Chapter 3 - Gymnopaedia

Several years later, and the Demi-god Matthaios grew up with the influences of the city-state of Sparta. He grew up as a healthy boy with the capabilities of combat and the ability to keep up with the warriors, and the Queen did tell a bit of his background.

Implying that he is blessed by the Gods, the warriors thought that finding him coincidentally is by their pure luck. But little thing did they know, he is the son of the Ghost of Sparta and the Goddess of Love. The one that used to lead them upon defeating who dared to annihilate their beloved city, and the being behind the downfall of Zeus and the other Olympian Gods that made him their slave.

Matthaios did undergo into the process of lifting the Arms of Sparta which were watched by the Queen herself and the Spartan guards, and he lifted it with ease due to hints of his abilities as a Demi-god. This made Queen Colubra's jaw drop from what she has witnessed, and it was something that an average young Spartan couldn't achieve.

"Very well done, Matthaios." The Queen stood up from her throne, she was refreshed from him being able to lift the Arms of Sparta.

Although he was told to lift the Arms forcefully, the Spartan warriors were impressed by it. This left them off-guard, but it wasn't time for the Demi-god to celebrate. Despite being able to lift the spear and shield, he couldn't crack a smile but instead, he asked the Queen for a favor.

"When is the celebration for the Gymnopaedia, Queen Colubra?" Matthaios asked in a bold tone.

"Hmmm, let's see... Next month, my dear. And I do appreciate your showmanship of enthusiasm." The Queen told them that the rituals of Gymnopaedia are by the next month.

"I do look forward to showing what I can do." The Demi-god puts the spear in the ground, holding it still while carrying the shield.

"Perhaps you and your fellow young Spartans are anticipated from the festival... Hell, even I, myself, couldn't wait anymore." Queen Colubra added.

The Spartan warriors told the young ones that they should get back from learning what they need to learn about combat, but some are separated from the group due to their inability to lift their shields. Now that the division between the weak from the strong, Matthaios was the strongest and persistent of them all.

Months later, it is now time for the festival of Gymnopaedia. This celebration was held to commemorate the Spartans who have faced their death in times of war to bring honor to the city. The young and unarmed Spartans were told to wear nothing during the ritual, and they have shown their physical feats by opposingly dancing to one another.

Besides paying tribute to the fallen Spartans, they are also cherishing the Gods Apollo and Artemis in the way of their dances. But one from the group of Spartans is not on the marketplace where the dances were held, and that is Matthaios himself.

One guard noticed that the Demi-god hasn't joined the flock of his brethren, scolding him. "Hey, you! Why are you just stalling right there? Join them!"

Matthaios shoves his spear on the ground, denoting that he has shown enough of his strength. "Is this not enough for you? I'll leave that for the inefficient ones!"

Queen Colubra isn't pleased with what he heard from the adolescent Demi-god, intervening in the heated argument to berate him. "What happened to your willingness to join them, Matthaios? Have you grown rebellious through these months of your training?"

He scoffed, daring to correct the Queen. "I am not being a rotting rebel, my Queen. I lost my interest after finding this training unfitting for me. I request for a tougher kind of instructing!"

"Your disobedience is disappointing me, Matthaios. Your superiors didn't teach you such things like that." The Queen of Sparta crossed her arms to show authority, signaling the soldiers to drag him into the marketplace.

Once Matthaios felt their hands gripping his arm, his demeanor changed and a trailing aura began surrounding his body. His eyes began glowing red and the aura thickens, he is one rageful Demi-god.

"UNHAND ME! I SAID- UNHAND ME!" Matthaios screamed out, releasing his anger as the power that he inherited from his father Kratos has been unearthed and that is the Spartan Rage and it made the guards hit the ground after he thrashes his hands off them.

After releasing such furiousness, the Demi-god fainted after the aura wore out. This made the Queen catch him with her grasp, but the ritual must go on. "You warriors stay right here! This isn't good..."

Queen Colubra dragged his body, pulling him out from the heart of the city to bring him to a nearby river. In there, she held a handful of water to pour it on the unconscious Demi-god.

After getting his head drenched by water, Matthaios slowly regained consciousness but he wasn't aware of where he is. It made him ask the Queen immediately. "Where am I? What happened?"

