Chapter Twenty Five

## Twenty Five

After a quick calibration to his leg brace, Hephaestus returned his focus to those in the room with him. "I'm sorry," he said with a smile. "Where were we again?"

There were four of them in the room. All gathered around the same table in the basement shrine of the temple, perusing the scattered notes and detailed sketches of the forge god. Closest to Hephaestus was Eleca, Athena's personal assistant. She wore an olive green blouse and gray shorts with tan suspenders. It would be easy to forget she was technically a priestess if she didn't have a chalice tattoo over her left eye.

"You were explaining all this," said Triton, folding his arms. The sea god was standing on the other side of Eleca. He wore his Atlantean military uniform, but his uniform coat was hanging over the back of a nearby chair, and his black necktie was tucked into his shirt. It was a much more casual Triton than Hephaestus had remembered seeing in some time.

"I don't know what else there is to explain," said Hephaestus with a grin. "I think this beauty speaks for itself."

"And what it says is blasphemy," said the Republican minister as she sat on the corner of the table, keeping her weight off her war-wounded leg. "At least, that's what I'd say it was if anyone other than a god had built it."

Hephaestus was not sure how to respond to that. He shifted his weight and folded his arms, tucking his hands between his massive arms and his muscled torso. "How do you figure that?"

With a nervous breath, Eleca adjusted her glasses. "No offense, Divine Engineer, but you're offering Athens a suit of mechanized armor that can turn any mortal into a god..." she said softly. "What would we ever need to use such a thing for?"

Hephaestus scoffed. "What else? It's armor. Armor is used for defense."

Leaning forward as he sifted through some pages, Triton shook his head. "Cousin, I mean no disrespect, but... I agree with Clytemnestra and Eleca. However, I can't fathom why Sparta would ever want such a device."

"Why wouldn't they?" Hephaestus asked with a scoff. "It could be used for all manner of applications outside of war. Construction, for example."

Shaking her head, the priestess focused on the table's papers as her glasses slowly slid down her nose. The essence lighting flickered briefly, causing her to lift her head to stare at the bulb and its mote of light bouncing within. "Interesting."

Clytemnestra looked across the table. "What is?"

Eleca motioned her head to the bulb. "The Ascension Anchor has been used," she said with a smirk. "We have been graced once again by the gods."

Clytemnestra nodded. "Our matron returns?" asked the minister, glancing at each god as she looked for the answer to her inquiry.

Triton shook his head briefly while Hephaestus shrugged.

The minister returned her eyes to the papers and shook her head. "I just don't understand why you would allow Sparta to talk you into such a thing," she said, not looking at Hephaestus as she spoke.

"Sparta didn't request this," said Hephaestus.

"I would hope not," said Eleca softly.

Clytemnestra nodded. "If they had, I would petition the Theocratic Inquisition," she said, sliding off the table and limping closer to Hephaestus, snatching her cane from the edge of the table where she had placed it earlier. "The idea that you would offer the power of the gods to a meager mortal soldier so freely has me truly baffled."

Hephaestus narrowed his eyes on the heroic minister as she limped toward the door. A moment later, Eleca followed her out of the shrine, leaving the gods alone as the door shut with a distinct click. With a sigh, Hephaestus shifted his body weight and opened his mouth to speak.

But Triton already had his words ready. "You're one of the smartest gods I know, Hephaestus. I think I know Athena well enough to know she would not be offended if I had said you were smarter than her."

The forge god clenched his jaw as though he were preparing for a punch. He knew where this was going.

"However, when you do something like this, I fear I am stupider than I thought for having ever thought you were deserving of such praise," said the sea god with a loud scoff. "I cannot believe this was your idea," he paused to shake his head. "No. I refuse to believe this your idea," he added as he grabbed a handful of papers. "Who put you up to this? Ares?!"

Flaring his nostrils, Hephaestus lowered his eyes and released a hot breath. "There is great potential in this. It could revolutionize Elysium."

"Oh, I agree," said Triton, nodding as he stroked his beard. "They'd have quite the revolution when they realize they don't need the gods anymore."

Rolling his eyes, Hephaestus shook his head. "That's quite the jump."

"Have you been outside lately, cousin?" asked Triton with a raised blue and black eyebrow. "When's the last time you left your forge? How about the Haven or the temples? When is the last time you walked the streets of a city or drank at a tavern among mortals?"

Hephaestus looked at the corner of the table; there was nothing to see, but it was a far better place than to meet his cousin's scornful gaze. "It is true, I don't get out as much as others, however-"

"However, you don't know the state of the world," said Triton, waving a handful of papers about. "This invention of yours could have merit in another time. But in a time of heresies? When nymphs are slaughtered? The timing could not have been worse."

"Understood," said Hephaestus as he began to collect his papers. "Perhaps I got too excited with the challenge of technology. I did not consider the theology of the situation."

Triton stalled Hephaestus' clean-up efforts by putting his hand down on the table. "I cannot speak for Athens. I am merely here for Divine Guidance. Perhaps you should still talk to Athena."

Hephaestus paused, staring into Triton's dark blue eyes. He thought about everything the sea god, the unconventionally dressed priestess, and the heroic minister had said to him. He then imagined Athena telling him the same things. The forge god had no interest in living through that and knocked away the other god's hand. Collecting the last of his papers, Hephaestus shook his head. "I should return to Sparta. It was a mistake coming here," he said, tucking his papers into his toolbelt.

