Page 225 of Styx

And that this chasm would only widen.

Gods Had Never Had Reason to Count Days Before

but now, time took

on a different meaning.

Time meant more injuries.

Time meant returning

to battle after healing,

only to come home injured again.

Time meant children born

and fathers unable to be

present at their births.

No one will ever tell you

that the meaning of time

changes when you are within a war.

If you are immortal,

it does not even end in death,

just a battle that rages on and on forever.

I gave birth to Bia alone,

with only Nike to aid me.

I sent word to Pallas, and received no response.

I understood his anger at me. But why at Bia?

My child of force and courage was my easiest birth.

Already she was her brother and sister’s most beloved.

Watching my three youngest children bond

as Kratos and Nike took turns holding their sister

brought me more joy that I thought imaginable.

When I finally received word from Pallas,

it was only to tell me that Kratos, like Zelus,

was required on the Titan front.

I seethed. I had already given one son to this war.