Percy Jackson - Beyond the Gods

The news of Zeus's son's return spread beyond Camp Half-Blood; all of Olympus heard about it through their constant observations of Camp Half-Blood and through Apollo himself. It even made it to Hephaestus' own television for all the gods to hear the hottest news.

Currently, in the abode of the gods.

On the narrow stone path that wound through the sky, white marble steps spiraled upward, ascending towards the mountain's peak as if leading to a world beyond imagination. Below, the view of Manhattan stretched like a small blot on the horizon, distant and insignificant compared to the magnificence above.

At the top of the clouds, a snowy summit rose, the mountain peak truncated but still imposing. Its slopes, cloaked in a mantle of palaces spreading across various levels, formed a city of mansions. The marble and stone structures aligned perfectly, with white columned porticoes and golden terraces reflecting the natural luminosity of the night sky, while bronze braziers illuminated the path with their flickering flames, creating a spectacle of colors and shadows.

Intricate roads wound along the mountain slopes, taking visitors on a journey to the peak where the grandest palace stood, shining like a beacon against the surrounding snow.

Lush gardens bloomed along the mountain slopes, where olive trees and rose bushes intertwined, creating a tapestry of vibrant colors. The air was imbued with a soft, fragrant scent, as if nature itself was in perfect harmony.

In the heart of Olympus, the open-air market, with its colorful tents, seemed like a living painting of life and movement. Vendors and merchants from all parts of the gods' world were there, offering rare and enchanted goods, while the sound of conversations and laughter mingled with the gentle breeze passing between the columns.

On one side of the mountain, a stone amphitheater stood out, its empty bleachers seeming to wait for the next great event. The silence of that place had an almost solemn quality, as if the stories and legends of the gods were etched into its stones.

On the other side, the hippodrome and coliseum rose, with their grand arenas prepared for what seemed like an eternal spectacle, an event of unparalleled grandeur that would never take place.

The gods of Olympus did not need mortal games, but their city was ready to host them if necessary.

In a specific part of Olympus.

The Temple of Zeus in Olympus was a masterpiece of divine architecture. The white marble walls were adorned with intricate reliefs depicting the king of the gods' exploits. The massive columns stood like guardians of time, each decorated with golden carvings that gleamed under the celestial light. The ceiling was a vaulted dome painted with images of the starry heavens, giving the impression that the temple was a fragment of the universe itself.

Around the temple, soft and ethereal clouds floated like a tranquil sea, creating a perfect contrast with the structure's majesty. The air was filled with a sweet and refreshing fragrance, a mix of jasmine and nectar. Celestial birds flew around, their songs echoing like a gentle melody, completing the place's aura of serenity.

Zeus stood on the temple's balcony, where the polished marble floor reflected the golden light, creating an almost magical glow. The balcony was surrounded by golden balustrades, and before him, the horizon seemed infinite, an expanse of clouds and light merging with the sky. He was wearing his usual suit, exuding royalty...

He gazed intently at the horizon, but his mind was far away, reflecting on the recent news. His son would return. He couldn't help but think of the moment he met Sophia. It was during one of his visits to the mortal world, specifically in Hollywood.

As he walked through the bustling streets, his attention was drawn to a theater where a movie was playing.

Upon entering, he settled into one of the plush leather seats and waited for the screening to begin.

When the lights dimmed and the screen lit up, he saw Sophia for the first time.

She was playing the role of a tragic heroine, and her performance was so captivating that he found himself utterly mesmerized. Every movement, every expression, seemed so authentic, so full of life, that he couldn't help but feel a deep connection.

There was something about her that made him feel as if he knew her from a distant past, a past he couldn't remember. It was an unsettling feeling, as if she were someone he had lost long ago, someone he had loved in a life beyond his comprehension. It was as if, in her eyes, he saw fragments of a forgotten story, a past life that eluded his understanding.

After the movie, he sought her out, intrigued by the sense of familiarity. He found her backstage, wrapped in a simple robe, removing her makeup. When their eyes met, there was a moment of silent recognition, though neither could explain why.

Sophia was kind and charismatic, with a smile that lit up the room. They talked for hours, and Zeus felt a connection that went beyond mere physical attraction. There was a depth to her, a wisdom and a calm that irresistibly drew him in.

As their relationship deepened, Zeus discovered a part of himself he had never known. He, the king of the gods, who had always prided himself on his strength and power, now found himself vulnerable before a mortal. Yet this vulnerability did not weaken him; on the contrary, it made him feel more human, more real. And it wasn't a repulsive feeling...

When he learned that Sophia was pregnant with his child, he initially felt paranoid. What would happen with the combination of a god and a former Valkyrie? A being that would be two-thirds divine and a mortal, with human fragility in its blood, but the strength of two worlds coursing through its veins?

