Peace... at least for a moment.

Chapter 29: The Aftermath.

The battlefield was a chaotic symphony of blood and steel, but now, silence reigned. Polyphemus lay defeated, his hulking body sprawled across the ground like a fallen mountain. His single, milky eye stared lifelessly at the sky, still open in a final, shocked expression of pain and rage. The earth beneath him was slick with dark, viscous blood, pooling into rivulets that seeped into the cracks of the battlefield. Around me, the Spartans roared in triumph, their voices rising like a storm to the heavens. My group stood amidst them, battered but victorious, their faces marked by exhaustion and relief.

I could only stare at Polyphemus's broken form, my chest tight with conflicting emotions. This was necessary, he had caused pain and suffering beyond measure. Yet, even as the cheers echoed around me, I felt the weight of the endless battles pressing on my shoulders. How long would this continue? How many more lives would be taken or ruined before peace was achieved?

"General!" The rookie, Leobatos, voice snapped me out of my thoughts. The young Spartan, his face alight with urgency, gestured from the mouth of the cavern. "We found them! The civilians!"

The stench hit us before we even entered the cave, a vile mix of decay and damp earth that clawed at our senses. Even Noor, usually composed, wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“Gods, let’s finish this quickly,” Iris muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. “My nose is going to revolt if we linger.”

We pressed on, the flickering light of our torches casting grotesque shadows on the jagged walls. The cavern opened into a wider chamber, where the missing civilians huddled together, pale and trembling. Their gaunt faces turned toward us, eyes wide with fear, as if they couldn’t believe their nightmare was finally over.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe now,” I said softly, crouching beside an elderly man who looked too weak to stand. His hands, gnarled and shaking, clung to mine as if I were the only thing tethering him to life.

One of the women burst into tears, clutching her child tightly. “Thank you… thank the gods!” she sobbed, her voice cracking.

Ikaro moved forward, placing the arm of a frail woman around as his neck as though she weighed nothing. “Uncle, we need to get them out of here,” he said firmly. Dario nodded, his eye scanning the cavern as though sensing every tremor of emotion within it.

We guided the civilians out, each step a delicate process. Their relief was palpable, though it mingled with lingering terror. Outside, the sunlight was blinding, but it seemed to rekindle a spark of hope in their weary eyes.

We spend the rest of the afternoon carrying and helping the civilians at the camp, little by little they recovered but the trauma will linger despite what happened.

The camp was a flurry of activity as we tended to the civilians. Water was brought, wounds were treated, and soft reassurances filled the air. Despite our efforts, the shadows of their ordeal lingered in every trembling hand and vacant stare.
Iris stood at the edge of the camp; her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she watched the scene unfold. Her face was pale, her usual sharpness dulled by the horrors we’d witnessed. I approached her quietly, wrapping my arms around her.
She didn’t resist, leaning into me as if drawing strength from my presence. “It’s so cruel,” she whispered. “What they went through… what we’ve seen…”

I tightened my hold on her. “They’ll heal, Iris. It’ll take time, but they’ll heal.”

She raised her head to meet my eyes, her gaze searching and fragile. “But they’ll never forget.” Her voice cracked with the weight of the truth. “Kayn… how do we do this?”

“Do what?”

“Keep going. It hasn’t been that long since this ‘mission’ began, but I already feel like I’ve seen more horror than anyone should in a lifetime. And you…” She hesitated, her voice faltering. “You’re at the center of it all, carrying so much. How do you keep going?”

Her words cut deep, exposing a wound I tried to hide even from myself. I looked away, unable to meet her eyes. “I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice barely audible. “I just… move forward.”

She frowned, her concern growing. “And what happens when you can’t? When the road won’t let you go on anymore?”

I **** a smile, but it felt hollow. “That’s not something we can think about now. I just need some time to process everything.”

Her hand found mine, her touch warm and grounding. She studied me; her eyes filled with an unspoken understanding. “If you ever need to talk… I’m here.”

