"The golden apple?" Suren nodded thoughtfully. "The symbol of Hera and Zeus's union. Lady Hera entrusted the golden apple grove to be guarded by the hundred-headed dragon Ladon, didn't she?"
"Ah! Worthy of a hero admired by three goddesses; you know all the myths well." Eris, goddess of discord, feigned amazement, her tone oozing a mocking sarcasm that somehow managed to get under his skin.
Godly powers were a curious thing—Discord herself could make the most trivial praise sound insincere.
It wasn't often that Eris found a man who didn't flee her presence, and such a striking hero no less. She chatted enthusiastically, saying, "Of course, the gods didn't invite me to their little gathering, but I couldn't care less. Truly. Not even a little!"
"Still, I thought I'd drop by Olympus with a small gift. You know, just so they remember that even among the gods, there's still a place for Eris, goddess of discord."
Hearing her title, Suren's face darkened as a certain myth sprang to mind—a tale of danger and chaos that had once consumed the gods and men alike:
The Judgment of the Three Goddesses.
The story went that at the wedding of Zeus's grandson Peleus and the sea nymph Thetis, all the gods were invited to celebrate the event. After all, Thetis wasn't just one of the Three Thousand Ocean Nymphs and the daughter of Doris; she was destined to bear a child who would surpass his father in greatness.
Zeus himself hadn't dared touch her, fearing the prophecy, so he married her off to a mortal.
However, amid the grand wedding, one goddess was conspicuously absent.
The goddess of discord and strife—Eris.
Harboring a bitter grudge, Eris inscribed on a golden apple the words "For the Fairest" and slipped away.
That single act would later ignite one of the greatest disputes among the gods—the Judgment of the Three Goddesses.
Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite each laid claim to the apple, asserting that it was meant for her alone. The three goddesses, each one determined to be acknowledged as the fairest, refused to yield.
They sought a verdict from the gods, yet not even the mighty Zeus dared get involved in such a quarrel. The other gods swiftly distanced themselves from the feud.
Eventually, the cunning (scratch that, insightful) Apollo suggested that instead of the gods, the fairest man in Greece should judge which goddess the golden apple belonged to.
To avoid involvement, all the gods claimed they weren't quite handsome enough to judge such beauty, thus turning to a mere mortal shepherd for the task.
This decision ultimately sparked the Trojan War, a conflict that engulfed Greece's heroes and even drew the gods themselves into its fray.
Suren winced.
The prospect of the gods bickering over beauty was chilling enough, but he knew that such a dispute was merely a spark; the true fuel lay in the gods' endless rivalry. If the root of discord wasn't addressed, mortals would still find reasons to take up arms, and the gods would once again back their favored warriors.
What he needed now more than anything was time. The thought of three—no, perhaps even more—goddesses vying for the title of "Most Beautiful" made his skin crawl. If they pulled him in as a judge…
Imagining the chaos that would ensue, Suren shuddered. I'd rather face a ten-headed Gigantes!
Desperate to keep Eris occupied, he scrambled for a topic that might keep her attention a bit longer. The longer he could distract her, the more likely the gods would finish their banquet and return home, ending any need for the dreaded golden apple contest.
As for his plan to speak on his ideals at the gods' banquet?
Well, his beliefs would still be there afterward. But the golden apple of discord couldn't wait; if he couldn't keep Eris from going, he was in trouble.
Eris, in turn, was quite delighted. It had been ages since she'd found someone willing to talk with her. And to her shock, Suren showed no signs of annoyance or disgust at her natural air of mischief. To be received so warmly was a rare joy.
Still, Eris was one of the pettiest goddesses of all. Despite her reluctance, she steeled herself, knowing she couldn't put off her little "surprise" for Olympus much longer.
Cutting their conversation short, she said, "Ah, Suren, you have such a warm heart! It has been ages since a mortal entertained this goddess's whims with such sincerity."
"Your company has truly lifted my spirits…" Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "To show my gratitude, I'd like to offer you a reward. Tell me, what would you like?"
