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It was early morning and Nerva was sleeping in bed all was well until they suddenly shot up in bed and gasped for air. Nerva instantly regretted doing that as they felt like someone had stabbed them in the back ten times over. It was a pain they could feel all over their back not in on area and it wasn’t an ache either more like a hard thumb that continued to knock no matter what. Nerva closed their eyes for a second and then opened them again they sighed and said
“why is my back hurting now” Nerva thought back to what they were doing yesterday and all they did was work as a cashier like normal nothing about that seemed out of the ordinary yet it was the only explanation they had for this sudden back pain. They hadn’t had back pain this badly since just after their back operation when they were 12 for their scoliosis.
Nerva slowly put their legs out of their bed and sat up they went and grabbed their wand and opened a blue portal and walked through it. Nerva came out of the portal and into the kitchen the portal soon closed behind them. it was there that they walked towards the fridge but the walk was slow and unsteady as they tried to minimise movement hoping that could stop the pain.
Nerva looked on top of the fridge and there were many medicines in different boxes but Nerva was looking for one piece of medicine in particular they then said
“found it!” and grabbed a box containing ibuprofen Nerva then walked over to the sink and grabbed a cup that was nearby they poured in some water and pulled out the ibuprofen and put two tablets into their mouth they than went and drank the water the medicine going down their throat.
Nerva then walked back to the fridge and put the box containing the medicine on top of the fridge they then opened another portal and walked into it the portal led Nerva too there bedroom where they soon went and entered their bed and Nerva hoped that would be the last of it.
It was not the end of it as Nerva was still in pain they knew it would take awhile for the medicine to kick in but they thought to themselves “it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at my back” Nerva then grabbed their phone and lifted up their pyjama shirt they then took a photo of their back and let go of their shirt and took a look at the photo.
Nerva froze in place as they saw it and said “what the hell” and what was on the photo didn’t make any sense there were two nubs extruding themselves from their back it looked like two bits of raised skin with something poking through it.
Nerva quickly went to the internet and searched for anything about this anything to do with nubs on peoples backs or if this has happened to an elf before but they got nothing and sighed not even Reddit had any help in the search. Soon Nerva phone alarm started to flare and it was time to get ready for work in hollow stalls.
Nerva swallowed and shaky got out of bed they then said “its now or never” as they opened up a blue portal and walked into it heading to hollow stalls.
The next evening all seemed to be going well in hollow stalls everyone was asleep expect for one individual phoebe goodmen she was still awake lying in bed and said aloud to themselves
“I should go get myself a drink yeah” phoebe then floated out of bed and headed out of her room and into the hallway of hollow stalls upper flat. Phoebe moved through the halls humming a song to herself when she spotted her older sibling Nerva just walking straight heading downstairs.
Phoebe then said aloud “Nerva! What are you doing up?” but phoebe got no response from Nerva as Nerva was walking still headings towards the stairs. Phoebe flies through the hallway and reaches up to Nerva they grabbed Nerva’s hand to stop them from going down stairs,
Nerva soon shook their head and turned around to face phoebe they looked at their sister confused for a moment before they said
“Phoebe I didn’t notice you were there! What are you doing up so late?” Nerva asks
Phoebe then said “you didn’t notice me? How I spoke to you before ”
Nerva shrugged their shoulders and said “oh I must have not heard you then”
phoebe then said “right Nerva do you know what you were doing at all?”
Nerva sighs and shakes their head “no I don’t know phoebe I’m just as surprised as you are”
Phoebe says “Nerva I think you were sleepwalking”
Nerva then added “sleepwalking? Well that certainly explains it then”
phoebe soon said “we have to tell mum!”
Nerva shook their head and said “why worry her over what’s likely a one of event I’m sure it will be fine”
Phoebe then said “are you sure Nerva? If we don’t tell her then what do we do?”
Nerva said “we just don’t rush it phoebe im sure it won’t happen again anyway”
Phoebe looks hesitant but says “fine if you think so Nerva”
Nerva then added “right lets head back to bed”
A couple of months have passed and the sleepwalking incident as Nerva went to call it wasn’t the first time it happened a few other moments had happened Nerva has managed to hide it from phoebe and dawn successfully.
