Chapter 328: Acceptance

Chapter 328: Acceptance

If you want to support me check out my patron at /athassprkr

I tend to upload drafts of early chapters on there to get people's opinions of them so you can read up to 20 chapters ahead as a bonus.

I would like to thank my beta, Akisu, for his help in this chapter.

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16th May 2013, Sayre Manor

(Jasmine Sayre POV)

"I loved the woman you used to be. But time changes everyone. I am not the same that I used to be, and you are not the same woman I used to love. You might have been able to observe me, all this time, but the fact is that I do not know you, at least not enough to love you. Perhaps if I knew you better, I could have, but we only have so little time left together. Why do you ask?"

The Goddess of the Hearth gave me a sad smile, "You always were a logical one, weren't you? I asked you because I had an offer for you, one that can be affected by your answer."

I perked up, interested, "What is it?"

"I'm offering you a place at my side in Olympus. To ascend with me to Olympus, where you would rule by my side as my Queen. You said it yourself, you're tired of being a pawn in this game of destiny. So, just give it up, and come with me, stop caring about them. You owe them nothing and they do not deserve you. Come with me and live as my wife until run itself runs out."

I froze when I digested what Hestia just revealed. It was just inconceivable, running away, living the last few years of my life in peace before the entire multiverse is destroyed. But wasn't that what I wanted in the end, or at least what I told myself I wanted?

But how would that change anything really? A few years are nothing but a blink of an eye to someone of my age. All I would end up having is what amounts to a moment of reprieve until I burned with the rest of the Olympians when Entropy destroyed the multiverse.

Confused by the fact that Hestia wasn't even trying to save her people, I questioned, "Are you truly giving up on Olympus? Are you accepting the fact that your people will die like the rest of the multiverse and choose to make me that offer for the sake of it?"

Again, the Queen of Olympus blushed, "I will admit that there was a learning curve involved. You have no idea how many gods are willing to do anything for a scrap of power that they will not use to do anything. By the powers, there were so many marriage proposals, from men and women, and it was horrible. Some even offered to be my concubines. It was so embarrassing."

I wiggled my eyebrows, "Come on, you can't tell me that you haven't had any stress relief for so long."

Hestia looked down, "I thought about it. But I just couldn't let go of you. I loved you, truly loved you, and you loved me. I couldn't just forget about it. I still watched over you, and getting married, or even taking a lover felt like a betrayal."

I couldn't help but feel guilty about her confession. She had never moved on, while I had. Selene might not have been the perfect wife, but she soothed the hurt that Hestia left when she was gone. Hestia had no one.

Seemingly reading my thoughts, Hestia made sure to reassure me, "Look, I'm not admonishing you in any way. We were separated, and only I could take a look at you, you didn't have the same luxury. I was even happy when I saw you moving on, no matter how much I wished that it was with me."

Not knowing what to say to that, I simply walked towards her and enveloped her in a hug. Hestia hugged me back and we stayed like this for what felt like an eternity. I whispered in her ear, "I missed you so much, Hestia. I cannot express by words how many times I thought about you."

Hestia looked up at me, eyes warm and hopeful. She looked beautiful like this. And honestly, I think I was inclined to agree with her offer. It was a good way out, a great way out even. I would have a small share of happiness in an otherwise miserable life. I would live with the remnants of my people, and teach them some of Atlantis' traditions. I would let go of Selene and the betrayal she caused me. I would get to know Hestia once more, and honestly, even if we take into account how much the both of us changed, we seemed to get along just fine.

The only issue is that I would be dooming the multiverse, that I would be abandoning Wanda, Jean, and Selene to die at the hands of Entropy's madness. I would let Asgard die, once more. Thor, the boy king that had so much potential would not live to realize it, Loki, my hopeful student would never learn to control his madness. Everything I had worked for in my entire life, for thousands of years, would be gone for the fraction of a second. And yet, this regret was overshadowed by the potential freedom that would come with the offer.

I would live in peace, without dealing with cosmic entities. And wasn't that what I wished for the most? Perhaps, for the first time in God knows how long, it's time for me to be selfish, to do something for me. I looked Hestia in the eyes and spoke up, "Hestia. About your offer, I have an answer now."

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If you want to support me check out my patron at /athassprkr

I tend to upload drafts of early chapters on there to get people's opinions of them so you can read up to 20 chapters ahead as a bonus.

Thank you guys for your support in these hard times.