High above the clouds that traveled the mortal realms stood a mountain that pierced the sky. Atop this peak lay the home of the Greek gods. When anyone first arrives on Mount Olympus, one is greeted with the sight of hundreds of temples, these ones rather small, housing minor gods that possess domains related to the older deities. Most of the time, these immortals are descendants of the more significant gods, and their domains are, therefore, related.
Moving through the city of immortals, one eventually climbs higher and higher, reaching the peak of Mount Olympus, where the council of the 12 Olympians takes place. Around this peak lie the temples of the supposed 12 most important deities, with Zeus, King of the gods, possessing the largest and most dominating temple of them all.
The other 11 temples had traits that fit their owners, such as Dionysus's temple surrounded by a lake of wine, debauchery, and parties in its halls. Apollo's temple shone bright with the power of the sun, a massive bow and arrow adorned the head of its entrance, signifying his domain over archery.
Said owner of the temple was busying himself with a bit of practice in his own personal shooting range. To any that may have been watching, they would have been struck by his masterful skill and strength. With every arrow let loose an accompanying boom would ring through the air, the speed of sound broken, and the air around him flying.
While the power of his draw was impressive, it was made all the more unbelievable with the speed he was doing it at, sounding as if thousands of mortal artillery cannons were firing all at once. Ceasing his practice, he smiled at the sight of the hundreds of targets that lay destroyed, the simulated landscape before him also peppered with craters in the span of a single second.
Though his smile soon left him as his body stiffened involuntarily, a sinking feeling growing in his stomach. In the blink of an eye he sprinted into his temple, rushing to a certain room, his usually sunny and bright disposition grave, though it was soon replaced by one of wary confusion.
Said chamber was one filled with thousands of threads, though the true number likely lied in the hundreds of million, all of them flowing up into a gaping abyss that was the ceiling.
This chamber was the same one that Phoebe once used to commune with the Fates, who used to directly speak to their mother Ananke. Though after so many generations it was up to Apollo to take up the prophetic mantle, often delivering the unescapable clutches of Fate's grand design.
However, while it was rare and almost unheard of, there were a few moments when Fate had been tampered with, the Moirai furious at their carefully laden plans encountering interference. Therefore, such matters were treated with the utmost urgency, a lesson that Apollo had never forgotten.
Expecting the worst, he drew back the string of his bow slightly, an arrow of pure light hooked, in case of any intruders. Though, the cyclone of change that he had briefly foreseen was nowhere to be found. Each and every string lay still as per usual and none of the fates were descending to reprimand him for his failure.
Relaxing, he released the tension in his body, banishing his bow in the process, where he carefully closed the door behind him, casting a few barriers of temporary protection on it just in case. Maybe he would have to ask Hephaestus for a favor to better fulfill his duty in protecting the chamber? Little did Apollo know just how accurate his brief vision would end up being, though such change would not occur for a long time.
Not all the deities of Greece possessed domains regarding aspects of nature, but Apollo was most certainly not one of them. After taking over the reins of Helios's chariot, mortals all over knew his name for he was the sun and the sun was him.
Mortals throughout all of history had prayed to higher beings when they required aid, and fate was no exception. The guidance of Apollo was necessary, yet, with wisdom one could understand the actions one must undertake when confronted with any obstacles. Therefore, mortals often prayed to Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, in their hour of need, desperate to grasp a hint of the wisdom she possessed.
From an outsider's point of view, they would assume that Athena was a minor goddess based solely on the outward appearance of her temple, yet any that had visited or knew her well, would be quick to reject such claims. Its design showcased a brilliant confluence of architectural mastery and efficiency. To any that entered, they would be greeted with a vast maze like library, the occasional hall or room leading to an unknown location. From her temple, a figure emerged, one clad in armor and billowing robes. This figure was Nike, the goddess of Victory and Athena's right-hand woman.
Nike walked with great purpose, her posture straight and commanding. Any minor deities or immortals that she crossed paths with, shirked away from her, for all knew her strength in the field of battle. Her eyes whizzed past each and every individual that she saw on her journey, her domain urging her to fight, to engage in glorious combat against all she crossed. Constantly, Nike felt the pull to prove herself. To whom, she knew not, but the urge remained nonetheless.
Making her way to her destination, she managed to keep her calm, letting out a sigh of relief as her domain simmered beneath her skin. Soon enough she stopped in front of the doorstep to Hephaestus's temple where she briskly knocked on the door.
