Age of Adventure

Chapter 56: FOREBODING OMENS (2)

A FEW DAYS BEFORE AERO MISHAP

THE SKY

TERRA DE DEORUM

Today is a joyous day in the Land of the Gods.

Even though they are plagued with the Pope problem, finally the King of the Gods, the god of the sky and weather, law, order and fate is finally about to get married.

All the Gods came from their realm giving their congratulation. The Gods seems to revel in the celebration and avoid speaking about how Hera and Zeus got hitched.

The story of how Zeus tricks Hera on marrying him is a story not spoken on a good company.

Hera made Zeus promise to stop his gallivanting with mortals in order for her to agree marrying Zeus.

He agreed. Though for the many Gods that knew Zeus, they all knew that it takes more than a promise for Zeus to comply.

Zeus looked happy today.

Finally he has found a Queen.

Today he looked more regal than usual. He has sturdy figure and his dark bead trim nicely.

His hair was white and flowed lightly behind his back. For his wedding he has created a palace like none others for the Gods and him to rule.

Zeus wanted to be praise more than the Eternal Father. The name of the place would be called Olympus.

The name was given by Hades who sits in the Underworld.

He is the most high and powerful among the immortals, whom all others obey. So why not a palace grander than anything ever constructed?

Today even though it is his wedding day, he was still armed.

In the stories it is said that he is armed with thunder and lightning, and the shaking of his aegis produces storm and tempest.

The feast were planned to last until nine hundred years but because of the current problem they need to cut short on the feast.

Since they are immortals time never meant that much for them. In the old days when they held a feast it would last hundreds of years.

But now with the arrival of the adventurers, there are many unforeseen circumstances that prevent doing that kind of long feast.

The feast was attended by all. The word of Zeus wedding resounds throughout the universe.

Every minor God has come with gifts and congratulation.

The only major God that didn't come was Hades who is busy in his job overseeing the death.

There are also some mortals that are lucky to have been invited.

Oracles are also transported to the wedding to sing hymns of Zeus.

""To Zeus, Most High .I will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest, all-seeing, the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers words of wisdom to man. Be gracious, all-seeing God, most excellent and great!"

Some oracles sing songs of praises hoping to get blessed. Not wanted to be outwitted another oracle shout back.

"O Zeus, much-honoured, Zeus supremely great, to thee our holy rites we consecrate, our prayers and expiations, king divine, for all things to produce with ease through mind is thine. Hence mother earth and mountains swelling high proceed from thee, the deep and all within the sky. Gods king, descending from above, magnanimous, commanding, sceptered Zeus; all-parent, principle and end of all, whose power almighty shakes this earthly ball; even nature trembles at thy mighty nod, loud-sounding, armed with lightning, thundering god. Source of abundance, purifying king, O various-formed, from whom all natures spring; propitious hear my prayer, give blameless health, with peace divine, and necessary wealth."

Zeus was in joy.

"Give those oracles great gift"

Zeus ordered his subordinates. Zeus also gives them his blessing. To be blessed with good luck and successful in their endeavor.

And then the feast began.

All Gods give their blessing. They ate, drink and laugh, a grand feast slowly taking shape. It would seem like the food won't be able to accommodate everyone.

But if you think that you're wrong. And every time the food looks like it about to run out the plates refilled itself. This is the blessing of Demeter.

All of them sang song to the celestial couple.

Songs of joy celebrating Zeus and Hera wedding resounded in the sky. Hephaestus sings so terribly some naiads almost dies in the spot. To remedies it, the Gods ask Aphrodite to sing.

Hephaestus look sullen.

Everyone was entranced by her singing. Even Hephaestus. The naiad that almost dies spring back to life.

Some centaur even tries to profess their love to the Love Goddess.

But Aphrodite just give them her naughty smile that would ensnare them. They also danced in celebration.

The fairies, naiad, and nymph were going crazy with their dancing.

Athena on the other hand just sits uncomfortably in her seat. So does Poseidon who was looking uninterested in the feasts.

Zeus on the other hand joins the other in dancing, even so far as invite Hera to dance with him.

All in all it was a joyous wedding. Until at the end of the feast, an oracle who came late reveals a prophecy.

The major Gods ordered this Oracle to wait in the Council room to hear his prophecy. Then the Oracle introduced himself.

"My name is Nestor, Your Most Gracious Lord Zeus, Lord of the Sky. I came bearing bad news."

Zeus knows this mortal. He is favored by him.

"What is it?" Poseidon ask.

"I had a prophetic dreams a few days ago. I contemplated to tell the Gods about this for fear I will be smitten to death." Nestor said nervously surrounded by all the Gods staring so intently at him.

"Tell me, Oracle what have you dream?" ordered Zeus.

The Oracle hesitated.

Then he said.

"O Lord Zeus. You are my lord and you have favored me over of all the Oracle. Therefore I will speak; but take thought and swear that you will readily defend me with word and with might of hand; for I think I shall anger a man who rules mightily over Veva, and whom the Vevaians obey. For mightier is a king, when he is angry he is lesser man. Even if he swallows down his wrath for that day, yet afterwards he cherishes resentment in his heart till he brings it to fulfillment. Say then, if you will keep me safe."

In answer to that Zeus declared.

"Take heart, and speak out whatever oracle you know; for by my name, to whom you, Nestor, pray when you reveal oracles to the mortals and adventurer alike, no one, while I live and have sight on the earth, shall lay heavy hands on you, no one of the whole host of the Earth, not even if you name the Gods."

Relieved the Oracle spoke.

"There will be a war." He said slowly

"A war instigated by your stepson."

A look of understanding comes to Zeus.

"Yes the King calling himself by your name, favored by you"

"So, he has wage war before. What is your point?" Zeus asked.

"This war is like no other. This war intends to even divide the Gods into two faction." he said grimly

"What else you see?" Demeter asked from behind, looking solemn now.

"That the Vevaian King is involved I have no doubt. But the other that is involved in this war I could not see. He was obscured. I could only see a light that rose in the East. So bright and hot it intends to burn everything" he said warningly.

The Gods listened.

The Oracles get their dreams usually from them. But Nestor is special. He gets his prophetic dreams from The Three Fates, which is why he is favored by Zeus.

The Three Fates was created to calculate probability. It was created simply to guess mortal and adventurer's intention and what they intend to do.

In the world that Aero lives they are a probability device.

When Athena heard the prophecy, she lights up. She got an idea who the Oracle is talking about. This is because Athena always spends many of her time in the east this couple of years.

She also surveying the development of this one player since the players is in the possession of one of the Godly weapons.

Of course in his hands the potential of the sword was not fully unleashed.

But still, Athena liked the mortal boy. The boy is smart and wise. Qualities that Athena admires.

Then the Gods disperse and return to their task of discovering the Pope mastermind and all the while worrying about the prophecy.

Athena was in the west when she felt a disturbance. A God has set foot in the mortal world. Athena tries to see, but she could not.

It was shielded from her. Not a minor God. Athena thought. Thankfully a bird flew over the place.

From the bird Athena could see what is happening. Poseidon has breached a divine law.

And the person that the God killed is Aero.

Athena believes that the other person mentioned in the prophecy is Aero. Quickly Athena teleports herself to the island.

And there she promised her help to the adventurer if he prayed to her. And then she sent him to the underworld.

'Fight and survive. Show me you're worthy.' Athena said as she saw that adventurer soul is dragged into the Underworld.

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Last chapter for today and for the week. If you like the story please vote and leave some comments or reviews