The dome was showing again. News had circulated fast, and many people, including people from news and entertainment outlets, his Cousin Cronus, Gwen his sister, and the chief prime minister were there to welcome him. But not his father or mother.
Everyone watched as Zeus trudged through the desert sand inside of the dome, and reached the opening.
He emerged from the dome, squinting against the blaring sun. This sun was harsher than the one he had been with in the dome.
The stench of blood and sweat filled the air around him, the sound of people cheering, echoing through the desert landscape.
Cameras went off, paparazzi snapping pictures like hungry people, as the chief prime minister, his cousin, and sister approached him.
He looked like he had been dragged through the desert itself, dust and sand clinging to his clothes and skin. But his eyes looking cold and dead, betrayed no exhaustion, no triumph, or any emotion.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the crowd as they took his picture. He locked eyes with his cousin, and vanished into thin air before anyone could blink, leaving behind a stunned crowd and a cloud of swirling sand.
*** ***
There was nothing different to notice about, only that Merva's soul twin Minerva was now the one in charge.
Minerva went about her day, attending classes, going along with the lectures, and moving through the corridors of her school like a ghost. But beneath the surface, she was far from normal.
She kept thinking about ways to cause mischief, and mayhem because of boredom, but her ideas disappointed her.
She walked through the popular routes, snarling, glaring, and staring intensely at anyone who looked at her in any unacceptable way. It made them uncomfortable, and she did not care.
The days lectures were over, and she did not know what to do with herself. The ladies quarters had little entertainment to offer, and she was excluded from it.
She paused in the middle of the walkway, her gaze flicking between the various paths ahead. For a moment, she hesitated, and she then grimaced at the thought of her hesitating.
She changed her direction, she was going to find Serine.
She found Serine in the training grounds, fighting against a heavily muscled guy.
Water rose from the ground beneath her feet, coiling lazily about her.
Her gaze fixed on him. "Stop holding back Zayn."
He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders in preparation.
Minerva's mouth hung open, staring at the duo. That was Zayn, a trainee instructor. One of the strongest Olymperian to finish from Volataire. Everyone knew of his strength and speed.
Serine struck first, the water coiling like a snake, hitting him but he deflected, water spilling, and it recoiled.
She struck again, the water hardening into two swords in her hands mid motion.
He dodged, the edge almost grazing against his skin, countering with his own weapon brutally, forcing her to move back.
She looked at him unimpressed, her face tight. "That's it?" She asked. "I am sure you can do better."
"I am protecting you." He stated. "Your footwork is not yet perfect." He pointed out.
She was irritated, it clearly showed on her face. "Why do you think I've been training with you? I know I am not perfect yet, I want to be." She said angrily.
Minerva nodded in agreement. It was obvious that he was holding back, and not a by a little.
They clashed again, her water and force against his speed and strength.
She raised her sword, aiming for his neck. His weapon blocked the attack, and he shattered one of her ice swords.
He was using a little more force now.
She dodged his hits, the water shifting in shape constantly to any weapon that seemed good enough for the moment.
He adapted quickly, anticipating her strikes, and blocking them while landing his.
She was able to block his attacks, and still land hers. Shocking.
"I said stop holding back." She snapped, forcing him back with a rain of ice shards. He made a shield that blocked the attack, and dropped them to the floor.
"I can't." He said apologetically.
She turned away from him angrily, calming herself down.
The fight was over.
Minerva watched him pick up his gear, organize them and look at Serine. But she did not turn back to look at him.
"I am leaving. Till next time." He said leaving.
"There will be no next time." She whispered, rubbing between her brows.
Minerva and Zayn both heard it.
He smiled at Merva tightly, forcing himself not to look back as he passed by Merva.
Merva waved him goodbye, walking towards where Serine was.
"So... You're leaving?" She asked Serine cautiously.
Serine turned around, and sighed when she saw Minerva.
"Yes." She said bending down to pick up her things also.
"I've fulfilled my time here, it is required of me to return home and continue my training."
Merva nodded in understanding.
"I could help you out." She said suggestively.
