When I came to, I was in front of the king alone. My body ached, and my mind was slow to piece together where I was, but the sight of him made my blood run cold. I was tense, thinking I was about to be judged once again. I can't handle another trial right now. I need time to breathe, to process, to rest. But much to my surprise, the king's smile was… genuine?
My heart pounded harder. No. No, this wasn't right. This son of Athena had always carried himself like an executioner hiding behind the guise of duty. His anger, his pleasure, his amusement,every flicker of emotion was calculated, a tool wielded with purpose. Yet now, as he stood before me, the face beneath the weight of the crown was one of… contentment.
It unsettled me more than any of his previous cruelty.
"What are you so happy about?" I asked, my voice rough, my throat dry.
"Simple," he said, his voice laced with undeniable satisfaction. "You did what I didn't expect."
I frowned, suspicion gripping me. "Care to elaborate?"
He paused, considering his words carefully. Even now, every sentence from him was deliberate.
"You passed all the trials," he finally said. "And I didn't expect it."
The honesty in his tone was disturbing. He was pleased,no, he was thrilled. That alone put me more on edge than if he had drawn a blade against me. What was his angle? Why was he acting like this was a victory for him?
"You should now be able to view your status. I suppose congratulations are in order," he added, as if I should be honored.
I hesitated, then accessed my status, my heart pounding.
Name: Hudson Mitchell
Rank: Mortal (F)
Class: Light Warrior
Patron #1: Now Available
Patron #2: N/A
Patron #3: N/A
The sight of it made me smile. And then, before I could help myself, I laughed. It was real. My efforts had been acknowledged. The grueling, agonizing trials,I had endured them, and now, I could finally pick a patron. I had no idea how, but I didn't care. This was the first real step toward my own power.
Before I could ask any questions, the doors burst open. My allies returned.
We were together again, and for the first time in a long while, we could breathe.
Their eyes met mine, my body still battered and healing. But instead of hesitation or pity, they smiled. I could hardly believe it. Rebecca and Anna both nodded with an unspoken approval. And Shawn,Shawn tackled me into a crushing bear hug.
"Shawn, calm down, bro, I'm still here, aren't I?" I chuckled, patting his back.
His grip was tight, and for a moment, I let myself accept it. Out of everyone here, I could trust Shawn. He had proven himself over and over, despite his initial doubts about me. A solid ally, one I wanted on my side. I didn't feel the same certainty with Anna yet, and Rebecca was… complicated. But Shawn? He was real.
A sharp cough from the king made Shawn release me. The air shifted as all eyes fell back on the ruler before us. His expression was expectant, like a teacher waiting for his students to settle down.
"I have to admit, the four of you surprised me," he began, sweeping his gaze over us. "I suppose it is time I tell you the truth of why I am here. I was never meant to be your guide."
The weight of his words settled over us. A tension built in the air. He continued before we could question him.
"This was never about guidance. It was a test. A sixth trial, if you will."
Shawn crossed his arms. "Yeah, can you please elaborate on that?" he asked, his tone measured but firm.
The king inclined his head. "Of course. As you all know, my Lady, the great Athena, is the goddess of wisdom and warfare. She does not simply wish to raise warriors, but soldiers of the mind. It is not enough to swing a sword; one must understand the battlefield, the enemy, and most importantly, themselves."
He paced, his steps deliberate. "And so, I tested you. I belittled you. I crushed you. I made you doubt yourself and each other. But I did so with purpose." His voice grew softer, but no less commanding. "Because that is what it means to wield true power."
Rebecca and Shawn exchanged glances. Something about the way he spoke had them considering his words more seriously than I liked. Was he convincing them? Was he trying to shape their minds even now?
I clenched my fists. No, something wasn't right.
"As you can tell," the king continued, gesturing toward us, "you are now ready to choose your first patron. This is a privilege not often given."
There it was again, that subtle pressure, the underlying message hidden in his words.
"Wait," I interrupted, narrowing my eyes. "What do you want from us?"
The king's smile didn't falter. If anything, it grew more knowing, as if he had been waiting for me to ask.
"Why, I don't want anything, Hudson," he said smoothly. "Only to apologise. The hardship I put you through was necessary. And yet, look at you now." His voice was warm, proud even. "Stronger. Sharper. All of you have surpassed expectations. And now, you have the rare opportunity to choose a patron beyond the basic deities of your class."
Something in my chest twisted. How did he know that? How did he know our options when we hadn't even considered them yet?
He wasn't just revealing information,he was guiding us, nudging us along a path he wanted us to take.
"The gods do not reward the weak," he said, his voice steady and unwavering. "They do not grant favor to those who hesitate. The strong survive, and the wise endure. That is why Athena has blessed you with this chance."
Shawn was nodding. Rebecca seemed contemplative. Anna remained silent, watching the king closely.
I exhaled sharply. He was molding us, even now, planting seeds of thought. This wasn't just an explanation. It was propaganda.
