Chapter 2: The Letter with the Golden Seal

Present Time

In his hand is a silver platter containing a scroll sealed with the golden seal of an eagle. Yeojoon inhaled through his nose, knowing full well what that means, as the latter bowed low whilst offering the said platter to him.

With a sigh, he placed the dumbbells on the floor and sat down on the nearest bench; frowning. "Let me guess, another one of his monthly letters telling me to come home to Olympus?" His brown orbs focused on the parchment as he rolled it open, careful enough not to damage the paper. 

With a click of his tongue, he reads through the passage and whispered to himself, "Knew it." 

Yeojoon chuckled at the predictability, tasting bitterness in his tongue. Sure, as Dionysus, he has to comply to his father's orders to visit the great, shining godly place or whatever.. so long as the place is the one in Gangnam, one of South Korea's richest places, he doesn't mind. He grew tired of being the black sheep in that place that he packed up and left after one incident. Just thinking about that night makes his blood boil.

In an instant, he rolled the parchment and threw it at his assistant.There was a hint of a sheepish smile that flickered in Damon's face as he caught the scroll with swift fingers. His eyes danced with mirth upon seeing his master chuckling earlier. 

Yeah, this is a routine now. Damon acts as the CEO in place of his master, while Yeojoon focuses on his goal. The goal to return to Olympus after regaining his honor. Other than that, Dionysus no longer parties and performs drunken revelries as he used to, in the recent decades as Yeojoon, he lived the ordinary life of a secret writer under the pseudonym 'blueriver'.

No one knows why he put on such name, but Yeojoon smiles wistfully everytime his friend asks him that question. 

"Anyway, what's on today's schedule, Damon?" He raised his brow at the man. His hands remained on his lap as he rolled his shoulderblades. Ah.. that soothed some of his sore muscles. 

Damon perks up immediately slid his phone off his pocket to check. "Monthly observation, Sire," Yeojoon gave him a look.

"I mean, S-sir. Monthly observation, Sir. I have the car ready at one call away." Dionysus wants to be careful in order to live a normal, human-like life in this realm. That includes Silenus living off as Damon, Damon Victoire, and he insists that the latter should quit calling him Sire. Sometimes, he forgets, even after all these years. 

Yeojoon sprung from his seat, inhaling the hint of grapes and sweat emanating from himself. "I see. Let's reschedule that, I'll have to go to Olympus first" The god pursed his lips before adding,"Father does not like to be kept waiting. Prepare the pegasi instead. Make sure they are in a good condition," he paused dramatically, the corner of his lips lifted to the side, forming a smirk," because things are about to get stormy." 

"As you wish, Sir. I'll be checking on them now."  

The latter nods at him, takes a short bow, and left respectively. That leaves him grabbing a blue towel from the rack and putting it around his shoulder as he exits from the lonely walls of the gym. 

At the moment, there are two places for Olympus: the high-rise building in Gangnam - the current, tallest one in the world - and the Olympus up above the mountains of Himalayas, where the shimmering northern lights would sometimes flicker and reveal the golden realm of light, according to some hikers who saw the 'apparition'. It is a rare sight that is sometimes mistaken as Agartha, the mythical place featured in the Hollow Earth theory, or something even more absurd. 

Dionysus finds it tiresome to ride the elevator up to it's highest floor, so he flies in his carriage driven by pegasi, mistaken for a helicopter in the mere human's eyes, and lands on the helipad. 

His father was never the best in the lot. With Dionysus competing with various sons and daughters, specially his infamous, powerful siblings namely: Athena, Apollo, Ares, Artemis and Hephaestus, there was never enough recognition and praise for him. His only consolation is that Hephaestus has been his genuine friend and brother throughout his life that constantly sends him information from Olympus. 

Yeojoon heaves a sigh and made haste to the bathroom so he could shower. Sometimes, he deems that his life is useless and monotonous. The only thing that pushes him on is the hope that maybe, he'll get his father's approval atleast once. 

Nonetheless, that's not enough reason for him to stick close to where the gods thrived and lived. He swore to himself never to permanently return lest he proved himself to be worthy. As he scrubbed the soap all over his body and shampooed his hair, the water running generously on his back, he closes his eyes and hopes for a sign. 

A sign that'll hopefully allow him to change his life forever.

