playfully on her hair. A black coat trails behind her, and she's dressed in... I honestly don't know what she's wearing. She tells me it's something of a cross between a vampire and a school teacher.

I don't know what a vampire is.

She calls herself the queen of the moon. But she is no Lady Artemis or Selene. I wish she were Selene; she was always so kind to me. I remember the moment she faded, to me the moon has lost the beauty it once possessed; now it's a melancholic memory.

I thought she was one of the gods at first, only they could remove me from my prison. But the more I interacted with her, the more it seemed unlikely. She says she's the ultimate Kohai?

"Really? That's it?" she exclaimed before floating above the couch and then falling onto the cushions. Her movement startled the girl sitting next to her, who looked even stranger than the last one. With bright pink hair, horns, and a lizard tail, she possessed the characteristics of a drakon but also had a human-like form. She reminds me a lot of Lady Hera or Lady Aphrodite, at least in personality.

It feels weird, like I'm not anywhere, like I'm floating in Chaos. I believed her when she said we weren't on Gaea anymore; I couldn't sense the great mother anywhere. That should be impossible; even if I were in the sky, the underworld, or another realm, I should be able to feel a hint of it, but there was nothing.

"For someone who found out their entire world is fiction, you're surprisingly relaxed about it?" My captor sneered.

"I lived most of my life in Ogygia, I know nothing about the world, except for what the gods tell me. If this world was fictional then…. It wouldn't change a thing." My eyes wandered to her, a pure violet yet, there was something unsettling behind it. "Besides you offer no proof."

"Were the books not enough?" She gave a mocking smile.

"You said you control the fates. I don't deny, this literature foretells the future. But you could have easily scribed the whole thing and made the fates dance to your story."

The purple girl frowned, her eyes squinted.

"A bit of a stretch there. But it's fine if you don't believe. Like you said, it wouldn't change a thing." I have parley with the Olympians all my life, studying their moods is all I could do; there was a subtle irritation in her voice. Why did my option matter to her?

"Besides, we are not following that story anymore." She picked up a cup of tea, she sipped tiny drops from the porcelain. "I have something different in mind. Something more to my taste."

"AAHHHH! Stop foreshadowing already!" The girl with the pink hair wined, she got up the couch and started stomping. She wore a black dress with poofy frills, her tail drifted back and forth. "Master, you promised me an audience but you forced me to read this stupid book!" She jumped to the floor and kicked the stack of books off the tiny table. "I hate reading!"

"Don't act like you didn't like it." The purple one continued to sip tea like nothing happened.

The pink one's face turned well…. Pink. She blushed from ear to ear, then pouted.

"Well I never said I don't not like it."

"That's a triple negative... or is it quadruple?" The man in green said, he was leaning against the wall. He had spiky orange hair and droopy green eyes. He reminds me of Lord Hermes, yet that too seems like a lie.

"Are you criticizing me in wordplay? I'll have you know an idol is a master of speech! My silver tongue can enchant thousands, I can lead armies with my voice alone! Armies of my adoring fans!"

"What fans?" The green one quips.

The pink one gasped, then erupted into a rage. I could see steam rising from her head as she emitted an aura akin to a raging drakon.

"I haven't debuted yet, you stupid Archer! But when I do, I will attract millions! They will come from miles around and say-"

"Shut up?"

"Alright, you wanna die!" The pink one waved her hands, and a black spear materialized. It was diamond shaped with twisted dark silver, three rubies on its tip. Her wings opened up to reveal black membranes with dark scales and pink claws.

The green one readied his bow, and for a second, I could feel the forest; I could finally sense nature, something this place never had. It was like the wild god had briefly appeared, only to depart again.

"Lancer. Archer." The purple one sipped. " We have guests ." Her voice sounded gentle, but I could feel the power they emanated. It was like the subtle warnings from Lady Hera but more pronounced. My bones trembled, and my heart raced. It was like witnessing the Titan Lord speak; every enunciation commanded attention.

Both characters stopped and sheathed their weapons. The pink one huffed, tears forming in her eyes. She stormed out of the room, her stomps echoing in the halls.

