twenty-five Impossible Task

the race to complete the task were on, he completed the task to take Sharifa hand in marriage without knowing before he even realized it, but he had the other 4 to help and marry as well, even though he was taught to only be married to one woman in his life all his life by Artemis, he thought if he took their hands in marriage, didn't lay a finger on them and never lay in bed with them, and then have a divorce with them by the time they turn 20 to legally let them make their own choices from then on, he can save them since he was close with them all and know they desire more than this in life and are clearly unhappy with this arranged marrage, so he was dedicated to taking on the task, but first, he claimed the hand of Sharifa since he did complete everything to take her hand beforehand and Sharifa cried tear's of joy and relief, though her original fiancé was angered, the king and queen reminded him the test were set and had his signature to agreement on it, so he cannot back out of it now since either way, he'd lose Sharifa's hand in marriage anyway either from violating their agreement or by agreeing and letting Alcaeus take her hand and his one chance to be king away, the man then left, but swore revenge on Alcaeus as he left, he then got to work on the other 4.

for Camilla, he had to slay a Hydra and Minotaur in a battle by himself, both of which he did, drink from the springs in the snowy blizzard mountains in the dwarf kingdom, which he has done before in a trip there with the Artemis familia that the dwarf king confirmed as he did multiple times while there, but he also had to capture the Cerynian Hind for one task and outrun it on another task in front of them all, though this would be easy, he's outrun that deer more time's than he can count, and they have a game where the Cerynian Hind chases him instead to catch him, and the Cerynian Hind also comes to him if he whistles as it's very familiar with him, but he would ask Artemis first when he finds her.

for Abigail, he had to beat an amazon in hand to hand combat, something he did do at time's in spars with them but needed to prove it first by challenging one to a fight, he'd ask Abigail to spar with him to prove himself, defeat an army of men, and help to win a war by himself or his own action's without aid, which he did do with witnesses to his action's, so he doesn't have to prove anything there, but then he had to solve a riddle and get the item it's related to, wrestle a bull with his bare hand's and subdue it without killing it, and break out of thick titanium chains wrapped around his body 12 times with his bare strength alone in front of the queen herself, this would be trickier, but he wasn't giving up that easily.

for Aspalis, he had to show he had riches, have influence with 2 king's from different kingdom's, both of which he had, but then he had to have a noble status higher than Count or be a knight, clean entire cow, horse, sheep, goat, ox, donkey, and pig stables by himself in under an hour on 5 farms each, 1 hour per farm with royal watchmen witness to this, similar to Hercule's fifth labor, but with a very short time limit, and have the support of over 100,000 Kitsune to condone the marriage in front of the royal family, this was going to be very hard, but it's doable at least.

and for Makeda, he had to be a strong warrior who without a Dunimas can hold his own, no more need's to be said for him, be greedy and strongwilled to take what he wishes and not back down, normally, this isn't like Alcaeus, however, when he sees someone who needs help or need's to do something, even Artemis has a hard time stopping him, so he passed in that regard, but then he needed to slay a dragon by himself, 3 tasks he has to do with a bow, sword, and spear separately.

altogether, he has to complete 12 tasks to get the other 4, similar to Hercules task which came to mind in his head, but never the less, he needed to do this to help them, he can complete some now, so he would get the easier one's done first, namely, the task for Abigail's hand, since three can be completed right there, so with that, he got to work.

Alcaeus:" alright, then chain me, and I'll break them now, then give me the bull"

Otrera:" (chuckle) alright child, if you want her hand in marriage, then prove you're a more capable man without a dunamis than the man with a dunamis, show you're a strong man who can keep my bloodline strong"

after getting the chain's on him, thank's to his Ki, he was able to break them, and with the bull, he was easily able to since Artemis forced him at times to be able to battle Minotaur barehanded and subdue them on a near regular basis in his training so for a basic Bull, it was basically a walk in the park for him, so he got 2 of them done, then, he asked Abigale to spar with him.

Otrera:" oh my, challenging my daughter to prove you can fight her in battle, that's smart... however, it is not allowed, my daughter is indeed strong, but as she knows you, I can't say she won't throw the fight for you in the end, so you'll have to face another Amazon to make this count... however, there is one way you can complete this task if you wish to prove yourself, but first, I need to tell you the riddle"

Alcaeus:" ... alright"

Otrera:" man need's this, it is their life, it is their death, it is their purpose in life, what is this item they need and where can you find it"

Alcaeus was thinking, but then thought of something immediately, but needed to ask one question first before doing anything.

