Fate/Defiance

Chapter 3 [Jealousy]

By theMadLad

Daedalus was fuming as he walked, his emotions boiling beneath his skin—only held back from release by the comforting hand of his son.

He tried to keep in check, he really did, but slowly and surely it was taking hold. Eventually, he would be unable to resist and there was nothing he could do.

He took a deep breath as he continued on his way towards where the rumors of his nephew's display would be performed.

"Make way, make way!" Daedalus shouted as he quickly pushed through the crowd while dragging Icarus alongside him.

The crowd parted as they reached their destination. Perdix had decided to hold his demonstration at the peak of Athens, the Acropolis. Daedalus had pushed them to the front of the large audience just in time for Perdix to step out.

He had a small clearing with various displays at the edge of the Acropolis. One of his assistants stepped over and placed a large log between two tables while Perdix himself walked over to a small display covered with a large sheet.

As the crowd finished gathering around, Perdix finally spoke once they had quieted down, "Hello everyone, thanks for gathering here today! I'm here to show you my new invention! The Saw!"

He then gripped the sheet and ripped it from the display, unveiling a long rectangular metal sheet with a serrated edge cut into sharp jagged teeth. Perdix then proceeded to grip the saw by the wooden handle that laid at the sheet's end and showed it to the crowd, who seemed curious of what its purpose was.

He then began to spin his tale that would captivate the crowd, "It was about a week ago, I was out fishing when Lord Poseidon had blessed me with a large sea bass! So delicious was this bass that I had picked it to the bone, and as I had laid its spine down to dispose of, I was hit with an epiphany! It was as if Lady Athena herself had blessed me with her wisdom!"

The audience were confused from his tale so far but still hung at the edge of their seats regardless, "What if…" He paused, gathering suspense for his next words, "I added the features of the fish's spine into a thin sheet of metal, giving it a jagged edge, then…"

His words drifted off as he brought the saw's edge to the large log of wood that laid between the two tables that were off to the side, "…use it to apply pressure in a back and forth motion, and then…!"

He demonstrated as he spoke rhythmically swaying the saw back and forth against the bark of the log until it slowly grinded and eventually sawed all the way through the log, "…a perfect cut!"

Excited murmurs broke out throughout the audience, with many exclaiming about the genius of this invention, and they were right. While the saw was indeed simplistic, it was also revolutionary in the fields of carpentry and construction, among others.

To be able to fine tune the edges and cuts of your wood without the rough edges and imperfections belonging to other methods was very valuable. Moreover, it was made without magic, without special enchantments that make it too costly to have any value to the poor—it was a tool for the common man, and a damn useful one at that.

While the entire crowd was captivated, Icarus didn't even take a glance, all of his attention was firmly on his father. He watched him like a hawk throughout the whole display, noticing the faint twitches on his father's eyes, the way they would sometimes gloss over or even the rage he could see building up inside them when Perdix mentioned Athena's blessing.

The flap of wings stole his attention as he turned to glance towards the noise, and when his eyes laid upon what it was, his blood went cold.

…An owl.

Icarus would describe himself as a rather sharp person with a decent head on his shoulders, someone able to recognize their own flaws and take steps to correct them.

He was the type of person to make a plan and then carry through with it using the maximum amount of efficiency and if things went wrong, he could improvise just as well.

Being reborn was a distinct advantage and one he used as best as he possibly could, and that meant reinforcing habits that would benefit him throughout his life.

Habits such as good hygiene, an efficient workout routine, a steady diet, and a busy schedule constantly full of things to do and learn. One of these habits was one he forced himself to learn and which he firmly believed would benefit him immensely throughout his life—even if it wasn't the most healthy of things.

…Paranoia.

The paranoia to search every room you walk into for exits and escape plans, the paranoia to subtly glance at each person you encounter and filter them through danger ratings while scanning them for weapons or hidden items, the paranoia to learn and analyze everything you can about where you are, along with what customs to conform to in order to keep yourself safe, and finally, the paranoia to work as hard as you can and as much as you can because you have the self-awareness that you are weak when you cannot afford to be.

Icarus knew he was weak, he knew he could suddenly come upon danger at any moment simply from being at the wrong place, at the wrong time. After that wake up call a few days earlier, where he had caught himself still having the mentality of someone from the modern age, carrying that subconscious arrogance of someone at the top of the food chain. He made it his mission to correct himself of this, constantly reminding himself to stay humble, because to the Gods—he was nothing but a bug on the side of the road.

