Chapter 1: the debate before the mistake
Scene One: The Throne Room of Olympus
The sky cracked open with a peel of thunder that echoed across the heavens. At the summit of Mount Olympus, where no mortal could tread, the gods convened in their throne room—a radiant marble hall that shimmered with celestial energy. The twelve Olympians sat on thrones forged from the elements themselves, each etched with the symbols of their divine dominion.
Tension thickened the air.
Athena, goddess of wisdom, rose first, her silver eyes steeled with purpose. "Lord Zeus," she said, her voice calm yet sharp, "we cannot allow that child to be born. His bloodline is not natural—it's a bridge between mortal fragility and forbidden power. If left unchecked, he could be our undoing."
Hera, ever regal and cold, nodded without hesitation. "I agree. A child born of Ava and him is a direct threat to Olympus. It must be stopped before a calamity befalls us all."
A heavy silence fell—broken only by the shifting of Poseidon's trident. The sea god leaned forward, his deep voice like rolling tides. "Brother, please," he said, pleading with Zeus. "What you're suggesting… if he finds out what we've done, it will not just be a war—it will be extinction. For all of us."
Zeus's eyes flashed with electric fury.
"Silence!" he thundered, rising from his throne. "We are the gods. They are mortals. Playthings. Worms. Do not insult our legacy by fearing one of them, no matter his origin."
Hermes, seated casually with one leg draped over the other, chuckled and twirled a dagger between his fingers. "I don't know why we're dancing around it," he said. "Kill the woman. Kill the child. Wipe his memory if you must. Clean and simple."
The gods stared at one another.
Then, slowly, Zeus raised his hand. "All in favor of Hermes' solution?"
Twelve divine voices echoed in unison like a chorus of fate:
"Agreed."
The heavens did not weep that day. They only watched.
1 year later
Scene Two: Earth – The Night of Loss
Megumi's eyes fluttered open to a dull sound downstairs. A faint clink, like glass tapping tile. He sat up in bed, still half-dreaming, assuming it was Ava—probably knocking over another dish while trying to make late-night tea.
He smiled briefly.
But something felt…off.
"Ava?" he called, his voice hoarse as he stepped into the hallway. No answer.
Barefoot, megumi descended the stairs, each creak of the wooden steps louder than the last. The moment he reached the bottom, a chill ran through his spine.
The kitchen light was on.
He walked in—
—and froze.
A shadow loomed over Ava's body. Her auburn hair fanned out across the cold floor, her eyes wide in horror. A blade was buried deep in her abdomen—right where their unborn child had been growing.
Megumi gasped. "No…"
The shadow turned its faceless head toward him—and vanished into black mist.
Megumi dropped to his knees and caught her, hands trembling. "Ava!" he screamed, shaking her. "Ava, stay with me—please—stay with me!"
He pressed his hands to her wound, pouring every ounce of healing magic he knew into her body. The energy flickered. Her skin shimmered faintly. But it was too late. She was already gone.
Sobbing, megumi placed a trembling hand on her stomach.
And there it was—a faint heartbeat.
"Please… please…"
Then nothing.
The beat stopped.
His child was gone too.
Megumi didn't scream. He simply wept, cradling them in his arms, rocking back and forth through the endless night. Not even the gods could hear him.
Scene Three: Morning
Light filtered through the shattered kitchen window. Jake hadn't moved.
The front door creaked open.
Leonidas stepped in, tall and grim. His hair, once coal-black, was streaked with silver. He wore a dark cloak and heavy boots, his expression unreadable until his gaze fell upon the bloodied scene.
He froze.
Then walked slowly to megumi's side.
Placing a weathered hand on his grandson's shoulder, Leonidas knelt beside him. His voice, barely more than a whisper, carried the weight of a thousand battles.
"I'm so sorry, son," he said. "This is a tragedy no man should bear. But we can't stay here. There's something you need to know."
Megumi didn't move. His eyes were empty.
Leonidas stood. "Come. We need to talk. Everything… everything's about to change."