Ava stood alongside the other survivors of the battle, lined up in formation in front of the great temple of Athena. Alydynes, a patrician in his mid-fifties and Athens’ currently elected leader, stood before them on the steps of the temple, praising the soldiers for their incredible bravery and heroism. Ava looked over her shoulder and saw the sun rising over the eastern hills.

“It is only because of your heroism that our beloved city still stands,” said Alydynes solemnly. “The people of Athens will forever remember your deeds of this past night, as well as the sacrifices of all those who fell in battle against the monsters. But if I am to speak the truth, there is one soldier in particular to whom we all owe our lives.”

Alydynes stepped down from the temple steps and walked slowly up to Ava.

“Forgive me, I do not know your name, nor your parentage,” he said apologetically.

“I am Ava, daughter of Aven and Heros,” she replied with a small bow.

“Ava, daughter of Aven and Heros,” said Alydynes, “you have proved in one night what no other soldier could prove in their entire career: that you are a daughter of the Gods! That divine blood flows in your veins.”

“Well, I'm really only a servant girl,” replied Ava, somewhat embarrassed. “If I didn't have this superhuman streak in me, I'd be...”

“Just another soldier in the Guard?” said Alydynes. “Maybe so, but it was through your own courage and skill that you used your power to its full potential. Few others would have ever dared to take up the Spear of Athena, yet you did so and by risking your own life saved our beloved city. As elected leader of Athens, I present you with this.”

Alydynes held up a gold medallion and hung it around Ava's neck. Ava lifted the medallion and examined it curiously. The medallion bore a picture of Athena herself, spear and shield in hand.

“This medal represents the highest honor in the Guard,” Alydynes explained, “you are now a Champion of Athena.”

Ava looked up at him with a smile, letting the medallion fall back to rest on her chest.

“I’m beyond grateful for this honor,” she said, “but if I may ask one small favor, I’d like my duty as a member of the Guard to remain part-time. My battalion was all but wiped out, so you have no need for another captain.”

“That’s true,” Alydynes replied solemnly, “but Athens needs soldiers like you, Ava; particularly now, what with the immense losses we have suffered at the hands of those monsters. We need all the good soldiers, and commanders, we can get. Will you not accept a full-time position in the Guard?”

“Listen,” Ava replied with a shrug, “I may have superhuman strength and skill-at-arms, but it hasn’t even been two days since I became a fully-trained soldier. I know nothing about tactics or commanding troops or any of the other responsibilities I’d have as a battalion commander. Besides, my mistress needs a servant girl.”

“Very well,” said Alydynes, smiling in understanding, “but promise me that should ever Athens need a hero again... show up and be that hero.”

“I will,” promised Ava, bowing.

Alydynes nodded, then looked up and addressed the gathered soldiers.

“You have all done more than I could have ever asked of you,” he said with immense gratitude. “On behalf of every citizen of Athens, I commend you all and offer my deepest thanks.”

Alydynes turned and walked away up the temple’s steps. The crowd of soldiers began to disperse.

“Get some rest,” called Tora, “but I want you all to report in this afternoon so we can start cleaning up the city. Understood?”

“Yes, captain!” answered the soldiers.

Ava looked around and saw Narsus walking towards her. Ava smiled in relief.

“I was right,” Narsus said, smiling back, “you keep surprising us. And thank the Gods that you do.”

“No-one’s more surprised than I am,” replied Ava.

“So, will you finally admit that you’re not ‘just a servant girl’?” asked Narsus.

“Fine,” conceded Ava with a good-natured sigh, “but don’t start calling me ‘captain’ or ‘hero’ or… whatever other stupid titles you might think of.”

“I’ll try not to, Ava,” replied Narsus with a smile. He looked her up and down, then added, “You really need to get yourself cleaned up.”

“Same to you,” laughed Ava, pointing at Narsus’ blood-soaked body.

“What happened to the Spear, by the way?” asked Narsus curiously.

“I returned it to the temple of Athena,” Ava replied, pointing up at the great temple.

“Now that  is the true act of a hero!”

   *   *   *

The Gods of Olympus were gathered once more in the court of Zeus. Athena hid her joy behind a stern expression as she watched Poseidon stride to the center of the court.

“Brother,” Poseidon snarled furiously, looking up at Zeus with a stormy glare, “you swore that there would be no interference!”

“I did, and there has been none,” replied Zeus flatly, trying to hide his own satisfaction at the unexpected turn of events that had saved Athens from destruction. “It was the actions of an Athenian woman that thwarted your children, not any of us.”

Poseidon turned and glared around at the assembled gods and goddesses, before turning back to Zeus. The God of the Sea fell silent, staring at the ground and sorting his thoughts.

After a while he looked up and growled, “It was Athena's Spear that saved them...”

“That Spear was dropped to earth centuries ago,” retorted Zeus. “If you have any justified accusations to make, I am willing to hear them.”

Poseidon paused for a few moments before letting out a long, frustrated sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

“On the bright side,” continued Zeus, “the people of Athens have sought an explanation from the Oracle of Delphi, and she has told them it was their failure to pay proper respect to you that brought such misfortune upon them. Now men and women throng your temples and offer praise and gifts in quantities exceeding those of even their patron Goddess Athena. While your old temples have been glamorously refurnished, work is already underway on a grand new temple dedicated to you.”

“That’s something, at least…” muttered Poseidon, though it was obvious that it brought him little comfort.

The God of the Sea turned away from Zeus and Hera, casting a final glare around at the other Olympians before storming from the court. As the Gods left the court, Athena spotted Eris slipping away. Athena ran after her, following her all the way to the Caeliphals. As she caught up with the Goddess of Discord, Eris turned and gave her an irritated look.

“I do not seek thanks,” she said coldly.

“Then I won’t give you any,” replied Athena. “It’s just... for a while there, I didn’t think the plan was going to work.”

“What?” asked Eris confused.

“Well, it seemed like she was never going to realize that she had divine blood, but then... she did.”

“Ah, yes,” said Eris, smiling smugly, “you’re right, she would never have even thought of it, let alone believed it. She was so certain that she was just an ordinary servant girl. Thanks to her, it all very nearly came to nothing.”

“But?”

“I decided she needed some guidance,” continued Eris. “I told her she had divine blood in her veins and she believed me.”

“What?! You told her?” asked Athena in surprise.

“In the form of an old feeble man, yes,” replied Eris. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have evil plans to think up.”

“Though your next trick may well be against me, I thank you,” said Athena gratefully. She turned and walked away, leaving Eris alone.

Standing among the pine trees, Eris gazed out over the mountainside into the wide blue sky, already plotting her next act of discord.