Allen turned his attention to Hera, who had been calmly observing the conversation. "Alright, then what about Zeus?" he asked. "You're called queen here, while he's called king. Doesn't that mean something?"
The room went silent for a moment. Athena's expression didn't change, but she subtly glanced at Hera. Aphrodite's smile widened slightly, clearly enjoying where this was going.
Hera, to her credit, remained composed, but Allen noticed the slight tension in her posture. She set her goblet down carefully. "Titles do not necessarily dictate relationships," she said evenly. "Zeus and I hold authority over Olympus, but that does not mean we are bound in the way you are suggesting."
Allen raised an eyebrow. "So it's just a leadership thing? Nothing more?"
Hera met his gaze without hesitation. "That is correct."
Aphrodite let out a soft, amused hum. "Oh my~ How firm you sound, Hera."
Hera ignored her, but Allen could tell there was something beneath the surface. "So," he continued, "there's no divine law or agreement that ties you two together?"
Athena answered this time. "Not at this point in time. The roles of the Olympians are still taking shape."
Aphrodite rested her chin in her palm, looking at Hera with open amusement. "Though, if Zeus were to pursue you, what would you do, Hera?"
Hera's golden eyes flashed slightly. "That is not relevant."
Aphrodite chuckled. "Oh, I think it is~"
Allen watched as Hera's expression remained unreadable, but he could tell the topic annoyed her. She wasn't denying the possibility outright, but neither was she entertaining it.
"Huh," Allen murmured, leaning back. "Interesting."
Hera shot him a look. "What is?"
Allen shrugged. "Just that you're fine with being called queen but don't seem particularly fond of Zeus being king."
Aphrodite let out a delighted laugh. "Oh, he notices things, doesn't he?"
Hera exhaled. "This discussion is pointless."
Allen smirked. "If you say so."
Hera didn't respond, but Allen knew he'd poked at something deeper. And judging by Aphrodite's growing amusement, he wasn't the only one who noticed.
Allen watched Hera carefully, gauging her reaction before speaking again. "You know," he said casually, "if Zeus ever becomes a problem, I could deal with him for you."
The room back went silent.
Athena gave him a sharp look. Aphrodite blinked before breaking into a slow, amused smile. Tiamat tilted her head, as if considering the idea seriously. And Hera… Hera just stared at him.
"…What?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral.
Allen shrugged. "I'm just saying. If he tries anything, I could knock him down a peg."
Aphrodite let out a delighted laugh. "Oh, now this is interesting."
Athena frowned. "You speak as if it would be easy."
Allen met her gaze. "It would be, I am a magician, I can almost do everything."
Hera narrowed her eyes slightly. "And why, exactly, would you do such a thing?"
Allen smiled, but his tone was light. "Because I don't like the idea of you being forced into something you don't want."
For the first time, Hera looked genuinely taken aback. It wasn't much—just a flicker of something in her golden eyes—but Allen caught it.
Aphrodite was practically purring with amusement now. "My, my… Hera, are you touched?"
Hera inhaled slowly, regaining her usual composure. "Your arrogance is boundless."
Allen chuckled. "I prefer confidence."
Athena sighed. "And if Zeus hears of this?"
Allen raised an eyebrow. "What's he gonna do about it?"
That statement alone made the atmosphere shift again. Athena pressed her lips together, choosing not to argue. Aphrodite just kept watching, intrigued.
Hera, however, simply stared at Allen for a long moment. Then, without another word, she picked up her goblet and took a slow sip of nectar.
Allen didn't need her to say anything. He could tell she was thinking about it.
Hera set down her goblet with a quiet clink, her expression unreadable. "You speak as if Olympus is yours to challenge," she said finally.
Allen leaned back, arms resting on the chair. "If it ever comes to that, why not?"
Aphrodite giggled, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, I love this. You're not just confident, dear—you're audacious."
Athena, ever the pragmatic one, sighed. "You underestimate Zeus."
Allen glanced at her. "Do I?"
Athena met his gaze, her tone serious. "He is not just a ruler. He is power itself, the sky given form. To defy him is to defy the foundation of Olympus."
