The music flowed like a crystalline stream, played by Nymphs and Muses on instruments that sounded divine. Laughter echoed through the hall as Gods and lesser Deities toasted at bountiful tables, laden with exotic fruits, succulent meats, and sweets that seemed made of light. Mead, nectar, and other immortal beverages flowed in jugs and goblets, ensuring the celebration never lost its rhythm.
Grover was seated near a long table covered with a wide variety of delicacies. The Satyr, completely surrendered to the pleasures of the feast, gorged himself without any moderation. With a goblet of nectar in one hand, he chewed on a crisp apple while balancing in the other arm a small stack of aluminum cans he had been consuming with gusto. He laughed and chatted animatedly with other Satyrs who were also enjoying the party to the fullest.
Further back, near an open balcony overlooking the vastness of Olympus, Thalia was in conversation with Artemis and Zoë Nightshade as they drank.
When Ikki and Zeus re-entered the hall, the music and celebration continued as if nothing had changed. But for the two of them, there was a new, silent understanding between father and son. Zeus, still immersed in thoughts about their conversation, glanced over at his daughter.
He took a deep breath, adjusted his posture, and then, without saying a word, began to move towards Thalia.
Ikki watched for a moment before heading to the food table. He approached, picked up a golden plate, and filled it with some fruit and pieces of grilled meat. He was in no hurry, nibbling on a bunch of grapes as his eyes wandered around the hall.
The Gods were scattered everywhere, talking, drinking, laughing as if they were untouchable. He observed them in silence, and then, almost instinctively, his concept of [Justice] manifested within his mind.
He saw beyond appearances, beyond the divine faces and splendid robes. Each God carried their sins like invisible marks that only he could see.
Ikki tightened his grip on the fork, pondering. They were Gods, but they had never felt the weight of their own divinity upon themselves. They had never suffered the pains they inflicted on others.
For a moment, he reflected on whether he should simply strip them of their immortality, force them to live a few mortal lives, feel in their own skin everything they had caused. He was capable of it. His concept of [Immortality] was not just the preservation of eternal life, but absolute control over it. He could make them human, vulnerable, force them to experience suffering, love, loss…
But he did nothing.
Not out of compassion, but because he knew that forced punishments didn't change hearts. If they didn't learn for themselves, it would all be in vain.
Ikki took a sip of nectar, the milkshake-like liquid sliding down his throat.
There was another reason too, a subtle, almost imperceptible change he had noticed since that meeting in the throne room. His absurd charm was exerting an influence over them.
Even Zeus, the most proud and tyrannical among them, had begun to reflect on his role not only as a ruler, but as a father. Poseidon, who always maintained a distant air, seemed less indifferent in his presence. Even Athena, whose arrogance was legendary, seemed more willing to reconsider her own judgments.
Ikki wasn't naive. He knew that millennia of behavior wouldn't change overnight. But... something was happening. Olympus was being influenced by him, however subtly.
Perhaps that was why he hadn't simply taken their immortality. If the Gods really could change, then forcing them to suffer as mortals wouldn't be a lesson... it would just be revenge.
A revenge that wasn't his, he had his own now.
For now, he would wait. Time would tell if this change was real or just a fleeting illusion.
While chewing a piece of roasted meat, his eyes drifted briefly, and that's when he noticed Zoë approaching.
Zoë approached Ikki slowly, stopping beside him, her gaze fixed on the horizon for a moment, as if deciding when to break the silence.
"Enjoying the party, Zoë?" Ikki spoke to her as he glanced at the girl.
"It's not bad. I'd rather be with my sisters, too many men for my liking. And you? I saw you were having fun with the Gods earlier... Beat Ares in an arm wrestle... All this strength competition and drinking, it's not something I expected from you..."
"Yeah, that's the usual fun for men. And I am a man after all, I have my moments…"
"…"
A silence settled between them for a brief moment.
"Ikki." Zoë began, her voice soft, but with a seriousness he quickly noticed. "I never really thanked you properly, did I?"
Ikki looked at her with a calm smile: "You don't need to thank me, Zoë. I just did what anyone would do."
