The Holy Son in Marvel

Athena led Solomon through the crowd of elegantly dressed people, introducing him to everyone she knew. Solomon, for his part, maintained a perfect social expression to endure the dull interactions. Artists tended to attract wealthy merchants and politicians; it was anyone's guess whether these people ever needed to work, as they seemed to spend the whole day here.

As evening approached, Solomon was envious of their skill at small talk. The buffet did nothing to fill him up, and his legs were so tired he could hardly walk. But Athena remained energetic, handling the day's socializing with ease. Apparently, Athena had once been the queen of Olympus's social events, hosted by Hera, with only Aphrodite as her rival. Whenever Athena reminisced about those days, she would mention the goddess of love and beauty but always with disdain, calling her a brainless, promiscuous woman with nothing but good looks. More than once, Athena had used Aphrodite as an example to teach Solomon to avoid being swayed by beauty and to stay away from women with looks but little else.

Likewise, Ares was a poor example. Athena often used him to show Solomon the importance of thinking things through—strength alone was never enough, especially when combined with a brainless woman, as the Trojan War had proved.

For Athena, a modern social gathering was trivial. With her wisdom and charm, she navigated every conversation effortlessly. She saw these situations as useful learning for Solomon, who she believed should master both magical arts and social skills. Athena was convinced that if Solomon could excel in magic, he could also excel in the art of negotiation and diplomacy. In her view, if he wanted to become a hero, he first needed people to know his name.

"You were polite, but that's about it," Athena said critically as they sat in the car, with Solomon in the passenger seat. "That suit of yours seems more like armor. Are you that uncomfortable? If you could keep your eyes off those women's collarbones, then maybe your performance tonight would have been nearly perfect for a social novice."

"I was just trying to make those dull conversations more interesting." Solomon shrugged. "You were the most beautiful person at the exhibition, but I couldn't stare at you all night. That would make me look like a boy with a mother complex. So if I wasn't looking at their collarbones, should I have focused on their legs? They don't even compare to you—or to my girlfriend."

"Flattery won't save you," Athena replied, unfazed by his attempts at charm. "The training schedule is non-negotiable, no matter how much you try to talk your way out of it. And…girlfriend? When did I approve of that? She's five hundred years older than you!"

"Athena, dear, you really sound like a nagging mother."

"You little brat!" Athena's eyes widened as she lifted her gown, crossed her long legs over the gear stick, and pressed her heel firmly into Solomon's thigh. "I told you, I don't approve! Don't believe me? Go ask Theseus—I know what kind of woman is right for you!"

"In a way, you're like a mother to me… But we're not here to debate that, Athena." Solomon sighed, gripping her shoe. "Your desire to control everything is a bit terrifying. This isn't teenage rebellion; it's a well-thought-out choice. Bayonetta truly is suitable for me."

After a moment, Athena didn't immediately withdraw her leg. Instead, she placed her other leg on his lap as well, adopting a relaxed posture, as if ready for a casual chat. "You're going to have to make a lot of tough decisions for Earth someday because you're the successor to the Sorcerer Supreme. This is a burden you'll have to carry," she said. "Do you think that witch will understand? She's too kind. You need someone ruthless and understanding, like Medea, Jason's wife."

"I'm prepared for that, Athena," Solomon replied. "I know you're looking out for me, but let me be a bit selfish this time. I don't like women who overly rely on men. Bayonetta is independent, with her own mind, just like you. In fact, I think you've influenced my preferences. That's why I'm drawn to her—though, if we set physical attraction aside, that's the main reason. I've thought about your concerns, and I believe that Bayonetta and Medea share some similarities. I trust she'll understand me."

"Alright, I'll allow you this small rebellion." Athena pulled her legs back, resting her foot on the car's clutch. She gave him a sidelong glance, her expression confident. "But only this once. When you've experienced the consequences, you'll understand why I'm the goddess of wisdom."

"Then perhaps I'll outwit the goddess of wisdom just once. That's worth bragging about. In the past, that might have earned me a poem."

"I'm betting on myself, Solomon. Don't underestimate me," Athena said as she started the car, hitting the gas once they left the parking lot. "Besides, this issue isn't resolved yet!" she continued. "There's still the matter of the spy!"

"Give me a break!"

---

"So, that's your excuse?" Lorna scowled, standing in front of the orphanage's entrance, hands on her hips. As the oldest kid in the orphanage, she was the spokesperson, challenging Solomon and Athena. "You and Minerva left us all day to go see your girlfriend? We were stuck here eating bread!"

"And not just one girlfriend, either," Athena added calmly, adding fuel to the fire. "Perhaps it was only one, but when Solomon arranged to meet her, another woman showed up as well. Strange."

Solomon sighed. He'd arranged the dinner with Bayonetta to introduce her to Athena, but Jeanne had unexpectedly joined them too. "It was only one," he groaned, wincing at the memory of that disastrous dinner. The atmosphere had been painfully awkward. Athena and Bayonetta had taken an immediate dislike to each other, while Jeanne focused on eating, leaving Solomon desperately trying to ease the tension between Athena and Bayonetta.

Needless to say, Solomon had failed. Athena's sarcastic jabs, with frequent references to Aphrodite, only made matters worse. Bayonetta's pointed remarks about control freaks and older women added insult to injury. Solomon felt that dinner had drained him far more than the art exhibit.

Suggesting that dinner had been the worst decision of his life.

"I swear, it was only one." Solomon felt utterly exhausted, his eyelids drooping.

"You never mentioned having a girlfriend." Lorna wasn't satisfied with his response, her hair shifting from black to a dark green hue before returning to black—a side effect of her unstable powers. Though her abilities weren't strong, they could be disruptive, and the orphanage was the only place where she could use them freely.

"Tell me, what does she look like?"

Athena quietly walked away, wanting no part in the conversation. Lorna was one of her prized students, excelling in both painting and spear-fighting and sharing a personality remarkably similar to Athena's.

"She's tall, with long legs and a great figure. The kind of figure you won't have in a lifetime."

Lorna glanced down at her own feet, took a deep breath, stepped back, squared her shoulders, raised her elbow…

…and punched Solomon squarely in the stomach.

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