Serine glanced at her briefly, trying hard to hold back her laughter. "You?"
Minerva watched her silently, contemplating what to do in response.
"Fine." Serine said, standing straight. "What can you do?"
Minerva lifted her leg, hitting Serine mercilessly at her middle.
Serine buckled, looking at Merva in shock. "You are not Merva." She said, grunting in pain.
Minerva smiled at her smugly. "Yes. Nice to meet you again." She said turning to leave. That kick had been a beautiful answer.
"Wait." Serine called, shaking off the effects of the kick. "What of her? Where is she now?"
"Dreaming." She answered, turning to Serine. "You do not remember me?" She asked disappointedly. "This is our second meeting."
Serine looked at her puzzled. "When was the first?"
Minerva wanted to leave, but changed her mind. There was nothing else to do for the next few hours after all.
"The day you tried to attack me in my chamber." She answered.
She thought it was funny the way Serine looked at her quizzically.
"We are twins." Minerva answered. "I usually take over when she is in pain or when she is exhausted. Otherwise, I don't bother."
"What happened to her? Is she alright?" Serine asked, worried.
"Yes. She was just in pain, and I had to take over." Minerva answered. "If we could go somewhere more private, maybe I could show you why."
Serine agreed, and they walked further away from there, to the less frequented places without surveillance.
"Are you seeing Zayn?" Minerva asked curiously.
"No." Serine answered, not looking at her.
"Why?"
Serine looked at Minerva ludicrously, her brows raised in confusion. "What do you mean by why?"
Minerva looked at her doubtfully, surely she could see that he liked her. "He like you. I think it's obvious."
"He does." Serine replied, smiling at Minerva. "It's just not possible."
"Why?" Minerva asked again.
"I am Atlantian. Isn't that obvious Merva." She paused , looking at Minerva. "What is your name?"
Merva smiled widely, looking at Serine happily. "Minerva." She answered. "No one has ever heard it, only we both know, and now you."
They walked in silence for a while, and Merva turned around, walking backwards as she looked at Serine. "Just call me Merva." She said. "I don't really want to live out, I will stay in the background and watch her live."
She saw the look of pity on Serine's face, and turned around, walking properly. She did not like when people pitied them, and their choices.
"And you are okay with that?" Serine asked.
"Yes." She answered bravely. "She supports my decision." Minerva waited for any other forthcoming questions, but there was none. She looked at Serine critically. "I like you. She said I will, and I do."
"This is weird." Serine commented, causing Minerva to laugh.
"I know."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, Minerva kicking little rocks on the floor, and Serine looking up at the sky frequently.
They got to a spot that they both agreed was good enough, and Serine kept her satchel down, waiting for Minerva to show her.
Minerva stood, relaxing her muscles, a smile spreading on her face.
The bone like wings spread out wide, covered in darkness that looked like feathers.
Serine gasped, 'it looked beautiful.'
Her hands reached out to touch them, the darkness shifting like smoke.
Minerva grinned widely, her eyes glimmering with exhilaration.
"You have.." Serine started, dumbfounded.
Minerva chuckled, the wings rustling. "I did this for your reaction."
"What if I didn't have any?"Serine asked, but Minerva just laughed it off.
"I knew you would." She answered.
"Can you fly yet?" Serine asked curiously.
"No." Minerva answered, "but I could try."
She closed her eyes, feeling the rush of the wind. She flapped her wings slowly, and then wildly, but nothing happened.
Serine stayed there, watching as Minerva tried to lift herself off the ground. She wanted to offer advice's, but she knew nothing about it.
"Maybe you should just try next time?" Serine suggested, worried that she might hurt herself in the process.
But she stubbornly insisted.
"You both are very stubborn." Serine muttered beneath her breath. "Truly twins." She said, smiling.
Minerva's face was squeezed in concentration, sweat between her brows, as she tried various ways to lift herself from the ground.
She tried some more, her eyes closed, until she gave up and opened up her eyes.
She saw Zeus from a distance, watching her. "Zeus." She whispered, stopping herself from going further. She debated whether to go or not, but he had disappeared before she could decide.