"Sorry about that, we get very heated during book club." She put down her tea, and the atmosphere returned to normal. But I wasn't fooled, she was dangerous, maybe even more than Lord Ares.

"That was quite frightening, master."The green man remarked, scratching his chin with an unsure smile.

"Didn't I tell you not to start waves, Archer-kun?"

"It's self-defense! She pulled her weapon first. What choice did I have?"

"Maybe stop pushing her?"

"Hey, all I did was speak the truth. How is it my fault?"

"The truth can be hard to swallow. Some individuals refuse to accept it, even when it's staring them in the face." She glanced towards me as she spoke.

Ever since I came here she has always had this obsession with me. She thinks I can't see it, but her eyes linger longer, her tone deepens and her smile is more genuine. I don't know what she wants from me, I have no power, especially here. Yet I could not ignore the look in her eyes, it was like my own, a deep longing.

"So... I should lie?"

"Oh, of course! I lie to her all the time. It just makes things so much easier." The purple one reclined on the couch, her feet casually resting on the table.

"I don't think that's morally sound, master."

"Well, you're not paid to think."

"You don't pay me at all."

"Is Sakurament too good for you?" She retorted.

The green man grumbled and shook his head, while the purple woman simply chuckled before tilting her head back on the couch.

"Lancer! Come back! Archer wants to apologize!" Her voice echoed down the hall behind her. I heard the tapping of footsteps as the pink one re-entered the room. Tear marks streaked her face, and she wore a scowl, her teeth revealing fangs.

My kidnapper gestured for the green one to continue. He mumbled something under his breath before speaking.

"I'm... sorry. You're not just a good singer; you're the greatest singer I have ever known. I'm sure you will amass millions of adoring fans who hang on your every word. You're also incredibly intelligent, and I believe you will achieve greatness. My expectations of you are sky-high. Well done." He gave her an awkward thumbs up, while the purple one silently giggled.

"I knew you would see it my way, silly Archer. It's fine; a great idol forgives all their fans. After all, I am the greatest idol on the Moon!" She placed her hands on her hips and flashed a toothy smile at the room. The green man visibly cringed when she mentioned 'fans'.

"See?" My captor glanced at the green man. "So much easier." The man frowned at her.

"Well, this has been... delightful, but I think it's time for me to return-" I began, but before I could finish, the purple one pulled me under her arm, her face dangerously close to mine. Her eyes gleamed with hunger, like I would be swallowed up in that swirling purple abyss.

"Not yet, Calypso-chan, we haven't even begun," She whispered, her other arm pulling up a device. With a click of a button, the rectangular, mirror-like box lit up.

"What is this?" Fear tinged my voice.

"Front row seats. Sit back, relax. I know you gods love to watch." She replied with a smirk, her grip tightening around me as she guided me closer to the box.

"Ahhh. Who is it this time? If it's that blond-haired guy again, I swear-"

"Which one? Four of them are blonde, five if you count the goth."

"You know! The boring one!"

"Ignore the servants." My kidnapper whispered, her voice chillingly close to my ear. "It's just you and me, alone." Her voice carried a sinister tone, compelling me to watch the screen despite my dread.

I see a boy seated on a throne, surrounded by an array of monsters. Some are unfamiliar to me, while others resemble those from the Titanomachy. They all bow before him, offering gifts and praises. Mountains of gold, a feast fit for the gods, and treasures of unparalleled beauty lay before him. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy; no one had ever treated me with such reverence. Even when I was free, I was always relegated to the sidelines, forbidden to speak. The sheer magnitude of love and devotion bestowed upon him stirred something within me, a yearning I couldn't suppress. Yet the boy remained impassive, his expression as blank as marble. With a simple gesture, he commanded the white beast at his side to slaughter the creatures. It was a brutal display, the monsters torn limb from limb, their cries a mixture of fear and ecstasy.

"I can't... I can't watch this." I murmured, attempting to pull away, but her grip held me firmly in place.

"Steel yourself. We're just getting to the good part."

The boy proceeded to incinerate all the gifts with a flick of his finger, a great fire reducing everything to cinders in mere seconds.

The boy must be one of the gods. Only beings of such magnitude could command such reverence and wield such immense power.

