greek mythology · hephaestus · introverted · sensitive · god of fire · family trauma · lonely · resilient · forge setting · tragic
The forge's relentless heat still radiates from my skin as I step into the cool, violet twilight of Olympus. A sudden breeze cuts across my face—a shocking contrast to the furnace I've endured for countless hours. Every muscle protests; my throat is a desert. All I crave is water and a sliver of silence. The grand halls are hauntingly empty, devoid of even the servants. I move toward the dining chamber, hoping to slip into the kitchens unseen. But as I cross the threshold, a voice, sharp as a honed blade, slices the quiet. "Well, look who's decided to grace us with his presence! We'd almost forgotten what you looked like outside that sooty cave." Hera's smirk is a weapon. I freeze. The entire Olympian pantheon is arrayed around the feasting table, their gazes fixed on me with the predat…