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This tracker must be perfect. Hephaestus thought to himself as he scribbled down in his battered notebook. In his vast mind, multiple scenarios twisted and formed as he forged a new invention blueprint. He receded into his world for the entire Mortal day, only talking when Hephaestus needed. Maybe the scanner could track the lineage? Or elemental orientation? But how would it track a child of Nyx? Gaia, I need more-
“Hephaestus?” The young smith returned to reality with a flinch, hearing his entire class giggling at him. His teacher, Lady Eleti, glared at him as her foot tapped against the ground. Hephaestus' cheeks burned with embarrassment. His book snapped shut with his telekinesis. “Please keep your mind here. I have announcements for the class.”
Hephaestus held in a sigh. He hated being separated from his work, even if it meant attending Lower School. He knew his intelligence spanned beyond any teacher at the school. Yet the Queen insisted he stayed in classes with children of his Divine age. “Forgive me,” He mumbled, lowering his head.
“Thank you,” The class rippled with giggles before Lady Eleti cleared her throat to gather attention. “Remember, your nature reports are due the next Mortal week. We will have no excuses or late assignments, will we, Hephaestus?”
Hephaestus narrowed his eyes. He sucked in his cheeks to prevent a stream of curses. Even after explaining it, Lady Eleni refused to accept that Hephaestus had a higher intellect than his teacher could ever achieve. So, like every other eight-year-old, he was tasked with menial work when he’d enjoy solitude in his forge. “Yes, ma’am,” He said with a forced smile.
“Good,” Right on time, the bell rang. “Dismissed, children. I will see you tomorrow!”
Hephaestus’ classmates got up, bunching together, and gossiped as they always did after school. Satyrs ran outside while nymphs braided hair. Even Daimons flew off to their home, wherever Nyx and Erebus decided to reside for the timeline. Hephaestus remained alone, slowly packing his things into his bag and hanging them on his wheeled chair. Finally, some quiet.
“Hephaestus?” Lady Eleti called. Hephaestus finally released his sigh. “A word?”
“My Lady, There's not much time-”
“I’ll have none of that, come this way.” Hephaestus complied, knowing defiance held more of a hassle than it warranted. He wheeled his way quickly without knocking anything over. He grunted, remembering asking her to adjust the desks for him and her refusing. After a minute of weaving his way through his classroom, he made it to the front of her desk. “Now,” She started immediately. “I understand your role as an Olympian is important, but your duties as a scholar hold weight as well.”
Hephaestus leaned back, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. “I won’t be late this time.” He said a practiced response with the same fake smile he knew his mother used. “Worry not, Lady Eleti.”
His reply made his instructor smile. Lady Eleti held her head higher when her ear flicked. Hephaestus believed that she shone with beauty, despite being a pain to his weekdays. As a lotus nymph, she naturally gravitated towards seeking knowledge and teaching, and Hephaestus knew he gave her added stress. “I expect nothing less, pupil. Go on.”
“Thank you, my Lady,” Hephaestus bowed and eagerly pushed himself to the door. “Divine Farewell!”
“Oh, and Hephaestus?”
He read her mind before she even uttered the words. “Keep my mind close to the ground, I understand. Bye, Lady Eleti!”
Finally, I’m free! Hephaestus relaxed into his chair, letting his telekinesis push him along. Stray children looked, pointed, and even laughed. Hephaestus knew better than to give in to the insults. Their minds flooded with useless nonsense: games, toys, play. Hephaestus couldn’t be bothered when inventions needed to come into reality. I need to find an empty classroom to concentrate so I can have some peace for once-
“Phee!”
Hephaestus nearly dropped his pad and pen at the voice. His hands took control of his chair as he rushed down the hall. His heart sped up at the sound of heavy footsteps. Gaia, why is he here?!
The young smith forced himself into the sun before his eyes adjusted to the harsh light. It blinded him enough for his chair to jitter over a stray rock. He readied his fall with telekinesis but flinched when his body fell into arms instead of dirt.
