Merva had been stalling for days, noticing sometimes how Zeus looked absentminded even when he was with her.
She wondered what exactly he had told his father was the reason why he had got her out, and if he had got in trouble for it.
She had made a fast recovery with the help of Zeus and Minerva who were mostly by her side helping her. Now they were awaiting when she would be given the all clear by the healer.
Zeus sat on the couch by the window watching the leaves on trees and people outside while Merva went through one of the magazines Minerva had brought her.
She looked up from what she was reading and watched Zeus, her lips curling.
"Zeus." She called fondly, patting at the spot besides her on the bed as she put back the magazine.
He looked away from out the window and smiled at her before he stood and went to sit beside her.
"Anything wrong?" He asked.
But she smiled widely, shaking her head.
"No. I just wanted you to seat besides me like before."
He nodded and held her hand, picking up one of the magazines by her stand with his other hand. "What is this about?" He asked curiously, turning it around, and flipping the pages to check.
He did not remember bringing this, or anyone else coming to pay her a visit.
"Its about archery." She responded, leaning on his shoulder and wstching as her flipped through it.
"Really?"
"Yes." She replied.
"where did you get it from." He asjed, glancing at her.
"I just saw it." she answered vaguely, changing the topic immediately.
"Is your family aware that you have been spending all your time here? Won't they be upset?" Merva asked. She had finally gathered the courage to ask.
"They don't mind." He said to put her mind to rest.
"But what did your father say about you freeing me from there?" She asked, watching his every expression that crossed his face.
"Nothing." Zeus said, suddenly immersing himself in the magazine.
Merva sighed knowing that he was not ready to tell her what had happened.
On the day of the discharge, Minerva came to Merva early and checked up on her.
She helped her out with some tasks before she made to leave.
Zeus would be bringing Merva back.
'I will meet you in our chambers later on.' Minerva said as she picked upthe magazine from the bedside table.
'When you get back i will continue the power replenishment.' Minerva told her and she nodded.
Zeus opened the door and walked in with a healer.
Zeus listened attentively to all the instructions the healer had for Merva, and Minerva committed them to her memory.
She disappeared as soon as the healer was done and left the room.
Zeus walked to Merva and held her hand in case she needed support.
Merva looked at the room, wondering if Minerva and she were forgetting anything.
"We should get going." Zeus told her and she agreed.
They left the infirmary in a vehicle this time around. She sat by the closed windows wondering what it felt like to be a commoner walking the streets of the divine capital.
When the vehicle landed in the ladies quarters premises, Zeus stopped her from opening the door and did it himself once he was out.
Many ladies watched him from their windows, and Merva noticed.
Zeus was seen as an aloof heartthrobe of many of the young women in the continent. The handsome future heir of the throne.
She smiled inspire of herself, shaking her head at what length they might go to make her life miserable now.
She felt several eyes glaring down at her and tried to ignore them all.
Matron Nadine came forward to help out. "I will take it from here." She informed Zeus smiling at him as she bowed slightly.
Zeus embraced Merva in front of everyone causing her to blush deeply. "See you soon." He whispered in her ear.
"Bye." She said as soon as she was free, her eyes locked on the floor.
Zeus smiled at her and got back into the vehicle.
Merva and Nadine watched as the vehicle took to the sky before they headed into the building.
Matron Nadine helped Merva up. "You poor thing. Just what exactly did they put you through?" She asked.
Matron Nadine was not one to bother herself about such issues unless it was part of her duty, but she genuinely felt sorry for Merva.
She opened up the door to Merva's chambers and helped her in.
"I had Sephas and the cleaners fix back everything as much as they could." Nadine added as she deposited Merva on the bed.
Merva's gaze swept around the room. Everything was in it's normal position.
"Thank you." She said and smiled despite knowing Minerva had fixed it all properly. They had helped out after all.
"If you need anything, just ring for me." Nadine said before she left.
