Everyone in the room is talking calmly among themselves.
Percy: I don't really know how to feel anymore.
Grover: Why?
Percy: Kairo is already a very powerful god, and he still needs more power... How powerful is he really?
Grover: I really don't know, friend... I just hope he's a good god, otherwise we're already screwed.
Omega: I see a lot of uncertainty between you two.
Percy: And how you want us to feel. We are reading the story of an Omnipotent being literally.
Omega: Hahahahaha
Athena: What makes you so funny?
Omega: Let them believe that their power is only limited to omnipotence.
That paralyzed everyone. Is his power greater than Omnipotence?
Omega: But let's keep reading. Who reads?
Apollo: Me, me, me.
Thus the book flies into the hands of the god
Apollo:
The truth of a goddess.
Winter Solstice. The time of year where the 12 Olympians gather for their annual meeting.
Where the problems of the pantheon as a whole are dealt with. This is always an impressive event, since this meeting is where the future of Olympus is decided.
But there was a goddess who ignored all that, her mind was on other thoughts.
This distracted goddess is Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty and feelings.
But what were his thoughts?
Easy, His relationship with Kairo or well his bad relationship with him.
Hermes: Athena, you in the book have to hurry up to catch Kairo, otherwise the Aphrodite of that world can beat you.
Athena would only give Hermes a dirty look.
After a while, she reconsidered and understood what she did wrong, taking the appearance of Kairo's recently deceased lover, to manipulate him and sleep with him.
She has been wanting to apologize for a long time, but she had not been able to do so, for two reasons, first, the opportunity to approach him and apologize had not presented itself. And second and most important, she was afraid.
Artemis: The first is an excuse.
Aphrodite: Of course not!!! You have to wait for the right moment to do things.
Hephaestus: The second is more understandable, honestly.
Hermes: Sure, face the fury of the most powerful being in the pantheon. What could harm you?
He was afraid of Kairo and his power. The last time he left her terrified with all the power he expelled. For the first time in her immortal life she felt that she could truly die. Not disappearing, not fading away to return later, just ceasing to exist and that terrified her to the depths of her being.
Everyone in the room agreed with Aphrodite, that experience has to be truly terrifying.
But she was determined, she was going to apologize to him and accept the consequences. I just had to wait to finish this meeting.
30 min later.
The meeting was over, everyone was separating to do whatever they wanted.
She was heading towards where Kairo was talking to Poseidon.
Poseidon: So, could you do me a favor, nephew?
Kairo: Sure man, just let me know when you need it.
Poseidon: Thank you Kairo - Touching him on the shoulder.
Aphrodite: Hello.
Poseidon: Aphrodite, it's a pleasure to see you.
Kairo: Afrodita...
Aphrodite: Poseidon, please allow me to Kairo.
Poseidon would only look between Kairo and Aphrodite, he still remembers what it was like last time. I didn't want to live that again.
But a look from Kairo calmed him down, so he decided to leave and hope for the best.
Poseidon: What were you talking to him about?
Omega: I swear you guys like to receive spoilers. All of this is specified in the reading.
Aphrodite: Kairo please follow me and let's talk.
Kairo: Sure...
Thus Aphrodite began to lead the way towards one of the gardens of Olympus. But as they walk they start talking.
Aphrodite: So... What were you talking about with Poseidon?
Kairo: The wedding anniversary is approaching and he wants to give Amphitrite a jeweled necklace.
Aphrodite: Can't he do it with pearls from his kingdom?
Kairo: Yes and he already has. But in his own words, he wants to give something unique to his wife. Then I'm going to find her a necklace with the best jewels in the Underworld.
Poseidon: Hey, why have you never done me a favor like that? - Looking at Hades
Hades: Have you ever asked me? - With a raised eyebrow
Poseidon: You mean to tell me that I just had to ask for the favor?
Hades: Yes...
Poseidon: Shit.
