I was utterly transford, my strength magnified beyond anything I had shown before. To anyone else, I would have seed like an entirely different being—a force of nature, unrecognizable and terrifying.
"You… are… who are you?" Thetis asked once again, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and curiosity as her wide, sea-green eyes bore into mine.
I t her gaze steadily. "I will explain everything in due ti. For now, leave your daughter's fate to . I promise you this—I won't let her die."
Thetis hesitated, her concern etched deeply into her features. "But even with that strength of yours… how can you possibly hope to succeed?"
She wasn't wrong to doubt . Achilles, or rather Khillea as she had co to be known in this war, was no ordinary warrior. She was a demigoddess, born under the divine blessings of Hera, Athena, and Zeus himself. As an infant, her mother had plunged her into the infernal waters of the Styx, rendering her body invulnerable to nearly all harm. Nearly. That single word was my glimr of hope.
Khillea had only one weakness, and though it was minuscule, it was all I needed. Still, it would take more than re strategy to face her. I had to be at my peak—stronger, sharper, unrelenting. I silently prayed to Apollo to grant
my wish and restore
to my best form, for it was only then that I would stand a chance against Khillea.
"Trust ," I said again, my voice firm. "Leave her to ."
Thetis studied
intently, her expression flickering between doubt and hope. And then, to my surprise, she laughed—a lodic, heartfelt laugh that echoed through the air like the gentle lapping of waves on a serene shore.
"My daughter…" she murmured, her voice warm with affection and pride. "She truly chose the best man possible. I am overjoyed to see her in the hands of soone like you."
Her words carried an unexpected weight, and I felt an unfamiliar pang in my chest. Yet, her gaze sharpened, her voice turning inquisitive. "Fine. I will entrust her to you. But how do you intend to face her? Greeks are forbidden from fighting each other. Surely you know this?"
A small smile tugged at my lips as I straightened. "I am not Greek," I replied with calm assurance. "I fight under the na of Heiron, a rcenary for Troy."
Thetis's expression changed, her mind piecing together the truth of my words. "Heiron…" she murmured, recognition dawning. "The man who killed Ajax."
I nodded solemnly. Her realization carried no judgnt, only understanding.
"If your daughter returns to the battlefield, I will be there to et her. I hope, however," I paused, locking eyes with her, "you are not like Hera or Athena. You don't strike
as soone obsessed with ensuring the Greeks' victory at all costs."
I asked just in case she wanted the greeks victory and at the sa ti her daughter's safety, that would be impossible for
to accept since I was determined to give victory to Trojans. Enjoy new chapters from empire
Thetis laughed again, this ti with a touch of relief. "You are right. I care little for the Greeks or their victory. My only wish is for my daughter to survive this cursed war. If the Trojans erge victorious, so be it. All that matters to
is her safety."
"Then we are aligned," I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips. "But before I confront Khillea, I must first ensure that no one interferes when the ti cos."
Her brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you an?"
"Odysseus and Agamnon," I stated bluntly. "I will kill them."
Thetis's eyes widened, her shock montarily rendering her speechless. But then, much to my surprise, she burst into laughter once more, the sound ringing with incredulity. "You are bold, I'll give you that. But killing both of them? That will be no easy feat. Odysseus is one of Athena's favored. She will never allow you to harm him even if she had to intervene herself. And Agamnon…" Her voice trailed off, her expression darkening. "Agamnon is blessed by Hera and far too much prudent to set foot on the battlefield unless absolutely necessary. He is the King of Greeks after all. He is the one watching usually."
"Then I will force him to face ," I replied without hesitation, my tone resolute.
"Oh? You have a plan in mind?" Thetis asked, her tone laced with curiosity as she leaned forward, her sea-green eyes glinting with intrigue.
I allowed myself a sly smile. "I am the one who stole Astyno from him, and I was the one who set his boats ablaze. Today, I intend to take Briseis as well. If he has even a shred of pride left, he'll realize it was
and will have no choice but to face ."
Thetis's expression shifted, a thoughtful crease forming on her brow. "Indeed, that could work. Agamnon is quick to anger, and his pride is as fragile as it is imnse. However," she paused, her gaze sharpening, "you may need more to fully draw him out."
I tilted my head slightly, intrigued by the weight in her tone. "You have an idea?"
A sly smirk played across her lips, her beauty made even more striking by the expression. "nelaus," she said simply.
I frowned, piecing together her aning. "Agamnon's brother?"
"The very one," Thetis confird with a nod. "King of Sparta and Helen's forr husband. If nelaus were to fall, Agamnon would have no choice but to act. As the elder brother, his sense of familial duty and pride in his lineage would compel him to avenge nelaus's death. He would not stand idly by while his family's na is tarnished."
