Origins

Raymond got up and traced his way back to the boy's dormitory. The building was the closest one to the perimeter wall, and they had the generator and main power line connected to the other five buildings originating from there.

Ensuring he was unnoticed, he went over the perimeter fence that secured the transformer and went straight for the power lines. Tracing the power lines, he found a closed metal box from which several lines emerge after the main power-line entered. It was locked with large bolded words warning on the possibility of electric shock.

Raymond grabbed the metallic lid and pried it open with little effort and dropped the lid on the ground. The main power line was connected to a plastic port that joined to a series of other lines he couldn't discern. Luckily for him, the plastic cap was easy to open, and he was presented with bare copper wires connected to a series of other copper wires.

Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the main feeder, and immediately his back straightened out as he felt large amounts of electricity rushing into his body. About two minutes into the process he closed his eyes and focused on the Reservoir he felt the previous night, only to found that it wasn't even a fraction full which surprised him as he could feel the amount of power sipping into his body.

He became more confident and decided to pull more and more into him. He still couldn't feel his tank filling up. The sound of the backup generator coming to life shocked him back to reality, and he immediately let go, having felt a little guilty for his actions. Quickly he closed the plastic lid and returned the metal plate to where it was after squeezing it shut before sneaking out and strolled back to the field again.

"That was a risky move you pulled back there mister." Raymond's butt clenched as he recognized Athena's voice.

Turning, he found her leaning on a tree near the sidewalk. She was dressed casually but had a different hair color, opting for brown this time.

"Jeez! You don't just sneak up on someone who is trying to sneak away." Raymond spoke between gritted teeth.

"I didn't, I was here when you went in."

"I didn't see you."

"I didn't mean physically," she smiled.

"You're spying on me?"

"You're in my sanctuary. I tend to monitor anything that happens in it from time to time." Athena replied as she joined him. "Have you gotten enough?"

"No. Surprisingly, I still feel empty."

"Yeah, you need a bigger power source if you want to be full."

"The Thunderbolt?" Ray piped up.

"Maybe, but I don't have it," Athena answered worriedly.

"What! Why?"

"Zeus was the last person to wield it before he died. And contrary to what everyone else thinks, I didn't get the Bolt after his death. I just like them to think I did."

"So where is it?" He asked.

"It could be in the Aether or just hidden by his own powers. I'm more inclined to think the latter because if it were the Aether, I would be able to summon it."

The two settled down on the small stadium seats and remained silent for a while as they stared at the field's activities.

"About the Aether, I was looking for someone to teach me how to access it."

"I can assign someone to you if you want." She replied without looking at him. "What about you?"

"You're too green for me. It's like trying to teach an elementary kid. I have the skills to do it but just not the patience."

"I feel like I should feel insulted."

"Don't be. I also haven't taught anyone in over a century now. So, anyone seeing me teaching you would set off a few alarms."

"So, you're not going to teach me?"

"How about we make a wager?" She asked, this time facing him.

"I'm listening."

"There is a competition coming. For the Champion of Argo."

"Yes, I've heard of it."

"Good. I want you to participate."

"Why?" Raymond asked.

"Think of it as practice. It will also help you sharpen your skills, something I realized you really need." Athena replied.

"But won't that blow my cover?"

"That will happen sooner or later, I'd rather it be on our terms. You just get attuned to your powers in the competition."

"It's a deal." He accepted.

"Anything else you want from me?"

"Yes." He replied but paused as if trying to determine whether he should ask or not. "I need to know what happened to my parents."

"Your parents died protecting you."

"What happened?" He asked a little forcefully than he intended.

"I think it's time for dinner. We should get going." Athena wanted to diffuse the inquiry. She hoped Ray wouldn't push it.

"No! What happened to my parents, I want to know now." Raymond's temper began to rise. "Who killed them?"

"My brother. Ares."

"As in the god of war, why?"

"Because he found out who you are and felt threatened. The night your parents died Ares was in your house, but he wasn't sure who had Zeus' power back then, and he was a bit weary after decades of obsessive search.

"So, he went for your father allowing your mother to run for you in your room." Athena paused before resuming. "You can imagine it didn't take long for him to realize your father was not the one and came after your mother. Luckily, I had Adrastea watching over your family, and she summoned me. I arrived and grabbed you just in time to see Ares choking the life out of your mother.

"I knew your mother was done for, so I left with you. But what I did just confirmed Ares' suspicion. He then knew it was you. So, I brought you here and hid you right under their noses." "But couldn't he have sensed my aura, I heard it's quite easy especially for gods," Raymond asked askance.