Hades: Also it wouldn't be the first time, for example the necklace that Hestia has around her neck was a gift from me.
Demeter: And why have you never given something like that to Hera or me?
Hades: Would you have received it?
Demeter: ...Yes...
Hades: There you have your answer.
Hera: And me?
Hades: How many times don't we see each other a year?
Hera: ...
Hades: I'm going to tell you at best 3 times a year. But despite that, we never spoke or lived together. Unlike with Hestia, we meet once a month to chat or go out to eat.
Persephone: Wait, is that who you go out to eat with?
Hades: And who did you think he did it with?
Persephone: With Thanatos, he also goes out on those dates.
Hades: He's actually dating his current lover.
Persephone: Does Thanatos have a lover?
Hades: Yes, but they are only friends with benefits as he explained to me.
Persephone: Why does he tell you that?
Hades: Maybe, why am I his friend?
Persephone: I thought he was your worker.
Hades: And it is, but so is my friend, it's just that we are responsible when it comes to working.
Persephone: Ok, look at that, I didn't know him.
Aphrodite: Hades doesn't care?
Kairo: Not in the slightest, he is the god of wealth and I am the god of fortune, we could literally fill the entire earth with our riches
Aphrodite: Ours?
Kairo: Contrary to what many think, Dad is not a miser, he does not see the personal value in gold and jewelry. Not allowing them to steal more out of pride and respect.
Aphrodite: And?
Kairo: And all his wealth is also mine, well in his own words. "You are my heir, you have the right to command and use the Underworld as you please" that includes everything that exists within the underworld.
Aphrodite: Wow, I had a bad image of Hades then.
Kairo: Everyone does them, they are afraid of him because he is the ruler of the Underworld
Persephone: That's true, but it's also partly your fault, because you almost never leave the underworld.
Hades: Look, I already have a lot of work with all the souls that come to my kingdom, I barely have time for myself...
Persephone: But if your time you will use better, besides sleeping
Hades: I never said it was profitable.
Persephone would only roll her eyes at her husband's occurrences.
Kairo: But enough of the frivolous talk, Aphrodite. What do you really want to discuss?
Aphrodite: I want to apologize.
That phrase surprised Kairo, because he never expected that from the goddess of love.
Cairo: Wow, solo… Wow
Aphrodite: If we better sit down and talk - So they proceeded to sit on one of the benches that are in the gardens - Look... I know that I don't have the best reputation of all and that I am a person who seems arrogant and arrogant.
Kairo: I wouldn't say it like that...
Aphrodite: So how would you do it?
Kairo: Spoiled and Capricious.
Aphrodite: Thanks for the compliments.
Kairo: You're welcome.
Aphrodite: Well, back to the topic. I want to apologize to you for the time I took the form of your lover, driven solely by lust and desire, there is no justification for such an act... I only wanted to sleep with you and since I saw you devastated, I thought you would be easier to manipulate . But no, you saw through my deception, I felt humiliated when you called me horrible and I wanted to unleash my fury on you. But hey, we already know how it ended, right - Kairo just nods - So I want to apologize to you for the pain I put you through.
Kairo and Aphrodite remained in a deep silence, which for Aphrodite seemed to become eternal.
Everyone in the room was just reading Aphrodite.
Will you accept the apology? Will he forgive her? Or would he continue with his attitude towards her?
Kairo: I forgive you Aphrodite... But I also want to apologize.
That made Aphrodite open her eyes.
Everyone in the room was the same.
Kairo: I apologize for the threats I made to you that day and for how I treated you. I could do many things, I could ignore you, I could leave quickly or try to control myself, but no, I unleash my fury on you.
Aphrodite: But no, the one who did wrong was me...
Kairo: Not just your Aphrodite... At that specific moment in my life, I was full of rage and resentment, but not towards you, but rather towards myself, but I took it all out on you.
Aphrodite: Why?
