—They fall, they fear, because they see what we carry on our skin. The eternal fire, the storm in our eyes, the names we inherit are our desire!The girl on stage danced and sang as if the entire world were her audience, with the confidence of a queen at her coronation. But she wasn't in a palace or a grand hall; she was here, under the lights, surrendering herself completely to her song.—We are flames that will never die, the thunder and fury in the storm. Born of a fallen father and an immortal goddess, we are their legacy, their final truth!I didn't understand myself, but there I was, captivated by her voice, lost in the strength of her words. My voice joined the crowd's, shouting along with her, while her gaze met my emotion, as if this were the performance of her life.Before I could embrace her, the entire stage vanished as if by magic.My eyes snapped open, and the first thing I saw was that damned chandelier-shaped lamp. I wanted to shatter it myself, but that wouldn't be enough.Another day in this prison called Olympus… I couldn't interpret my dreams; it was illogical even for me.—Good morning, dear Queen. What would you like for breakfast? —a nymph opened the door and handed me a glass of nectar.I didn't know what to say. I felt disoriented, trapped in a cycle of dreams that were becoming increasingly unbearable. Maybe I should travel to Asgard and speak with Freyja… if anyone knows Óðr's whereabouts, it's her.—Give me a light breakfast, dear Aigle. Any news?I watched as the nymph moved gracefully across the room until she stopped with a smile and pulled out a radiant orb. On its surface, images danced vividly—the tournament of this year.I recognized the exact moment that the country called Germany defeated England.I sighed. Maybe I should talk to my friend Diana. The last time we spoke, she was radiant after divorcing that idiot.—Dear Queen, the Theoforos of the King of Olympus is indeed very powerful.—What was that parasite's name? Domanak? Domun?—Dominik, dear Queen.—Perfect. I couldn't care less about a human bearing Zeus's mark.With a huff, I made the orb my nymph had brought disappear. A simple snap of my fingers was enough for my hair to arrange itself, perfect as always.I sat in my chair, watching as the stars adorning the table moved with the lightness of golden marbles. Before I knew it, I had lost myself in thought.Aigle placed my breakfast before me: dates stuffed with almonds and drizzled with honey, accompanied by golden fruits from my garden. Beside them, a gleaming cup filled with celestial nectar.—Thank you very much, dear Aigle.—I will always be at your service, dear Queen.I continued enjoying my breakfast until a call disrupted my peace. I wanted to ignore it, but the deafening ringtone made it impossible. Sometimes I think I should thank humans for inventing these things… and at the same time, kill them for creating something that interrupts my rest.When I answered the call, I heard the howling of several dogs followed by the mooing of a cow. I didn't need to check the contact to know who it was.—Hello, brother. To what do I owe this call? —I took a date and savored it; Aigle truly knows how to cook well.—Hello, sister. I'm calling to inform you that…His voice broke off, and suddenly there were noises, as if someone had grabbed the phone in a hurry.—Hello, Queen! —Persephone's shout made me smile.—Hello, my beautiful queen of the underworld. How are you?—Very well! I'm calling to invite you to my birthday party.—Don't worry, I'll be there.—Thank you so much, Queen! —Her voice was full of joy. Then, I heard her handing the phone back to Hades, with the sounds of animals following her as she called them in the background.The silence was deafening until Hades finally spoke.—Sister, Loki and Thor will be coming to the party. That won't bother you, will it?I closed my eyes. The last time I spoke with them was centuries ago, and the weight of past decisions still lingered between us.—Don't worry. I think… it's necessary to let go of regret. Tell me… have you ever wondered what would have happened if…—Let it go, sister. Thinking about it will only make it hurt more and more.—I think… you're right.Silence settled between us again.—Sister, have you thought about taking a Theoforos? You're the only one across all religions who still hasn't chosen one.I frowned. The very idea disgusted me.—I don't want to. The mere thought of someone bearing my mark makes me sick. I'd rather stay out of all this.Hades let out a soft laugh.—You should reconsider. Many gods are making a fortune with their Theoforos. Even Demeter, with her whole cereal and wheat business, has become immensely rich.—No, thank you. I prefer my life just the way it is.—As you wish, sister. Let your will be done.—Thank you, brother.I hung up the call and continued with my breakfast. ****In my office, the requests kept piling up. Humans from all over the world, even some from royalty, begged to become my Theoforos.I sighed. I didn't know what else to do. I had made it clear long ago—I wouldn't choose anyone. I wasn't interested; I didn't want to be part of this game. I preferred to take care of my own affairs.With a slight movement of my pinky finger, I summoned the most interesting requests among the pile. I skimmed through them for a few seconds before discarding them indifferently, sending them straight into the trash.It's ironic, really—especially since I was one of the first to mark a human with my divine seal… and together, we almost conquered the world.Isn't that right, my dear Napoleon Bonaparte…?It feels just like the first time, when I saw him praying, desperate to save his nation… ****234 years ago.The gods were little more than ornaments in temples—intimidating figures to mortals, yet their real influence had weakened. And I couldn't complain about it. Even in Olympus, whispers of faith and devotion were nothing more than background noise, a monotonous echo that rarely interested me.But that night, something caught my attention.The curious thing was that it wasn't directed at me. No. The prayers I heard were meant for the king of the gods, the one so many mortals begged… and who rarely answered.A child's voice. It did not tremble, nor did it plead. It burned with ambition.