"Impossible?" Artemis mumbled with a mysterious smile on her face. "Even if my twin Apollo is involved with her fate?"

"Apollo?" Hera asked.

"Indeed, the God of sun and prophecy," Artemis stands up. Her eyes stared directly at Hera's orbs with a grin. "The favorite son."

Hera gritted her teeth as she clutched her fist around the chains in her palm. Wrinkles formed on her forehead in fury.

"WHAT'S HIS PROPHECY?!" Hera shouted.

"Stay calm, my Queen," Artemis jested. "The prophecy is not about Asche, it was about Hephaestus. It seems like your son will prosper and will soon be part of Olympus. However, my brother was confused with what he saw in the future."

"I do not care about Hephaestus!"

"But you should listen, Hera! Apollo saw Asche in Hephaestus's future," Artemis said to Hera in a low tone. "He did not tell me the details, but Apollo is bewildered by what he saw."

"What did he see?" Hera asked.

Artemis paused, and the Goddess clenched her fist. She can clearly remember what her brother told her regarding Asche in Hephaestus' fate.

He told her that Asche wasn't supposed to exist in this world, she does not belong to those who live, and those who will die, therefore the underworld will surely come to investigate this situation.

Artemis answered Hera...

"Thanatos will come for Asche. Hephaestus might challenge the underworld."

•••••••••••••

"We're not safe here either, it was only a matter of time before the other Deities finds out that Aphrodite is on this Island," Hephaestus informed Ashe after arriving on the Island of Lemnos. "We need to do something about that child."

Asche took a deep sigh before looking at Aphrodite who was resting on her shoulders. Her hand patted the young deity.

It was already morning when Hephaestus, Asche, and Aphrodite arrived on the Island of Lemnos.

"Do you think that a war will break out because of this?" Asche asked in a worried tone. "The Goddess of Beauty disappeared without any trace, and if they find out that she's with us, this will put you in great trouble."

Hephaestus took a deep sigh. He placed his hand above Asche's head, granting her a comforting pat.

"Zeus won't let that happen, and rather than a war, a competition might take place in Olympus," Hephaestus explained. "But that's only a temporary measure to stop the war."

"Then Aphrodite is in danger..." Asche mumbled. "Not only her, but also us. What can we do to stop this?"

Hephaestus became silent after hearing that question.

He knew what he needed to do to prevent that. However, he was hesitant to tell Asche.

Turning in the young Goddess to Zeus was the best option. If the other Deities find out that Aphrodite is still a child, they won't try to covet her anymore, and a powerful guardian to protect Aphrodite will be given to her.

But returning to Olympus means that he will also return the little Nymph to Hera and Artemis.

"We will talk about that later. For now, let's go home," Hephaestus held Asche's back as he gently escorted her towards his house. "You needed to rest and replenish your energy. Are you not hungry?"

Asche consciously held her stomach.

Now that she can remember, the only food she ate yesterday was fruits and the burned fish she tried to cook.

She's now craving for good meat, fluffy bread, and unsalted water. Lucky for Hephaestus and Aphrodite, since they are both Deities, they don't need to eat.

"I want meat," Asche mumbled.

Hephaestus shrugs his shoulders.

"Forest nymphs usually eat vegetables and water for their meal," Hephaestus mentioned. "It was strange that you like meat."

"You know nothing about Nymphs, of course, we can eat meat," Asche told him with a teasing smile on her lips. "Forest Nymphs are omnivores. We can eat plants and different types of meat. In fact, we can also eat Humans."

Hephaestus' eyes went wide after hearing those words. He took a step backward with a frightened look on his face.

"What are you talking about?" Hephaestus asked. "Demeter will not allow that kind of transgression among her forest Nymphs!"

"Of course not! But there are a few bad Forest Nymphs who ate humans," Asche laughed. "And they were punished by Demeter secretly. I just heard it from a fellow nymph, but I bet it's all true."

"Why would they even eat humans?" Hephaestus mumbled.

"I know right? That's disgusting. That's why you should be proud of me because I only like to eat cooked animal meat," Asche teased the Deity. "You can consider me weird, but I am not insane."

Hephaestus frowned while shaking his head.

He's used to Asche's doubtful humor and behavior. After all, she is a weird Nymph since the very beginning.

Just weird, not insane...

"Mother, did you know that Ocean nymphs such as mermaids eat Humans too?" A high-pitched tone suddenly joined their conversation. "They offered me to eat one when I woke up from my shell."

Asche glanced at Aphrodite when she heard her speak. A smile appeared on her face when she saw the young deity's glittering eyes.

Aphrodite was finally awake.

"Good morning, Aphrodite," Asche greeted the young Goddess. "Did you sleep well?"

Aphrodite pouted her lips as she hugged her mother tightly.