"Does this mean…" Suren grimaced, resigned. His conversation had stalled her as long as it could. Without force, there was no way to make her stay.
Not that overpowering her would be difficult; in terms of raw power, Suren rivaled even the twelve Olympians. Knocking Eris out and leaving her by the wayside was far from impossible.
But doing so would be abandoning his own principles, violating his own ideals.
After all, as a stronger being, he would be infringing on a weaker person's freedom and dignity.
And in that case, how would he be any different from the gods who did as they pleased?
The purpose of his strength was to make others hear him out—not to rob them of their rights.
For him, the purity of his convictions was more vital than brute power. And so, Suren chose to respect her free will, saying, "… In that case, beautiful goddess, would you allow me to have your golden apple?"
"Consider it a memento of our shared bond of friendship."
Eris hesitated but was taken aback by his choice of words. "Friendship? Suren, are you saying you see me as a friend?"
"If you're willing, then yes," he replied.
His intentions had initially been somewhat strategic, yet after talking with her for so long, Suren could see that Eris wasn't truly malicious. Her grievances toward the gods were genuine, and her motives, while volatile, held no real malice.
However ambiguous the foundation of this friendship was, he resolved to honor it.
"Then it's yours!" Eris was quick to agree. With a simple wave of her hand, words appeared on the golden apple in shimmering letters: To my only dear friend, Suren.
Suren carefully tucked the apple into his cloak, breathing a sigh of relief. If friendship alone could prevent a divine beauty contest, then he couldn't have asked for a better outcome.
Golden apples were rare treasures of Hera herself; even for gods, obtaining one was no easy feat.
Given Eris's reputation, it was hard to imagine the trouble she must have gone through to get this one. Hopefully, there wasn't a second one lying around… right?
Holding the apple, he found his mind clouded with the terrifying image of several goddesses tugging on his arm, demanding to know who was the "fairest" of them all.
Despite his exceptional courage, he couldn't shake the dread of that scenario.
And yet, Suren was celebrating a bit too early.
For now that Eris was committed to stirring things up, she wasn't about to settle for something so small.
---
Artemis stood atop Mount Olympus, glancing around anxiously.
Even a goddess's eyes couldn't pierce through the towering, immovable mass of Olympus, the ultimate symbol of Zeus's divine authority.
Suren had been delayed, and Artemis grew restless, her gaze repeatedly turning to Hera.
Hera had assured her that Suren would appeal to Zeus to lift her vow of eternal chastity.
Hera, too, frowned, her delicate brow creased. With Suren's speed, he should have arrived by now. Olympus was vast, but nothing that should keep him from reaching the summit.
Where was he?
Moments later, the invited gods filled their seats, even including Hades—ruler of the Underworld, elder brother of Zeus, and one of the powerful triad of Heaven, Sea, and Underworld.
Unlike his brothers, Hades wasn't concerned with a seat among the Olympian Twelve. His focus lay on ruling the Underworld. In fact, Hestia had long wanted to leave her seat among the Twelve; however, lacking a replacement, she remained, maintaining a position she wished she could vacate.
Seeing the Lord of the Underworld appear was a rare sight indeed, yet Zeus seemed unsurprised.
The gods took their seats, and soon enough, even the seats of the Twelve Olympians were filled, though Zeus himself was nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps the omnipotent Father of the Gods had seen what Suren was up to and intentionally delayed his arrival to give him a little extra time.
However, being late and making everyone wait were different matters, so not long after, Zeus finally appeared.
As the ruler of the Olympians, father of the gods, and king over all men, Zeus had an aura of unmatched dignity.
His white hair and beard reflected the benevolence of an elder, but his lightning-filled gaze radiated power, an unmistakable reminder of his divine authority. No one dared to test his thunderbolts.
Zeus's face, lion-like and majestic, perfectly matched his reputation as the god who ruled over countless goddesses and mortal lovers alike. It was as if he embodied the nature of a lion—mighty and dominant.