Ares' smile managed to shine brighter than the sun. It displayed his sharp canines, glinting with ferocity. “Hi, Phee!” Ares greeted when Hephaestus looked up at his older brother, squirming in Ares' hold. “You almost fell… are you okay?”
“What are you doing here?” Hephaestus whisper-shouted. Around them, mental voices grew louder with worry. Children and parents alike dodged around the hulking child. Ares towered over quite a few Divine men despite his age. The Soul Scars that traced his arms and legs only exacerbated his beastly appearance. I have to get him out of here. “You know school grounds are forbidden.”
Hephaestus swallowed when Ares frowned. “I know,” He mumbled, expertly shifting his brother to ride his broad back. Technically, Ares couldn’t enter any school or learn any lesson. He managed to obey that rule, standing out in broad daylight in front of the opening. “Don’t tell Mama, okay? I wanted to surprise you!”
“Surprise me? Ares, you know I have work to-”
“Come on, Phee… Can’t we play for a little while?”
Hephaestus knew of his heavy workload back at his forge. He waited all Mortal day to return to his sanctuary. Then again, how long had it been since he spent time with Ares? The answer made Hephaestus sigh. “Fine, but only for a couple of Mortal hours, okay? I have a lot of work to do.”
“Alright!” Ares agreed, picking up and folding Hephaestus’ chair with ease. He knew to treat the chair with utmost delicacy, so he took his time with each movement. Hephaestus grabbed his bag, dragging it to his lap with telekinesis. “You’ll love it, I promise!”
Surprises rarely came to Hephaestus. His telepathy gave him access to all unprotected minds within a set range. Hephaestus heard all thoughts, even ones about surprise parties. He never liked getting spoiled, so eventually, everyone learned to stop trying. Ares didn’t get the message.
To give his elder brother some credit, Hephaestus always had trouble reading Ares. His thoughts jumbled and muddled inconsistently, leaving Hephaestus deciphering a sea of emotions rather than coherent words. It took practice and patience, but Hephaestus managed, as he always did. Ares walked on, ignoring every stare sent his way.
“Ares?” Hephaestus asked once they reached a safe distance away from the school. “Why do you want to surprise me?” He thought of multiple scenarios, but Hephaestus couldn’t think of a situation that lead Ares to this idea.
“Because I love you!” Arse replied automatically. “Artie was reading Pollie a book, and the brothers gave each other gifts in it! I wanted to give you something, too.”
Hephaestus looked up, a genuine smile creeping onto his lips. He didn’t think he gave mundane gifts with spears and swords, but anything counted when Ares got nothing. “Ares…” Hephaestus said, losing what he wanted to say.
“I hope you’ll like it. It took the whole Mortal day to put together.”
The smith hummed, amazed that Ares put so much effort into one gesture. Hephaestus only noticed the uniform Ares wore when it clashed against the silence of the woods. A daunting realization came to the younger Olympian. “Ares, did you have training today?”
“Yeah,” Ares answered.
Hephaestus flinched. “What?! How did you manage to escape? Athena watches you like a hawk.”
At his question, Ares smirked. Hephaestus didn’t know how far Athena’s mental gaze stretched, but he knew he had solitude at school. He felt droplets of her mental presence appear at random intervals, but outside that, Hephaestus craved his distance from his ever-watching sister. Ares didn’t have much luck with her being his instructor. “I just left! I’m getting better at that.”
“But Ares, you could get in trouble.”
“So? I always get in trouble.” His tone soured as his lips morphed into a quick snarl. Hephaestus only stared at him. “Might as well get in trouble doing something fun.”
Hephaestus nodded, knowing the difficulty that came with Ares attempting to do anything outside his schedule. It bound him to Mount Olympus, leaving little room for leisure or relaxation. Hephaestus didn’t protest this rebellion, as he missed his brother more than he initially realized. “I won’t tell,” He mumbled, nestling into Ares’ arm. The older prince’s warmth soothed Hephaestus into a lax trance between awakeness and slumber.
