Athena's Protection

The two gods and their escort marched through the streets of Orario, while they walked Astraea brought up a valid question.

"So what do we do with the child? I can't accept him into my familia since he's a male, should he join your familia?"

Ganesha thought on this as they walked, not speaking for several minutes before happily announcing.

"Although desiring to join the GANESHA familia is indeed an honorable pursuit…" Emphasizing the Ganesha part of his statement. "I don't believe that would be a safe option." Astraea looked at Ganesha expectantly, waiting for him to continue.

"If Freya wanted this child dead, then he would have been killed. What that implies is much more sinister than I'd like to think…." Ganesha looks over at Astraea as he says. "Freya brings anyone that catches her attention into her familia and she will stop at nothing to achieve that goal. If this child caught her attention, then she will do everything within her power to bring him into her fold, meaning we have to find a way to hide him. Anyway, I don't believe my familia could protect him anyway, since we aren't as strong as the Freya or Loki familia. So sheltering him in my familia would be a bad idea."

Astraea nodded, agreeing with Ganesha's train of thought.

"But who will be willing to shelter him?" Astraea asked, lost in thought herself.

Both of them look at each other at the same time, thinking the same thing. Astraea released a long sigh, asking Ganesha with a pleading tone.

"Please tell me we don't have to ask her?! Please! Anyone but her!" She begged.

Ganesha ignored Astraea's appeals and looked at the men marching behind them, announcing.

"Change of plans everyone, you return home, we're going to the Soma familia." The men and women of the two familia filed out towards their respected familia's homes while Astraea, Ganesha, and the child walked in the direction of the Soma familia.

They finally arrived at the Soma familia's home, despite the complaints and pleas from Astraea along the way. The child, who had been completely silent while being dragged by Astraea, looked forward with unfocused eyes and a deadpan expression. He seemed to be a husk, an empty shell being carelessly carried by the waves. Astraea looked at the boy and it caused her heart to break for him, she looked in his eyes and saw loss and sorrow that caused her chest to ache with pain.

She squatted to be eye level with the boy and spoke with a soft, warm voice.

"I'm sorry, if we had been there earlier we might have been able to help." She ran her warm hand through the boy's coarse and matted hair, smiling as she said. "I promise, we'll protect you. We'll find somewhere you'll be safe. Ok?"

The boy remained silent, looking past her. His dark blue eyes looked forward to nothing in particular.

She smiled a sad smile and caressed the child's cheek before kissing the top of the child's head. The warmth of her lips lingered on his forehead.

She sat up and looked at Ganesha, saying with renewed purpose.

"Ok, let's go." Ganesha nodded and led them inside to the Soma familia.

Ganesha led them through the drunkards and desperates that plagued the interior, leading them past the distilleries and storerooms to the upstairs, where Soma sat in his room fervently perfecting his craft. They knocked on the large wooden door before a muffled voice beckoned them inside. Upon seeing Ganesha and Astraea, he set aside his work and got up to greet both of them.

"Ganesha! Astraea! How wonderful it is to see you! Please, have a seat." He motioned to the seats in front of his desk. The group sat down, with the child standing idle next to Astraea.

Ganesha explained the situation, describing the scene outside the walls and the state the child was found in. He continued, asking.

"So now you know the situation, do you have any idea where Athena is? We're thinking she's the only god that's hard to find, so she'd be perfect to shelter this child."

Soma looked at the child with compassion, empathizing with his story.

"I definitely see her enough, she's a regular and one of the best customers of my reject batches. Although I don't know where she goes after she leaves here. I figured she wants to disappear off the face of Tenkai altogether, drinking herself into a stupor until she drifts off to death."

He looks sadly at his work set aside on the table. Saying with a tinge of regret.

"It's not how I wish my craft to be used, but I can't do much to stop her from it. I do limit what she can purchase, but I can't do much more than that. Lest I incur her wrath." He says with a chuckle.

He looked up, wearing the same sad gaze as he said.

"She really hasn't been the same since she lost her familia...it's really quite pitiful." His voice trails off, carrying his sentiments with it.

A voice at the door causes everyone to jump in their seat, except for the child.

"Pitiful huh? You really shouldn't be talking about your best customer like that."

