The Monarch of Lightning-Chapter 6 - 5

I waited infront of the cave that I have lived all my life. Next to me stood Gaea, her presence a steady, grounding force. Adrastea and Amaltheia waited nearby, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and excitement. Kiros lay by my feet, his tail flicking lazily as he watched the horizon. Ikaros was off somewhere, likely hunting; the 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 chariot approaching, it was being pulled by these two lions easily twice the size of Kiros. Their golden manes rippled in the wind, and their powerful strides shook the ground beneath them. Standing in the drivers seat was the beautiful Titaness that I had layed eyes upon when I had first gotten here.

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 chariot, my Divine Eyes activated without me even realizing it. The information appeared in my vision:

Rhea.

One of the eldest children of Gaea and Uranus. Stuck in a loveless marriage to her brother Kronos, and losing one child after another has broken her. She is holding to the last hope that her oungest son can save his siblings and overthrow his father.

So this was my mother, the Titaness who had given me life and hidden me from my tyrant father. I hope to build a really good relationship with her starting today.

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. "Look at you! You've grown so much—so strong, and already so handsome! Just as I imagined."

As soon as her arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a surprisingly warm embrace, my first thought wasn't exactly pure. I mean, can you blame me? She was a litteral goddess, a Titaness. Her beauty was something I could not put into words.

I let my hands return the hug instinctively, but my fingers grazed just a little lower than strictly necessary. She didn't seem to notice—or maybe she did, because I swear I felt her breath hitch for just a fraction of a second.

"Well," I said, my voice low enough to sound deliberate, "if I'm this handsome, Mother, it must be because I take after you. I'd say you've still got it—though 'beautiful' might be putting it too lightly."

Her face turned as red, and I had to bite back a grin as she stepped back, trying to compose herself. She waved a hand, laughing softly, but her blush betrayed her.

"Zeus, you've got quite the tongue on you already," she said, her voice attempting sternness but failing miserably.

"What can I say?" I replied with a wink. "I was born to charm beautiful women."

Gaea cleared her throat as she cut in gently, "Perhaps we can save that for later. We have a serious matter to discuss, after all."

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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 Titaness of motherhood, fertility, and childbirth 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 Kiros 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. "Alright, the plan is quite simple. I am going 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, Kronos will get quite sick and vomit them up"

"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, she is the Titaness 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... do not worry, I will give us all the best future I can."

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.