A few months had passed since they left the island.
The ship cut through the vast sea, the winds steady, and the slaves worked quietly… without sound, without will, as Zeus had made them.
On the deck of the ship, which had been sailing for months, the four children sat around a wooden chest they used as a table.
Their plates shook with the vibrations of the ship, but they were hungry enough to ignore it.
Odin sat slightly apart, eating quietly, his eyes always half-raised toward the horizon, as if watching something only he could see. He focused on the raven perched on the tall mast, gradually trying to assert control over it. The bird's wing trembled unnaturally, its tail fluttered nervously, but Odin concentrated his spiritual energy until the raven obeyed.
The other children ate at the table, each absorbed in their own way, but their eyes kept flicking to Odin.
Poseidon was the most restless. He ate a little, then looked at Odin, then ate again, then looked again, as if waiting for the right moment to speak.
Suddenly, he crept closer to Odin and said quietly, in a low voice:
"Odin… where are we going?"
Odin did not answer immediately. Poseidon leaned closer, his eyes widening:
"You know, right?… Father always tells you things he doesn't tell us."
Athena raised an eyebrow as she wiped her mouth with her sleeve:
"Calm down, Poseidon… your brother is busy now. The last thing he wants is for us to annoy him."
But Hades chuckled softly, putting a piece of bread in his mouth:
"Athena… you act like the oldest… while you sneak out of sleep every night!"
Her face flushed immediately, and she punched him on the shoulder with her small fist.
Poseidon paid no attention to the small quarrel and leaned toward Odin again:
"Odin… tell us. Father said something to you, didn't he? Where are we going? And what happened to the island?"
Odin did not answer directly. He only glanced at his plate, then at the sea.
But Hades slammed the table with his small hand in frustration:
"Of course he knows! He always knows! Even when Father says nothing, Odin sees the future! This isn't fair!"
Athena looked at him coldly and said:
"Be quiet, Hades… we all know you're jealous because you haven't awakened your power yet."
Hades pressed his lips together and shouted:
"I'm not just jealous… Father said only Odin inherited the power of the sky! And us? What about us?!"
Finally, Odin lifted his gaze. His voice was calm, yet strong despite his young age:
"Father said I am the only one… whose soul was in harmony with the sky. That is why I could absorb part of the sky's energy… even if I cannot control it all."
A brief silence fell.
Then Odin continued, looking at his three siblings one by one:
"As for you… Father said that each of you has a different energy you must discover for yourselves. No one will tell you what it is. You have to feel it… to know where your souls resonate."
Athena lowered her head, deep in thought.
Poseidon shifted his feet and said quietly:
"So… maybe my soul resonates with water?"
Hades laughed mockingly:
"Of course! You cry if a fish sneezes! That's obvious!"
But Odin cut him off in a serious tone that silenced them immediately:
"This is no joke. Father himself… could not absorb the sky's energy. His soul is stronger than his body. His human form couldn't contain it."
The children looked at Odin in shock; it was the first time they had ever heard such words.
Odin exhaled slowly and continued:
"Therefore… we are different from him. We were born from bodies that can endure this. Each of us is capable of finding the energy that resonates with our soul… and controlling it."
Silence fell once more…
A heavy silence, filled with anticipation, fear, and excitement all at once.
Then, suddenly, Poseidon spoke, eyes shining as he looked toward the sea:
"Do you think… we'll discover it soon?"
Athena replied calmly:
"Yes… when the time comes."
Hades, meanwhile, sat silently, fists clenched, his face burning with jealousy he could not restrain…
The waves crashed against the sides of the ship as the four children returned to their spots after eating.
The atmosphere on deck was calm, but inside the chest where they slept, a faint tension lingered… emanating from Hades.
Hades sat opposite Odin, legs crossed, arms folded, his face full of obvious resentment.
He spoke in a low, sharp voice:
"You… inherited the sky's power from Father… right?"
Odin did not look at him at first, but replied simply:
"That's what Father said."
Hades stared at Odin, eyes full of jealousy, and said in a low, sharp voice:
"Of course… everything is yours. The power of the sky… the foresight… the spiritual strength…"
Odin nodded silently, his eyes shining with a quiet intensity. He said nothing more, for he had not told anyone what he foresaw: that they would soon journey to an island far larger than the one they had previously lived on.
Hades' anger flared even more:
"Even the demonic raven… the harbinger of death from the Fallen Isles… was a gift for you! All of this because you awakened your power… and what about us? We're nothing!"
Odin sat quietly on his bed, fully aware that the raven was linked to his power, and that it was his strength alone that had made his mother give him the harbinger of death.
Hades clenched his fists, his fury rising:
"Everything is yours… and why?! Why don't I have anything yet, even though we are all four of his children… why are you the only one who awakened your power?"
Athena suddenly lifted her head from the corner of the room and snapped sharply:
"Hades, stop! This isn't Odin's fault."
