High in Olympus, a grand dinner was being held as it did every day in the palace. The main gods had gathered to enjoy the feast, where the finest dishes were prepared for their pleasure.
“Why are you so thoughtful, dear?” Hera suddenly spoke up, noticing her husband’s distant demeanor. Seated on her throne, she leaned closer, pressing her ample bosom against Zeus’s arm.
“Dear?” Hera repeated, her voice softer and more intimate.
Zeus, who was usually the life of the feast, seemed lost in thought. “Hmm. It’s about the Achaean Continent…” he muttered, his brow furrowed.
“What about them?” Hera inquired, curiosity piqued.
“You know, Hera, a war is brewing and could erupt at any moment,” Zeus said with a sigh.
“These foolish humans will never learn, will they?” Hera exhaled, shaking her head in exasperation. As expected, she had little love for these weak creatures. However, her husband took them seriously, so she played her part in the divine drama.
“All of this over a single woman,” Hera smiled, the irony not lost on her.
“Not just any ordinary woman, Mother Hera,” a voice interrupted.
Hera’s eyes turned cold as she glanced at the newcomer. It was Dionysus, frivolously disguised, a wreath of ivy adorning his dark hair. He wore a simple white robe and had an effeminate manner as he addressed his stepmother.
Dionysus was the son of one of Zeus’s countless affairs, and as such, Hera harbored jealousy and hatred towards him, as she did with all of Zeus’s other progeny from different women. Unfortunately, she couldn’t simply kill him, as he was one of the main gods of Olympus, and Zeus cared for him as his son.
“What do you mean?” Hera asked, her earlier flirtatious tone now icy cold.
Used to Hera’s hostility, Dionysus chuckled. “Helen of Sparta. Said to be the most beautiful woman ever to grace the mortal world. Some even say she rivals the great goddesses of Olympus.”
“What? Are you comparing a human to me?” Hera’s yellow eyes shimmered dangerously, her anger barely contained.
Dionysus raised his hands in a placating gesture, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “I merely relay what the mortals say, Mother Hera. Helen’s beauty is the spark that will ignite the flames of war. Her abduction has set the stage for a conflict that will shake the Achaean Continent.”
Zeus nodded in agreement. “Indeed, Helen’s beauty is a catalyst. This war will not just be a clash of men but will draw in the attention of gods. We must be vigilant.”
Hera leaned back, her expression a mix of disdain and contemplation. “Let the humans wage their war. But if they think a mortal woman can rival the goddesses, they will learn their folly soon enough.”
Hera prided herself on being the most beautiful goddess among all the goddesses of Olympus. Admitting that some could rival her beauty—like Aphrodite, Athena, or even Artemis—was difficult enough. Being compared to a human was an even greater insult.
“Still, it’s strange, don’t you think, Father?” Dionysus spoke up suddenly, breaking the tense silence.
“What’s strange?” Zeus asked, curiosity piqued.
“Do you remember the small contest with the Apple of Eris to determine who was the most beautiful among Mother Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite?” Dionysus said.
All the gods fell silent. It was a sensitive subject.
Two goddesses present turned their faces cold at the mention of that event: Hera and Athena.
Zeus began to sweat, seeing his sister-wife and daughter glaring at Dionysus with emotionless eyes. All the gods knew what had happened that day.
“I know, Paris made his choice fairly. There’s nothing more to it,” Zeus spoke quickly, trying to defuse the situation.
“Yes, Father, but it was Aphrodite’s Belt that made Paris look at Helen and vice versa. You know that, don’t you?” Dionysus continued.
Zeus understood where Dionysus was heading, but he shook his head. “I still find it hard to believe that kings would wage war over a single woman.”
“It’s hard to believe, yes—unless some individuals ignited the spark?” Dionysus’s lips twisted into a sly smile as he glanced fleetingly at Hera and Athena before looking back at his father.
“You think? Who?” Zeus’s eyes turned cold as he asked, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
The war that was about to erupt in the coming months promised to be devastating. As gods, they couldn’t simply halt an entire war; the forces above them would not accept such interference.
“Don’t know, Father. It’s just mere speculation,” Dionysus shrugged before abruptly leaving the hall.
Zeus fell into deep contemplation at his son’s words, his mind racing with questions. Could someone have accelerated the process of the impending war? If so, who would dare to do such a thing, and for what purpose?
“You are overthinking, my dear,” Hera whispered softly, planting a gentle kiss on Zeus’s cheek. “The only one responsible for this mess is Aphrodite. Imagine, giving a divine artifact to a mere human. How foolish can she be? And look, she even has the audacity to show up, fully aware that she is the cause of all this turmoil.”
Suddenly, the grand doors of the hall swung open, revealing a strikingly handsome young man. It was Hermes.
“Father,” he called out, approaching Zeus with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
“What is it, my son?” Zeus asked, frowning at the sight of Hermes, usually so cheerful, now grave and somber.
“It’s about the mortal world, in the Empire of Light. A God of Light has appeared,” Hermes reported, his voice heavy with concern.
“What?” Zeus exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.
Hera frowned, clearly annoyed. She had little interest in the affairs of the Gods of Light or the plight of humans.
Zeus stood abruptly and vanished from the hall, reappearing outside the castle, high in the sky. His eyes crackled with lightning as he focused his gaze on the Empire of Light below.
There, he saw it: a man with eyes gleaming white and gold, radiating a divine presence.
“It is indeed a God of Light,” Zeus murmured to himself.
“Should we be worried, Father?” Hermes appeared beside him, his voice tinged with anxiety.
“What kind of question is that? Of course, we should be concerned about the appearance of a God of Light. We should descend and assist them at once,” Athena interjected, materializing next to them.
“Hmph. You only say that because your precious protégé is in danger, Athena,” Hera sneered.
Athena shot Hera a cold glare but held her tongue. It was true; she was deeply worried about Sienna.
“What should we do, Father?” Hermes pressed.
Zeus pondered for a moment before shaking his head. “We do nothing.”
“Father?” Athena’s brow furrowed in confusion.
Hera’s smirk widened with satisfaction.
“Do not intervene, Athena. Gods should not interfere every time humans are in peril,” Zeus declared firmly.
“But there is a God of Light!” Athena protested.
“The God of Light is in a weakened state, possessing a fragile body that will not endure for long. He will not cause much harm and will disappear soon enough. We will not intervene. This is my final decision,” Zeus stated unequivocally before vanishing.
Athena tightened her grip on her lance. She knew the God of Light wouldn’t last long, but she feared he might encounter Sienna and bring her harm. After all, she had blessed Sienna, and if the God of Light sensed that…
“Hmm?” Athena suddenly frowned, her gaze fixed on the scene below.
There, confronting the God of Light, was a figure that appeared to be a demon.
Hera, who had been content until now, followed Athena’s gaze and gasped.
That demon… it wasn’t just any ordinary demon.
She sensed an energy within him that felt disturbingly akin to the divine.
“Who is he?” she asked, voicing the question that was also in Athena’s and Hermes’ minds.