His temple was rather unique, as it was the only one of its kind out of all the temples on Mount Olympus. Most gods shared some basic similarities due to their shared Greek origin, but Hepheastus's temple was made entirely with metal, machinery, and industry. There were barely any hints of marble, elaborate architecture, or symbolic plants, nay, this was a home of the forge, a home for the craftsman.
Taking a few steps back she waited diligently, until the door opened up, smoke escaping into the air above Nike's head. She didn't dare move a muscle, as she was still in the presence of an Olympian deity that she had hardly spoken words to, utmost respect had to be given.
The door fully opened, and a lame face possessing a long and unkempt beard with an upper body that rivaled Hercules and the lower body of a cripple greeted her; this was Hephaestus. He looked down at Nike, his form vastly towering hers, and he spoke, his voice deep and gravely, "Greetings, what commission does Athena want from me this time." His words rang without recognition, but he still knew why she was there.
Surprised by his accurate assumption, she stammered briefly, "L-lady Athena desires the making of a humanoid automaton that is skilled in the use of a spear and shield." She finished her sentence, not making eye contact for his large stature was rather intimidating, even subduing her domain momentarily as it knew not how to confront this god in front of her.
Hephaestus put a hand to his beard, his eyes staring off into the distance, slowly he nodded his head and said "Yes, yes, I do believe I can do that. Should there be any specifications I should know about and should it have the skills of any particular warrior and….." He asked many questions, throwing Nike off guard before she remembered the parchment she was given detailing her lady's full requests.
She quickly handed off the scroll to the god where he opened it up, his eyes quickly scanning its contents. He rolled it back up and said, "Tell your lady that I can fulfill her request, but that payment is not needed. Any attempt at giving me payment will not be accepted, is that understood?" He leaned forward asking the question, ensuring that Nike understood the gravity of his words.
She nodded quickly, not eager to earn his wrath. She went to leave until he stopped her. "Wait!" She turned around, confusion and a touch of fear etched on her face. "I apologize if I came off too aggressively. Has your spear been treating you well? I remember forging it when I was far less experienced and a youngling at best, so it's mediocre at best, certainly not a weapon fit for a deity of your standing, the Lieutenant of Athena herself."
Nike's face held an expression of shock as she summoned her spear, laying it in her two hands. She then said, "You were the one to forge this spear? Lady Athena had given it to me as a gift for my service. It is one of the best weapons I have ever had the pleasure of wielding, yet you hold no pride for its effectiveness?
His face scrunched up, an expression of guilt adorning his visage, "I gifted that spear to Athena a long time ago, but yes, the tempering process isn't perfect as I knew not the effectiveness of Acheron river water, and I was certainly no master of the forge that I am now. In short, I feel remorseful about you holding onto a subpar piece of work, so won't you come inside and choose something from my collection?" He stepped to the side with a welcoming smile and a hand stretching into his temple.
Nike was deeply afraid; there were many tales of Olympian gods inviting unsuspecting goddesses and nymphs inside their temple, only to find themselves violently violated. Though the consequences of disobeying an Olympian could bring her dire consequences, so she plastered a smile on her face and followed him inside.
She expected a thick, heavy, oppressive atmosphere inside this temple, one filled with the sensation of intense heat and sound of hammers crashing into anvils, but instead, she was at ease, the environment calming. The craftsmanship of the temple's interior made it so that it felt liveable instead of good-looking for the sake of others' eyes.
There were comfortable chairs, warm and inviting paintings from mortal painters, hand-crafted works of leather adorning the walls, and great metallic pieces of art that hung and spun elaborately across the walls and ceilings. Overall, it was a place of fantastical crafting wonder.
The entire time they walked, she noticed that Hephaestus walked with a cane, as one of his legs was horribly deformed. The hardwood floor they walked on did not crack under the strain and force Hephaestus placed the cane on with every step, speaking wonders to his technique, as it was said he built and designed his temple himself, though rumors speak of Athena's aid in that particular endeavor.
Eventually, the pair came across a set of large heavy doors crafted of pure celestial bronze. Hephaestus pulled out a knife from seemingly nowhere and Nike tensed, thinking that perhaps now was the time that he would try to take advantage of her, but instead he cut a thin slash across the palm of his hand.
Golden ichor leaked from the wound, and he pushed his hand onto the door. A symbol of a hammer, anvil, and tongs shone on an emblem at the top of the door and he gently pushed it open.