Zoë shook her head, her eyes shining with an intensity that was hard to hide, even though she tried to maintain an impersonal tone. "It's not just that. You saved my life… and Artemis's."
She looked down at the goblet in her hand, as if preparing to take an important step.
Ikki raised an eyebrow, but didn't change his relaxed posture.
"Ah, it's a pleasure to be your knight in shining armor," he said casually.
Zoë felt a warmth rise to her face, but maintained her serious expression. She couldn't deny that, in that moment, a part of her felt something stronger than simple gratitude, something that went beyond mission, beyond duty. She smiled discreetly, but didn't let it show entirely.
"I… I offer you a toast, then," she said, raising her goblet and offering him a smile that, although discreet, seemed to have a depth of something deeper. "To allies, to heroes, and to all you've done for us."
Ikki looked at her, having no idea how impactful her words were. He picked up his goblet, with a small nod, and toasted with her.
"To us." He said with a slight smile. "And may our journeys bring us more encounters like this."
Zoë couldn't help but give a small smile, a touch of tenderness in her expression, though she tried to disguise it. It wasn't the time to expose her feelings, but the truth was there, implicit in the words and the way she looked at him.
She took a last sip from her goblet and let out a light sigh, as if satisfied with the conversation. She looked at Ikki once more, analyzing him for a brief moment before looking away, noticing her Lady's situation.
"Well, it was good talking to you, Ikki. But I think my Lady needs help. Once again, thank you for everything." She said with a touch of discreet humor in her voice, subtly nodding towards Artemis, who looked increasingly impatient with Apollo.
The God of the Sun gestured exaggeratedly as he spoke, clearly enjoying himself at his twin sister's expense. Artemis, on the other hand, crossed her arms with a look that alternated between exasperation and threat. Zoë knew that if Apollo continued, he would soon get an arrow aimed at his foot — or worse.
With a final nod to Ikki, Zoë walked away, moving lightly through the hall until she positioned herself beside Artemis, her presence immediately offering silent support to the goddess. Apollo noticed the Huntress's arrival and smiled sideways, as if knowing his time for teasing was running out.
Meanwhile, in the other corner of the hall, Zeus and Thalia were talking in a more serious tone.
Ikki observed all of this in silence.
He took a sip of the nectar in his goblet and noticed the approach of someone unexpected.
A subtle silence spread through the hall as discreet glances, and others not so much, turned towards a figure approaching him.
Hera.
The Queen of the Gods walked with elegance and impeccable posture, but Ikki didn't fail to notice the tension hidden behind her gaze.
He allowed himself to finish chewing calmly before raising his eyes to her.
"Hera." He greeted with a subtle nod, showing no specific emotion.
The goddess took a deep breath, as if she had been preparing for this moment for a long time. Many of those present at the party looked on attentively, some out of curiosity, others out of pure disbelief. Hera wasn't the type to seek casual conversations — much less with someone who, two years ago, had destroyed her mind and reduced her to a state of vulnerability that no one had ever imagined possible.
"Ikki." Her voice was firm, but without the harshness of before. "We need to talk."
Ikki raised an eyebrow, but gestured for her to continue. He didn't seem uncomfortable, nor anxious. He just waited.
Hera hesitated for a moment before crossing her arms, not in defiance, but as if she were trying to protect herself from something invisible.
"I want to apologize." She finally said, and a few more gods in the room widened their eyes. Some even stopped what they were doing to pay closer attention.
Ikki remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
Hera looked away for a brief moment before meeting his eyes again. "A year ago, when I learned about you, your existence, I reacted… wrongly. It wasn't just because you were another one of Zeus's betrayals — though that enraged me. But also because, in a way, your very existence seemed like a cruel reminder that no matter what I did, he would continue to be unfaithful."
Ikki didn't answer immediately. He observed the goddess before him: "So you took that anger out on me."
Hera pressed her lips together before sighing. "Yes. And I realize now how unfair that was. You weren't to blame for his actions. And yet, I chose to see you as a personal affront, instead of simply seeing you as… you."
