The god of the forge, fire, and volcanos, Hephaestus, swung his massive arms as he strolled towards Ivory's daycare, his daughter trotting along beside him. His tanned skin and dark brown hair stood in stark contrast to Ivory's light brown hair, pale skin, and striking blue eyes.
As they approached the entrance, a young nymph, her eyes wide with curiosity, approached them. "Oh, what a cute little girl! Is she your niece?" she asked Hephaestus, her gaze fixed on Ivory.
Hephaestus' chest swelled with pride. "No, she's my daughter," he replied, his voice booming with confidence.
The nymph's eyes flashed with disapproval. "Oh, I see. She can't have any sugar, right? Or any processed foods? Or screen time?" she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. "No, she can't have any of those things. She's a demigod, after all. We have to be careful about what we let her consume," he explained.
The nymph's face twisted into a sneer. "I see. Well, I'm sure she'll fit in just fine with the other kids," she said, taking Ivory's hand and leading her away.
Hephaestus' ears perked up as he heard the nymph mutter something under her breath. "Excuse me, what did you say?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
The nymph turned back to him, her eyes narrowed. "I said, it's a shame she doesn't look more like you. She stands out like a sore thumb," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
Marjorie, the daycare director, appeared at Hephaestus' side. "Is there a problem here?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the nymph.
Hephaestus explained the situation to Marjorie, his voice tight with anger. The nymph's face turned red as Marjorie looked at her. "You know Ivory is adopted, right?" she asked.
The nymph's eyes widened, and she stammered, "I-I'm sorry, what?"
Marjorie repeated, "Ivory is adopted."
The nymph looked back and forth between Hephaestus and Marjorie, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.
Hephaestus smirked. "I thought as much. Maybe next time, you'll think twice before judging a book by its cover," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction.
The nymph nodded, looking chastised, and Marjorie gave her a warning look before leading her away.
Ivory, who had been watching the exchange, ran over to Hephaestus and hugged him. "Daddy, I'm hungry," she said, her voice small and timid.
Hephaestus ruffled Ivory's hair. "Let's go home, kiddo. I think it's time for a lesson on why we don't judge others," he said, his voice gentle and kind.
As they walked away, Hephaestus couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Despite the rocky start, he knew that Ivory was in good hands. And more importantly, he knew that she was loved.
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