REUNION

Herakles slowly breathed in as the sea breeze played with his messy hair, his large, muscular chest exuding strength and power along with a tiny hint of pride. It had been merely a week or two since his son had ventured out into the world and he had already heard the news of him besting a manticore. Athos was his son through and through.

He was currently staring at the horizon as he always did, his back still ramrod straight, while his posture was the same as ever. Yet one could clearly see the difference. It was the expression of fatherly pride on his face replacing his usual brooding one.

He'd had many children over his mortal and immortal life. Many, many children. Therimachus, Creontiades, Ophitus, Deicoon, Bargasus and many more. But after he'd ascended and broken his mortal constraints, he'd married Hebe, the goddess of youth, and had two immortal sons, Alexiares and Anicetus. He'd had a falling out with them regarding their treatment of demigods and had never talked to them ever since. He'd even heard rumours that they'd faded, finding their eternal rest in the embrace of Khaos and ever since then, he'd abstained from having any more children. He didn't feel like he deserved the joy that came with fatherhood, nor did he believe he could take the responsibility that came with it.

When he had Athos, he'd wondered if he would succeed in shouldering the very same responsibility he'd failed at time and time again, but he'd thought wrong. Athos grew up to be a boy, no, a man that he could be proud of.

Just then, a faint *ting* went off in his head, implying that Athos had used the coin he gave him. He'd lied about the coin's need to charge up, for he didn't want his son relying on him, but this was too soon. Far sooner than he'd expected. Why had he returned?

All he hoped was that his son was alright.

***

Athos reappeared on a familiar sandy beach overlooking an ocean with frothy waves. The salty odour of the sea seemed nostalgic even though he hadn't been away for all that long. A lot had happened in a week and a half.

The gold coin in his hand gave out a slight burst of heat before disintegrating into fine ash. He made sure to shake it off as he didn't want anything getting on his suit.

"What on earth are you wearing?", a voice boomed from behind him.

He whirled around to find his father glaring at him with his signature, well....glare. It seemed he still had the habit of teleporting behind people with no warning whatsoever.

"Just something I picked up from Hephaestus", Athos replied, eliciting an eyebrow raise from his father.

"Hephaestus? You've been busy. And the mask? It is not from around here. It doesn't feel like Greek Magick."

"Something I found in Anteas' stash"

"You fought that big oaf too?!"

"Yup, I even met Janus before that."

"What?! You...", Herakles sighed, massaging his temples. "In just a week...Hah! If you were given a year, Olympus would be in shambles. Now come. We have much to talk about"

***

Athos spent the latter half of the day catching up with his father over a meal of roasted deer. He told him of his encounter with the manticore, his journey through the labyrinth and his encounter with Hephaestus. The moment he mentioned Gaea, his father clenched his muscles so hard that the island almost split in half. The sheer power that burst out of his figure made the ground almost scurry away from him, multitudes of cracks spreading beneath him akin to a beautiful tapestry. He did not want to know what the island would've looked like if his dad found out he was tainted. He didn't want to mention it as it may be linked to his transmigration.

"So you're here for the cornucopia, huh? You'll need to fight Achelous for that....", Herakles muttered, chewing the roast meat and looking into the distance, his features darkening slightly. Athos understood the reason behind that look, as his father had a complicated history with the river god. He'd fought said God for the hand of Deianira, a princess, when he was a demigod. Unfortunately, it was she who had killed Herakles by making him wear a shirt coated with acidic Centaur blood, granted she had been manipulated by Nessus. She was easily influenced as Herakles wasn't exactly the most faithful husband. The promiscuity he had lived up to his heritage.

Achelous was placed on this very island, in the middle of the Mediterranean. It was one of the Gods' many sick jokes. The river God's presence perpetually reminded Herakles of his death and failure. His failure to be a good husband.

"I'll be able to do it. I have Perastos and Leviathan. I even acquired a few more items in Anteas' cave. Do you recognize any of them?", Athos replied, bringing out the flask and the sand dollar. He knew what the sand dollar was - it probably didn't hold enough value when compared to a cornucopia, but he did know two river gods who would go crazy for it, thus it's worth lay in the eyes of the beholder. Whatever it may be, Achelous was never going to part with his horn even if offered the throne of Olympus. It was a matter of pride for him, and the fact that one of them had been ripped off, by a mortal no less, did nothing to change his mind.

Herakles grunted, snorting at the sand dollar but then his eyes instantly widened at the flask.

"Hoho! This would be useful! It is indeed something Anteas could've owned. That liquid, when drunk, can temporarily grant Poseidon's blessing", he said, staring at the glowing blue fluid.

"Blessing?!", Athos exclaimed. This was more valuable than he'd thought. It was temporary, but a blessing from the second-strongest Olympian was bound to be powerful. And since it was from Poseidon, the ruler of the seas, it would be particularly useful against Achelous. A river was mighty, but an Ocean was boundless.

"Hmmm. A blessing. Gives you temporary access to powers that you wouldn't have unless you were kin to a sea deity. But from what I discern, it's just the basics. Poseidon didn't seem to have put much effort into creating this one. You'll be able to breathe underwater, be immune to water pressure and get a slight strength boost for about ten minutes or so. You'll be able to stay dry too", Herakles nodded.

Athos' heart leapt in joy the moment he heard that. Breathing underwater? That was the one thing he needed to counter the weakness he had against the river god. He could punch through steel and endure a beating that would kill any average mortal ten times over, but would drown like them all the same. He stood a much, much better chance now that he had the blessing.

He put away the items and quickly gobbled up his food before leaping to his feet. He felt great, and the fact that he'd got the flask made him feel even better.

"Then I'll be off! I've got a cornucopia to get!", he said, the Oni mask materialising around his face once again.

"No! Now's not the best time", Herakles interrupted, getting up and dusting off his chiton. "You've done much and seen much. You now need rest. Achelous is going nowhere."

"But I feel fine! A day without slee-

"Quiet! You are still a mortal Athos, no matter how strong you are. Your body may not show it, but your mind will. You are to fight a God, no matter how 'minor', and I shall not save you if things go wrong. This is your quest and one you have decided to undertake"

"Fine", Athos sighed. Achelous could enjoy having his horn for one more day.