Leaning against the doorframe was a woman wearing a flowing white garment, segmented with polished bronze sections of light armor that protected her waist, hips, and shins. A light bronze chest piece could be seen under the exposed part of her garment at the shoulder that presumably covered all the way down to her stomach. Her shoulders were covered by polished bronze shoulder plates and bronze bracers covered her forearms. Her fiery red hair tumbled down her back, which contrasted with her intense grey eyes that gave her the appearance of being perpetually in thought, except, now furry and rage dangerously danced within them.

She held a bronze helmet with a red plume on top. The helmet had a pronounced nose guard and the sides covering the cheeks were angled sharply and gave way to the distinct T-shaped visor. She was beautiful beyond words but was dressed more like a warrior than a goddess.

Soma reddened at her rightful accusation, sputtering with his words.

"Ath..Athena?! W..What are you doing here?!"

She lifted a bottle in her other hand, that held no contents and tossed it past Soma, shattering glass on the wall behind him.

"I was thirsty and ran out of wine, so I came back to get some more. Funny enough, I found you talking about me behind my back." Her stern gaze warned Soma to choose his words carefully.

Soma fumbled with excuses before Ganesha stood up and faced Athena, smiling a grand smile as he extended his hand to her, announcing with a loud voice.

"Athena! It is I GANESHA! It is so good to see you, we haven't spoken since we were in heaven. How have you been?"

She looked at him with an annoyed expression, barely tolerating his outburst. Saying with a reserved tone.

"Been better, mostly trying to drink myself to death. Anyway, what do you want?"

Ganesha chuckled jollily, saying.

"Of course, semantics aside, We need your help." Athena looked at him with subdued intrigue, letting him continue.

"This child is a part of the Zeus familia."

She adds "The one that was just massacred in cold blood? Yeah, and?"

He asked, dropping pretenses. "You knew?"

She nodded, simply saying. "I get around, plus all of Orario was freaking out when I was walking her. It doesn't take a genius."

Ganesha continued. "Anyway, the two familia's responsible for that, specifically Freya, have their eyes set on this child. I don't think I need to explain why that's bad, do I?"

Athena sucked air through her teeth as she looked at the silent child standing next to Astraea, saying with pity.

"Sorry kid looks like you're screwed. That sucks, but it's not really my problem."

She moved past Ganesha towards Soma. Saying with little grace.

"Since you were talking about me behind my back, how about a little complimentary wine? So I don't go destroying all of your storehouses in search of my own, cool?" Soma sat petrified with fright, slowly handing her the batch he finished earlier. Athena snatched one from his hand and chugged it down, drinking every last drop. Ganesha gripped her shoulder, pulling her to face him as he demanded with a serious tone that he rarely uses.

"Athena this is serious! This is the only known survivor of the Zeus familia and he needs your help! Are you not concerned that Freya is actively hunting for this child?" Athena finished the contents of the bottle, letting it drop to the ground below her as she wiped her mouth. She grabbed the string of bottles and looked at him with disinterest before saying.

"Not really, like I said he's not my problem." She easily tore herself from Ganesha's grip and walked towards the door, before Ganesha offered.

"Ten bottles a month."

She turned back, some interest flickering in her eye.

"Fifteen."

Ganesha bartered fiercely.

"Eleven bottles."

Athena was just as stubborn

"Thirteen and you have a deal."

Ganesha looked at her for several seconds, before finally conceding.

"Fine, thirteen bottles a month. Deal?"

Athena stuck her hand out to Ganesha and gripped his hand in a firm handshake, smiling as she agreed.

"Deal, so what do I have to do? Just keep the kid away from Freya?"

Ganesha rested his hand on the child's shoulder, gladly stating.

"No, I want you to take him into your familia and train him."

Athena dropped her wine from shock, all of the bottles shattered on the floor. She gripped Ganesha's tunic with one hand and lifted him in the air, pinning him to the wall and yelling.

"Like hell I will! I take it back, no deal!" She got close to his face as she screamed at him, sprinkling spit on Ganesha's mask.

"Get out of my face before I tear off that trunk of yours! Got it!?"

Ganesha, seemingly unfazed by her outburst, looked her in the eye and rested his hand on her shoulder plate as he said.

"I know you still grieve for them, but that doesn't mean you should stop having a familia. Please, this child needs help and you're the only one that can do this. Help us, please?"

He asked, appealing to Athena. She snarled at his attempt, spitting a response.