The King of the Gods had a faint smile on his face. He cast a glance over the assembly and announced, "Let us begin, O gods! Speak your minds freely!"
All present understood that this invitation was merely a formality. The discussion would, inevitably, revolve around one topic alone.
Suren—the chosen hero, favored by Athena, Hera, Hestia, Artemis… and if the rumors held, even Persephone and Aphrodite.
He was Greece's greatest hero, the one who sought to establish new laws to be followed by both gods and mortals alike, building an era of golden justice.
For that audacious, perhaps impossible dream, the gods had sent down countless trials to crush Suren's spirit. But he passed every one, unwavering, unbowed.
When Suren bested the trials of the Underworld, won Hades's respect, and convinced Persephone to let him leave freely, the gods began to take him seriously.
Now, enough gods were convinced that Suren might indeed realize his vision of a golden age. Suren's proposal had become a worthy matter for Zeus himself to put forward at the assembly of the gods.
Athena, though Suren's most devoted supporter and the first to understand his ideals, did not speak right away.
She was watching, waiting to see if any gods would object.
Were she to speak first, few gods would dare oppose her openly, and yet this silence could mask hidden dissent, potentially undermining Suren in the future.
The same thought crossed the minds of Hera, Hestia, and Artemis, each waiting to see if the others would break the silence.
Just as Hades was about to speak, Suren and Eris arrived, catching sight of the assembled gods.
Zeus's eyes glimmered with amusement. "Perfect timing."
Upon his entrance, Suren looked apologetically toward Zeus and Hera, who sat beside him. "Forgive me, almighty Father Zeus, Lady Hera—I'm afraid I may have kept you waiting."
"Suren, champion among mortals! Your arrival is timely indeed."
Zeus's face softened with a mysterious smile, his gaze fixed on Suren as he extended a hand toward him. "Mortal son, you who have scaled the holy mountain with unshaken resolve, speak now. Tell the gods what desire has driven you to climb to these heights."
Suren scratched his head, puzzled by Zeus's tone. What do I want?
Didn't Hera already tell you?
You two share a bed every night; surely she's mentioned it.
Beside him, Eris was overlooked.
As usual, the goddess of discord was both feared and yet disregarded, so much so that no one seemed to notice her standing by Suren's side.
But, surprisingly, Eris did not seem upset by this. She was uncharacteristically silent, as though she didn't mind being overlooked.
After all, Suren was her only friend, the only one who ever spoke to her without scorn. So he could do as he wished.
Seeing the gods assembled was slightly surprising to Suren, but he always trusted his instincts. With total frankness, he turned toward Zeus and declared, "Father Zeus, my purpose here is for my goddess, Lady Artemis."
"Oh?" Zeus responded, his single syllable rolling out with a power that made everyone feel as if they were under the protective, yet penetrating, gaze of the king of the gods.
Yet, somehow, Suren thought he saw a faint smirk on Zeus's face. Was that a hint of a grin?
Maybe he was imagining things.
Clearing his mind, Suren went on, plainly stating the mission Hera had entrusted him with. "Father Zeus, I seek to know how I might lift my Lady Artemis's vow of chastity."
The gods were stunned into silence.
Wait… what?
Did they hear that correctly? Instead of presenting his vision for a golden age, or something equally profound, Suren's request was—
To remove Artemis's vow?!
What kind of relationship do they even have?
Since when?!
Such an unexpected twist left the gods flabbergasted, while Suren looked on, still perplexed as to why they were all staring.
Only Hera smiled, her expression one of satisfied cunning.
Athena, meanwhile, had shattered the quill in her hand. Hestia's face remained serene, but Olympus's eternal flame flickered wildly behind her calm gaze.
Hera gave an inward scoff. They each have marriage on their minds, and yet they haven't come to me for my support. It's about time they showed some respect for the goddess of marriage.
The queen's plan was brilliant in its simplicity—she could earn Artemis's loyalty and possibly coax Athena and Hestia to follow suit.
