Aubrey couldn''t help it, Aaron scared him. The boy''s aura, it left him feeling shaken, unnerved. Not the magical part, which felt like another''s essence had overshadowed it. No, he smelt a catastrophic temper. Like Lighting in his soul, boiling in the shadows. Aaron may have been all smiles, and he spoke like a book, but there was something inside of him that left him startling dangerous. Aubrey wanted to be his friend if no other reason than to stay on his good side.


    To that end, after they crossed the gardens and moved toward the dorms, he took the other boy to the Dinning Hall. "You hungry?"


    Aaron may have been mortal, but his stomach roared like an angry Fury. "A bit."


    Chuckling it off, he led him into the building, warmed and protected by Hestia''s Sacred Hearth, the place was widely considered a safe space for just about everyone. It was hard to be angry or upset or hurt when the air felt like a literal hug. Turning to Aaron, he was about to explain just that to him, when he saw the boy was rubbing his arms nervously.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "It was like walking through cobwebs, walking through those doors. The air, the heat, it feels like someone is watching me." Aaron looked around, eyes wide, fearful. "What is happening to me?"


    Aubrey had no words for a solid minute, before his mind caught up. "I''ve been here for three months, we''ve learned a lot about wards. They are pretty important to us, since they keep this place safe from outsiders. From those that would kill us for being the legacies of the Pagan past, like the Crusaders. But, to be honest, I''ve never heard of someone sense or feeling the wards. Especially not a Goddess ward." he gestured to the Hearth Fire. "That is a blessing from Hestia, it shields us from harm, hate, and sickness. She is always watching, since that is her domain. That you can feel that, it''s a bit odd. You sure you''re a mortal, not even a sorcerer yet?"


    He nodded slowly. "I know both my parents, and their parents. Or well, I knew of them. The only person that MIGHT have been a witch, is my paternal grandmother. She got me into writing, into magic and myths. But she''s been dead since I was five. I barely knew her though, so I can''t confirm anything."


    Aubrey nodded, unsure. "Let''s get you some food. It''s Taco night. Oh and make sure you wait before eating."


    The boy nodded, confused. Soon though they had their food and moved toward the Hearth. "Hestia gets the first and last sacrifices, of every meal. The Hearth is the Sacrificial Flame, it connects us to the Gods." He put in an entire taco. "To Lord Zeus, for sparring my family the madness of most Werewolves."


    Aaron tossed in a steak burrito. "To whoever saved me, I rather like being alive. So thanks for that... but, ugh.... I''d kinda like to know who you are."


    There was a shimmer in the room, the flames shifting to burn marble white for just a moment. In that moment, Aubrey smelled it. "The Flames smell like you, like whoever saved you."


    "I hope they are watching me..."


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    And then people started to all but flood into the Dinning Hall. Like a host of hungry piranha, ready to consume all they touched. Aubrey hurried away. "Let''s get to a place to sit down." As they ate, Aubrey''s nose and ears ached from the various traces of divinity, and teenage sweat. It was gross, but he endured it. Aaron on the other hand started to hold his head, going paler than his alabaster form usually was. "You okay?"


    "My head, it''s like... being squeezed and things are trying to drill in, like a million tiny woodpeckers." He groaned out.


    It was here that the most annoying girl walked into the room. Edith Rose, her eyes fixating on them immediately. She walked over, a dancer and warrior all at once. She was short, but with powerful muscles mixed with girl curves. However, most distinctive was her powerful aura, which eclipsed most of the room, silencing the sounds and smells of the others.


    Which made sense, she was Zeus'' daughter after all.


    "Who is this?" Edith sneered, looking with disgust at Aaron. "I heard a mortal was here, but he''s so ugly."


    The boy cringed, and Aubrey''s heart broke from the raw pain in his eyes. Aaron was not the prettiest but he was really cute. He was tall, and exceptionally pale with a thick frame. His face was round, his eyes a soft blue that was highlighted by hit thick curly black hair. He looked like Santa''s great grandson.


    Turning to the girl, he sneered. "Not all of us can be special, Edith."


    "Quiet Dog, I wasn''t talking to you." She bit out at him.


    "Don''t." They both turned to Aaron, who''s pale face burned with cold fury.


    Edith leaned in. "Don''t what?"


    "Call him a dog and treat him like that." The air actually seemed heavy with the boy''s rage, his aura shifting, growing. And for the first time, Aubrey could taste the divinity in it. Though it was very subtle.


    She sneered back. "A weak, worthless mortal doesn''t get to tell me shit." The boy actually started to glow that same marble white as the flames before, but he was unaware of it. Edith was though, and backed up in fear. "No... she didn''t, wouldn''t... she would never have a demigod..."


    "Yes, I would." The air rippled, the floor trembling with power. Divine power, true and purposeful. They all turned, every students, and saw a woman form out of what looked like a ripple of heat. "He is my son, Edith Rose... my first and only Demigod." The woman was dressed in a marble white pantsuit, her strong frame visible. She had warm brown eyes, and soft curly black hair that fell in elegant waves.


    Aaron gaped at her. " Are you the one that saved me?"


    She nodded, walking over to him and kneeling. "Yes, dear one. I am. I saved you." She brushed his hair aside with her hand, smiling with the love of all mothers. Made Aubrey tear up, so moved by the simple expression. "Your father was a fool, not just a monster. He buried you in a garden planted by my sister. I was visiting her, when we found you... you were too hurt to survive a hospital. I was unable to not read your mind, see into your soul.


    Such a mind, such a strong intelligence, a good heart, and a drive to be loyal. You despise disloyalty, and you have the heart of a survivor. I knew I had to save you, so I allowed my powers to bleed into you. I claimed you as my kin, and with my powers entering you, you started to heal. It took much of my power to restore you. With us connected, and your body restored, I sent you here.


    However, for the bond to be complete, for you to inherit my power fully and become a Demigod in full, you need to claim me in return. As your Mother. Do so and I-IGH!"


    Everyone gasped as Aaron threw himself into her arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. No one has ever, ever cared for me. Of course you can be my MOM!"


    She laughed, leaning back. "Then I, Hera, Queen of Olympus, Goddess of Motherhood, Marriage, Women and the Starry Skies of Heavens... herby accept you as my son. Always and forever."


    There was a rush of power, Aaron seemed to drink it in, his skin gaining warmth, light and power.


    And everyone started to kneel, finally over their shock of the Queen of the Gods being present and adopting a human boy. Something that had never happened in the history of forever.