"Find motives," He once said. "Motives?" Hatim replied confusingly, but he smiled. "You see, motives are the source of peoples' doings. In very kind words, find their motives and help them resolve, so that there will be no doings." But Hatim came to be even more confused. "But brother, aren't 'doings' changes the world?" And again, he simply smiled. "Say little Hatim, then how might you clarify 'doings' are going to change the world for only greater good?"
....
Lighting struck and opened the eyes of those who slept in peace. "Oh, you're awake!" Zera said to Hatim laying upon a comfy bed. Hatim leaned upon the bed and whirled eyes onto the pouring rain as cold breezes wiggle his disordered hairs. "It's raining…" He said. "Yeah," Zera replied, but she also smiled. "But don't worry, the sun will soon shine!" Her teeth shone again and fought the gloom. "So you have awoken." Athena barged from the way in and said. "Then, we shall proceed in a few hours." She walked towards the same window everyone's eyes were upon. "So, are you alright?'' Zera to Hatim. "Yes, I'm pretty fine." And he replied, and again the lightning struck but then left some silent moments, Zera whirled her eyes across both of them, recalling the last night's moments, she became a little pressured. "Can I go and get some candies, like, they are selling down there, and so you know, I have never tried candies besides Melidiona ones and those were not good enough, it tasted like sand. So, you see, I'm gonna try Marina ones now." And so, in a full hurry, she walked out of the room, leaving the door closed. It was no wonder she'd be confused after beholding the sight of last night. "So which are you two?" She whispered, glimpsing the last sight onto them before leaving.
***
"Marina." They spoke while their eyes fixed upon those twinkling red lights downhill, a circle city, twinkling with red light and surrounded by a massive jungle, yes that was Marina. "So wait, you're not gonna get us there?" Zera asked the coachman who already had spun the cart. He signs and then swings his eyes to Athena. "We have a deal, I won't goin' there at night, moreover, in the moon one. I told ya, it's a dangerous forest down there, and I won't riskin' my life for mere money." Athena spun to the forest in the path of Marina, it was quite a jungle with a single road in between and if one saw that, especially at night, they must have turned their steps away, even if there's an army of hundreds, after all, none wanted to be the prey of merciless Black Wolf, the great fear of Artelia. Athena stares for a while, but then blink. "Yes, I am certain," She said, and so, they walked this little yet deadly path to Marina.
It was night but half of the moonlight reached them for a path as the bats flew from one tree to another in the cover of trees shadows, Hatim held that torch up, but it was withering against these cold breezes. Zera never feared nights, but for some reason, surrounded by many trees and many bugs, she came to be wary. It surely was suffocating, however, the duo remains unspoken as if they're certainly going to part in these deep woods and so, little Zera's fear rose even more. "Hey Athena, can you now tell me where you are from?" She asked to make some chit chat so that this darkness softens, but as for the lady from Olympus, this question was not supposed to be asked, but Athena always has known her choice of words, and how to walk upon that. "Say little child, what does 'God' stand for you?" As always Athena knew her words, a question and a hidden answer, she was pulling no strings back with this one, and so, Zera came in speechless, after all, she never has answered this kind of question and so she giggled, scratched her head, wondered. "Umm…" She got lost in thoughts. "You see, that's complicated, you know like, there are gods for everything, God of Sky, God of Ocean, God of Death, even God of Harvestry and the truth is people believe in them from their core, just as why there are so many religions and beliefs, and it is not that I hate it but rather I love how colourful people are, but it does not just end there, does it?" She exhaled. "Many things happened in past and religion was centre of most, like, just look at Hella and Artelia long-lasted messed up history, and that proves one thing for sure, people die, in countless numbers, for sake of something that they don't even know that exist in the first place," Hatim twitched. "But oh well, I'm just a kid with uncertain thoughts, and if you ask me what 'God' stands for Me, then my answer is quite simple: I pursue the one I understand even if it's not followed by many, and to be honest, it was you guys who make me fixed on it by freeing me from Melidiona." She finally hit the brakes and spun her face to Athena, trying to meet her eyes beneath the dark hood. However, Athena has never been wrong about a person, and yes, never. She stretched her hand out, a relaxing palm, and then a gentle breath she exhaled. It glows, her hand, it forms a warmness and soon comes like a fire, a fire that doesn't burn or change things into ashes, but a warm blue flame over her palm lit the environment, like a kind of unknown nature and that exact second she pulled off her hood. "I have come from a place called Olympus, the most magnificent place ever to glimpse," Athena said, but Zera wasn't watching those magical flames nor did she hear her words but those black eyes were fixed upon that unseen beauty, glowing along with blue flames. "Wow," Zera has never seen Athena face before up until now. She never thought in her dream such beauty exist and seeing her was mere as if watching an angel of heaven. Meanwhile, Hatim walked past, unfazed by the glowing blue fire on Lady of Olympus palm and Athena simply saw that boy with crossed eyebrows. "Olympus has many wonders that have never been seen by mankind, and this is one of them." Athena hinted at her glowing palm. "Theo Energy." Athena began her walk, steps a little far from Hatim but surely walking behind him while she talked to the humans about Olympus for the first time. "Theo Energy has been limited to Olympus and can be reached by no man," She then explains. "The energy has been divided into three categories, Riza, Kadi, and Phyto. Regardless, I will not illustrate either of them." Athena stopped.