Otrera:"... not running out immediately after hearing the riddle, what is it, are you confused or giving up"

Alcaeus:" is it an item I need, or is it a shapeless thing that is more of answering a question"

Otrera:"... very good, you're the first to catch on, indeed, it's not an item, what is it"

Alcaeus:" it's not one thing though, and it goes by many names as well, Honor, Integrity, Loyalty, Forgiveness, Respect, Humility, Kindness, Cunning, the ability to think of other's before themselves, knowing when to and not to act, Will, all of these things are needed in moderation, isn't that what it is"

Otrera:"... anyone can kill, but a true warrior knows what fights are worth and not worth fighting, you pass the riddle many men failed, though now that you answered it, you need to prove it, I did say an Amazon, though, now that you answered the riddle, I will help you with that challenge, and fight you myself, as my daughter's mother, anyone who won't get my approval as a warrior will not take her hand"

Alcaeus:" a level 6 fighting me like this..."

Otrera:' Oh don't worry dear, I was of course going to fight you without my Dunamis, as it would be impossible otherwise, now then, let's get in the arena, but remember, what I'm looking for isn't you winning, I'm seeing if you have the potential as a warrior, so you can win and I'd still not accept you"

this was now tricky, she didn't seek Alcaeus to be a victor, she wanted to see he was a warrior, but now that he was in, he had no choice, since the party turned interesting, Alcaeus was stripped of his armor and clothing besides his pant's and was on a fighting arena as Otrera got on, the rules were simple, Alcaeus would battle Otrera without magic or weapon's, Ki was allowed, and after she acknowledges him as a warrior, he can have Abigail's hand, though fail and it may cost him his life, as Otrera was a very skilled and well-known warrior, this was as good idea as holding a metal rod in a lightning storm, but he still went through with it, he was scared and honestly afraid for his life as he could indeed die in this, but he stood his ground.

Abigail:" if you back out of this now, you may still live, I don't want to see my mom kill one of my closest friends"

Alcaeus:" but I need to help you, and the other's, I will save you from your forced marriage even if it kills me"

Abigail then hugged him and wished him good luck and then Alcaeus got prepared as Otrera was popping her knuckles and neck as she was prepared to fight, as the signal was set, Alcaeus used his Ki, but found as Otrera blocked the hit easily as she was able to use ki as well.

Otrera:" my my child, did you think I was so weak as to fall for your Ki, it's a useful thing to have, that's why I spent nearly 4 year's of my life to master it"

she then threw him hard onto the ground to shatter his arm, and break his spine where he is vomiting blood and bearly able to stand now, Alcaeus was about to pass out as he then remembered who he was fighting for, and he forced himself up, he then continued to fight her, though, it was one-sided as he got more of his bone's broken and shattered, his muscles torn and ripped, and his organs getting torn and bleeding, after about 10 minutes of straight basic child beating, Alcaeus was bearly able to see and he was somehow able to stand, and after all that, Otrera then called it with a healing potion and summoned her servant Medea to heal his injuries as Alcaeus seemed disappointed, but then he asked the most bizarre thing ever.

Alcaeus:"... Again"

Abigail:' AGAIN, Alcaeus, you got massacred to badly, you're lucky to be alive, and even when you were healed, you're injuries are hardly better, you can't go again, you'll die"

Alcaeus:" I don't care, I will break as many time's as needed, I can't and won't just do nothing when my friend is in trouble, that's all the reason I need to fight"

Otrera:" so you're willing to go through that again again"

Alcaeus looked dead serious in Otrera's eye's as she then smiled, she then calmed his nerves by saying.

Otrera:" you have the spirit of a warrior that is not even cracked a little since this began, you are scared, but you let it help you instead of hinder, and you refuse to give up even when faced with something that seems beyond your power... and that's enough, you see, you were doomed to fail anyway since I still have my dunamis"

Alcaeus:"... what"

Otrera:" you see, anyone can fight a battle they have a chance at winning in, but not anyone can fight a battle they have virtually no chance in and still have a fire in their eye's, you were scared, you knew I was stronger, and I was, but not only did you fight with all your might as we fought, but you were also willing to go through that hellish experience again for my daughter's sake, I can't name a better man as a warrior or as my daughter's husband than that, congratulations, you can have her hand in marriage, though, I also know how greedy you are, you can rest till your injuries heal, but I think you're going to the next challenge as soon as possible, for that, I offer you my chariot, for the time being, complete these task and prove you're capable of the impossible"

Alcaeus:" alright, but first, I should really ask Artemis if I can borrow Cyria"

Otrera:" ... who"

Alcaeus:" oh, that's my nickname for her Cerynian Hind"

Otrera:" oh, she's actually not far, she's outside, she was banned since she seemed completely pissed however"

going outside to get to his next task as soon as possible, he was going to ask Artemis, but she had a spy inside and heard all about what Alcaeus was doing, and basically gave him the go-ahead since she wanted this arranged marriage to fall apart and Alcaeus went to the Royal's to call for the Cerynian Hind, they wondered if it would work, but the deer came as they were all shocked and Alcaeus played their game where he was outrunning the deer and after that, they got what they wanted, so he then got Camilla's hand in marriage as well, 3 down, 2 to go, and he was now in a rush since the other ones aren't going to be as easy, however, unknown to him, people are plotting to end him, but the royals are interested as well.