Demi-God

The hot sun beat down on the crowded hippodrome, the excited shouts and cheers of spectators rising like a cresting wave. Dust kicked up from the track, coating everything in a fine layer of grit.

The structure stretched out, its boundaries marked by towering stone walls adorned with carvings of chariot races and mythical creatures. The ground beneath was a churned mixture of sand and soil, worn smooth by countless wheels and hooves.

In the arena, four chariots pulled by teams of magnificent horses - a dappled gray, a fiery chestnut, a midnight black, and a pure white - jockeyed for position as they thundered around the track.

The charioteers stood proud, muscles straining as they fought to control their raging steeds. They wore beautiful corinthian helmets and billowing cloaks of green, blue, red and white to represent their factions.

Rows upon rows of spectators filled the stone tiers, their varied garments a tapestry of colors—richly dyed himations in deep purples and reds, simple chitons in earthy tones, and the occasional gleam of golden jewelry.

"Go, Thalassius!" a burly man shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the roar around him. He waved a black flag, its fabric snapping with each motion.

Beside him, a young woman clutched her hands to her chest yelling, "Come on, Lykos! You can do it!"

A group of children perched on their fathers’ shoulders, waving small flags and chanting in unison. "Aetos! Aetos!"

Lucian climbed the stairs and took a seat on the top bench, his eyes tracking the chariots as they whipped around a sharp turn, the drivers leaning precariously to maintain balance. His posture was straight but weary, as if the weight of the world rested on his broad shoulders.

The crowd roared as the green chariot pulled ahead by a nose, the driver quickly snapping his reins.

Moments later, a figure settled on the bench beside him. Lucian glanced over to see Linus, his blond hair shining like a beacon in the harsh light.

"Fancy seeing you here," he greeted with a grin. "Do you enjoy gambling on the races?"

"No, I don't gamble. I just like watching the spectacle of it all."

"Is this your first time attending a hippodrome?"

"Yes. Back in Sparta, slaves like me weren't permitted leisure time. It was constant work, no enjoyment allowed."

Below, the white horse stumbled, eliciting gasps and shouts from the audience. Lucian felt an unexpected pang of empathy for the struggling animal. He understood the weight of shackles, whether real or metaphorical.

The cheers reached a crescendo as the black chariot surged into the lead, crossing the finish line in a cloud of dust to claim victory.

Arguments broke out among those who had wagered on the race, their shouts adding to the noise.

"I swear it was the red chariot!" bellowed the burly man, his face flushed with red.

"You must be blind or drunk!" retorted a wiry woman, her finger jabbing the air for emphasis. "The black chariot crossed first!"

"Look at the dust trail," he shouted, pointing towards the track where clouds still lingered. "Only the red chariot could have kicked up that much dirt!"

As tempers flared and hands clenched into fists, a sudden hush fell over them. The herald appeared on the podium, scroll in hand, ready to announce the official winner. All eyes turned towards him, breaths held in unison.

The hippodrome waited.

"And the winner is the black chariot, driven by Antaeus of Corinth!" the herald announced.

A mixed chorus of cheers and groans rose from the crowd. The blurry man dropped his arms in defeat, mumbling under his breath, while the woman threw her arms up with a victorious yell.

"Why are you really here?" Lucian asked. "I doubt you came just to watch the competition."

"Guilty as charged," Linus chuckled, holding up his hands. "I mainly wanted to congratulate you on retrieving that item from the box. It was a tricky task."

"Thanks. I guess. But that can't be the only reason you sought me out. What else are you after?"

"You always see right through me, huh?" Linus said with a rueful smile.

"Yes, because you make it so damned obvious. Now quit dancing around and just spit it out."

Linus shifted, his smile thinning as he leaned closer. "Alright, straight to the point then. Your use of the chicken, that was a smart move."

"It was an accident. I was supposed to possess the dog but the chicken suddenly appeared in front of me."

Then, another thunderous roar of hooves blasted through the hippodrome, sending vibrations up through the stone seats. Dust swirled in the air as a new set of chariots burst onto the track. Spectators leaped to their feet, a wave of movement rippling through the crowd. Cheers erupted like a tidal wave, drowning out all other sounds, as hands clapped and voices shouted, filling the air with excitement.

"An accident? Is it though?" Linus asked.

"Is it?"

"I believe that there are no accidents."

"Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant. What matters is I got what I needed and that’s that."

Linus nodded. "Indeed you did, my nephew. But you still used the chicken despite it having many disadvantages. You could have gone back to your human form and possessed another animal."

"Right. And what’s your point? What’s this chicken thing have to do with anything?"

"Well, a lot."

"Regarding what?"

"Think about it, you’ve used your powers in an unconventional way, which is very impressive."

"So what? I did what I had to do."

"It means you’re getting comfortable using your powers. The more you master it, the better animals you can possess."

"Better you say?" Lucian stroked his chin. "Like what kind of animals are we talking about here?"

"Bigger and fiercer."

"Did my mother do this?"

"Your mother possessed large lions, wolves and bears. She can tame multiple of them like it was nothing."

"Tame? Wow, you think I can do that?"

"Maybe?" Linus shrugged. "Maybe not. We’re not sure if you have the same abilities as she did. The only way to find that out is to use your powers more."

Lucian turned to his uncle, his brow furrowed. "I've been experiencing intense food cravings lately, always going to the agora buying a basket of food. Is this related to my powers?"

Linus nodded. "It is. As a half-god, you lack the immortal energy that sustains full deities. Your body must compensate, drawing power from other sources—primarily food. This is the reason for your constant hunger. The more you use your powers, the more hungry you get."