But Hades ignored her, staring at his older brother with eyes blazing with anger and desire:
"I want to know what my power is! Why hasn't it awakened yet? Why don't I feel anything?!"
Poseidon sat beside him, gently patting his shoulder:
"Maybe… maybe the time hasn't come yet."
But Poseidon's words did nothing to quell the fire. Hades stepped closer to Odin and said sharply:
"You feel the sky… we see how you always gaze at it. And us… nothing!"
This time, Odin lifted his head and looked at him with a calm but firm gaze.
In a low voice, he said:
"Did you forget I said Father told us something important… that each of us must walk our own path?"
The three siblings fell silent.
Hades stared at him, waiting for more.
Odin continued:
"He said no one will awaken the power for us. Each of us must discover for ourselves what energy resonates with our soul."
Athena murmured:
"So… our power isn't like Father's?"
Odin shook his head:
"No. He said each of us… is different. And what we absorb into our souls will determine our own path."
Hades calmed slightly and looked at his hands, then clenched his fists tightly:
"So… we're not weak… we just haven't started yet."
Odin gave him a small, rare smile—one no one was used to seeing.
And he said quietly:
"When your time comes… you'll know. You'll just have to feel it."
Poseidon leaned forward, eyes gleaming with excitement:
"And me? Will I absorb the power of the sea?"
Athena chuckled softly:
"You can barely swim, don't get ahead of yourself!"
Poseidon immediately shot back:
"I can! It's just… the water's cold."
Hades, despite his jealousy, felt a weight lift slightly. Not because he was satisfied… but because he began to understand.
His power hadn't awakened yet… but it existed. Waiting.
And he… would not accept being less than Odin.
The next morning:
The four children sat on the deck of the ship, the waves rocking around them, the air thick with the scent of salty sea spray.
Odin looked at Hades, his eyes carrying a quiet, steady gleam. Suddenly, memories of the past surged into his mind.
He remembered how Hades had been jealous of him since childhood. Every time something of Odin's power or a unique ability surfaced, Hades' eyes would widen with anger and envy.
Odin recalled the first time Hades had shown envy, every instance when he noticed Odin possessed something he did not.
He remembered the first time their mother had praised him in front of everyone, the first time in his life.
Odin remembered that day years ago, standing with his four siblings in the wide training courtyard, under a clear sky, the air heavy with the scent of iron and sweat, the echoes of clashing swords reverberating in the distance.
The ground was paved with stone, marked with the traces of previous training, while the thundering footsteps of soldiers mingled with the instructors' shouts.
The four of them stood in the courtyard, the air tense with a heavy expectation.
Poseidon fidgeted nervously, lifting his head toward the gate every few moments, asking:
"Do you know why Father gathered us here before training?"
Athena replied immediately, as if to silence his curiosity with authority:
"Stop asking, Poseidon… When Father arrives, he will explain everything. Don't rush things."
Poseidon did not continue his protest, for Hades interrupted, looking toward the gate:
"Silence… Father has come."
As soon as Hades spoke, silence fell over everyone. Their breaths halted as all eyes turned to the gate, which slowly began to open…
And in stepped Zeus.
His footsteps were heavy and deliberate, each one planting awe in their hearts.
Odin was not surprised… as if he had already known the reason for this gathering.
Their father stood tall before them, his deep voice filling the courtyard:
"Do you know why I have gathered you here today?"
A hushed stillness fell over all present. Hades watched Odin with eyes that gleamed with jealousy from the start, his feelings visible despite his efforts to hide them.
Odin remained calm, arms folded, aware of what was coming, as if the responsibility that came with his power had been with him from the very beginning.
Their father continued:
"Before you begin your training, I have gathered you to congratulate Odin for awakening his power and absorbing it into his soul. You have awakened your strength, but do not overuse it—you are still too young to fully control it."
Odin smiled quietly and looked up at the sky for a moment, sensing the energy of his power, while Hades' eyes widened, the jealousy in his chest growing with every word.
After a short pause, their father spoke:
"Expect a gift for awakening this power. But remember, power is responsibility, and every step you take will teach you something about yourself."
The other children stood with folded arms, watching, while Hades felt an inner pressure. He was not just jealous of the power itself, but of the recognition Odin had received in front of everyone for the first time.
Odin absorbed all of this silently, focusing on his inner sense, aware that Hades' jealousy would be a part of their journey ahead, and that every experience, every training, would reveal more about their individual abilities.
After a few moments of silence,
Zeus stepped forward and stood before his four children.
His silence alone was enough to make them all stand straight, motionless.
Then he spoke in his deep, calm voice:
"Listen carefully… what I am about to say will determine your future."
Their eyes rose to him, each child waiting in their own way:
Odin, steadfast…
Athena, deeply attentive…
Poseidon, anxious…
Hades, silent, hiding the turmoil inside.