Ikki was silent for a moment before taking a sip of his drink. The Queen of the Gods, Zeus's wife, his stepmother, was there, admitting her mistake. It was something he never imagined would happen at this party. He placed the goblet on the table and crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly.
"Why now?" He asked, without any hostility. Just genuine curiosity.
Hera was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Because I want to move on. I want to face this trauma. What you did to me that day still haunts me to this day. I had never experienced anything like it."
Hera let out an almost imperceptible sigh, but a small smile appeared on her face. A tired smile, but sincere.
"I'm not expecting this to erase what happened. But I thought you deserved to hear it."
Ikki observed her for another moment before nodding slightly. "I appreciate the sincerity."
The gazes around them were still fixed on them, waiting for some big explosion or unexpected development. But all that happened was Hera kept her gaze steady on Ikki for a few more seconds before giving him a slight nod and walking away.
The whispers began shortly after, but Ikki simply went back to eating, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
But he didn't have time to rest.
Olympus was never a place for discreet celebrations — the grander, the better. Laughter echoed, toasts were raised, and music filled the hall like an ethereal melody that seemed to vibrate in the very air.
Ikki barely had time to breathe before he was pulled into different games. Hermes challenged him to a guessing game where he tried to trick Ikki with mind games, only to fail miserably when Ikki revealed he already knew every attempt at deception beforehand. Dionysus, in a rare relaxed mood, insisted that Ikki try one of his finest wines — one sip was enough for even such a powerful demigod to feel the warmth of the drink spread through his body.
And then came the songs.
Melancholy songs began to play, and the atmosphere became strangely more intimate. It wasn't a lament, but something that carried an almost palpable nostalgia, causing many in the hall to slow down and enjoy each other's company.
That's when it started.
First, Aphrodite approached, asking for another dance. She wasn't seducing men and spent most of the party with other goddesses.
He blinked, surprised, but accepted. One, two dances. And then other goddesses appeared; Tyche, and even Nike, the Goddess of Victory, Eos, the dawn, who insisted that he was the only suitable company for a dance. He danced with all of them and even with Athena who asked him to dance again. He realized that his restrained charm still had a certain effect on higher entities.
He didn't notice the jealous looks of many women in the hall.
After being dragged into several dances, he barely had time to recover before Apollo, always theatrical, appeared by his side with a mischievous look.
"We have to admit, brother-in-law, you were born for this. I've never seen so many goddesses competing for a dance."
Ares, who had already drunk a little more than necessary, slammed the table and laughed loudly. "I swear, if he were my son, I'd be even prouder! Look at this bastard, he doesn't even try and he takes them all!"
Hermes, always ready for a joke, appeared beside Apollo with a malicious glint in his eyes. "You know, Ikki, you should start charging for these dances. A real lucrative business. The Stud of Olympus, the first demigod to build a romantic empire."
Dionysus, lazily drinking from his goblet, raised a finger. "We could even make bets. How many more before the night is over? I bet on at least five before he manages to escape."
The gods laughed, and Apollo, clearly excited, continued. "Oh, even better! Let's compose a poem about it. 'The young warrior who, effortlessly, stole the divine hearts'." He pretended to hold an imaginary lyre and began to recite dramatically: "Oh, cruel fate! Divine curse or blessing from the heavens?"
Ikki sighed, picking up a glass of nectar from the table. "Don't you really have anything better to do?"
"Of course not." Said Hermes, patting him on the shoulder. "This is Olympus, fun comes first!"
Dionysus waved his goblet, agreeing. "And look, I rarely have fun, so make it worth it."
After some time joking with the Gods, he finally managed to leave the party.
Ikki found some peace on the stairway in front of the great hall. The cool night air contrasted with the vibrant bustle of Olympus, and he sighed, running a hand through his silver hair.
Not that he was tired – he rarely was – but being the center of attention all the time could be irritating.
He leaned back slightly on the marble steps and looked up at the sky. Olympus was different from the mortal world. The stars seemed closer, twinkling with an ethereal light, as if the gods themselves were sculpting new constellations every moment.
Lost in thought, he let his mind wander. The dance with Aphrodite and Athena, the conversation with Zeus, the interaction with Hera, the gods' jokes… All of it seemed distant now, as if it belonged to another reality.