Her plot was as flawless as it was unavoidable. Even the goddess of wisdom, Athena, could only follow Hera's lead.
Unless, of course, some outside factor came into play.
And sure enough, an external factor did emerge—Eris.
She turned toward Suren, stunned.
So you and Artemis have that kind of relationship?
Eris had always known that Suren was blessed by a few goddesses, but it never crossed her mind that a goddess would seek such a commitment with him.
She had thought she was Suren's only divine friend. The only one, just like he was her only one.
Her face cycled through a storm of emotions—shock, sadness, anger, jealousy—and, at last, a wave of panic. She thought to herself, No. I won't let this happen!
After all, Artemis was a goddess among the Twelve. Eris was just… an obscure, unimportant goddess. Suren's choice of a closer confidante was painfully clear.
"Forever," she whispered, "we'll be friends forever, Suren. You are my best friend."
Suren, oblivious to the jealous fury brewing beside him, remained his radiant, ever-warm self. It was this innocent warmth, extended to all, that would soon lead him into peril.
Yet only Zeus seemed aware of Eris's presence. With a solemn tone, Zeus continued, speaking as if delivering lines in some grand drama.
"Do you understand, Suren…" Zeus intoned, "my beloved daughter, the goddess of the moon, made her vow under the power of my thunder."
"Yes, Lord Zeus, I understand," Suren replied with all due reverence.
Apollo sighed. He had tried his best to prevent this, but at this point, there was little left to do. Still, he found himself respecting Suren all the more for his resolve.
And Artemis? Her joy was almost blinding—twelve seats among the gods meant nothing to her compared to this moment. Suren, oblivious to the depth of her feelings, assumed she had fallen for some unknown mortal hero and had come merely as her advocate.
In the timeless era of the gods, where ideals were still crude and simple, Suren's words carried a powerful impact that would leave a lasting impression.
Disregarding the murmurs among the gods, Zeus went on, "So, Suren, know this: the only way to break Artemis's vow is to endure my thunderbolt."
"Should you, or Artemis, withstand it, then the vow will be undone."
Zeus's thunderbolt—the ultimate weapon of Greece's divine age.
Its power was unmatched, carrying the terrifying force to obliterate any being, mortal or god.
Even immortal gods had no means of escape.
A tense silence settled among the gods, broken only by Athena's voice. "Suren, no one has survived Zeus's thunderbolt. Not even a god could resist it."
Though her heart seethed, Athena forced herself to stay calm, aware that panicking would only worsen matters.
When she refocused on Suren, she noticed something else—he didn't return Artemis's feelings.
Hera's grin widened at Athena's reaction.
This didn't worry Athena. As long as Suren hadn't committed himself to another goddess, she could handle anything Hera threw at her.
Fine, Athena thought. You want to toy with me?
Unmoved, Suren removed Aegis from his back, his expression calm, words bold: "Athena, the reason no one has ever resisted Zeus's thunder is that no one else is me."
"While Lady Artemis might have been a bit impulsive in her youth, I cannot blame her. This is my goddess, after all."
Suren looked around at the assembled gods, his gaze unwavering. "Her burdens are mine to bear. Thunderbolt or no, whatever trials come, I will take them all. That is what it means to be a servant of one's goddess."
Had it not been for Artemis raising him all those years ago, Suren would have perished alone in that forest long ago.
For Suren, Artemis held an irreplaceable place in his life.
He would do anything for her, no matter the cost.
She was, after all, his one and only little deer.
Zeus burst into laughter. "Well said, Suren! I shall accept your will!"
Standing, Zeus raised his hand, and within it appeared a massive Z-shaped thunderbolt, crackling with untold power.
Even Hera, who had orchestrated everything, began to panic. Wait, wait!
Suren… he wasn't even trying to negotiate.
Couldn't this end peacefully?
Zeus! Is there truly no other way?