He looked over at Nike and said, "I hope my collection will be able to satisfy you, so please, make yourself at home. The goddess of victory should not feel unwelcome in a simple smith's home." He smiled invitingly, and for a brief moment, she was able to look past her initial judgment of the god, his imperfect appearance no longer off putting, but instead became the appearance of a humble man with much to offer to all who desired his aid.
She loosened her shoulders and gave a more genuine smile in response. He nodded his head in contentment and moved through the doors, where she followed closely behind him.
They entered a long hallway that held hundreds of automatons on each side of the hall. Each one was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, their visage of great, handsome, and fierce warriors that held onto masterpieces of weapons and armaments of celestial bronze.
Some of them held the appearance of mighty warriors such as Theseus, Hercules, Perseus, and many more. Gazing into their blank stares, Nike recalled fondly looking over their battles, eager to witness their victories. Those were older days, back when men and women fought in a brutal display of strength and tactical brilliance, wars nowadays were far bloodier, but lacked the up close and personal aspect of warfare she so treasured.
Without even realizing it, she had stopped and analyzed each and every automaton, admiring their choice of weaponry and calculating how she would tackle this room if she ever had the pleasure to measure herself against Hephaestus's defenses.
Noticing her slow down, Hephaestus stopped and turned to her, a smile beginning to grace his face, since she was so intrigued by his work. It was rare that a deity of Olympus showed such appreciation for his craft.
While he would be perfectly fine with letting her analyze to her heart's content, he did have numerous projects waiting for him, some that were a tad more volatile than the others. He slowly walked up to her and coughed into his fist, grabbing her attention.
She shook slightly, suddenly registering that she had been holding the two of them up. She blushed in embarrassment and moved to apologize until Hephaestus held up a hand and said, "There is no need for apologies. Truthfully, I am touched by your appreciation for my creations, even if it was done to understand how to better destroy it." She blushed harder in response but let a smile grace her face as well.
He turned back and walked further into the hall, where his armory would reside. Nike took one last look at the automatons and reluctantly pried her gaze off of them. The two of them passed by countless defenses, each unique in their own ways. Some held the influence of other pantheons, Nike noted when they passed by a heavy door that was covered in countless nordic runes.
Eventually, they reached the armory, their journey expedited by Hephaestus. Though when Nike entered its chambers, she couldn't resist her jaw dropping, her eyes barely able to process the sight before her.
It was a room filled to the veritable brim with weaponry. Weapons and armaments from countless cultures and ages were found in this room. She noted the presence of ancient bronze armor that was designed for purely mortals, celestial bronze warhammers, and even a large imperial gold howitzer that had sufficiently sized imperial gold shells lying next to it.
Hephaestus couldn't help but let himself grin from ear to ear at how awed she was, to the point where he let out a small laugh. Once more, Nike was knocked from her stupor and she looked at him. Barely thinking, Nike walked over to Hephaestus and placed her hands on his shoulders, staring him dead in the eyes.
"This is amazing! The weapons you have here, some of them that I have witnessed myself in the field of battle. And by Nyx's name, that massive imperial gold howitzer you have there is incredible, I cannot believe that the Rom-" She stopped suddenly taking her hands off of him and cradling her skull. Her form flickered slightly, until it shifted entirely to that of a more serious woman wearing far more armor and a shield strapped to her arm.
This was Victoria, Roman goddess of victory and counterpart to Nike. Her smile was far more reserved and she stuck out a hand to Hephaestus. He looked at her, slightly thrown off by the shift, but effortlessly he turned into Vulcan, where he then took her hand. His new form also taking on a more serious and even somber expression.
Victoria spoke suddenly, "I wasn't quite expecting this shift, but I cannot lie the amount of roman influence this room holds is incredible. I can see the armaments of countless legions lying here, but I must ask why?" She ended off with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
Vulcan was a deity that did not focus as heavily on the art of smithing as his counterpart, but his Roman worship made it so that he paid far more attention to his work than Hephaestus could muster on a daily basis. In short, a god of Rome was the only one that could give her a sufficient answer. He scowled at her tone, the first hint of his displeasure since their encounter.
He turned towards the armaments in the room and let a small smile grace his face. "These weapons that you see here were all forged by either my own hand, when I was far less experienced, or when I disguised myself as a mortal to help the demigods, or even by the occasional child of mine. All of these weapons you see were once wielded and then lay forgotten with their owners, so I took it upon myself to keep them. Is that truly such a crime?" He ended off looking back at her with a challenging stare.
She sighed and said, "I suppose not, yet my instincts scream at me that this is a waste. While I am not nearly as excitable as my counterpart, I cannot lie when I say that this armory does evoke some long forgotten emotions within me." A glint of murderous joy entered her eyes as she recalled some memories.
