My name is Hark Pantheon, I’m nineteen, average height, dark hair, dreamy eyes- or so I’m told, I’m also a demigod. This is much to my own surprise, I had gone most of my life unaware of the fact of my godly lineage. The day I learned of my father, the sky was a stormy dark blue, the clouds roiling with a deep intensity, the near indigo shade of sky blotted out the sun. I could feel a storm surging through me, filling me up with energy.
I was living in a seashed, along the coast in Malibu, I know, nineteen year old guy in a shed isn’t the best image. But I felt calm there, it was a serious upgrade from a dingy foster home. However, the sea had a strange pull that day, it seemed so restless and violent, yet it retained that warm energy that made me feel at home. But the Sea was calling to me. I mentally couldn’t hold myself back, and physically? I was already running at full tilt into the water. As the shocking cold of the ocean spray plastered across my chest I could feel the currents ripping me towards something. However, I couldn’t help but feel an absolute tranquility ripple through my body, this seemed right, like the waves were the soft arms of a mother guiding a baby to sleep. My mind drifted there, in the endless ocean, comforted by the immense surging of the waves. I remember the ocean giving me something, a gift of sorts, maybe blessing is the better word.
I awoke on an unfamiliar beach after a time, and mind you I have seen a lot of beaches. The sun drew a warm line across my back, the world was covered in a warm haze, I shrouded my eyes with my hand and looked down at my body. My mouth gaped open when my figure came into view, I looked like a Greek god, I was clearly taller, at least 6’2, well tanned and lean with powerful looking muscles. My shoulders were almost too broad, with cannon ball sized deltoids that rivaled a draft horse. I stood there marveling at myself, I looked back at the ocean. The fuck happened in there?
YOUR GIFT COMES AT A PRICE YOUNG PRINCE. A BODY BEFITTING OF A GOD, ITS FATE NOW BELONGS TO YOU.
A booming voice. Like the ocean enraged. Thunder marching down parallel hills, black horses with white riders. My head split with pain, black spots bombarding my vision until I fell.
The ocean splashed against my unconscious body.
This time I woke up surrounded by walls, I was in a hospital wing, the curtains were flowing from a large circle window, I looked outside of it and took in the landscape. A warm breeze lifted the smell of strawberry pies over a field of lush, green grass, and large wooden buildings teeming with wildlife and humans alike. Young teens roamed around what appeared to be a large campsite, filled with an assortment of different mansion sized cabins. The bed I was in was soft, surprisingly so, given the somewhat rundown appearance of the hospital room. “Rise and shine newby.” her voice was that smooth yet husky velvet covered tone that sent shivers up my spine. And yes you know exactly what I mean by that. My eyes snapped to the owner of the velvet voice, upon seeing her I can only describe the motion my jaw took as comical, the girl found this so as well, as she giggled at my open reaction. “Like what you see hun?” she climbed two slender fingers up my bare chest, lowering her eyes greedily and holding for what may have been too much eye contact, I’m unsure still. A low rumble managed to escape my lips, vibrating my diaphragm and the tips of the girl’s finger, I could see a faint blush on her cheeks but it quickly flitted away. The girl came in close, dangerously close, “First day here hun, you best keep it in your pants.” Before I could react she flicked my forehead with so much strength my head shot backwards and into the bedpost behind me. I yelped in as I heard another bell like giggle, “I’m Asra by the way, nice to meet you stud.”
“A warm welcome if I’ve ever seen one.” I flashed what I hoped was a charming smile.
Asra’s lips quirk upwards, a demure grin flashing behind her cat like eyes, “I think you and I will get along just fine…”
The chat that engaged shortly after our already intimate exchange revealed Asra to be student nurse at the so lovingly entitled “Station”, she had been assigned to me after I had appeared fully unconscious and stark naked along their nearest beach. “Now that was a sight to behold.” Asra remarked as she told me the story, giving me the barest of smiles, paper thin to be fucking fair. Every part of me was jumpy beyond belief, every part. This girl was an absolute, bonafide bombshell, and she was fucking coming on to me! If I was beside myself, I would have said hello. But that’s besides the point. After my daily checkup and measurements, which I think was a rather coy excuse for Asra to feel my chest up, Asra told me that I was free to roam the grounds and promptly left for other appointments.
The encounter with Asra left me thoroughly flummoxed as well as sporting a throbbing erection. One I hid quite swiftly under the covers as the door to my room opened once again, This time it was a tall militant looking girl, around my age, sporting a short cropped haircut and multiple scars trailing lines across her cheek and jawline. “Greetings, I’m sure this must all be terribly confusing so please allow me to clear things up a bit.” she sat down stiffly, she gave me the strange impression of a wooden board. Her piercing green eyes locked onto mine, I lost myself in a near instant, the green around her pupil was a dark yet vibrant hue of a forest canopy, filling me up with a wild energy that made me wanna jump out the window and do a flip. It felt just like when the ocean was surging through me back then, her eyes tugged at my heart in all the right ways, opening an anxious pit in my stomach only her gaze could fulfill. The splash of a wave across green emerald rocks. I snapped back into focus, the world around me was a razor sharp image emblazoned upon my irises, I took a hold of the girl’s chin moving her gaze away from me, “Who are you?” my voice was strained. She was strangely quiet, a bright red blush parading across her cheeks, “I-Im so sorry!” she moved abruptly backwards forcing my hand off her chin, she rubbed the area my hand had lingered on with her own, gulping heavily, she put her eyes back on me again, I was preparing myself for that same urge but it didn’t come. “My name is Greia, and p-please let me explain, my mother is the goddess of the Wild, Akaria.” Her voice was soothing, and full of repent “My eyes have a special blessing, you see? If I’m not paying attention or if I’m willing, I can unleash the wild primal side of the human psyche, causing the person in question to act rashly, and possibly harm themselves. I-I am usually able to suppress it b-but for some reason when I saw you, I wasn’t able to.” Her chastened face was too much for me, “It’s fine, I’m totally used to having my secret feral side opened up randomly.” I gave a booming laugh to reassure her, thankfully my joke paid off, her giggle was surprising from her hard militant outfit and look. But… it was nice too. “Now that introductions are over, Hark, I’m sure you have many questions, let me answer them for you now.”
