บท 2: Our Flesh

Soon many souls witnessed a familiar god fly over the hells carring a soul with him to the surface.. this had never happened before in the history of the gods.. sure people entered hell and left but those times were reserved for special occasions and heroic tales.. however his time Hermes is on a mission given to him by his uncle despite his initial reaction, Hermes thought better than to defy the pair...

Eventually after flying through the the underworld and up to the land of the living, Hermes made his way hidden from the eyes of mortals to a magnificent kingdom known as Rioa, the Rioan Kingdom was vast, it's people making breakthroughs in warrior arts and magical advancements each an every day.

The sun was setting on this Kingdom soon a time for rest and for some a time for revelry. Clad in a cloak made from mother night's dress the baby's soul only have been allowed to take a few breathes in his previous lifetime lay sound asleep in the godly psychopomphs arms swaddled in a the shimmering voidlike fabric.

"Stay safe nephew.. may we meet again.. Zagreus." Hermes whispered before arriving at a large manor.

"May you be fleet of foot and keen of mind in the days to come.. I have never seen Uncle smile like he did as he and Persephone wrapped you Lady Nyx' scarf.. I will be watching dearest prince." A small mote of golden light left Hermes' chest and entered the baby's forehead.

"Just a welcome to the family gift.. not all will ne so willing to bless you, i await for the day we meet as two gods." Hermes continued.

After which he gently laid Zagreus on the steps of the manor as he did the visage of Hermes shot off into the sky above like a shooting star.

A moment later the doors of the manor opened revealing two people a man and a woman, the man had short black hair and pale ruby eyes he looked to be in his mid to eafly 30s, while the woman of similar age she had long brownish red hair and greyish blue eyes. The woman immediately scooped up Zagreus, "Dear.. it's just like the vision moments ago.." she spoke with a smile on her face holding the baby's close to her bountiful chest.

"Indeed my love the gods.. have blessed us with a child.. as the king of shadow said.. we shall treat this boy as our own flesh.. no matter what Rhea my dear." The man spoke having trouble containing his emotions.

"Yes Emilios.. my love our son Zagreus.."

After the both of them shed tears of happiness while the Zagreus silently watched them with his deep crimson eyes the made their way back into their home.

Moments before Hermes arrived outside the Varathyn house, Rhea was nestled in her husband Emilios' arms both wearing melancholic frowns.. both were simultaneously shudded awake from their silent contemplation with a vision of a couple a man shroused in darkness only his crimson eyes could be seen, next to the man was a brilliant feminine silhouette of a woman, Emilios and Rhea both looked to each other stunned but kept silent.

The shadowed man spoke, "Long has House Varathyn been loyal to the Chthonic pantheon, Namely myself Hades, King of Shadow and Silver, Sovereign of shades.. you Emilios Varathyn, son of Alexandros.. I beseech you and your beloved, raise our son Zagreus as if he was your flesh, your blood.. do this and we will bless your house." The shadowed man finished his speech, before Emilios and Rhea could speak the golden feminine silhouette approached the pair and spoke, "Rhea daughter of Penelope we bend our own rules for the life of Zagreus.. our son.. take care of him and your I shall remedy your plight.. what say you?"

Emilios turned to Rhea grabed her hand while smiling, "We would be honored to accept your son as ours.. I swear on my name and life i will raise him as my own blood regardless of hardships we may face in the future my liege." Emilios then bent down on one knee and bowing his head.

Hades nodded, "Give this to him when he comes of age." A silver wreath crown hovered infont of Emilios.

Rhea looked to Persephone, "I also swear to treat Zagreus as my own son, to be there for him should he need motherly council and I will love him as if I birthed him." She also took a knee bowing her head to the godly duo.

"Rise Emilios."

"Rise Rhea."

Both Emilios and Rhea stood up again, Persephone placed her golden palm upon Rhea's abdomen and a warm feeling flooded all throughout Rhea. After the vision faded they witnessed a second vision of a man clad in golden feathers placing a bundle upon their doorstep. Soon the second vision finished and they were still sitting on the couch, Rhea jumped up and ran towards the door while Emilios stood he felt something within his grasp, the silver wreath crown.

"It was real..." Emilios muttered under his breath.

Suddenly Rhea shouted, "Come quickly!"

Grasping the laurel wreath headband in his hand he quickly made his way to his wife.

Opening the door to their abode their eyes were drawn down to a babe gently cooing wrapped snuggly within fabric of night. Rhea picked up the child and help him to her breast, the baby's had a mall tuft of black hair on his head, his eyes were as crimson as fresh blood.

Both Rhea and Emilios felt an instant connection to this boy whom they were charged with raising.

The couple took their newly acquired child and gently laid him down within a crib in the nursery. They had tried conciving for so long.. they had made preparations for children long ago just incase a miracle occurred.. little did they know this boy infornt of them wasn't the only Miracale they would receive.

Within the bowels of Tartarus Hades sat on his throne of silver bones, his wife Persephone to his side as both of them watched their son Zagreus being held lovingly by the mortals Emilios and Rhea through a scying pool as they did a masculine man his face obscured by black fabric, this man wore draped cloths with a long wooden staff held infont of him, greyish white hair could be seen from under his mask, he spoke in fragments, "My.. Lord and Lady... you.. plucked.. his soul.. from my ferry... Hermes.. said it was important... Why?"

Without facing the morose sounding man Hades spoke, "It is simple Charon.. this boy we have take him as our son."

Persephone ignored the conversation and just watched Zagreus, she was currently imagining herself in place of Rhea holding her son.

Charon was lost for words for a moment until his deep voice said, "Your.... Son?"

Hades still watching through the scrying pool, "Yes our son.." Hades tured to face Charon just as the boatman was about to open his gaunt mouth as Hades continued, "He is my son, Charon.. you are about to ask why is with mortals instead of here right?"

Charon closed his mouth and nodded slowly.

"His original soul was indeed mortal.. when we had found him on your ferry.. right now.. his soul is too weak to accept the strength of a god like us.. so for now.. he will grow with mortals.. around mortals.. soon in about a decade or so he will slowly come into his heritage.. eventually he will be given a choice.. to become a full fledged god.. or retain a portion of mortality.. he isn't the only demigod who is living among mortals, in fact as I'm sure you are aware.. my brothers and sisters can be quite... lascivious sometimes.. not to mention the various clans who groom fierce warriors.. so I'm sure he will have lots of training dummies he is Our flesh after all." As Hades returns to the scrying pool taking Persephone's hand.

Charon simply nods and returns to his post sending the souls of mortals to their final resting places.