She moved to say more until she held her head once more, letting out a groan of pain, this time the struggle so great she crouched down, holding her head with a greater intensity. Her form shifted to that of Nike once more, whose eyes were filled with rage, until she realized she had taken control once more.
Vulcan effortlessly shifted back to Hephaestus and helped her up. "Are you alright? I apologize for eliciting such a response from our counterparts, it is something that I have been meaning to prevent in this room."
Nike got up and waved off his concerns, "I understand Lord Hephaestus and I am unbothered, it was simply an unpleasant experience that I would hope to not repeat." She let a smile graced her face once more when she took in the sight of the armory.
Hephaestus suddenly called out into the air, "Cedalion! Get over here, I require your aid." A young looking man appeared from seemingly nowhere, his arms carrying bundles of weapons that needed organizing and cleaning, some of them caked in old blood.
"One second Master, I just have to put these away first!" He said while disappearing once more. Hepheastus merely shook his head affectionately and moved around to the spear section of his armory.
Nike followed him and took in the vast number of spears in front of her, many of them catching her eye. Her body began to tremble in sheer excitement at all the ways she imagined she could impale her enemies.
Hephaestus noticed her state and said, "Well, here we finally are. Go on, take whichever one calls to you the most." She turned to him and then turned back to the racks of weapons. She spent a long time observing each and every spear, sometimes grabbing one and testing it out on a practice dummy that Cedalion laid out for her.
Eventually, she settled for a spear that still held the iconic celestial bronze color, but held strange dark undertones in the metal, as if the shadows were drawn to it. She hesitantly reached out to it feeling far more drawn to it then she would have expected.
Before she reached out for it, she turned towards Hephaestus and asked, "What is this spear?" He let out a small chuckle before taking it in his hands.
"This right here is one of my most successful works in attempting to integrate celestial bronze and stygian iron, there is even a hint of mortal steel, just as a personal challenge to myself." He looked at it fondly, memories coursing through his mind as he recalled the complicated forging process.
He held it out to her, expecting her to take it into her hands with a cocked eyebrow when she hesitated. Truth be told, she was rather wary of just how familiar it felt and how strongly it was pulling at her, but with a quick prayer to Tyche she took it into her hands and was never more grateful for a decision than she was then.
Her aura flared as she took hold of it, the weapon seemingly accepting her immediately. Her eyes pulsated with power and her hair took on a darker and lighter shade of black at the same time, an act that should have been impossible. Her wings even emerged briefly and took on gray shades to their previously pure white feathers.
She let out a relieved sigh, as if a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders for so long that she had forgotten it was there. She smiled widely and turned to Hephaestus, unsure of how to convey just how grateful she was. "I-I…it has been so long since I felt so connected with my birthright." She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, almost as if she was still getting used to her body. "This…this is simply amazing!" Her eyes snapped open with a renewed vigour as if the very essence of life had been poured into her.
He smiled at her reaction and stood to the side, waiting for her to adjust completely, as well as letting her enjoy the moment. She turned towards him and moved to speak until Cedalion emerged, "Master! I got the gi- I mean message for lady Athena right here." He was holding a large ornate box, its contents hidden by the masterfully decorated lid, engravings embedded within every inch of its surface.
Hephaestus grabbed the box and turned to Nike, Cedalion, understanding that it was time to return to his duties. "This right here is what I ask of you as payment for the spear, I hope you can forgive me for this selfish request. Could you kindly deliver this to Athena, it holds something that I have been meaning to give her for quite some time." He trailed off, his eyes turning downcast as if he recalled an awful memory.
Nike took it from his arms and bowed deeply before him, the butt of her spear meeting the ground and her other arm crossed over her chest, an old pose meant to swear fealty to a lord, though now it was regarded as a form of deep respect. She looked up at him and said "It would be an honor, lord Hephaestus" She got up, spear still in hand and waited expectantly.
After a few moments, Hephaestus blushed slightly in embarrassment when he realized she was waiting on him. She couldn't see his face through the large bushy beard that he possessed, so he was spared the embarrassment. He turned back to the entrance of the armory, his cane flying through the air before it met the ground once more.
The two of them began to return to his primary temple grounds until they arrived at his front door. He opened it and gestured with his hand outside, his smile still inviting and friendly. She stepped out, grateful for the fresh air of Olympus as Hephaestus's temple did seem to hold the faint thick scent of ash and old air.
