I settled down next to him. I thought about what to say for a few minutes as he hummed a jaunty tune, randomly reeling in the line, grumbling, and tossing it out again.
When he flicked the fishing rod, the hook went soaring into the sky like a bullet, dropping into a spot in the water at least a hundred yards away.
The water exploded in every direction, frothing and bubbling like a bomb had gone off. Seafoam brushed the bottom of my shoes, and a mist coated the dock, settling over my hoodie like a gentle snowfall.
"Damn fish never bite on this dock," Poseidon broke the silence, sighing as he placed his rod beside him. It glistened and melted into water that receded into the worn wood of the dock and splattered into the ocean. He turned to face me, his mouth set in a small smile, and he offered me an ice-cold water from the cooler.
"Granted, I could always make them, but that would defeat the whole purpose of trying in the first place, would it not?"
"I...yeah,"
I took the water bottle and cracked it open. A twirl of smoke fluttered out. Full disclosure, I didn't have any idea what he was talking about, but eh. I figured the man was taking the time out of his day to talk to me, so the least I could do was talk back. Even if it didn't make too much sense,
"I think I get what you're going for."
"Good," Poseidon's smile grew. I felt a tingle in my body as he regarded me. It wasn't warm and comforting in the slightest—if anything, it was burning hot.
My body felt like I was under one of those red-light lamps they used to have at Yancy to keep the food in the cafeteria from going cold.
The power rolling off of him was nothing short of mind-blowing—it reminded me of the sensation of standing next to a transformer. I felt like he could reduce me to a grease spot on this dock with nothing more than his pinky and an afterthought.
— - —
~ The sheer proximity to an Elder's overwhelming power has forced the Game to adapt! The presence of Poseidon's divine energy is too great to ignore, and the Game has reframed it into something you can comprehend. As a result, you can now sense and interpret the flow of mana around you.
— - — — - —
[Skill]: Mana Detection
[System Denomination]: Active/Passive
[Attribute Group]: WIS
[Level]: 5
[Description]: Mana is a fundamental substance that flows through and is produced by all living things and the environment itself, acting as the lifeblood of magic and energy in the world. It exists in varying states depending on its concentration and density.
In lower concentrations, mana disperses into the air, behaving like an invisible gas that permeates everything, faint and nearly undetectable to the untrained. It flows freely, carried on winds, through soil, and even within the faintest vibrations of life.
However, when mana gathers in higher concentrations, its density increases, causing it to condense into a liquid-like form. This viscous state is often found in reservoirs of magical power—such as enchanted springs, ley lines, or areas blessed by divine influence. In this form, mana becomes not only visible but also highly reactive, capable of fueling powerful spells, artifacts, or rituals.
The dual nature of mana, shifting seamlessly between intangible and tangible forms, reflects its role as a bridge between the physical and metaphysical realms, connecting all things through the flow of magic.
[Leveling]: At [Level 1], you gain the ability to faintly detect mana in the air, allowing you to make rough estimates of how much mana someone is using, though the accuracy is limited.
At [Level 5], your senses sharpen, enabling you to detect mana in the natural environment, like plants, water, and the earth itself. You can now attempt to gauge the amount of mana a person is channeling, with slightly better precision.
— - —
I mentally willed the notification away for now. My dad was…well, he was interesting. I expected him to have some sort of ancient tunic on and a shield and whatnot, but he didn't look like that at all.
He looked kind of…casual, actually. If I was being honest, he reminded me of a beachcomber from Key West. He wore leather sandals, khaki Bermuda shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots all over it. His skin was deeply tanned, his hands scarred like an old-time fisherman's.
His hair was black, like mine. His face had that same brooding look that had always gotten me branded a rebel. But his eyes, sea green like mine, were surrounded by crinkles that told me he smiled a lot, too. I looked away.
Still, with my new skill, even as he was outside my line of sight, he was lighting up my vision like a lighthouse. Rays of golden light were flying off him, twirling and blasting into the sky, like the world's biggest nightlight. Just as I was about to complain, the light dimmed.
"Perseus," Poseidon said, "You have the ability to detect mana?"
"I think so," I replied, looking at his face. His voice stirred my oldest memories: that warm glow I remembered as a baby, the sensation of his hand on my forehead. It was a weird feeling for sure, but it also made me feel content in some way. Almost like things had come full circle or something.