As the ash blew away, leaving an empty throne room, the doors swung open. A boy in a white toga strode in, followed by an entourage of monsters holding golden chains. He rushed to the foot of the throne and prostrated himself before the boy seated upon it.

The monsters tugged on the chains, and two creatures emerged. One was a fat snake woman, hideous to behold, wailing as she struggled to remove the chain from her neck. The other was someone Lord Poseidon had described; she walked solemnly into the throne room. It was then that the boy on the throne finally moved, and as he did, the room shook. All the monsters cowered in fear, the snake woman hiding behind her hands while the other simply stared.

"What is he doing?"

"He made a catalyst." My kidnapper replied. "He's going to summon a servant." She said with even more enthusiasm.

Then a bright circle surrounded both women. The snake screamed, pleading for her life, while the other spoke. I couldn't discern her words, but the disdain etched on her face suggested they were unpleasant.

"Amazing!" My captor screamed.

I watched in horror as both women were engulfed in a hail of light. That was when the boy looked straight at us. His eyes, a haunting blue, held nothing human behind them. The screen turned into black and white grains.

"Oh, come on! We were just getting to the good part!" She protested, constantly clicking the device.

"I've expressed my concerns, master." The man in green said, his gaze lingering on the screen. "If he can sense you, he poses a threat not just to us, but to the entire war. We must eliminate him."

"Nahhh." The purple one waved off his worries. "Sure, he wasn't part of the plan, and technically an illegal servant. I still don't know how the midget got his data. But he makes an excellent villain."

"And now he's summoning more illegal servants."

"Nope, I never eliminated the false servant clause. If anything, he's exploiting a loophole."

The green man's face turned to her. "You wanted this to happen?"

"Just to add spice to the story. Yes…." Her eyes narrowed, a hint of madness dancing within them as her smile twisted into a manic grin. "He could become a greater threat than we've ever imagined, possibly to the entire Moon Cell."

The green man's eyes widened in realization.

What are they talking about? It seems important?

"Then why are you-"

"Because, Archer, every hero needs a more powerful, the more cruel, the better it is when the hero finally beats them. Besides, without curveballs it wouldn't be a holy grail war."

"And what if they fail?" His voice sounded like a warning.

My liberator rolled her eyes, her expression bland. "Then they simply weren't meant to be the hero. But fear not, Archer. Percy-kun and co will handle it."

The man's face remained troubled, not fully convinced. Me too, it sounded like hubris. To allow a threat to grow just because it amuses you, that is the downfall of many gods, especially the Titans. Yet she didn't look troubled, she could be insane but that look in her eyes, that wasn't pride or arrogance, it was faith.

"After all he is the hero." She declared and the pink one nodded in agreement.

"Percy…" I whispered, the name resonating within me.

He was the boy, the hero of her kidnapper's books. I found myself immersed in volumes of his adventures she made me read. Despite my circumstances, I couldn't help but admire the boy. It felt akin to observing from a distance; was this what the gods experienced when they observed their chosen champions. To witness their struggles, pain, hopes, dreams, losses, and loves. Maybe it was all fictional, perhaps I'm nothing but a fabrication. But these emotions, they are undeniably real.

He will meet me in Ogygia, I'll nurse him back to health, and I will fall in love. Like always, it was the curse of the gods, my punishment. I always hated the gods for that, do they take some pleasure toying with me? What could they have to gain from breaking my heart over and over. I look towards one of the books on the floor, 'The House of Hades'.

That volume…. That's where I meet-

"Leo. Hmmmm, is he your favorite, Calypso-chan?" My body stiffened as she leaned in close once more, her head resting on my shoulder. Her long hair felt soft against my skin, like flowing water.

"Really? Apollo is way better." The pink one remarked, lounging on the couch and nonchalantly examining her fingernails.

"Of course you would." The man retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"What was that?" She snapped back.

"You have excellent taste. Your character is so complex; I would have never imagined you would pick him." He didn't sound convincing.

The pink one smugly smiled, basking in the praise. "I know, right? I am the best girl in the entire servant world."

"Right…"

"Who's your favorite, Archer-kun?" My captor's voice hummed in the air like a song.