But the thunderbolt was already in Zeus's grip. Even something as small as this weapon could level entire cities or islands.
"Witness, Suren, my authority!" Zeus declared.
In an instant, the thunderbolt was gone from Zeus's hand. It passed through space and time, its path fixed by Zeus's gaze.
Having transcended life and death, time and space, Suren possessed a mind as unbreakable as any god's. If Zeus's bolt had been mere energy, he would have had a thousand ways to stop it.
But it was more than that. This was a manifestation of Zeus's authority, a force of divine punishment that even the gods dared not challenge.
The thunderbolt tore through Aegis—
No. It bypassed it entirely and struck Suren's body directly, incinerating his flesh in an instant.
Were he the Suren of days past, he would have been obliterated, his soul erased, unable to pass even into the Underworld.
But Suren was no longer his past self.
The thunderbolt burned his body to ash, yet his spirit, stronger than ever, summoned a new body in mere moments.
And again, Zeus's thunderbolt burned it to ashes.
This cycle repeated seven times before Suren finally dispelled the bolt's force.
In a single strike, Suren had died seven times. Such was the terror of Zeus's thunderbolt. No one else could have survived.
For Suren, though, it had been merely a flicker of time.
"Then let it be known," Zeus declared, "that Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt, is free of her vow."
With that, he added meaningfully, "Gods, I believe our discussion is complete."
The gods were silent.
What else was there to debate?
Suren had just faced Zeus's thunderbolt and survived. His power and his indomitable will proved he was worthy to establish the new order he dreamed of.
Athena sighed, inwardly admiring his strength. Though she still disapproved of his plea for Artemis, she couldn't deny her respect for Suren's fearless stand.
Zeus, sensing the tensions he had unwittingly ignited, quickly announced, "And with that, I shall take my leave. Enjoy the feast, my friends!"
And in an instant, he was gone.
The gods erupted into chatter, marveling at the miracle they had just witnessed.
Only a few remained silent. Hestia approached, her gaze warm with understanding. The eternal flame she had gifted Suren had flickered seven times in those brief moments, dimming and rekindling with his rebirth.
"Seven times destroyed, eight times reborn… Suren, was it worth it?"
She seemed about to touch his face but withdrew, restrained by her dignity.
"Dear Hestia, my friend, you needn't worry for me. I knew exactly what I was doing."
Hestia's kindness had been one of his first true friendships among the gods.
In the distance, Eris's face twisted with jealousy.
Suren's best friend?
For a moment, she'd thought Artemis was the one to be wary of, but now it was clear—the goddess of hearth and home herself had claimed that title.
So what did that make Eris?
And it wasn't only Hestia. Next came Athena herself, looking at him with pride, admiration clear in her eyes.
"You've reached such heights already, my pupil," she praised, pride unmistakable. "Standing against Zeus's thunderbolt… I couldn't have done that. How did you manage it?"
Suren grinned. "Want me to teach you?"
"Of course! Perhaps you'll become my teacher from now on, hmm?" she replied playfully.
With Hera, Artemis, and countless others now surrounding him, Suren had become the center of Olympus's attention.
Seeing Suren encircled by admiration, Eris's face contorted with rage and grief. How had it come to this? Just moments ago, she had thought she mattered.
It wasn't long before her jealousy turned into something darker. Her tone cutting, she finally broke the silence, addressing Suren in a voice that trembled with venom:
"Suren, if you had a golden apple, whom would you give it to?"
DANGER.
Suren's heart skipped, a cold sweat forming. He was in trouble.
Eris spoke again, voice unyielding. "Suren, if you had a golden apple to gift to the most beautiful goddess, who would it go to?"
"Whom would you honor as your closest friend, Suren?"
Suren's scalp prickled. He'd stumbled right into her trap.
Even Zeus had paled at the sight, already foreseeing the chaos that would follow.
The gods held their breath, awaiting his answer.
And Suren, his gaze rising desperately to the heavens, thought, Zeus, save me!
---
T/N: Rest in peace
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!
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