Eros didn't dwell on Prometheus's lack of fame.
He obediently followed her back to the port.
Along the way, he could feel countless complex gazes landing on him.
He'd only changed outfits, but that was enough to shift others' perception of his identity completely.
Some eyes glinted with greed, others held admiration or yearning, and a few were openly hostile.
This isn't good. Moral development isn't keeping up with civilization…
Eros frowned, clearly sensing a deeper problem.
No law. No morality. No city-states. No nations. Just primitive human instinct and tribal tension.
He wondered if Prometheus had noticed it too.
Glancing at her back, Eros shook his head inwardly. He was being too impatient.
As long as humans still craved community, class structures and centralized power would inevitably emerge.
Then, naturally, laws and ethics would follow to protect those systems.
Maybe, beyond Delos, someone was already founding a polis.
Shaking off the thought, Eros returned his attention to the present as Prometheus led him to her ship.
It was a grand vessel, far beyond anything these early humans could have constructed on their own.
Docked among the humble fishing boats of the locals, it looked like a rooster surrounded by eggs.
"This is my Seer, a ship I personally oversaw. The crew are all hand-picked, loyal and capable."
While not as massive as future triremes requiring 170 rowers, it clearly wasn't something a few people could paddle alone.
The deck swarmed with armored warriors, men and women alike, equipped with spears and bows.
When Prometheus returned, they greeted her with obvious reverence.
Clearly, she commanded genuine authority here.
"This is my friend, a mage. His name is Endymion. Treat him with the respect he deserves."
Prometheus introduced Eros with calm authority.
Upon hearing he was a mage, and seeing his mysterious garb, the crew visibly stiffened.
In this age, mages were naturally associated with the gods. Even if they weren't oracles or seers, they often inspired greater fear than either.
Eros, meanwhile, studied the crew with interest.
Compared to ordinary humans, they gave off a faint ripple, something similar to cosmic energy, though still extremely weak.
Likely, long voyages and constant battles had awakened the barest hints of energy within them, enhancing their senses and strengthening their bodies.
It was a good sign.
Cosmic energy differed from magnetic force; it could awaken gradually through combat and discipline.
Most would never break past the sixth sense, but those who did were battle-hardened elites.
Beyond that, however, no one could ascend without external aid or immense talent.
"By the way, Prometheus. I've decided to change course."
Just before she could order departure, Eros spoke.
"Since Amphitrite's situation seems stable, there's no need to visit the Ocean Throne immediately."
"Then where to instead?"
Prometheus didn't mind. As long as there were people, anywhere would do.
"Lemnos. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Eros wanted to visit Hephaestus and get his divine armor forged.
Of course, he was also curious.
In mythology, Hephaestus was always described as ugly, which, for a goddess, made her a rare breed.
That made Eros even more intrigued.
He'd yet to meet a single goddess who could be called truly ugly. Even Echidna, part-monster, had an alluring humanoid form.
And Hephaestus was Hera's child. How ugly could she really be?
Eros's curiosity burned brighter than ever.
Now that Amphitrite was safe, visiting Lemnos and meeting the goddess of flame became his new goal.
"Lemnos? No problem."
Prometheus, eyes squinted, quickly deduced what he was thinking.
She didn't know what business Eros had with the prickly fire goddess, but she raised her head and called to the helm:
"Kekropis, did you hear that? We're setting course for the Furnace of the Fire God, Lemnos!"
"Got it! That's a long haul, huh?"
The helmswoman responded, her appearance strange, snake-like ridges protruded behind her ears, like cobra hoods catching the sun.
"Kekropis?"
Eros lifted his head, studying her. The name rang a bell, but he couldn't quite recall where he'd heard it.
She wasn't a god. Nor a demi-human.
A demigod?
Eros could sense something divine within her, but not fully divine.
"Yes, I'm Kekropis. A pleasure to meet you, friend."
After boarding the upper deck, Kekropis extended a hand warmly.
Noticing Eros's gaze lingering on her snake-like features, she explained with a smile:
"I was born in the land of Attica, no father, no mother. But I should still be human… probably."
In Greece, being born with unusual traits wasn't exactly rare.
And those with such origins often had great destinies awaiting them.
Eros exchanged a glance with Prometheus, then took her hand.
"I'm glad to meet you as well."
Despite her serpentine features, Kekropis was far from cold. In fact, she was surprisingly friendly.
At her command, the sailors untied the moorings and pushed off from the dock, setting course for the open sea.
It seemed Prometheus was more of a figurehead captain. Kekropis handled most of the real work.
The ship rocked gently on the waves. The wind carried with it the rhythmic voices of sailors singing their voyage songs.
They rowed and sang in unison.
Life at sea was tedious and dangerous. To prevent emotional collapse or mental stagnation, ship-songs and deck scrubbing were essential distractions.
Kekropis checked the charts and confirmed their heading, then casually gripped the wheel with one hand and struck up a conversation with Eros.
"You're a mage, huh? Do you know lots of weird spells?"
"What are you heading to Lemnos for? To meet the Fire Goddess?"
"I heard her palace floats in living flame. Is that true?"
Her endless chatter bordered on noisy, and Eros began to feel mildly annoyed.
"Hehe, don't mind me," she said with a chuckle, clearly catching on. "It's normal. Sailing sounds exciting, but it's boring as hell."
"There's nothing to do on a ship but talk."
The truth was, most sailors secretly hoped voyages would stay boring forever.
"In the open sea, storms and sea monsters aren't even the worst of it."
"The real danger is monsters and demi-humans."
"Sometimes, even just seeing another ship on the horizon is enough to make everyone tense."
In this lawless age, any ship capable of long-distance sailing was inherently strong.
With no states or flags, the sea had become its own kind of dark forest.
Whenever another vessel appeared, the crew had to decide, if it approached, would they be the ones to fire the first volley?
This was all new to Eros.
On his past journeys, he had Poseidon or Oceanids at his side. The sea bent to their will.
Now, for the first time, he was experiencing the dangers of a human voyage.
Humanity's era was dawning.
It had only just begun, but soon their footsteps would reach across the world.
He could already imagine it, hundreds of sail-and-oar ships crowding the seas, countless city-states rising across the archipelagos.
"Say… if this is so dull, why even do it?"
Curious, Eros turned to Kekropis, wondering what compelled someone like her to endure it.
"With your strength, you'd live well even without Prometheus's generous pay, wouldn't you?"
Kekropis hesitated, glanced at Prometheus, then leaned in and whispered:
"Since the day I was born, I've felt it… a calling."
"I know I was born to carry out some mission. But what it is? How I'll do it? When?"
"I have no idea."
"So I wander. I travel. I visit new places, see different lands, and wait for the day destiny comes to claim me."
A demigod born from the earth itself, Kekropis had no divine parent, nor was she born from love.
From the moment she emerged, she knew, her existence meant something.
Maybe the time hadn't come yet. Maybe she wasn't strong enough. Or maybe she hadn't arrived at her destined place.
When she was lost and directionless, Prometheus invited her aboard.
The seer with sky-colored eyes extended her hand and asked for her help.
Kekropis agreed.
Surely, traveling with a prophet would lead her to her fate.
Now, she'd been drifting across the seas with Prometheus for countless seasons.
OG Author's Note:
Kekropis - founder of Athens.
As a heads-up: among the demigod heroes, only a few will get the gender-swap treatment.
Main reason for genderbending is just to avoid the chaotic web of relationships among the original Greek gods.