Guardian of the Gods

The Tale of Agathias

Before there were any other gods, there was a single human woman.

She lived alone, in a small hut off the coast of the vast vats of salty water. Every day, she would take a long walk to the mountains and hike to the top, where she prayed to Gaia, and Uranus, offering food, before taking the long journey home to her hut, perhaps feed herself before wallowing herself in the darkness and silence.

She would sleep, and the sunlight would wake her before she ate, and went to the mountain once more.

All on her lonesome, Gaia and Uranus pitied the poor mortal and filled her home with luxurious items - swords, scrolls, a tame wolf and a swallow, an endlessly filling flask of wine - anything she would ever want.

But, even though she was overjoyed by the blessings, the woman was lonely.

Eventually, the day came that when she prayed upon the mountain top, her swallow perched upon her shoulder, when her prayers were not acknowledged.

Looking up to the skies, a saddened expression came to her. Had she not shown absolute loyalty? Had she not devoted her life to the two beings?

The woman made her long commute to her hut by the ocean, sitting in the sand, heartbroken.

Then, from the waves of the ocean, forth stepped a young man.

Who are you? She had asked the man. He smiled at her, saying: I am Poseidon, the god of the seas, earthquakes and disasters.

Realizing this, she bowed. What business does a god have with a mere mortal such as I?

I wish for you to be my bride.

Years after this statement, a child was born. Half human, half god.

Agathias was his name, the blessed child of the gods. The first child of the gods.

All the gods had celebrated his birth, each gifting him with a present.

From Aphrodite, the blessing of beauty.

From Hera, the guarantee of a happy marriage.

From Hermes, the blessing of endless stamina, permission to travel between worlds, and to change appearance at will.

From Hephaestus, a sword that could summon the flames.

From Ares, the willpower to fight.

From Athena, the blessing of knowledge and wisdom.

From Apollo, the blessing of light.

From Artemis, the blessing of animal-speak.

From Dionysus, an endless supply of nectar and ambrosia.

From Demeter, endlessly blossoming flowers wherever he stepped.

From Hestia, the blessing of divine rule over civilization.

From Hades, the blessing of judgement.

From Zeus, the blessing of flight, and the Flame of Rain and Peace.

From Poseidon, the blessing of water, earthquakes, and the Flame of the Ocean and Destruction.

With these blessings, Agathias became the most powerful man to ever grace the Earth. He ruled over Ancient Greece, married to a young woman named Hermione, until he was killed at the age of 67 by a son of the leader of the Royal Military Forces.

Mourning his death, the gods gave Hebe and Hades the task of returning him to the world of the living. And thus, Agathias was brought back, but not as a mortal, instead as a legendary hero of the people and was brought to Mount Olympus as the Guardian of the Gods.

And he has resided there ever since.

That is, until the year turned zero anno domini, and Agathias disappeared to the world of mortals once more.