After he had finished bathing, removing all excess dirt and the smell of sweat on his body, he fumbles for the black robe on one of the racks that hangs parallel to the door. Water generously drips down his back as he puts the fabric on, helping himself with a small, ocean blue towel which he rubbed his hair with. Yeojoon looked at his reflection in the huge mirror that lined the wall of his bathroom. His dragon-shaped eyes show no emotion, and he gazed himself like a hawk. 

Far was he from the lanky child who can barely finish his godling tasks, his weak body transformed into a huge, muscular figure, his face was no longer skin and bones, in fact, it looks like it was chiseled by the very hands of Aphrodite. 

Yeojoon sighed. Time has changed him so much. Sparing himself one last glance on the mirror, he scowled, turning the lights off. 

If anything, to him, changes of the heart are far more surprising and dangerous than physical ones.

—

The horses were whinnying by the front porch the moment he had come out. Four strong stallions in gold harness, pulling a traditional, square carriage with purple drapes and spiral designs on its outer wall.  Damon was barking orders to the seileinoi or wind spirits, of which, to any human, would look like he's talking to nothing. "Make sure to guard the left of the mansion, I've sensed some dark beings close by. Might be monsters," Yeojoon hears the latter say before finally recognizing him, beaming with his signature heart-shaped smile. 

"Sire, the steeds are ready for take off. Also, the whole mansion is sqeaky clean, — minus the part that centaurs partied  just about three hours ago and busted Pan's face on the fountain." He paused dramatically, taking a moments breath, "Also, Nicholas destroyed half the flowerbeds after playing Chase with your followers." The minor god smiled sheepishly, as if it was a normal thing that happens everytime. 

Yeojoon sighed. Just another typical day as god, he guesses. 

"Let's just go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we finish." Damon nods and steps on the front of the carriage, he'll be driving - the way he always does. "The face of Pan can wait. Nature has a way of destroying anything unnatural anyway."

Yeojoon's dark eyes glared at the sun. It seemed to be mocking his whole existence - in a way that only he understands. 

For sure, his brother Apollo is having fun riding that flaming chariot. Enjoying the pure unadulterated joy of flight, exuding confidence and power. He pushed the thoughts away with a scowl, the pungent smell of wine litters the air as he gets inside. And as the pegasi took flight, the strong scent of crushed grapes lingered for a moment before it was truly gone. 

—

Gangnam District. The wealthiest sector of South Korea if you look at the dazzling stalls and shops, the huge malls and stadiums, and the bling blings; that if you see it from above at night, it looks like glittering specks of light in the land. 

The god that resides deep within him shudders. Every month he endures the relentless persuasion of the lord of the skies. Not knowing why. Every month, after all these years, Zeus wants him to return. And he wants none of that. Atleast, not anymore. 

The carriage landed gracefully and Damon opened the door for him. They both are wearing a suit. Hairs being swept by the force of the strong breeze that comes by at such height. They are atop one of the highest buildings all over the world after all. Closest to the sky. A fitting place to reside for a Sky God, isn't it? 

"Sire, I shall tend to the pegasi first. Will you alright?" Without me? The empty last question wasn't there but, deep in his gut, Yeojoon can feel the pulses of anger in him just at the thought of being alone with his father, who insists he return to the place he deemed a symbol of embarrassment. 

Yeojoon smiles curtly and stepped out the carriage. He took a deep breath and stared at the buildings down below. Cars and humans alike look like ants compared to their actual size from above. It must be another reason why his dad chose this kind of luxury. He can stare at the humans down below and amuse himself by thinking of crushing the pathetic and powerless creatures. 

Silence was the answer. 

Damon went off to lead the horses towards the stable that Zeus has installed himself for his son. As the noble steeds began to eat hay, it had never occured to him why Dionysus decided to live like this. Away from the place where he's supposed to be. Olympus. Heavenly place of the gods. 

The minutes passed. His blonde locks sway with the wind. The horses neighed constantly while he sat on a chair, sighing as he looks at the big fat clouds and the pending rain. It's about to storm. Damon stood up. Knowing in his senses, as a familiar to Dionysus, that something has gone wrong. 

Beep. 

A message from his Sire. 

"Take the pegasi home. I'll be here longer than I thought." 

Damon sent a like emoticon and slid his phone back in his pocket. Immediately, he unclasped the chains that hold the horses down and held their reins. Leading them out into the open, he attached the stallions onto the carriage and rode on. Taking flight before the pending storm falls down with rage. 

His lord must be talking with his father, Zeus. From the looks of it, it isn't good.