The woman on the field trip were always very flattering it felt nice to be complimented as much as he should be. He was a god after all, it was only natural to be in awe. Hercules gave the women one more flex before they continued along waving to them as they left, ”As always ladies thank you!” before turning back to Rex and William.

Now that they had more space and less people around Hercules allowed himself to get brought back into the conversation. “Everyone is better than those people.” William’s expression turned a little sour as he clenched his fist and looked down. Ever since he was summoned he had learned that the well drinkers should not be named. They took his legs, his father and put the boys mother in the hospital.

It was clear to Hercules what William was thinking and he put a hand on the boy’s shoulder reassuringly. ”Do not dwell, William.” he said reassuring the boy.

With a sturdy laugh he put his arms on his hips stretching the already taught shirt. ”And do more with it you shall! I am always impressed with your willingness to help! What an era to have been summoned.” he was glad William summoned him.

“....Is it true you are trying to study healing magic? Herc said that was what you wanted to focus on more than just fire. Not that it isn’t cool or anything but why the change?” William asked clearly more curious to question Rex than to listen to Herc boast about how great the era was again.

Rex knew there was a history there, between Hercules’s…nephew…and the Welldrinkers. He didn’t have many details because he had never pried. It was enough just knowing a problem existed. “Yes,” Rex agreed with a solemn nod. Even Hercules’s brand of, well, fairly blasphemous knowledge was at least coming from a place of positive intentions and geared to helping others.

“That is my hope,” Rex said gravely to William. “Hercules assures me it is possible. I….I am still trying to find my way.”

The fireman had realized early on that Hercules wasn’t a great teacher. He had endless tales of magic and abilities, but all of his anecdotal evidence left out processes and technical aspects. Rex had tried creating a spray of water on several other occasions but he’de never been able to create more than a few drops. However, he was moving by leaps and bounds in the study of fire.

In that way, the grimoire Rex had taken from Dr. Cama had proven more insightful. It was a masterclass on magic, but it came at it from an entirely different methodology as Hercules. It read like a treatise, an early scientific textbook. It didn’t delve into the basics by any means, and there was so much Rex didn’t understand or comprehend, but he was pretty sure the book was alluding to a breakdown of magic into at least six categories. Energy, Life, Materials, Obscuring, Knowing, and Manipulating. The book mostly seemed to explore the Life category and some of what Rex had read played out like a blending of magic and surgery, potentially accounting for many of the medical miracles Cama had been known for.

It wasn’t a type of magic Rex was apparently good at, but he had to believe there was more to him than death and destruction.

“Fire burns,” Rex said in a low, deadly serious voice, faint firelight starting to dance around his eyes and a soft orange glow appearing in the back of his mouth. “It kills. It takes away. It destroys. There is a time and place for that, but that will not be my legacy. If I cannot provide aid and assistance to people in need, what good is a fireplace when people are bleeding out? Even the Lord, though he sent down fire to consume his foes, is a healer and can remove our sins, our illness, our injuries. That must be my calling.”

It was. William knew it to be true, his focus was summoning until Hercules pointed out that it was possible to study other areas of magic. Something William did not think possible beforehand.

The boy studied the man for a moment as he gave an explination. Hercules just stared with sympathetic eyes knowing he’d only repeating himself again but could not help but chime in. Not just for Rex but for William’s sake as well. The boy needed to know that there were various aspects to Rex’s element. Even if Rex did not want to believe them or the demi-god.

”It also protects.” he said well aware of the faint glow Rex was giving off as he spoke. Either by accident or not Hercules didn’t care. Luckily for Rex and Hercules they both knew each other fairly well. Otherwise it might have been interpreted as a threat. The wheel squeaked back as William did interpret it as one. Hercules put a reassuring hand on Willam’s shoulder with a warm smile. ”There was a time when you mortals didn’t have fire to keep you warm, cook your food, or protect you from the creatures of the night.”

William raised an eyebrow at the talk of the Lord knowing not to comment on it having argued with his father multiple times on the subject.

Hercules smiled to Rex, ”What good is stopping the bleeding if they die from the elements and cold? All heroes have a calling, sometimes they choose what the calling is.” he flexed slightly as he was referring to himself.

“I have some intro books that helped me with cuts and scrapes.” William offered trying to prevent an argument. The way Hercules was talking the boy had a feeling that was where it was going. “Hey....... you can’t... make horses of fire can you?” the question took Hercules by surprise. It was a spell that took the boy’s father and sent his mother to the hospital and took the use of William’s legs.

”He is not the one you are searching for!”” Hercules said softly.

