Chapter 253: Chapter 11
The meeting ended soon and Hades offered them to stay to sightsee as it rare for them to visit Underworld.
Aside from Hestia and Astraea, everyone else choose to leave to prepare for the coming campaign in another universe.
Athena herself rushed back to the overworld, her divine presence cutting through the air like a golden arrow.
She had no time to waste, while the other Olympians were preparing themselves for the great journey to another universe, her heart pulled her elsewhere, to the small mortal town where she had left Herios and Medusa.
It didn’t take too long for her arrive, it was surprisingly fast despite her divinity sealed.
The moment her feet touched the cobblestone roads, she spread her divine sense across the entire area, immediately locking onto their familiar auras.
Without hesitation, she followed the trace, her heart beating faster, though she refused to acknowledge why.
When she turned a corner and caught sight of them, her entire body froze.
There, walking amidst the lively market crowd, was Herios, calm and unbothered as always, with Medusa clinging to his arm, leaning against him as though he were her entire world.
Athena’s eyes widened in disbelief before a slow burn ignited within her chest, rising to her face like wildfire.
Her hair shimmered brighter, her aura flaring unconsciously as fury consumed her reason.
She might have her divinity sealed, but she possessed an extreme amount of pure and dense mana that was literally distorting space around her.
In an instant, she descended like lightning, landing in front of them with such force that the wind exploded outward, scattering stalls and startling mortals who screamed and ran for cover.
Herios blinked in surprise, then gave his usual gentle smile, greeting her as though nothing were amiss, asking casually, "How did the meeting go, Athena? You did not have to show up like this, you know."
But the goddess of wisdom did not respond. Her lips pressed tightly, her stormy gaze locked on Medusa, or more precisely, on the priestess’s blindfolded eyes and the smug little smile curving her lips.
The same Medusa who once trembled in awe before her, who spoke to her with reverence and worship... now stood there boldly, her body pressed against Herios like a possessive lover.
Athena’s temples throbbed. That was her man! How dare a mere priestess covet her Goddess’s man!?
Have you know shame?!
Herios, sensing Athena’s glare at Medusa, immediately tried to explain, "Medusa injured her leg earlier while we were walking. She asked if she can lean on me for support and I accepted it."
Athena’s eyes dropped to Medusa’s leg, long, smooth, white as marble and glowing faintly under the sun.
Her expression immediately darkened.
Those very legs could move at the speed of light, leap mountains, and crush boulders into dust, and yet this woman dared claim she was injured from walking?
Her jaw tightened, a faint twitch forming at the corner of her lips.
"Hurt... by walking?" she repeated slowly, her voice calm, but carrying enough suppressed divine energy to make the air tremble. "Truly... how delicate my priestess has become."
Medusa tilted her head, her tone sweet as honey but laced with mischief. "It’s true, my goddess. I asked Herios if I can lean on him, and being the gentleman that he is, he didn’t refuse."
Athena’s glare could have melted steel. Gentleman? Of course he’s a gentleman! He is man chosen by your goddess so you better back off!
As if sensing her glare, Medusa leaned even closer to Herios.
Athena’s eyes burned! The audacity of this mortal-turned-serpent to speak so casually, and with that insolent smile, no less!
For a long moment, the goddess said nothing, merely exhaled slowly, her mind screaming a thousand thoughts she refused to say aloud.
She was the goddess of wisdom, yet no logic could soothe the jealous ache rising in her chest.
Herios rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, realizing the danger of the situation but also too kind to take sides.
Meanwhile, Medusa continued to lean on him with that smug little grin, as if silently declaring victory.
Athena finally folded her arms, her voice cold but trembling ever so slightly, "Herios, since your patient seems to have recovered well enough to provoke her goddess, perhaps it’s time she learns the definition of divine discipline."
Medusa chuckled softly. "Ah, then please be gentle, my goddess."
That was it.