She turned and walked away, her steps slow and deliberate. Each movement sent a ripple of something unexplainable through me, a sensation both comforting and unnerving. “…I know,” I whispered to the air, watching her retreating form.

Late at night, with the camp nestled in silence, I slipped out into the open, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The clearing outside the camp was bathed in silver moonlight, and I stood there for a moment, listening to the distant rustle of leaves and the faint crackle of the campfire. My heart was heavy, questions swirling in my mind. I needed to see her, to hear her voice again.

“Athena,” I called softly, my voice carried on the wind. “If you’re there… please talk to me.”
The stillness stretched, longer than usual. A flicker of doubt crept into my thoughts, had she decided not to answer me? Or worse, had she regretted appearing to me at all after what happened? But just as I began to lose hope, a familiar glow illuminated the clearing, and there she stood, her form graceful and radiant as ever.

“From Helos to Corinth, Corinth to Delphi, and now Sparta,” Athena said, her melodic voice tinged with amusement. She chuckled softly, her presence warm and grounding. “Are you planning to take me across the entire world, Kayn?”

A smile tugged at my lips despite myself. “Who knows? Maybe next time, I’ll head to Egypt, just to keep you on your toes.”

She laughed lightly, a sound that seemed to make the night brighter. “Hello, Kayn,” she said with a tenderness that reached deep into my chest.

“Hello, Athena.”

Her expression softened as she stepped closer. “How are you holding up?”

I let out a slow, weary breath, the weight of the past days pressing down on me. “I’ve been better,” I admitted, my voice betraying the exhaustion I carried.

Her gaze lingered on mine, filled with a concern so genuine it almost unraveled me. Without a word, her hand came to rest gently against my cheek, her touch cool and soothing. “You’ve been through much,” she said softly, as if she could sense the turmoil roiling within me.

I tried to offer a small smile, but it faltered. “I’ve kept busy since the last time we talked,” I said, scratching at the back of my hand in a nervous gesture.

“Indeed… is it true that you have faced… someone bigger than your size?” She asked with a teasing tone.

“I… might have.” I answered as she chuckled clearly joyful from being able to see and talk to me again. “I just hope I didn’t pissed Poseidon off after my encounter with Polyphemus.” I added, realizing that I just slain a son of a god, he was a monster but a demigod nonetheless.

“Well from my part, I am glad he’s gone, he had lost the way a long time ago… demigod or not. Poseidon was not against what happened but he was not entirely happy seeing one of his many sons die.” She explained. “You shouldn’t worry about being on Poseidon bad side, he’s not going to punish you for that and you shouldn’t as well.”

“I don’t blame myself for killing Polyphemus, I seen what he had done and how much of a threat he had become for life. I’m…” I stopped, pondering for a second trying to think what I was going to say next. “Don’t you feel sometimes that you are way over your head? That despite how you know you are the most capable for this task you still feel like you are completely lost?”

Athena looked at me with her radiant eyes and with a gentle genuine tone she replied; “…yes, all the time.” I couldn’t believe what she said, did she really felt like she was not good enough to be a goddess? “Sometimes I feel like I’m making a bad choice that I must take....the perks of being a god." She allowed herself a small chuckle "You are all powerful but that comes with a responsibility that burns you every moment you breath.”

I blinked, taken aback. “You? But you’re… Athena. You’re wisdom itself.”

She let out a soft, rueful laugh. “Wisdom doesn’t make you immune to doubt, Kayn. Sometimes, it makes the doubt sharper, the stakes higher.” She paused, her voice growing wistful.

“How do you deal with it? You know… carrying with the burden of being the leader and so many people looking up to you.”