Rex gave the other man a level nod after he jumped in. “That is also correct,” he agreed, albeit stiltedly. He turned to Hercules for a moment to try to ascertain where he was going with the additional applications of fire. Was it for William or was it aimed at him? Regardless, it seemed like the ground Rex trode was somewhat shaky, even though he didn’t feel like there was actual danger present. Merely thorns on every side, like so many conversations he’d had with the other man.

The firefighter turned back to William and thoughts of fire went from his mind, as did the light in his eyes and mouth.

“You have introductory texts on magic?” he said, arching an eyebrow. He jerked his head around to stare in a not-quote-accusatory fashion at Hercules. “Why did you not tell me you had access to such things, or at least let me know they existed?” The sheer length of time stumbling in the dark, piecing together what he could from Hercules’s stories, Dr. Cama’s book, and the Bible could’ve been better spent using tried and true methods to help people.

His gaze only sharpened at the request from William and Hercules’s immediate softness. Rex frowned, fully aware that much was going on that he wasn’t privy to. More thorny ground.

“No, I can’t…” he began, then frowned harder. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never tried.” Nor would he know how to begin trying. Would that put an end to William’s inquiry? “Why do you ask?”

“.......” the boy’s hands shook. He didn’t answer. His mind was racing tryign to connect the dots that didn’t exist. Rex could control fire. His father died from those flames. Horses made of embers that encircled and then engulfed him. His mother, who was pinned in the car and William who was thrown from the car by accident forcing him into a chair.

”.... he does.” Hercules said eyeing the boy but still engaging with Rex, his friend. ”I did, I told you that he is studying healing. How would one study if not from having the right texts?” Hercules asked feeling a sudden pressure looming over William.

“My dad died from flames that took the shape of horses....”

It was all Hercules needed to hear as he followed the thought process of a sad depressed teenager. Hercules was waiting for it. ”William! No!” The words, or the actions. “Shadow...” glowing red eyes appeared in the shadow of a pedestal holding the bust of Hercules’s father. The sound of rapid baying and howling could be heard as suddenly a large jet black mastiff leapt rom the shadows.

”William!” Hercules roared catching the hell hound by shoving his forearm forward into the large beasts mouth. It clamped down hard and blood trickled from his arm. The group of mothers who have been eyeing Hercules and Rex screamed, ran for their kids then went for the nearest exit.

The boy was angry, he was also full of sadness.

”Rex of the inferno did not send those apparitions of fire!” the god started to glow as the boy wasn’t listening to him but kept his eyes fixed on Rex. ”Just because it happens to be the same element does not mean that he is the one we are looking for!” the god’s eyes filled with tears as he cried for his master who was too blinded by rage and grief to do so.

”William! Listen to me! Look at me!” the hellhound clamped down harder until Hercules threw the beast across the museum hallway. People ran and screamed. His forearm bleeding and his body glowing. ”See reason boy! He could help you!” taking another step Hercules stepped in front of Rex of the inferno.

Rex’s focus was split between the man and the boy. For the moment he was locked in conversation with Hercules, which would prove to be a mistake.

“I thought you meant you were teaching him,” Rex said, although he belatedly remembered that Hercules wasn’t a great teacher. “Or that he was piecing things together himself, like I was.” To have a book that actually explained how this stuff worked? Cama’s grimoire was far more useful in many ways than Hercules’s “believe in yourself” mumbo jumbo, but it also presumed you already had an advanced level of knowledge of magical theory.

“My dad died from flames that took the shape of horses....”

Rex was too slow. He hadn’t been paying enough attention. His head started turning as those words registered in his ears, but mere seconds later a monster launched from nowhere, with only Hercules’s foresight and brawn safeguarding Rex.

“¡Sangre de Dios!” Rex swore as he leaped back in horror. He held a hand out to his side and began speaking, “For the word of God is quick…” but even as he reached out to that realm of power, Hercules had already thrown the red-eyed beast like a shot put. The spell died on Rex’s tongue as he quickly turned to track the beast with his eyes, glance at Hercules and William, and at the same time ensure the crowd was safe.

“Why are you getting in my way?” William asked clearly not in the right state of mind. “You promised you’d help me. Protect me. This man killed my dad... and my mom...” the boy trailed off his eyes watering as he looked back to shadow and issued another silent command. The dog charged again but stopped when Hercules stepped in front of it again.

”Boy! Do you know who I am? I’m a protector! I wouldn’t have fought alongside Rex of the inferno if I did not trust his character!” William shook his head, “But he controls fire! He did it!” the dog leapt again fangs barred as it latched onto Hercules’s already bloodied forearm. The hell hound tried to pull Hercules out of the way but couldn’t as the god started to glow. ”You can heal, does that mean you tried to kill me with plants or tried to graft my skin onto another creature?” the words rang out as he roared.