"I see," Lucian said, his fingers drumming against his knee. "So it’s also a disadvantage."

"Correct, if your body cannot obtain sustenance, your powers will turn inward. They will consume you from within, starting with your fat reserves, then your muscles, and onward until nothing remains."

"So, I'm always at risk of being devoured by my own abilities?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. This is why it's crucial for you to maintain a steady intake of food, especially when using your powers extensively. If not, you will feel a lot of pain all over and get weak. In other words, you can die of hunger a lot faster than a human does."

Lucian’s mind thought about this new information. He realized that his powers, while extraordinary, came with a steep price—one that could cost him his life if he wasn't careful.

"Wow, I never knew maintaining my power is very expensive and dangerous."

"It is. It’s a double edged-sword. So use it in a smart way."

"Got it. But what kind of food should I eat to get a lot of energy?"

"Meat, bread, fruits, anything that a large person eats. Don’t worry about getting fat, you can’t, even if you try. Your metabolism is unique; it burns through food at a much faster rate than the average person. In fact, it's twice as fast."

"I see. How about sickness? I also get those, right?"

"You’re completely immune, until you’re not."

"What? That doesn’t make sense."

"Let me explain, the power flowing in your blood makes it possible for you to not get sick, thus it will need a lot of energy to maintain it."

"Yes, yes. Food. I got it the first time."

"You have to be much more concerned about not going hungry than getting a disease. Demi-gods are not invincible you know."

"What if my powers get low?"

"That’s when you become vulnerable to diseases like a normal human."

"Then what happens if I'm in a situation where food isn't readily available?"

"That's when things get dangerous. You'll need to be strategic about using your abilities. In dire situations, you might have to choose between using your powers or preserving your strength."

"What do you suggest?"

"Listen to your teacher, Drakon. He will teach you practical skills in survival that I cannot. Didn’t he teach you how to create tools out of stones?"

"Yeah, but like one time. It’s not like I can learn that in one sitting."

"These skills that he’s teaching are very important if you need to preserve your powers. They are primitive, but useful nonetheless."

As they spoke, another race began. The thunderous sound of hooves filled the air as the chariots sped around the track.

Lucian watched. "I suppose I'll need to start carrying provisions with me at all times."

"That would be wise. But remember, what might sustain an ordinary man for days could be gone in hours for you. So learn to conserve your energy."

"Wait, is that why I've been feeling so drained lately? I've been using my powers more, but I haven't increased my food intake."

"Your body is adjusting to the awakening of your abilities. You'll need to listen to it. Hunt a deer or a bull if you have to."

As the crowd cheered for the latest victor, Lucian continued. "So, what's next? How do I learn to control these powers better?"

"That’s why I’m here. I’ll teach you how, one at a time. I did teach you the animal possession skill."

"True. But I feel like I can learn more from that skill."

"Very observant. What you’ve learned was just a small glimpse of your power. You’ll learn more in the coming months."

"I hope so," Lucian said. "Can you tell me stories about my mother? What’s she like as a warrior?"

Linus leaned back, his eyes following the chariots as they thundered around the track. The roar of the crowd swelled with each passing moment.

"You want to know about your mother?" He asked.

"I know there’s a lot, but tell me some of her stories."

"Very well," he paused, collecting his thoughts, "Artemis was... something else."

"Something else?"

"Yes. Unlike other gods like Ares or Athena, who use their brute strength to destroy their enemies, Artemis uses her mind and her environment more, a much smarter way to end her opponents if I may say. There was this one time, during a particularly nasty skirmish with some giants. Your mother, she didn't just fight - she danced through the battlefield."

"Danced?"

"Yeah, danced. It wasn't like she was putting on a show, mind you. It was more... fluid. Like every move flowed into the next. One moment she'd be dodging a club the size of a tree trunk, the next she'd be sending arrows through three giants' eyes in rapid succession."

Lucian tried to picture it, his mother moving fast and deadly. It was both awe-inspiring and a little terrifying.

"But it wasn't just her skill with a bow that made her formidable," Linus continued, "your mother had this ability to... connect with the wild. Animals would flock to her side in battle. Wolves, bears, even birds of prey - they'd fight alongside her like they were extensions of her will."

"That's incredible. She controls them all at once?"

"Control isn't the right word," Linus shook his head. "It was more like... a partnership. They chose to fight with her. And let me tell you, seeing a pack of wolves take down a giant while your mother peppered it with arrows from atop a charging bear - that's not something you forget."

The crowd erupted in cheers as another chariot crossed the finish line, but Lucian barely noticed. His mind was filled with images of his mother, commanding nature itself in battle.

"There was another time when we were ambushed by a group of monsters in a dense forest. It was dark, the trees so thick you could barely see your hand in front of your face. But Artemis... she moved like she could see clear as day."

"How?"

"She told me later that she could feel the forest itself. Every tree, every leaf, every creature - they were all connected, and she was part of that connection. She led us through that darkness, taking out monsters left and right, and we didn't get so much as a scratch."

"Do you think I could do something like that? Having the power to see anything in complete darkness? That would be a great advantage in battle."

"Hard to say," Linus shrugged. "Your powers are still developing, and they might manifest differently. But the potential is there, no doubt about it."

"I want to learn. I want to be able to fight like that, to connect with nature the way she did."

"It'll take time and practice. And a lot of food," he added with a wry smile. "But if you're willing to put in the work, who knows? You might even surpass your mother one day."

Lucian nodded. As another race began, he found himself seeing it with new eyes. The horses weren't just animals pulling chariots - they were powerful beings, full of spirit and strength. He wondered what it would be like to connect with them, to feel their energy and maybe even guide it.