Olympus had never been quiet.
Thunder rolled constantly.
Clouds argued with mountains.
Gods debated loudly about everything.
Then Kael Veyris arrived.
Zeus led the way, clearly trying to look impressive.
"Welcome to Olympus he said, lightning flashing behind him on cue.
Kael looked around.
It's loud.
The thunder immediately softened.Olympian gods gathered instinctively.
Not kneeling.
Not bowing.
But adjusting.
Because they felt it the Roots beneath the Canopy.
Athena narrowed her eyes.
You are not a god.
Kael nodded politely.
Correct.
Hera frowned.
"Then what are you.
Kael thought for a moment.
Infrastructure.
Nyx covered her mouth to hide a laugh.Zeus summoned lightning casually just to test.
Before it could strike, the idea of lightning
decided not to exist near Kael.
Zeus blinked.
Did I miss.
Kael shook his head.
No. Lightning worked perfectly. This location simply didn't permit it.
Silence.
Odin, who had followed from the Canopy, chuckled.
He speaks like the Tree itself.
Kael glanced at him.
That's because you're standing on one of its branches.
Hermes zoomed around Kael, curious.
So if I'm fast.
He stopped mid sentence.
Not frozen.
Just… politely paused.
Kael sipped tea he somehow still had.
Speed is relative, he said calmly.
Right now, you're relative to my patience.
Hermes slowly backed away.
Understood.
Olympus was impressive.
But it was still a leaf cluster
beautiful, powerful, temporary.
The gods weren't weak.
They were just… not foundational.
Zeus raised a cup in respect.
Stay as long as you wish, Kael Veyris.
Kael nodded.
I won't interfere. I'm just visiting.
Reality relaxed.
Olympus remained standing.
And for the first time in its long history,
the gods understood something quietly unsettling:
They were not the top of existence.
They were part of a tree.
And the Roots had come to visit.