“Where am I?” my bluntness caught her off guard.
“In a remote valley, located in Angel City.” her answer was quick and precise, her composure recovering without a hitch.
“You brought up a goddess beforehand, your mother I recall. What is that all about?” my concern was obvious. Greia put a calloused hand on mine, her hands were small, yet lithe and supple with stringy taut muscle. “Now, take what I’m about to tell you as complete and utter fact, I swear upon my battalion that what I say is the truth.”
“On your battalion?” I asked.
“You will understand in due time, but for now please just listen. You are the son of a god, and I am the daughter of a goddess, in our world exist a near endless amount of deities, gods, spirits, ghosts, and much, much more. You are a demigod Hark, and a powerful one at that. You haven’t noticed it yourself, but… your energy it’s powerful enough that some of the other demigods here have gotten sick if they come to close to the infirmary. Even now it’s bombarding me, it feels like a massive wave, violent, powerful, yet… gentle.” Greia squirmed a bit as she said that last bit, sending a wave of arousal through me. Her words were surreal and unbelievable, but I just knew, looking into her verdant eyes, what she was telling me was the truth. I gulped “Huh… that explains a couple things.” I scratched my head, taking everything in… me? A demigod? What in the fucking world is happening. Back to the real world Hark, back to the real world. “How am I supposed to fucking process that Greia?” she giggled at my question. Her smile was radiant, and I felt my lips twitch upward at her reaction. She looked me in the eye once more, a sight I was growing intensely familiar with, “I know it’s a lot, but you’ll love it here, here we train with other demigods, away from the influence of the outside world, away from monsters, and other evil entities lurking about. This is a place to call home, and so, so mch more.
I nodded along with her rapid fire explanation, “Hm.”, “Okay.”, “Got it.”
“Plus if you feel like you never really quite fit in with people, you may find hanging out with our fellow demigods to be quite the enriching experience.” she was right on that account, already I had met two girls that lit a fire under my heart, both sent lighting through my body, feelings I had never experienced with any other girls I met. Maybe what Greia said was right. This is where I belong.
“Now, let’s go get you set up.” she gave me a wolfish smile.
“First order of business is your battalion.” Greia’s voiced smacked me out from my reverie of the beautiful valley grounds.
“Battalion huh? You mentioned that earlier, just what is it exactly?” I asked.
“Hmm, in short, a battalion is your lifeline here in the valley, you will do everything and anything together.”
“Will they shower with me?”
“W-What?!” her sceam caught the attention of multiple people nearby with comical effectiveness, shyness like a plague hits Greia. Although, her face contorts into a grimace as she notices my lazy smile. It seems she’s quite easy to tease. “You’re a fool.” her chin turns up from the ground as she speaks, “Pretty high and mighty for someone who gets embarrassed by a shower or two.”
Another blush, another sweet, sweet blush.
“ANYWAY! You’re battalion, they’re your lifeline blah blah blah, you eat, sleep, shower, not in the same shower of course.” I gave a cheeky little grin there. “And ultimately they are the group you go on quests and missions with, entrusting your lives with each other after building a bond of friendship.” Greia’s smile as she talked about the battalions grew wider and wider. This stuff means a lot to her. I said as much, earning an earnest nod, “Yup! Battalions bring people together like a shared meal, friends you never thought you’d make, and connections that will never fade… the battalions here have saved a lot of us.”
Us huh… “Can’t wait!” I say with a smile, that I did not have to force.
Greia quietly led me past the buildings I had seen in the infirmary, we arrived at a soft gray door, with ash wood handles and skulls adorning the eye hold. Greia opened the door with caution, stepping lightly inside, I followed suit, casting my eyes around me. The building was filled to the brim with weapons, armor, strange looking contraptions, and artifacts. “Welcome to the Storehouse.” Greia’s voice was muffled amongst all the items, accumulated dust, and spiraling energy coming off several corners of the room. Hell, it felt like all the items here were imbued with at least some magic. “We’ll get to the other stuff later, for now look at this.” Greia pulled a blanket off a large wooden bowl, the bowl was average sized, with deep etchings engraved at the bottom. “Gimme your hand.”
“Okay.” I was a little too trusting of the beautiful, yet rugged demigod girl I had just met. As she promptly took my hand and ran the sharp edge of a knife along my palm. “What the fuck Greia?!?”
“Poor the blood in the bowl.” she said with disconcerting ice in her voice.
“Is this your sick fetish or something? Go find some other demiboy to leech!” Greia slapped a palm to her face, while also slapping my bleeding one against the bottom of the bowl, I grimaced but let it happen. The bowl began shining a dark, crimson color, the light growing stronger and stronger until in a flash it disappeared altogether, leaving a small paper note at the bottom of the bowl. “Pick it up Hark.” Greia instructed. “Got it crazy blood lady.” she scowled at my remark but let it slip, “C’mon, that’s just the first step.”