"You would have to tell him eventually. If you don't, he definitely will find out. Many Supremes learned about their responsibilities before they were even ten. Your boy is almost eleven years old. And he is a bright kid. He would eventually find out what you are keeping from him." As usual, Butler Fin went on to tell him what he thought.
"I know. I just want him to have a bit of freedom right now. To play with his friends, to grow stronger without truly feeling any pressure. Is that too much to ask for?" Ray sighed tiredly.
"No, it isn't. You want him to be a child for a little more time. You want him to actually grow, and not to be forced into his growth. But Mane was never truly a child. His level of maturity has always been very high. Even Jake said so himself. The boy already knows that there are people after him. And he knows that these people are pretty darn strong. All I'm saying is that it is better for him to learn about his destiny from you, than to have to find out the details all by himself."
"Yeah" Ray sighed. "I know that. I just can't face him and let him know that his burden is far heavier than he thinks." He continued.
"I understand your difficulties Ray. Don't worry so much. Just tell him when you see fit that he should find out." Butler Fin lightly patted Ray's back in consolation. Then like Ray did for him previously, he quickly changed the subject. After all, no one liked to dwell on a depressing topic, even if they actually brought it on themselves.
"You know I realise that I never asked how you awakened Brimstone. It is a glow that rivals your lightning glow. In fact, it is slightly stronger. And I know your father has no such ability. And although your uncle is Hades, his flames pale slightly in comparison to yours. That means it isn't so likely that it belongs to your father's family tree. The next possible option would be your mother. But she was a mortal, wasn't she?" Butler Fin's analysis made it sound more like he was making a statement than asking a question.
"Yes, she was indeed a mortal. Although she died when I was very young, she had no fighting capabilities. Not any that I know of anyway." Ray shook his head and ruled out the option of the glow coming from his mother's side. Although he was very young when she died, he was certain that there wasn't an ounce of inner energy in her. It was difficult to awaken a glow when your parent didn't have that glow. But it was still a possibility. However it was even more difficult to awaken a glow when your parents hadn't awakened their bloodlines. In such a case, awakening a bloodline is extremely rare. Ray would rather believe that brimstone was from his paternal ancestry, than his mother's.
"Or I can let you see what my childhood with her was like. Maybe you can find out something that I missed." Ray didn't wait for Butler Fin's approval. He closed his eyes and leaned his head forward, waiting for the elder god to see into his past. Butler Fin didn't say anything much. He just did as was expected. For about 15 minutes the two men remained motionless. The only sign of life was their rhythmic breathing. If this factor was taken away, one would assume they were two human sized sculptures that were made so exquisitely that they were lifelike. When they finally opened their eyes Ray was still as calm as he was before the event. But his mentor wasn't. For the second time today, his master was astonished. But it wasn't only astonishment the elder god was feeling.
"Did your mother always have that mark on her arm?" he asked in excitement. Yes, he was excited.
"Yes, she always had that mark. Calm down master. Tell me what you've found out." Ray curiously questioned.
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. So tell me Ray, what do you see?" Instead of replying right away, Butler Fin asked a question of his own.
"One of your friends again?" Ray declared with certainty, not at all asking a question. "Yes" Butler Fin replied. "It is something Marcus used to say. He even wrote it in a book he published. I think it was called 'Meditations'. Now answer my question."
Ray nodded and didn't say anything else. He didn't know why his master was suddenly talking about these people. He was sure that it had something to do with the screening spell earlier. If he wasn't wrong, the spell had caused his master to relive those moments when he was with these people. So in other words, they had this stranger to thank for his master's strange state. He was also just going to breeze past his master's eagerness to receive his reply when the old man hadn't even answered his question. However he knew they were getting there.
"I can see nothing old man. Why do you think I asked you?" Ray stated with a slight chuckle.
"Hehe. Yes, of course. That symbol is very rare. It belongs to a race I thought extinct. In fact, all the gods have assumed that they were extinct. Even your father and his father before him thought the same. To think that they were still alive. This is great. Even more so since you are from that race. Now your insane talent and Mane's abilities make so much sense" Butler Fin stated excitedly.
"Which race was that?" Ray was astonished by the information he was receiving. To suddenly find out that he was part of an ancient race was amazing. Of course he had some experience with that, since he had found out that he was Olympian some many years ago. So even though the information was startling, he could handle it.
"They don't really have a name. They never gave themselves one. We called the 'Weapon Masters'. They had the ability to use any weapon, no matter the type, to perfection. Even a feather would become dangerous in their hands, for once they viewed even a quill as a weapon, then that is what it will be."
Ray looked at Butler Fin in amazement. "If that is so, how did my father not recognise her mark? After all, you knew who she was once you saw the mark. And if her race is so wonderful, how come she didn't have any inner energy?"
"Your father definitely recognised the mark. He isn't a fool. All these years I wondered why he chose a mortal of an unknown world to bear his seed. It turns out that he knew who she was all along. That will also explain why Hera couldn't do anything to you when you were young." Butler Fin answered the first question without any delay.
With surprise on his face, Ray said, "So you're saying…"
"Yes. Hera was afraid of your mother. Your mother wasn't weak like you thought." Butler Fin quickly interjected.
"I always thought it was strange." Butler Fin suddenly added.
"What was?" Ray enquired.
"How I met you. I wasn't on the same world as you, but I was drawn to you. I was led to you. It seems that your mother wanted me to watch over you. I finally understand." He continued.
"I see" Ray nodded his head understandingly. He also thought that it was strange that once his mother died, Butler Fin appeared. Now he knew the answer wasn't as simple as 'fate deemed it so'.
"Now to the second question: she didn't have any inner energy because Weapon Masters don't use inner energy." Butler Fin smiled mysteriously, proof that he wasn't done with his explanation.
"Just spit it out old man" Ray impatiently urged.
"Hehe. Weapon Masters don't use edict as their inner energy. Well they do at the beginning of their journey. But when they are breaking into the heaven realm, the edict cancels its connection with them. And chaos takes its place." Butler Fin explained
"That's impossible!" Ray exclaimed. "No one is capable of keeping chaos as their inner energy!" Ray trusted his mentor, but to accept such an explanation was to accept that his teaching had been wrong all this while.
"Smart people learn from everything and everyone. Average people from their experiences. Stupid people already have all the answers" Butler Fin said nonchalantly.
"Who said that?" Ray's eyebrows twitched at his master's statement. His master was literally asking him to choose whether he was a smart man, or a fool. He would obviously not choose the latter. Even if he didn't want to, he had no choice but to accept what he was hearing as the truth.
"His name was Socrates." Butler Fin answered. He immediately went back to his explanation though, "This is why they were so feared in all the realms. And this is why they were wiped out. No one must find out who you and Mane are. It will only increase the number of targets you have on your backs."
Ray nodded seriously at his master's words. He was no fool. He knew the importance of such information. Even if he didn't care for himself, he cared about his son's life, and his wife's happiness. He knew what to do.