Author's note:
Apologies, I have been extremely busy this week.
That is why the chapters have been delayed.
Anyways, enjoy the chapter!
——
Between the many beautiful trees, beneath the clear sky and upon the soft grass, a lone woman walked gracefully through the forest.
She possessed beautiful golden hair, royal-purple eyes, and a beauty that was difficult to put into words.
The woman was Hera.
She carried herself with natural grace and an alluring presence. As she passed through the forest, even the trees seemed to lean toward her, almost as though they were bowing before their queen.
Yet despite the peaceful surroundings…
Hera's expression was anything but peaceful.
Annoyance was written plainly across her face.
"That stupid brother of mine. That brute. All he ever thinks about is training," she muttered.
Hera was annoyed.
And why?
For one simple reason.
She had been forced to come and fetch her brother because he had disappeared into the forest to focus entirely on his training for over a month.
Knowing Aetherion, he had probably lost track of time entirely.
Of course, a month wasn't particularly long for immortal beings such as themselves.
But that wasn't the problem.
They had a strategy meeting today.
Metis was the one who called the meeting, and it was understandable.
Their first victory was in the past now and no longer in the present.
Instead, the Titan of Wisdom was thinking about the future, and what they should do to defeat Kronos and his dogs.
After all, they were still in a war, planning was important.
But somehow, Aetherion—the very person who was supposed to be helping lead their rebellion—couldn't be reached.
Out somewhere traning without a care in the world.
So Hera had taken it upon herself to find him.
That was the only reason.
Obviously.
It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she hadn't seen him for an entire month.
Nothing whatsoever.
At least…
That was what Hera told herself.
The truth was that she wanted to see him.
She simply had no intention of admitting it.
Certainly not aloud.
'That bastard…'
Hera's frown deepened.
'He disappears for an entire month and thinks about nothing but training.'
Quite frankly…
It was annoying.
Hera slowly raised her gaze toward the sky and released a long breath, attempting to push away her irritation.
As she continued walking, her thoughts gradually drifted toward everything that had happened across the island during the past month.
The atmosphere had changed.
The people had changed.
And Hera knew exactly why.
One man.
Aetherion.
Because of him, the people had finally reached out and grasped the embers of hope beginning to burn within their hearts.
It wasn't simply because they had won their first major battle.
Nor was it solely because Aetherion had accomplished something extraordinary by slaying one of the Twelve Great Titans.
It was because of the man himself.
Because of who Aetherion was.
He was kind.
Patient.
Helpful.
Mischievous.
And strangely different from nearly every deity Hera had ever known.
Many immortals probably couldn't even understand what made him so different.
But Hera could.
Aetherion didn't possess the overwhelming hubris that seemed almost inherent to divine beings.
Of course, he had pride.
A great deal of it, in fact.
He had pride in his strength.
Pride of his accomplishments.
And a great deal of pride in himself and the people who followed him.
But he never allowed that pride to completely distort his judgment or his view of the world.
Not like so many other immortals did.
That was what made him special.
What made him different.
Aetherion didn't rule through fear.
He didn't force others to kneel simply because he possessed the strength to make them do so.
He didn't demand obedience through violence and coercion.
He inspired people to follow him.
Unlike Kronos.
But perhaps the greatest change could be seen in the people living upon the island itself.
They had begun looking toward Aetherion as something more than merely a powerful Titan.
A leader.
Someone they respected.
Someone they admired.
Someone they wanted to become more like.
And slowly…
His personality had begun rubbing off on them.
People were becoming kinder to one another.
More cooperative.
More united.
Yet even that wasn't the most surprising change.
They were training.
Immortals who had previously shown little interest in improving themselves had begun practicing and developing their abilities.
Those who already trained regularly pushed themselves even harder.
Everyone on the island knew what Aetherion was like.
A training freak.
And apparently…
That attitude was contagious.
Hera sighed.
'He's been training for an entire month without stopping.'
That was precisely why she had come looking for him.
Aetherion was so obsessed with becoming stronger that sometimes he forgot everything else.
Including the fact that he wasn't merely a warrior anymore.
He was a leader.
And they were still fighting a war.
As Hera's thoughts continued to wander, she failed to notice that she had already reached her destination.
Eventually, her mind returned to reality.
She stopped.
And stared.
The sight before her was strangely peaceful.
Yet equally peculiar.
Within a small clearing sat countless animals.
Deer.
Wolves.
Squirrels.
Lions.
Birds.
Foxes.
Predator and prey rested peacefully beside one another without the slightest hint of hostility.
And at the center of them all…
Sat Aetherion.
His long golden hair flowed gently behind him, strands of forest green woven throughout it.
A warm yet immensely powerful green aura of divinity surrounded his body.
Hera remained silent as she watched.
Aetherion slowly moved his hands through the air.
And strangely…
The animals moved with them.
When his hand shifted left, they responded.
When his fingers moved, their bodies followed.
It was almost as though invisible strings connected every living creature to him.
Like puppets responding to their master.