Allen took a sip of his drink before responding. "And?"
Silence.
Aphrodite pressed a hand to her mouth, barely holding back her laughter, while Tiamat simply observed, as if waiting to see where this conversation would go.
Hera studied Allen carefully. "And you would oppose him… for what reason?"
Allen held her gaze. "I already told you. I don't like the idea of you being forced into something you don't want."
The weight of his words settled over the table. For a moment, no one spoke. Then, unexpectedly, Hera exhaled softly—not quite a sigh, but something close.
"I see," she murmured.
Aphrodite's grin widened. "Oh, Hera. You felt that, didn't you?"
Hera shot her a sharp look, but Aphrodite only laughed.
Allen remained silent, watching Hera. She didn't refute his words. She didn't push back. And that, more than anything, was interesting.
Athena finally broke the silence. "Regardless of your strength, openly opposing Zeus is not a simple matter."
Allen shrugged. "Maybe not. But if it ever becomes necessary… well, let's just say I don't mind shaking things up."
Hera was quiet for a long moment before she finally spoke again. "You are reckless."
Allen smirked. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Hera didn't reply. But the way she looked at him—just for a second—told him that, perhaps, she didn't think it was entirely bad at all.
The tension in the air slowly eased, though the conversation still lingered in everyone's minds. Hera, for all her composure, seemed to be thinking deeply. Aphrodite, of course, was reveling in the moment, her golden eyes flicking between Allen and Hera with barely contained amusement.
Athena, meanwhile, crossed her arms. "Enough of this talk," she said. "Speculating about what could happen with Zeus is pointless. For now, there is no reason to make such declarations."
Allen gave her a casual glance. "I was just stating a fact."
Athena narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't argue further. Instead, she looked at Hera, who still hadn't responded. "Hera."
Hera blinked, as if pulled from her thoughts, then turned to Athena. "What?"
Athena studied her for a moment before shaking her head. "…Never mind."
Aphrodite giggled. "Oh, don't stop now, Athena. I know you're curious."
Athena sighed, clearly exasperated. "Curious about what?"
Aphrodite tilted her head, a playful smile gracing her lips. "About how Hera feels after hearing such bold words directed at her."
Hera's expression didn't change, but Allen noticed the way her fingers lightly tapped against the table. A subtle, unconscious movement.
"I feel nothing about it," Hera replied evenly.
Aphrodite hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Oh? Nothing at all?"
Hera met her gaze coolly. "You are insufferable."
Aphrodite only laughed, clearly enjoying herself.
Allen decided to steer the conversation away before Aphrodite pushed Hera too far. "So," he said, looking between them, "now that we're done talking about Zeus, what's next? Or are we just going to sit here and keep dancing around things?"
Hera exhaled and finally straightened, regaining full control of herself. "We came here to discuss more than just Olympus' hierarchy. There are other matters at hand."
Athena nodded. "Yes. We still need to consider what comes next."
Allen raised an eyebrow. "And what does come next?"
Hera glanced at him before answering. "That depends. Are you truly content with simply existing here, Allen?"
Allen gave her a lazy smile. "I'm content with doing whatever I feel like."
Hera sighed. "Of course you are, your magician are eccentric."
Aphrodite leaned forward, smirking. "And yet, Hera, you keep engaging with him."
Hera shot her a look. "Be silent."
Allen just chuckled, leaning back. "Alright, alright. So, tell me—what's actually on your mind?"
Hera hesitated for only a second before she spoke. "Atlantis."
That one word shifted the mood in an instant. Athena's expression grew serious, while even Aphrodite's amusement lessened slightly.
Allen tilted his head. "What about it?"
Hera's gaze met his. "Its future."
Allen tapped his fingers against the table. "Atlantis' future, huh?" He glanced between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. "You all sound like you already know something."
Athena nodded. "Atlantis is a marvel, but it is not eternal. Even the gods know this."
Aphrodite sighed dramatically, resting her chin on her palm. "It's such a shame, really. This city is beautiful… but beauty fades."
Hera's golden eyes remained steady on Allen. "The gods rule here, but we are not invincible. And Atlantis itself… its foundation is not as unshakable as mortals believe."