Asche giggled when she saw the pink tint on Aphrodite's cheeks.

She's cute.

"I did..." Aphrodite replied.

AHEM!

Asche and Aphrodite glanced at Hephaestus when he cleared his throat. They both looked at him with confusion.

"Did you accept the human meat?" Hephaestus suddenly asked with a genuinely concerned reaction on his face.

Asche paused before glaring at the Deity.

"What kind of question is that? Of course, Aphrodite won't eat human meat," Asche told to Hephaestus. "Correct, Aphrodite? You didn't eat it right?"

Asche stared at Aphrodite intently.

Aphrodite blinked twice before answering her question.

"I was going to---" Aphrodite paused when Asche gasped. "But their food looked disgusting and unappetizing, that's why instead of eating it, I threw it away and I punished the impertinent mermaids for serving me such foods. After all, I value good quality the most."

Asche breathed in relief as soon as she heard that. Of course, Aphrodite is the Goddess of Beauty, she won't be tricked to eat such food...

But according to greek mythology, Demeter was tricked into eating human flesh once...

What if Aphrodite...

No, never mind.

Asche smiled awkwardly when she felt that this story is turning into dark humor... In the first place, it was Asche who started it, but she only did that to tease Hephaestus.

This is concerning.

"Let's stop this concerning conversation," Asche mumbled with a deep sigh. "I will throw up if we continue this."

"You started it," Hephaestus reminded.

Asche scratched her head.

"I guess I did..."

Hephaestus chuckled when he saw the Nymph's reaction.

Asche only shook her head as she continued to walk towards Hephaestus's house.

She should stop regularly teasing Hephaestus. Now that Asche has already reflected her simping and pervertedness towards Hephaestus, she would start to be more sensitive and considerate when speaking to him.

Having fun is important, but she doesn't have to go overboard.

Perhaps she's still young and immature, Asche should learn how to flirt--- I mean SIMP without making Hephaestus comfortable. It is nice to see Hephaestus being flustered, but Ashe should also work on her humor.

But it's kinda hard to simp/compliment Hephaestus without sounding like a pervert, and Asche's humor has always been like this...

Asche paused and went to reality when she saw the door in front of her. She was about to reach out for the Door's handle...

However...

"Hold on, Asche," Hephaestus stopped her.

Hephaestus grabbed her arm as he quickly hid her behind his back.

Hephaestus stared at the door with alertness and vigilance. He looked like a wary beast observing his intruded territory.

"Hephaestus?" Asche called his name. She can't help but also alert herself while observing the situation. "What's the problem?"

"Intruder..." he mumbled in a low tone.

Creaaaak...

Their eyes went to the door when the door suddenly opened. A man with a large smile on his face went out.

The man had a tanned and muscular body. His face is beautiful, and a crown of grapes was sitting on his head. The man was so beautiful, Asche had to stare at him to confirm if he is a man or a woman with a muscular body.

How can a man be this beautiful and handsome at the same time?

Asche finds him Gorgeous, however, despite these characteristics, Asche's loyalty is to Hephaestus' beauty.

"Mother, who's that man, is he a thief?" Aphrodite asked while pointing at the suspicious man.

Asche became pale when she recognized the man.

He is definitely not a thief.

That's Dionysus, the God of Wine.

"It's only been a month but I did not expect that you had already fathered the Daughter of the Forest Nymph," Dionysus mumbled before turning his gaze at Aphrodite. "However, you looked nothing like your daughter. Her beauty was mesmerizing."

Mesmerizing?

Asche glared at Dionysus.

"Keep your eyes away from her," Asche warned Dionysus as she hid Aphrodite on her shoulder. "You shouldn't look at her."

Asche bit her lips when she remembered Aphrodite's lovers in Greek mythology.

One of her lovers was Dionysus, that's why it was weird to see him complimenting Aphrodite's beauty in her child form.

Aphrodite is a child right now and as an adult, it was Asche's responsibility to protect Aphrodite. Aphrodite can't be anyone's lover until she's a fully grown woman.

Maybe she should also teach Aphrodite not to cheat on her future lover...

And how dare HE insult Hephaestus in front of her? Comparing Hephaestus with Aphrodite's beauty is lowkey degrading Hephaestus.

This is making her really irritated.

By Asche's standard of men, she would rather choose Hephaestus billions of times rather than the drunkard God. Dionysus might be gorgeous and masculine, but Asche is now a biased Nymph.

"How protective, you act like Demeter when she was with Persephone," Dionysus told her with a smile. "This is not surprising, you were a nymph created by Demeter, you must've inherited her motherly instinct."

Motherly instinct?

Asche stared at the wine God in a confusion.

Why is he comparing her with Demeter..?

A realization struck her when she remembered how Dionysus referred to Hephaestus as 'The man who fathered the daughter of the Forest Nymph'.

