Chapter 1: A Greek Mythology Geek Dies
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It was just another average day for Elias. At 18 years old, he was your typical high school graduate—slightly awkward, more book-smart than street-smart, and absolutely obsessed with Greek mythology. His room was a shrine to ancient gods, filled with tattered copies of The Iliad and The Odyssey, scattered action figures of Ares, Athena, and Poseidon, and posters of ancient sculptures that seemed to exude the very power of the gods.
Elias's friends and family had long since grown tired of his constant recitations of myths and legends. While his peers argued about pop stars and sports teams, Elias would dive into long-winded explanations about how Zeus tricked his siblings or the epic tale of Perseus defeating Medusa. He had no interest in what the modern world had to offer. It was the ancient world that called to him, where gods walked among men, and heroes were forged in the fires of Olympus.
That evening, Elias was walking home from the library, his backpack full of new mythological books, his mind lost in thought. Wouldn't it be amazing to live in ancient Greece? To see the gods firsthand, to witness the might of Hercules or the wisdom of Athena? Elias thought. He never felt truly at home in the present world—no, he belonged to an age long past.
As he neared a busy intersection, his thoughts were interrupted by the screech of tires. Elias spun around, his heart racing. A car swerved out of control, its driver panicking. It was heading straight toward a small child who had wandered into the street.
Without thinking, Elias sprinted forward, his heart pounding in his chest. He pushed the child out of the way, sending them tumbling to safety just as the car slammed into him with a sickening thud.
Pain erupted in every fiber of his being. His body was thrown back, and everything went black. His last thoughts, as his life slipped away, were of the gods—Zeus, Ares, Aphrodite… Please, I wish I could be with you. I wish I could live among you.
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The Void
When Elias opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the absence of pain. His body felt weightless, as though he were floating in a vast, endless expanse. The darkness around him wasn't frightening; rather, it was peaceful, serene. He felt no fear, no sorrow—just an overwhelming sense of calm.
"You've done well, young one."
The voice echoed through the space, deep and resounding. It wasn't a voice he could pinpoint, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
Elias blinked, and before him stood a figure—a being of unimaginable power and grace. A deity? He couldn't be sure, but something in the air told him that this was not a mere mortal. The figure was tall, cloaked in a flowing robe of gold and silver that shimmered like the stars. Their eyes gleamed like molten fire, filled with ancient knowledge.
"Where… where am I?" Elias asked, his voice shaking slightly as he tried to comprehend what was happening.
"You are between worlds," the figure replied. "You have died, young one, but your journey is not yet finished. Your soul has been chosen."
"Chosen? For what?" Elias's mind raced. Was this some sort of afterlife, or was he dreaming? Could I really be dead?
The figure smiled, a knowing, enigmatic expression. "You've always longed to live in the world of the gods. To walk in their footsteps. To witness the power of Olympus firsthand. And now, we shall grant you that wish."
Elias's heart skipped a beat. The gods? Olympus?
"The gods have watched you," the figure continued. "Your knowledge, your devotion to them—they have seen your heart. You are worthy of their blessing. We will send you back… but not as you were. You shall be reborn, not as a mere mortal, but as something greater. A son of the gods."
Before Elias could respond, the figure raised a hand, and a radiant light surrounded him, pulling him into a swirl of energy. The sensation was dizzying, as though his very soul was being torn apart and remade at the same time.
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A New Life
Elias awoke once more, but this time, he was not in the void. His surroundings were foreign—he was in a grand marble room, its columns adorned with intricate carvings of gods and mortals, heroes and monsters. The air smelled of incense and burning wood, and the floor beneath him was cold to the touch.
His body felt different—stronger, more alive. His senses were heightened; he could hear the soft clink of metal, the distant voices of other beings. He looked down at his hands, and to his astonishment, they were perfectly sculpted—smooth, but powerful, as if made of marble.
Then it hit him.
"I'm... I'm in ancient Greece," he whispered to himself. His heart raced with excitement. This wasn't some dream or hallucination—this was real. He was reborn in the world he'd always longed to be part of.
But as the realization sank in, another thought crossed his mind: Why am I here?
The answer came swiftly.
A figure entered the room—tall, regal, with a face full of wisdom and fire. The god was unmistakable. Hephaestus, the god of the forge, master of metal and creation. He was followed by another divine presence—Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, her presence like a soft glow, radiating warmth and allure.
"You have been chosen, my son," Hephaestus spoke gruffly, his voice deep and steady. "You are born of our blood, a child of power, beauty, and creation."
Aphrodite smiled, her eyes glinting with affection. "You will carry our gifts, child. The strength of your father's forge, the beauty and charm of my own spirit. You will become a god in your own right, mastering masculinity, desire, power, and art."
Elias was speechless. He had never expected this—he had wished to be reborn, but never as the son of two of the most powerful gods in existence. He could feel their divine energy coursing through him, like molten metal ready to be shaped into something greater.
He was overwhelmed, but beneath the awe, a new, stronger feeling began to take root inside him. This is my chance. This is where I belong.
And so, with the blessings of his divine parents, Elias's journey in the world of gods and mortals began. A journey of unimaginable power, beauty, and struggle.
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End of Chapter 1
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