Chapter 50 - Reunion With The Night
Following Hermes' sudden disappearance, Alex was now home alone.
He was feeling proud of his creation, and went to his room, storing it on one of his bedside cabinets, like a trophy.
He would wait until he met Achilles to gift him this spear, as a surprise.
From the wide windows of his room, orange rays of light illuminated his face and put on display his multi-colored eyes.
It would soon be sunset.
To observe daylight's final performance, Alex went to the roof of the mansion. The last time he was here, it was with Crista, but this time, he was all alone.
The sun was still slightly above the mountain peaks, and it cast an orange glint on the forests in the lower parts of Olympus.
He could perceive various animals going about their mindless days, hunting prey, eating, communicating, etc...
The mountains shielded the forests from the strong winds of the east but the unfortunate trees that sprouted in the valleys of Olympus were either blown over or bent.
Alex found it beautiful that no matter what happened, the world would just...go on.
In the distance, he could see Athena's tower.
'She's probably doing astronomical calculations, or studying ancient scrolls, or training.' Alex tried to guess what she was currently doing.
In another direction, Zeus' golden palace glowed a golden-orange color from the setting sun.
'He's probably chasing around women or arguing with Hera.' Alex chuckled.
In the east, he could discern an ugly palace.
It was Aphrodite's home, and she was currently under house arrest. Alex wasn't too worried about her male puppets, as he could easily eliminate them, and only she could pose him a threat.
He shrugged, this wasn't the time to be thinking about witches.
He felt a bit alone right now.
'It's been a while that I haven't been left to my thoughts like this.'
He wasn't scared of being alone, he just felt a bit paranoid that someday, everyone would just leave.
Crista, in the company of her sisters, would not want to see him anymore.
Athena, who would conquer Olympus and become a lofty and distant queen, too far from his status.
Hermes would elope with Marzia and forget all about him.
He felt too weak, too useless, too troublesome.
In trying to prove himself the other day in the divine council, he only attracted problems for his entourage.
This barrage of unpleasant thoughts was undesirable, but Alex just couldn't NOT think of this as there was no distraction from his feelings.
By this time, the sun was only a slit over the mountains and the sky was a gradient of orange, light blue, and dark blue.
Then, the night set in, and the stars and bright moon performed their own light show.
It was a lonely light, but Alex didn't feel like sleeping.
If this were Earth, he would be smoking a cigarette, not for the nicotine, but for the feeling of the cigarette fumes warming his lungs in the comfort of the night.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, this was not Earth and there was no tobacco in here.
'You seem troubled, child.' A voice rang out in Alex's head.
He was alarmed, but the voice came from everywhere at once and he couldn't pinpoint the source.
After looking around, he found who was speaking.
It was a woman.
Her facial features were indistinguishable but he couldn't escape her long black hair that was ornamented with stars that looked like they were plucked right from the night sky.
She wore a hazy black dress, though it didn't even look like she had a solid body, to begin with.
'Nyx..?' Alex was confused.
'Yes, it is I, child. I can roam the mortal realm when it is nighttime.' She spoke telepathically.
Alex just noticed he had a tear flowing down his face and rapidly dried it, but Nyx's voice said, 'I cannot guide you on matters of the mind, child.'
"I don't need guidance," Alex said out loud.
'You are not one of this world, and it will be hard, to find your place in here, but hold on, and I promise you will,' Nyx comforted him.
"What if I don't, then?" Alex asked rhetorically.
'Your years are as numerous as the stars in the sky.'
"Why have you come here, Nyx? To take pity on me?" Alex chuckled self-depreciatingly.
'You are wrong, child. I have observed you, and though my daughters can not confirm it, I know you have an incredible fate in front of you, and I also know you are wrong about other people's feelings towards you.' historical
'But that is not why I am here today.'
"Then, why?" Alex's voice was hoarse and dry.
'I have come to warn you. If, by chance, an individual of the name of Chaos tries to grant you wishes, be very careful, as they will not give it to you the way that you want.' Nyx had more emotion in her voice than usual.
"Chaos? Who is that?"
'I don't truly know, as we have never met, but what I do know, is that we are all born of them, and they express unbound curiosity towards unusual things or people, like you, child.'
"I'll....keep it in mind." Alex nodded.
Nyx then sat next to him.
The night didn't speak too much, but the comfort from having someone around was enough for him.
The hours passed by as Alex observed the rotation of the globe and the stars moving, and it was very silent.
The silence was unexpectedly interrupted by Nyx.
'Child, as you may have seen, most of us are more human than we are gods.'
She continued.
'I have witnessed many mysteries since my birth, and the birth of this world, but matters of consciousness and mind remain the biggest mystery even to me, child.'
Those were the only words she said, as they remained in silence after that.
This continued until the sun was visible in the east, as Nyx told him, 'I cannot stay here anymore, child. Goodbye.'
Alex also felt a bit tired, and before she would go, he made sure to say, "Thank you, Nyx."
'Child, there is nothing to thank me for. I wish you good luck.'
The silhouette of Nyx then dissipated and he was back to being alone.
'I mean, I have my bed.' Alex made his way back to his room and laid down on his bed.
He was feeling much better.
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