Perhaps...

"What are you doing here, Dionysus?" Hephaestus asked in a wary tone.

Dionysus took a step forward with a smile on his face.

"Do not worry, I mean no harm," Dionysus told him. "I just came to have a drink with you, why don't we drink and celebrate for tonight? Have you heard that the Goddess of beauty was born yesterday? You went to Cytherea, I am sure that you were informed very well."

Asche hugged Aphrodite when she heard it, it seems like Dionysus is not yet aware that the Goddess of Beauty is 'Missing'. He doesn't even suspect Aphrodite's identity, and he thinks that Aphrodite is her daughter...

The young Goddess glanced at Dionysus.

"Mother, he was talking about m---"

"Don't mind him," Asche mumbled. "Hephaestus will handle him."

In one version of Greek mythology, it was Dionysus who managed to persuade Hephaestus to go to Olympus and free Hera from her golden throne by making Hephaestus drunk, but Asche doesn't think that Dionysus would be able to convince Hephaestus today.

She could tell it by just looking at his handsome and irritated face. Asche is sure that Dionysus will leave without Hephaestus today.

"Leave," Hephaestus threatened him. "I do not need your presence in my territory."

"Are you truly rejecting my kind offer?" Dionysus asked with a disappointed face. His eyes went to Asche before returning them to Hephaestus. "Don't you think that your wife---"

"Leave," Hephaestus repeated with authority in his voice. "You wouldn't want to anger me, Dionysus."

Hephaestus' electric blue orbs glowed which threatened the Deity of Wine. Dionysus felt an electrifying chill on his skin when he saw his eyes.

His orbs reminded him of the King of Olympus.

Dionysus can't ignore that.

If not for his disfigured face, anyone would be able to tell that this 'Ugly God' is Zeus' son.

"Calm down, you're as Hot-headed as your Mother," Dionysus told him with a smile. "Well then, forgive me, I did not realize that you wanted to have a bonding with your precious family. It seems like you're more family-oriented than your Father."

"Shut your mouth," Hephaestus told him. "I wouldn't want to hear anything from Hera, or from the King of Olympus."

"Fine, fine, I understand," Dionysus mumbled. "For now, I shall leave."

Judging by the look on Hephaestus' face, he won't be able to persuade him. His eyes were also watching him like a beast who was ready to attack.

Dionysus glanced at the Forest Nymph who was hidden behind Hephaestus.

He won't be able to snatch the Nymph from Hephaestus either. It seems like Queen Hera needed to wait a little longer to reunite with her beloved Nymph.

Hephaestus will surely guard his wife.

He knows his intentions, and because of this, bringing him back or bringing the Nymph back to Hera will be a little challenging.

For now, Dionysus will only inform Hera about the Forest Nymph's relationship with her son and her beautiful offspring with Hephaestus.

Dionysus was excited to see the expression of the Queen as soon as she hears the news.

"Then I will return next time," Dionysus simply said before waving his hand in Asche and Aphrodite's direction. "I'll see you again, beautiful ladies..."

Dionysus playfully summoned a goblet in his hands.

Asche stared at the man when he started to disappear into thin air. As he disappeared, there was a wide smirk on his lips. Asche was about to ignore it until Dionysus mouthed something at her.

"The Queen is waiting for you," Dionysus mouthed. "Don't make her wait, Darling."

And with that, he suddenly disappeared without any trace.

Asche became frozen after Dionysus disappeared. She quickly glanced at Hephaestus who had a dark expression on his face.

He knows what Dionysus mouthed to Asche.

Asche shook off her thoughts before putting down Aphrodite.

"He's gone," Asche softly mumbled while patting the Deity's back.

The dark expression on the Deity's face disappeared when he heard Asche's voice. He slowly reached out for her hand as he carefully led Asche inside of their home.

Hephaestus paused for a moment.

"Don't trust that man," Hephaestus suddenly mumbled. "He is dangerous."

"Why would I? That man is suspicious," Asche replied as if she was stating the obvious. "I am not naive."

Hephaestus let out a sigh.

"Don't you like muscular men?" He asked.

"What?" Asche parted her lips. She glanced at Hephaestus with a dumbfounded face. "M-muscular men? Well--- I do--- I mean--- But his tiddies is not my type..."

Aphrodite made a face while observing the Nymph and the Deity.

'What's tiddies?' She thought.

Asche scratched her head with a troubled look on her face.

"I only like yours."

Normally, Hephaestus would act flustered upon hearing those words. However, today, Hephaestus chuckled.

••••••••

A Deity's offspring can grow faster than humans, that's why Dionysus concluded that Aphrodite is Hephaestus' child with Asche when he saw her.

Lol, he thought that Asche is Hephaestus' wife.