It seemed to catch William’s attention long enough for the command to be issued, “Hercules... I order you to kill him....”

The god’s expression dropped and he felt his muscles tense, glowing got brighter and the god looked to be in visible pain. Not from the bite, but the command. It was... horrible. ”I... refuse!” the dog pulled again and Hercules felt his legs weaken. ”I... will... not... harm.... him....” 

By now, bystanders had had enough time to make their decisions. Many had fled, assuming there would be danger and destruction. Some had stayed to watch but kept near the exits, excited by the possible thrills. A small number barely even bothered looking in the direction of Rex, Hercules, William, and the monster and just kept studying the art.

Okay, immediate crowd danger was gone. Now there was just a blindly angry boy with the power to call forth monsters.

The crowds had dispersed as Hercules tried talking William down. Rex momentarily took stock of the situation. If the kid could create one monster dog, why not two or three?

The hall they were in ws easily two stories tall and had massive columns reaching up to a vaulted ceiling. It was very well lit for the most part, and fairly roomy, taking inspiration from Art Deco and Greco-Roman designs, fittingly enough. It could allow hundreds of guests to cycle through without much impediment, but it would also mean the group was pretty much out in the open.

The bright side was that everything around Rex was made of some kind of stone, metal, or ceramic. Things that didn’t burn.

However, William wasn’t done talking.

Horror washed through Rex as the weight of William’s words hit Hercules like a wrecking ball.

“Son,” he said, “You do not know what you’re doing. I swear by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that I have no knowledge of this tragedy. Do not endanger your soul, or that of Hercules. Please! Stop this at once!”

Rex’s words seemed to wash over William for a moment it was clear the boy wasn’t in his right state of mind, he was full of grief which was why Hercules also tried again. His legs buckled as he felt his power waiver from William. It hurt the god, to be cut off from one he was so close to. Even if it was only for a moment.

”William, I cannot harm someone who is innocent. I cannot harm a friend. We discussed this when we agreed to work together. Please... do not make me do this.” he wouldn’t as much as he loved William and adored the boy he could not and would not harm someone who had done so much good in the world. People needed heroes like Rex of the inferno. They were the ones who could show up when he couldn’t. Save when he couldn’t.

“He’s the one... he controls fire. You said it yourself. Of the inferno!” the dog growled and pulled Hercules. The god roared back and hefted the dog. ”William! Listen to me!” the dog rolled and kicked Hercules in the head and was about to charge Rex before the demi-god grabbed the back of his leg mid air and tossed him in the opposite direction again sending the beast into a concrete wall.

”He is a friend and would help us should you only ask of it!” “Can he bring my dad back!?!” William cried looking down, “Can he fix my legs? Can he help my mom!?!”

Rex stared.

Not at the beast that sought to tear him limb from limb.

Not at the glowing man who continuously pulled the beast back while talking to the child.

He stared at the child.

It was more than that though. He was staring at a loss so profound it had altered the child’s life permanently. A dead father, an injured mother, his own injuries. The rage trapped inside a wheelchair, relying on others to care for him and enact his will.

Rex’s heart broke.

Thoughts of concern and deadly beasts faded away and Rex took a few faltering steps forward. Let Hercules deal with the massive dog. Rex…trusted him.

He knelt several feet before William, fully sitting on his heels. He was around eye level with the child, even if neither of them was in arm’s reach.

“I cannot bring your father back,” he said quietly, a faint waver in his voice. “Nor can I heal you or your mother.”

Rex’s eyes were starting to shine, but it was not the result of foxfire or any particular glow. His eyes were simply accumulating water.

“I am not a healer,” he continued, still speaking softly. “I wish I was. I wish I had the power to repair your legs right now. To help your mother. To give your father back to you. I…I wish nobody, no man, no child, no person would ever have to go through what you have gone through.”

He spread his hands, palms up. “That’s not up to me, though,” he said, his eyes getting glassier. “It’s in the hands of my Father in Heaven. He is a healer, a savior, and I rely on him. He is strong when I am weak. I can pray for you, for your mother, but everything else is up to God.”

Rex smiled brokenly.

“There’s nothing else I can do but believe.”

The child was desperate. He was crying now and looked from the ground to Hercules then to Rex. His eyes filled with sadness, rage and hate. He was tired and wanted to sleep now, to curl up and vanish from the world. He couldn’t though. He knew that. William was still a child but he knew enough, the world wouldn’t let him nor would Hercules allow it.

The child waved a hand and the hell hound went to the nearest pedestal and faded away in the shadows giving Hercules and Rex of the inferno one last glare. Red eyes were the last of the summon to be seen. With that Hercules let out a loud sigh.

