Chapter 3: The owl of wisdom (part 1)

The while owl statue gradually turned into gold, it spread out golden light and lit up whole the hall by the divine light. The golden owl blinked then opened its eyes.

“How long is it from the last time I appeared?” said the owl it soared up, “It must be entire a year. Yes, it has always been. I always wake up after a year to do my duty. I can see new faces here, very young, strong, brave and even proud. It’s a very long time ago when the battle of the gods had ended. Zeus had ascended to the throne, divided the world into three, one for him to rule Olympus, another for one of bother Poseidon to rule ocean and the other for other bother Hades to rule the Underworld. The world was ruled by them in peace and peace for long times. Till, an argument came out between them the twelve gods and goddesses on Olympus. Who is the most revered god or goddess? The argument seemed not to have the end till goddess Athena gave them an idea. She advised others to choose people who live in ground, gave them strength, intellect and courage, asked them to go and do feats and brought names of their gods or goddess out. Firstly, all of them were excited to participate in the game and therefore, this place Hippocoon was created. The first days, very few people were chosen. They scattered on world the world, did their duties but they are too few and couldn’t do much things. So, more many of people were brought to here after that. Gods and goddess expanded this Hippocoon land, built this castle, and ordered the previous ones to keep staying here to teach the new ones. That’s because this school was established. They even created a new currency called Reni and gave them to chosen people using to exchange in Hippocoon. Yes, it’s why their first purpose was forgotten. God Hades and Poseidon left the game while others grouped into, kept building this place. All people here must belong to one of the four families, Zeusias the people who were blessed by god Zeus and Hermes; Herathyias blessed by Hera, Hestia and Hephaestus; Aresians blessed by Ares, Apollo and Aphrodite; Athenenas blessed by Athena and Artemis;”

“Course you are had been blessed at the time you were born and I which is called the owl of wisdom a servant of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, handicraft, and warfare. I was given abilities to see a little past and future, arouse the strength inside you and find which family you belong to. Come on, who first?” added the owl of wisdom then landed on its pole.

When the owl of wisdom finished its speech, Finn and his fellows had been standing aside. One of them who wore in dark brown dress made her way to walk front of Heracles and others.

“Hi boys and girls, I am Genevieve, your intermediate and advanced magic professor, leader of Athenena family. According to the owl of wisdom’s saying, you all have to go ahead, each of you for him to look through you all. He will discover who are you and where you belong to. Please step to here in turn. It starts from you.” she said, pointed at the boy standing at the head of Heracles’ line. The boy hesitated a little then made his way to step on the stairs heading to the pole where the owl of wisdom was. He stopped front of it about five or six feet. The owl of wisdom soared up again then lowered, kept flapping in front of the boy’s face; stared at the boy’s eyes by its big eyes. Then it moved flying around him few times and later landed on his head. Symbols of wings suddenly appeared on the boy’s ankles, it spread out silver light through his pants. 

“A pair of wings,” said the owl of wisdom loudly, “You were blessed by god Hermes giving the ability moving between the worlds, a member of Zeusias. Go to the first table on you right. This is the place of your family.” said the owl of wisdom.

“The next.” it added.

It’s a bobbing curly hair girl standing at the head of Heracles’s the next line going ahead. She made the way to stand at front of the owl of wisdom which was at the midair. 

“I’m finding it? Where is it, the symbol of god or goddess?” cried the owl of wisdom, fluttered around her, “I had seen it, a bird. But, what is the bird?” cried it again, “Let me see, an owl, a peacock, a vulture or a swan. Here it is.” The owl of wisdom stopped fluttering, kept itself by the girl’s shoulder looking to her arm. A symbol of peacock curling in a circle appeared and spread out silver light.

“Yes, you must be long to Herathyias, was given the ability of the hundred-eye one, the seeing-all one. I see a little about your future, a good servant for you goddess.” cried the owl of wisdom, “Do you see the second table at your right? Please find a seat there. It’s your family’s place.”

The next person walked ahead. Heracles realized the person. He was Avery, the chubby boy and also the crying boy. Avery kept staying there silently for the owl of wisdom to flutter round him, stopped at front of his face stared at his eyes for few times and didn’t speak one word for minutes. It made Avery’s ears turned red.

“Who are you boy?” cried the owl of wisdom, “You must come to the wrong place. I don’t see anything from you.” 

Some whispers emanated from people in lines under the place. Heracles looked around and could see people were laughing with hands on their mouths. 

“He must.” cried someone who stood at the middle of line. Heracles turned to the place and found out he was Hank. I gave him a little uncomfortable. “He is bastard.” said Heracles turned to Gwen who was standing right after him. “Yes, he is.” said Gwen. They turned back, continued watching Avery and the owl of wisdom. 

“Yeah, I’m wrong.” cried the owl of wisdom again, “Here it is, on your hand.” It lowered, stared at Avery’s right hand. “A hammer was here. Let me see it. Right, you may be a great blacksmith, a craftsmen or something like that. I say you may. Please make your way to Herathyias. It’s the place you belong to. 

People kept going up the stairs and found out where they belong to. It made Heracles realized that people could be blessed by more than a god or goddess and also could be given many abilities by one god or goddess and abilities also divided into different ranks. As like Sophia and Ladonna who sat on the same boat with Heracles, the people came from Athens, the goddess of them was Athena who stamped on them the symbols of owls which gave them great wisdom, a tactician in combat. However, if goddess Athena stamped on their arms symbols of spears and shields, they would be very great in combat. Heracles paid more attention on Hank as he stepped ahead, he honestly didn’t like Hank proved friendly with the others on boat but joked after their backs. Hank stepped up confidently, kept smile on his mouth. He stopped facing to the owl of wisdom.

.....
!!! The above post is a draft of my first book on Heracles, Heracles and the Nemean lion in Hippocoon land. Its content can be omitted, modified or replaced. If you want to read the full version, click here buy a ebook: Heracles and the Nemean lion or click here to a paper book: Heracles and the Nemean lion by Hung Nguyen !!!