" Mister Prometheus! Mister Prometheus! What is that?! " A curious voice asks excitedly. It was a small human, he looked to be a young adult. Intrigue was practically oozing from his gaze.
" This, my child, are seeds. We use it to cultivate and grow food. " Prometheus explained fondly to the young human as he dug a hole and dropped the seed into it.
While most of the humans that Prometheus had created were born with a mature form, their mind was no more developed than a little kid's. Lately, Prometheus had spent practically every day mingling and teaching the humans. Teaching them about how the world worked, and how to survive happily.
" Is that the gift that Lady Demeter had given us? " Another had asked in relation to the last lesson they had, which was about the Olympians.
" That, and so much more, young ones. " He smiled softly at the inquisitive bunch.
Looking over at their settlement, he sighs at how fast they had grown. In just a week or so, they have already made a little camp complete with everything they needed. Crude, but they served their purpose.
The inhabitants numbered in the hundred mark, with Prometheus occasionally creating a few more humans with the help of Athena. The humans could not reproduce yet, as the Gods wanted them to be controlled and regulated, Humanity was still in the beginning phases after all. The Gods wanted to observe first and foremost.
With a sigh, he continues demonstrating to the younger humans how to farm grain.
--- Months later, Human settlement ---
" Please Lord Prometheus! We cannot go on like this any longer! The monsters in the night... they pick us off one by one!! " A human pleaded desperately.
" I-I... " Prometheus could only watch in grief as his beloved humans were oppressed and hunted.
The once budding camps and settlements had become a place of terror. Lately, hordes and hordes of monsters had started appearing and acclimating themselves to the bountiful land. And poor Prometheus was not allowed to interfere at all. The Gods, Zeus especially, much rather preferred to sit back and observe what would happen.
Prometheus tried everything that he was permitted to do. He taught them to hunt and fight, as well as having taught them to craft stone tools and weapons. However, it was but a futile resistance, for the monsters were far too plentiful and vicious to be stopped.
He was at his wit's end, seeing his personal creations, his works of art, die one by one. Some even starve because the monsters trampled the fields, some die from the cold because the monsters destroyed some of their homes. Everything was going downhill extremely fast.
He cannot take this anymore! He must do something! Anything! And so, with a promise in his heart, Prometheus sought to request - even plead and beg, for something that would save them. Something that would enable them to cast iron, warm themselves and ward away the monsters for generations to come. He sought... a permanent solution.
Prometheus... sought to bestow the humans, Fire.
--- Mount Olympus ---
" How many times do I have to repeat myself! No! " Zeus angrily rejected without a trace of apology.
" But why!? You must have seen! They are being ravaged! Hunted, even! Men lay in heaps of corpses, starved! Fire would give them salvation! Please, Lord Zeus! " Prometheus begged desperately. Each moment he stand idle, another of his precious creations would fie
" SILENCE your whining!! I have had enough of it! And why do you care so much anyway, they are weak and frail! They are effectively useless without us Gods! And besides, we cannot give them fire." The King of the Gods roared in rage, thunder rumbled in the night sky.
" Why?! " Prometheus asked in part rage and grief.
" DO NOT QUESTION ME, TITAN! " Zeus warned, deploying his oppressive aura. Power radiated in droves, driving Prometheus into the ground.
" khk! I-I beg you reconsider! Humans h-have so much potential! Grk! " Even as he was warned and berated by his own King, Prometheus was unyielding. He would not lose humanity!
" ... No, leave. Now. " The King muttered, not even bothering to yell at this point.
Truthfully, the monsters were a test he devised, to see if mankind were able to persevere. He would have much preferred to just wipe them out, unfortunately, Humanity had eyes from all pantheons on them, and many had with expectations.
" ... I-I... understand... " Prometheus resigned, silently leaving the throne room of Olympus. Unknown to Zeus however, the young Titans eyes shone with a determination brighter than ever before.
--- Path to the Human Settlements ---
Prometheus walked slowly, but with purpose. He was currently debating how he would be able to steal fire from the Gods and grant it to Mankind. He knew the consequences of such an action, yet he did not care. Humans were infinitely more deserving of his sacrifice than those selfish Gods, He thought with malice.
Suddenly, he remembered something. Lady Hestia was said to be the one that cared for and protected the Divine Hearth, and from that hearth, burned divine embers. If he could just take one of those...