“Well, I didn’t. Not at first that is.” She said her serious tone changing as she looked at me with a tender smile. “I should be very careful with how I say my next words, they could activate the curse the Erebosian casted on your memories. If that happens forgive me.” She started. “Back when I thought I was mostly right, I met someone who changed my whole perspective, he showed me things that I didn’t think a god or goddess should think or care about. He showed how to be myself and how the person that I am shouldn’t hide away on the mask of the goddess.” Her gaze turned to the stars, a small, nostalgic smile gracing her lips.

“What happened to him?” I leaned in slightly, her words captivating me.

“Spoilers.” She said with wink of her eye and that sweet smile of hers. “I wish I could tell you but you know… It’s better if you learn about it yourself in the future. What I’m trying to tell you Kayn is that the burden of leadership will never leave your shoulders, it’s as much part of you as you are of it. You must learn to accept it and become the leader they need you to be, but to do that you must discover who you want to be… and that will take time… it will be painful believe me I know, but when you do… you will feel complete. The path ahead will demand sacrifices, Kayn. Not just yours, but theirs as well. You must be strong enough to bear it.”

Her words left me thoughtful, I knew that being a leader was going to be tough but I didn’t expect it to be this tiresome and painful as it has become. But she’s right, I must grow and for that I need to become something better than what I am. I need to learn who I am.

“Thank you.” I said to her with a thankful look in my eyes, her gorgeous and sweet smile sent peaceful shivers down my core.

“Anytime…” Athena’s voice lingered in the air, soft and hesitant. Her cheeks flushed with a rare vulnerability as she continued, “Listen, about what happened last time in Delphi…”

The memory of that moment hit me like a thunderbolt, and I felt heat rush to my own cheeks. For some reason, I’d thought she wanted to avoid this subject altogether. “Right…” I muttered, unsure of where she was going with this.

“It—it was a mistake. I shouldn’t have—”
I cut her off before she could say more, leaning in and pressing my lips to hers in a deep, passionate kiss. For a brief moment, she froze, caught off guard, but then she melted into it, her arms wrapping around me as she returned the kiss with the same intensity.

When we finally pulled apart, I looked into her eyes those radiant, tender eyes that seemed to see through every wall I had. “I don’t regret it,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the pounding in my chest. “Not a single second of it. And I know you don’t, either.”

Her gaze wavered for a moment, a mixture of longing and sorrow flickering across her face. “Kayn…” she began softly, her voice heavy with emotion. “There’s something I need to tell you, but I can’t...not while the curse is still inside you. That memory… it’s buried too deep. If you tried to recall it now, it could kill you.”

I frowned, her words stirring a dull ache in my head. “I don’t understand,” I said, my voice thick with frustration. “Have we… have we done this before?”

Her silence was answer enough. The look in her eyes, the way her lips parted as though to speak but faltered, it all told me what I dreaded to know. The truth lay hidden, locked away in the depths of my cursed mind. Athena and I had been lovers before.
“I’m sorry,” she said at last, her voice a soft, mournful melody. “I wish I could silence your doubts, but until the curse is broken…” Her words trailed off, but the way she looked at me, filled with love, regret, and hope. Said everything.

“I understand,” I replied, pulling her into an embrace. She sank into it, her arms tightening around me as though she, too, needed the comfort.
For a long moment, we held each other in the quiet night, the world fading away until there was only her warmth and the steady rhythm of our breaths. Finally, we pulled apart, and the somber intimacy of the moment shifted as her expression turned serious.

“I almost forgot, I have an important message for you,” she said, her tone now commanding attention.

“What is it?” I asked, already bracing myself for more bad news. “Please don’t tell me it’s another cyclops. I could really use a break right about now.”

Athena chuckled softly, the sound a welcome reprieve from the tension. “No cyclops this time, I promise. But… it might be worse, depending on how you see it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Worse? That’s comforting.”

“Do you remember what I told you in Delphi? About Hades wanting to see you?”

I nodded slowly, the memory surfacing. “You mentioned it, but I didn’t think he was serious.”

“Oh, he was serious,” she said, folding her arms. “Very serious. He asked me to deliver a message to you. He wants you to come to the Underworld. And he was quite clear that it’s urgent.”

