While Hades was staring at Poseidon with overwhelming anger, Athena was looking at Odin, waiting for what he would say, uninterested in the trivialities of her other brothers or their usual disputes. Silence dominated for a few moments, until Odin redirected his gaze toward his brothers—not with a sharp look, but with a probing and deep one—and said in a calm voice:
"I do not know whether this will succeed, nor whether we can interfere with the mind of a giant child as he is born, but I can discuss this matter with our father and see whether it is possible."
Hades and the others looked at Odin, nodding in agreement. Athena did not wait long and quickly said:
"If we succeed in that, Odin, will he be soulless and emotionless like the former slaves? They were mindless puppets. Remember, we need a giant child to be a link between us and the giants, not to turn the child into a weapon to be used."
Odin looked at Athena, slightly nodding his head, then said:
"I know, my sister. We will not carry out this plan unless we are certain of everything, and do it properly and without any mistakes, for this may determine our future."
While Odin was saying that, he suddenly waved his hand and said:
"I must prepare to speak with our father about this matter. You go and check on the children and increase their enthusiasm and ambition, for the coming years are important."
As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared quietly from his place. Athena looked at the spot where her brother had been standing, sighed deeply, then said to the others:
"Odin will speak with our father again… If only we possessed the power of prophecy so we could speak with him."
As soon as she said that, she disappeared as well.
Poseidon said while watching his siblings leave the place:
"You should go as well, my brother. Do not forget to encourage your daughter. I am excited to see what kind of energy she will awaken."
Poseidon thought that his words, and his hint toward Hades's eldest daughter, would make Hades forget the anger burning in his chest, but he was mistaken. His words increased Hades's anger instead of calming it.
Hades said as he walked toward Poseidon with slow but threatening steps:
"Do you really think I will forget your insult to me? Do you think I am stupid?"
Poseidon nodded in response, then waved his hand and said:
"No, of course I do not see you as stupid, my brother. On the contrary, you surpass Odin in intelligence. You gave us that brilliant plan, my brother. I think I will call you from now on: Hades the Intelligent."
Hades's face reddened at Poseidon's words; every word he uttered deeply wounded his pride. He said as he rushed toward him:
"I will show you how to speak properly, you bastard!"
Poseidon looked at the furious Hades charging at him and ran away in fear, saying:
"What is wrong with you, my brother? Will you really hit me? Remember, we have not fought since we were young, my intelligent brother!"
As soon as Hades heard Poseidon's words, he lunged forward at full speed and immediately chased after him. Poseidon glanced back while running and saw Hades right behind him, closer than he had expected. He waved his hand while panting and said:
"No… don't come!"
But his words vanished under a barrage of violent blows that rained down on him from the enraged Hades.
The sound of the violent clash reached the young children on the mountain. One of Hades's children said while looking around in concern:
"Is that the sound of a wolf?"
One of Athena's children replied while shaking his head:
"I don't think so… it sounds like a passing bird."
When one of Poseidon's children heard that, he looked at them with a mocking expression and said:
"No, you fools, it is the sound of a wounded dog. Can't you distinguish sounds, you idiots?"
When the children around him heard that, they too began discussing the source of the sound, and the matter quickly spread among all the children on the mountain. As the question of what the sound was kept repeating, the conclusion of Poseidon's child—that it was the sound of a wounded dog—was collectively accepted, as if they had reached an unquestionable truth.
While the children were discussing, Hades was beating Poseidon with unrestrained rage, Odin was on his way to his home to prepare to speak with his father, and Athena had already reached the door of her house.
She stopped at the entrance, seeing her eldest daughter standing inside, holding a sword in one hand and a spear in the other, as if trying to choose between them. Athena did not enter to interrupt her daughter's thoughts, but stood watching silently, waiting for the decision.
After moments of hesitation and thought, Athena's eldest daughter chose the spear instead of the sword.
A faint smile appeared on Athena's face, and she entered the house saying:
"I see you chose the spear, girl."
The child immediately turned upon hearing her mother's voice and saw Athena entering while looking at her. She said in a calm voice:
"I think the spear is easier to use than the sword, Mother."
Athena's smile widened even more, for that was exactly what she had thought when she first held her spear after arriving on the island. She approached her daughter and said:
"You chose well, my daughter. I and all my brothers chose the spear as well. It seems blood does not lie."
A small smile formed on the child's face upon hearing her mother's words, but it did not last long. After Athena said that, she continued in a more serious tone:
"I also hope that the awakening of your power will be as strong as our awakened power, not merely a coincidence."
The child frowned slightly at her mother's words, then said confidently:
"Do not worry, Mother. I will never disappoint you."
Athena smiled at her daughter's words and said:
"I want you to focus only on awakening your power during the years you will spend away on the mountain, and not focus on the trivial quarrels that occur among the other children."
The child's face reddened in embarrassment, and she quickly said:
"I was not involved in that quarrel, Mother. I was only present at the place, nothing more."
Athena looked at her daughter's blushing face and laughed softly, then said:
"I know that, my little one. But what matters to me is that you do not become distracted or think about such trivialities. I want you to focus only on your future and on the power you will awaken."
The little girl nodded confidently and said:
"Do not worry, Mother. I will never let that hinder me from gaining my grandfather's approval."
Athena looked at her daughter and saw in her the same determination she herself once had, when she was trying to gain her father's attention. She said in a warm tone:
"I trust you, my daughter… do not disappoint me."