The Pantheon: Siege of Ares

Chapter 1: The Sword of Gold and Brass

April 22nd

When it happened it was late, I was tired but I couldn't sleep because I couldn't get my dumb brain to shut up. I found a comfort of sorts in the night sky. But of course, it's Philly so no stars ever because "yadda yadda air pollution yadda yadda". Even still, I was surprisingly comfortable for a homeless teenager in a part of town with an unreasonably high crime rate. For a little backstory, my mother died while giving birth to me and I had never even met my father (I know, stereotypical right?), and from ages 0-10 I bounced around the foster care system as my temporary "parents" prayed that I would be gone within the year. But that wish never came true, and eventually, when I got tired of it all, I ran away. And ever since, I've been living on the streets scrounging for food like a rat, truly the scum of the earth. But needless to say, I don't have a high school diploma or a very good education, all I'm any good at is strategy games and I guess getting angry over the little things. Although there is one thing that's special about me in particular that I didn't mention, I'm the son of the Greek god Ares. Pretty crazy huh? 

3 months earlier

"I'm so tired, I didn't sleep well last night at all, and I barely ate anything either". Ivy turned to Jake and smiled slyly "I wonder why that is" as she fake frowned. "Oh shut up, you know why asshole, you're just mad you don't get to live under a bridge". Ivy laughed "Come back to my place tonight I'll cook you dinner, my treat". This was an offer that a starving teenager such as myself could simply not refuse. Soon we arrived at her cute and lively little apartment, the living room shimmering with lamplight and flames from the stove. The heavenly aroma of basil, garlic, olive oil, and freshly cut chives was almost euphoric considering the last thing I ate was a molding ham and cheese sandwich. As we ate we talked and caught up with how both of us had been, see Ivy is my half-sister on our dad's side and we had just happened to cross paths earlier that day. "Other than literally living in a cardboard box I'm doing alright, and fewer people to talk to means fewer fits of rage, but how about you?". Ivy snickered at my remark but continued "I've been doing pretty good myself considering I have my very own place, job, and hobbies at only 16" Her smile faded as a look of concern replaced it "Hey Jake, you haven't noticed anything weird or abnormal happening around you or anything like that right?". "What do you mean by weird?". Ivy shook her head and stood up, she took both of our plates and began washing them "I think it would be a good idea if you stayed here for the night" she said with a worried look still washing the plates. I furrowed my brow at the idea "No thanks, I don't want your help, I can manage just fine on my own, but thanks for dinner". Ivy was so worried she looked like she might cry "Are you sure?". "Yes, now please just drop it". "ok".

As I walked back to my little box under the bridge I began to wonder if I made the right decision in declining her offer. As I arrived I lay under the nice warm comforter I stole from a Walmart over 2 years ago while staring into the pitch-black night sky. I wondered if I was too mean to Ivy and what she could have meant by "weird or abnormal" things happening. Then suddenly the sky began to meld, barely noticeable at first glance but slowly shifting. Then in an instant the dark sky coiled into itself in a matter of seconds as the ground shook violently and the bridge above me began to crack. I dart away in seconds leaving all my belongings behind not exactly longing to be crushed by the bridge that once sheltered me from the harsh elements, and as the bridge crumbled onto where I had just been lying moments ago I looked back up to the contorting sky that had just been pitch black and noticed a big white hole smack dab directly above where I was standing. And out of the hole was a glistening gold object traveling at godlike speeds and as it drew closer I felt a heavy sinking within my stomach as if my body was trying to tell me "This is where your life will change, you homeless little cretin". In an instant, the former gold speck slammed into the ground right next to me at breakneck speeds nearly slicing me in two, and as I cautiously turned to look at the object I realized that it was a leather-sheathed brass longsword with a diamond-studded golden hilt and only one indicator of where it may have come from, three roman letters written on the blade that spelled "Tyr".