Free City of gods - Hellenica by Jonathan Maas Page A

gods will make sure of this; they’re growing out of control, and if we fail to act now, they’ll pass the threshold and the world will lay in a state of permanent war. We need a police force to bring the world back to sanity, to bring the gods back under control. We have tried to do this with diplomacy, technology and sheer warfare, but to no avail. So we have called upon you: the first class of young gods at the Academy.
    “Not all of you will make it. Some will quit, some won’t pass our training, some will succumb to the temptations of pettiness and disappear back into the conurbation. Some of you will fall in the line of duty and die.”
    There was a hush in the room. Asra seemed not to notice and Rowan smiled, but the rest of the gods were now rapt in attention.
    “Oh yes,” said Indra, “though you’re not mortals, our enemies have found ways to kill gods. Don’t take this calling lightly; you may perish.”
    The group was tense and quiet. These students have never contemplated death before , thought Kayana. It’s as foreign to them as flight is to a mole.
    “Do not overworry about death,” interjected Heracles with a smile. “You’re at the Academy, and we’ll teach you to defend yourself. Whatever powers you have will be magnified a hundredfold by the time we’re done with you. Dagon, Lugh, the Yōkai and even great Poseidon will take notice when you approach. They’ll tremble and know that you’re part of a powerful force, a force that can’t be fooled, co-opted or bought off.”
    Heracles looked directly at Rowan.
    “We’re not in the business of dying here at the Academy,” said Heracles. “Even if it means great honor.”
    Indra got up to speak again. His golden skin pulsed as he talked, and his voice was clear and calm. He and Heracles resembled giants rather than gods, with Indra nearly three meters in height, and Heracles seemingly that in breadth.
    “There are sixteen of you,” said Indra. “You’ll be grouped into one of four Classes: the Elements, Death, War, and Nature. There will be four teams, each team with one member of each Class. You will train within your Class, and both live and fight within your team.
    “All necessary information will be found underneath your chair. Read it and then go to the mess hall immediately and sit with your team. Training will begin within the hour.”
    Indra left the room. After a few moments, the Amazon was the first to look under her chair. She took out a bit of granite with some carvings on it and read it. She smirked, smashed the granite over her knee and then stared at Heracles. The others began pulling their granite tablets from under their chairs and erupted into various reactions. Soon Kayana and Asra were the only students who didn’t know where they were going, so Kayana pulled her piece of granite from under the chair and it read:
    KAYANA MARX
    CLASS = DEATH
    QUARTERS = KAZBEK
    TEAM = HORSEMEN
    “You’ll survive this training,” said Heracles. “We’ll make sure of it. But you may end up grievously injured, so be very, very careful. Now rest up and get something to eat.”
                               
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    TRAINING
    Gunnar walked to the mess hall to meet his new team, the Horsemen. Two girls and a boy who can’t walk , he thought. I should be fighting for them, not with them.
    They sat down at four tables, each with four chairs hewn of ironwood. The chairs had their names engraved upon them: Tommy Alderon, Kayana Marx, Gunnar Redstone and Saoirse Frost.
    Hestia, goddess of the hearth and home, had cooked a large pot of ambrosia and placed it in the middle.
    “Watch out,” said Hestia, “this will make you strong, but it’s not for the weak of stomach.”
    Hestia left and Tommy poked his ambrosia and smiled. His helmet’s shield retracted slightly so that he could eat, but he didn’t take any food in yet. His face was