Crowned in the realm of death

The next day, As we sat in the quiet glow of her little lamp, I turned to Hestia and asked, "Sister… can you teach me about domains? About the power of gods?"

Her warm smile shifted in an instant. The gentle, comforting presence I'd come to rely on transformed before my eyes. Her posture straightened, her voice sharpened, and her eyes took on the firm, piercing gaze of a mentor.

"If you wish to understand," she said sternly, "then you must be ready to learn seriously. No laziness. No shortcuts."

I nodded, a bit startled but eager.

"First, let me explain godhood," she began, her voice echoing like scripture in the small cave. "Godhood is not just power. It is a concept a law, a force, or a truth that governs part of existence. My godhood is hearth and sacred fire. Wherever families gather, wherever warmth and bonds hold people together I am there, even without being seen."

She paced slowly as she spoke, firelight flickering behind her like a mantle.

"Anyone can learn a godhood," she continued. "There is no divine law restricting who may attain which godhood—in theory. A god may pursue water, war, dreams, decay, knowledge anything. But in practice," she paused, raising a finger, "there are many complications."

Her tone grew even more serious.

"Every godhood carries its essence a unique spiritual imprint that fuses with your soul. If someone tries to absorb too many different essences, their divine energy becomes… unstable. Impure. The power may conflict within them, causing imbalance, even harm. Worse, it slows your ascent through the divine ranks or even descends."

I listened, wide-eyed, absorbing every word.

"That's why compatibility is everything," she said. "Not just between you and the godhood, but also between the godhoods themselves. A god of order will struggle if they try to take on chaos. A god of war who reaches for peace must reconcile two opposing truths or be torn between them."

She looked at me, stern but calm. "You must choose your path carefully, Hades. Power is tempting, but clarity and harmony within yourself are what truly allow you to rise."

I nodded slowly, my mind already racing thinking of the black wings that shielded me, the mineral affinity I felt, the chill that never left my body.

I had inherited power… but I needed to shape it into purpose.

And now, for the first time, I had the wisdom to begin.

 She continued, "Every divine being is born with a most compatible godhood—one that resonates with the core of their soul. It is the path of least resistance, the domain that belongs to you even before you know it."

She stepped closer, kneeling by the fire, her hand resting above the gentle flame.

"To awaken that godhood," she said, "you must begin from within. First, calm your mind silence the chaos, the fear, the distractions. When the mind is still, focus on your soul. Feel its shape, its weight, its rhythm. Your godhood rests there, like a seed waiting to bloom."

She closed her eyes, and I watched as the fire around her pulsed, not with heat but with purpose.

"Once you find it," she said, her voice softer now, almost reverent, "you must nourish it. Feed it your divine energy, not forcefully, but steadily, like a stream watering a root. Little by little, your energy will merge with the essence of your godhood. When the harmony is complete, when the essence fuses fully with your soul, you will awaken your godhood."

She opened her eyes and looked directly into mine.

"And when that happens, Hades… the world around you will know. That is when you no longer borrow power you will become a source of power."

I sat there in silence, awestruck.

Hestia continued, her tone softening with understanding, but still carrying the weight of truth.

"For many divine beings, their initial godhood awakens instinctively sometimes within moments of birth. It's as natural as breathing. Their essence aligns easily, and their domain reveals itself like a birthright. That's why newborn gods often display miraculous powers immediately."

She paused, then looked at me more gently, her eyes reflecting both wisdom and sympathy.

"But… there are exceptions."

Her gaze met mine, steady and honest.

"There are cases like yours where the godhood doesn't awaken right away. Sometimes, it's because of trauma at birth. Sometimes, because of interference… or imprisonment."

"But that doesn't mean it's lost it just means you'll have to make extra effort. You'll have to work harder than most. Train your mind, refine your divine energy, seek harmony in yourself where others are born with it."

She smiled then, not with pity—but pride.

"Your path won't be easy, Hades. But because of that, when you do awaken your godhood… it will be stronger, purer, more earned than most ever achieve. You'll understand it not just as power but as part of who you truly are."

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of both burden and purpose settle over me.

After Hestia's lesson, her words still echoing in my mind, I sat down cross-legged on the warm stone floor. I closed my eyes and let out a slow, controlled breath, placing my hands on my knees as I slipped into meditation.

I began by calming my thoughts—letting go of the pain, the noise, the memories. With every breath, my thoughts quieted, like ripples fading into stillness. Then, gently, I turned inward—deeper, reaching for the core of my being.

At first, it was difficult. My soul felt hidden beneath layers of confusion and foreign energy. But I kept pushing, drawing from the patience Hestia had shown me.

And finally I reached it.

It wasn't a place, not really, but it felt like one. A vast void stretched around me, infinite and quiet. At its centre hovered a massive, glowing purple sphere, like a second sun, pulsing with immeasurable power. Surrounding it were eleven smaller orbs, each glowing with a distinct colour, slowly orbiting like planets around a star.

I opened my eyes in awe, breath short. Still seated, I turned to my sister and quietly told her what I saw. Her reaction was instant.

Her face lit up with a radiant, almost childlike joy. "Congratulations, brother!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. "You are truly gifted. That giant purple orb is a sign your soul bears a King-Class Domain. You are destined to become a God King!"

I blinked in surprise. Me? A God King?

"Thank you… sister," I said, humbled but confused. "But… what do I do now?"

Hestia, still smiling, placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Now begins your true path."

She continued in a more composed tone. "Start by focusing on the smaller orbs—each one represents a potential godhood. These will be easier to awaken and will help stabilise your divine energy. One by one, awaken them and bond with their essence, and they will become your strength."

Her expression turned a bit more serious as she gestured toward the space where my soul resided. "But the large orb the God King domain is different. Even if you awaken it… It will not obey you immediately."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because King-Class domains come with their conditions," she explained. "They are supreme forces ruling over other domains. And such power demands more than just awakening… it demands qualification."

"You will have to prove yourself worthy of its full power. Until you fulfil its condition, you will not be able to wield it completely. It will stir within you, offer you glimpses, but never bend fully to your will until you become who you are meant to be."

I looked down at my hands, imagining the orbs within me.

One step at a time.

I would begin with the smaller orbs. Strengthen my essence. Refine my soul. And when the time came…

I would ris

e to claim the throne written in my soul.

I would become Hades, not just a god a king among gods.