The Olympians. Van had always only seen them in his visions all those years ago– but throughout the years, he had met some of them… even built a family with two of them, Artemis and Athena.
And now, the rest of them were in front of him in the flesh– 6 of them, floating just meters away from him outside the house. Seeing them all together like this seemed the most surreal thing that Van had seen throughout the years.
Perhaps the one he was most familiar with was Zeus. After all, he was always the center of his visions– No. Not visions. Now that he had merged with the System, it was better to say that they were memories.
Zeus had a thing for theatrics according to Athena– without a doubt, proven to be true by the lightning that was raining down upon their backs. Zeus… wasn't as imposing now that he was in front of Van.
And so were the rest of the Olympians. The only other Olympian he recognizes was Poseidon as Athena told him about him… as for the rest, he had no idea who they could be. All of them looked unique in their own way, sure. But Zeus and Poseidon held their elements close to them– with Poseidon's hair seemingly made of water.
"So the rumors are proven to be true."
The very first one to speak was a woman– her brown and luscious tangled hair almost seemed like it had a life of its own she floated to the house; but unlike with Pontiff Irin, the window wall completely shattered.
"Hermes had an offspring with the winged demons," the woman then started to circle Van as the rest of the Olympians also entered the house, "He bears no resemblance, and yet I could feel him in this youngling."
"And what exactly is your purpose for bringing the Olympians?" Van, however, completely ignored her as he leaned to the side to look at Irin.
"You… dare ignore me, boy?"
And before Irin could open her mouth, the woman stopped in front of Van and looked him straight in the eyes; her eyebrows, slightly turning her face into a snarl.
Hera. Van then thought as he returned the woman's glare. Judging by the stories that Athena told him, this woman could be none other than Hera. Most of them were short-tempered, haughty, impatient, and overly self-important… but Athena told her that Hera was on another level.
"You dare look at m–"
And before Hera could finish her words, her mouth remained open as Van stood up to look at the other Olympians that entered the house.
Zeus, Poseidon, Hera. He already knew who the three were, and now there were only three left unnamed. 2 women and a man.
He would have probably been shaken by their existence if this had happened years ago-- but now, all of them just seemed... human.
"..." Van carefully walked in front of the 5 Olympians, leaving Hera with her mouth open. As he did so, however, he noticed Hera's eyes very slowly trying to catch him. How nostalgic, Van thought; Angela and Arachnaea used to be able to do the same.
But it would seem that was the only thing Hera could do as her mouth very slowly closed.
"Hm…" Zeus and Poseidon seemed to be able to do the same– with Zeus even managing to turn his head, barely, but visible… as expected of the one crowned as the strongest Olympian.
Every one of their eyes seemed to want to follow him as he moved… except for one. The pale-skinned woman; her skin seemingly devoid of any flaws– Van could see it, as she was barely wearing anything in the first place.
Everything about her seemed perfect. Even the aura she emitted was more akin to that of a flower than a god– a flower littered with thorns, that is.
This should be Aphrodite. Even if Athena didn't tell her about her, Dionysus did plenty enough.
The next was the tallest one of them all– wearing full armor despite his kin being only on linens. His face was filled with scars, even though the Olympians could very well make them disappear. A man taking pride in his wounds of battle.
Ares? Must be.
And finally, Van stood in front of the last one– a woman who was adorned by… plants. The way she carried herself, her posture, her temperament… it was exactly the same as Artemis.
"Demeter."
"..."
And as he said that, Hera's mouth finally closed; the Olympians' eyes, now also able to land on him. Demeter, however, didn't seem that surprised as Van was suddenly in front of her.
"You have Hermes's speed."
"I might actually be faster now."
"You know who I am?" A small, but growing smile appeared on Demeter's face as she looked down at Van.
"Demeter. Artemis told me a lot about you, like a parent, almost."
"She… is alive!?" Demeter slightly crouched down to have her eyes at the same level as Van as soon as she heard his words; the smile on her face, however, disappeared as Van shook his head.
"She was, a very long time ago," Van whispered as he looked to the side, "She died… trying to make a better life for her daughter."
"D–"
"Daughter!?"
And before anyone else could react, Aphrodite's gasp thundered through the air,
"Artemis has a daughter!? That Artemis!?" And even though she was practically screaming, the words that were coming out of Aphrodite's mouth still seemed soft, "With who!?"
"W–"
"Wait!" Aphrodite's nose then started to subtly move as her eyes moved towards Van's… member. And a few moments later, her eyes slightly widened as she looked Van straight in the eyes,
"It's you… you're the father of Artemis's child!"
"What!?" Zeus and the other male Olympians roared.
"And… it… it's not just Artemis– I can also smell Athena on you!"
"What!?" This time, it was only Zeus that roared as he clasped his head with both his hands.
"Stop shouting like fools!"
And before any more roars could thunder, Demeter stomped her foot on the floor, causing the black room they were in to suddenly be filled with plants; mixed with the walls that were almost breathing, the room looked even more organic now.
"Is… it true?" Demeter then whispered as she once again looked Van in the eyes, "I would know if you're lying, was she survived by her daughter."
"...Yes," Van closed his eyes, "I am truly sorry I was not there to save her."
"No, I could feel your love for her," a gentle smile appeared on Demeter's face as she raised Van's cheek. But soon, however, this smile disappeared as the plants that wrapped the room all withered away,
"Who?" She then whispered; the gentleness in her voice was completely gone,
"Who killed her?"