Kairo: Everyone calls Eleni my lover... But the truth is that I was a coward with her, I knew she was destined to die but what did I do? I hid my feelings towards her, for fear of being rejected and despite that she loved me just as much or more brilliantly than I loved her. If only... No, it doesn't matter now, but I say again, I was full of fury and I didn't have to take it out on you. So that's why I ask your forgiveness, Aphrodite.
That left the room silent again. They never expected that response from Kairo. But it seems that he is still a box of mysteries.
Aphrodite: Or... Calm down Kairo, I forgive you
Kairo: But I have a doubt...
Aphrodite: Which one?
Kairo: Why do you hate love?
The two Aphrodites, both the one in the room and the one reading, opened their eyes. What kind of question is that?
Aphrodite: H.. om.. mo... How?
Kairo: I ask again, Aphrodite, why do you hate love?
Aphrodite: I don't...
Kairo: Then why do you make fun of love, incite infidelity, betrayal of your partner, and have sex with whoever you want and that's it.
Aphrodite: I don't do that... Do I? - I would say bewildered
Kairo: If you do it, Aphrodite, despite being the goddess of love, you don't love anyone...
Aphrodite: That's a lie, I love a lot of people...
Kairo: No, Aphrodite, you appreciate and value many people, but you don't love them.
Aphrodite: I...
Kairo: Tell me when was the last time you genuinely cared about one of your partners, that you wanted to just be with him, that you wanted to be happy just with that person?
Aphrodite would just remain silent, it was true. When was the last or first time for that matter that she did one of those things?
The Aphrodite in the room was the same as her counterpart. When did she do it?
Aphrodite: I can't...
Kairo: No? Can Aphrodite?
Aphrodite: Loving someone truly
Kairo just looks at Aphrodite in bewilderment.
Kairo: Why?
It was the same in the room. Because?
Aphrodite: Fear...
Kairo: Scared?
Aphrodite: Tell me Kairo what do you know about Inanna?
Kairo: The ancient Sumerian goddess of love?
Aphrodite: Yes, she
Kairo: She was one of the first goddesses of her pantheon and one of the most powerful. But it faded and that gave way to Ishtar
Aphrodite: That's only part of the truth.
Kairo: What?
Aphrodite: Kairo, the problem and the reason why no goddess of love truly falls in love is because of our own mastery over love
Kairo would only wait for Aphrodite's explanation.
Aphrodite: When a goddess of love truly falls in love, not just a crush. We fall deeply in love with that person, because our hearts, souls, mind, body and essence will be dedicated only to that person, we will never be unfaithful or betray that person.
Kairo: That's not good, why?
Aphrodite: Because Kairo, if our lover or partner does not return our feelings or betrays us, we could die...
Kairo: Wait, what?
Hera: What?
Hermes: What?
Percy: What?
Grover: How?
Apollo: Beautiful?
Aphrodite: As I was saying, when we dedicate ourselves solely to one person, our hearts depend solely on that person. And if that person does not return our feelings, we can die, because our auras and powers will weaken until they fade away and in the end we fade away.
Kairo: But they can come back, right?
Aphrodite: Yes and no. I take Inanna again, she fell in love with a mortal and her love was genuine, but sadly the war hit the town where that mortal lived, where he died defending his people. Desperate Inanna tried to revive him, but it was useless, because there was no way to do it. Then she fell into great anguish and pain, until she finally fainted, but as such she did not die, her thought and essence died. So the universe taking what was left of Inanna, brought her back to life, but as Ishtar the goddess we know today. It could be said that Ishtar is the reincarnation or rebirth of Inanna, but due to her ancient pain, her original thought and personality died eternally, leaving only her power that shaped Ishtar.
Kairo: Then Inanna died forever.
Aphrodite: Yes...
Artemis: Is that why Aphrodite never fell in love with anyone?
Aphrodite: Yes, people take me for a whore, but I prefer that to disappearing into nothingness itself.