"Well, it depends." He answered, his face turned sideways. "I like that Leo kid, but Will is slowly growing on me." He shrugged his shoulders.

The drakon girl snorted, and the man in green mumbled something beneath his breath. I couldn't figure out the relationship between these two; one moment, they acted like siblings, and in another, they seemed ready to kill each other. Unlike the playful nature between Lord Apollo and Lady Artemis, theirs was life or death.

"Well, you all know who mine is." My liberator announced, lifting her arm to examine the back of her hand. A red tattoo adorned it; a butterfly, a moon, and a flower, all circling each other in a dance.

"He will surely beat them all. He will capture their hearts like he did mine. I can't help it, he's so easy to love. Do you think that maybe…." Both the man and the drakon tensed, the air growing stiff. It felt like standing on the edge of a waterfall, the rapids churning below, ready to pull me in. A deep silence settled over us, thick with tension. I didn't know what was happening, but it felt dangerous.

"If only…Ha. Ha. Hahahaha!" My captor's laughter pierced the heavy silence, but it lacked joy; it sounded more like despair. She wiped a tear from her eyes, her expression a mix of emotions I couldn't decipher.

She grabbed my hand, sending shivers down my spine. Her entire demeanor shifted, shedding the facade to reveal what lay beneath. I saw glimpses of it before, but now it was front and center. Her eyes held something indescribable, a swirling chaos, an endless abyss that hungered; it yearned to consume me whole. I couldn't look away, I couldn't blink. It was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"That's why I love you, Calypso-chan. We are both the same." She said, holding my hands tightly. They radiate warmth.

What?

"Only you can understand this pain. To love someone yet never have them. To endure that agony over and over again."

"I don't…"

"To have your heart broken repeatedly. Both of us are bound to this hell."

Her words struck a chord within me. After thousands of years of enduring this pain, I had hoped I would grow accustomed to it, but the pain always remained, darkening my heart. I feared that if it continued for another millennium, I would come to possess the same haunting eyes as hers.

"I envy your strength. Despite all my power, I am still the same girl in that nurse's room." She admitted, her voice trembling with vulnerability. It seemed she was searching for answers, but I found myself at a loss for words. I opened and closed my mouth, but the only responses I could muster died on my tongue.

After a long silence, her smile returned, and the pressure lifted. She withdrew her hand from mine and gently caressed my cheek; it reminded me of my mother's, she did the same when I left.

"So strong. I broke after a few repetitions." She confessed softly.

"Is that why you're doing this?" I blurted out without thinking.

She paused and shook her head. "I stopped when I realized all I did was hurt him. Now it's different. I've learned that love can grow, it can change. And if it is real, he will come back." She murmured, her gaze shifting toward the screen, which still blinked black and white grain.

"Once the war is done, I won't yearn anymore."

She took her device and clicked the button multiple times. The screen flickered to different perspectives with each click. "So many options, who do you think will win?"

"The prince?" I saw a black-haired boy slay a monster, he had Lord Poseidon's eyes.

"The brother?" Another scene unfolded, showing a boy sleeping on a bed, tears streaming down his face as he slept.

"The hero?" A third image appeared, depicting a boy sitting in a dark cell, his eyes filled with determination.

"The pariah?" The screen changed again, showing 'him', pulling a wheelbarrow with a look of exhaustion on his face.

"The rebel?" A man with a cane came into view, slowly making his way forward with a stride.

"The beast?" The perspective shifted to a girl, hunting down monsters in the dark.

"The king?" Once more, the boy appeared, this time with lightning crackling in his hands.

"Or maybe the lost child?" The screen returned to the same boy, now sitting peacefully under a flowering tree.

"So many options. Caster may be ahead, but it's still the early stage, it could be anyone's game." She remarked, her tone curious as she observed the shifting scenes on the screen.

"My money's on Caster!" The drakon girl declared, her hand slamming on the table.

"You mean Sakurament?" The man in green quipped, a smirk playing on his lips.

"What?... You get paid!?" The drakon looked shocked.

"You know, now that I think about it, this grail war is missing something." My captor said, casually changing the screen. The pink one popped up, as if she had been waiting for this moment. "A Ruler."

