Hecate's spell, leading Alexandros to Medea's home, did in fact work perfectly. It was the oddest thing, a sort of deep vibration in a piece of his soul he only had just become aware of. A piece only awakened when he gained access to his magic, which was still the oddest of feelings. His everything felt stronger and weaker, all at once. Hot and cold, the energies mixing together, giving and taking in an endless dance in his core. The power had startled to settle as a cold flame in his core, licking desperately throughout his body as if it was alive, seeking out release.

  Through that odd energy, that potent sensation leading him away, he found his way to the smallest house, one that...

  "I swear that was run down... the Hades?"

  He muttered, walking toward the nice, albeit tiny home by the local graveyard. One that had, last he checked, had been damaged beyond repair. Complete with a fallen roof, dead attempt at a garden, caved in walls and a stench beyond measure. This though, this was a lovely one story, beautifully crafted clay building painted with sigils of power, with gorgeous red tiled roof and a small door. There were no windows, oddly enough... And everything was covered in frost and frigid mist, in fact waves of cold emanated from the building in living clouds.

  Carefully, hoping he was not going to his death, he walked to the door and knocked on it gently. The door just swung open, before a force seemed to shove him inside making him squeak in a pathetically mouselike fashion. Something he repeated when the door swung back to close, literally melting away locking him in the room, isolated entirely.

  'Alright, I am alone with a possible mad High Priestess of Hecate, one of the few mostly mortal beings capable of harming even some gods with her power... I can do this... I won't be afraid... well, too afraid.'

  Laughter, soft and utterly warm drew him out of his own thoughts, as the room shifted before him, revealing an ancient, and yet oddly flawlessly gorgeous woman before him. Drapped in black silk, decorated in layers of sigils and magical signs, he saw the symbols of Hecate on her neck. Twin Torches crossing each other, dangling against her chest. Her body was perect, despite her age, strong with a thicker frame from age melded with actual marks of health. She clearly had access to exercise and good food, and yet she did not seem excessive in either direction. Curvacious came to mind...

  Her face was equally awe inspiring, the kind of looks that even the gods would admire or envy. There were lines, she had clearly aged, but that only added to her loos. Lips full and marked with a near purple tint, her skin glowed from within like a miniature sun lived in her heart. Actually, the longer he looked at her, the more he felt an odd warmth that seemed to ooze from her body, warming his skin and soul. Even hair hair, a lovely silver, seemed to glisten with health and unreal power.

  However... all of that paled when he looked at her eyes, marked by something he could never have imagined... power, sure, she was the greatest of mortal magic users, no human had ever matched her powers in their realm of the gods before. Only Morgana LeFay, a legendary sorceress from another realm, had been powerful enough to be spoken of in the same breathe... and yet, looking into her eyes, he saw her power. His skin, his soul burned at the look she gave him. He knew, her beautiful inhumanly golden eyes were peering beyond the surface, into something that he could not understand.

  This truly was Medea, feared and reviled throughout history as a source of power, inspiration and an unending capacity for Wrath!

  Kneeling, he could not help the grin that crossed his face. "I am honored, to even breathe your air, my lady... you... you are my idol, my hero... I cannot believe Lady Hecate asked me, suggested that I... train with you. I beg you, please... help me."

  "Yes, dear one... I have been waiting for you for some time." The boy looked up, startled at her words. She was smiling, warm as the summer sun but so very tired. "I am a seer, child, you have had a profound impact on Reign, weither or not you realize it..." She laughed at his shock. "I would have to be blind to not notice it, but did you think your charitable works would have been ignored? Child, from the first month you were here, you started to help the many orphans of this place by stealing food and supplies, helping bandage wounds, and clean out infected injuries. You have gone hungry dozens of times to serve your people, the people of Reign. Do you really think you were not noticed?"

  Flushing, he turned away. "I was afraid of that... good deeds in Reign tend to go... poorly. I was afraid that I would be stoned or enslaved for my thefts...I avoided even thinking of it at times, so that I would not draw in a Mage's eyes on me... wrong of me, perhaps, but still..."

  "I have been hiding your actions for years." He looked at her, awe in his eyes. "Child, I have been hiding for centuries, watching the world go by for as I hide from Death... you, your goodness, has revived from within me a lost Hope I once had. Hope that Jason tore away so many years ago... no, my boy, my son... you are so deserving of more than you've ever been given." Standing, sthe strode with powerful movements. "I am stuck child, my life is fading. I will not survive the next few years... and yet, due to the curse of Eros, his maddening Arrow of Love, I was forced to do terrrible things that would force me into the Fields of Punishment regardless of my previous inability to actually hold sway over my own actions. Helping you helps me, someone so selfless, kind and charitable. Just as I am your only real chance at helping others, you are my only chance at helping myself... "

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  The boy stood, walking to her before throwing his arms around her chest, startling her. "I knew you were maddened by love, it never made sense why someone that never hurt anyone suddenly started killing family... I always knew that Eros' arrow was not real love, but something...rabid. Even the gods fear him, it just made sense that his power warped people into the worst, most desperate versions of themselves."

