Ch. 84: A Talk Between Otherworlders
I stood before Hephestus with a wide grin on his face which was unusual for his usual grumpy self. I wonder what Hermes had discussed with him for him to brighten up this much. More than that he had agreed work with us to build the time machine he referred to as the Temporal Rift Generator. I guess things are progressing a bit further.
“So you’ll help us?” I asked in a more stricter tone than before.
He nodded and responded. “You heated me the first time. It turns out Hermes’ blood was the missing component I needed all along, though it will take a while to work the tweaks but it’s doable. Why so you need it anyway, I know it’s to stop the calamity but what’s the main point?”
That I could not tell him and I think even he sensed that but he still wanted to know either way. “I can’t say for certain now only that I have to do this myself.”
He raised an eyebrow and nodded. “I see then.”
Talos stood next to me her hands folded under her chest, her eyes still filled with emptiness. Now that I knew her curse I could not help but help her through it, she was my ally. “Why are you helping us now father?”
Hephestus looked at her with weary eyes and a look of sympathy before turning and saying. “Retribution for all the pain I have caused you. I know just an apology would not be enough so I’ll do everything I can to help your friends.”
She did not look impressed or moved, “Friends is a rather constructed term. Hades is an associate at best. Hermes is just a test subject. Don’t think this act will draw out a sense of sympathy from me.”
Hephestus seemed more pleased than annoyed. “I expected as much from my daughter. But you must know, I really am sorry for the hell I’ve put you through.” He walked away to the machine not waiting for a reply from her.
I looked at Talos who was as silent as a ball of yarn, I wonder if she really did accept his apology. “I will get to work on my laptop, I still have to figure our what’s going on with the mighty gods of Olympus.” She turned and walked away from me.
“Haa~, what a problematic young woman.” I wondered if this was what the Watcher meant by there were two people who could help me to go back in time. Hephestus was a genius above all others, he had the knowledge to create the device I needed but lacked the power. Hermes on the other hand had the power to travel to wherever he wanted without restriction so there was a possibility he could travel back in time I suppose, as absrude as it sounds. Was that why Hermes had to be reborn? So I could fulfil my goal.
As every one of them was busy preparing I felt I had to do the same also. If Hephestus really managed to build the darn thing I would need to worry about going back in time to two hundred years ago to the time I passed out initially. I would have to plan my return back from there too.
My attention was drawn to Hermes who say isolated in a corner of the workshop on a steel chair wrapped by a thick blanket, before him was a huge still table with a glass of water. Come to think of it I haven’t actually talked with him even though he was an otherworlder like me. He was a child so he must have been scared and tired, Greek mythology was not especially built for the weak of mind. I was not intent on comforting him but I had to at least reach out to him, can’t have him becoming a liability part way through.
I camed to the table and dropped a can of soda I had taken from the crazily battered fridge of the god of the forge. “Here kiddo, cheer up.” I said as I took a seat next to him. He looked absurdly pale and weak, his usual hype was now lost. I guess Hephestus must have taken a bit more blood from him than required. “What’s up?”
His eyes weakly looked at the can of soda and he kept silent for a while. “I’ve had enough drinking for a day, I would kill for a burrito.”
I relished that thought. “You and me both kiddo. I guess this second life was not something you expected right?”
“I guess,” he said in a downbeat tone.
If I put myself into his shoes it must have been hard for a highschool kid to relate to a world as complex as this, gods and technology, politics and power. It must have been hell for him. “What do you think of Talos, you spent quite a bit of time with her haven’t you?”
He raised his head and stared at me for a while before saying. “You trying to start a conversation with me old man?”
Even as downbeat as he was he still had an obnoxious almost annoying response. “It’s really not a conversation if I’m the only one talking is it?”
He smiled lightly giving me a bit of joy I guess. “Hehe, I guess not. Talos is okay I guess. She really doesn’t bother me much and she doesn’t act like other girls would. I have to say it was kind of fun since I haven’t shared a room with a bed before. When she wasn’t asking me werid questions and not working we would experiment with my abilities. It was my idea anyway. I found out I could move at a very high speed like a speedster from superhero movies and later I could tear through the air and appear on places away from the room. It was fun, the most fun I have ever had in a while.”
It felt good swing him smile again, it was almost like watching the old Hermes through him. “What about your old life, how was it like?”
“Okay I guess, a funny thing though, I was afraid when I about to be reborn and even mord afraid when I was about to die.” He snorted a stiffled laugh.
“Really? Why is that?” I asked in a cold tone.
He raised his eyes and I could ses tears form there. “I was afraid I would have to live another life by myself, with responsibilities and all. I was afraid I would doe not having live it to the fullest. Sometimes I wonder if life is a blessing or a curse.”
I wondered if I should leave him to himself but remembered that he was just a frightened child here. “You are right, Matt. Life can be either or both depending on how you live yours.”
He sniffeld back those years and gave me a bolder look. “I can’t keep this all to myself but I’ve seen the future and it’s bad…. Very bad.”
Now what was this?
If I revive a magic castle I will mass release 10 chapters
