Hephaestus POV
As I carefully finished crafting the intricate necklace, I couldn't help but smile warmly to myself. This particular necklace had been made with every ounce of effort and skill I possessed. It was meant for the woman who truly accepts me for exactly who I am, without any reservations or judgment.
I will give this precious gift to her. Though deep down I understand that I can never truly have someone as wonderful as her in the way I might wish, as long as she remains a cherished friend in my life, I am perfectly fine and content with that arrangement.
I carefully grabbed a beautifully crafted box that I had made specifically for this purpose and gently placed the necklace inside before preparing to leave my workshop. As I opened the heavy door and stepped outside, I suddenly froze in my tracks.
There, standing before me in an imposing assembly, were all the gods of Olympus gathered together. I bowed slightly in respectful acknowledgment of their presence.
"Is there something you need from me?" I asked cautiously.
Aphrodite confidently stepped forward from the crowd. And with a mocking smirk spreading across her beautiful face, she turned dramatically to address the whole assembled crowd.
"You see, that pathetic fool actually plans to give me a gift in some desperate attempt to win me back," she proclaimed in open mockery, her voice dripping with contempt.
Some of the gods visibly frowned and appeared annoyed that Aphrodite had summoned them all here for this seemingly trivial and petty matter.
With the condescending smile still firmly planted on her face, she turned her attention directly to me.
"So tell me, what marvelous creation have you crafted for me this time?" She asked with an increasingly smug grin, clearly expecting me to present her with the gift.
Ares confidently walked forward and possessively grabbed her by the waist, pulling her close. I scowled at the display.
"I think you're completely mistaken about this. This gift is not intended for you. It's actually for—"
"Hephaestus" someone suddenly called out, interrupting my explanation.
Everyone immediately turned their heads toward the source of the voice. Multiple goddesses present were visibly surprised and taken aback. Her extraordinary beauty was clearly matching and rivaling theirs.
"Hello there," she smiled warmly and graciously greeted all the other gods who were present.
"A demi-god," someone in the crowd whispered with curiosity.
The assembled gods looked around at each other and attempted to figure out whose child this beautiful young woman could possibly be, but in the end, all suspecting eyes eventually landed squarely on Zeus.
He shook his head violently and vigorously in denial after clearly seeing his wife Hera glare at him with intense suspicion and anger.
"It's not mine, I swear it," he insisted desperately.
Slowly and cautiously, they all turned their attention back to the mysterious maiden who appeared completely unaware of the awkward and tense situation unfolding around her.
"Hephaestus, my father has expressed that he wants to meet you," she announced with genuine warmth.
I grew suddenly anxious and nervous. Her father actually wants to meet me? What could this mean?
"Really? Are you certain?" I asked hesitantly.
She nodded enthusiastically with a bright, genuine smile spreading across her face. She slightly blushed, her cheeks taking on a rosy hue.
"You'll understand everything soon enough," she smiled knowingly and reached out to grab his hand with tender affection.
The very next moment, in the blink of an eye, they both completely disappeared from sight. The other gods' eyes widened dramatically in shock and disbelief. They didn't fully comprehend or understand what had just transpired before them.
A beautiful girl had actually blushed bashfully at Hephaestus, but not only that—she had looked utterly lovestruck and smitten with him. Aphrodite's face looked completely ashen and drained of color. Meanwhile, Hera appeared taken aback and thoroughly surprised by this unexpected turn of events. While Zeus seemed to be thinking deeply about something else entirely, his mind clearly wandering to other places.
Erik's POV
I settled myself comfortably in my chair and waited patiently for Melody to return with her guest. While waiting, I had made the deliberate decision to call for all of my children to gather here. I wanted to set a clear and meaningful example for them, to demonstrate and show them the full extent of the lengths to which I would go in order to give my blessings and approval to those who truly deserved it.
When they received my message summoning them, they all arrived promptly and without delay. Even Igneel, who had been previously occupied and busy with his own important work, paused whatever he was doing and arrived to be present. As well as my cherished daughter-in-laws, who also made their way here to witness this moment.
Now everyone I had summoned was here, assembled and waiting. A few long moments later, Melody suddenly reappeared before us with the man in question by her side. My eyes immediately narrowed as I studied and examined the man standing before me. He was deformed and disfigured in appearance. In fact, he was far more deformed than I had initially thought or anticipated he would be.
