( Sophia''s POV )


    A full two weeks after the incident, Sophia finally regained consciousness in the university infirmary.


    For a moment, she could not believe that she was still alive, as in herst moments before cking out, she could remember the words ''Save Me''ing out of her mouth as she desperately looked to Rocky for help.


    That expression, that feeling, it wasn''t fake….. at that moment as a dagger was mercilessly plunged into her chest, she indeed felt the desperate need for Rocky to save her.


    Not from death, not from the pain, but from her own family, as she came to terms with how toxic it was.


    Ever since she was a child who could understand words, she realized that her and Perseus''s father did not view them both as equal siblings.


    Their father was a misogynistic jerk, who thought women could never be as powerful as men and hence from a very early age, starved Sophia of his love and attention as he saw her as a lesser child amongst Perseus and herself.


    His hatred for women stemmed from his own experience in life with Goddesses like Hera, submissive women like their mother and disappointing female generals he had once ced his hopes in, who wereter wooed by other men and betrayed him for love.


    Those events turned him bitter and slowly caused him to lower his opinion of women as a gender, as he began viewing them as lesser beingspared to men.


    He was not an outright bad father, he did not hate Sophia for being born and it wasn''t as if he showed her any obvious disgust.


    In Fact, He would still allow Sophia to call him father, y with her, buy her gifts, however, he never loved her the way he loved Perseus who was his heart and soul.


    Whatever Perseus aplished in life it was never enough for their father, who always expected more from him, as he kept pushing him to aim for higher heights, however, when it came to Sophia he had almost no expectations.


    Whether Sophia showed brilliance in sword arts or in craftsmanship, it made no difference to him, as all his hopes for his legacy to continue were pinned on Perseus.


    At one point, her desire to win her father''s approval became so profound in Sophia''s heart, that she only started to do things that their father liked or approved of, bing a model child, stifling her own individuality and yet, it still wasn''t enough!


    No matter what she did, she was never enough, until one day, when she became of age and was chosen as a climber, she received the blessing of her grandfather Poseidon, who chose her as his Champion!


    That was the first day when their father showed interest in Sophia.


    The first time heplimented her.


    The first time, he truly disyed some affection.


    And it was around this time that his n of kidnapping the Champion Of Gemini had failed, having kidnapped the wrong individual because of faulty intelligence and hence, identifying the opportunity to further distinguish herself after being drunk on the feeling of receiving his praise, Sophia suggested doing some dumb and stupid things for the family, going to the extreme lengths of taking a dagger in her chest, just to win his approval.


    *Sob*


    Sophia sobbed after waking up, she had realized the moment she took the dagger in her chest that she regretted going through with that n very much.


    She knew how wrong it was for a child to yearn for the love of their parents, she knew how wrong it was for any form of love to be conditional on sess or gender.


    If given a choice, she really did not want it-


    And yet, she knew that she would do it again if asked to, by her father.


    Why?


    Because she was just that much of a sucker for his attention that her own life did notpare in value.


    "Head Healer, sir, the patient has regained consciousness, please check up on her-"


    A voice interrupted Sophia''s thoughts, as she struggled to get into a seated position, looking around her surroundings with a nk and mundane expression on her face.


    Soon the head healer rushed into the infirmary with a tray full of potions, as he made idle talk and encouraged Sophia to gulp them all down.


    A few momentster, Professor Maven followed, as he entered the room and interrogated her about the incident.


    Thankfully, the n seemed to have worked perfectly as when she narrated her side of the story, it fit perfectly with how Rocky and the others narrated it, absolving her of all suspicion.


    " Well, you need rest so I won''t disturb you, but I have to sadly inform you, that while you survived, your two teammates did not make it and died in the woods from poisoning-" Professor Maven said in a solemn voice as a tear streaked down Sophia''s cheek.


    " I''m so sorry for your loss-" he said, assuming that Sophia was regretful about their deaths, while in reality she did not give a solitary fuck about them-, and was instead shocked to find out that she had been out for 14 full days.


    " Professor? Did anyonee visit me in the past 14 days? Do I have any letters?" Sophia asked, hopeful that perhaps in thesest 14 days either her brother, or her mother might have visited, even holding a slimmer of hope that her father might have made a surprise visit, but deep down in her heart she knew it was unlikely.


    " While we did inform your family about the incident, I''m afraid no-one came to visit you in the past 14 days from your family, however, you were visited daily by the Champion of Gemini.


    He brought you fresh flowers everyday and seemed genuinely concerned for your well being.


    Goodd that one-" Professor Maven said, as Sophia slightly nodded her head, ncing at the fresh flowers ced in a vase beside her bed.


    ''Pretty-'' she thought, as a soft smile came to her face, however, it was quickly reced by self pity as she realized that the only one who really cared about her was her enemy.


    " As for letters, I''m not sure, but I don''t think there have been any sent. But I will double check….. you please rest in the meanwhile-" Professor Maven said as he left the infirmary, leaving Sophia to her own thoughts.


    14 days without a visit?


    This was a new low even for her family, as if she had any doubt in her head before, she had it no more that she was nothing more than a mere tool.


    She was a mere tool growing up and she was a slightly more useful tool after she had be a champion, but to their father she was still a tool.


    When Perseus was hurt during a floor raid, he refused to leave his bed-side for 30 days while he recovered.


    He personally decimated the forces that hurt him and seemed genuinely worried for Perseus even after the doctors said he would survive.


    And yet, when she was battling for life and death for 14 days, not once did he even bother checking up on her, nor did he bother with sending a substitute.


    ''Well at least it seems I have won the trust of the champion of Gemini…. Maybe if I help father steal his aspect of divinity, maybe then he will acknowledge me?'' Sophia questioned self deprecatingly as she slumped back on her recovery bed once more.