"It's been a while since a demigod was born with that skill. It's usually that upstart Hecate's children who are born with such a gift,"
He leaned back on the dock a bit, resting on his elbows as he looked toward the setting sun on the horizon. He paused for a moment, before murmuring,
"It'll aid you well on your path."
"Thanks." As the setting sun bathed his face in a flickering glow, I still wasn't too sure what I saw on his face. There was no clear sign of love or approval.
Nothing to encourage me. It was like looking at the ocean: some days, you could tell what mood it was in. Most days, though, it was unreadable, mysterious. It was a weird feeling.
For the longest time, I'd had so many things I wanted to say to him— questions, thoughts, everything. But now that he was here, it felt like my brain was a shaken-up soda, and someone had popped the cap—most of my thoughts fizzed out before I could even catch them.
A few questions still managed to bubble up, though, refusing to stay down. How did he feel when he first found out my Mom was going to have me?
Why did he never visit? Why did he let my mother stay with Gabe?
"Your mother is a queen among women," Poseidon said wistfully. The expression on my face must've been too telling. "I had not met such a mortal woman in a thousand years. To see her wed a man like your stepfather was, well, jarring, to say the least."
"Was," I felt my eyes sting a bit. I stored the fact that Poseidon knew who Gabe was away for later, "She was a queen among women. Not anymore. She's dead."
Poseidon looked back at me, and for a moment, I saw the briefest glimpse of a fraction of the true might of my father. His jovial eyes were ablaze with a sea-green flame. The air on the dock got heavy and charged with ozone. It felt like the air in my lungs was being forcefully squeezed out.
The water in front of us had started to churn and crash, boiling as if the world's biggest bunsen burner had been turned on underneath it. A few moments later, the pressure died down, and he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly—as if he'd just remembered he was in front of his twelve-year-old son. The fire in his eyes puttered out.
"Dead," He repeated as if the words were unfamiliar in his mouth. "No. She is not dead. She is in the Underworld."
"Huh?" I looked up at him, searching his face for lies. "She's in the Underworld…but not dead?"
"No. Not dead. Your uncle and I are having our worst quarrel in centuries. We are fighting over something valuable of his that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt—one that he thinks I've had a hand in stealing," Poseidon scoffed. "As if. To make matters worse, he thinks that you're the thief that stole it, under my instruction."
My mouth fell open, "I've never even been to Olympus! Or seen you! Or him!" Poseidon nodded at me.
He looked annoyed, but not surprised, kind of like he was used to Zeus acting out, "I know. He's…paranoid, to say the least. While Zeus and I do not have the best of relationships, my relationship with your other uncle, Hades, is a great deal more amicable. He came to me with a proposition, informing me that he had a quest for you. A quest that could benefit everyone involved. I made haste to this camp, hoping to find you."
"A…quest?" I repeated. "How would a quest benefit all of us?"
"Your uncle's symbol of power was stolen as well. Our working theory is that whoever stole his helm either also stole the lightning bolt or is working with the thief who did. Hades seeks to lure out the true thief," Poseidon said. His eyes got a little angry again. "He believes that the thief, or thieves, are working alongside a god. That's why, for your mother's safety, he's holding her in the Underworld until the matter is sorted. It's better for us if they think their plan is going smoothly."
— - —
Quest Alert!
[STORY QUEST] {All's Well…}
[Quest Prompt]: The gods are at odds over a stolen relic— Zeus's lightning bolt—and Poseidon is caught in the middle. To make matters worse, Zeus has wrongly accused you of being the thief. Hades has come to Poseidon with a proposal: a quest that could uncover the true thief and restore balance between the gods.
The thief, or thieves, aren't working alone, and Hades believes the same person or group has also stolen his symbol of power. Poseidon has no doubt the criminal is hiding among the gods themselves, and for your mother's safety, Hades has taken her into the Underworld. Now, it's up to you to clear your name, find the real thief, and bring justice to the gods.
[Total Possible Rewards]:
[Variable] boost in reputation with multiple Olympians!
[+][100,000][EXP]
[?]
Please select: [YES/NO]
— - —
---------------------------------------------------------
If you enjoyed this chapter, remember: every 300 power stones unlocks a bonus chapter, so your support really helps keep the story rolling. And if you want to go further, you can also support me on Patreon: patreon.com/Aurelius DBlack