Awakened By The Gods

Chapter five - Golden Apples

Zeus sat upon his grand throne, eyes piercing through you, his voice carrying authority that left little room for argument. "It is time for you to prove yourself," he announced, his gaze falling on you.

"A goddess cannot exist in name alone. You must be seen, known, and feared among mortals. You must take on your duties, as the rest of us have."

You shifted uneasily under his gaze but held your ground, determined not to show any doubt. "And how do you suggest I do that?"

A slight smirk crossed Zeus' lips, his eyes gleaming with the weight of unspoken trials. "You will find your own way, but there are certain... expectations. The mortals must see you. Your power must be felt. As the gods influence the fates of humans, so must you. There is no other path."

The room fell silent, as it was only you and him in that place. You wondered why he decided this was a conversation that needed to be held alone, but you liked it that way so you did not dared to ask.

"But where do I start?" you asked, trying to sound more confident than you felt. The gods weren't exactly known for offering guidance unless there was something in it for them.

Zeus leaned back, eyes narrowed. "You will join Heracles on his quest to retrieve the golden apples of the Hesperides. It will be a test of your ability to influence both mortals and immortals. Guide him, hinder him-it is up to you how you handle this, but your presence must be felt."

Your heart raced at the mention of Heracles. His legend was the most known across your world, and now you were expected to play a part in it. A test, not just for him, but for you.

"I can handle that," you said firmly, though doubt lingered just beneath the surface.

Of course you couldn't handle that! How could he expect you to take a major part in this? You barely learned to teleport from here to there, and now he expected you to either sabotage or guide a demi god? Great.

Zeus nodded, satisfied. "Good. And remember, this isn't just about completing a task. How you manage it will shape how the mortals and we, the gods, see you. Prove that you belong among us."

You want to dig a hole and hide in it.

But you knew this was not the answer if you wanted to survive in that world.

And you definitely did not like the idea of dying.

.

.

After a long search --since you were still new to this world-- you finally found where Hercules was heading: he was on a boat towards the Hesperides golden tree. You knew it was there he was heading, you just didn't knew where exactly that was, and you needed to not be discovered by the other gods, just in case any of them were lingering there with a purpose towards Hercules.

Of course you had already made up your mind: helping him.

His life was unfair from the very start, especially after what happened to his wife and kids because of Hera's jealousy.

So he deserved to own a title on Olympus.

And you were ready to do whatever it took to make that reality.

You flew silently above the clouds, keeping an eye on Hercules as his boat cut through the waves. The ocean looked peaceful from above, but you sensed something was wrong. There was an unnatural pull in the water, like a force was pushing against Hercules' journey.

A frown creased your forehead. You couldn't see it, but you could feel it-Ares. His presence lingered in the distance, watching Hercules, ready to make things harder for him.