"True, but you were completely human at birth. It's why he never went straight for you. He also couldn't really look for you because it's hard tracking the face of a grown baby especially when you just glimpsed it.

"After some time, he gave up but took out his anger on his subjects."

"So, Ares killed my parents, and he is still out there looking for me?" Raymond asked, a mixture of anger and fear fueling his thoughts.

"Raymond, I told you, your mere existence is a threat to some gods who are opposed to you. Which turns out to be half the twelve Olympians. You have no idea how badly the odds are stacked against you."

"Who are the other half?"

"That would be me, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, and Dionysus. While the half that wants you dead are Ares, Hera, Demeter, and Poseidon. If that wasn't enough, they also happen to possess a weapon that can kill you. See how bad that is?"

"But you're the goddess of strategy and warfare. You could work something out."

"Yes. But there is only so much I can do about it. The other side has two Supreme gods and a Ruler with only one Greater god as their weakest link. Your side has five Greater gods. We would be very lucky to take out one Supreme god let alone two and a Ruler."

"I have no clue about what you mean by Greater, Supreme and Rulers?" Ray asked.

"To understand, you'll have to recognize the hierarchy. At the very bottom, you have humans. They are the weakest and the most vulnerable sentient beings.

"Then you have the supernatural as we like to group them altogether although they still have a hierarchy of their own, with the weakest being Muses and some of the strongest being Minotaurs, Nymphs, and Centaurs. From there you have the Lesser gods.

"They are more potent than all supernatural and have the advantage of being truly immortal where most supernatural are just long-lived, while some like Nymphs are just ageless but not immortal.

"We also have several Titans that fit in the immortal category, but majority fit in the Greater god's category. Like me, they are considerably more powerful than any Lesser gods. From there on, the power gap is quite big with supreme gods dominating almost everything. Very few Titans fit this category. And finally, you have the Rulers.

"By power alone, they are at the top of the food chain. Not only do they have too much power, but they have dominions, and they can also raise armies. Only a handful of creatures fit this category.

"Finally, you have the Primordial Beings. These don't necessarily fit into any category because they rarely take human form nor actively affect their aspects." By the time she finished explaining, the sun had already set, and darkness was beginning to settle in. The field was empty of people except for them.

"We should get going I'm sure Sister Martha is looking for you by now."

"What about you?"

"I'll join you and answer every question you ask."

…

"Raymond thank god. I thought you left."

"I would never do that to you." He replied as he was forced to accept another loving hug.

"I'm glad to hear it. Goddess." Sister Martha then bowed before Athena. "I didn't realize you were joining us." Sister Martha said as she finished up locking her office and the trio went down to the diner.

"I wasn't, but Raymond and I had a lot to talk about and the last time we talked, he was too tired for me to drop the bomb." She explained.

"What's on the menu?" Raymond asked.

"Meatloaf and buttermilk mashed potatoes," Martha answered as she playfully tagged on Raymond's right arm urging him to quicken his pace. Raymond groaned.

"We have veggies if you want?" She grinned.

"No, I'll stick to meatloaf."

"Good. Tell me about your new life on campus." Ray resigned himself to his fate.

…

"I hope the rest of your day went as you imagined?" Athena spoke as the two were out for a walk. Raymond spent the last two hours catching up with his mother about his life but made sure to skip his encounter with a Minotaur, much to the amusement of Athena.

The last thing she wanted is for her to get worried about him. Athena seemed to understand and luckily kept her mouth shut and let Raymond tell his own story. In the end, he bid her goodbye and left with Athena.

"Um. before we part. I wanted to ask you a favor?" "Go ahead." She replied. "Can you show me how to use the Aether?"

"Sure. It should be simple for you."

"Really, how come I can't use it on my own?"

"You wouldn't know where to start." She lightly laughed at his query.

"Fair enough."

"Close your eyes." He did. "Now I want you to picture the place you want to go. Have you?" Raymonde nodded. "Good now try to pull it to you."

He opened his eyes and lifted his left brow, "how?"

"With your mind. You can even do it with your eyes opened, but as a beginner, you'll find it easier if you closed your eyes. Now close your eyes and do as I say." Raymond did.

"Picture the place you want to go." After a slight pause, "now pull it to you.��

Raymond did what she said but still felt no difference.

"It's not working." He frowned frustratingly.

"I'm sure it does."

Ray quickly opened his eyes to see Charles and Jane looking at him. "Do you mind, we are kind of watching something."

"Oh!" He turned to see it was prime news.

"Holy shit! I did it. I freaking did it."

"Shush!"

"Oh sorry."