Monarch of Lightning

I waited at the edge of the cliff, feeling the weight of anticipation in my chest. Next to me stood Gaea, her presence a steady, grounding force. Adrastea and Amaltheia waited nearby, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and excitement. Mufasa, now a fully-grown lion with a coat of deep black and piercing golden eyes, lay by my feet, his tail flicking lazily as he watched the horizon. Rykurd was off somewhere, likely hunting; the thunder-eagle was notoriously independent and always liked to keep his distance, returning only when he deemed it necessary.

Then, from the distance, I saw a carriage approaching, moving with a kind of effortless grace I'd only seen in the movements of the gods. The carriage gleamed with a pearlescent shine, pulled by two lions easily twice the size of Mufasa. Their golden manes rippled in the wind, and their powerful strides shook the ground beneath them. Atop the carriage stood a figure, tall and regal, with an undeniable aura of authority and beauty that seemed to radiate from her in waves.

Her hair, like dark honey, fell in luxurious waves, framing a face that was both soft and fierce, eyes that seemed to hold the weight of eternity within them. Her skin held a warm, golden glow, and her lips curved in a smile that held equal parts pride and sorrow. She wore a gown spun from what looked like starlight itself, shimmering with each movement.

As she stepped down from the carriage, my Divine Eyes activated without me even realizing it. The information appeared in my vision: Rhea. Level 5,000. My mother.

So this was Rhea, the goddess who had given me life and hidden me from my tyrant father, Kronos. For a moment, I felt the weight of that connection—this was the woman who had risked everything for me and my siblings.

Rhea's face lit up as her gaze met mine, and in an instant, she closed the distance between us. "My son!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and excitement. Before I could react, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug that felt surprisingly… motherly. "Look at you! You've grown so much—so strong, and already so handsome! Just as I imagined."

I stiffened, not entirely sure how to respond. "Thank you, Lady Rhea," I managed, trying to sound polite, though I felt a little uncomfortable under her fussing gaze. She released me, but only so she could hold me at arm's length, looking me over with critical eyes.

"Oh, come now—don't be so formal. You can call me 'Mother,'" she insisted, brushing a stray strand of hair back from my face as if to inspect it more closely. "It's been so long since I've been able to see you. I've thought of you every single day, Zeus."

"Well… Mother, then," I said, trying to get used to the term. I could feel Gaea watching us with a knowing smile.

"Rhea," Gaea's voice cut in gently, "perhaps we can save the fussing for later. We have a serious matter to discuss, after all."

Rhea finally let her hands fall from my shoulders and took a deep breath, nodding. "Of course. My apologies—I've just… I've missed you so terribly." She gave me one last, lingering look before she composed herself, the goddess of harvest and fertility reasserting her regal presence.

We all made our way into the cave, where the evening firelight danced along the stone walls, casting shadows that flickered and shifted. We settled around the central hearth, and I took my seat with Mufasa lying protectively by my side. Adrastea and Amaltheia joined us, sitting close, while Rhea and Gaea took their seats across from me. Rhea's gaze held steady, a touch of curiosity and expectation as if waiting to hear what I had been planning all these years.

Taking a deep breath, I began. "Mother, Grandmother, I've thought long and hard about how to confront Kronos and free my siblings. He's far too powerful for me to challenge directly right now, but there may be a way for me to get close without arousing suspicion."

Gaea nodded in encouragement, and I felt her silent support urging me on. "My plan," I continued, "is to disguise myself as a servant—a cupbearer, specifically. If I can get close to him, perhaps I can add a certain… concoction to his nectar. Something potent enough to make him vulnerable, to force him to… release my siblings."

Rhea's eyes widened, a glimmer of hope flickering there. "A clever plan, Zeus. If you could pull it off, it would indeed give us a chance to free them."

"Yes," Gaea agreed, a slight smile playing on her lips. "The idea is bold and risky, but it has potential. Once you're close to Kronos, you'll need the right mixture—something that will force him to expel what he has swallowed."

"I know," I replied. "And that's why I need help crafting this drink. I can't simply throw something random into his nectar; it has to be precise and undetectable, something only the most skilled alchemists could create."

Rhea's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I believe I know someone who could help. Metis, the goddess of wisdom and craft. She's one of the finest brewers of potions and mixtures, with knowledge even Kronos cannot match. If anyone could create such a concoction, it would be her."

I nodded, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Then we'll need to contact her. Can you arrange it?"

Rhea returned my smile, her pride shining through. "Of course. I'll speak to Metis and explain the situation. She has no love for Kronos, and I'm certain she'll be more than willing to assist. She'll be able to craft something that even Kronos's divine senses won't detect until it's too late."

The plan was coming together, each piece falling into place. I could feel the tension in the room begin to ease, hope flickering in the eyes of everyone around me.

"Thank you, Mother," I said, meeting her gaze. "I can't do this alone. I'll need your guidance and your support."

"You have it," Rhea replied, her voice steady with determination. "I will do everything in my power to help you succeed, Zeus. Your father may have cast his shadow over us for far too long, but now—now we'll finally have a chance to fight back."

Gaea placed a hand on my shoulder, her grip firm and reassuring. "Remember, Zeus, this path is not without danger. Kronos is more ruthless and cunning than you may know. But you've trained well, and you've gained strength beyond what I could have imagined. Trust yourself."

A fire sparked within me, fueled by their belief and my resolve. "I understand, and I'm ready. I've waited for this moment, and I won't let my family down."

We spent the rest of the evening discussing the finer details of the plan. Rhea shared insights about Kronos's daily routines, his tendencies, and the guards who patrolled his halls. With each piece of information, my confidence grew, though I remained cautious. This mission would be the most dangerous thing I'd attempted, but it was also the most important.

As night fell, we wrapped up our meeting, the weight of our decisions settling around us. Rhea stood and placed a gentle hand on my cheek. "I'm proud of you, Zeus. You've become more than I ever dreamed."

I inclined my head, feeling a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, Mother. And… I'll make sure our family is whole again."

With that, Rhea and Gaea began making preparations to contact Metis, while I returned to my own meditations. There was no room for failure here, no margin for error. This was our one chance to stand against Kronos—and I was determined not to waste it.