"Hey wait, that's cheating!" However, Zera yelled. "You go all magical and then leave in mid through just like that, it is a crime!." Zera spun to Hatim. "Don't you agree?" But all of a sudden Hatim stopped, picked up a stance. "H-Hatim?" Zera asked confusingly. "Shut your mouth!" But Hatim yelled and startled her. "Something is coming." He whispered as a gale of winds blew, taking the torchlight away, and at that exact moment the howls they all heard, the howls of Wolf, fear rose in Hatim's eyes just imagining how far those merciless Black Wolf could go. There were stories he heard from his brother, and they did not at least sound pleasant. Zera began her steps towards Hatim, but Hatim signed his hand to stop her just right there. "Don't move much, they are watching us, they watch their prey before attacking." And so they all stood right where they were for minutes, but Zera came up with an idea. "Let's climb these trees, wolves can't get up there." Hatim gawked at her, and Athena remained silent. "These trees can not be climbed—"
Athena interrupted. "These are bending trees." Hatim then continues, angered. "If this place is feared by many, there is a solid reason for it." Hatim swirled his eyes to those trees. "There is no escape." It was then when finally those Black Wolf showed their faces. They came out of the woods one by one with uncountable numbers, but it surely was more than fifty or hundred. Their eyes were red as their claw as like steel shone in the reflection of the moon and their fangs drooled over the lust to slaughter right before Hatim. He once encountered them, but it wasn't a pleasant memory he wanted to recall. Hatim stands tall, looking into their eyes, but he was not even sure if it was the right thing to do, yet all he could do was merely do that. "Hey shrimp, step back in my shadows, and go to her, and remember, slowly," He said while not spinning to her and so Zera does as told, she falls back to Athena with trembling, but somehow believing steps while Hatim gawked into their eyes with courage yet, Athena stood with composure for the child to reach her before those wolves could gather their might. Hatim's heart rumbles loud as Zera steps back one by one. "We have to go uphill and come tomorrow," Hatim said and then as well began his steps backwards but continuing to meet their eyes, not putting his back upfront. It was then when one thing happened that led the pieces to fall one after another, it was Zera, the little child, she was behind Hatim and reaching Athena while facing the wolves, she was stepping reversed and she was frightened by the situation as like never before, but she also trusted Hatim and yet if she just trusted herself. She gawks into those wolves eyes and whirls to those fangs, a chill throughout her spine she felt, and then she fell so deep into those bloody drool she forgot how meaningful her steps were, a rock, a tiny rock, tossed into the path, struck her sandal, it was tiny and could not harm any much but just who could have known it was the first piece of the dominoes. "Watch out, child," Athena warned her, and Hatim, in that exact second, whirled his face to them, putting his back upfront against those merciless wolves, and so, they got what they needed, a might go up against a mighty human, many took a stance, many ambushed soaked in drools, but Hatim eyes saw something, he ran towards Zera with hefty steps, after all, she was in deep fear, but it wasn't the all that was going on, after all, they all were thinking each millisecond, and so was Athena. She has never been wrong about a person, she knew Hatim was strong, and she knew he will find what she wants, but she never trusted him in the slightest and as seeing him rushing towards her, she laid a hand upon the two-sided spear underneath her cloak. As his steps got closer each second and passed even Zera, her premonition came true and her grasp tightened at her weapon. Yes, she never has been wrong about a person, but who could have known she would go wrong at this one? He, who ran past Zera, leaving the child to be left as prey to wolves, was running towards those its behinds, he ran to her with all his might, but Athena prepares to kill him any second, not knowing some wolves behind herself while grasping fully upon the two-sided spear, it surely because the midst of the uproar. Hatim then jumped before going up too close to her, he jumped and Athena clutches all her grip and pulled out the two-sided spear to swing next to his throat, but as that second passes like an eternity, Athena saw his eyes in the reflection of moonlight, appearing deep from shadows, he wasn't looking at her, not in slightest, but rather he was focused on something