Allen took a slow sip of his drink before responding. "You're talking about something specific, aren't you?"
Athena crossed her arms. "You are sharp. Yes, we are."
Aphrodite traced the rim of her goblet. "There are whispers. Omens, perhaps. We do not know when, but we know something will happen."
Allen observed them carefully. "And yet, you're not acting as if it's urgent."
Hera exhaled. "Because it is not—yet."
Tiamat, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "Do you fear destruction?"
Hera's expression remained composed. "We do not fear, but we acknowledge the possibility. The gods are not blind to fate."
Allen leaned back. "So, you're telling me Atlantis won't last forever."
Athena nodded. "Correct."
He tilted his head. "And you're telling me this… why?"
Aphrodite smiled. "Because you, dear, are interesting. And something tells me you won't simply stand by when things start to shift."
Hera remained silent, but her gaze didn't waver. Athena, however, studied Allen carefully. "You are unlike any mortal we have met. Your presence here is already… unusual."
Allen smirked. "So you're saying I'm special?"
Aphrodite giggled. "Oh, darling, we knew that already."
Hera, however, remained serious. "We do not know what role you will play in the future of this city. But you will be involved, whether you wish to be or not."
Allen considered her words for a moment before shrugging. "Well, I guess we'll see, won't we?"
Hera studied him for a long moment before nodding. "…Yes. We will."
Hera's gaze sharpened at Allen's words. "You speak as if fate is absolute. Do you truly believe that?"
Allen shrugged. "Everything that begins must end. That's just how it works."
Athena, arms crossed, regarded him carefully. "And yet, you seem unbothered by the idea. Most men would struggle against inevitability."
Allen took another sip of his drink. "What's the point? If Atlantis is doomed, then why waste effort trying to stop it?"
Aphrodite chuckled, swirling the nectar in her goblet. "Oh, I do love how you think, dear. So practical, so detached."
Hera, however, was not amused. "You misunderstand. We do not fight simply to delay the inevitable—we fight because Atlantis is ours."
Allen raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Hera's fingers curled slightly against the table. "And we do not abandon what is ours so easily."
Athena nodded. "Atlantis is more than a city—it is the foundation of Olympus' presence on Earth. If it falls, the consequences will be far-reaching."
Allen leaned back. "So it's about power, then?"
Hera's eyes flickered, but she did not deny it. "It is about what we have built. About what we will decide, not what fate dictates."
Allen tapped his fingers against the table, considering. "You all talk about Atlantis as if it's a certainty that it'll fall, yet you're still clinging to it."
Aphrodite sighed theatrically. "Such is the way of gods, dear. We love what is beautiful, even when we know it will fade."
Tiamat, who had been silent until now, looked at Allen. "Do you care if Atlantis falls?"
Allen leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across the goddesses before settling on them with deliberate ease. "I don't really care if Atlantis falls," he admitted. "But there are a few people here I'd rather not see caught up in it."
His words hung in the air, their weight unmistakable.
Hera's violet eyes flickered, but she remained composed. Athena, however, narrowed her gaze slightly, studying him. Aphrodite, ever the playful one, smirked. "Oh my~ How bold of you, Allen. Staring at us like that while saying that."
Allen didn't react to her teasing, keeping his expression neutral. He had said what he meant.
Athena exhaled. "So, you do not care about Atlantis itself—only those you deem important?"
Allen nodded. "That's about right."
Hera finally spoke, her voice even. "Then I assume you have no interest in interfering, no matter what happens?"
Allen tilted his head. "Depends. If it affects the ones I care about, I might."
For the first time, Hera hesitated—just for a fraction of a second. Athena noticed but said nothing. Aphrodite, however, was grinning, clearly enjoying the exchange.
"My, my… You certainly know how to make things interesting," Aphrodite mused. "I wonder, Allen—just who are these people you care about?"
Allen gave her a knowing look "Hmmm... you could say it's a little, after all I only know a few people here." while glancing at the goddesses
The room was silent for a moment before Hera finally exhaled. "We will see where fate takes us, then."
Allen simply nodded. "Yeah. We will".
*****
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