The Garden of Hesperides.
It is a beautiful island made up of a beautiful orchard, which consists of all kinds of rare flora and fauna, located in the far west, bordering the Greek realms.
However, the main attraction of this island, of course, was the magnificent, divine apple tree that grew the golden apples full of divinity. A gift from Mother Earth herself to the Queen of Olympus on the day of her wedding.
It is a beautiful garden tended to by the Hesperides. The daughters of Atlas, the Titan General, and Hesperis, a minor sea goddess, with one of them being born from Pleione instead.
These Nymphs are tasked with tending to the garden and maintaining its beauty and life for all eternity.
However, they are not the only residents of this island.
As the tree that attracted a lot of envy and jelousy from many beings across the realms, who wanted that tree, or at least one of its fruites, for themselves, it was obvious that Hera would not just leave behind these Nymphs to look after it, especially when she had personally caught these girls more than once when they plucked some of the golden apples for themselves.
That is why Hera had been looking for a guardian who could guard her tree from anyone who would look to take its fruit.
Unfortunatley, this search is still ongoing as the queen has yet to find a suitable guardian.
As the Hesperides went about their daily lives on the island, foraging for food, filling their pithos from the pure rivers, and playing with the animals to pass the time, the protective barrier around their island pulsed for a moment before remaining silent.
Immediately, the women stood up, tense and ready for intruders. However, when the barrier fell silent, they realized that the intruder was not really an intruder, but a guest.
Curious to see who had arrived here, three of the five sisters moved to the shores, only to see a figure that rarely arrived here.
His mane of black hair stuck out in the air here and there as his eyes stared at his surroundings with a curious but familiar look.
As one, the Hesperides took a knee in front of the god and greeted him.
"""""Greetings, Lord Brolios."""""
"Alright, enough of that. I told you not to do something like that before."
Brolios dismissed the greeting with a look caught between exasperation and annoyance.
Unfortunately, the girls only grinned a bit and still spoke with an overtly formal tone, knowing that it would annoy the god even more.
And exactly as they expected, Brolios placed his face in his palms and groaned.
"Hera put you girls up to this, didn't she?"
The girls shook their heads at those words, the amused and warm look still there in their gazes as they beheld the famed God of Destruction, who was, ironically, the most gentle and carefree god on Olympus.
If it were any other god who had arrived here instead of Brolios, the girls would not have even dared to speak unless spoken to, afraid that they would incur punishment.
Of course, the Olympians are not that petty under the influence of Brolios and don't really punish living beings much unless they truly deserve it. But the minor gods and other beings of power? They are still as egotistical and prideful as always, making the girls tread cautiously around such beings.
The only god whom they trust not to kill them or torment them in unspeakable ways for all eternity, even if they speak their mind, was Brolios. Which was why they dared to act like this in his presence.
With a sigh, Brolios started walking to the center of the island, gesturing for the girls to follow them.
Then, he caught sight of the missing sisters and spoke with curiosity.
"Where are Hesperia and Zoe?"
Arethusa spoke up with an amused tone.
"Hesperia is teaching Zoe how to forage from the deeper parts of the forest without getting killed by one of the many monsters that call it home."
Brolios shook his head at those words.
"Why you girls insist on hunting and foraging for your food when we provide you with enough food to last multiple years every month is beyond me."
Erytheia chuckled at the god's words.
"My lord. It is not just for the food. It is a way for us to keep our skills sharp and make sure we don't lose our strength during our.....stay here."
The twinge of loss in her tone made her sisters have a slightly downcast look before they masked it immediately. Not wanting the gentle god to worry about them.
Unfortunately, the god saw it and sighed a bit.
"I know how you feel about your stay here, and trust me, I am trying to get Hera to open up a little and get rid of her paranoia. In fact, I think I have a plan on how to do just that and make it so that you girls can finally move around the world freely, without restraints, should you choose to."
The girls exchanged a shocked look before their expressions became downcast again, while Aegle, the youngest of them aside from Zoe, spoke up with a self-mocking expression.
"Please, do not give us false hope, my lord. We know better than anyone that Olympus cannot trust the children of the enemy titans with something as powerful as freedom. It is the whole reason why we are on this island in the first place, after all-"
The girl stopped speaking and tensed up when Brolios placed his hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair.
