Chapter Text
“You have all been brought here for a purpose. My daughter, Alexandria needs a suitor, she needs her next king. My ailing health has led to this sort of unusual eruption. So before me, you nine young heroes and demigods of Greece are here to compete for her hand. Only the very best can win the young maiden’s hand, and thereby the richest kingdom in Greece.”
Silence rolled across the entire arena, hot and heavy feet wailing across the coarse sand.
“There will be three trials, where the suitors will compete in a ranked system. Every point counts. They will not be easy. They will be hard. There will be forfeits- and death, but so is the natural course of such a competition like this.”
Bulging eyes scanned and analyzed the scene before them.
“May the very best, win”
A rumbling of feet, woops of excitement, tremors from fear, but all George thought about, was the competitor who eyed him down with such intensity from across the way. And then disappeared without a trace.
The Opening Feast
One of the many rooms in the King’s castle had been chosen for the introductory feast. Hundreds were considered, bigger ones, grander ones, but this quaint banquet hall had sat right upon the neighboring courtyard. The courtyard, that provided a beautiful scene of the vineyards below, and the cracked stone that held its age.
A young man, though of short stature, held an intimidating aura above him. He walked with precision, with entitlement, as if everything in the goddamn world belonged to him and no one else.
That’s what stood out to Dream.
The young man seemed to turn his nose up at everything, anything and everything wasn't good enough for him unless the Gods themselves handed it down on a silver platter. He settled himself in the corner, peeking out to the courtyard, just watching the night sky.
“o Georgios den vréthike”
A taller man approached, shaggy blonde hair protruding out of a peculiar mask. He took a seat.
“No need to use my nickname, George not found , you can just call me George.”
George forced himself to peer upwards at him, an sad defect of his unfortunate build. His mask was a bit lopsided, as if it was barely hanging on, begging to just come off. The other man caught on. There was a hint of a smile that was barely visible beyond the shadow.
“George not found huh? Guess that comes from your incredible adventures. The Romans can just never find you. I am surprised you got through all that though, considering your god parent is Hypnos.”
“And who's yours?”
“You might have noticed the cleverly placed ‘heros’. I was born human, and I’ll die human.”
George gave him a strange look. In fact, everyone else competing had a godly parent. It was just a thing. To be a Greek hero, you were typically a demigod. Son of Zeus, son of poseidon, son of whoever. You were the son of someone high up in the sky. And the longer George thought about it, he realized he had no recollection of this man. He knew everyone else, their stories, their exploits, their mother’s maiden names, and their weaknesses. The thought of the unknown ability of the man was scary, clearly fright inducing.
“What’s your name?”
The man smiled.
“It’s Dream.”
And less than a second later, he was whisked away, an outlying member of the crowd pulling him into the trenches. George was left uncomfortable by the invader, a full breed. His blood was dirty, no trace of ichor had run through the veins. Yet the aura Dream had was powerful, stronger than anything George has experienced.
boom
The bell’s blare danced all around the area, making sure to tap everyone’s ears. It was the sound to sit down, the sound for introductions. Already George could feel the pull to sleep. He took his seat at the end of the table, straight across from Dream. The beats of his pulse were audibly increasing.
“Now let me introduce our crop of heroes and demigods!”
The rambles of the King had droned on for what felt like eternity. George could feel himself slowly slipping away, yet fought to stay on. The king first announced a hero named Punz, then Quackity, Bad, Sapnap, Karl, Foolish, and Sam. George already knew their godly parents, he knew everything about them. He studied for days before he came, prepared to win at all costs. He felt the pull again. Sinking and sinking further down a dark deep hole that led to slumber.
tap tap tap
Dream had cautiously rubbed his lower thigh with his foot as he suddenly stood up. His charismatic gleam shone brightly as he adjusted the mask on his face,the corners of his mouth peeking through to illustrate an illuminating smile. He gave a bow to his King.
“Thank you for the kind introduction, Your Majesty. I am honored to simply be in yours and the beautiful Alexandria’s presence. Though I myself have no godly parent, I thoroughly make up for this lack with my specialized skills and ability. Using only a sword and a bow, I have taken down some of the fiercest beasts in the land. I have even taken my skills across the ocean, experiencing a myriad of beautiful and wondrous cultures. I am overjoyed to show you my talents and prove myself at this first trial. Thank you.”
He sat back down as the King glowed.
“Marvelous! Now for our last champion! o Georgios den vréthike!”
George rose to his feet. His persona would have to shine here. He would have to convince all of them that he was already the winner, the champion, and leave no doubt.
“Thank you Your Majesty. I am so overly pleased to take your daughter in the marriage soon, especially as radiating as she is. I am also eager to display my skills for you. I have worked covert operations against the Roman, fought even more terrible and nasty beasts-” a side eye at Dream, “and even slayed a hundred bodies in war without taking a scratch myself. I hope to prove you and Hypnos proud.”
snickers
Hypnos was not the most intimidating God. For one, he was sleepy- and lazy on top of that. He didn't hold the same amount of prestige that Zeus’ son, Punz did. He had to work a thousand times harder than anyone else here just to earn a spot at the table. And that's why he deserved everything. He deserved this kingdom, he deserves the right to rule. He needed to break the stigma of the Hypnos name. He would create a new legacy.
Dream caught him straight in the eyes. He started to slowly clap. A smirk crossed his face.
A look of ecstasy passed from one end of the King’s face to the other.
“Looks like we have great competition this year!”
The Courtyard
George had positioned himself leaning over the terrace in the courtyard. He gazed over the sloping hills, the vineyard, and the sweet little insects that craved for a taste. A thumble of footsteps ushered behind him.
“It really is a beautiful sunset.”
“Wouldn’t know.” George gave a sigh while Dream gave him a questioning look.
George explained, “There’s this thing with my eyes. Ever since I was a kid, I just supposedly see different colors than the rest of you. The world is duller. I guess it motivated me to work as hard as I did, to have something if I couldn't even see the beauty in the world. It’s kind of sad but I begged Hypnos to come and fix me. He never answered my prayers.”
“Why would he?” Dream said with a flushed tone, “there’s absolutely nothing to fix…”
George’s cheeks faded to a light red. He turned his head back towards the fading sun, that he wished he could see in her true form.
“I would give you the world George. I would give you anything.”
George turned to look at Dream, confused by his sudden outpouring of words.
“A lot of people would”
George turned and brushed into Dream, making no notice of their collision, heading to his quarters. He walked with the same entitlement and self-assurance that had first enraptured Dream. He hadn't even looked fazed.
Dream slowly turned back to the fading sun, taking in all the colors and vibrancies. Though he was in the competition himself, Dream had but one thought-
George