The consort Helios fell for the Nereides, Rhodos. When the time came to do the breeding rites each year, he was somehow never chosen by the sea despite being hale of health and tenacious with his efforts. Rhodos knew of his affinity but did not speak of it to others, instead letting it fester, for she coveted the singular attention he provided her. Secretly they did couple, and on numerous occasion — for Rhodos would always be loyal to the Nereides and a faithful priestess; she did not think the sea would burden her with pregnancy out of season. When she grew fat, she cast Helios aside and proclaimed her pregnancy an omen, and a gift from the Two Mothers.

When Rhodos gave birth to these children, she saw that most of them were females, and she was happy. But the singular male born to the litter — Astraios — was the mirror image of her lover, and her secret would surely be spoiled if he lived. She demanded that Helios be the one to kill the boy. Helios took his son but he did not kill him; instead, he hid the child away. Once the consort returned among the Nereides he thought he would resume his position as a faithful servant, tell Rhodos that the bastard son was dead, and things would go back to normal. Instead he returned in time to overhear Rhodos telling of an attack perpetrated by the man, and he was soon taken and executed.

The boy he left behind, hidden along the shore, was discovered and adopted by a small family traveling along the coast. Here he lived for a few short months before the Nereides caught them. Following this event, Astraios was given a slave name and taken from camp to camp, learning the ways of the Nereides, and was gradually assimilated in to their culture. He follows Meteora wherever she goes, her humble servant.