"Hold now, cousin," said Triton, walking around the table. "If Sparta is building this sort of thing, then Athens would benefit from having the same, or at least some other counter or deterrent."

Hephaestus shook his head. "Sparta isn't building this."

Triton raised an eyebrow. "They're not? I thought-"

"This is advanced clockwork," Hephaestus began, "no one could build this other than myself, a few gods, and maybe a handful of heroes. Athens has more resources and more of the necessary minds that could make this a reality."

"Sparta doesn't have any such engineers?" asked Triton.

"Other than myself?" Hephaestus shook his head. "That is why this hasn't gone into production. For the last decade, I have been working on streamlining the design so that it could be built in a factory... with common metals... and common mechanics."

"Oh, thank Gaia... Then we don't know if this thing even works," said Triton with a sigh of relief.

Hephaestus released an offended scoff. "Oh, it works."

"It does?" asked Triton. "But you just said-"

"There is one completed prototype," said Hephaestus with a nod. "I built it myself. Almost entirely with custom parts, made in my forge, with the purest adamant, orichalcum, gossamer, and Stygian steel. Powered exclusively with pure crystalized Empyrean essence. The thing's a thing of beauty."

Triton blinked. "Minos' grapes, that must have cost a fortune. That would bankrupt most nations, cousins."

Hephaestus nodded. "Hence the reason I've been streamlining the design. As a result, I have reduced the cost substantially while only slightly affecting performance. There are even some areas where the redesign might outperform the original design. The increased weight for example does have some advantages-"

"If Athens were to produce the current design, how much would it cost?" asked the sea god, leaning against the table.

"Based on what I estimate to be in their treasury?" asked Hephaestus. "Six such suits could be produced while leaving enough to finance all existing programs and commitments, including contingency costs for any unforeseen emergencies."

"Six suits?" asked Triton, raising an eyebrow.

"Seven or eight if you forsook contingency costs," said Hephaestus. "I ran the math while I was waiting for Eleca to retrieve the minister."

"You know how much Athens has in its treasury because-?"

Smirking, Hephaestus chuckled. "Yesterday, Athena was flipping through some Athenian treasury reports before a meeting of the Twelve. I caught a glance at them as we walked to our thrones."

"A glance or two?" asked Triton with a scoff. "I've seen Athenian treasury reports. They're nothing but numbers and words that make no sense to me."

Hephaestus nodded. "Like you said, Triton. I'm the smartest god, you know. That's all it takes with me."

Nodding, Triton folded his arms. "Good to know. Remind me not to carry around my journal in your presence. I didn't know you had such a head for finance."

"How do you think I could afford to build that prototype?" Hephaestus asked with a grin.

Triton chuckled. "Well, if you're able to generate that much wealth, than why is it you cannot finance this redesign yourself?"

Sighing, Hephaestus limped over to the nearby wall, running his fingers along the bookshelf mounted to the wall. The collected history of Elysium, as chronicled by Polybius, was found on the shelf. All twenty-nine volumes. Written throughout six lifetimes. The thirtieth volume was planned for release sometime during Polybius' next reincarnation. Scrolling his finger along the back of the bindings, Hephaestus grabbed the twentieth volume. He held the book out for Triton to see. "I began stockpiling that metal when this book was newly written. Not this printing, but the original release. It's not a matter entirely of wealth, Triton. There is also the need for resources."

"And Sparta doesn't have what you need?" asked Triton.

Hephaestus shook his head. "The Grand Pontifex has been restricting the amount of adamant and orichalcum sent to the Temple of Sparta. The Athenians accused them of using the metal to make weapons."

"Were they?" asked the sea god.

"Oh, absolutely," said Hephaestus with a chuckle. "I even had petitioned my mother for aid, but all of her replies have assured me that while she would love to help, she cannot been seen to show favor to Sparta," he said, ending with a scoff.

"I think I understand," said Triton, nodding as he scratched his beard. "If Athens were to produce six or seven of these armors, what would such a force be able to accomplish?"

"What would six or seven gods be able to do?" asked Hephaestus.

"Anything..." said Triton, releasing a sigh. "And now we're back to my concern of a revolution, Hephaestus... What if these designs fell into the hands of the Broken Book?"

"The Broken Book?" Hephaestus scoffed. "Cousin, you insult me. If the Broken Book had the skill and the resources to build even one of these, then we would deserve to be overthrown."

The door to the shrine opened suddenly. There was Triton's father, the great and mighty Poseidon. With a stern look, he did not enter the room. Instead, he filled the open doorway with his impressive stature. His eyes scanned the two gods. Then, with a scowl, he looked at his son and motioned his head toward the hallway.

"Father, what is it?" asked Triton.

"We must return to Atlantis," said Poseidon, furrowing his brow. "War has been declared."

"War?" asked Triton, taking a step forward. He glanced at Hephaestus. "I thought you told me that Ares had agreed to convince the Elders of Sparta to stand down?"

"He told me that-" Hephaestus paused to sigh. "Maybe they did not listen. My brother is not the best at convincing-"

"No," said Poseidon, shaking his head slightly. "Not war between nations. War between gods and men."

## Characters

### Gods

* Hephaestus
* Triton
* Poseidon