The quiet after Zeus's departure was suffocating, the weight of his words lingering in the air. I stood there, unmoving, letting the forest around me settle back into its natural rhythm. The birds resumed their songs, the wind whispered through the trees, and yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted.
Zeus's offer hung over me like a dark cloud. It wasn't that I didn't trust him. No, it was more than that. I couldn't afford to rely on anyone, especially not a god with his own agenda. He had warned me, true, but had it been out of concern for me, or was he simply looking for a way to use my growing power for his own purposes?
I didn't have answers, and I wasn't sure I wanted them yet.
Turning on my heel, I began walking through the forest. My mind raced through the possibilities, trying to ground myself. The mirror, the object that had led me here, was pulsing faintly within me, as if sensing my inner turmoil. But I wasn't ready to look into it yet. Not now.
I needed to clear my head.
It wasn't long before I reached the edge of the forest, where the land opened up to a vast valley. A river cut through the center, its waters sparkling under the soft light of the setting sun. The view was breathtaking, yet something about this place felt off. Like I wasn't supposed to be here.
I felt a presence before I saw her.
A figure emerged from the trees, moving with unnatural grace. Her form was outlined by the fading sunlight, and her long silver hair shimmered in the breeze. She wore armor of dark metal, etched with symbols I didn't recognize. And yet, there was no mistaking the aura around her—the same divine energy I had felt from Zeus.
I instinctively reached for the sword at my side, channeling my Authority, but the figure raised her hand in a peaceful gesture.
"No need for that," she said, her voice calm yet filled with an undeniable force. "I am not here to fight."
I narrowed my eyes, unsure whether to trust her words. "Who are you?"
"I am Astraea, the Goddess of Justice."
At the mention of her name, memories flooded my mind—fragments of stories and ancient myths, whispers of gods who had once ruled the realms, each one with a specific domain. Astraea, the goddess who had once been revered for her commitment to justice and fairness. She was a figure of great importance in the old pantheons.
"What do you want with me?" I asked, voice low and wary.
Astraea stepped closer, her eyes unwavering. "I have watched you, Alex, since the moment you took the life of Heracles. You have the power to shape the fate of the gods. The balance between realms is fragile, and there are those who would see it shattered. You have come into your own power, but you are still blind to the consequences of your actions."
I tensed, the weight of her words pressing down on me. "What are you talking about? I've already killed gods, and I'm still standing."
"Not all gods are the same," Astraea said, her gaze intense. "And not all consequences are immediate. But you will soon face those who will challenge everything you've become."
I stepped back, eyes narrowing. "So, what? You're here to stop me?"
"No," she replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I am here to offer guidance. Just as Zeus did."
I froze. "Zeus?"
"Yes, the former king of gods. He was not wrong in his warning. There is much more at play here than you realize. You have already changed the course of fate, Alex. And there are those who will not allow that to go unchallenged."
Her words struck a chord deep within me. I hadn't thought about the larger consequences of my actions, the ripples I had created. Sure, I had killed Heracles, but how many gods, powerful beings, would now see me as a threat?
Astraea's voice broke through my thoughts. "But not all of them are enemies. Some will offer you alliances, and some will try to manipulate you. It is up to you to decide who to trust."
"So what are you asking?" I replied, still unsure of her true intentions.
"Only that you remember this," she said, stepping forward. "Your power, your strength, is not just for you. It is for the balance of all things. Use it wisely, or the price will be steep."
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. The implications of her words were clear. There was no going back now. I had stepped into a world where the consequences of every action were far greater than I could have ever imagined.
Astraea raised her hand once more, her divine energy surging around her. "I have given you a warning. Do with it what you will. But remember—there are forces at work here that you cannot see, and they are watching you."
With that, she vanished into the wind, her presence disappearing as quickly as it had arrived.
I stood there, motionless, the weight of the world pressing down on me. The sense of power, of invincibility, that had accompanied my godslayer title now felt distant, fragile. There were things I had yet to understand—things far beyond the gods I had already slain.
The mirror within me pulsed again, its rhythm steady and almost comforting, as though it was awaiting my next move. But for the first time in a long while, I wasn't sure what that move would be.
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