I blinked, the weight of her words settling in. “Wait… you’re saying I need to cross the Styx and meet with Hades himself?” I let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking my head. “Sounds like a great vacation.”

Athena gave me a wry smile. “Hades isn’t so bad...my uncle can actually be reasonable. It’s the Underworld itself that’s the real challenge.” Her expression softened, though her tone remained serious. “He also insisted that you bring your group with you. He specifically requested it.”

That made me pause. “What? Why would he want Iris and the others?”

She shook her head, her brow furrowed. “I don’t know. He didn’t explain, but he was adamant. If he’s calling for all of you, it’s not without reason.”
Her words hung in the air, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Hades calling for me was one thing, but involving my companions? That raised questions I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers to.

“Great,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “No pressure, right?”

Athena placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch grounding. “You’ll manage, Kayn. You always do. Just… be ready. Hades isn’t one to summon mortals, or demigods, lightly. I think it would be wise to finish whatever you need to do here in Sparta quickly. When you’re ready, contact me, and I’ll open a portal to the Underworld.”

“Right, about that… I might need your help with something.” I began, hesitantly explaining our plans here in Sparta.

Athena’s expression shifted from mild curiosity to wide-eyed disbelief as she processed my request. “YOU WANT ME TO WHAT?!” she practically shouted, her voice ringing out like a thunderclap.

I raised my hands defensively. “It’ll only be for a couple of minutes! Just long enough for them to believe us.”

She crossed her arms, glaring at me as though I’d lost my mind. “You’re asking me to reveal myself—to two mortals just like that? Do you even understand the gravity of what you’re asking?”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I do. Trust me, I wouldn’t ask this unless I believed it was absolutely necessary. Killing Polyphemus and having Dario vouch for us will only take us so far. It might earn us acknowledgment, but it won’t get us the decisive action we need. Sparta must unite with the rest of Greece if we’re to stand a chance against the army of ancient creatures the Erebosians are amassing.”

Athena’s gaze softened slightly, though the tension in her stance remained. “I see your point, but… Kayn, can you trust them? Revealing myself isn’t a trivial act. Every god has their domain, their city, their people. I am Athena, but this is Sparta, my brother’s city. Ares rules here, and for me to appear uninvited could cause complications with the other gods.”

“I know,” I said, my voice firm despite the unease swirling in my chest. “I know I’m asking a lot of you, Athena. But we need this. It’s the only way to move forward. Without it, we’re fighting a losing battle.”

She studied me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine for any hint of doubt. Finally, she let out a resigned sigh. “Fine. I’ll do it.” She held up a finger before I could respond. “But on one condition.”

“Name it,” I said, steeling myself for whatever she was about to ask.

“You will go to Hades,” she said, her voice carrying the weight of inevitability. “If I’m willing to take this risk, then you must fulfill my uncle’s summons. It’s only fair.”

The words hung heavy in the air. I took a deep breath, the enormity of what I was agreeing to sinking in. A trip to the Underworld. A meeting with Hades himself. “Alright,” I said at last. “You have my word.”

“Good,” she said, a rare, tender smile spreading across her lips. Then, before I could react, she stepped closer and kissed me, deeply, passionately. Her arms wrapped around my neck as the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the warmth of her lips against mine.

When she finally pulled back, I was left breathless, my hands instinctively resting on her back and waist. “What was that for?” I asked with a crooked smile.

Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “Consider it payment for asking me to do something so outrageous,” she said, her voice low and teasing. She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear as she whispered, “And because I enjoy it.”

Before I could respond, she gave me a playful wink and, with a sudden, graceful movement, vanished into the night. I stood there in the clearing, my heart still racing as I replayed her words and actions in my mind. “Well,” I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair. “Looks like I just signed up for a trip to Hades itself.”

I let out a dry chuckle, shaking my head at the absurdity of my life. “Well, fuck.”