For a moment, he just watched the sky, letting the silence be his only company.
Everything seemed different now.
Although he knew that some choices could have been better, in the end, he beat fate. And that was a bright joy amidst the hazy feelings he carried.
Just a few days ago, his mind was a whirlwind of pain and anger. But, throughout the mission, he had taken a step forward. He had overcome what happened to his mother partly due to the anger he felt for fate or for wanting to change...? A bit of both. Not that he had forgotten or given up — his goal was still the same. He wanted to bring her back.
But now, he was no longer lost in an obsession or frozen in time amidst grief.
Would she be happy to see him like this? To know that he had moved on without being consumed?
Ikki let out a small sigh, closing his eyes for a moment. He remained sitting on the steps, lost in thought, until he noticed a familiar presence approaching. He didn't need to look to know who it was.
Artemis sat down beside him, keeping some distance, but still close enough to share the same space under the starry sky.
Neither of them said anything.
The silence between them was dense, laden with everything that remained unspoken in the last year.
A year ago, they were best friends. There was a deep bond between them, something that transcended mere camaraderie. A silent and sincere love. But in the end, Artemis rejected Zeus's son.
And now, he had saved her life.
The Goddess of the Moon felt a tightness in her chest. A sensation she couldn't fully define, but that made her look away at the ground.
She felt ashamed.
Not only for her past decision, but for everything that had happened since then. She didn't know what to say, and Ikki didn't seem in a hurry to break the silence either.
So, they just sat there, side by side, while the moon shone above them.
A few moments later, the silence was finally broken by Artemis.
"You've really become popular, haven't you?" Artemis said playfully, glancing sideways at Ikki: "Danced with so many Goddesses… even my new lieutenant joined the competition…"
There was a subtle tone in her voice, something Ikki didn't notice. But it was there. A hint of something close to jealousy, camouflaged by the playful banter.
He smiled slightly, raising an eyebrow.
"Competition?" Ikki repeated, feigning confusion: "I have no idea what you're talking about. It was just out of politeness…"
Artemis rolled her eyes and snorted softly, as if she had expected that answer. But unlike before, there was no hardness or irritation in her gesture. Just a trace of melancholy, a feeling she tried to hide.
Ikki looked away at her, finally really observing her.
She was still beautiful. Stunning, actually. But something had changed.
This time, her form wasn't the same as always. Her hair was now red, long and silky, reflecting the silver glow of the moon. Her face remained impeccable, ethereal, but there was a new softness in her features, a touch of humanity that wasn't there before.
And then, her body…
She seemed to be the same age as him, her silhouette more feminine, the delicate curves of her body evident beneath the silver Huntress clothing. It was as if, somehow, without even realizing it, she had chosen an appearance that matched the moment.
Or maybe it was more than that.
Ikki blinked, looking away before his thoughts lingered.
Artemis remained silent, staring at the sky. The cold night wind blew gently, making her hair ripple.
She didn't know what to say. And Ikki… well, neither did he.
The silence between them lasted a little longer before Artemis let out a light sigh, crossing her arms over her bent knees. Her voice came soft, but laden with emotion.
"I didn't do it right before. But thank you… for saving me…"
Ikki glanced at her, noticing how her silver eyes were focused on the ground, as if avoiding his.
"You know you didn't have to thank me, I just did what I thought was right," he replied casually.
But she shook her head, as if disagreeing.
"I do need to," her voice trembled slightly, and she pressed her lips together before continuing, "And… I need to apologize…"
Ikki finally turned his full attention to her.
Artemis took a deep breath, gathering the courage to say something that had long weighed on her heart.
"What happened a year ago… my choice…" she closed her eyes for a moment, before facing him with a regretful look, "That was my biggest mistake…"
She saw the surprise cross Ikki's face, but he remained quiet, allowing her to continue.
"I loved you…" Her voice was low, but sincere, "And yet, I rejected you."
Ikki blinked, surprised, almost thinking he had misheard.
"You… loved me?"