Ignoring the blood on his arm he sniffed allowing his own tears to fall. It was a beautiful moment. One Hercules wished he could remember for the rest of time. The kindness, the loss. It was a extravagant range of emotions. One that was proof that mortals were capable of so much. Much more than any god could replicate.

“.... it hasn’t worked yet.” William finally said wiping his eyes. He was still angry and bitter but when Rex crouched all the fight went out of the boy. Rex was not who he was looking for. The boy stopped praying when his father died. Hercules was the only ‘god’ who seemed to listen to him.

”Doesn’t mean it won’t happen.” Hercules walked over and placed his non-bloodied hand on William’s shoulder and crouched so he too was ‘eye level’ still towering over the boy and Rex he smiled. ”and I have said this before. I will be there until it does. You aren’t alone William.” William didn’t make eye-contact with anyone for a moment.

“I’m... sorry I tried to attack you...”

The beast retreated in a shadowy demesne and Rex closed his eyes as he lifted up a silent prayer of thanksgiving. The child was listening and thinking, even if he was crying.

“Nobody ever said faith was easy,” Rex said with a solemn nod. “Or that God moves on our timelines. He has a plan - a perfect plan, and he is a loving god - we just have to wait and find out what that plan is.” He reached into a pocket and pulled out a handkerchief which he offered to the boy.

Rex fell silent as Hercules took over. He pulled himself and stood to his feet so he could step back and give the two some space. The room was mostly empty now, so there was a lot of space to be had. Almost too empty.

He turned as William apologized. “I forgive you,” he said warmly. “You are fortunate to have Hercules in your life, someone who looks out for you even when you aren’t yourself. Lucky indeed.”

Rex nodded at Hercules and he offered up a second silent prayer. He had not had to fight Hercules after all. By the grace of God, his preparations for such an event had not come to pass.

Pride washed all over his face seeing William break down like that and admit the mistakes that were made. The child was resilient and would learn from his mistakes and hopefully gain a little patience out of it. William took the handkerchief and looked at it for a moment then dabbed at his eyes. “.... thanks...” before Rex started to speak of the wonders his god is capable of.

It sounded too good to be true, then again there were benevolent gods. He happened to be one, he just didn’t have the power of seeing the future and planning accordingly. That was usually reserved for the fates. Hercules was but a child compared to them.

Speaking of... ”It seems your class has moved on without us.” Hercules said noting the empty room. Two men in black suit jackets walked by with some dividing chains and a sign, ‘wing closed’ which was odd. They were still in it and would be throughout the museum all day. ”I thought we were supposed to be here all day?” the god asked William.

“Thought they would never leave...” someone said across the hall. Standing in the corner a short man removed a cap coming into full view. “Been looking for you two for some time.... hard to imagine too. You being a god and all.” that was all the god needed to hear before stepping in front of William. Good thing he did too because there was a flash of light and a beam that hit Hercules in the chest.

”Oh ho? What’s this now!?!”

Rex pivoted as one of the men addressed Hercules. That sounded menacing. The subsequent burst of energy did not come to much of a surprise with that kind of forewarning.

Rex didn’t bother formulating a reply about Hercules’s lack of legitimate deification - it wouldn’t do anyone any good and honestly, this wasn’t the time for those words. He was too busy whispering and moving.

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked,” he quoted as he slipped over to William’s side. This wasn’t Rex’s first rodeo with Hercules - he knew the drill. The hulking man would break anyone who tried to hurt him or anyone else and he was far tougher than Rex himself. That was fine - Rex had no particular calling to test his physical might against other.

Invisible energy in the rough shape of a heater shield burst into being on his arm, but the only evidence that anything was amiss would be the horizontal positioning of his left arm, as if holding an invisible shield.

“I’ll cover you,” he said to William. “Go get him, Hercules!”

“Our employer would like the return of his things. In fact he said he’d take all the artifacts that you stole. Little William...” the voice sparked a little recognition in the young boy but couldn’t place the voice or the face. Where had they seen him before?

The wheels of his chair squeaked as the boy shifted to look to the exit that was covered by two others. They waved their hands and some wards started to stitch into the open air to the exit. One of the sigils was recognizable as ‘lock’.

“They locked us in.” William said to Hercules as Rex jumped into a fighting stance. “Shadow.” the boy said as from his own shadow a massive beast crawled out and faced the two warding them in.

”Hear that William? Their employer... wants back the things you stole.” the god never approved of theft but knew the boy meant well. He also knew the things he stole were in far better hands than those he stole it from.

“Good... I have questions. I want a name.... Herc.... get me one.” the god started to glow as he roared with laughter. ”A name I shall get! Bear witness to the might of a god!” he said before charging in. Rex of the inferno stood sentinel next to his master so there was little the god had to worry about.