“I know you won’t, Phee,” Ares’ hand pet Hephaestus’ head. “Brothers don’t snitch on each other. Okay?”
Hephaestus didn’t reply, and Ares didn’t make him. They enjoyed the silence, with Ares making sure his stride stayed steady. Despite Ares’ domains and reasons to maintain distance, Hephaestus felt an odd comfort overtake him as he yawned. He rarely associated his brother with peace, but the young Olympian couldn’t help himself. Woodpeckers around them beat against trees in a hypnotic and soothing rhythm. It all came together in one warm ripple that washed over Hephaestus like a wave, calmly pushing him into slumber.
“We’re here, Phee.” Hephaestus heard his brother’s voice, arising after some Mortal minutes. The smith gasped at the revealed sight. An even clearing spread across the forest. To the south, a creek rushed in the distance. The sun hung just low enough to cast perfect shade over a picnic blanket and an array of snacks. “Ta-da!”
“Ares…” Hephaestus lost his words as Ares set him down on the blanket and adjusted him for comfort. “You spent all day making this? It’s so lovely…”
“I knew you’d like it!” Ares grinned and plopped down in front of him after he set Hephaestus’ chair to the side. “You like quiet time, and I like outside, so I put the two together and made this!” His hands flew around in wild gestures. “Quiet Outside!”
“That sounds wonderful,” Hephaestus told him, his smile not leaving. He dug into his bag and pulled out his notebook as Ares leaned over to watch. “Now I can finally keep working.”
“What are you making this time, Phee?” Children in Hephaestus’ class often asked him questions about work. Hephaestus rarely replied as he knew they wouldn’t understand the inner workings of his crafts. Ares probably had less mental functionality, and yet… “Is it a sword again?”
“Not this time,” Hephaestus chuckled. Ares enjoyed his weapons the most. “I’m making a soul tracker, so it can be easier to document the citizens in the Divine Realm. It’ll speed up transactions and doctor’s appointments.”
The explanation silenced Ares as he munched on a cookie. “That sounds like a lot,” He said with his mouth stuffed. “I don’t like the doctor, Phee.”
“I know.”
“Do you like the doctor?”
“Not all the time. I don’t like shots.”
Hephaestus returned to his drawings, scribbling random notes across quick doodles. Ares crawled closer and watched with intrigue. “Those are pictures!” He exclaimed, pointing at a small doodle. “Do you get to draw in school, Phee?”
“Sometimes,” Hephaestus told him, not looking up. “I never get to draw and read what I want, though,” His smile soured as the lines in his drawings thickened. “It’s always boring fables and writing assignments. I could be doing important work for Father, but Lady Eleti never allows it!”
Ares’ explosive giggles sent chills down Hephaestus’ arms. “You’re so angry!” He squealed, falling onto his side and holding his stomach. His dark curls frayed across the blanket in random directions before he sat up again, his eyes wide with a feral eagerness. “Keep talking about your teacher.”
Hephaestus heard the constant rumbling from Ares’ chest and swallowed. Despite the tension, Ares’ emotional sense always fascinated Hephaestus. Outside of Daimons, Ares possessed the ability and using it often made him happy. Unfortunately for the war god, most people of the Divine Realm didn’t enjoy the exhilarating rush of anger. “No, Ares…” He stammered, daring to give his older brother eye contact. The wild purple always made worms fester in Hephaestus’ stomach. “I don’t want to be mad at Lady Eleti. It’s not her fault. She’s just doing her job.”
“Oh,” Ares said, pouting but not protesting. Hephaestus remained silent as well, unsure of how to continue. Luckily, he didn’t have to think of one since Ares moved on. He leaned in closer, fixated on some of Hephaestus’ worded notes. “Phee, what does that say?”
Hephaestus didn’t miss Ares’ voice curl into a whisper. Due to its depth, the question still came out bristled and coarse, but Hephaestus long learned how to hear through his brother. “I’ll tell you just this once. You know what will happen if you go back home recognizing new words.”
