'Impressive...' Undine considered as she watched Hera roll under Xander's wind spell, kicking his belly with enough force to send him flying back. 'She is not at her old level, but there is a reason two of her children grew into War domains. Hera is, by miles and miles, the greatest warrior in terms of skill among her generation. Zeus and Poseidon may be more potent mystically, but they rely on their powers so much more than skill. It was always impressive to see her training, the few times I lingered on Olympus.

  The boy isn't bad either,..." She almost laughed at her thought as the boy simply vanished, a ripple of magic manifesting around him that left even Hera looking about in shock. 'She cannot sense him either, it seems... the boy must be quite the Gifted Empath to mute Hera's sensory skills. She is second only the Hestia in that particular skill... I wonder what will happen next?'

  From her place behind the rock jutting out of the sea, Undine froze... literally so as ice and mist erupted around her, holding her in place just as Xander appeared standing on the rock she was hiding behind.

  "Do you serve Zeus?" He asked, no... growled, low and just shy of hateful.

  "Undine... " Hera's voice stopped the boy in his place, the Ex Goddess striding over with pained eyes. "My Favorite Niece, how are you, my love?"

  In a show of power, Undine flexed her muscles, shattering the ice without effort before lifting out of the water, standing on the sea without effort. "I am well, Aunt Hera.. and Xander, that spell was impressive... most would require words to bind someone of immortal blood, even for a moment. You did well."

  Holding out his wand, lighting dancing at it's tip, the boy asked. "Friend or Foe, Hera?"

  Hera did not hesitate. "Friend, always a friend... this is Undine, one of Posideon's Grandchildren... She is Rhode's Daughter with Helios, inheriting her Grandmother Amphitrite's's skill with a blade and Helios' power over light. She has been known to help Sailors and other such wanders of the waters to safety... she also is known for executing those that think is appropriate to harm women at sea."

  That made Xander smile. "So very much a friend. Name's Xander, how are you?"

  Undine could not but love the boy's smile, it warmed her to her core. "I am well... and I am here to take you both to Circe... who holds they only key to Vi's Base." They both, Hera and Xander, went rigid. "Do not fret,... I carry a blessing from Circe, even Zeus cannot break past it... not anymore. Our words are safe, and our journey will be masked... not that it is far, through the waters I can take us to my Sister Circe's Island." Stretching, she pulled her trident from her back, stabbing and swirling it in the water by her. A massive portal formed, filled with warm green magic. "As for how we knew of your goals, we have spies everywhere... all of those of us that serve Vi."

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  Hera actually choked, making Undine cackle. "What? You... you serve Vi?"

  "Have for years,... Aunt Hera, can you really look at me and say the gods, those that rule, are good for the world? Look at all of the ill our kin has caused over the eons of our rule... no, it is time for a change, a new era must rise. I will be on the Right side of History, unlike so many of our kind." She kneeled, Undine enjoying relishing in how she towered over both Xander and Hera. "You are starting to see the reality you have caused, Circe's oracular magics have detected a subtle change, one that makes you worthy of healing and helping and one day... forgiveness."

  To her pride, Hera did not go cold as he once would had... instead she looked at her hands, tears in her eyes. "Already, even just weakened... I am made anew... seeing my own kin turn against me, those that I ruled cursing me so verdantly... I earned such punishment, but my head is clearer than ever and so is my heart. I will serve this boy, who's kind actions and selfless empathy had healed my spirit. I am powerful, ever a graceful warrior. If I am to be vulnerable, let it be in the service of another's needs for the first time."

  When literal grape vines started to suddenly wiggle out of the boy's shadow, Undine could not help but smile as she had been waiting for just that moment. "That, right there, is why Circe has agreed to help you, by the way... when you healed the boy, young Dian... his power, his protective essence and Defender's heart, lingered in your dreams. Hecate did not notice it at first, it was too new... but it has started to manifest as a guardian deity... yours... living in your shadow, bound to you mind and soul. Your first truly good act of magic... freeing the boy from his suffering and granting yourself the truest of allies."

  Kneeling, tears of joy on his face, the boy pet the vines. "Dian's essence... the echo of his soul... thank you,..." Not bothering to wipe his tears, the boy turned to her. "Where to now?"

  Turning, she gestured to the whirlpool portal. "To Circe's Island... this is the only way, those accepted by her wards can entered through keyed items. But be warned,... Molly can no longer harm her, the sacred herb has been eliminated as a weakness. Circe has grown beyond it, and in many ways has come to rival Hecate in might and skill. Oh and that reminds me... Xander, Hera... after we find Vi,... if she agrees to accept you into the rebellion, we will have a quest of our own..." She looked at them, cold and callous. "Zeus and his kin captured Hecate, I am not sure where she is... but she must be found. Hecate is not just the goddess of magic, she is Magic. Harming her, her misery, her despair, her death will taint the very essence of magic... and all of those that practice it. Circe can locate her, but if she does there will be a good, incredibly likely chance, that others will know of from. There will be a race, from that point, to get the goddess to freedom. Are you willing to save this Goddess, either of you?"

  Xander answered by jumping straight into the portal, Hera mimicking him not a moment later.

  Leaving a smiling Undine to follow after, beyond proud of the selflessness of those before her... especially Hera, who had never needed to show it before.