"No! You know what happened to them, hell I bet all of Orario knows!" She was nose to….trunk...with Ganesha as she said angrily.

"Not happening…..I'm leaving and I don't want to hear another thing about this kid."

Ganesha sputtered his words, pleading. "Athena! Please, help this child! You're the only one who can shelter him."

She dropped Ganesha and strode towards the door, leaving the three gods staring at her helplessly watching her as walked out of the door. .

Soma spoke up, showing some courage he gathered after watching their exchange, saying.

"If you don't, I'll ban you from buying any more wine."

Athena quickly turned around and narrowed her eyes at his threat. She walked up to his desk, crushing shards of glass under her sandal.

"Try that and you'll regret it." She promised with a steady glare.

Soma stood and faced Athena, remarking back.

"Leave this kid and you'll regret it!" Athena snarled angrily, but Soma spoke before she could retaliate.

"I've watched you stumble in here EVERY single day hungover!" He expressed with exasperated anger. "You know how much it pains me to watch as you do this to yourself, be forced to supply you with what's killing you?"

Athena was taken aback by Soma's unusually bold stance. He pressed his advantage by moving around his desk and looking straight into Athena's eyes yelling at her.

"Even after all this, all you can think about is wine! This kid is in trouble, yet you're just going to ignore him?"

For the first time, Athena looked unsure of herself. She spoke defensively, trying to rectify herself.

"I get the kids in trouble, but…...he's not my problem." She sighed loudly, saying "I just want to be left alone, I don't really want to be dragged into this."

Soma angrily jabbed his finger towards Ganesha, saying.

"Do you think we wanted to deal with this?" Soma shook his head as he emphasized his point with bared teeth. "Ganesha and Astraea had to track you down trying to get you to help this kid. They had to make themselves targets for Freya and Loki to help him, so you don't get to complain."

He stood defiantly in front of Athena, declaring. "If you don't help him, then you won't get any wine from my familia, or any familias I have ties to." Soma leveled his eyes at Athena's, saying sternly. "We've helped you all these years, this is the least you can do."

Athena held his gaze for several seconds before throwing her hands up in defeat, angrily saying.

"Fine, I'll take care of this kid for now, but you owe me." She looked at Ganesha specifically, not forgetting their deal.

"I appreciate your help, Athena." Ganesha posed while flexing and yelled.

"Do not worry, GANESHA is not one to forget his debts!"

Athena scoffed in acknowledgment, saying.

"Yeah, whatever. Hey kid, let's go alright?"

The child stood still, completely unresponsive. She kneeled beside him, forcing him to look into her eyes.

"You're coming with me kid, I'll keep you safe. What's your name?"

He said nothing for a few moments, before muttering softly. "Blake." Athena slapped his shoulder, smiling.

"Good, now your full name." He waited a few moments once more, speaking quietly. "Blake Dusk." She grinned at his willingness, then stood up facing the other gods and said.

"Well you heard him, me and Blake Dusk will be going." She held his hand and started walking towards the door while saying.

"Soma, thirteen bottles a month, got it?"

He yelped and nodded, Ganesha put his arm over his shoulder saying.

"Don't worry, I'll be able to cover it. Thanks for the help, Soma." He stepped back to his desk and sunk into his office chair, squeaking his response.

"Don't mention it….please…" The rest of his courage left him as he released a sigh of relief.

Ganesha let out a hearty laugh as he and Astraea walked out of Soma's office. Astraea smiled as they walked, commenting.

"That went well." Ganesha nodded, saying. "I agree, that could have gone much worse….although, thirteen bottles a month…. that's a lot of valis." Ganesha began counting his fingers as he figured the number of valis that would cost him. Astraea laughed and jokingly said.

"You like putting on a show, why don't you just have a festival at that gaudy house of yours?"

Much to her surprise, Ganesha considered the idea. He, seemingly taken with the idea, got into a pose, putting both hands on his hips, and announced.

"That is an incredible idea, to allow everyone to witness the great GANESHA. I will hold a festival at my home I AM GANESHA!!."

Astraea just went along with it, saying.

"Ok Ganesha, that sounds good, but how about we deal with the fallout from the fall of the Zeus and Hera Familia?" Laughing, he agreed. "Another good idea, let's go!"

They left the Soma familia to deal with the civil unrest that echoed through the city, while Blake Dusk would follow Athena, leading him down a path, where his real story would begin.