She turned back to him, "Many thanks to you, Master of the Forge." She curtsied slightly and made to leave his property. He said nothing in return, but turned back to his temple with a rare smile on his face.
While Hephaestus returned to his forge to continue working on new artifacts of fantastical power, all with a new smile on his lips and a renewed vigor in his once tired body. Meanwhile, Nike set out to Athena's temple, new spear in one hand and ornate box in the other. On the way over, she passed by many immortals, some she had seen earlier in the day, yet this time her domain did not call out to her as strongly, it was muted, deafened, almost as if it had gone away entirely.
Though with a quick tug on her end, she could feel the roar of blood rushing through her skull, the desire to burn, maim, and fight returning with greater fervor than before. This new change in her domain was one that did not bother her, to the contrary it was an incredible sensation to be in control of one's emotions, instead of constantly needing to keep oneself in check.
Eventually she arrived at her Lady's temple, eager to report the changes she had undergone and deliver the box that Lord Hephaestus desired Athena to receive. He was an odd god to be sure, though she found that it didn't bother her in the slightest. While she hadn't gotten enough time to truly understand or know him, her first impressions were extremely positive, far more than could be said for the other crass and violent deities of Olympus.
Entering the temple, Nike navigated through the massive labyrinthian library with practiced ease, having many times wandered through it lost. Eventually she located her lady in her private study, where Athena was currently reading a book, one on Ancient Mesopotaian battle strategy it would seem.
Entering the room, Nike waited for her lady to acknowledge her, though it seemed she was distracted, so she coughed briefly to get Athena's attention, who slowly took her eyes off of the book and made eye contact with Nike, before narrowing her eyes in confusion. Athena's eyes glided over Nike's body, observing all the visual changes that came with her body with a hint of wariness now present in her visage.
She slowly got up and spoke, "Nike, is that you? You appear quite different, and you feel…you feel like one of those Chthonic deities?" Her body tensed up, hands slowly gripping something that hadn't quite been summoned yet, as if expecting a fight until Nike hurriedly reassured her.
"At ease, my lady, you need not worry about my new appearance. Lord Hephaestus saw it fit to give me a better spear, as he felt that the one you gave me was one of subpar quality." Athena's eyes were instantly drawn to Nike's spear in her hand, analyzing its properties before noticing its stygian iron component.
"I see, so it is connected with your lineage, thereby granting you your new appearance." She let out a sigh of relief, tension loosening from her shoulders as she sat back down in her chair. "Thank goodness, I was worried that he may have done something to you." She shook the thought from her mind before saying, "So you successfully delivered the order to him?"
Nike nodded her head and then said, "Yes, my lady, but there is one more thing" Athena cocked an eyebrow before gesturing for Nike to continue, "He wanted me to give this box to you, he considered it the payment I should offer in return for the spear, a fair request given the artifact I received." Nike then placed the box on Athena's table.
Athena leaned forward grabbing it very gently, her eyes widening after observing the craftsmanship of the details. Each and every engraving was so well made that she could see hundreds of stories being told in each and every one of them. Many of them having to do with her. At the very center of the lid lay the symbol of an owl, her sacred animal, etched in moon silver.
She let out a small sigh that Nike could not decipher before she set aside the box, in an almost dismissive manner and spoke to Nike, "In regards to that spear of yours, it is interesting to feel the changes it has brought you. I look forward to our next spar. I wonder just how much your combative capabilities have changed with this new weapon.
Nike was taken aback by the swift change in subject, but played along replying, "Indeed, my lady, although I do believe I will be needing some time to practice with it, it has been a while since I could familiarize myself with a new weapon, especially one of such extraordinary quality" Athena's tone suggested that she desired to be left alone, so with a quick excuse, Nike exited her study.
Athena let out a small sigh, her thoughts racing all the while. In truth, she was quite disturbed by Nike's aura as it felt so much calmer, almost soothing, a far cry from the previous stockpile of rage and eagerness to fight. While she was happy for her subordinate, she could not deny the twinge of nervousness she felt when it came to the thought of fighting Nike. That new spear of hers had significantly increased her strength, perhaps forcing Athena to use more effort than she would care to admit if the two of them would ever be forced to trade blows.
She leaned back in her chair and stared at her ceiling, her peaceful evening now disrupted by her half-brother's actions. She could hardly fault him in this case, he clearly did not intend to bring her this stress, but it did not change the fact that his actions had stirred up some trouble.
