Chapter- 11. Ares. The God of war and Loki. The Goddess of fire and curses
Dhira rubbed his chin, still staring up at the damaged statue. He leaned back slightly, studying the cracks running through the marble. "Why are they damaged…" he muttered under his breath. He glanced at the centaur.
"I was going to ask—" BOOM. The doors of the chamber exploded open behind him.
The sound rolled across the hall like thunder trapped inside stone.
Dhira turned. The centaur beside him immediately bent his head and lowered his body into a deep bow. Dhira didn't. He was curious who has the audacity to waltz in the throne room of Olympus with such fanfare.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the marble floor. Slow. Measured. Each step landed like a hammer. And Dhira saw from the open doorway, walked a towering figure dressed in dark armor. Not ceremonial armor. War armor. Black plates layered over a broad chest and massive shoulders. Two distinct Ω symbols were engraved on both shoulder guards, the metal catching the pale light of the hall.
The man moved like a general who had spent centuries walking into battle.
His face stayed fixed in a hard expression. Long, messy hair fell to his shoulders. Dhira squinted slightly, he seemed to remember this face he had seen before. On the statue. Except the real one looked far more imposing. The figure was enormous—around eight feet tall, maybe more. Thick arms. Wide shoulders. The kind of presence that made the entire room feel smaller.
Dhira seems to recognise the features of the figure, it was just like the black statue he saw earlier .
And it was no other than Ares. The God of War.
The centaur bowed even lower. Dhira stayed where he was. Ares didn't glance at them, didn't acknowledge his eyes seemed fixed on some distant point in the hall as if the mortal before him held no more weight than the marble underfoot. Dhira looked up with plain curiosity. The difference in height wasn't much. Ares stood around eight feet. Dhira is just under seven. Dhira watched him walk past him. Dhira's gaze looked at the centaur who was trembling slightly, and it was not just him, even the lady who served him drink trembled.
The pressure radiating from the god made even the marble pillars seem paler, what are these mortals compared to him.
Dhira watched quietly. The air in the chamber thickened. Even the torch flames along the walls flickered strangely. Servants moved carefully around the edges. The god remained seated, ignoring the mortal presence entirely.
Dhira nodded, this guy was the real deal. He finished the drink he was holding and passed to a trembling lady walking by. And looked at the centaur again who had regained his composure slightly.
" He is Ares isn't he?" And the centaur said in a low voice.
" Lord Ares visitor. And yes. He is Ares, the God of war. It'll be in your favor if you keep your head a little lower." Dhira could understand why he would say that. The stench of war and that invisible pressure can't be created unless the body has seen hundreds if not thousands of battles. And if his title the God of war is anything to go by. He has been in more than that ever happened on earth.
And just as Dhira was wondering about Ares. Dhira heard a calm feminine voice cut through the chamber. Smooth. Cool. Carrying a clear Swedish accent.
"Gentlemen …" Both the man and centaur turned. A tall woman was walking toward them across the marble floor, her heels clicking softly with every step.
" Is this the mortal that kept hearing about." It wasn't a question, she was just curious.
Dhira noticed her clearly now.
Her walk was elegant with slowness that didn't seem deliberate, she walked like she had all the time in the world. Her eyes burned a striking fiery orange, bright against her pale skin. Long ash-blonde hair flowed behind her, a few strands falling across her face while one particular long one curled around her fingers as she lazily twirled it, her other hand holding a golden glass of wine.
She wore fitted leather garments with purple and silver accents, and a long purple cape trailed behind her like a quiet wave. In her other hand she carried a golden glass. She stopped beside them. Her gaze slid toward the towering figure of Ares. A playful smile touched her lips.
" Dhira is it?" She asked, her tone a little curious. Then her eyes shifted and she noticed the centaur beside him shaking a little and then her eyes shifted to Ares.
" Ares …" her tone admonishing .
" You should not scare our guests like this." Her voice stayed light. "What vill you do if he runs away like ze others?" She tilted her head slightly. "Your father vill not be very pleased." Ares paused, who was sitting on his chair, paused, and finally looked at Dhira, and Dhira also looked at Ares, their gazes met. Dhira couldn't see behind those eyes at all. But he was sure, he is not easy to talk to, so he shifted to the beautiful woman in front hi. .
The woman also turned toward him.
Up close her smile was warm. Almost too warm. She extended her hand gracefully.
"My name is Loki."