Reborn as the God-Emperor in Marvel

The form of Pegasus intrigued Solomon. When he first saw the small statue, his mind immediately flashed to a famous summoned creature—a companion to a male drow ranger often seen wandering the northlands of Faerûn.

Yes, he thought of Guenhwyvar, a magical creature from the Astral Plane.

The Astral Plane was an immense, infinite sphere with a clear silver sky stretching in all directions. Occasionally, one might find solid objects, but calling it a "plane" wasn't entirely accurate. In truth, the Astral Plane was more of a spiritual world, the silvery void between all planes.

Solomon held the statue up close to his eyes, studying the intricate craftsmanship. By now, he was almost certain that Pegasus was not just a mythical horse tied to Medusa and Poseidon, but rather a magical creature from the Astral Plane. 

How Athena or the other Greek gods had managed to capture a steed from the Astral Plane, Solomon didn't know, but he remained cautious.

Despite Athena's repeated insistence that the human-written Greek myths were far from reality, if she had indeed lent Pegasus to Bellerophon, then the part of the legend where Pegasus threw Bellerophon from the sky, leaving him crippled and blind, might still hold some truth.

Solomon grasped the statue in his palm and bowed respectfully to Athena, his formalities impeccable on the surface.

But Athena, being the Goddess of Wisdom, easily saw through his hesitation. She leaned forward, her presence radiating a heavy sense of authority, and asked, "Are you dissatisfied?"

Solomon bowed his head even lower.

At twelve, he was going through the awkward phase of adolescence, and Athena's loose attire was rather distracting. He had stolen a quick glance, but now he dared not look again. Everything about her figure—shape, size, and even the color of her garments—was incredibly striking.

His body's natural reactions made the scene too overwhelming for someone his age, something no amount of rational thought could control...

"No, Your Grace, this gift is more than I could have hoped for," Solomon replied, his breathing slightly heavier but his mind still sharp enough to avoid making any verbal mistakes.

Athena glanced down and noticed the issue, but instead of pulling back, she leaned in even closer. Her attire, while modern, reflected influences from both Minoan Crete and classical Greek women's fashion. Her waist was cinched with a metal belt, and she wore a conical, multi-layered skirt, intricate and beautiful. The top, however, was more like a flowing chiton, adapted to modern times, with slender straps instead of the traditional pins, and the material had been upgraded from animal skin to soft cotton.

As one of the Greek deities whose origins dated back to Crete, Athena had no qualms about baring her chest. In fact, she considered her beauty a weapon, something to be admired and celebrated.

Indeed, it was working—Solomon was nearly hiding behind the sofa.

Though Athena was a virgin goddess, she had never shied away from the admiration of men.

Rather than pure affection, she preferred the reverence of heroes, and this was why she often nurtured young heroes. She earned the title of "Mother of Heroes" for her role in raising them.

In her eyes, Solomon was like a potential badge of honor. If she could raise him, perhaps he would become a great hero. After all, a real man should be fighting with spears, not learning dainty magic.

Despite her admiration for the Sorcerer Supreme's strength, Athena believed iron and blood were more fitting for heroes. However, the Sorcerer Supreme had already laid out Solomon's educational path, leaving no room for Athena to interfere—at least, not too much.

Perhaps she could teach Solomon how to fight with spears and shields someday? The Sorcerer Supreme wouldn't object to that, surely? Athena's mind raced as she plotted ways to build a closer relationship with Solomon. After all, while she could smell the Dark Dimension on him, the fact that he didn't exhibit any crystalizing effects meant he had survived its trials.

Someone like that couldn't help but become a hero, right?

Had Solomon known what Athena was thinking, he might have laughed out loud—becoming a hero was the last thing on his mind. He would simply do what was required of him.

The saying "with great power comes great responsibility" was, to Solomon, nothing more than a cliché. To him, the truth was that "with great authority comes great responsibility." He would protect what he wanted to protect because of the authority and favor granted to him by the Sorcerer Supreme.

As Confucius had once said, "If you are not in a position to lead, do not concern yourself with leadership." Solomon planned to follow that advice. His focus would always be on the mystical side of things, and he wouldn't interfere with the whims of earthly governments. After all, those who have gazed upon the majesty of the stars could never lower their heads to mundane squabbles. Kamar-Taj had maintained its lofty position not out of arrogance but out of necessity.

Athena seemed to have a realization. Smiling, she straightened up and left the room, leaving Solomon alone to catch his breath.

When she returned, she was holding a circular object covered in animal skin.

"This is my shield, Aegis," she said, placing the object before Solomon with her soft, white arm. "You must have heard its story."

When Athena abruptly removed the animal skin covering the shield, Solomon instinctively shut his eyes.

The tale of the Aegis was too well-known. Any student of Greek mythology would know that Medusa's head was embedded in the center of the shield. Anyone who looked at it would be turned to stone, even the mighty Kraken wasn't immune to its power.

"Don't worry," Athena's voice reassured him. "You are no mere mortal. As long as you don't will it, Medusa's head won't activate."

Solomon slowly opened his eyes and cautiously examined the shield. It was bronze, with a slight golden hue. The round face of the shield bore four diamond-shaped markings, and in the center was a sculpted head of a snake-haired woman. Her face was contorted in pain, but her eyes remained shut.

"This shield is more than just protection," Athena smiled. "It is also armor. This is my gift to you, Solomon."

Poor Solomon immediately turned bright red.

This was Athena's plan—her way of indulging her quirks. By wielding her shield in battle, Solomon would openly display his connection to her. Whenever Solomon accomplished heroic feats, people would see his petrified foes and naturally associate him with Athena.

This arrangement was well within the Sorcerer Supreme's permissible boundaries. Whether it was Mordo or Kaecilius, they all had glaring personality flaws, and while the next Sorcerer Supreme had been chosen, they weren't yet fully prepared for their role. So, the Sorcerer Supreme was keen to see Solomon grow stronger.

This visit had been highly rewarding for Solomon. The two powerful magical artifacts he had received would greatly enhance his abilities, ensuring his survival as a novice sorcerer.

However, as part of the deal, Solomon would have to visit Athena's apartment regularly—at least once a month. His performance had clearly impressed the goddess.

"A true hero must remain unmoved by beauty!" Athena resolved to train Solomon in this regard, all while teaching him the finer points of art. In her view, the monastic Kamar-Taj lacked any appreciation for art.

This is beyond my control, Solomon thought to himself, but... it's way too much.

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[Note 1]: The chiton was a traditional garment in Greek culture, crafted from rectangular wool or linen fabric, fastened with pins at the shoulders.

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Zeus won't be appearing. He said he's fully booked.

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