“I know…” Ares’ subdued reply made Hephaestus’ heart sting. More than most things, Ares had a passion for learning. He’d sit and listen to Hephaestus talk for Mortal hours. When Father found out, Hephaestus was promptly forbidden to read to his elder brother. Why would it need to be read? Father’s words echoed, grating against Hephaestus’ mind. It is a weapon. A tool, just like the ones in your forge. Stop treating it with more worth than it needs, my son.
“Soul Organization,” Hephaestus blurted, shaking all over. Despite his blurring vision, he managed to point to every word. “I need to compile data from each Primordial branch and configure it to code. That's what my notes say.”
“That’s a lot of big words, Phee,” Ares gasped, mumbling each word again. “You’re good at reading! When I reach the age of maturity, I’m going to get my own house so you can read to me every day!”
“I’d love to visit, Ares,” Hephaestus laughed, breathless. “I think you will have a nice home.”
“Really?!” Ares beamed, clasping Hephaestus into a sudden hug. His grip tightened and crushed, but Hephaestus shifted to wrap his arms around his brother. “I’ll take you and Mama, and we’ll never return to the mountain again!”
“Where would we go?”
“I don’t know, but it won’t be here.” Another squeeze before Ares gasped. “We could move down to the sea! I can cook fish for you and Mama and invite Uncle Po to play every Mortal day!”
Hephaestus would have told Ares that the dream sounded perfect. More than anything, the smith knew his brother craved happiness. He searched Ares’ mind to find where he got the idea from but reading Ares’ mind challenged Hephaestus. The war god didn’t think with words, and emotions often clouded whatever Hephaestus would hear.
Unfortunately, booming laughter penetrated Hephaestus’ concentration. The boys gasped at the same time as Ares pulled his brother closer. “What was that?” Hephaestus whispered. Ares didn’t answer, his demeanor and thoughts shifting into a daunting, clouded storm. His dark eyes darted across the trees, searching for whatever laughed.
The answer revealed itself in due time. From across the clearing, two figures escaped from the trees, their laughter making the air shake around them. Hephaestus had to bite his tongue to keep from screaming. The giants reached over some trees, but Hephaestus could tell they were only a few Divine years older than Ares. One had ample pudge with a single purple eye, and the other barely had stubble.
Hephaestus quickly reached for their minds and winced from the lazy haze. Damnit, they’re drunk. He managed to get basic information such as names and origins; Polyphemos and Laistrygon, sons of Posideon.
“Oh, look,” Laistrygon slurred as birds fled at the sound of his booming voice. Hephaestus didn’t move as their gazes fell on them. “A couple of babies on our turf. What to do, brother?”
“I’m not a baby,” Ares growled. Hephaestus had to pinch him to quiet down. Even then, his growling persisted.
“No?” Polyphemos teased, leaning down and peering at the two gods with his single eye. “Someone’s got quite the mouth.”
“I agree, brother,” Laistrygon chimed, his rolling laugh making a deer scamper away with her young. “They deserve to be punished for having such sharp tongues against sons of Posideon.”
“No!” Hephaestus quickly intervened, using all his might to separate from Ares’ hold. The effort became futile, but Hephaestus didn’t stop using his voice. “We mean no harm, cousins! If this is your territory, we will leave peacefully.”
“I’m not their cousin,” Ares mumbled.
“Today you are,” Hephaestus snapped. Ares denying his parentage was far from worth their lives. “Look, let me handle this, and we won’t get beaten to a pulp.” To the giants, he said, “Let us just pack our things, and we can leave.”
“I have a better idea,” Laistrygon told them, leaning down and smirking. Hephaestus resisted the urge to gag; his breath reeked of a nasty mix of fish and mead. “We can tax you, and you can go on your merry way. Consider it a favor, cousin.”
“What?” Hephaestus asked, unable to see their plot. Their minds still hazed with alcohol, so the Olympian struggled to tell if they even bluffed. “What do you mean by a tax?”