behind her, but seeing that Two-Sided Spear next to his neck, Hatim flooded with confusion, and yet he did not flicker from his goal. She somehow barely stops the Spear which still hit him eventually, although ultimately, he landed right behind and exactly then she turned around. She was flabbergasted by the view before her eyes, Hatim, her slave, grabs two wolves from throats and then slams them into the concrete grounds with his generous strength as making them run away in the cry of fear, but Hatim was not done yet, he then whirled to Zera and saw a massacre that is about to happen and so, to defy it, he dashed wildly like a beast, and Athena yet again felt an immense headache. Zera simply sees her death from inches as those wolves drove near each second, she has given all hopes, but little she knows, Hatim still breathed and up until he stood, there was not in a single way, he'll let anyone die again. Zera closed her eyes to accept death and simply imagined Cleo and herself ahead in time, together, but then heard those growls stop, she opened her blackish eyes and saw a ray of hope right in front of her, his arms were bleeding as those fangs shaved in it. "Why?" She asked, but he never replied. Athena saw an unbelievable act of courage, she was unknown for a second but saw fang deepened and blood flooding from his arms. The fact; those fangs were deep enough to nearly kill someone from mere agony, yet, Hatim did not even moan, he quietly did his job as a slave and now it's time for Athena to protect. Athena once regarded herself as the deity of Wisdom, it occurred she knew everything one could know, and yet she wanted her infinite knowledge to grow even endlessly, thus, her view of mankind was absolute. Greed, hate, love, she could see all by just meeting eyes with one, but then why? Where did she go wrong? Those thoughts crossed her mind as her eyes wandered on Hatim might to not lose even in the face of death, how come she never noticed? He was prepared to die from the moment they met, then why? No, he wasn't. She knew what he desired, but she thought she knew his kind very well, yet why? Athena unites her palm together as all five fingers meet each other. Yes, she did not know the answer to those questions and for the first time, she did not even cease to know. She removed a bracelet out of seven, closed her eyes before glimpsing his marching waves of blood and then, lifeless silence occurred, just some gales of winds as those wolves marched to Athena in the sea of hunger.
"Remember, my child, never snatches these bracelets or else the calamity arrives."
The uncalled nature arrives. Athena stood with her prayers, unfazed by any event. A thriving lightning flashes across the sky and everything stopped, even those bloodthirsty wolves. A light shone within from Athena as the night became a day for mere seconds and that's when the humans witnessed the taste of Theo Energy. Grounds became heavy as if gravity pulled them to the bottom, there was no air and blood also circulated downwards. All those Black Wolves, the great fear of Artelia, or so they called, were slammed into the ground. She then lastly unwrapped her eyes as they were glowing in Lime Green. Zera struggles to breathe in the heavenly presence of Athena yet when her eyes meet Athena's striking beauty at its peak. "Goddess." She uttered.
All of a sudden, the massive presence of Theo Energy vanished. Athena's eyes returned to emerald green but when she met those with wolves, they ran in the cry of fear, hundreds of wolves fled with tails between their legs. Zera inhaled a large amount of air, she was still alive, yet, even after the victory at an extraordinary cost, Athena failed to protect him. Hatim fell upon the grounds as his consciousness faded second by second, Zera ran to him in a hurry as tears flooded from her eyes chanting moans of his name over and over. His blood scattered to all above concrete grounds endlessly and Athena merely watched her defeat in red. She spun her glares to her twinkling hands, it was there, even if it's just a single ounce, it was there. It was not that she didn't have a choice but mankind has betrayed everyone, even their mothers or fathers, they could never be trusted, never. Yet…
***
Zera bought candies with the money given by Hatim as the lady at reception grants her extra candy. Yes, it was different from Melidiona ones, Zera licked it as her tongue changed colours with it. "Just how many flavours are there?!" She excitedly said licking one after another, she had forgotten all her gloom when strawberry ones arrived and now it's time for the orange one, just then another lighting struck with a howling echo and reminded her of yesterday's nightmare.