Minerva came from the bathroom with a bowl of hot water and a towel around her shoulder.
"What are you doing with those?" Merva asked her.
"The healer said you should be given a hot towel massage." Minerva answered matter-of-factly. She adjusted Merva's seating position, stopping Merva from struggling.
"I don't think that is what he said." Merva stated trying to resist. "Zeus wrote his instructions down for me."
Minerva slapped her gently at the back of her head. "Stay." She ordered. "I read somewhere that this will be good for you."
"And you want to try it on me?" Merva asked turning to see Minerva's serious expression.
"But you've never done such kind of chore before." She added, finally letting Minerva do as she pleased. "But don't burn me." Merva warned.
"I won't, I watched it being done." Minerva assured as she helped Merva take off her clothes and lay on her back.
Merva smiled. She sometimes loved when her sister acted like their mother.
She closed her eyes letting Minerva do what she wanted.
"Did Zeus say anything about what he told his father and the outcome?" Minerva asked, her face a mask of concentration.
"Ouch." Merva shouted in pain trying to get up, but Minerva held her down.
"I am not done yet." She stated, continuing.
"So what did he say?" She asked again.
"He did not say anything really, he kind of deflected on the... Ouch." Merva shouted, struggling against Minerva's strength.
"Let me go." She cried out, her legs kicking against the bed.
Minerva used her power and tied Merva to the bed knowing that she was too weak to break it.
"When I am stronger," Merva swore. "I will beat you up."
"Mhm." Minerva hummed and continued her work.
When Minerva was done, Merva felt her whole body relax. She lay quietly on the bed her hands folded on the pillow with her head on them as Minerva's transferred power into her to replenish her core.
Whatever they had done to her in the facility, they had made it easy for Merva to refine abyssal energy and make it hers.
She sighed softly. It felt like therapy.
"I went to school today, the semester exams are coming up. Are you going to partake in it?" Minerva asked.
"Mmm." Merva hummed drowsily.
"Wouldn't it be better to forfeit it if the application is accepted?" Minerva asked.
The list of the new student recruits would be out soon. If your name is on it, why put yourself through the stress of writing the semester exams again?"
But Merva only hummed. She was already lost in the world of sleep, a dreamy smile on her face.
Minerva stood up from the bed once she was done and took the bowl back to the bathroom.
She dropped the towels into the laundry basket and watched Merva's peaceful face.
She had been looking for a way which she could be in human form if she pleased, and spirit when she willed.
She did not want to always hide within a bubble just to survive in Olympus. Merva had no idea that she had been looks for such, and she was only going to tell her when she had found a way.
She disappeared from the chambers and took to the sky, she was continuing with her search.
*** ***
Palace Aetheria was unusually quiet, all the servants and workers walking about noiselessly. They were basically walking on thin ice.
Zeus knelt in one of the underground halls, his face an identical replica of his father's own. He was unrepentant, and not bothered by the punishment.
"You defied my orders again." High god Zoran raised his voice, finally losing his cool. Zeus looked beyond him unmoved.
He hit Zeus across the face causing him to fall, but Zeus arranged his form and did not bother wiping the blood on his lips.
He flexed his jaw as the wound healed quickly and continued his expression.
He heard Metis sobbing outside by the door, but he was unmoved.
He watched his father comb through his hair in frustration, and snorted.
It was funny watching the ever comported ruler lose his cool.
Zoran picked up his stick and turned to Zeus. "Are you sorry?" He asked, looking for a bit of repentance, but Zeus looked at him expressionlessly.
Zeus took all the hits without pleading, waiting until Zoran was exhausted.
"Get out." Zoran shouted at him turning his back on him.
He stood up and dusted his knees, bowing before he left the hall.
He passed by Metis and Gwen, barely glancing at their tear stained face.
"Zeus." Metis called out, the sight of her son's blood stained robes breaking her heart but he did not turn back.