How-not to be an Olympian God!

Chapter 83 - A Step Back In Time

*BOOM*

Lava erupted from the numerous volcanos dotting the land, and earthquakes were frequent and deadly.

The little vegetation that could survive thrived in the sea, but the violent currents and massive waves made even the growth of moss impossible.

In the Age of Titans, nature was extremely erratic and inhospitable.

In this ancient land, atop a colossal mountain, a simple wooden hut stood still.

Inside the hut, a woman sat on a wooden chair.

She had deep-blue hair and eyes, and a golden armor covered her body.

The woman seemed to be deep in thought, and her eyes were circulating around the room.

As she was in this contemplative state, a man entered the room.

The man had a bloody blindfold that covered his eyes, yet he moved around the hut as if he could see perfectly.

The woman looked up and when she saw him, a smile replaced her worried and thoughtful face.

"Sophus!" The woman's voice was excited and high-pitched.

"Athena...I sensed worry and came about instantly, what's on your mind?" The man named Sophus asked with a worried tone.

"I'm glad you're here...."

Athena continued, "The war with the titans is taking a toll on me, and Father's expectations for me to always make the right decisions is...."

She didn't find the right words and stopped speaking.

Sophus interjected, "Heavy on your mind?"

Athena chuckled self-depreciatingly and nodded, "You always find the right words for everything, Sophus, I hope I can be like you in the future."

Sophus shook his head and replied, "No, I'm just a lonely being who cannot even come to terms with his own sister."

He shrugged and said, "Athena, these new gods, that call themselves the Olympians, I have observed them, and you and Hermes are different."

"How so?"

"Zeus and the bunch are stubborn and stiff, they cannot grow and will always be the people they were when Rhea gave birth to them. However, I know that you, Athena, can change."

He halted for a second and stared at Athena.

Then, he continued, "You can make the decisions to become the goddess you want to be, and even if you don't, you don't have to worry about time, since you have plenty of it."

Athena listened attentively and when he finished his speech, a single tear dropped down her face.

"Can I really do that?"

"Yes, and why are you so worried? You only came out of Zeus' head recently, you can't possibly know yourself the moment you are born." Sophus moved his finger.

Suddenly, a third person entered the hut.

It was also a man of short stature.

The man had a handsome face and purple eyes. A small pair of wings folded on his back when he landed, and a smile covered his face.

When he saw Sophus, he exclaimed, "Sophus! You're here!"

Sophus giggled and greeted him, "Hermes, you look as busy as ever!"

Hermes sighed and turned to Athena, "Sister, I have some bad news."

He didn't wait for Athena's reply and informed her, "Atlas refuses to give ownership of Mauretania to Father and Iapetus, The Titan of Pain is with him. You've been asked to assist on the sidelines."

Athena frowned and said, "Sophus, I think I'll have to go."

Hermes suddenly inquired to Sophus, "Have you resolved the issue with Gaia?"

Sophus shook his head and stated, "Our relationship is deteriorating, and I don't think preventing a conflict will be possible."

...

Hermes and Athena were about to speak, but Sophus interrupted them.

"You two, come here."

The two complied and approached him.

Sophus placed his hands on their heads, and as if they were children, he rubbed their heads.

"You two have your own conflict to commit to. This senior right here will resolve his conflict on his own, alright?"

The two nodded and he added, "I have gifts for each of you."

Out of a sudden, two objects appeared in each of his hands.

In one hand, he held a paper and an inked quill.

In the other, he held a wooden sextant.

"For you, Athena, this will help you make your invaluable wisdom eternal." He gave the paper and quill to Athena.

"For you, Hermes, this will help you find direction during your frequent travels." He gave the sextant to Hermes.

"Well then, go on, you two! I don't want thanks!"

Athena and Hermes nodded and charged out of the hut.

While Hermes flew, Athena ran across the lands.

They navigated for days and days, but because there was no way to measure the time in the Age of Titans, they didn't know how long they journeyed for.

After crossing a violent sea, and a searing desert, they stopped at a mountain range.

Over one of the peaks, five figures stood.

There was Zeus.

His hair was white but his beardless face and muscular body made him look younger.

The second person was Hera, who was by his side.

She had black hair, and her golden eyes shined with enigmatic feelings when she saw Hermes and Athena.

The third person was Poseidon, who was stealing glances at Zeus.

Poseidon was shirtless and only algae covered his private parts.

The fourth person was Demeter. She looked young and had verdant green eyes. Wooden roots acted as her clothing.

The fifth person was a large bearded man with black eyes.

He stood a far distance from the other four and had an eternal frown. It was Hades.

When Athena and Hermes found their way onto the mountain peak, Zeus exclaimed, "Took you long enough, Hestia will get you caught up! Get ready, this battle with Atlas will change the result of this war a lot."

Suddenly, above a mountain peak far away from the one they were on, a gargantuan figure looked to the five gods in the distance.

He was unnaturally muscular, and his pupils had beautiful star-like spots.

When Zeus caught sight of the titanous man, he exclaimed, "Gods of Mount Olympus! Olympians! My brothers and sisters! Let's win today's battle!"

All of the other four nodded and Zeus bolted into the direction of Atlas.

The other four followed as swiftly.