The portal was terrifying, a swirling mass of green energy leaving Xander baffled, confused and yes... terrified. How could it not, knowing from his own training that the tinniest sliver of movement outside of the portal would end in his obliteration. With inhuman stillness, he rode the current of power until they literally all popped out of the portal, and into a thin pool of spelled water.

  "My Beautiful Nephew!" Was all he heard, still wiping water off of his face, when a thick frame pulled him into the warmest of hugs. Whoever was grabbing him, they were strong, and very eager to give him love.

  The sigh of Hera and Undine stopped the hugs, well that and their strong arms yanking off the crazy lady. Turning, gazing at the misty marble space he was in, he saw her. Tall and strong, with a thick indulgent frame. The woman oozed power, waves of it, strong and filled with a presence he had only felt before in Hecate. It was pure, smooth immortal power.

  "Um... who are you? As far as I remember, I have no kin to call me Nephew?"

  The woman stopped in pace, and he saw her gorgeous skin, dark as mahogany and just as bright. Waves of thick curls fell around her face, mixed with magenta and gold, she looked at him with bittersweet affection.

  "Oh, Xander... Medea's Father was my half brother, and Medea considered you here son... so you are my nephew, Baby." He froze, and she continued. "I forgot you are... you never." Reaching out, she flicked his forehead, sending a charge of emotion flooding his mind.

  What he did next was beyond weeping, he was breaking as a wall in his heart utterly imploded. Memories reshaped in his mind, simple glances of pride that Medea would give him, her patting his back when he got a spell right, the sweeping sound of her breathe leaving her when he first showed her an aurora borealis out of his own magic. Thousands of memories charging throughout his mind... and he knew that Medea was in fact his Mother, not by blood, but my pain...

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  "How... what did I not...?"

  That Immortal Sorceress smiled at him, cupping his chin. "Medea was a pragmatist, she wanted you to understand magic without being swayed by her death when it eventually came. She sealed off your affection for her, which is also why the year went by so fast. Emotions influence so much of how you experience time so by muting that... you lost your sense of time.

  She loved you, oh she loved you... Hecate, Pasiphae and I were her only contacts, we helped her craft her wards. Zeus will suffer for his crimes, never doubt that... but for now, it is time you meet your family. I am your Aunt Circe, and Baby I love you so deeply. I have watched over your for your entire time with Medea, so proud of your growth in magic and as a person."

  Undine suddenly threw her arms around him, kissing his cheek. "That makes you my nephew, you know! I always wanted to meet my Niece Medea. She showed what determination could unleash! I am proud to call you both kin!"

  And yes, the started to shiver, unable to handle the warm, loving sway of emotions boiling in his heart. He just held onto Undine's hand while Circe held him fast, whispering kind words into his soul.

  "You've been so brave, you have hurt so much and yet you are so strong... I will be your rock, and help you grow, Baby... and I have a few,... gifts for you. One of which you must see, for it was from Medea. Her last message..." Wiping his tears away, she grabbed his hand. "Come with me, and yes Hera you are not going to be harmed. I may loathe the gods, but in this... they may have chosen the right course of action for once."

  And so they were off, walking away from and out of the marble pool, toward what smelled to be a glorious garden.

  As they went, the boy held fast to Circe's hand, never remembering the love of anyone given so freely... and he could not help but bind himself to her, with the fiercest of loyalty... she was his and that was that.