Almost a century ago, five princes had been welcomed at the ripe age of eighteen years old as they ascended to their place in Mount Olympus. The days of their youth were spent learning how to govern mortals, to provide for them all the earth's bounty in exchange for devotion and sacrifice. As young men, the princes had to hone in on their abilities as much as they could if they were to keep up with their older siblings, numerous aunts, uncles and all the deities past and present that were under the rule of the Olympians.
They had experienced wonderous things in the mortal world and in others, they were free to travel, to indulge in their deepest desires and anything a god could ever need and possibly want was all within their reach.
The boys were also taught a lot by their individual mothers. From the time they were babes, the history of the entire world had been drummed into their infantile minds knowing that one day they would stand alongside many gods to rule. Their mothers Hera, Metis, Themis, Persephone and Callisto had been instrumental in the boys' development, showing them what it meant to have a royal lineage, compassions for those they rule and their own godly powers that would build up the Olympians one day.
Their father, Zeus was always hard on them as he had been with all his other children. Often he would pit them against each other if the princes showed any signs of weakness. It was one of his favoured parenting techniques to ensure the strength of his bloodline. But out of all his offspring in aeons, there has never been such an indestructible bond that siblings carried as much as the young princes. Even some of his oldest like Ares, the favourite Athena or the twins; Apollo and Artemis to name a few, he had never seen them band together for anything. In fact, as history would tell it, relationships between the Olympians have always been multifaceted, enthralling and strenuous if not downright obscene.
The brothers always treated each other equally with respect, love and compassion and they were fiercely protective of one another. So it came as no surprise that after this audacious plan was being executed, each of the brothers had been planted with a seed of trepidation. However, while they were risking their lives, safety and possible harsher punishments than banishment if they were to be caught in the mortal world. It was all worth it to take back their place alongside their people.
"This is coming along brilliantly brother," Methios commented as he and his older brother finally took a break from their strenuous work.
"Indeed…reminds me of home." Athenios was suddenly feeling sullen.
"Yes well, you have always loved to build. I remember that fortress you built when we were younger."
"We hid in that during one of Heras' monumental tantrums." He chuckled slightly taking a drink from his water decanter.
The atmosphere grew thick with melancholic nostalgia as the fond childhood memories began to float inside both the brothers' minds. But there was not a second to waste reflecting on the past as they continued on with their quarter share of Leodocus' brazen plan.
Methios and Athenios had been hard at work digging a tunnel under the ground of their temporary home since the first light of dawn. Using the materials in abundance in this realm and placing intricate enchantments upon it, finally, the mortals' prison chamber was complete.
Meanwhile above ground of their home Zargreus and Arcus were researching and compiling all they needed to know about the norms of modern-day humans in order to blend in when they descend since it had been decades since they were last in the mortal world.
"Just what are you doing?" Zargreus looked over to notice his little brother taking a blade to his shoulder-length golden hair that rivalled that of Apollos.
"The modern world has changed in the last seventy-eight years Zar and I believe it is time for a new look brother," Arcus answered continuing to run the sharp blade across his scalp until he was as bald as the day he drew his first breath.
Zargreus thought it was absurd for Arcus to want to completely change his appearance for merely a short visit to Earth but he has never been one to stop anyone from expressing themselves. The most effort he was willing to put to modify his appearance was braiding his soft brown hair back so it wasn't so unruly and distracting.
At the very end of the long hallway and up the highest level of the house Leodocus was in his chambers preparing for his journey. He had laid down his parchment and quill having completed writing down instructions his brothers would need for when they captured the girl as well as further instructions on how to proceed should he fail and not make it back.
That was a particularly daunting task for him as he did not like to ponder too much on his own mortality. But since their exile, he had long sat under the cover of the night for hours upon hours contemplating his place in the world now that it was turned upside-down with a simple prophecy that may or may not even have anything to do with him. Nevertheless, this plan had been the only thing to provide him and his brothers with any hope of their lives being what they once were. So dressing in his armour and taking only the necessities to survive and bargain with on his expedition, Leodocus now had to go to the portal door to ask for help from Fama.
It would be an enormous favour to ask however the goddess had shown copious amounts of her generosity to the princes before so he was hopeful. Leodocus needed two things from her, first was a pass that would allow for his brothers and himself to travel down to earth and back. Secondly, he needed her to transport him to Pythias' realm and back if he managed to survive.
The difficulty involved in all this interdimensional travelling would be that the princes were not technically allowed to bring back earthly beings into this world so the brothers would have to cloak the girl to get past Hermes and Fama when they return. The second most daunting task would be going against time and beating it in Pythias' realm. The challenge was in order to get an audience with the goddess one would have to wrestle against the elements while carrying a spirit orb that was counting down the time. Then only once that is completed the other challenge would be not looking into the goddess' face while speaking to her. She was a master at illusion and could make you see what you truly desire but as soon as you look at her she snatches your soul away forever.
Other than Hades, the Erinyes and the fates themselves Pythia was the only deity that could penetrate a soul. Going straight to his uncle would be futile because he doesn't take souls from undeserving beings and going to the Erinyes was a recipe for disaster. Pythia was the safest option.
Leodocus was confident he could pass Pythias' tests and get what he needed. He had power over the elements and a fierce determination to succeed in any task brought to him. It is something his mother taught him since he was born. He truly believed that there could be no one else that could do this but him.