Ares

The golden sky opened as Aphrodite descended from Olympus in her chariot drawn by six radiant swans. On her lap slept Alcippe, her youngest daughter, wrapped in rosy cloaks, while her other children accompanied her: Eros, pensive; Anteros, melancholic; Harmonia, weaving ethereal flowers; Himeros, mischievous; Pothos, dreamy; Tereus, fierce; and Diomedes, clinging to his mother.

Phobos and Deimos, who had lived with Ares since they were ten, awaited them in black armor and with knowing smiles. Ares's castle, colossal and covered in ice, rose before them like an indomitable fortress. Upon landing, Aphrodite descended with such grace that flowers sprang up beneath her feet.

“Welcome,” a deep voice roared.

From his elevated throne amidst icy spears, Ares stood. His presence overshadowed everyone. Tall, with a red cape billowing like fire and his helmet at his side, he gazed at Aphrodite with a mixture of suppressed desire and long-held resentment. His gaze fell on Alcippe, asleep in her mother's arms.

“Is she…?” Ares asked, walking down the marble steps.

Aphrodite nodded, and without a word, placed the baby in his arms. Ares held her as if she were burning glass. His war-carved features softened. For a moment, the god of war was just a heartbroken father.

"You look like your mother," Ares whispered to the sleeping baby, who stirred with a soft whimper.

That night, on the shared throne in the central hall, Aphrodite and Ares sat together. Alcippe slept between them. The candles burned with a red and gold flame. The lesser gods and their children left one by one.

"You look beautiful," Ares said, glancing at her.

"You haven't changed," she whispered, still not looking at him.

—And you...? Do you still love me?

Aphrodite didn't respond with words. She just took his hand on the cold stone and intertwined her fingers with his.

ARES – The God of War

⸻

Greek name: Ἄρης (Árēs)

Roman equivalent: Mars

Dominion: War, violence, destruction, physical courage and wild virility.

⸻

🛡️ Physical description

Ares is the god of war incarnated in flesh and muscle. His presence is imposing even before he speaks. He is depicted as a man of virile, vigorous, and fearsomely attractive appearance. • Height: Tall, broad-shouldered, with a body forged as if each muscle were sculpted by war itself. • Skin: Tanned by the sun of the battlefield, barely marked by divine scars that do not completely disappear. • Hair: Long, dark and wild, sometimes tied back in a warrior ponytail. • Eyes: A mix of reddish, golden and black, but always intense, like embers in the middle of combat. • Voice: Deep, with a tone that seems to carry the echo of thousands of war cries. • Clothing: Black or bronze armor, adorned with skulls or war symbols; a red or scarlet cape, like the blood he sheds.

Sometimes, when he is with Aphrodite, he appears unarmed, more human… but never weak.

⸻

🔥 Psychology and personality

Ares isn't the cold strategist like Athena. He's the pure emotion of war. His temperament is impulsive, fiery, and fierce. He lives in the present, guided by instinct, desire, and pride. • Impulsive: Acts before thinking. Emotions dominate him: anger, jealousy, passion. • Violent: Violence is not just a means for him, but a way of life, almost pleasurable. • Passionate: He loves with the same intensity with which he fights. He doesn't know how to love halfway. • Jealous and possessive: Especially with Aphrodite. His love for her knows no bounds. • Proud: Doesn't ask for forgiveness easily. Has a hard time accepting his weaknesses. • Secretly vulnerable: His greatest contradiction is that, despite his harshness, he's capable of loving deeply. Aphrodite makes him feel human, and that hurts him.

Ares is not stupid, but he despises intrigue.