Reunions

-Felix? Felix! Where did you go? Jeongin yelled after the boy who had disappeared into the wild of the forest.

He couldn't feel his signature anyway and that was driving him crazy.

However, he could feel one particular signature, one powerful enough to mask the others. Jeongin was skeptical, but he figured he could give it a try.

-Father? Father, I feel your presence! he looked around, searching for Hermes in every shadow.

-Oh, my son! How lovely to finally meet you! a woman's voice said in mockery.

Jeongin turned to find the source as his eyes fixed a black haired woman with pale skin and dark eyes.

-Who are you? he asked completely bewildered. She had the same signature as his father. And sometimes more. Something he couldn't pinpoint just yet.

-I'm Chaeryeong. Welcome to Aeaea, dear brother! she smirked.

Jeongin froze in an instant as the sudden reveal. That's why she had his signature... She was a child of Hermes. No different than him.

-You... You're...

-Your sister. Yes, I am, she bowed as a pair of black wings sprung from her back.

-You're Calypso's daughter.

-One of many, Chaeryeong scoffed. I am the perfect combination of grace and power. Which is why I should had been chosen as Hermes's champion. Don't you agree? she flicked her wrist and bent the trees around them, making it look like they were bowing to her.

-Telekinesis... Jeongin figured out.

-You're clever. But you're no warrior. I am. I'll prove it to father.

-He won't hear you. He doesn't even hear me.

-You're pathetic, that's why! I know a thing or two about you, brother. You can't fly, can't rule, can't do anything but locate gods. You're weak. A disappointment to his legacy. A mistake.

-And you're here to fix me? He doesn't care about you! He won't pick you even if you kill me, Jeongin backed off a little.

-I can certainly try! she launched her attack, cutting through the air like a blade and pushing her brother to the ground.

-Is this way! Hyunjin insisted.

-Like I'd believe you,Seungmin rolled his eyes.

-Do you have a better idea? Last time I checked you were as bad with directions as me.

-Yes, but I'm no fool like you. You have the ability to attract misfortune. Therefore I'm going this way, he pointed into the opposite direction, giving Hyunjin no choice but to follow.

-Hello, dear child! a voice rang loudly in Hyunjin's ears.

He stopped walking and waited a few seconds before Seungmin was out of sight.

-Athena...

-Did you really think I wouldn't find you? she asked amused.

-I apologise for everything, but I'm here to fix it! I'll find the box and-

-You failed me, she cut him off. I entrusted you with my treasures and you proved once again how incompetent you are.

-It was a mistake! Hyunjin protested.

-There's no room for mistakes. The Pandora Box is dangerous and powerful. It can destroy civilizations if left in the wrong hands.

-That's why I'm here to find it!

Seungmin returned to see what took Hyunjin so long to follow when he spotted his mother talking to him.

-Give me one more chance! Forgive me! I can do better. I can be a god of war. A god of the intellect.

-Very well, Athena gave in. Bring me that box, Hyunjin. By the eclipse in two days. With the deadline given, Athena disappeared into thin air, leaving Hyunjin to pounder on a way of getting that box as fast as possible.

As he set the goal in his mind, he made eye contact with Seungmin who looked distraught.

-Your mother just-

-Left? Yes, I saw.

-Why didn't you talk to her?

-I am not allowed to, Seungmin lowered his head in shame.

-Tree after tree after tree and no way out! How is this possible? Minho yelled in frustration.

-It must be charmed. Someone doesn't want us to reunite, Changbin drew the conclusion.

-That's it, I'm cutting this whole forest until I find Jisung! Minho took his sword out of its sheath.

-Or... you can use your powers, son of the forest nymph.

Minho agreed and put the weapon back. He could certainly try to control the nature around him.

-I'm not sure how to do it. I've done it only once before.

Minho's hesitation appeared kind of nostalgic to Changbin who recalled his times in the underworld as a young unexperienced prince trying to master the art of his father's powers.

But if he were completely honest, he had more to offer. His mother was Persephone after all. She had thought him a few things too.

So he stepped towards a tree and touched him for a brief seconds. The leaves turned brown and fell to the ground instantly as the trunk buckled before Minho's wide open eyes.

-Fertility manipulation, Changbin explained. My mother's gift to me. You have to connect with your surroundings in order to recreate it by your desires. See this tree like the living being it is. I just killed it. Now restore it.

-How? Minho asked still confused and slightly angry at himself.

With every second wasted on his stupid incompetence, Jisung was closer to death.

-Just feel its pain and try to help it, Changbin guided the son of Ares before a fire blast interrupted them and burnt the tree to ashes in a matter of seconds.

-What was that for? Minho asked in shock.

-It wasn't me, Changbin replied in awe.

-It was me.

The two spotted a female figure walking bare foot towards them in a dark blue dress. Her dark wavy hair danced with the wind as she approached them with a menacing look.

Changbin squinted his eyes, trying to pinpoint where did he know her from.

Only the moment she appeared before them had he remembered who the woman was.

-Shuhua... Circe's daughter.

-Whose daughter? Minho reached for his sword before being turned into a wild rabbit.

-How adorable, Shuhua took the animal in her arms and started to pet it. You'll make a great addition to my collection. You too, son of Hades. Maybe I'll turn you into a pig, she laughed. If you don't follow me willingly, of course.

Felix followed the faint voice of his sister to the seaside.

A sharp buzzing in his ear pulled him towards the water as a woman spread her arms to welcome him. Black straight hair hanging on her bare shoulders and piercing eyes that drew Felix closer.

-Do you know who I am?

-You're a Nereid.

-Smart boy, she smiled. I am your protector, Felix. The one that found you and gave you the power.

-Apollo is my protector.

-He only took you so I wouldn't find you again. He doesn't care about you, my dear. But I do. I want you to become who you're meant to be, she cupped the boy's face into her palms and made him look her in the eyes.

Felix felt weak in front of her persuasion and let himself walked deeper into the water.

-I know who you are, Felix. Your friends lied to you. They used you. They are afraid of you. You deserve the whole truth. And that I can give you.

-The truth? Felix asked completely under her spell.

-Yes! You're a warrior, Felix. You're meant to fight great battles. Just like your father. And with my aid you will become a champion worthy of legends and history books.

-I'm not a warrior... I only cause troubles. I put people in danger, Felix snapped out of the trance. I'm sorry... I'm not the one you're looking for, Thetis...

-You are, my dear. Just listen to me, she grabbed his wrist and emerged both of them into the water.

As Chan returned with the branches for the fire, he spotted a tail prowling around a certain area of the sea where the reflux almost touched the unconscious titan laying on the sand.

The son of Orpheus figured out that the mermaids were still targeting them for some reason.

He moved Jisung away from the water as he tried to think of a way to save him and find the others.

-I'm not letting you die, he placed his hand on Jisung's shoulder. Just hang in there until I find a solution.

_________________________________Thank you for reading!