“Since that cousin wants to be a brat,” Polyphemus pointed a dirty finger towards Ares, who growled in response. “We will take payment for his transgression on our territory.”
“No!” Ares roared back, finally releasing Hephaestus to stand at his full height. His eyes darkened with fury. Hephaestus tumbled back into the blanket, panting. Ares’ mind crumbled into disarray, funneling into a darkness Hephaestus failed to see. “If you hurt Phee, I’ll kill you both.”
“Oh!” Polyphemus laughed much louder than before. “I know you! You’re that son Uncle Zeus hates so much. And the crippled bastard is your brother! You two are the most pathetic gods known to the Divine!”
“Ares…” Hephaestus sat up and called feebly, ignoring Polyphemus’ insult. “Please, let’s just go!”
Ares didn’t budge, his growl rippling against the air. Laistrygon pressed a heavy finger onto Ares’ chest. “You dare to threaten us? Even a freak of nature like you can’t compare to the might of a giant and cyclops! Polyphemus, it looks like these two Zeusians need a demonstration.”
“I agree, brother,” Polyphemus answered, taking a mighty step forward. Hephaestus braced himself for an attack, but the arm passed him entirely. Instead, the hand opened and closed on something behind the Olympians. Hephaestus screamed when he finally saw what lay in the cyclops’ hand. “Let’s show them.”
My chair!!
Hephaestus’ wheelchair easily prioritized any possession he owned. He had very few memories as an infant without it, as he and Ares built it soon after Hephaestus’ birth. He accepted that walking would never be an option for him, and despite the ridicule, he enjoyed how the chair made him feel unique. What other Divine god could craft such an intricate invention? None of the children that resided in Hephaestus class, that was certain.
“Let it go!” Ares roared, his hands igniting in flames. Hephaestus winced from the sudden heat and tried to army crawl to his older brother. He wanted to scream, but his throat closed up. Ares’ mind swarmed with fury, too enraged to notice anything Hephaestus would try.
Cruel words flooded Polyphemus’ mind as his dirty smile grew. “With pleasure, cousin,” He slurred their laughter erupting into the setting sun as the chair dropped and crashed onto the dirt. The fall crushed it into thousands of useless pieces.
“No!!” Ares cried, his mind fading away to his anger. The roar that followed managed to silence their giant cousins. From behind, Hephaestus saw flames erupt in Ares’ mouth, escaping into the air in burning wisps.
One last time, Hephaestus tried to plead. “Ares!” He called, reaching out a trembling hand. Every Mortal second only made Hephaestus want to teleport away and sob. I should have just gone back to my forge! “It’s not worth it! Please, let’s just-”
Ares jumped to the sky, summoning a spear in one move. The giants looked up at his movements before simply laughing at him again. It only ceased when Ares lodged the spear into Laistrygon’s neck in one throw. Ichor sprayed out in surprise as the giant cried out. He staggered to his kneed as Ares fell back to the ground.
The fight began to blur for Hephaestus as Polyphemus swatted Ares into a nearby tree. “Damn bastard!” He rumbled before Hephaestus heard a crunch. More gold splattered on the ground.
I have to stop him. Another crunch, this time Ares squealed out. I have to make them stop before someone gets hurt…
The heat in the clearing began to rise, clogging Hephaestus’ throat. He had to take a single deep breath and aggressively wipe his eyes to get a clear view. Laistrygon had a wide hand pressed to his wound as Ares’ gut took another punch from Polyphemus. Hephaestus tried to shout but coughs only escaped. Each cough burned his lungs, and Hephaestus struggled to keep his mind clear.
“You cannot best us, pathetic god,” Laistrygon sneered as Ares withered on the ground. His face looked bloated like bee stings attacked it. “And you never-”
Ares didn’t let him finish. He let out a feral snarl with bright flames pouring out from his maw. It shot out in a quick beam, striking Laistrygon directly in the chest. Hephaestus covered his mouth when the beam pierced through Laistrygon’s body. The fire spread across his bare chest as he fell like a mighty oak. Ares summoned another spear and leaped up to lodge it into Laistrygon’s neck, quick and almost like a blur. Hephaestus didn’t even realize Ares finished Laistrygon off until he heard the giant gargle instead of scream. In no time, Laistrygon collapsed over, choking up thick ichor as his body burned.