Zeus raised his hand slowly, as if his words needed extra weight, then continued:
"You are now at the stage where you can absorb souls. But this… is not a power without cost."
A light breeze stirred, as if the air itself were listening.
"There is a fundamental law, without which you will perish:
The balance of body and soul."
He took a few steps among them, letting his gaze pass over each child:
"When you absorb a soul… its strength must be close to the level your body can handle.
If you take in more power than your body can endure… your soul will shatter.
And if it is far too weak… it will corrupt your spirit without benefit."
Zeus took a deep breath, as if recalling painful memories that belonged to him alone:
"I myself… never managed to consume the energy of the heavens within my body. My spiritual power exceeded what my body could bear."
His eyes moved toward Odin for a moment, without mentioning his name, then he continued:
"Therefore… do not overconsume souls. Only do so when your body is ready.
This is the only safe way."
He paused, then spoke with unyielding firmness:
"Those who do not balance their body and soul… their soul will fracture, and their body will collapse.
Remember this well…
Only the strong are those who know their limits."
The children remained silent, each feeling the weight of his words in their own way:
Poseidon swallowed hard, fear gripping him.
Athena placed her hand on her chest, tense.
Hades clenched his fists, concealing his anger and wounded pride.
And Odin… he saw within himself a path that the others could not see.
Zeus stepped forward with steady steps toward his children, then stood directly in front of Odin and spoke in a calm yet profoundly knowing voice:
"I know you didn't just awaken the power of the heavens…
You've awakened a power connected to seeing the future… and controlling spiritual energy, haven't you, Odin?"
The moment the words left Zeus' mouth, a sharp glint of jealousy flashed in Hades' eyes—a quick spark, yet as clear as lightning.
Still… Odin did not look at him.
He was not surprised.
He did not hesitate.
He lifted his head slightly and replied in a steady voice:
"Yes, Father."
Then, with the clear confidence of a child who had seen far more than his age suggested, he continued:
"I can now see glimpses of the future…
I can read people's minds…
Except yours, Father… and my siblings'."
He then turned his gaze toward the distant palace behind them and gestured lightly, as if describing a simple truth:
"And I can see everything happening inside the palace… from here, Father."
Hades' jaw tensed, and a surge of jealousy ignited within him like a spark to dry wood…
Zeus, however, remained silent for a moment, staring at his son, who was beginning to resemble a ruler more than a mere mortal.
Odin sat quietly, thinking of the past, recalling everything that had happened on the island and afterward…
Suddenly, he lifted his head, looked forward, and spoke in a calm yet confident voice:
"We have reached our new home."
His siblings noticed his unusual demeanor; their eyes widened slightly, sensing a shift in the atmosphere around them.
Before any of them dared to ask a question, Odin remained silent for a moment, as if granting them the chance to understand things for themselves. Then he continued, eyes fixed on the path ahead, as if past events and the unknown future were converging in his mind in a serene, contemplative calm…
Despite their curiosity, his siblings hesitated to speak, feeling that something important was unfolding—something beyond their current understanding.
Suddenly, the children heard slow, uneven footsteps approaching from the corridor.
They immediately recognized them: Zeus…
He had been in the room throughout their journey on the ship, but now he appeared before them in a pitiable state, his body marked with cracks that ran across it like scars of the suffering he had endured.
His eyes glowed with a powerful light, filling the room with an indescribable force as he moved forward, making the entire space tremble with unnatural awe, as if the sky itself were acknowledging his power.
The children froze, all movement ceased, their faces filled with astonishment and fear…
Their fingers tensed slightly, eyes widening in awe at what they saw.
They had never expected to see their father like this, a mixture of pain and absolute power in a single moment.
Zeus took a few steps forward, each step pressing down heavily on the ground beneath him, the air around them vibrating with the sensation of absolute strength and control.
Despite their fear, the children could do nothing but stare.
Zeus lifted his head, his deep voice rippling with power and danger, and said:
"We have arrived at our home… our new homeland. Welcome… to the island of Asgard!"
Before the children's eyes appeared a new island, massive and vast, glimmering under the sun with an almost unreal brilliance, as if it had emerged straight from their imagination.
The land was rugged and rocky, trees stretched everywhere, and towering mountains surrounded it on all sides.
The surrounding sea shimmered in shades of deep blue and turquoise, with a light mist hovering above, adding a sense of mystery and grandeur simultaneously.
The children remained silent, their eyes wide in astonishment, never having seen anything so immense, beautiful, and powerful all at once.
Zeus stood at the bow of the ship, his eyes still glowing, gazing at the new island as if it were an extension of his power and control. A subtle tremor of absolute strength and desire resonated in his voice.
"This is our homeland now… our island… the island of Asgard."
The children exchanged glances, each feeling a mixture of wonder, fear, and curiosity, aware that this island would change everything in their lives.