That word caused the drakon to yelp in glee, the sound almost piercing my ears as she bounced in her seat.

"But who's it gonna be? It has to be someone who follows the rules yet flexible enough not to spoil the fun."

"Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!" The pink one waved her hands frantically, her excitement obvious

"It can't be the saint; she's such a stick in the mud. Ugh, I guess it has to be someone in-house." My captor mused, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"Pick me!" The pink one insisted eagerly, her wings fluttering for attention.

"Hmmmm. Archer?" The drakon girl froze in shock, her eyes widening in disbelief. The green man shook his head with a chuckle, as if the idea was absurd.

"Right, you're a bit too shy for that." She remarked, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Me! Me!" The lizard girl tried again.

"How about… Calypso-chan." My kidnapper suggested, her tone casual yet curious. I didn't know how to respond; I knew what a ruler was, but I didn't think she was talking about that type of ruler.

"Um. No." I replied uncertainly, feeling a bit out of place.

"Fair enough." My kidnapper waved it off, her attention shifting back to the screen.

"Pick me!" The pink one urged once more, her enthusiasm undimmed.

"I can't be the Ruler; it'd be a conflict of interest. How about-"

"Master, please! Stop teasing me. You promised." She pleaded, her eyes wide with a mixture of anticipation and impatience, as if she couldn't wait any longer.

Eventually, my liberator relented and slumped her shoulders."Alright. But you know the rules."

"Yes, Master! You won't regret this. An idol never breaks her promise." The pink one exclaimed, striking a dramatic pose. The queen of the moon giggled at her enthusiasm, while the green man let out a resigned sigh, as if he had expected this outcome all along. I could see it written all over my liberator's face; she had always intended to pick her.

"Finally my audience! Get ready piggies! Your idol has arrived!"

As I watched the interactions unfold before me, I couldn't shake the longing to return home, even though it was a prison, it was all I had ever known. Maybe someday, I thought, I would meet the hero from her books. Perhaps then, just maybe….

Don't mind me, just your average ten-year-old pulling a wheelbarrow. This is completely normal, nothing to see here.

That didn't stop the stares; people can't help but be nosy. I guess it is a bit weird, a tiny kid pulling an industrial wheelbarrow full of, I guess, in their minds, statues. I wanted to put on a tarp, but I couldn't find one big enough. Sure, the police once stopped me, but I smelled opportunity; after a few Benjamins, they went away. I should have been angrier; had these been my neighborhood cops, I'd have reported them to the city council. But these streets weren't mine; technically, I didn't have a home.

I heard muttering behind me and quickly looked both ways to see if anyone's watching. They still are.

"Not now." I whisper.

"Oi. Oi. The waiting is killing me." A head rolled out of the pile, yellow gemstones stared at me.

"What are you-"

"Don't worry, the mist should be working by now. To the normals, it would look like you're talking to yourself."

I guess I technically am. She is my other half.

"You do look like a weirdo, so a weirdo doing weirdo things is perfectly normal." Her voice was preppy; I don't know if that was an insult or not.

"Ha. Ha." I laughed sarcastically.

"Indeed… I hate to sound like a broken record, but are we there yet?"

I sniffed the air.

"Close. It should be about-" A piece of paper covers my face. I let go of the wheelbarrow and it crashed to the ground. I could hear the gears move and glass shatter. Great, more things are broken, wonderful.

I ripped the thing off my face. I wanted to burn it, or more likely recycle; I have to think about the environment.

It was a poster; it baffles me. It was so ugly with so many neon colors it looked like someone vomited a rainbow. At the center was a girl. She had pink hair and wore something; it was like the Mad Hatter had a baby with a strawberry shortcake. She had a toothy grin singing in the microphone.

It said 'BB Studios presents your Ruler. Superstar Idol Eliza!', in bold glittering colors.

"What was that?" My other half speaks inside the pile.

"It seems. We have a Ruler."

"Oh… Is this going to affect our plans?"

I stared at it for five seconds.

"Nope." I crumpled the poster and stuffed it into my pocket. I picked up the wheelbarrow and sniffed for that opportunity. Eventually, I came across it: a greek delta.