NEW MISSION

"What do you say? Are you going to do it?" Hephaestus asked.

"If it’s you asking, how can I say no? Besides, I owe you one for saving me," Natoru said, pretending to take a sip of tea; he just doesn't like tea. “But why do you want me to do this? I never thought you would get yourself involved in anything that doesn’t get you involved first.”

Hephaestus held out a letter, showing it to Natoru.

“What is that about?”

"You know how close I was with the Okami, right?" Hephaestus said.

"How could I not? You won’t shut up about how “great” he is."

The Okami [great god] is the king of the gods and the most powerful.

"Well, I made a promise to him sometime ago; I had forgotten up until I found this." He pointed to the letter. "So this is me keeping my promise."

“What's in the letter?" Natoru said.

Hephaestus proceeded to read the letter, but Natoru immediately stopped him.

"I'm not the type to sit through long reading sections; just tell me what's on the letter," Natoru said, holding an arm up.

"Basically, the Okami predicted everything that happened a century ago," Hephaestus said. "He told me to give the assignment to whoever I deemed worthy enough."

"And you chose me?" Natoru asked.

"Of course I choose you; who else is better suited for this?" Hephaestus said. "Besides, you’ve taken an interest in them, haven’t you, the new Tenso?"

“I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

The Tenso [natural attributes/element] are the mortals who have the power of the natural elements.

"And also," Hephaestus said and continued, "so you don't let it bother you anymore."

"I told you, I'm over it," Natoru said, sounding defensive as he took another pretend sip.

"Such a blatant lie." Hephaestus said, looking straight at him, "I know you well enough to know you don't let things go easily, whether it's in a good or bad way."

Natoru just quietly took his third pretend sip.

"You have anything else you want to share," Natoru said, "like anything else the Okami wrote in the letter?"

"Changing subjects, are we? Very well. Yeah, it's about the balance." Hephaestus said, then continued, "Right now it's continuously tilting dangerously to the wrong side, although I'm sure you are aware."

The balance of the world is measured by an invincible scale; no one knows where it is, but it is a general belief among the divine that it exists and it is constantly changing the world. The fact the scale is continuously weighing to one side is a major problem. The scale might be able to balance itself by changing the world, but it is not an instant process; no one knows what will happen if it is completely toppled.

"Yeah, I have been working on it," Natoru said as he leaned into his chair, "but doing the same thing over and over again gets boring. Also, I recently got an apprentice."

"You did, so you are finally trying to contain your loneliness."

"I'm not that lonely," Natoru said. "Also, I had no other choice; I had to take her in." Natoru smiled. "But I don't regret it one bit."

"Ok, so what are you going to do about Raviel?"

"..."

"You are still holding on to hope that he is still alive, aren't you?" Hephaestus said.

"He promised me he won't die. It might be hard to believe coming from him, but his face at that moment was determined," Natoru said as he stood up. "I believe in him, and until he is back, I will keep his seat free."

"How optimistic; I envy your train of thought." Hephaestus said, "He is a mortal, you know, and it's been ninety-two years since; on the off chance that he is somehow still alive, do you know how old he will be?"

"Not a clue; I never did ask him for his age."

Hephaestus sighed; he is as carefree as ever.

Natoru headed towards the door; the conversation was basically over, and he wanted to get to planning the next course of action.

"One more thing," Hephaestus said, stopping Natoru. "If you do manage to gather the elements, I would very much like to meet them."

"Taking interest in another thing that doesn't involve you – you are acting really unlike you," Natoru said, turning back to look at him. "Why do you want to meet them?"

"What the Okami put his faith in," Hephaestus said, "I want to see it."

"Well, I really don't mind." Natoru turned back to the door. "Sure, you can meet them if you can help me with something..."

***

What a grand request:Hephaestus thought after hearing his condition. "Before you go, one more thing."

"What is it?"

"You haven't had your tea."

***

Hephaestus took a look at the letter he had found. "How far exactly could you see?"

It all went as you planned. Hephaestus thought to himself. He had been very close to the last Okami during the age of the gods before Ragnarok. He now remembered it like it was yesterday, a dialogue he had long since forgotten. The Okami had called him for a discussion.

"So what is this about?" said Hephaestus as he took a seat.

The Okami stood next to the window looking out to the sky. He wore a pure white gown with different ornaments around his person.

"It's coming," the Ruler said.

"What do you mean by 'it'?" Hephaestus asked, Why is he being so vague?.

"Our retribution, the retribution of the gods," the ruling god said with a pause. "Ragnarok is coming."

Hephaestus thought about it for a while, then responded, "Well, it’s to be expected with the state of the divine realm now. What's your move?"

"Nothing, I really couldn't care less," he said so plainly.

Yep, this is him alright; the ruling god is really lazy, Hephaestus monologued in his mind.

The Okami had long since forgotten his own name; he couldn't even remember if he had one. That's just to say how long he has lived. He has a carefree and lazy attitude and was fond of pushing all the work to Hephaestus or some other unlucky god.

"I doubt this is a matter you can just shove onto me." Hephaestus said, trying not to sound disrespectful, although he knew the Okami wouldn't care if he did, "You need to actually do something this time."

"I just said I'm going to do nothing." The Okami said. "Hephaestus, sometime from now the gods will be divided into two; when that happens, I would like you not to take my side, nor would you take the side of my opposition. Do not get yourself involved."

"What exactly are you planning?" Hephaestus asked.

"I can't tell you; it would ruin the entire plan."

"I can't argue with you; just don't do anything you wouldn't do."

The ruling god might be lazy, but when he decides he's going to do something, he's going to do it, and there's no stopping him. Hephaestus had long since accepted this fact.

"You can leave, but before you go, take that letter with you." There was a white envelope on a stool, which Hephaestus picked up before the god continued, "Do not open it now; hide it and forget about it."

Hephaestus was at this point genuinely confused.

"Just do as I said, and it should be fine." The Okami said, "Goodbye, old friend."

Why a goodbye? Hephaestus thought to himself as he left. At that point Hephaestus thought nothing of it; it should be fine, he is the strongest after all.

After Ragnarok, the Okami disappeared.

"The rumours were true, so you really could see the future," Hephaestus said to himself. "I wonder what exactly you are doing right now and where you went off to." Hephaestus clutched the letter.

Hephaestus had chosen Natoru because he reminds him so much of the Okami.

***

I have always been special; ever since I was born, everything has always gone my way. Everything except what I really want. They say being special is way better than just being an average Joe. Oh, how wrong they are; the special ones are the ones who have it the hardest. The average Joe doesn't have to worry about being the best, nor does he have to worry about the constant unwanted stares. I first realised I was special when I was a child, about nine years old. I walked around, and the light itself seemed to follow me, and the darkness stayed far away. I had always excelled in everything I did, no matter what it was. Playing sports, academics and what not – no problem there. Now the problem was with the things the average Joe excelled in, the most prominent being making friends. Yep, I'm a loner. The average Joe naturally stays away from the specials, and the specials never see eye to eye. I am sixteen, yet I have finished college and have started living on my own. I never knew my real parents and lived in many foster homes. I really just want to have the life of the average Joe, but at this point the life seems so far from my reach. Now there is a guy who flew in through the window and is now sitting on my bed saying he wants to kidnap me.

"So you're ready to go," he said without giving any more context. I already knew from the moment the guy entered my apartment that, like me, he isn't normal.

I sighed. I mean, what else could I do? This is normal for special people like me. Yep, special people really have it the worst.