Her father would surely detect this new aura in Nike and then demand answers as to how her strength exploded out of seemingly nowhere, as well as the fact that she felt so Cthothnic now, something that would surely increase her fathers paranoia.
There was still the matter of this mysterious box to attend to however. She placed her hands on the lid of the box and slowly lifted it. The sight of its contents made her jaw drop slightly, awe coloring her face.
This box held a brand new shield, its quality absolutely immaculate, but what was more impressive was the engraving that it held on its face, the incredibly terrifying and ever changing visage of Typhon. For some reason, its appearance did not bring her much fear, but she knew any that faced her would be hard pressed to resist the urge to flee in terror.
She brushed her hand over its surface and was able to discern its quality. She may not have held the domains of smithing or craftsmanship, but the connection she felt with her domain of handicraft allowed her to understand that the sheer depth of power this shield held was enough to become her new symbol of power.
Almost immediately, the shield recognized her as its owner and began fusing itself to her divinity, swiftly replacing Aegis in its place. Instinctively, she removed her hand as quickly as she could, unnerved by the swiftness of the connection and the depths of power she could feel entering her body. Hesitating briefly, she returned both her hands on the shield and allowed it to do as it wished, all the while she turned it around and observed each and every aspect of its craftsmanship, marveling all the while with silent awe.
She could still feel the presence of her old shield, Aegis, floating around in her essence, but it was no longer the steadfast bulwark of divine power that she had gotten used to for so long. Instead it was replaced by the immeasurable strength of the Typhonic shield, its protective power enveloping her entirely.
She closed her eyes and adjusted to the difference, eventually coming out of her stupor feeling better than she had ever felt in her entire divine life. Her aura flared, the foundation of her study shaking slightly, yet remaining stable. She attempted to reign in her new strength and was surprised at the level of ease and comfort she was able to do it with. Though that begged the question of how?
Divine weapons tended to become increasingly difficult to wield, the more power they held. However, this new weapon of hers easily bent to her will, allowing her to contain its strength with little struggle. Looking back at the box she noticed a letter hidden by the shield, but now revealed by its absence.
She gently opened it and unfolded the message it held reading it:
Greetings Athena,
You may be wondering why I decided to give you such a valuable item of such titanic proportions. The reason is a simple one, I have no need for it. I am no god of combat, lord of protection, or anything of the sort. Aegis is a mighty shield, a work I still hold great pride in, but I felt it lacking in many regards, ways that this new shield is not. Though I am not entirely without selfish goals in mind, as I am sure you can understand why I would want to seek your favor. It has been many years since we last spoke, face to face, brother to sister, or perhaps even friend to friend. I understand why, and I do not begrudge you in the slightest for your reasons.
That dreaded day where I cornered you and attempted to force myself on you were the actions of a Hephaestus desperate for love and acknowledgement. While I hope to gain your forgiveness I can completely understand why you would never give it. Though, it is my hope that one day I can repair the friendly relationship we once had, a time when we shared many ideas with one another as we pondered over the inventions of mortals and the progress of our evershifting world.
If you are willing to grant me another chance, it would please me if we could talk after the next winter solstice in a few months time. If you do not wish to engage in conversation with me then do not seek me out and I will have understood your message.
No matter what decision you make, know that I understand and that I am forever sorry for the actions I took against you. I hope you enjoy and take advantage of my gift.
Sincerely,
Hephaestus
She put the letter down gently on her table and stared off into the distance blankly. It had been many years since that day, since that moment she had visited Hephaestus in search of his services, only to be graced with a lustful man that would not take no for an answer.
In truth, she wasn't sure how she felt about him. She was of course disgusted by his actions, and she could never get over the shiver she felt crawling up her spine remembering his seed landing on her leg, but when compared to what she had done and the actions of her family, were his actions really that bad?
By all means they were awful, but when compared to her sins, her mistakes, the lives she had ruined, and the countless relationships she had broken through her own hubris, was she ever that regretful to the point where she would offer a masterpiece of her own intense labor as an act of forgiveness?
She knew the answer to that question was no, she was not that merciful a goddess, nor one that cared nearly that much. She let out a sigh and looked at the new Typhonic shield she possessed and then at the letter. She had made up her mind, she would go speak to Hephaestus, besides, she too missed those talks they had.
Athena spent the rest of the day recalling her younger days when she spoke with a younger Hephaestus excitedly under many starry nights, under the watchful gaze of what was then still Selene's chariot racing across the night sky. Perhaps it was time she sought Artemis out, it had been a few months since they had last spoken.