A week had passed since that night, and despite the lingering tension in the house, Leo treated Alex the same as always. His twin brother's innocent warmth was the only comfort Alex found in their home. Leo's bright laughter, his constant chatter, and the way he would drag Alex into whatever game or adventure he had in mind—it was all a reminder that, at least to one person, he was still just Alex. Not a monster. Not an outsider. Just his brother.
But at school, the sense of normalcy he longed for was harder to grasp. The events of the dungeon break haunted his thoughts, and though he had done his best to push them aside, they lingered like a shadow over everything. The fear in his mother's eyes, her coldness toward him, the way she had said nothing after his confession—it all gnawed at him, a constant reminder of how out of place he truly was.
Today, the classroom was filled with the soft hum of voices as the teacher prepared to begin the lesson. The subject had always held a strange fascination for Alex, even before he began to remember his past life: the Olympian gods. The teacher, a tall woman with kind eyes and a gentle voice, stood at the front of the room, her hands clasped in front of her as she began to speak.
"Today, we'll be discussing the Twelve Olympians, the gods, and goddesses who ruled over Mount Olympus and influenced the lives of mortals in countless ways," she said, her voice carrying easily across the room. "These deities were believed to hold power over all aspects of life—nature, war, love, wisdom, and more."
As she spoke, Alex felt himself start to drift, his mind slipping into the familiar abyss where memories and dreams tangled together. The names of the gods echoed in his mind—Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Athena—and with them came flashes of images, brief glimpses of places and faces he couldn't fully recall.
"Zeus, the king of the gods," the teacher continued, pointing to an image of a bearded man holding a thunderbolt. "He ruled the skies and was known for his power over lightning and storms."
Alex's thoughts churned, memories of storms and battles flickering at the edges of his consciousness. He remembered the feeling of electricity in the air, the way the clouds would gather ominously before a thunderclap split the sky. He had seen it before, felt it—but not in this life.
"Hera, the queen of the gods and the goddess of marriage and family," the teacher said next, moving to the next image. "She was known for her protectiveness over married women and her fierce loyalty to her family."
Family. The word struck a chord deep within Alex, pulling him back to thoughts of his own fractured family. His mother's harsh words, the way she had looked at him with fear and anger—it was a stark contrast to the ideal of family Hera was supposed to represent.
He glanced around the room, trying to ground himself in the present, but the images of the gods kept pulling him back. It was as if they were calling to him, their stories too familiar, too close to what he had once known.
"Poseidon, god of the sea," the teacher's voice continued, "brother to Zeus and Hades. His power was over the oceans, and he could summon storms at will."
Alex's thoughts drifted to the sea, to waves crashing against rocky cliffs, the salty air stinging his face. He could almost feel the pull of the tides, the endless ebb and flow of the ocean's power. It was a sensation that felt as natural as breathing, yet he had never lived near the sea in this life.
"And Athena, goddess of wisdom and war," the teacher said, her voice growing slightly more animated. "She was known for her strategic mind, her fairness in battle, and her role as a protector of heroes."
Athena. The name brought with it a sharp clarity, a sense of purpose, and strength. He could remember… something. A voice, perhaps, guiding him, teaching him. The feeling of being watched over, and protected even in the darkest moments. But it was all so hazy, just out of reach.
"Alex?"
The sound of his name snapped him back to the present. He blinked, realizing that the teacher had called on him and that the entire class was now staring at him, waiting for his response. His heart skipped a beat as he tried to remember what had been asked.
"I'm sorry, what was the question?" he asked, keeping his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
The teacher smiled gently. "I asked if you could tell us which goddess is known as the protector of heroes."
Alex swallowed the answer on the tip of his tongue, yet feeling like it came from somewhere else entirely. "Athena," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Correct," the teacher said, nodding approvingly. "Athena is indeed the goddess of wisdom and the protector of heroes."
As the lesson continued, Alex tried to focus, but his thoughts kept spiraling. The familiarity of the gods, the sense that he knew them in ways he couldn't explain—it all made him feel like he was losing his grip on reality. He had always known that he was different, that his memories were not entirely his own, but today it felt more overwhelming than ever.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Alex remained seated, his mind still churning with thoughts of gods and monsters, of memories that weren't his but felt as real as his own life. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was connected to something far larger, something ancient and powerful.
But as the other students filed out of the room, laughing and chatting about the lesson, Alex knew he couldn't let these thoughts consume him. He had made a promise to himself to live a normal life, to be just another student, just another child. Yet the more he tried to be normal, the more the past seemed to intrude.
With a deep breath, Alex stood up and gathered his things, pushing the thoughts aside. He had to keep moving forward, had to keep pretending that everything was fine. Even if the gods themselves seemed to be watching him, waiting for him to remember who he was.