One of his eyes appeared swollen and looked like it was painfully swelling. I looked deeper with my divine sight and began to notice an underlying and serious problem within him. His god core—it seems to be broken and damaged, fractured beyond what should be possible.
The man bowed slightly in a gesture of respect and acknowledgment. I could clearly see a small ornate chest clutched carefully in his hand.
"Hello, my name is Hephaestus," he said, introducing himself with a nervous but sincere tone.
"Well then Hephaestus, I have some important questions for you that I need answered," I said calmly, keeping my voice measured and controlled.
He nodded in understanding as a chair materialized and appeared behind him out of thin air. He sat down carefully and gulped nervously, clearly anxious as everyone in the room watched him closely with curious and scrutinizing eyes.
"Do you have family?" I asked directly, beginning my interrogation.
"I-" he paused for a long moment, clearly struggling with the question. "Do not," he finally ended, his voice barely above a whisper.
My eyes narrowed once more at his response and the way he delivered it. It seems to be something deeply traumatic and painful according to his reaction and body language. Perhaps his parents had cruelly abandoned him when he was young, leaving him alone and unwanted.
I began tapping my fingers rhythmically on the armrest of my chair, a habit I had when deep in thought. But there was something persistently itching and nagging at me from the back of my head, an instinct I couldn't quite ignore.
"Have you been wedded before?" I asked carefully. I didn't know exactly why I felt compelled to ask this particular question, but something deep within me told me it felt important and necessary to know.
He froze completely at my words, his body going rigid, then after a tense moment he slowly nodded in confirmation.
"Yes," he answered simply, his voice tight with restrained emotion.
Melody, hearing this revelation for what seemed like the first time, looked absolutely stunned and shocked. She then retreated back slowly into her mother's protective and comforting arms, seeking reassurance.
"And what happened with that marriage?" I asked calmly, keeping my tone neutral and non-judgmental.
"Divorce," he answered with a single word, the pain evident in his voice.
Divorce? That was unexpected and raised more questions in my mind.
"Was this after or before?" I pressed, needing to understand the full context and timeline.
"Before," he replied quietly, his gaze dropping to the floor.
I nodded slowly, processing this information and what it might mean.
"Why did the marriage end?" I asked, getting to the heart of the matter.
"She had an affair with my brother," he said, the words coming out with difficulty and evident pain.
I froze completely at his revelation, my body going still. Family ties and bonds are extremely important and sacred, perhaps the most important connections we have. For a brother to do something so cruel and devastating to his own sibling, to betray him in such a fundamental way….
Everyone present in the room frowned deeply at his words, clearly disturbed and saddened by what they were hearing.
"And what did your parents do when they learned of this betrayal?" I asked, dreading but needing to hear the answer.
"T—they did nothing at all," he stammered out, the hurt and abandonment clear in every word.
And once again I began tapping my fingers methodically on the armrest of my chair, a physical manifestation of my troubled thoughts. What kind of family does something like that to their own child? What kind of parents stand by and do nothing while one son destroys another? As I kept thinking deeply about this tragic situation, I let out a long, heavy sigh. There was no point whatsoever in asking these painful questions any longer. I had heard enough to understand his situation. I stared straight and directly into his eyes, making my decision.
"Then Hephaestus, answer me this: do you truly like my daughter?" I asked, cutting straight to what really mattered.
He paused at my direct words and looked reluctant and hesitant, as if afraid to hope.
"I-I do," he said with unmistakable slight fear trembling in his voice, as if expecting rejection or mockery.
I turned my attention to Melody, who was now smiling hopefully and looking at me earnestly for my approval and permission. I gave her a single, affirming nod.
"Well, then you have my complete blessing," I said firmly and decisively.
His eyes widened dramatically at my words, clearly not having expected such ready acceptance. Melody immediately ran to him with joy and hugged him tightly. He was still trying desperately to comprehend everything that was happening, overwhelmed by this turn of events.
"But-" I said meaningfully and stood up from my chair, my voice taking on a more serious tone.
Now everyone in the room was paying close and careful attention to what would come next. I walked slowly and deliberately towards him and extended my hand outward. I waved briefly to everyone else present and they immediately understood what I intended to do.
