Athanasios Perseus Apollyon - The Forgotten Tide

Chapter 12: Birth of Athena and the Bond of Kin

The Birth of Athena

The air in Olympus was charged with anticipation. The gods had gathered in the great hall, their attention fixed on Zeus, who stood with his hand on his throbbing head. The sky outside darkened as clouds roiled, lightning crackling ominously. I stood beside Triton, my half-brother, as we awaited the arrival of a new god. This was no ordinary birth; it was one that would alter the course of history.

With a mighty roar, Zeus raised his hand, and with a flash of lightning and a thunderous crack, his head split open. From the wound, a figure emerged, fully grown and armed, clad in gleaming armor. It was Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, born from the mind of Zeus. Her eyes were sharp, her gaze fierce, and in her hand, she held a spear that glowed with divine power.

As the gods murmured in awe, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Athena was powerful, perhaps too powerful, and there was an air of arrogance about her that I recognized all too well. I had seen that same arrogance in countless warriors, and I knew it often led to ruin.

Becoming Athena's Teacher

A few days after her birth, Zeus called upon me and Triton to take on the task of guiding Athena in the ways of combat. She was eager to learn, and it was clear that Zeus had high expectations for her. Along with Athena, we were also entrusted with the training of other young godlings, including my niece, Pallas, who had been named after the Titan of the same name, and a group of minor deities.

Athena quickly distinguished herself among her peers. Her natural talent for combat was undeniable, and she was fiercely competitive. During one training session, as we were sparring with spears, Athena boasted about her weapon.

"This spear," she said, twirling it effortlessly, "is tipped with the blood of the Golden Hind. It has slain countless monsters, and its power is unmatched."

I listened to her boast in silence, a small smile playing on my lips. Her confidence was impressive, but I could see the seeds of hubris taking root.

"Be careful, Athena," I warned her. "A warrior's pride can be their undoing."

She scoffed, clearly dismissing my words. "We'll see about that, Perseus."

The Final Test

The day of the final test arrived, and the gods gathered once again to witness the trials of the young deities. The atmosphere was electric, filled with a mixture of excitement and tension. Athena stood at the center of the arena, her spear in hand, ready to prove her superiority. Pallas, my niece, was her opponent. Pallas was a talented fighter, but she lacked the raw power and confidence that Athena possessed.

As the fight began, it was clear that Athena was dominating. She moved with a precision and speed that left Pallas struggling to keep up. Blow after blow landed on Pallas, and I could see the fear growing in her eyes.

I watched closely, my grip tightening around the Tartarean spear I carried, a weapon forged by Iapetus himself and gifted to me after I had bested him in combat. The spear was a symbol of the trials I had endured, its dark steel gleaming ominously in the light.

As the fight continued, Athena's arrogance grew. She toyed with Pallas, pushing her closer and closer to the edge of the arena. I could see that Pallas was nearing her limit, her movements growing sluggish, her defenses faltering.

And then it happened. Athena, in a display of overconfidence, made a reckless move, lunging at Pallas with her spear. In that moment, I knew Pallas was in grave danger. Without hesitation, I hurled my Tartarean spear with all my strength, aiming to intercept Athena's strike.

The spear flew through the air with deadly accuracy, but before it could reach Athena, Triton, Ares, Hephaestus, and the elder gods intervened. They moved with blinding speed, stopping the spear inches from Athena's heart.

The arena fell silent, the tension palpable. Zeus, his face a mask of fury, rose from his throne. "Perseus!" he thundered, his voice echoing through the hall. "How dare you attack my daughter! Explain yourself!"

I met his gaze unflinchingly, the weight of my crown—a simple yet powerful circlet of silver and gold, adorned with pearls and sapphires—heavy on my brow. It was a crown that symbolized my dominion over the seas and my place among the gods.

"Athena was about to strike a fatal blow," I said, my voice calm but firm. "I acted to prevent a death that should not have occurred."

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his anger barely contained. "And where did you learn to fight with such a spear? Your style is unmistakably like that of Iapetus."

"I bested Iapetus in combat," I replied, my tone unwavering. "He was impressed by my strength and skill, and he gifted me this spear as a mark of respect."

At this, Athena's face turned red with humiliation. She had been humiliated in front of her father and the entire council, and I could see the fury in her eyes. She would not forget this.

As Zeus continued to rage, Triton stepped forward, his voice calm but authoritative. "Perseus acted in the best interest of all. We should not let pride cloud our judgment."

The elder gods nodded in agreement, and Zeus, though still fuming, had no choice but to relent. But I knew this was far from over. Athena would seek her revenge, and I would need to be prepared. I could feel Athena's gaze burning into my back. She had been humiliated, and I knew she would not rest until she had her revenge. As I turned to leave, she called out to me, her voice cold and filled with fury.

"Perseus, you may have bested Iapetus and saved Pallas today, but mark my words—I will not forget this. You have made an enemy of me, and I will see you brought low."

I met her gaze with calm resolve, unflinching in the face of her threat. "Then let us hope that you learn the value of wisdom before that day comes, Athena. Arrogance will only lead to your downfall."

With that, I turned and walked away, Triton and Pallas by my side. I could feel the weight of what was to come, but I also knew that I was ready. I had faced greater challenges, and with my family beside me, I would face whatever the future.

In the aftermath of the confrontation, I found solace in a quiet corner of the training grounds. Pallas approached me, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. "You fought well, Uncle. But how is it that you are so undefeatable?"

I smiled, knowing that she sought to understand not just my skills but the experiences that had shaped them. "It's not about being undefeatable," I said softly. "It's about learning from defeat. There were times when I was young and arrogant, believing that strength alone was enough."

I shared with her a memory from my early years, a battle with Iapetus where my arrogance had cost me dearly. "I fought him with a hubris that nearly destroyed me. I lost all of my tendons in that fight, and it took years of healing and rebuilding to recover. It was a painful lesson, but one that taught me the importance of humility and strategy. Not only there each timne I have fought a powerful foe, I lose some in rememberence of the fight. weather it been. "But how did you learn to overcome such challenges?"

I continued, drawing on wisdom shared by Odin and Shiva, gods known for their deep understanding of war and wisdom. "Odin once told me that true wisdom comes from understanding one's limits and embracing the lessons learned from failure. Shiva imparted the lesson that arrogance is a warrior's undoing. It is not enough to be strong; one must be wise and adaptable."

I recounted how, in my youth, I had faced numerous battles where I was forced to retreat, regroup, and learn from my mistakes. "Each defeat was a stepping stone, a chance to grow stronger and wiser. I learned to observe my enemies, to understand their tactics, and to adapt my own strategies. That's how I became better, not by winning every fight but by learning from each one."