"But enough of my words," he finally said, stepping back. "Now it is time. You will meet your new patrons."
With a single clap of his hands, the world shifted. The room dissolved, the air crackling with divine energy. And just like that, we were gone.
Well, at least we were supposed to be gone. But only Rebecca and Shawn vanished,Anna and I remained. We exchanged a glance, confirming we had reached the same conclusion. But Anna took it a step further.
"So confirm what we already know," she demanded. It was blunt, bordering on disrespectful, but undeniably effective.
The king regarded us, his expression unreadable. "Anna. Hudson." His gaze swept over us, measured and deliberate. "My lady has an offer for you,one you would be wise not to refuse. Both of you have caught her attention with your intelligence and discernment. This is an honor the others failed to earn."
Anna and I sighed in unison, likely for the same reason. Predictable. But there was no harm in playing along.
"Right," I responded, feigning indignation. "And why should we choose Athena over the deities who have actually watched over us throughout this tutorial?"
The king's lips curled into something between a smirk and a sneer, his voice rich with conviction.
"You see, Hudson, Lady Athena is not just any deity. She is an Olympian. A princess of Olympus. Her influence spans realms beyond your understanding. The power she offers is unmatched. It would be foolish,reckless,to turn down such an opportunity."
But then he slipped up. And he knew it. I could see it in the flicker of realization behind his eyes.
Anna had caught it too. Another glance between us was all it took.
"Do you mind giving us a moment to discuss?" Anna asked smoothly.
The king hesitated, then nodded, vanishing into the ether.
"So, what do you think?" Anna asked, her gaze sharp as she studied me. "It's not a bad offer on the surface." She leaned back slightly, feigning an ease neither of us truly felt.
I let out a short, humorless chuckle. "Anna, let's cut the bullshit. Neither of us would ever consider this crap." My voice was low, steady, but laced with irritation. "Athena is a bitch. A calculating, manipulative bitch who has spent this entire labyrinth ridiculing us, using the king as her tool." I met her eyes. "And that's exactly what she wants from us… She wants us to become tools for her."
Anna's lips curled into a slow, amused smile. "Thank the gods you're thinking the same way I am." Her voice held something close to relief, but it was laced with curiosity. "But why do you think she chose us instead of the other two? Wouldn't they be easier to shape into weapons?" She tilted her head slightly, studying me.
I frowned, letting the question settle in my mind. She had a point. The other two,our so-called allies,were more malleable, more desperate for approval. Why bypass the obvious choices and come to us instead?
"I think that's exactly why," I mused, voice growing thoughtful. "They're too easy to mold. Too predictable. She wants a challenge. Maybe for the sport of it, or maybe…" I hesitated, then smirked. "Maybe it's something even simpler. Entertainment."
Anna's smile faded, but the gleam in her eye remained. "Entertainment?" she echoed, testing the word, rolling it over in her mind. "Yes… That would explain the way they watch us, wouldn't it?"
"Their little game," I agreed. "But technically, there's another reason that comes to mind." A grin tugged at the corner of my lips. "And that one fills me with excitement more than anything."
Anna exhaled sharply, not quite a laugh, not quite a sigh. "I was afraid you'd say that." Yet she didn't look dismayed. If anything, she looked…intrigued. "But yes. You're right. There's another, far more likely explanation." She paused, voice lowering slightly. "After all, she isn't just some goddess playing matchmaker between warriors and patrons. She's a princess of Olympus, with responsibilities that go beyond simple meddling."
I caught on immediately, my mind clicking the pieces into place. "She's in charge of eliminating problems before the Thunder Bringer gets involved."
Anna nodded, her gaze sharp. "She doesn't like who's willing to sponsor us."
A silence stretched between us, weighted with understanding. Athena wasn't trying to recruit us out of generosity or even out of some strategic calculation. No, she wanted us out of the way before we could be claimed by someone else, someone who opposed her.
"Exactly," Anna murmured. "Our potential patron must be someone she considers a threat." She let her words hang in the air, waiting, letting me reach the conclusion on my own. A test.
I met her gaze and gave her the answer she was leading me toward. "It could be a Titan." I let the words settle. "Or another Olympian who she simply doesn't like."
Anna's expression didn't change, but I noticed the flicker of something beneath her careful mask, satisfaction. This was more than idle speculation for her. This was a personal calculation, and I was willing to bet she had a strong suspicion about who her own patron was going to be.
"Perhaps," I said, testing my own theory, "our patron is simply someone who goes against her ideals."
Anna's smile was sharp, almost impressed. "Perhaps."
We held each other's gaze for a long moment. A silent agreement passed between us, built on months of reluctant trust, of standing side by side in battle, of knowing that despite our differences, we were cut from the same unyielding cloth.
We turned in unison to the unseen presence listening to our every word.
"We refuse the offer."
For the briefest moment, I thought I heard a scoff; disdainful, unimpressed. And then the world shifted, the air tightening around us as we were whisked away, not by Athena, but by the one who had been waiting for us all along.