Nerva soon woke up feeling like they were pressing against something. They sat up and got out of bed and noticed a few grey feathers lying on the bed. Nerva shocked by this went over to the mirror and looked at turned around they lifted up their shirt and out came two fully formed wings. The wings looked like that of an angel and were coloured grey instead of white
Nerva then said “what the hell it wasn’t like this last night” they then managed to get their shirt back on but when they did the wings ripped a hole in the back a perfectly sized hole to let the wings fit through the shirt.
Nerva then said “Great I’m gonna have to tell mum and phoebe about this” they had briefly considered trying to hide it but realised that was impractical as people with wings were common place and Nerva had no reason to think they would be treated any differently by their family.
Nerva grabbed their wand and opened a portal they then walked through the portal and Nerva entered the kitchen at first Nerva heard a loud gasp echoe through the kitchen then they heard from phoebe “What the! Nerva you have wings!”
Nerva rolled their eyes and said “yeah I’ve noticed that”
phoebe then said “but how! Did you use a potion on yourself?”
Nerva shook their head and said “nope just woke up like this “
Phoebe added “is that normal for elves do you all just get wings one day if so how come mum doesn’t have any wings?”
Nerva then said “no this isn’t normal in fact im waiting for mum to give me an explanation “
as if on cue dawn walked into kitchen and she said “holy…..shit Nerva you have wings”
phoebe then added “mum you can’t just swear!”
Dawn replied with “sorry phoebe just shocked is all”
Nerva then added “so do you have any idea why this happened to me mum?”
Dawn then said “yes I think I might it has to do with your father Nerva”
Nerva said “but my dads an elf as well right? Why would he have anything to do with this”
Dawn shook her head “your father isn’t an elf he’s a god”
there was a pause for a moment and Nerva then added “which one?”
phoebe then said “which one? That’s all you have to say not even a hint of Surprise or shock?”
Nerva shrugged their shoulders and said “its common knowledge that the Greek gods are real phoebe in fact you know I have two friends that are demigods “
Phoebe nodded her head “of course I know that Nerva I just thought you’d be more shocked” phoebe said
Dawn then responded with “ahem well Nerva to answer your question it’s Hypnos the god of sleep”
Nerva then said “alright that makes sense “
Nerva then asked “why didn’t you bring this up before mum it would have been nice to know”
Dawn scratches the back of her head “well it didn’t look like you inherited anything from him so it just never crossed my mind”
Nerva rolled their eyes and said “of course well it’s better late than never “
Phoebe then added “awh I want wings now”
Nerva then said “phoebe you can just shape shift some wings on you know that right?”
phoebe then let out a laugh “yeah I forgot I could do that”
Nerva turned to face dawn and said “mum can I have the day off work to adjust to these wings ?”
Dawn nodded and said “take the whole week off Nerva and sorry for not telling you sooner”
Nerva then said “thank you mum “
phoebe then went and said “oh so your sleepwalking makes sense now Nerva! Since Hypnos is your dad that must be why your sleep walking”
Dawn then gasped “you’ve been sleepwalking Nerva and you hadn’t told me? I would’ve helped ya out”
Nerva “I didn’t want to worry you mum plus I have it under control”
Dawn rolled her eyes “right until you get yourself hurt will be going to a doctor about this Nerva ”
Nerva sighed “alright mum” Nerva then said
“I’ve got to tell Mina and Kenny about this so I’ll be going now”
Nerva opened up a portal and walked through it the portal closed behind them as they entered their room.
Nerva then went onto their computer and went on discord they messaged Kenny and Mina asking if they both wanted to hop on call and chat and the two said yes later the video call then happened
Kenny the demigod son of Poseidon soon said “what’s up Nerva”
Mina who was looking at the camera asked “can you hear me?” Mina was also a demigod and had wings as well she was a daughter of nike.
Nerva whose webcam was turned off said “I’m fine Kenny and yes we can hear you Mina anyway have something to show you two just promise me you won’t freak out”
Kenny was the first one to say “whatever it is it can’t be that shocking”
Mina then added “we wont freak out Nerva show us”
Nerva then turned on their webcam and Kenny and Mina gasped as they saw it Nerva wings were clearly visible and Nerva said
“I have wings now”
both Mina and Kenny said “how!”
Nerva then said “well you know my dad the guy I’ve never met turns out he is Hypnos”
Kenny then said “congratulations Nerva you’re a demigod! This is so Cool we’re all demigods now!”
Mina then added “that makes sense Nerva so I assume you would like some flying lessons from me? I’d be happy to teach you”
Nerva nodded their head “yes I would like some flying lessons Mina”