Which is why his blood froze when he saw that owl.

An owl was the symbol of the city's patron, Athena. It was highly likely that the owl was Athena herself. Especially since this was a display for a new invention, something that would likely garner her interest due to her domain of wisdom.

Icarus' mind seemed to slow as he could hear the beating of his heart reverberate through his skull like the pounding of a drum. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself as he tried his best to not draw the owl's attention.

—Then Daedalus drew it anyway, "Perdix! You fucking bastard!"

"U-uncle?!" Perdix yelled in bafflement.

Unfortunately for Icarus, in the time he was having an internal panic—Daedalus could no longer hold back…..his envy had taken a hold over him and he shifted.

The crowd watched, stunned into silence as Daedalus grabbed Perdix by the shirt, lifting him up before glaring into his eyes with the gaze of a mad beast.

Perdix flinched as Daedalus began to yell, "After everything I've done for you, you do this to me?!"

"W-what are you talking about?" Perdix whimpered in fear.

It had been some time since he had left Daedalus' teachings, but he never forgot the times when Daedalus would get angry.

…It was the reason he left after all. One day Daedalus snapped and he ran away in fear, unable to stay in such a toxic environment any longer.

"I taught you! Everything you make—everything you do, is because of me!" Daedalus roared as saliva spewed from his mouth in rage.

"W-what?" Perdix murmured in confusion, before erupting in anger, "What do you mean, everything you've taught me?! I think you mean kicking me out of your fucking house after barely teaching anything?!"

Perdix had enough, Daedalus was a horrible teacher to him and for a petty reason too. He was tired of constantly taking Daedalus' shit and could no longer contain his grievances.

Any fear he had disappeared. Perdix's face turned smug as he spoke with a taunting smirk on his lips, "Admit it Uncle, you're jealous. The reason you're so angry, the reason you drove me away, and the reason you're so envious is because I am better than you, and you know it!" He remarked with a wicked grin, before finishing off with a dramatic flourish towards the audience.

Perdix grinned with euphoria as he finally felt vindication from all his years of misfortune under Daedalus, even some of the struggles he had dealt with after leaving felt worth it just for this moment.

"…What did you say?" Daedalus spoke in a harsh whisper, but everyone in the crowd could feel the murderous intent within.

Daedalus threw Perdix into the ground with a thud, before rearing his arm back for a strong hook into his face. The crowd gasped as they heard the crunch of Perdix's nose breaking.

"Jealous?! You aren't worth the shit stains on my shoes, you fucking katōmóchanos!" Daedalus remarked to the dazed Perdix before spitting on his face.[1]

Perdix was starting to really regret his earlier defiance as Daedalus dragged him to his feet, pulling him along as he slowly walked towards the edge of the Acropolis' cliff.

The crowd watched with bated breath, but Icarus could no longer stand still and started pushing through the crowd that had steadily built up in front of him to get a better view of the dramatic spectacle.

"Father! Stop!" Icarus shouted as he ran towards them, pleading with his father to snap out of it.

He didn't want his family to hurt each other…but he could see how things were headed.

"I-IcKaruhs?" Perdix muttered in confusion as blood continued to gush from his nose as Daedalus proceeded on with dragging him across the floor from his shirt's collar.

Icarus could hear Perdix's faint pleas for help as he reached Daedalus' side, pulling his arm while shouting at him, "Father, please stop! He's your nephew! Family!"

Daedalus snarled in response, looking towards Icarus with a sneer, "Family? How could that compare to my glory?" Before slapping Icarus' hand away and kicking him to the floor, with the force of it knocking the air from his lungs.

Icarus could only watch in horror as Daedalus continued his way to the cliff, gasping while slowly trying to rise from the floor, ignoring the pain radiating on his chest.

He struggled to his feet just in time to see his father dangling Perdix over the edge, who was desperately begging Daedalus to stop as tears poured from his eyes.

Then, as his father stared into Perdix's eyes without an ounce of pity, he……dropped him.

[1] katōmóchanos

A greek phrase meaning "a person who has been fucked in the ass so many times that their asshole gapes all the way to their shoulders."