"It is not your fault that you were born to a monster, and neither is it right to punish you for the sins of your parents. And, while Hera's actions might seem like she is punishing you by confining you to this island, trust me when I say this. Back then, when this decision was made, it was for your own good."
'Especially when there is no shortage of minor gods and titans out there who would love nothing more than to destroy your mind, violate your body, and taint your soul as a form of revenge against your uncaring father. A justified anger, but the wrong target to take said anger out on.'
The god's eyes flashed pale yellow as his gaze beheld the prison of Atlas in the distance, knowing that the Titan could probably feel his gaze. A Titan whose actions have condemned his children to this position in the first place.
With a sigh, Brolios shook his head, turning to the girls who looked like they were on the verge of crying.
"However, that reasoning is no longer needed, especially since we have already taken care of things on our end. Although I think Hera has grown attached to you girls, since she refuses to let you all out, afraid that something would happen to you should you leave her gaze for but a moment."
The girls gave the god a stunned look.
"Lady Hera? Attached to us? Are thou sure you did not mispoke?"
Brolios gave an annoyed look to the girls, who held looks of clear disbelief.
"Alright, now that's just insulting. Despite what you might think, Hera is indeed capable of loving others."
"...My Lord, forgive our words, but be assured that we only speak the truth. Does thee even know what kind of reputation thine sister has? A reputation earned through actions, we might add."
Their conversation came to a stop when the two figures rushed out of the forest nearby, revealing the last of the two sisters.
Hesperia, the oldest, and Zoe Nightshade, the youngest.
The moment the girls spotted the god, however, they left their baskets full of meat and wild herbs to the side and sprinted towards him, quickly taking a knee in greeting, much to the god's annoyance. Again.
"Ok, ok. Enough of that. Hesperia, why must you and the girls insist on doing this? You know how uncomfortable it makes me feel."
The girls just grinned, happy that their mischief worked.
Shaking his head, Brolios continued forward, with the girls following him.
Zoe walked forward even more and kept pace with Brolios.
"Lord Brolios! I heard recently that thou went outside our realms again? How much further did thou get this time?"
"Not much. I just went out to investigate a pulse of foreign divinity I felt a few days ago, and did not stray far from the realms. When I was sure that what I felt was merely a residue from a long, long time ago, I returned home. Why do you ask?"
Zoe looked around conspiratorially before speaking in a whisper, pretending that her sisters would not hear her.
"I wish to explore across our realms and beyond when I have the chance in the future."
"Hahaha! That right? Then, I look forward to seeing what you discover."
"Zoe! Thou know that the flux outside our realms is not safe for travel!"
"I know! That is why I find it inspiring and thrilling."
"Thou art insane!"
"I don't want to hear that from thou! Arethusa!"
The girls immediately fell into their usual bickering as Brolios sighed and kept moving.
Soon, they arrived at the large orchard that surrounded the tree of golden apples.
Without hesitation, Brolios approached the tree, his domain of Nature making the tree sway in the wind, as if happy to see him.
Under the awe-filled gazes of the girls, Brolios did not even have to reach out to get his prize. Since one of the golden apples fell straight into his open palm, as if the tree itself was happy to give him one of its fruits and could not bear the thought of the god straining himself by stretching out his hand to pluck one.
Much to said god's confusion and mild embarrassment since he felt all of this through his domain.
"....Well, that went well?"
"...My Lord? Is this apple what thou came here for?"
Brolios nodded.
"Remember what I said about convincing Hera? I recently came up with a new recipe for fermenting Ambrosia with various divine materials to make a tasty drink. The only thing missing from the drink was something that held neutral divinity. Something that this apple has in abundance. With this, I think I can convince her during the Summer Solstice to finally let you girls have some freedom."
"But, wouldn't Lady Hera be angry that thou took one without her permission?"
Brolios shook his head at Zoe's question.
"Not really, because I already told her that I am taking one. Of course, she does not know about the drink. I told her that I am going to use it for an experiment and for my training."
The girls shared a dumbfounded look before collectively asking the question that came to their minds.
"Lord Brolios actually knows how to lie?"
"Hey!! What is that supposed to mean?"
The girls giggled at the god's outraged words before they invited him to dinner, which the god gladly obliged.
That night, the nymphs sang and danced to entertain and help relax the god, who was one of the rare few that they could truly call their friend.
----------------------------------------------------
Author Notes: Read 5 chapters ahead on Patreon
Patreon: patreon.com/Ruijard1