Meanwhile, the gales winded through the window they set eyes upon, Athena swirled her stares to him as his wound still bleed, especially from his left arm, she instantly recalled a memory to The Gladiator Arena, and yet, just how come she was never able to notice all these before? Nonetheless, once again she just did not cease for an answer, however, "Theo Energy has the capability that no mankind can reach." She spoke as her stare wandered to the pouring rain. Hatim as well did not stray his gaze from the pouring shower for some reason. "Riza, Kadi, Phyto, these three are fragments of Theo Energy. "Phyto. Harnessing Theo Energy into an object and making it one above thousand weapons combined. It has the capability to destroy a town within a matter of seconds and even the weakest Olympian can use it." She stopped as peeked at uninterested Hatim, she continued. "Kadi. It is common in every Olympian since we were born with it. It has capabilities like Divine Strength, Phenomenal Speed, and We can live a Hundred Fold Longer Lifespan than mankind…" All that sudden Hatim averted his eyes from rain to Athena with fixed gazes, his stares roam all over her, head till toes, all of it. And so Athena as well waited for his attention to gather again but got an off guard scenery. "Pfft!" An unusually mocking laugh he let out and along brought Athena eyebrows to cross, though she did not bother her time to be wasted at something ridiculous and continued with sincerity. "Better immune system," She halted for a second. "And Theo Energy Sensing. An Olympian can sense even a drop of Theo Energy from as far as the sky till the earth." She went mute for a second as lightning struck again along a breathtaking echo. She continued. "And lastly, Riza." She has always known her choice of words yet she did not know whether this could be told to a human, but didn't she have passed that point yesterday when she decided to use Theo on him? Thoughts crossed her mind. "Riza in simple words is Legendary, even among Olympians." She stopped and saw him averting eyes to the pouring rain. "Riza could only be found in Gods. None other than them has even seen Riza but simply heard rumours." Another lighting struck but this time it was a small one. "Riza is a unique kind, it does not give them just strength or flexing objects like power, but far above. It is as if Theo Energy was created for that sole purpose. It changes the shape of Theo Energy, which is initially similar to a blue flame, into a different form, into twelve remarkable capabilities. However, we had only known about half of it or rather only heeded legends. Legends say: ``only The Prime Trio Rulers have known the other remaining half, The Truth…" Once again she paused, but there was no lighting.
"If the world came to know the truth, The Chaos would Emerge."
She said and continued. "However, the other half, The Known, goes by,
The Lighting of Olympus,
The Water beneath Ocean,
Earth reside by Mankind,
The Wind of Sky,
Teleportation for Tartarus—"
Somehow, she chose this one to be the last, because she merely understood it.
"And The Blood Fire of God of War."
Winds smashed into their room and wiggled their hairs as the biggest lighting struck with the mightiest echo. Hatim's eyes found deep residing anger once again that he wanted to believe it wasn't true, yet it was, yet it was. Athena rose to her feet, she already said enough, there wasn't any room left for more. Hatim simply deflected his eyes once again, to the same pouring rain. She walked to the door but just then. "Even in the bathe of my blood, even after bestowing my might, just remember one thing," Hatim spoke, not looking at her in the slightest, and yet she halts her steps. "I will resent you, even in my death." Swift gales and she takes a long blink of a verdict. "Worry not, so do I." She left with that in the air.
***
Two nights passed as Hatim finally could stand and move his arms freely, and so it was time for the departure. Athena glanced at him and he brought up the bronze coin forth, it pointed at north but also tilting a little to the west. "We are heading with no bound to fall again," Athena declared with the mighty echo and assured to not go down into any kind of trouble again. And so they all stepped out of the inn. Marina. No, it wasn't like the old Melidiona, it was different, it didn't have any portion of those hundred stalls with hundreds of goods, it wasn't filled with bearded men who always seemed hungry for money, and Zera knew that by simply buying those candies. "Want some?" She offered to Hatim but he declined the offer as kindly as he could, with a gesture. "So, where exactly are we heading?"
"To a place that could not be mentioned in broad daylight," Athena replied, and Zera recalled the scenery three days ago, somehow her complicated dots began to make sense in Zera's tiny head. Though Zera spent quite a little time in Marina, so she wandered her steps far too much, no wonder Cleo was worried about her too much, she came to know this market and some people within quite well, after all, the fact these two refuse to talk to each other is very uncomfortable to bear. As she walked through with hefty and cheering steps which stopped at every silver selling shop, she came to know something a little bizarre. "Hey, guys…" She looked at Athena as she spun to her "Is it just me or…" She pauses again to clarify with her eyes wandering across the whole market. "Or this market, no, this whole Marina place has no man?" A tremendous thought Athena understood of why she was feeling a little uncertain ever since she crossed into the gates of this city. Because there are only women in Marnia! Why didn't she notice it sooner? Was it because of Theo Energy or something else? For some reason, she immediately whirled to Hatim, but he wasn't there, he wasn't beside her. "Where is he?!" She mumbled with crunching teeth and travelled her eyes across the whole market from a single point, so did Zera, but she suddenly halted at a crowd a little further behind Athena, was it her intuition or whether it was a woman thing? But Zera knew to some extent what was going on as she walked to that crowd with a calm pace, pushing and passing, she made it through. And found a sight she could never forget, after all, the strongest man she ever has encountered was surrounded by countless women, Red Light Street women, foundling themselves all over him as his face tries not to be exploding red. "It has been months ever since I saw man, moreover, a cutie pie, Kyaa!!" Some said, overwhelming themselves with joy, and the moment Hatim's eyes found a familiar face in the crowd of absolute half-naked women, he pointed at Zera. "Help."