Circe wandered if her Sister Undine noticed the truth of Xander, the boy's aura was telling in ways that only one with a true understanding of magic could taste. She had been training the girl for years, and Undine like all of Helios' line was rather exceptional at the craft. When her sister turned to her, after sniffing the boy discretely, it was clear that she had in fact noticed it.

  'The Boy... Medea... she really... she really did it, didn't she?'

  'Yes, when I released his emotional memories of Our Niece, it released their connection. There is a reason why the gods are forbidden to be close to their children, when one of potent mystical energy gains emotional ties... the connection is more than just emotional. The boy is no longer Medea's Spiritual son, but her son truth, though her blood is not his he has inherited her magic. It was locked away, masked by the wall in his soul. It will render the boy, over time, able to tap into powers that will exceed even hers... the boy is already a skillful mage, but as a human he is already approaching his max. Through her ties, he will be more, better...'

  They all, even Hera, almost tumbled when the boy they were leading out of the temple turned to them suddenly. "Medea adopted me?"

  " You heard that?" Undine asked.

  "I always excelled at cerebral magic, but now it's louder, whispers from others are almost screams." His eyes went cold. "Explain."

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  Circe sighed, knowing she really had no choice. "If you heard our thoughts, than you are aware of the majority... but you also need to know this. Your inheritance is more like a blessing, one that will help you grow and adapt, it opens doors and changes fate, but only based on your choices. That is the gift of magic, choice. Now, we need to go, there is much to do, and so little time... you are the only one that can free Hecate, you know."

  "Wait what?"

  Circe turned to him, to Hera. "Hera, you know how clever Zeus is for punishment. Hecate choosing to help a mortal, and that mortal unintentionally getting you to divorce him... Hecate is bound by magic that no god or demigod can break... only a human can, a true mortal can. One without divine spark, and of those that can, they cannot have developed any form of immortality. It has to be a young mage, and they have to choose this... a mockery of her faith in children and her desire to always promote choice.

  There is very, very little time... we must prepare you, all four of you, for your first quest. The quest to save the Goddess of Magic."

  "Four?" Undine asked, excited, though Hera and Xander said it as well with far less enthusiasm.

  "Yes, he is awake and in his new vessel." Circe could not help but grin, proud and pleased. "Pasiphae and I have been working for centuries to revive Asterion, the Minotaur to you. He was sealed away in her pendant for centuries, desperate for a choice and chance. We managed to grant him both of that... and he has asked to help in this quest... now, again, we have little time."

  And finally they stepped out of the Portal Chamber and into the beauty of her Island where even the Indulgent Hera gasped with awe at the sight.