I nodded slowly, her words sinking in. The plan began to take shape in my mind, and the prospect of dismantling Agamnon's carefully constructed facade of dominance made my blood stir. "I see," I said at last, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. "That would leave him with no choice but to step onto the battlefield."
"Exactly," Thetis replied with a knowing smile.
The thought alone was intoxicating. To shatter Agamnon's pride and then force his hand by eliminating nelaus—it would be a blow he could not recover from. My smirk widened, a mix of anticipation and determination coursing through . "I'll take care of it," I declared with quiet confidence.
Thetis's smile deepened, and without warning, she closed the distance between us. Her lips brushed against mine in a brief, feather-light kiss, catching
entirely off guard. I blinked, montarily stunned, as she pulled back, her expression both tender and enigmatic.
"Since you're going to such lengths to save my daughter," she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth I hadn't expected, "I will grant you any wish you desire. Na it."
Any wish? The thought hung in the air, tantalizing yet oddly burdenso. At that mont, no grand ambition ca to mind. Still, her offer presented an opportunity I couldn't ignore. "For now," I began, my tone asured, "I need your help with sothing more imdiate. I need to slip inside Agamnon's tent to take Briseis away. But before I return to Troy, I intend to make him regret ever crossing ."
Thetis's eyes sparkled with amusent as she chuckled. "Interesting. In that case, take this," she said, placing her hand gently on my head.
A sudden, tingling warmth spread through , and I felt a surge of power awaken within. It was as if a veil of magic had descended over , its presence faint yet undeniably potent.
"It's a temporary Divine Magic," Thetis explained, her voice laced with a quiet authority. "It will render you invisible for a short ti. Even Agamnon, with his divine blessing, won't be able to sense you unless you draw too close. Use it wisely."
"This is more than enough. Thanks," I said sincerely.
It was rare to encounter a goddess who wasn't at least partially selfish, especially so early in a eting. Most divine beings had an air of entitlent that was hard to ignore, but Thetis was different. Her sincerity and calm deanor set her apart, and I silently comnded myself for trusting her.
She glanced at , her expression thoughtful. "About my daughter being… a woman," she began cautiously.
I raised a hand to stop her before she could finish. "You don't need to explain," I replied evenly. "At the sa ti, I'd appreciate it if you could keep my identity a secret from the Greek gods."
Thetis's lips curved into a faint smile, her oceanic eyes softening. "You have my word. I have no intention of returning to Olympus in its current fractured state. Besides, I am not particularly close to Hera or Athena."
"That's good to hear," I said with a nod, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. The last thing I needed was for word of my presence to spread among the gods.
Thetis returned my nod, a flicker of understanding passing between us. With that, she raised her hand, and the world around us shifted. In a mont, we were back at the tent—though I suppose it was more accurate now to call it Khillea's tent.
Inside, Khillea lounged in her bath, her radiant red hair cascading over her shoulders as she laughed at sothing Patroclus said. Her voice, light and carefree, echoed through the space, a stark contrast to the heavy weight of fate that hung over her.
No matter what, I wouldn't let her die.
Her laughter faded as she noticed our return. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she turned toward us. "Oh, you're back! Mother, I hope you didn't bully Nathan."
Thetis chuckled softly. "Not at all. We had a pleasant conversation, and I must say, Khillea, you've found yourself quite the gem of a man."
Khillea's grin widened, her eyes sparkling with pride. "Right? If you want, Mother, I can let you borrow him for a night. You'll see for yourself how incredible he is in bed."
My face heated, and I struggled to find an appropriate response. Was this… normal for Achaeans? If so, I was beginning to understand why their culture had its fair share of peculiarities.
Thetis sighed, shaking her head as if she'd long grown accustod to her daughter's antics. "What am I going to do with you?" she muttered, though there was no real anger in her tone. "I have no such plans… at least not for now."
Not for now? The words sent a jolt of sothing through , but I quickly pushed it aside.
Sensing the conversation heading down a precarious path, I cleared my throat. "I should be leaving now," I said, hoping to extract myself before things spiraled further out of control.
Khillea's grin faltered, and for a brief mont, a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes. "Already? So, you're choosing to leave, then," she said softly, her tone laced with a touch of disappointnt.
I t her gaze, offering a faint smile. "We'll see each other again," I assured her. But not here—not in the safety of this tent. Our next eting would be on the battlefield likely.
Without another word, I stepped outside. The cool evening air greeted , carrying the faint scent of salt from the distant sea.
Ti to steal Briseis.
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