Mount Olympus – Just After Dawn
The clouds around Olympus still smelled like fresh stone and lightning. The marble columns were newly carved. The gold plating on the throne hall hadn't even dulled. Everything was still new—a kingdom just born from the ashes of war.
Zeus stood at the edge of the highest balcony, arms folded, cloak brushing behind him in the breeze. His eyes scanned the skies, not for enemies…
…but for what came next.
Then—
Caw.
The air shifted.
A shadow cut through the light. A single black raven, feathers glinting with a faint dark shimmer, circled once overhead and dove down like a spear. Zeus didn't move.
The bird landed softly on the balcony rail.
Then it opened its beak…
…and vomited a tightly-rolled parchment sealed with strange runes. Its eyes—one normal, one glowing faint blue—met Zeus's for a long second.
Then it took off again, vanishing into the clouds.
Zeus stared at the scroll in his hand.
It hummed with magic he didn't recognize.
