Eros didn’t dwell on Protheus’s lack of fa.
He obediently followed her back to the port.
Along the way, he could feel countless complex gazes landing on him.
He’d only changed outfits, but that was enough to shift others’ perception of his identity completely.
So eyes glinted with greed, others held admiration or yearning, and a few were openly hostile.
This isn’t good. Moral developnt isn’t keeping up with civilization...
Eros frowned, clearly sensing a deeper problem.
No law. No morality. No city-states. No nations. Just primitive human instinct and tribal tension.
He wondered if Protheus had noticed it too.
Glancing at her back, Eros shook his head inwardly. He was being too impatient.
As long as humans still craved community, class structures and centralized power would inevitably erge.
Then, naturally, laws and ethics would follow to protect those systems.
Maybe, beyond Delos, soone was already founding a polis.
Shaking off the thought, Eros returned his attention to the present as Protheus led him to her ship.
It was a grand vessel, far beyond anything these early humans could have constructed on their own.
Docked among the humble fishing boats of the locals, it looked like a rooster surrounded by eggs.
"This is my Seer, a ship I personally oversaw. The crew are all hand-picked, loyal and capable."
While not as massive as future trires requiring 170 rowers, it clearly wasn’t sothing a few people could paddle alone.
The deck sward with armored warriors, n and won alike, equipped with spears and bows.
When Protheus returned, they greeted her with obvious reverence.
Clearly, she commanded genuine authority here.
"This is my friend, a mage. His na is Endymion. Treat him with the respect he deserves."
Protheus introduced Eros with calm authority.
Upon hearing he was a mage, and seeing his mysterious garb, the crew visibly stiffened.
In this age, mages were naturally associated with the gods. Even if they weren’t oracles or seers, they often inspired greater fear than either.
Eros, anwhile, studied the crew with interest.
Compared to ordinary humans, they gave off a faint ripple, sothing similar to cosmic energy, though still extrely weak.
Likely, long voyages and constant battles had awakened the barest hints of energy within them, enhancing their senses and strengthening their bodies.
It was a good sign.
Cosmic energy differed from magnetic force; it could awaken gradually through combat and discipline.
Most would never break past the sixth sense, but those who did were battle-hardened elites.
Beyond that, however, no one could ascend without external aid or imnse talent.
"By the way, Protheus. I’ve decided to change course."
Just before she could order departure, Eros spoke.
"Since Amphitrite’s situation seems stable, there’s no need to visit the Ocean Throne imdiately."
"Then where to instead?"
Protheus didn’t mind. As long as there were people, anywhere would do.
"Lemnos. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?"
Eros wanted to visit Hephaestus and get his divine armor forged.
Of course, he was also curious.
In mythology, Hephaestus was always described as ugly, which, for a goddess, made her a rare breed.
That made Eros even more intrigued.
He’d yet to et a single goddess who could be called truly ugly. Even Echidna, part-monster, had an alluring humanoid form.
And Hephaestus was Hera’s child. How ugly could she really be?
Eros’s curiosity burned brighter than ever.
Now that Amphitrite was safe, visiting Lemnos and eting the goddess of fla beca his new goal.
"Lemnos? No problem."
Protheus, eyes squinted, quickly deduced what he was thinking.
She didn’t know what business Eros had with the prickly fire goddess, but she raised her head and called to the helm:
"Kekropis, did you hear that? We’re setting course for the Furnace of the Fire God, Lemnos!"
"Got it! That’s a long haul, huh?"
The helmswoman responded, her appearance strange, snake-like ridges protruded behind her ears, like cobra hoods catching the sun.
"Kekropis?"
Eros lifted his head, studying her. The na rang a bell, but he couldn’t quite recall where he’d heard it.
She wasn’t a god. Nor a demi-human.
A demigod?
Eros could sense sothing divine within her, but not fully divine.
"Yes, I’m Kekropis. A pleasure to et you, friend."
After boarding the upper deck, Kekropis extended a hand warmly.
Noticing Eros’s gaze lingering on her snake-like features, she explained with a smile:
"I was born in the land of Attica, no father, no mother. But I should still be human... probably."
In Greece, being born with unusual traits wasn’t exactly rare.
And those with such origins often had great destinies awaiting them.
Eros exchanged a glance with Protheus, then took her hand.
"I’m glad to et you as well."
Despite her serpentine features, Kekropis was far from cold. In fact, she was surprisingly friendly.
At her command, the sailors untied the moorings and pushed off from the dock, setting course for the open sea.
It seed Protheus was more of a figurehead captain. Kekropis handled most of the real work.
The ship rocked gently on the waves. The wind carried with it the rhythmic voices of sailors singing their voyage songs.
They rowed and sang in unison.
Life at sea was tedious and dangerous. To prevent emotional collapse or ntal stagnation, ship-songs and deck scrubbing were essential distractions.
Kekropis checked the charts and confird their heading, then casually gripped the wheel with one hand and struck up a conversation with Eros.
"You’re a mage, huh? Do you know lots of weird spells?"
"What are you heading to Lemnos for? To et the Fire Goddess?"
"I heard her palace floats in living fla. Is that true?"
Her endless chatter bordered on noisy, and Eros began to feel mildly annoyed.
"Hehe, don’t mind ," she said with a chuckle, clearly catching on. "It’s normal. Sailing sounds exciting, but it’s boring as hell."
"There’s nothing to do on a ship but talk."
The truth was, most sailors secretly hoped voyages would stay boring forever.
"In the open sea, storms and sea monsters aren’t even the worst of it."
"The real danger is monsters and demi-humans."
"Sotis, even just seeing another ship on the horizon is enough to make everyone tense."
In this lawless age, any ship capable of long-distance sailing was inherently strong.
With no states or flags, the sea had beco its own kind of dark forest.
Whenever another vessel appeared, the crew had to decide, if it approached, would they be the ones to fire the first volley?
This was all new to Eros.
On his past journeys, he had Poseidon or Oceanids at his side. The sea bent to their will.
Now, for the first ti, he was experiencing the dangers of a human voyage.
Humanity’s era was dawning.
It had only just begun, but soon their footsteps would reach across the world.
He could already imagine it, hundreds of sail-and-oar ships crowding the seas, countless city-states rising across the archipelagos.
"Say... if this is so dull, why even do it?"
Curious, Eros turned to Kekropis, wondering what compelled soone like her to endure it.
"With your strength, you’d live well even without Protheus’s generous pay, wouldn’t you?"
Kekropis hesitated, glanced at Protheus, then leaned in and whispered:
"Since the day I was born, I’ve felt it... a calling."
"I know I was born to carry out so mission. But what it is? How I’ll do it? When?"
"I have no idea."
"So I wander. I travel. I visit new places, see different lands, and wait for the day destiny cos to claim ."
A demigod born from the earth itself, Kekropis had no divine parent, nor was she born from love.
From the mont she erged, she knew, her existence ant sothing.
Maybe the ti hadn’t co yet. Maybe she wasn’t strong enough. Or maybe she hadn’t arrived at her destined place.
When she was lost and directionless, Protheus invited her aboard.
The seer with sky-colored eyes extended her hand and asked for her help.
Kekropis agreed.
Surely, traveling with a prophet would lead her to her fate.
Now, she’d been drifting across the seas with Protheus for countless seasons.
OG Author’s Note:
Kekropis - founder of Athens.
As a heads-up: among the demigod heroes, only a few will get the gender-swap treatnt.
Main reason for genderbending is just to avoid the chaotic web of relationships among the original Greek gods.
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