"Calm yourself down, Matthaios. We are still in Sparta." The Queen showed the surroundings for him to be familiar with.

He sighed, sitting up to think of what caused his fainting. "I couldn't recall what happened... Care to tell me?"

"You... Bizarrely lost control." Queen Colubra told him that he broke loose.

"And how bizarre it is?" Matthaios asked while playing with the water.

The Queen of Sparta began undressing behind the young Demi-god, walking towards the water slowly. She then gave him an invitation to take a bath with her. "Come, and I'll tell you."

Matthaios also walked into the water, its warmness that soothed him lessens his confusion from what happened earlier. "It's not like I haven't seen you in the nude before, my Queen."

Queen Colubra smiled, sitting on the other side of the river telling him to come closer so she could bathe him. "But I sense the hesitation brought by the cowardness in you."

"Coward?" Matthaios moved closer, turning around before sitting in front of the Queen to watch the pressure of the water.

"Don't tell me to take it back." The Queen chuckled, applying water to his hair to massage it.

"Why are you bathing me? Perhaps we took each other's responsibilities." He asked the Queen why, thinking that he should be the one bathing her.

"Is it horrible?" She insisted to bathe him.

"No, I just- I am rather confused recently. And I mean recently." The Demi-god expressed himself.

"I couldn't tell you why." Queen Colubra took a deep breath after saying it.

"Why so?" He asked then again.

The Queen didn't answer his question, and this left him wandering around before coming up with something to ask again.

"My Queen."

"Yes?" This caught her attention.

"I am aware that we are not related by blood or whatsoever, but how did I end up here? Where is my father?" He asked about his roots.

"Why? Am I not enough to take care of you?" She felt slightly offended by his question.

"That is not what I meant, my Queen. Curiosity tells me that I should learn about my origins." Matthaios clarified.

"Do you wish to learn about it?" The Queen caressed his cheeks, making sure that he would like to have context from his heritage.

"I do." He wanted to.

Queen Colubra sighed, deciding to tell him after all. "Brace yourself... Because I am about to tell you about the legend of the Ghost of Sparta."

"You mean Kratos, yes?" He is familiar with the Ghost of Sparta.

"Yes, Matthaios. The one who slew Ares to become the new God of War... And the man behind the death of the Olympian Gods." She confirmed that they are talking about Kratos.

"What about him?" Matthaios asked.

This left the Queen speechless, too scared to answer his question. Matthaios started to grow impatient from it, but he kept on waiting for a proper answer.

"He... Kratos is..." The Queen is chopping her words off due to hesitation.

"Kratos is what, my Queen?"

"Your father is the Ghost of Sparta." She finally told him the truth behind his bloodline.

"Is this why I went berserk earlier? And about my mother... You told me that it is Aphrodite. And I believe you, my Queen." Matthaios knew that his mother is the Goddess of Love.

"I am sorry, Matthaios..." Queen Colubra apologized.

"Why, Queen Colubra? Why are you apologizing to me?" He asked out of curiosity.

"For hiding the truth about your father... Athena told me to tell you about it when you reach the right time." The Queen also mentioned his aunt Athena.

"Is it the right time already?" He wasn't sure of it.

"I believe so." The Spartan Queen makes so sure that it is.

"I can't believe it... My father is the Ghost of Sparta." Though his father wasn't around anymore, he is glad to know that his father is the man behind the demise of the Gods.

"I hope you would be in peace now, Matthaios." She wanted to see his reaction after she told him.

"...Why did you have to hide it? Is there something more that you should tell me?" Matthaios finds it unsure.

"It is not under my work anymore. Once you are done from your training, your aunt Athena could provide anything from your unanswered questions." It is now out of bounds for the Queen.

"Where I could find her?" He asked where his aunt Athena is.

"Are you not aware that she is the new ruler of Olympus? After your father killed Zeus, she appointed herself to become the new Queen of the Gods." She told him that Athena now leads Olympus and its remaining Gods.

Matthaios stood up from the water, facing the Queen front before turning around to walk away from her

"And where are you going?" This made Queen Colubra ask him what is his intentions.

"Mount Olympus."

To be continued...