Verethragna — POV
News traveled quickly on Mount Olympus.
My brother Apollo had returned after slaying the serpent Python, and apparently the proper response to such a victory was… a party.
A very large party.
I still wasn't sure how he managed to organize it so quickly.
When I arrived at the celebration hall, music was already playing. Nymphs danced across the marble floor while goblets filled with divine nectar floated through the air.
Apollo stood at the center of everything, laughing loudly while recounting the battle to anyone willing to listen.
"And then the serpent lunged at me—like this!" he declared dramatically, waving his arms.
Several nymphs gasped in awe.
I quietly stepped to the side and picked up a goblet.
The drink inside was nectar, the divine drink of the gods.
I took a small sip.
Warm energy flowed through my body.
For most beings—even minor gods—too much nectar could cause intoxication.
But my divinity was unusually strong.
Any effects disappeared almost immediately as my body purged them.
I had no interest in losing focus.
Parties were… tolerable.
But they were hardly productive.
As I stood there observing the crowd, someone approached me.
A soft voice spoke beside me.
"Well, you're certainly the quiet one among Zeus's new children."
I turned slightly.
It was Aphrodite.
She smiled pleasantly, her presence practically radiating charm.
Anyone else might have been overwhelmed by it.
But I felt almost nothing.
"Celebrations aren't really my thing," I replied calmly.
She leaned slightly closer.
"Oh? That's surprising for a young god."
Her eyes studied me with curiosity.
I could easily sense the divine influence she carried—an aura designed to attract and charm others.
It simply… didn't work on me.
My mind remained perfectly clear.
Still, I decided on a simple solution.
With a brief shift of divine power, I subtly adjusted my appearance, making myself look slightly younger.
If she thought I was less interesting, perhaps she would leave me alone.
Aphrodite tilted her head slightly, studying me for a moment.
Then she simply laughed.
"Well, aren't you an interesting one."
Fortunately, she soon drifted away to bother someone else.
That was for the best.
Across the hall, Apollo was still celebrating.
By this point he had consumed far more nectar than necessary.
"…and then I fired the arrow straight into its eye!" he shouted triumphantly.
The crowd cheered.
He raised another goblet.
And promptly nearly tripped over a chair.
I watched the scene silently.
Then I heard a small laugh beside me.
I turned.
Standing there was Artemis.
She looked toward Apollo with mild embarrassment.
"He's going to regret this later," she said.
"Definitely," I replied.
Apollo attempted to stand on a table while dramatically retelling the story again.
It did not go well.
The table collapsed.
Several nymphs screamed.
Apollo fell over laughing.
Artemis covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
I couldn't help it either.
For a brief moment, the two of us quietly laughed together while watching our brother embarrass himself in front of half of Olympus.
It was… strangely pleasant.
Despite everything—the politics of Olympus, the power struggles, the endless ambitions—
Moments like this reminded me of something simple.
We were siblings.
And sometimes, watching your brother make a fool of himself at a party was surprisingly entertaining.
Across the hall, Apollo stood up again and raised his goblet.
"Another round!" he shouted proudly.
Artemis shook her head.
"He's impossible."
I simply took another sip of nectar.
Olympus was certainly going to be an interesting place to live.