—Grant me the strength to rise beyond this life… beyond my fate. The world needs change, and I will be the one to lead the way.From my golden throne, I leaned forward with curiosity. It was not common to find a human with such conviction. His words were not hollow like the others'. He did not pray for wealth or love. He asked for power.Interesting.I closed my eyes and turned my gaze to Earth. There he was, kneeling on the cold marble floor of a small chapel. Napoleon Bonaparte. A fourteen-year-old Corsican boy. His body was still fragile, but his soul knew no fear. Within him, the certainty that the world belonged to him… he just needed the right tools.It wasn't the first time an ambitious man had prayed. But this one was different. This one could shape destiny if given the chance.…He reminded me of him…I had made my decision.The wind shifted in the chapel. The candles flickered, as if an invisible storm had crept into the space. A faint scent of pomegranate spread through the air, announcing my arrival.—You have asked to be heard, mortal. And I have answered.His body trembled. His eyes widened with a mix of surprise and fear. He remained still for a moment before cautiously lifting his head. He wasn't foolish. He knew he was in the presence of something far greater than himself.—Who… who are you?I smiled.—I am Hera. Queen of Olympus. Guardian of power and the destiny of kings.Amazement crossed his face, but only for an instant. He did not doubt my words. He did not ask why I was there. He simply analyzed the situation, measured the possibilities.Good. He was no fool.—You have cried out for greatness —I continued—. I have heard your words and seen the fire in your soul. The heavens ignore the weak… but to the ambitious, they offer a path.Napoleon swallowed hard. He did not speak immediately. His hands clenched into fists, his mind working faster than his age should have allowed.—Do you seek my blessing, Napoleon Bonaparte? If you accept it, I will make you the most powerful man in history. But on that path, you will face the entire world.His eyes rose to meet mine. Not with submission, but with determination. Deep inside, he had already made his decision.—Yes. Show me the path, and I will take it.I smiled with satisfaction.I would ensure that his destiny was written in golden letters… under my will. ****The Present.Memories of a past time.The other candidates lack the determination I saw in your eyes. There will be no other human on Earth like you. I will not stain your legacy with insignificant comparisons.Without hesitation, I burned all the applications. The flames consumed every name, every desperate request.Then, I turned on the computer to check my email. Another human invention.Sometimes I wonder if we still measure humans by our standards… or if it's the other way around. Perhaps, without realizing it, they have been the ones to assimilate us into their world.There was only junk mail and some pathetic attempt to steal my account with those fraudulent emails promising riches if I clicked a single link.On social media, my sister Hestia had sent me several messages. I didn't want to open them, but her persistence was unbearable.[Sister! My Theoforos defeated Amaterasu's chosen one!][I don't understand why everyone keeps bothering me about that boring tournament.][Don't say that! Invite me to eat, we have to celebrate!][Goodbye.][Don't leave!]I let out a sigh and turned off the computer. I couldn't deal with her anymore.Although, if I thought about it, it was amusing. Hestia, the same one who had fallen in love with modern Japan and its obsession with animated drawings, had ended up choosing a Japanese human as her Theoforos… and now, ironically, that human had defeated the chosen one of a goddess from her own country.I took out a book and let myself get lost in the reading. Time passed without me noticing until the moon reigned in the sky—and Zeus had arrived.The door burst open.He entered in his ceremonial attire, his presence dominating the room… and with that stupidly self-satisfied smile I had never been able to stand.—What do you want?—That is no way to answer me, my wife —he said mockingly—. Why didn't you come to Old Trafford Stadium? My chosen one defeated that idiot Toutatis.—I'm not interested in those tournaments.I could feel the people in the hallways moving away from my office, as if the air had become unbreathable. The tension grew, wrapping around every corner of the palace.—I made a promise to my chosen one —Zeus continued, his tone firmer—. If he defeated Toutatis, you would choose his fiancée as your Theoforos. And I keep my promises.—…I couldn't believe what I was hearing.—Tomorrow, you will come with me to make it official. It will be a special event. The rulers of Olympus will have a couple as their Theoforos, and our names will be hailed as the couple of the century.—Enough…—And you will sit by my side, as the good ruler and wife of Olympus.—…I hated him. I hated him with every fiber of my being.I wanted to kill him.I could no longer stand his authority, his overwhelming ego, his way of handling me as if he still had control over me.—I won't do it.—What did you say?!—I won't do it.—I am not asking you, Hera. I am ordering you, as the supreme leader of Olympus.The windows shattered into a thousand pieces.Gods and servants fled in terror, running away from the palace, from the storm that had begun. The fury of the Kings of Olympus roared in every corner of the sky.There was no other path left.—I want a divorce! —I screamed with all my strength.My voice echoed throughout Olympus.