He had never seen anything like it before, and this mixture seemed unstable, dangerously unpredictable.

Despite his instinct to deny any weakness, fear crept into his thoughts. He wondered what would become of such a child, someone so powerful yet so fragile at the same time. Would his son be a threat to Olympus? Could his offspring challenge the gods' order?

This thought disturbed him, and for a brief moment, Zeus felt a pang of insecurity. He, who had faced immense challenges – betrayals by his own brothers, battles between gods and monsters, the intrigues of his own realm – now found himself facing something he could not control. Something that made him vulnerable, something that, despite his immortality, he could not contain.

But then, the love of a father took over his feelings. For a brief moment, the fear was erased, replaced by something deeper, purer.

The love he felt for Sophia was not just a passion. It was something that touched the depths of his soul, something he couldn't ignore. In that woman, he saw not only a lover but a companion, someone who could share his existence in a way no other being could. And in the depths of his heart, he knew that his love for her was not a weakness. No matter what the future held.

If the child were truly something unique, if it were truly a being capable of challenging even the gods themselves, he would face it as he had faced all other challenges: with courage.

It was the decision he made almost fifteen years ago.

Now, back in the present, Zeus sighed deeply.

The fresh air of Olympus seemed insufficient to ease the weight in his chest. He closed his eyes, allowing the memories of Sophia and the time they spent together to envelop him. He felt torn between his duty as the king of the gods and his desire to be just a father, someone who could guide Ikki and ensure he was not alone.

He opened his eyes and looked at the horizon again, reflecting on the countless responsibilities he bore as the lord of Olympus and the children he had fathered over the centuries. Fatherhood, which should have been something simple, something natural, was for him a burden, a load, a weight he never knew how to carry.

He always had the power to create children with a simple gesture, but he never knew how to truly be a father.

His children, over the millennia, were victims of his absence, his indifference, or worse yet, his egocentrism. He was always in a hurry to govern Olympus, to maintain his authority, rather than paying attention to the children he fathered. Each of them grew up with the absence of a true father, someone who was there for them, to support them, guide them, or at least listen to their pains. The absence of his love, his care, became something almost palpable for them, something that left a mark, an impossible void to fill.

In a cruel and impersonal manner, he ignored his children, as if his role was merely to father and let others take care of the rest.

He never had time for his children, always busy with the gods, with battles, with power games. The world needed a strong ruler, someone who would not be swayed by emotions or affectionate ties. But now, looking back, he knew that this choice, this emotional detachment, had cost more than he could imagine.

For a moment, he allowed himself to feel the pain of regret.

Among the pain, he thought of only one thing: What does it mean to be a father? What is the role of a father in the upbringing of his children? What is expected of a man who has a family?

Where is the man's role, in each species?

The basic idea is protection; men are born with the basic and instinctive function of protecting the family, having greater muscle mass, strength, and thinking more practically. They don't have the ability to multitask but can focus intensely on just one task. However, these are characteristics of someone who always needs to be alert to signs of danger to his wife and children.

It is a man's duty to guide his family, not in a dictatorial way, but with love and wisdom.

It is a man's duty to teach his children, not with pressure and violence, but by setting an example.

It is a man's duty to love his wife, not oppress her, but provide her with the certainty of being loved and respected more each day.

There have been great men throughout history, but few were known for being examples of fathers and husbands.

What is the use of being an outstanding inventor, a physics genius, a technology guru, or a great politician, but failing at home?

What is the point of conquering the world but not earning the respect of your children? What is the point of having different women every night but not being able to have one for a lifetime?

The weight of guilt fell upon him. As a father, he knew that the greatest responsibility was not just giving life but nurturing, guiding, supporting. But he had neglected all that.

Zeus looked at the sky, where the clouds stretched infinitely, like the eternity he and the other gods represented, and felt a void within him. An impossible gap to fill. He might be the lord of the gods, but he didn't know how to be the father his children needed.

"How can I be the father of a child if I never knew how to be a father to the others?" Zeus thought to himself.

He had never known how to handle his children properly. Even with Ikki, the relationship was never what it should have been. He knew that. How could he do anything differently now? How could he be different?

As he looked at the horizon, he knew time was against him. And he didn't know if he could change, if he could be different. But for a brief moment, Zeus allowed himself to feel something he rarely experienced: the sincere desire to be a better father. And in that instant, the fear of failing once again seemed greater than any other feeling.

He, the most powerful god, the king of all, was being consumed by guilt, doubt, and the lack of connection with those who mattered most. The weight of fatherhood, of regret, was there, like an immense shadow. And the only thing he knew, deep in his heart, was that perhaps he would never be able to be the father his children needed.

It was ironic, but there was nothing he could do except pretend to be the same as always.