  Her arms tightened around him. "I was so hoping you would say that, little love... your heart is good, and you deserve more than you have ever gotten, as I said... the gods do not agree, and never will. You must be prepared. This place, my home, the cold aura you must have sensed, was a ward that ensures that not even Zeus can peer inside. You are going to train with me, day and in out. Should you agree to it, I will have it known that you are being apprenticed for two years, to when you are old enough to fight in the Olympian Rites. Many children your age started to apprentice at ten, with kin and other demigods, it is only right that you begin now. Though you are behind, you will not be for long, I can assure you of that.

  But be warned, my powers are great, and yours will be as well. Human you may be, but magic is the greatest of equalizerrs. It will allow you to reach heights you have never thought of. There is a reason the gods have kept so strict a hold on it... even Hecate herself only allowed you help due to your charitable soul, you have long since proven to be trustworthy..." She kneeled. "My home... I cannot leave it, and should you agree to it... neither shall you, but once a month... I know you wish to serve the world, and so you will... each month, as the New Moon Rises, you will leave this place to heal and help, to strengthen yourself, and serve those you care so deeply for."

  Bowing, the boy's smile reached his ears, tears falling down his face. "I cannot wait to get started... have you really heard of me... helping others?" He asked, curious as all Hades to know if his good deeds, or attempts there of, had been recognized.

  Medea chuckled. "Child, though your name is rarely known, the good you've done has rippled throughout Reign. Before I interevened, over a dozen investigators were set out to find you, eager to stop your deeds as you have technically broken so many laws. Really, you must be more careful..." Her tone, amused the max, made him giggle. "Now... child, you must rest for the time being, your own spark of power has only just be awakened. Your body needs to adapt to the powers within, less you overstress yourself. I have prepared a room for you. Follow me... oh and I should ask... do you agree to work here, to serve Hecate as Champion and Priest, myself as Servant and Student, until such a time that you have evolved enough to reach self sufficency?"

  "I do."

  "So be it." And the boy stumbled back, as his very soul was marked by his own word. "Oh, you did not know? Magic is bound by thought, so when you made your oath... it bound to it, forever. I should have led with that.... now... from here on out, you shall be my student and servant. I have much to do, and much too teach... but before then, you must sleep. Follow me."

  And the boy followed his new mentor, to a lovely room, filled with simple comforts he never had, before he suddenly froze. "My home?"

  "I will cast a spell, that will mute the memory of you. It will ensure that though people know you are alive, they will not question your time with me. This way, you can work through me to achieve the powers you need without your past or present burning into your time... you may dedicate your time with me fully. Now rest, child, before I cast a sleeping spell on you."

  Though he masked it well, her maternal tone broke his heart, having never known the simple concern of a mother's love... her kindness would soothe him into slumber before he knew it... and he would dream of nothing, resting fully until his body was ready for the power to come.

  """"

  Allowing her fingers to graze her student's forehad, Medea allowed her grief to manifest on her face. 'My boy, you look so much like my children... though it has been centuries, their names and voices fading from my memory, I can never forget my love of them. I can only hope that by helping another child thrive, they forgive me for cutting their lives and potential short.' Internally, she cursed Eros and hera, for forcing her into such a positon that she would even be willing to harm her kin... especially the babies she raised. "'I miss you, my babes... and I will be with you soon. Even one of my power can only lengthen my life for so long...

  Alexandros, your good heart and warm spirit is just what I need to help the world. To tip the scales to my favor, to have done more good than bad... and one day be with my babes again. No gift could be greater, thank you for that... I can only hope you get as much out of my help as I do with yours.

  Looking down, to the Underworld, she smiled and spoke to her patron.

  'Hecate, for centuries, you have helped me, you were to first to help me break out of Eros' dark love spell... you helped me find myself after decades of warped wanderings. I cannot thank you enough for that. I will train this boy, he will be great... and he will honor you, helping the world respect you for among the gods you may be one of the few worthy of our worship and respect.'

  From the Underworld, and her own ties of magic, Hecate's voice graced her mind. 'The boy is my gift to you, Medea, my apologies for being unable to fully purge Eros' influence without outright killing you. There is, sadly, a reason even Zeus fears Eros after all. Raise the boy, help him heal those around him, but know this... he is not just my Champion, but yours as well. He will represent the best of humanity and magic. Pass onto him the ethics you have learned after centuries of seeing the worst of the divine... only you really can.'

  'That I can, that I will... My Lady... that I will...'

  And with that, Medea manifested away to her library, readying the boy's first lesson, hopeful she could pass on enough skill and empathy tha the would be a force for good... and not just a tool for the vile gods and pathetic demigods of the world.