The three of them walked in silence, the forest alive with the rustle of leaves and distant bird calls. Metis kept her gaze on the path ahead, her mind swirling. Sophos's confession echoed in her head. She had longed for him to say those words, but now they felt tangled in the warnings of the fairy.
Sophos finally broke the silence. "It's going to get dark soon. We should find somewhere to camp." His voice was calm, but his eyes sought hers.
Metis nodded without looking at him. "Alright," she said softly, but strict.
After a while, they stumbled upon a waterfall. The sound of rushing water filled the air, and beside the pool lay a clear, flat area.
"This spot looks perfect," Thalia said, setting her bag down. "I'll take care of the blankets."
"I'll get firewood," Sophos offered, glancing at Metis.
"I'll slice the fruit," Metis murmured, already reaching for her bag.
They worked in near silence, each absorbed in their tasks. As the camp took shape, Metis stood, brushing off her hands. "I'm going to bath behind that waterfall," she said to Thalia.
Thalia nodded distractedly, arranging the last of the bedding. "Don't take too long My lady," she replied, barely looking up.
Metis disappeared behind the waterfall, seeking comfort in the cool water. The roar of the falls muffled her thoughts, and for a moment, she felt the weight of the day wash away.
Back at the camp, Sophos was restless, unable to shake the coldness in Metis's tone. He stood abruptly. "I'll be back," he muttered, walking away without waiting for a response.
The narrow path behind the waterfall led him closer to her than he intended. When he saw her, standing with her back to him, the water gliding over her skin, he froze. She was radiant, every detail of her form etched into his mind.
Then, his foot snapped a twig.
Metis turned sharply, alarm in her eyes. "Who's there!?" she called, scanning the shadows.
"It's me," Sophos said quickly, stepping into view.
"Sophos?" she exclaimed, clutching her robe and pulling it hastily around her. Her cheeks flushed with anger as she marched toward him. "Were you spying on me?"
"No!" he stammered, raising his hands defensively. "I didn't know this path would lead here. It was an accident, I swear!"
Her eyes narrowed. "An accident?" she repeated, her voice sounded with disbelief.
"Metis, I wasn't—" he started, but before he could finish, he closed the distance between them and pulled her close.
"Stop—" she began, but his lips were on hers, silencing her protests.
For a moment, she stood frozen. Then, against her better judgment, she found herself kissing him back. It was as if every barrier she had built crumbled in an instant. But the realization of what she was doing jolted her.
She pushed him away, her voice shaking. "We can't, Sophos. This…this is forbidden. It's against Athena."
His eyes bore into hers. "I know," he said quietly. "But I had to know. Do you feel the same for me?"
"What does it matter?" she whispered, her voice breaking.
"It matters to me," he replied, his tone firm. "If you feel the same, I can handle everything else. I just need to hear it."
Metis shook her head, tears threatening to spill. "I'm afraid, Sophos. What if this—us—brings disaster? What if we're the reason the prophecy comes true?"
Sophos stepped closer, but she backed away. "Metis—"
"I can't," she said, cutting him off. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone.
When she returned to the camp, Thalia was already asleep, Metis lay down beside her, staring at the sky.
Her thoughts wouldn't settle. Am I still pure? Can I still call myself a priestess?
Sleep claimed her eventually, but her heart remained restless, haunted by what had just happened.
*******************
Morning came quietly, with the first light filtering through the trees. Metis was the first to rise, her restless thoughts lingering from the night before. Sophos was already awake, sitting silently by the extinguished fire, while Thalia stirred soon after, her usual cheer subdued.
Without much conversation, they packed their belongings and resumed their journey. The forest seemed endless, their footsteps the only sound breaking the stillness. Each of them was lost in thought—Metis grappling with the forbidden kiss and her loyalty to Athena, Sophos determined to confront the unspoken connection between them, and Thalia silently observing the tension but choosing to remain quiet.
The silence stretched as they walked, the weight of unspoken emotions and uncertain destinies heavy on all of them.
By midday, the forest gave way to rocky terrain. The cave loomed ahead, its entrance dark and foreboding, framed by jagged stones. A low growl rumbled from within, making Thalia stop in her tracks.
"What is that?" she whispered, clutching her cloak tightly.
Sophos stepped forward cautiously, peering into the shadows. "Cerberus," he said grimly. "The guardian of the underworld. Three heads, each fiercer than the last."
Thalia's face turned pale. "How are we supposed to get past it?" She asked terrified.
Sophos hesitated, his hand instinctively moving to his sword. "I don't know," he admitted.
Metis, who had been standing behind him, spoke up. "There might be a way," she said slowly. "I know an enchantment—a song—that can put even the wildest creatures to sleep. But I'll need quiet. Cerberus is sensitive to noise, and if it wakes too soon..."
Sophos turned to her, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you sure you can do this?"
Metis nodded, though her heart was pounding. "I have to. Stay here. I'll call for you when it's safe."
She stepped forward cautiously, her every move deliberate. The growls grew louder as she approached the sleeping form of the three-headed beast. Its massive bodies rose and fell with each breath, its heads resting uneasily on its paws.
As she moved closer, her foot snapped a dry twig. The sound was deafening in the silence.
Cerberus's heads jerked up, its eyes glowing like embers as it bared its fangs. A low, menacing growl filled the cave, shaking the very ground beneath her feet.
Metis froze for a heartbeat, then lifted her hands and began to sing.
Her voice was like a soft breeze over calm waters, carrying a melody that seemed to soothe the very air around her. The song flowed like a river, gentle yet powerful, each note weaving a spell of peace.
Cerberus's growls softened, its eyes drooping as the enchantment took hold. Within moments, the great beast lowered its heads, its breaths steady and deep.
Sophos, watching from the shadows, was mesmerized. The beauty of her voice held him captive until Thalia nudged him, whispering, "She's calling us."
They hurried to Metis's side, their steps careful to avoid waking the slumbering guardian. Together, they approached the altar at the center of the cave. On it rested the scroll, ancient and bound in ornate gold.
Sophos reached for it, but as his fingers closed around the parchment, the ground beneath them trembled violently. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling as the cave groaned in protest.
"It's collapsing!" Thalia cried.
"Run!" Sophos shouted, pulling Metis by the arm as the three of them raced toward the entrance.
They burst into the daylight just as the cave behind them caved in, a cloud of dust and rubble billowing into the sky.
Outside, they collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air. The scroll lay between them, untouched despite the chaos.
Sophos picked it up, his hands trembling as he unrolled it. Metis and Thalia leaned in, their eyes scanning the faded script.
"What does it say?" Metis asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Sophos read aloud, his voice heavy with disbelief. "The prophecy demands a sacrifice. A life must be given to prevent the wrath of the gods."
Silence fell over them like a heavy shroud. Metis's heart sank as the weight of the words settled over her.
The journey to the cave had been perilous, but what await them next was far worse.