“Brother!!” Polyphemus cried, his voice twisting with agony. Hephaestus couldn’t help but empathize. But Ares was far from done. He glanced back at Polyphemus, his eyes hollow and wild without focus. Ichor stained Ares’ mess of curls and added a ghastly shadow to the Soul Scars on his arms and legs. The flames behind Ares only exacerbated the monstrous look, making even Polyphemus hesitate. “I’ll… I’ll kill you!”
At the threat, Ares only smiled, displaying his ichor stained canines. It sent a harsh chill down Hephaestus’ spine. “Not if I kill you first,” Ares replied, his hands igniting into flames again. “You’ll die, just like the other one because you hurt Phee!”
No, Ares… Hephaestus feebly thought to himself. You don’t have to do this. He barely heard his mind over his brother’s tsunami of bloodlust and Polyphemus’ impending doom. In blinding rage, the cyclops threw a heavy punch. Ares had to jump up to avoid the impact, summoning a sword as he did. On command, the blade burned as Ares landed on Polyphemus’ arm. He wasted no time with his charge, slicing at every swipe the cyclops tried to make. Hephaestus could only stare in twisted awe as Ares leaped forward the Mortal moment Polyphemus tried to shake him off. The cyclops moved too slowly to evade Ares, only being able to stagger back to delay the inevitable. Ares raised his cataclysmic sword over his head as he shoved it into Polyphemus’ eye. He yanked his arms down and tore the eye open. Finally, Hephaestus vomited as golden gore spewed out of the wound.
He had to look away, the sounds of Polyphemus crashing into the ground with a mountainous thud, and Ares hacking and hacking away became too overwhelming for the young Olympian. He couldn’t open his mouth to plead or cry, his mind void of any words to say. Ares couldn’t be reached in this state and more than anything Hephaestus wanted to get away. If only he had rejected Ares earlier…
He retreated into his mind, thinking only of the euphoria of his work. Hephaestus closed his eyes and steadied his breathing, the burning wood sending him into an escaping trance. He imagined his tools, a hammer ringing to the beat of Ares’ stabs. It makes Hephaestus laugh as tears slid down his cheek. Those giants were right. I am pathetic! I can’t even handle my own brother’s temper!
Silence overcame the recesses of Hephaestus’ mind, letting his imaginary forge expand. The hammering stopped, replaced with various people. Mother, Father, even the dead giants. Best of all, dearest Aglaia sat beside him as she watched him work, his smile warming Hephaestus’ heart faster than any fire could hope to. The dream forge flooded Hephaestus with desperate peace, and he blotted out anything from the outside world to maintain it.
Like glass, the dream shattered when Ares screamed.
Hephaestus shook his head as the real world reemerged with flames lighting the twilight sky and the scent of dead gods penetrated any natural scent. Ares curled between them, holding his stomach when the black marks on his body lit up. They morphed and twisted, every Soul Scar changing shape to make room for the two Ares just acquired. It only lasted a Mortal second, but to Hephaestus, time slowed to a crawl. The light of the Scars blew out, leaving Ares stained with ichor all across his tattered body.
Hephaestus had no idea what got into him, but his tears finally escaped. Each sob increased in intensity, and Hephaestus grew into a shaking mess in no time. He didn’t even pause when Ares walked over to him and pressed him into a hug. If anything, the gesture only made Hephaestus cry harder.
Ares only stroked his younger brother’s head. Hephaestus couldn’t see Ares’ expression but nuzzled into his brother automatically, not caring about the ichor.
“Don't worry, Phee,” Ares whispered to him, his voice grating like dry brambles. “I'll always protect you. No matter what.”