Jayce was a God. One among the many who walked the heights of Mount Olympus. He was born of Eros and Urania—the God of love, and the celestial Muse of stars and prophecy. A pairing spoken of in whispers, a union rare as eclipses. Jayce was adored the moment his breath met air, simply because of his parents. He was labeled lover boy, no, not of any romantics. Only because he was so sweet, to every god. Even Zeus’s heart softened at him.

He was still a child by their standards, merely 32 years old. The rest had seen five centuries come and go. And yet, he moved among them with the calm gravity of an ancient. He understood. He was clever beyond measure. A mind inherited from his mother’s skybound wisdom, her calm calculations written in the stars.

Jayce had few he considered true companions, but the closest by far was Viktor; the God of science. Brilliant, burning, and bold. Just as sharp as Jayce himself, and just as reckless. Their minds met like sparks on steel. A match lit instantly.

In fact? Viktor was the reason Jayce tumbled from the clouds! From Olympus itself. And Jayce, one of the strongest of fliers, couldn’t catch himself as he flew through the air. Hurling down. They had been arguing, tension flaring between lightning minds. Jayce, too proud, too distracted, stormed off without watching his step. Tripped over something. And fell.

He was plummeting fast, wings trembling, scrambling to beat the sky, to clutch the wind. But air is not something you can grasp, not when it doesn’t want you.

Jayce struck the earth with brutal finality. His leg twisted grotesquely beneath him, one wing bent wrong. Pain sparked through him. He groaned, his body sprawled on a moss-soft forest floor. Insects stirred. Deer stared. The world around him pulsed with quiet life. He pushed himself upright, clutching his aching head.

And then…he froze. Footsteps. Drawing near. Fuck. Jayce thought, panic threading his chest. A mortal? A human? He quickly moved towards his holstered blade, only to find out it wasn’t there. He had no weapons on him! They must’ve fallen off.

“Who’s there?” Jayce hissed, looking around. His heart was pounding, and he could barely move from the pain.