Kairo: Okay, that has to be very sad, being the goddess of love, but never being able to love.
Aphrodite: It's like asking a god of the sea not to go into it.
Kairo: But there's no way around it.
Aphrodite: There is, but it's complicated.
Kairo: And it is?
Aphrodite: Receiving love equal to or even more genuine than what we felt for another person
Kairo: Explain, please
Aphrodite: An example, if I fall in love and give 200% of love to my partner or lover. To get me out of that sadness, someone with an equally genuine love has to give me at least the same amount of dedication.
Kairo: But?
Aphrodite: How did you know a man was coming? but? - I would say fun
Kairo: Because there always is, nothing is ever easy in this life
Aphrodite just laughed because it was true
Aphrodite: But our hearts fall in love with the person who is offering us their love, and it would only be repeating the same cycle, because later they do not return the same amount of love or they die and it is repeating the cycle infinitely.
Athena: The domain of love is more dangerous than I originally thought.
Aphrodite: It is easy to judge or point a finger at others, but it is not until you suffer the same thing that you do not empathize with them
Hera: Very true.
Aphrodite: So to answer your question Kairo, I do not hate love, I fear it is different.
Thus the two remained silent, Aphrodite with her gaze lowered without wanting to look at anyone, while Kairo was left reflecting on everything Aphrodite had said.
But while Aphrodite continued to look down, she felt someone gently touch the top of her head.
Looking up, her beautiful emerald green eyes clash with Kairo's golden ones.
Kairo: Then let me help you.
Aphrodite: How? - I would say almost to tears because I never expect this response from Kairo
Kairo: I will be your companion on that journey, because I understand you Aphrodite, when Eleni and Chloe died I wanted to disappear forever. But thanks to the help of my parents and Atena, I was able to get ahead. If you want, I will be your shoulder to cry on, your ear to vent and a friend you can count on.
Aphrodite would be thinking about what Kairo offered, but she had to put it to the test.
Aphrodite: What if I ask for your love? As I already explained to you, the only way to survive that pain is to receive the same or more pure and genuine love. Tell me Kairo, would you be willing to give me all of yourself, your love, conviction and loyalty?
Kairo: I promise you Aphrodite, but I want you to fulfill one condition first.
Aphrodite: Sure, what do you want?
Kairo: Get to know you better, Aphrodite, so we can get closer, so when you need me to fall in love with you, it won't be just and there will be a basis on which to sustain that love.
Aphrodite would just lower her head. Looks like he's thinking about the offer.
Kairo: ¿Aphrodite?
Aphrodite: Fufufu, how daring Kairo, we don't even know each other and you are already dedicating eternal love to me. Wouldn't that be your plan to be able to conquer poor me?
Kairo: Of course not, because most likely you raised all this, so you could be with me.
Aphrodite would only sit on Kairo's lap to provoke him.
Aphrodite: I don't think you understand, dear, if you get into this game you will never be able to get out, because from now on, a part of me will be yours forever.
Kairo: So let it be, just like you, a part of me will be yours forever. Then you are ready, Aphrodite.
Kairo will bring his mouth close to Aphrodite's ear.
Kairo: Or are you afraid of the challenge?
Aphrodite would only tremble, because Kairo was never expected to know how to flirt, but he still has a way to go, but he has a good foundation
Aphrodite: Challenge accepted
Omega: And that ends today's chapter. How are you?
Athena: Very informative indeed. I never expected that from the goddesses of love
Omega: And your Aphrodite, how are you?
Aphrodite: Not bad. I would say acting indifferent
Omega: But what's wrong with you? Aphrodite
Aphrodite: Why don't I have a Kairo by my side?
Omega: You already have it, you just never took advantage of it.
Aphrodite: Who?
Omega: Hephaestus, he truly loved you in the beginning, but due to your betrayal after betrayal you pushed him away.
Aphrodite would only look away reflecting on the words said by Omega.