His voice was low, as if he were trying to process the information. He stared at Artemis, searching for some hesitation in her expression, some indication that it wasn't real. But all he saw was sincerity and a deep weight in her silver gaze. When he found out about fate's manipulation of this, he was almost certain that it was because of him that Artemis was so close to him.
But it seems it wasn't just that…
Artemis swallowed, feeling her heart race. She had already come this far… backing down now would be cowardly.
She took a deep breath, gathering all the courage she possessed.
"Yes, Ikki. I was madly in love with you."
Zeus's son remained silent, his mind struggling to comprehend those words. He spent a whole year believing that his love had never been reciprocated… that it was just a foolish illusion on his part, and now he had discovered it was just a trap of fate. But now, there, under the starry sky, the Goddess of the Moon herself was admitting that she loved him.
Artemis continued, her voice soft, but charged with emotion.
"From the first moment I saw you, you moved me. Always so fearless, always so strong… but at the same time, kind. I admired you… and then, before I realized it, I found myself enchanted. Every smile of yours, every word, every time you stayed by my side without asking for anything in return… I fell, Ikki. I fell for you like I never thought possible…"
She paused, her eyes shining with something between sadness and affection.
"But I was afraid. Afraid of losing who I was, afraid of giving up everything I had built. I was a coward. I chose my pride over what my heart wanted."
Ikki pressed his lips together, feeling a mixture of emotions overtake him.
Artemis lowered her gaze for a moment, before facing him again, determined.
"I loved you, Ikki. But when I had the chance… I let you go…"
Ikki took a deep breath, trying to calm his own heart, which insisted on beating faster than it should. He never, not even in his wildest dreams, expected to hear those words come out of Artemis's mouth.
And then, a subtle sensation touched his mind.
Something invisible, intangible, but familiar.
"Fate" was influencing this encounter.
Why now? Why, after everything, was she confessing? If fate wanted him to love her, but never allow him to have her, it made no sense for Artemis to be there, opening her heart to him. But, at the same time… if he accepted, if they really got together, wouldn't that go against what fate wanted from this relationship?
He felt a pang of irony in that.
If fate truly desired him to continue loving Artemis without having her, then it had made a mistake by making her confess.
But… did he want that?
Did he want to be with her after everything?
If he were honest with himself, a part of him still loved her. Always had. Time and pain hadn't completely erased that feeling. But his pride, that stubborn and resistant side that had held his emotions for so long, didn't want to simply forget what happened and accept her back.
He wasn't that magnanimous.
And yet… knowing that she was the one who took the initiative now, that she was the one who swallowed her pride and opened her heart, softened that pain he had carried for a year.
But it didn't change one fact.
He remembered what he felt when he discovered the truth: that his love for Artemis wasn't entirely his, but a seed planted by fate.
An inevitable illusion.
The love he believed to be the purest flame in his heart was revealed to be a subtle trap, woven by forces he couldn't even see. At that moment, he felt betrayed… not by Artemis, but by the universe itself, as if his own soul had been manipulated to desire something he could never have.
So, why should he choose to jump into that trap again?
Why risk being molded by forces that toyed with his life as if he were a piece in a game he never asked to play?
Ikki looked at Artemis, who seemed so sincere. She was there, so close and, at the same time, so distant.
What he felt now, was it real? Was it something that truly came from him, or was it just another invisible chain trying to guide him?
He couldn't forget.
Every moment he lived with Artemis, every shared laugh, every battle fought side by side. The bond they shared, the friendship that once meant everything, the love that consumed him. The pain of rejection, it all mixed into a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
Artemis kept her gaze fixed on Ikki, waiting for some reaction, anything that could tell her what he was feeling. But Zeus's son remained silent, his intense blue eyes locked on her, full of conflicting emotions.
The Goddess of the Moon felt a tightness in her chest. She had already expected this, but still, it hurt.
She took a deep breath and forced a small smile.
"It's okay, Ikki. If you don't love me anymore…"
She hesitated for a second, as if the words were too hard to say. Then, she gathered all her strength and continued:
"All I want is for you to be happy. Even if it's not with me."
Her voice was soft, but laden with sincerity. She truly wanted that. No matter how much it hurt, no matter the regret she carried, what mattered was him.