Starcaller

The path stretched endlessly ahead-twisting through fields of sun-scorched grass, rolling into thick woods veiled in mist. Orion walked with purpose, his eyes locked on the compass in his hand. Its frame, a bronze shell, felt cold and heavy. 

Heracles walked beside him, every step was solid and grounded. The demigod carried no map, no supplies, and wore nothing more than a tunic and a lion's pelt across his back.

"So," Heracles said, breaking the silence. What's your story, kid?"

Orion shrugged. "Not much of one. Grew up with my mum for a bit. She used to read me stories about mythology before she disappeared. Left me with... well, questions."

"Ah, Heracles nodded."

He paused.

"You know, when I was a human, I saw people worship the gods constantly. Singing, sacrificing, kneeling. I never really got it. Never understood why they loved them so much, even though the gods never cared about them."

Orion glanced over. Didn't help that your stepmother tried to kill you as a baby, huh?"

Heracles chuckled dryly."Yeah. Hera wasn't my biggest fan. All because my father was Zeus."

They continued to move, the forest thickening behind them.

"I've been alive for a long time, Orion," Heracles continued. "Seen cities rise, fall and rise again under different names. I've walked through deserts, travelled to different realms and swum in oceans that don't even exist. I've seen humans worship u.... and then forget us."

He looked up at the sky. That's why I have a sense of pride when I look at humanity now. They are independent. They've built lives that aren't revolving around gods and monsters. And now the seal is broken ... I'm afraid they'll go back to how they used to be."

Orion nodded slowly. "I don't think they will. Humans have always risen to the challenge. If gods and monsters return, they'll adapt. Maybe even stand beside them."

Heracles grinned."You've got faith in your kind. Keep that, that's good."

They continued to move on in silence for a few moments before Heracles spoke again.

"You know, there's something you should understand", he said, not looking at Orion. Time doesn't flow the same when you're with gods and monsters. The more time you remain with us, the less it'll make sense. Days will feel like hours. Months might pass like weeks. But your body... it won't age."

Orion furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

Heracles finally turned to look at him. "I mean, your normal life- they might move on without you. If we find a way for you to attend the meeting, for example... it could be years before you return to Earth. But to you, it might feel like a few hours."

"sounds.. lonely."

"It can be. But you learn to find meaning in other things."

Orion looked at the trees, then asked, "What about the other realms? Elves, dwarves- do they worship the gods too?"

"Some do," Heracles responded."But they've found a better balance than humans ever did. They respect the god, but some refuse to bow to it ever. Some of them are as strong as gods and monsters themselves. Warriors, mages, dragon-speakers."

He paused thoughtfully.

"There were humans like that once. King Arthur. Beowulf.Achilles. Legendary mortals who defied death itself. But they weren't gods, and no one knows what happened to most of them."

Orion was about to ask more when a sound made him stop.

A chittering click. Then the rush of armoured limbs.

From behind a ridge, something arose.

A creature with the torso of a man and the lower body of a massive scorpion. Dark, glittering chitlins covered its skin. Its face was weathered and cracked, ancient as the desert, with glowing amber eyes. A long stinger twitched above its head, dripping venom that burned holes into the dirt."

Orion stepped back."What the fuck is that?"

"Aqrabuamelu," Heracles muttered. "Mesopotamian guardian beast. They used to guard the gates of the sun."

The monster hissed and started running down the hill

"What should we do?" Orion asked, gripping his sword.

Heracles didn't flinch. "We don't have time to waste."

He reached over his shoulder and brought a gleaming bow- the limbs carved from golden bone, the strings humming with power.

"That's the one tipped with Hydra blood?" Orion asked.

"Yeah," Heracles replied, pulling an arrow from his quiver. "Don't let this touch you."

He notched the arrow, drew back effortlessly, and let it fly.

The air cracked.

The arrow struck the Aqrabuamelu in the chest, punching through its carapace like a bullet through glass. The beast let out a screech, reared back, and collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash.

Orion stood frozen. "That was... terrifying."

Heracles slung the bow back over his shoulder. "That's the nice thing about Hydra poison. Ends things quickly."

Orion looked down at the fallen beast and back at Heracles. "Can you teach me how to use the bow better?"

"You already have a sword."

"Yeah, but I like the bow. I had some training as a kid, and it always felt... right."

Heracles nodded. "Alright. I'll teach you. But not now. We've got miles to go before the stars shift again."

Orion looked down at the compass. The beam of light still pointed ahead, steady and unshaking.

"Let's keep moving then."

And the two of them, mortal and demi-god, walked on into the unknown.