They all took several steps back, creating space and distance. Now only me and Hephaestus were left standing in the center of the room, facing each other.
"I need to properly test your strength and assess your true capabilities," I said solemnly.
I then released my divine energy carefully into his body and began the process of repairing and fixing his damaged god core. His core immediately and greedily began to absorb my energy, drinking it in like a man dying of thirst.
As of this present moment he currently has the rank of 8, which is respectable but limited. I found myself wondering with genuine curiosity what rank he would ultimately achieve after his core has been completely fixed and restored to its proper state.
I watched carefully and attentively as each moment passed slowly by. He himself didn't fully understand what was happening to him, but he instinctively knew and sensed that it was beneficial and positive, so he wisely allowed it to continue happening. Slowly but surely his body began to glow with an ethereal light, and then he gradually floated up into the air, levitating off the ground.
His body began to shine increasingly brightly with radiant light as it began to transform and change fundamentally. For several long minutes this dramatic transformation continued and persisted until he finally descended slowly back down to the ground. Now his physical form was completely and utterly different from what it had been before.
His deformity and disfigurement was completely gone, healed and corrected. He now stood tall at around the same impressive height as me. He had thick, luxurious dark red maned hair flowing down with well-groomed facial hair. His body was perfectly sculpted and muscular, radiating strength and vitality, and his eyes seemed to shine brightly with newfound power and confidence.
I smiled warmly to myself as I clearly saw and perceived his new rank. Rank 10. Excellent, truly excellent. I consciously calmed down and collected myself. Now was not the appropriate time to get overly excited or emotional about this success. His power is already tremendously great and formidable. There is absolutely no point in testing him further through combat.
"Make all the necessary preparations for the wedding ceremony, and I will be there to witness it," I smiled genuinely at him.
His eyes widened once more, now fully comprehending and understanding the complete meaning and implications of my words. His lips trembled and shivered for a long moment with overwhelming emotion, and then finally broke into a genuine, joyful smile.
"Thank you so much, sir" he said with deep gratitude, tears of happiness and relief falling freely down his transformed face.
I reached out and patted his shoulder warmly in a fatherly gesture as my other children eagerly surrounded him, welcoming him into the family.
"You're pretty strong and impressive," Igneel said with genuine respect and admiration.
"You have a big, magnificent beard just like grandpa," Moon added with innocent observation.
I then turned my attention to the two sons who looked somewhat uninterested and detached from the emotional proceedings.
"So how have things been going with the girl you've been seeing?" I asked Rune directly.
He smirked with clear satisfaction and pride.
"We have just recently been on a date together," he said smugly, clearly pleased with himself.
What's this kid being so smug about, I wondered to myself. And why is he showing so much open emotion recently when he's usually so reserved? I guess love really does change people in profound ways. I then turned to face Claude.
"What about you Claude? What's happening between you and Snow?" I asked, curious about his situation as well.
He remained passive and emotionless as usual, his expression giving nothing away.
"She's good and kind, but she's far too trusting and kind-hearted for her own safety. I have placed protective summons all around her to keep her safe and protected from harm." He said matter-of-factly.
It seems he doesn't harbor romantic feelings for her at all. From the look in his eyes, it seems he sees her more like Liora or Melody—as a sister figure to be protected rather than a romantic interest.
"Well that's certainly good to hear that you're looking after her," I said approvingly, then something important suddenly came to mind.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot—there's a magical artifact located in one of the lands I've recently conquered. I want you to go retrieve it for me," I said to him directly.
He frowned slightly, showing his first sign of reluctance.
"Is it far away from here?" He asked, clearly gauging how much effort this would require.
"No, it's not particularly far. It's just that I'm extremely busy with other matters as of now," I explained honestly.
He looked somewhat unconvinced by my reasoning, but then after a moment of consideration he nodded in acceptance.
"I'll do it," he said simply and directly.
I raised a brow in mild surprise. He accepted so easily and without his usual resistance or negotiation.
"Aren't you going to refuse or complain like you usually do?" I asked, genuinely surprised by his quick agreement.
He shook his head slowly from side to side.
"I feel lucky today," he said simply, offering no further explanation for his unusual cooperation.