Zeus & Byzantine - Chapter 11: Chariots of the Gods

Archaeologist’s Office

She looked up at a wall filled with ceiling-high bookshelves, crammed with academic volumes bearing cracked, faded covers. Latin, Greek, and Egyptian texts sat between overflowing files.

“And that was my relationship with Hera in the beginning.”

“Can gods make people sick on purpose?”

“They can influence your health. But they also have to accept the karma that comes from it.”

She ran her hand along the oak table, its surface worn with scratches and ink stains.

“At first, Hera wanted to deal with my parents, but…”

“What happened?”

“I disrupted Hera’s system.”

“Disrupted the system?”

The Queen of Heaven—not just the wife of the great god, but also an orderly mother figure, one who watched over both the human and divine worlds with close scrutiny.

“If you don't stop, I’ll take care of her parents,” Hera threatened.

“Hmm… Calm down, Hera,” Zeus sighed. “Byu probably doesn’t care that much. She might even thank you.”

“Ha? What did you just say? Thank you?”

Zeus nodded with a gloomy look on his face.

“That girl!” Hera lifted her head and glanced at Zeus out of the corner of her eye. “What is it with her?”

Gods are complex beings. But when they face a human life as messed up as mine, they, too, reach their limits.

After that, Hera began fighting in a confused mode. She wanted everything to fall apart, but…

“Your parents are toxic? Perfect. Let’s keep tormenting you. Excellent! That makes my job so much easier. This life of hers is already such a wreck, I don’t even need to do anything.” Hera smiled, satisfied, as she watched my miserable life unfold.

“So I survived… somehow.”

“Then why…” I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to ask the question that suddenly felt terrifying. “Why didn’t Hera just take your life?”