The last thread of Athena’s composure snapped, and the mortals of that town would speak for centuries of the day when thunder and divine light erupted from their sky, all because two women, a goddess and her priestess, refused to share the same man peacefully.
*
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*
Back in the quiet comfort of the inn, the flickering lamplight cast long, soft shadows across the wooden walls.
Athena sat gracefully by the small round table, her posture perfectly straight as she lifted a delicate porcelain cup of tea that Medusa had just prepared for her.
The gentle steam curled upward as she took a measured sip, trying, almost desperately to calm the faint storm that lingered in her chest.
Herios sat on the edge of the bed, watching her with quiet curiosity.
His sharp eyes noticed the stiffness in her movements, the subtle tension hidden beneath her serene expression.
Medusa stood beside her goddess, silent and composed, her blindfolded face turned slightly toward Athena, listening intently to the sound of the crackling fireplace.
Breaking the silence, Herios finally spoke.
"How did the meeting go?" he asked. "It’s rare for all of you to gather unless it’s something serious."
Athena placed the teacup down with a soft clink.
"It was not Zeus who called for the gathering," she said slowly, her voice carrying calm authority. "It was Lord Hades. Zeus merely summoned us on his behalf."
Herios’s eyes widened slightly.
"Lord Hades?" he repeated, his tone filled with both respect and surprise upon hearing the name of his Patron God, "Then it must have been of great importance."
Athena nodded, her gaze distant as she recalled the grand hall and the weight of the truth that had been revealed there.
"Indeed. What he and Lady Nyx told us... changes everything we thought we knew."
She paused, then began to explain, her tone deep and steady. "They showed us the truth beyond our universe. There are other worlds—other realms of gods, mortals, and life far beyond our comprehension."
"Oh?" Herios eyes sparkled. Then does that mean, if given a chance, they can go on an adventure in those other worlds too?
Even Medusa perked up. Among the three, she was the one with the most adventurous spirit due to her past.
"But it isn’t all fun and games though," Athena sighed, her eyes still reveals her fear, "among them wander entities—beings so vast and ancient that even we are like dust before them. They devour entire universes, leaving nothing but silence in their wake."
Herios leaned forward, his brows furrowing. "Devour universes...? What kind of beings could do such a thing?"
Athena’s golden eyes flickered with unease.
"Lady Nyx and Lord Hades calls them Outer Entities, or even Outer Gods," she answered. "They are an abominations that exist beyond creation itself."
"Outer gods..." Herios whispered, his eyes revealing a sharp and calculative look. "Is that related to Gaia’s incident?"
Athena blinked, her eyes widened in surprised, "How did you know?"
Herios shook his head, "I was young back then, but I was protecting my village from them. I didn’t know what they are, but they felt...wrong, in a way I couldn’t understand."
Athena nodded and explained, "Indeed. A fragment of an outer entity managed to control and corrupt Gaia, resulting in the world almost being destroyed by her."
"A fragment?"
Athena explained, "When they find a young universe like ours, they leave behind fragments of themselves, small tiny shards of their power, to nurture it, to help it grow. Not out of kindness mind you, but so that when the universe ripens with life and energy..."
She looked toward the window, where the faint rain began to fall. "They can consume it."
The air in the room grew heavier, as though her words had stolen all warmth from it.
Medusa clenched her hands at her sides, her voice trembling slightly. "So... we’re nothing but prey to them? Being raised like cattles?"
Athena’s silence was answer enough.
Herios frowned, his hand curling into a fist on his knee. "Heh, I guess hearing that was a shock to those gods, arrogant and prideful as they are."
Athena turned her gaze toward him, her expression calm yet grave.
"That is the truth of it," she said quietly. "We are not the masters of creation, Herios. We are but sparks of light, beautiful, powerful, yet fleeting. And now, something beyond the stars seeks to extinguish us."
The only sound that followed was the soft patter of rain against the wooden window frame, a quiet, somber rhythm to accompany the realization that even gods could be swallowed by the dark.