*****
A year had passed since the incident, and Alex, now 9 years old, felt the weight of the changes in his home. The warmth that once existed between him and his twin brother, Leo, had cooled. Their parents, once doting on both boys, had gradually shifted their focus entirely to Leo. Alex noticed how they subtly encouraged Leo to spend more time with them, leaving Alex to his own devices.
Leo, ever the obedient son, followed their lead, though he still held a certain fondness for Alex. But it wasn't the same. The distance between them grew, a silent chasm that Alex found himself unable to cross.
At school, Alex continued to drift through the days, his mind often wandering as the teachers droned on about the gods and heroes. The lessons about the Twelve Olympians, their powers, and their influence on the world seemed almost irrelevant to him now. He knew more about them than any child his age should, not from the books, but from the fragments of memories that haunted him.
His teachers noticed his distraction but said nothing, perhaps sensing the undercurrent of something more in his silence. Alex kept to himself, his interactions with others minimal. The other children, too, sensed something different about him, something they couldn't quite place, and so they left him alone.
At home, the changes were more pronounced. His mother barely acknowledged his presence, her once loving gaze now cold and distant. His father, too, seemed to have resigned himself to this new dynamic, focusing all his attention on Leo. Alex's presence in the house had become almost ghostly, a shadow that drifted through the halls unnoticed.
*****
Late one evening, Alex sat alone in his room, the silence of the house pressing down on him. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting pale shadows on the walls. He couldn't shake the thoughts that had been tormenting him for weeks—the words his mother had spoken, the way his father avoided his gaze, and the growing distance between him and Leo. It was as if the house was slowly pushing him out, leaving him to fend for himself.
Unable to bear the weight any longer, Alex reached for his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen, hesitating, before finally dialing the number he had memorized. The call connected after a few rings.
"Elias?" Alex's voice was quiet, almost hesitant.
"Alex?" Elias's voice was warm and familiar, yet tinged with a slight surprise. "What's going on? Is everything alright?"
Alex took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "You said… you said I was a monster. That the world wouldn't accept me. I didn't want to believe it, but now… I don't know anymore."
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Elias spoke again, his tone more serious. "Alex, being an S-class isn't easy. It's not just about power—it's about how the world sees you. And sometimes, that means they see you as something… different, something to be feared."
"I don't want them to be afraid of me," Alex confessed, his voice wavering. "I don't want to see my parents look at me like I'm some kind of monster. And Leo… even he's starting to pull away."
Elias listened quietly, understanding the depth of Alex's turmoil. "You don't have to stay there, you know. You don't have to keep living in a place where you're not accepted."
Alex's heart pounded in his chest as he realized what Elias was suggesting. "What do you mean?"
"I can be your legal guardian," Elias said, his voice firm but gentle. "You wouldn't have to stay in that house. You could come live with me. It won't be easy, but you wouldn't have to face this alone."
Alex's mind raced. The idea of leaving his home, leaving behind the life he had known, was terrifying. But the thought of staying, of continuing to watch his parents' fear and Leo's indifference grow, was unbearable.
"I… I think I want that," Alex finally said, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and relief. "I don't want to stay here anymore."
Elias's tone softened. "Then it's settled. We'll make the arrangements, and you'll come live with me. You don't have to be afraid anymore, Alex. We'll figure this out together."
As the call ended, Alex felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. The decision had been made.
*****
The café was a quaint little place tucked away on a quiet street corner, its warm interior bathed in the soft glow of afternoon sunlight. Alex sat at a small table near the window, his hands wrapped around a cup of hot chocolate. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint sound of jazz playing in the background. He felt strangely at ease, despite the gravity of the meeting.
Elias arrived moments later, his usual confident stride slightly subdued as he approached the table. He wore a casual jacket, but his eyes were sharp, assessing Alex with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Alex," Elias greeted him with a nod, sliding into the seat across from him. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine," Alex replied calmly, his expression unreadable. He took a sip of his hot chocolate before meeting Elias's gaze. "I've been thinking about everything. About what comes next."
Elias leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And what have you decided?"
Alex's voice was steady as he spoke. "I know that I'm different, and I know that things are going to change after the Guardian Ceremony. But I still want to have a normal life. I want to go to school, make friends, and live like a regular kid—even if I'm not one."
Elias blinked, clearly taken aback. "You… you want a normal life? After everything?"
"Yes," Alex said firmly. "I don't want to be consumed by all this. I need balance. I need to hold on to whatever normalcy I can."
Elias frowned, his mind racing. "Alex, you're talking about managing the impossible. You'll be expected to take on responsibilities that most people can't even imagine."
Before Elias could continue, the door to the café swung open, and Kael, the Hunter Association President, walked in. Unlike his usual youthful appearance, Kael had opted for a more mature look today, his presence commanding attention. He made his way over to the table, a faint smile on his lips.