Akhon narrowed his eyes. It wasn't his imagination; the system was confirming what he had already sensed: someone was following him.
And now that it was confirmed, there was no point in running; he would have to face whoever it was.
He raised his right hand, slowly clenched his fist, and the system responded.
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š„ Active Ability: "šļø Transcendental Vision" activated
ā³ Duration: 30 seconds
š Effect: Reveals hidden presences within a 500-meter radius
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Reality seemed to loosen its seams.
As if an invisible layer had been lifted from the world, revealing a second skin richer in nuances. Colors became more intense, more vivid. Some shapes glowed with a light that was not from the sun. Echoes of divine presences vibrated in the air like taut threads.
And there it was.
About thirty meters away, suspended between two tall branches, perfectly still, almost part of the landscape. A slender silhouette, his silver hair fluttering slightly in the breeze. Winged sandals floated gracefully. A caduceus spun in the air beside him, with a calm, almost playful rhythm.
Akhon sighed, unsurprised.
"You can come down, Hermes. I know you're there."
There was a long second of pause. Pure silence, except for the murmur of the wind. Then, with a slight flash, the figure descended, floating, crossing the space as if the air itself held him up. The messenger god landed with an expression somewhere between disappointment and amusement.
"Huh? How did you recognize me so quickly?"
Akhon smiled slightly, as if the answer were obvious.
"Easy. You're the only one fast enough to follow me without me noticing... or almost. And you're also the only one who would do it subtly, without trying to kill me in the process. Besides, if anyone had to do a dirty job on behalf of Olympus without causing a fuss... it was you."
Hermes looked at him with narrowed eyes, clearly surprised.
"Well, I don't know if I should feel flattered or watched. You're starting to know the gods too well, Akhon."
"That should worry them, not me," replied the young god, lowering his hand as the ability slowly dissipated, taking with it the hidden layers of reality.
The caduceus spiraled down to rest beside Hermes, like a well-trained pet. The god of roads and secrets crossed his arms, relaxed.
"I wasn't planning on confronting you, just in case. Just watching you a little more... discreetly."
"You need to work on that 'discreetly' part," Akhon said, raising an eyebrow. "How long have you been following me?"
Hermes shrugged, as if it were no big deal.
"A few months or so. Ever since the Council decided you were getting too interesting to be left unsupervised."
"Is everyone spying on me?"
"Not all of us," Hermes said, raising his index finger theatrically. 'Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Athena... Ares voted in favor, but only because he wants to see you fight. Aphrodite got bored halfway through the meeting and said she was going to 'observe you through other means'āno idea what that means, but I'm sure it involves fewer clothes."
Akhon snorted with a mixture of humor and discomfort.
"Great. I have a fan club."
Hermes laughed heartily.
"Something like that. Although not everyone is convinced you're a real threat. Some think you're just an interesting spark that will probably burn itself out."
"And what do you think?"
Hermes took a second. He looked him up and down with a more serious expression than usual.
"I don't think you're a threat... yet. But you are a problem. And problems, well... they tend to get very interesting if given time."
Akhon held his gaze, unblinking. Then he looked down for a moment, thinking.
"You didn't come here just to spy on me, did you?"
Hermes tilted his head, as if he had been caught playing a prank.
"Partly. But they also wanted to know how you're growing. How fast. How much power you're gathering with that little cult of yours."
"It's not a cult. It's called Kaeron. It's a town."
Hermes raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Town, cult... isn't it the same when everyone prays to you and only you?"
Akhon didn't answer right away. Because he knew there was truth in that. And it bothered him to admit it.
"So what do you plan to do now?" he asked after a moment, his tone measured.
Hermes shrugged again, relaxed, as if the situation were a card game rather than an assessment of divine power.
"It depends. If you give me reasons to report something troubling, I'll do it. But if I see that you have your feet on the ground... I might even cover for you a little."
Akhon stared at him, analyzing every word.
"And what would that silence cost you?"
Hermes laughed openly, as if the question amused him.
"Do you think I'm that predictable? I don't need bribes, Akhon. Not yet, at least. I just want to see what kind of god you're going to be. After all, I'm guilty of being curious, and you haven't made me dislike you at all."
Then he turned away. His winged sandals began to hum softly, ready to propel him into the air. But just before he rose, he paused and turned his face slightly over his shoulder.
"Take care, Akhon. You're not growing up alone anymore. You're growing up under a magnifying glass. And the gods... let's just say they're not known for their patience."
And with that, he vanished into the trees, like a sigh carried away by the wind.
Akhon didn't try to stop him this time. Instead, he thought about the situation and, above all, about the matter of Olympus watching him.
It wasn't just curiosity. Olympus was watching him. They were observing him, measuring his every step, evaluating his every word, every decision. And although part of him tensed at the thoughtāthe pressure, the risk, the possibility of fallingāanother part felt something different.
A spark.
Was it fear? Yes. Being watched by the gods and considered a potential threat by entities that could wipe him out of existence with a single thought was no game. It was like walking on a ledge, knowing that one false step could cost him everything.
But excitement? Yes.
And that was what disturbed him the most.
Because he didn't know if it was his reaction or an effect of the system. He didn't know if that adrenaline rush was natural or if his mind was becoming addicted to impossible challenges. Or worse, if he was already so broken that he was excited to face beings who could destroy him just by wanting to.
But it was real. He felt it in every fiber of his being, like an electric current running through his skin.
Part of him wanted to see how far he could go.
He wanted to test himself. To clash with Olympus if necessary.
However, before challenging the gods... he would first have to do something.
He would have to learn how to fight for real.
And luckily, Akhon knew just the place to start.