We've arrived at the rift and I'm staring at it feeling a unique connection. It's drawing me in and I almost can't resist as I hear Silvaria call for my attention.
Then I stare at her noticing her flawless pale skin with a rosy complexion. Her bright green eyes have a black ring around the iris that captivates me and her platinum blonde hair that was once brown swaying in the wind stirring emotions in me I do not fully understand.
Then my eyes scan her whole figure as she steps away with her hips swaying suggestively side to side with her outfit she's wearing clinging to her figure tightly enough leaving little to my imagination.
Then as I keep staring at her I feel a similar connection but one much deeper that I may never fully understand, but I want to.
Then I snap out of it and hear the headmaster and her call for me louder than before.
"Sorry I got lost staring at something captivating."
Silvaria understanding what I said blushed deeply and looked away hiding nothing as the blush creeps down her neck.
'I'm still 14, I got to hold these emotions in check.'
"As I was saying Alexios, all you need to do is walk up to the rift and call upon its interface by saying 'Menu Open', ok?"
I nod my head and get ready.
"Menu Open!"
Then a pop up appears looking similar to a system. Then before I can do anything a message appears.
Welcome child of Olympus!
It's been ages since a new and young god has appeared. This rift is home to the once thought to be lost floating island Mt. Olympus and its surrounding cities. Zeus himself sent it through a rift of his making to save their home before all gods were eliminated. Here it sat waiting for a one worthy to reclaim it and it to have gods once again living atop it.
Out there time will be stopped as you go inside to complete the trials given to you.
Only you can enter and if you finish the trials given to you Mt. Olympus will return to your world and you will be given the ability to grant those you care for and love the chance to become like you, an Olympian.
Do you wish to attempt the trial?
Yes - or - No
"Alexios what does it say?"
I turn and see the Headmaster behind me with a few researchers staring at me.
"Mt. Olympus resides here and it's been waiting for one worthy to reclaim it."
"Don't do anything else, I'm going to make sure the researchers set up camp and I'm going to have some Security come here."
I nod my head and Silvaria grabs my hand.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I just feel this strange sensation like something familiar is welcoming me home. It wants me to go inside."
Her hand gets tighter around mine and I hug her.
"It's fine, it's nothing bad and honestly I feel the same thing from you. I feel that it wants both of us."
She looks up and smiles, then out of nowhere she gives me a quick peck on the lips. She then runs away leaving me there stunned trying to process what had just happened.
"Hahaha, boy you are quite the smooth talker huh? So does anything you say somehow resonate with the ladies?"
I look at him and ignore what he just said.
"When is everything going to be ready? I feel a strong pull on me from the portal."
"We will be ready soon, in the meantime go to the nearby tent set up to be a cafeteria as I am sure you are hungry."
I thank him and head to where he pointed, as I get closer I see a lot of the researchers that aren't working laughing and eating. One of them sees me and has me sit down. As I do sit he calls over for one of the menus so I can order some food.
"Hey kid, what's your system? It's gotta be good for the headmaster to bring you here."
"I have a system related to Olympus. He and I believe that the rift may have a connection to Olympus which is confirmed the connection I feel to it."
"So you are saying…?"
"Yes, we may have found the ruins or remnants of Olympian society."
Everyone starts to cheer as if this is the biggest day of their lives.
"What's got you all riled up?"
Before he could answer Silvaria comes next to me and takes the open spot. Then she orders for her and I as he speaks.
"None of us have systems, we are considered duds and so we poured our sweat, blood, and tears into becoming skilled researchers. In many cases we know more than those with a system."
"Wait so you don't have a system?"
"Nope, you didn't know that could happen?"
I shook my head no.
"Look, only about 95% of humanity has one. The other five are considered heretics that are disliked by the gods. Therefore we are either cast from society or do jobs none will."
"Sorry, didn't mean to pry about that."
He gives me a pat on the back telling me it's ok and continued eating. Then my food gets here and I notice Silvaria ordered me white rice with Beef Stir Fry.
"Thanks Silvaria, you know me well."
She gives me a smirk and laughs a bit as I pinch her cheeks.
"I better know as we have known one another for a couple years. I ought to know a couple things by now."
As I'm eating I feel the connection between me and the rift grow stronger, its pull on me making it harder for me to resist.
Ignoring it the best I can I keep eating till Silvaria and I finish and then heading out to meet up with the headmaster. Along the way I see men that look like armed forces setting up fences and securing the area.
Pretty soon we finally reach the headmaster and he looks excited.
"There you are Alexios, the researchers are ready to examine the rift as you enter. If you are ready step up to the rift and get started."
As I walk up to it Silvaria follows from behind.
I put my hand up and open the menu, then I hit yes and start feeling the rift sucking me in, but it's not just me.
I turn to see Silvaria getting pulled inside with me.
"Grab my hand!"
I try to grab her hand but fail to do so as I black out wondering where we will appear.
In what feels like a moment I wake up in a field of golden wheat. I get up and look around to see pure white clouds with rays of golden light shining through.
As I close my eyes and take deeps breaths I realize something, I am home. I walk towards the city I see surrounding a large mountain.
As I get closer I see that despite being an ancient city it resembles modern architecture. At the gate I arrive at I see that there is some very well maintained cobblestone roads that are flat without any bumps.
In the city there are many little floating balls of light and it looks like these are what are keeping the city in great condition.
"He's here!"
"A new god!"
"I wonder what his divinity is."
"The girl before him was taken for a trial, I wonder about him."
The lights start to get closer and closer asking for my name, how I got here, and even if I'm married yet.
I then see a large set of stairs leading up to the top of the mountain and make a run for it.
As I arrive at the stairs I realize it's moving by itself like an escalator. So I start walking up it to get there faster than just standing around.
Arriving at the top after what feels like ages I am mesmerized by the beauty. I see gardens of all kinds of herbs and flowers with floating waterfalls nearby. Around all the gardens are pure white hummingbirds and a few eagles flying by.
I see nymphs waving at me from the water and dryads smiling as I walk past before they go back into the trees.
Then I see the main attraction, a large white marble Parthenon. In front of the entrance are statues of the Olympians honor guard, the Spartans.
"Thank you for guarding this place."
I give a slight bow and then head inside. Inside are murals that depict the Olympians rise and their fall. It shows the wars they fought for all races to keep them safe from varying threats. Then the last mural show their last effort to stop the rifts before Zeus sent away Mt. Olympus into a rift of his making.
"All of this history, we now know what happened to them."
Then I'm stunned, I see another mural after the last one showing a baby in what looks like Drakken being given to a couple. It says along the side of the mural that the baby was given to a couple that failed to conceive one of their own and they were given a mission to protect this child.
The mural then keeps going showing the boy growing up, making friends, having a happy life, and then it cuts off as if the story isn't finished.
"Is that me?"
I shake my head wondering how long this was here and that it couldn't be me till I remember the Fates. I give up on trying to rationalize this and continue through to the end of the Parthenon hoping to get answers.
As I arrive at the end I see what looks like an ancient senate room with golden silhouettes that stare at me as I enter.
"Welcome Alexios, to Mt. Olympus. We have been awaiting your return to home."