The fire he was to steal was no ordinary fire, for the one he wished to steal was a divine fire that blessed other's with it's warmth. One of the first flames, it was a supernatural flame that was to burn for eternity. This was the final gift he wanted to impart, in order to ensure the prosperity of humanity, for generations to come.
Steeling himself for what he was about to do, Prometheus enchanted himself with the most potent presence concealment spell he knew... and set off into the night towards Mt. Olympus, leaving only traces of his steps into the Human camps. He would not be seen or heard from for the next few hours however.
--- Mount Olympus, Halls ---
' This is really difficult, I should've planned more. ' Prometheus thought.
Turns out, being a giant Titan was not ideal for sneaking around, especially for such an important task.
' Just a small sacrifice, Prometheus. The future of Humanity rests on your shoulders! ' He thought to himself determined.
And with careful steps, he disappears into the dark labyrinth of hallways. Luckily, Prometheus was involved in the construction of the fortress, so he was able to easily navigate the twists and turns the place presented him.
After half an hour of constant vigilance, which was almost torturous, given how secure the place was. I mean, it's the base of an entire Pantheon of Gods! He had a few close calls with some nymphs and spirits that patrolled the halls, as well as the armor-shaped golems the Fire God, Hephaestus had built, but he was able to get to his destination without a hitch, almost like someone was looking out for him.
Weird, he thought. But deciding not to dally any further, he carefully opened the grand doors of one of the most important rooms of Olympus. It was a forbidden room that only the Olympians could access, and apparently it was one of the meeting halls the original Olympians had resided in during the Titanomachy.
Unlike the other rooms of the mountain, this one was relatively barebones. Sure, everything was of the highest quality silks and woods, but it was quite modest compared to everywhere else.
' As expected of Lady Hestia ' Prometheus thought. Out of all the Olympians, he definitely favored Hestia the most. She was always so kind and accepting, even to a Titan like him. And knowing Hestia herself decorated and resided in such a humble room spoke volumes of her personality.
Taking steps forward, he approached the Hearth. It was a beautiful sight, and the flame within crackled and blazed in gentle and almost childlike movements. Swaying and twisting, it was a beautiful red, yellow and orange flame, and despite being the brightest flame in Mt. Olympus, it still radiated a warm and serene heat.
Taking out a small short-handed torch, he held out his hand towards the flame.
" Prometheus... what are you doing? " A quiet voice rang like bells from behind him. It was Hestia, and she seemed quite awake, contrary to Prometheus' expectations.
" I heard from Zeus that I should watch out with extra caution tonight in case of an intruder... but I would have never expected it would be you.
" Lady Hesta... please.... you must understand, surely you have heard of the situation with the humans? " Prometheus did not lie, he could not bear to, to the only Goddess that accepted him so openly. As he did so however, he had already secretly lit the torch with a small ember.
" What about the humans? " She asked, seemingly clueless.
" It is terrible Lady Hestia... My creations, the humans... they are dying by the second... I need to do this... It is the only way I can secure their survival... even when I am gone. " He explained solemnly, careful not to elevate his voice.
" Oh that is terrible! How could Zeus do such a thing... poor humans... sigh... " She lamented, her eyes glinting at the 'unseen' torch that was already lit behind the Titans back.
" I am afraid, however, you must leave right now. As an Olympian, I have duties to follow. Go on now! " Hestia said with a soft tone, as she used her magic to whisk away the intruding Titan.
" Wait!- " Prometheus exclaimed. He knew Hestia saw the flame he stole, and was worried she had dispelled it with her magic. With a flourish of her dainty hand, Prometheus was suddenly transported outside the mountain. He frantically looked at the torch he was holding, and let out a sigh of relief at it's survival.
Looking back one last time at Olympus, he disappeared into the forest, and ran top speed into the human settlements.
--- To Be Continued ---
( Sorry for lack of Hydra again, but I really wanted to take the time to set up the changes in the setting. Humanity will be really important to the next phase of the story, so I hope you can just stomach it for now. Also, I will be quite busy the next two weeks, so don't be surprised If I miss a daily upload. Remember to support the novel if you like it. Power stones, comments, reviews especially, anything is appreciated! That's all bye! )