**Hestia's POV:**
As I wander through my abode on Mount Olympus, I seek out Dionysus, but first, let me see what Zeus is doing.
However, he remains unseen in his place. Instead, I find a pile of scrolls on his workstation—likely part of his law declarations.
As I examine them, they appear to be more like files, a record of past events, perhaps his diary...
I glance over my shoulder, scanning the area to ensure no one is watching me trespass and break the rules by touching Zeus's private property.
With the space seemingly clear, I begin to read his diary...
**Flashback:**
Now that the war between the Greeks and Troy has subsided this year, the conflict seems poised to continue. As Athena often mentions, both sides are merely waiting for the right moment to strike.
The combat raging in Troy lingers in my mind, reminding me that other gods here on Mount Olympus have taken sides and favored their champions among the warriors.
One of these Olympians who sided with Troy is Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and twin sister of Apollo.
It is said that when Agamemnon, king of Argos, killed Artemis's sacred deer and claimed to be a better hunter than she, she sent fierce northern winds to prevent the Greeks from sailing to Troy.
Only after Odysseus tricked Agamemnon into sacrificing his eldest daughter to gain Artemis's forgiveness did the northern winds relent.
Another was her twin brother Apollo, god of prophecy, music, and healing. He serves as a source of wisdom for both gods and men, with an intellect as far-reaching as the arrow shot from his silver bow.
He is believed to be the first god to teach mortals the healing arts, including music, helping humanity reach its full potential through his gifts of enlightenment.
During the Trojan War, it is said that he allied with the Trojan warrior Hector, raining fiery arrows down on the Greeks from his chariot in the skies.
As I ponder the gods' obsession with making bets and achieving their goals, I spot Aphrodite...
Aphrodite, sensual and mysterious, with her enchanting laughter and unparalleled beauty. The goddess of love and beauty, she can seduce both god and mortal with her hypnotic allure.
So breathtaking in her loveliness, she incites envy among all the other goddesses on Mount Olympus. Judged by Paris to be the most beautiful, she was awarded the "Golden Apple of Discord." In return, Aphrodite granted Paris the love of Helen, the most beautiful woman on Earth, igniting the "Trojan War."
She also saved Paris when he was critically wounded in battle against Menelaus, king of Sparta, inciting Hera's wrath and setting her wheels of vengeance ablaze...
My sister and wife, Hera, queen-goddess of the skies, is a jealous rival to the other goddesses on Mount Olympus. Despite her beauty, she is known for her cunning. A vigilant guardian of married women, she knows the bitter sting of infidelity all too well. Though she is often demure, she holds a relentless vendetta against those who thwart her will, especially after Paris judged the goddess Aphrodite to be lovelier than herself.
Thus, she became a fierce enemy of the Trojans, using her powers to aid the Greek warriors until Troy lay in ruins...
A proud son of mine, ruthless and bloodthirsty, is Ares, the god of war. His legends embody the worst traits of humanity. It is said he walks the Earth with his consorts—Grief, Strife, Panic, and Terror—in search of devastation and brutality, their cries echoing to the heavens.
During the Trojan War, Ares used his powers to aid the Trojan warrior Hector. However, Ares himself was no hero; rather, he was a coward known for fleeing the battlefield when wounded. His cries could be heard even on Mount Olympus.
In contrast, his brother Hephaestus aligned himself with the Greeks. On Mount Olympus, where all the other gods are beautiful, only Hephaestus, the god of fire, was considered ugly. Yet, what he lacked in appearance he more than made up for with his extraordinary powers. Despite his deformity—or perhaps because of it—he crafted objects of remarkable beauty.
From his workshop deep beneath the Earth, this master of fire and forge created the palaces, boots, and armor of the gods and goddesses, including my thunderbolts and Athena's armor. During the Trojan War, he fashioned new armor for Achilles, but his true value lay not in war, but in peace, as he was also the patron god of architects and craftsmen, bestowing gifts of beauty and skill upon humanity.
His gentle character shines through in humanity's remarkable artistic designs and achievements.
Then there was Athena, the goddess of crafts, domestic arts, and war. She combined divine intellect with extraordinary strength, and of all my children, I chose her to bear my shield and thunderbolt.
A fierce enemy of Troy, she fought alongside the Greeks and assisted Achilles in battle. While courageous in war, she also recognized the supreme value of peace and was known as the protector of the home and domestic arts—unlike her fellow goddesses, who preferred to call nature their home. Athena was devoted to cities, her favorite being Athens, which bears her name and is home to her temple, the Parthenon.
Even though the major gods and goddesses on Mount Olympus took sides, betting on who would win the war, I refused to take sides, instead using my "Golden Scale" to balance the destinies of every hero.
**End of Flashback:**
I'm sure this knowledge might come in handy for Argos...
