Demi-god Twin.-Chapter 10 - : Madness.

-Iphicles' P.O.V-

A few hours after the fiasco between Anissa and the three Mercenaries, The tavern is now thankfully quiet, save for the crackling of the hearth and the low murmur of distant conversations.

Atalanta sits across from Chiron and me at a corner table, her piercing gaze locking with mine every so often as if trying to gauge my worth.

She has just finished explaining the situation—a planned expedition by the king of Argos to kill the Laerdinian Hydra, a monster that has terrorized the region for centuries.

The bounty? Gold equivalent to the weight of one of the Hydra's heads.

"That explains why the city's crawling with mercenaries," Chiron says, stroking his beard. "The promise of riches always draws a crowd."

I lean forward. "Why now? From what I've heard, the Hydra has lived in that lake for over a century."

Atalanta nods. "You're right. Until recently, the Hydra kept to itself, hunting sheep, goats, and the occasional overconfident adventurer. But something's changed." Her tone darkens.

"It's become more aggressive. It destroyed two villages near the lake. Its agitation has forced other monsters to flee the surrounding forests, pushing them toward human settlements. The roads aren't safe anymore. Merchants are scared to travel, which means trade is grinding to a halt. If it continues, Argos will be cut off completely, and the city will suffer."

Chiron mutters under his breath. "That's a dire situation, no doubt." He glances at Atalanta. "And you my dear lass? Are you also here to kill the Hydra?"

I interject before she can answer. "How? The legends say that cutting off one of its nine heads is useless—two more will grow in its place."

Atalanta taps her bow, propped up at her side, and it begins to glow faintly with yellow light.

Chiron inhales sharply, staring at the weapon intensely.

"A Demigod artifact," my Teacher says, his voice filled with both awe and wariness. "It's enchanted to kill monsters."

"What does that mean?" I ask, my eyes narrowing at it, yet nothing stands out apart from the glow.

Clearing his throat, Chiron turns to me, his tone lecturing. "Artifacts are ranked based on their power and origin. Mortal rank artifacts are forged by humans—useful, but mundane. Demigod rank artifacts, like hers, are imbued with divine magic or crafted by powerful beings. And then there are Divine artifacts, weapons of the gods themselves. They can shape the very fabric of the world." He looks back at Atalanta. "You must have sold your soul to obtain such a weapon."

Atalanta smirks. "Not quite. A clan of Cyclopes owed me a favor."

Chiron shakes his head. "You're lucky. Cyclopes are the finest artifact forgers, but they don't take kindly to mortals."

The most uptodat𝓮 n𝒐vels are published on freёnovelkiss.com.

I frown. "Do you really think that bow is enough to kill the Hydra?"

Atalanta straightens, her confidence unshaken. "It is. But I can't do it alone."

She leans forward, her voice dropping slightly. "I need someone to distract the Hydra while I strike the heads. The king's soldiers and mercenaries aren't reliable, cowards the lot of them. I don't trust them to hold its attention while I charge my shots." Her gaze shifts to Chiron. "That's why I need you Master Chiron."

Chiron doesn't hesitate. "No."

Atalanta blinks, caught off guard. "No? Why not?"

The centaur leans back, his arms crossed. "My days on the battlefield are behind me. I'm a teacher now, not a hero seeking glory or a challenge."

She narrows her eyes. "You've only grown stronger with age. You can't tell me you're not tempted."

Chiron shakes his head. "It's a matter of principle. But..." He gestures toward me. "You're free to ask Iphicles."

Atalanta and I speak at the same time:

"What?! Me?"

"No. Not him."

We glare at each other. She recovers first, folding her arms. "He's too weak to survive the Hydra's breath, let alone its attacks."

I bristle at the insult. "Don't judge me based on our little archery skirmish. You might be better with a bow, but that's just one skill out of many I've mastered."

Her emerald eyes narrow as she leans closer. "I've seen stronger men and women than you fall to monsters weaker than the Hydra. What makes you special?"

I'm tempted to deploy my bronze wings as proof but hold back, steadying my voice. "You'll just have to take Chiron's word for it. Or wait and see for yourself."

Atalanta glances at Chiron, who nods slightly. "Iphicles is right. Don't underestimate him."

She sighs, clearly unconvinced. "If you'd brought along the other brother, Herakles, I might have been impressed."

The mention of my brother's name sends a surge of rage through me. My fist slams onto the table, silencing the entire tavern.

I glare at her, my voice quiet but venomous. "Don't say his name in my presence again, or I'll cut out your tongue, regardless of whether we share the same teacher."

Atalanta studies me for a long time. I hold her gaze steadily. Her blank mask finally cracks and the frustrating smirk returns as she leans back. "There you are."

I blink, confused by her reaction.

Chiron chuckles, shaking his head. "Don't underestimate him, Atalanta. You're more alike than you realize."

I glance between them. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Atalanta's smile softens, her tone losing some of its edge. "Anyone Chiron takes on as a student has a certain... madness. I saw it just now, in your eyes. It tells me you won't back down once you've chosen a path, even if it leads to your death."

Her words hang in the air, and for the first time, I feel a flicker of understanding.

She stands, brushing off her tunic. "Meet me at the king's palace tomorrow morning. If you've got the guts to follow through, that is."

Without waiting for a response, she walks out of the tavern, passing Anissa by the door.

---

As the tavern settles back into its usual hum of activity, Chiron looks at me. "So? Are you going to go?"

I hesitate, my mind racing. "I don't know. We were supposed to leave Argos tomorrow morning."

Chiron leans forward, his gaze steady. "Think it through tonight, Iphicles. Sometimes destiny doesn't fall into your lap or knock on your door. Sometimes you need to search for it yourself."

He stands, patting my shoulder. "I'll help Anissa with the supplies. Take your time."

As he walks off toward Anissa, I sit alone at the corner table, the noise of the tavern fading into the background.

My mind churns with thoughts of the Hydra, of Atalanta's challenge, and of the madness she claimed to see in me.

My eyes trail to the faint System icon hovering at the edge of my vision—a symbol of my Power, visible only to me. I've yet to understand it's limits. Could it work against something like the Hydra?

The thought stirs something deep within me. For the first time in a long while, I feel a spark of curiosity—and a faint, dangerous thrill.

This could be the path I've been looking for. Or the Death I unwittingly invite.

Tomorrow will decide everything. For now, sleep and nightmares await.