Righteous Lad
#7"Uuuugh…" Righteous Lad groans as his consciousness returns to him, eventually easing his way into sitting up as he holds the side of his head.

"He's awake!" A familiar feminine voice announces, drawing the attention of the hero. Turning his head, it's there Tyson sees Alexecute lowering to kneel beside him on the grass beneath him.

"Hey, you okay, boss?" She asks while placing a hand atop of his shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy. What happened?" He asks.

 

"I'M what happened." Hurleon reminds him, giving a cheeky grin as he leans against a nearby tree with his arms folded. Surely enough, flashes of their fight come rushing to the forefront of his thoughts. 

"Oh yeah… At some point, I couldn't tell what was happening anymore." He admits, sighing while leaning back on his hands afterwards.

"Where are we, anyway?"

 

"A field near the Southwest mall. I couldn't really bring you back to HQ because of those guys." Alexecute answers, motioning toward the bunch behind her with a tilt of her head. It's then someone else steps forward to stand beside the heroine and tower over the sitting male. The blonde from before.

"My apologies– Righteous Lad, was it? I know our sudden and admittedly brazen visit hasn't been one of the friendliest, but I assure you that I'm here for a good reason. Will you lend me your ear and spare some time?" The male requests just before extending a hand in offer. With little delay, Righteous Lad reaches to accept the help and rises to stand on his feet. His companion, Alexecute, also stands.

"Sure. Asclepius, was it? I don't understand what's going on, so I'm all for hearing an explanation and sorting things out peacefully." Righteous Lad responds. 

 

"Yes, that is my name. But before we resume, would you be willing to tell me your real name?" The blonde inquires, earning a skeptical look from the hero.

"My real name…? Like government name?"

 

"Your name at birth. Your TRUE name." The blonde specifies, causing a brief state of surprise to overtake the other' s face. 

 

"It's… Konnence." Tyson answers reluctantly.

 

"Oh? I see. Were you told the meaning of it, by any chance?" Asclepius prods further.

 

"Yeah. Yeah, I was… My birth mother gave me

 that name and told me it means He Who Shines With Warm Radiance In The Coldness of Hel." He obliges. The blonde blinks curiously and even more of his doubt fades from his thoughts.

 

"Wait, your real name is Konnence? And THAT'S what it means?" Alexecute questions while arching a brow and crossing her arms.

 

"No, no… HEL as in H.E.L. Not H. E. Double hockey sticks. She says it's the coldest place within the nine realms. Even so, that's still not too much better. HEL is not only my birth mother's name, but it's where bad people go to suffer in the afterlife. It's a place that's also called Niflheim. I don't fully know if she was referring to herself or Niflheim, though." Tyson elaborates.

 

"So my suspicion may very well be correct, then. Perhaps… Tell me, what is the Olympian Sun God, Apollo,  to you?" Asclepius chimes in to question. Yet again, a question that draws a look of discomfort upon Righteous Lad's face.

 

"He's… he's…" The hero struggles to find his words. He knows the answer, but there's complications that make him hesitant to be upfront. The painful contrast of lying also nags at him.

"It's not important. I'm just a guy who grew up in America and he's from somewhere far away. There's nothing else that needs to be said about it." He finally answers.

 

"I know you're his offspring." Asclepius states with a solemn stare and firm tone. Righteous Lad, Tyson himself, blinks and freezes with a sense of horror creeping into his skin.

 

"W-what? Who told you such a thing like tha–" 

 

"I was there observing you two on the day you came to Mount Olympus, Konnence." The blonde interrupts sharply.

"Granted, I didn't pick up much, but I had noticed my usually calm and collected father was unusually hostile when talking to you. I had no idea what could have caused such a reaction from him, but I didn't pester him about it. Even so, a part of me wanted to know the truth. That feeling had gone ignored and was buried away up until the last time the Aessir Gods visited Olympus. I noticed a peculiar but admittedly brief interaction between him and a woman wearing black and jade. Their body language gave the implication that there was a bit of history between them. Under twenty-five years and this being the only the second time Odin and his kin came to our home. Odd, no? How old are you now?" 

 

"...I'm twenty-three." Righteous Lad answers after a brief pause.

 

"Exactly the number of years ago the Aessir Gods first came to Mount Olympus." Asclepius affirms.

 

"Ha! So he really is a bastard child." Hurleon comments crudely.

 

"Look, it doesn't really matter what I am. I'm here and he's there. We're from two completely different parts of the world and we've been getting along just fine. You're only going to make problems by poking around like this." Tyson argues.

 

"There are many things to fear in this life, but the truth SHOULDN'T be one of them. Nor can I ignore how my soul aches to have certainty in this ordeal. It MUST be uncovered. It MUST be brought to light. My mother and her offspring deserve that much." Asclepius presses further.

 

"And then what? Watch your family fall apart?"

 

"We will adapt as needed under the freedom of truth and clarity. Respect us enough to grant us that chance, Konnence."

 

"And I'm just supposed to live free of guilt afterwards? You're asking me to instigate and possibly dismantle a family household…" Tyson informs his half brother.

 

"A household that you have every right to be a part of and speak upon. We cannot allow father's misdeed to go unchecked. He violated his sacred bond with my mother. Does she not deserve to know and the chance to decide on how she comes to terms with it? Come with me and let's embrace this endeavor together, brother." Asclepius stands firm in his intent as he presents his proposal and offers a hand to Tyson.

The latter internally debates with himself over the offer. While he does feel this man, whom he's only now learned is his older brother, makes very compelling arguments - a part of him dreads going out of his way to possibly ruin someone's life in any way. 

 

"...Are you sure about this? There's no telling what could happen if we do this." Tyson questions to make certain that this is indeed what the other wants.

 

"I am sure as I possibly can be. I have no reservations about doing this." The blonde confidently assures.

 

"Okay. I'll go with you, then." And with those words, Tyson extends a hand of his own to shake his brother's waiting one. Afterwards, his attention shifts toward Alexecute.

"I'll be back soon. Let everyone know that everything is fine now."

 

"Are you sure about this, boss?" The teen questions while shooting him a wary stare.

 

"As sure as I can be, I guess. It'll be fine, though. We'll be back to doing the usual tomorrow." Tyson responds.

 

"Then let us be on our way and not waste any more time. The day will not stay with us for eternity." Asclepius announces and turns where he stands. He goes on to pluck out what seems to be a figurine of a platform. A stone ring with a railing that nearly forms a complete circle. He walks forward to place at least 40 feet of distance between himself and the others before setting it down upon the ground. Afterwards, he retreats back to his original place and speaks the words:

"To Mount Olympus shall you return me. So says the son of Apollo and Kyrene." At his demand, the object he left on the ground is abruptly struck with lightning from the clear blue skies. After the flash of blinding light passes, the small model is massive in comparison to its former size. The others, including Hurleon, approach to step up onto the stone platform that bears the sign of Zues on its surface.

"This'll be the fastest method back to Mount Olympus. Let's be on our way, brother." The blonde beckons before joining the others.

 

"Magic… He knows magic. Uhh. Guess… guess I'll see you tomorrow?" Tyson tells Alexecute in the form of a rhetorical question as he begins walking backwards while giving his 'goodbye'.

 

"Yeah, for sure. I hope. Just be careful, okay?" She bids him goodbye and waves him off. He waves back before turning around completely and hustles his way over to the platform. Nearly as soon as he passes through the opening, a near completely transparent silver dome takes shape around the ring. In the next moment, the platform begins to rise into the sky and fly off into the distance.