Kronos (Book Two)

Tesseris Minis

(Author's note: The Greet title translates to Four Months)

What would usually be a joyous summer for most people turned out to be the most draining time for Takashi Watanabe's loved ones.

His messages poured through like a coursing river. The update that Zeus was the actual perpetrator of their suffering dropped clouds of dread that followed them. Penny clutched onto her parents past the point of white knuckles from reading what the god-king put him through.

She wished her husband was right here to wave the dark clouds away with her love and patience. She could almost feel his heartbeat skipping several times as if something terrible unfolded. His immense guilt caused raindrops to fall from their cheeks.

Karisa cried endlessly that day despite Misha and Greg's help. Her cheeks turned red before she fell asleep.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, Hikari's team recorded the erratic levels with one point being the highest out of anything they had; when Nyx lent her power to aid Takashi. They were going to fire the laser net, but it dropped shortly after. Hikari's almond eyes waver from the near zero levels.

Her heart wanted to leap out of her chest to save him from that terrible world. A spike in energy rebounded up. They fired off the laser net. At the same time, the dark emerald wisps passed through. The laser gun short-circuited before dissipating after touching Zeus' intended target.....

4 months and 9 days later....

Karisa babbled in her stroller while reaching out to grab a falling autumn leaf. Penny cracked a grin that her daughter's happiness is keeping her afloat. Aiko walked alongside her in a headdress while Greg and Misha followed them.

Slow, staggered steps to the building where their loved one was recuperating. After taking the elevator up, they ignored the sign of ill omen in the section they entered. Aiko's hand trembled upon reaching the doorknob. A firm, gentle squeeze by her daughter-in-law kept her hand steady.

She opened the door with a large smile to lend her strength. Her headdress unwrapped to surprise the unmarked patient.

Little Karisa was placed on the bed. She crawled up to one of her favorite people.

Tears were fought back in the hope that Hikari will recover in time for Takashi's return.

The next day, the phones of Greg and Hikari went off. Heavy exhales accompany smiles that Takashi landed on a fixed point of time. The happiness of his loved ones warp in response to the additional trauma they feel from him. They each send their messages and thoughts to help him grieve so he won't be alone.

Penny tenderly touches her wedding ring. I will never give up on you. Just come home so we can rest. Please.

---

Gaia

Right after Ithaca's destruction and death of most of the Olympians....

In Ephesus, Helena and the servants sink to the floor from the heartache. The one she considered her mother can't be reached no matter how many times she tries the dog totem. The sorrowful bleating of a stag grabs their attention. 

Orion's four feet scramble towards them with teardrops crashing on the floor. He leans against the railing from losing his strength. Helena and the others rush over to grieve as one. Orion's bleating accompanies cries that lift up past the ceilings.

In Athens, Sarpedon, Thrace, and Corinth, the respective demigods weep from the sudden piercing of their hearts. Upon checking the totems, all the items cracked from the loss of connection.

Castor the Boar whines while Ares' servants attend to him. His porcine feet turn in different directions before stopping in front of an armored statue of Ares. He rests his body in front with endless tears from the loss of his favorite master.

A sobbing Eros, Phobos, and Deimos embrace Harmonia with all that they can muster.

On the island of Lesbos, a collective shout of fierce female voices pierces the sky. Tears crawl down the royal queen of their tribe. The brunette's curly hair flows from the fall wind that kisses her exposed shoulders. Her rough hands grip the keepsake of her divine father. A belt with the plate of an armored pig carrying a spear in its mouth.