-Alkaios POV-
Of all the people who could be responsible for this catastrophic event, it is a cruel twist of fate that it had to be Pandora. I frankly hadn't entertained the thought that she would still be a living presence in this current era. However, a single glance at Pandora, as she stands before me now, dispels any doubt. The undeniable resemblance is chilling. While I haven't immersed myself in the entire "Prisma Illya" series, I have, by chance, encountered a solitary photograph of Pandora. The individual before me mirrors that image with uncanny fidelity–the same visage I recognized.
The only two things that stopped me from drawing my sword were that Pandora had shown no killing intent towards me and how easily she revealed her true name. I did not know why Pandora would show herself to me. But I was glad she was showing no killing intent.
I was unsure what would set Pandora off, so I hesitated to draw my sword unless absolutely necessary. Still, her intense gaze unnerved me. The vacant, lifeless look in her eyes deeply disturbed me, as I sensed an immense darkness and hatred within them.
The only positive outcome was that the Divine Protection of Discernment could now detect the divine energy it was sensing. The obsidian shard and the massive pillar emerging from the ground both emanated the same energy, which was also leaking from Pandora.
I observed small fragments of obsidian gradually rising from the ground around her feet. Now that I could fully sense the obsidian, I realized it wasn't truly obsidian, but merely appeared that way. Instead, the obsidian was Pandora's energy solidified.
My eyes narrowed at Pandora. I couldn't read anything about her; her entire face was a blank canvas, showing no discernible emotion. This stoic facade was a complete contrast to the vibrant, expressive person she had been just moments before. The sudden shift was disorienting, and my mind raced, quickly sifting through the possibilities why she was here. Her unexpected presence raised a multitude of questions.
The myth of Pandora has always held a certain intrigue for me, particularly the aspect of her relationship with the gods. It's undeniable that her story showcases a profound animosity towards them, a sentiment that becomes quite clear when one delves into the narrative of her life. The consequences of her actions, particularly the unleashing of evils upon the world, are well-documented. However, a persistent question has always lingered in my mind: how was she still alive?
I've thought about the possibility of some inherent immortality that might explain her continued existence. Yet, that felt contradictory. It seemed improbable, given the divine powers at play. The gods were the ones who designed her destiny, and their anger wouldn't bring mercy. The very act of opening the box, a transgression of immense proportion, would prevent any possibility of their continued benevolence or allowance for her survival. It's incomprehensible that they would let her live without consequence or impediment after such a tremendous breach of trust.
A thought, sharp and disquieting, pierced the calm of my musings. I am in the age of gods, a time steeped where anyone who enters the underworld if they could find it. A question formed, a question that chilled me to the bone: could the figure before me, that seemed to be alive, actually be a ghost? Not just any ghost, but perhaps a vengeful spirit, one that had somehow broken free from the iron grip of the underworld. The very notion was staggering. But if this were true, if she had indeed escaped the clutches of Hades himself, then a far more profound mystery unfurled: how? How could any soul defy the God of the dead and return to the mortal realm?
Off the top of my head, Gilgamesh is the only person I know of who came back to life after passing away.
"Is there something wrong, Big Brother?" Pandora asked me all sudden, which knocked me out of my thoughts. Why is she calling me Big Brother?
"Pandora, how are you alive?" I asked Pandora since she is being cordial with me so far, she might answer me. A slight smirk appeared on Pandora's lips that twisted my stomach.
"That's a secret, Big Brother," Pandora said, her sly tone irritating me. Of course she wouldn't tell me.
"Fine, but why are you here, Pandora?" I asked, and as soon as the words left my lips, Pandora's face went dead. Even more dead than it had been before.
"Is it not obvious, Big Brother?" Pandora's voice, once melodic, now crackled with an unnerving intensity, her eyes wide with a feverish gleam that promised little sanity. "I want nothing more than to punish the gods for what they did to me. When I learned the gods intended for me to open the box, a cruel jest designed to punish me for their own amusement, I swore vengeance. I want nothing more than to strike my rage at the divine. This injustice will not stand. I will show the gods my rage, starting with the city-states that worship them." Pandora said as her voice growing unhinged as she spoke, each word saturated with betrayal, fury, and a rising madness.
The surrounding air seemed to thicken with Pandora's volatile emotions, a chilling testament to her torment and the devastating path she now intended to forge. Her gaze, no longer fixed, swept across the scene, as if already envisioning the flames that would consume temples and the ashes that would settle upon the altars of those who had adored their false benefactors. The promised punishment, it seemed, would begin not with a whisper, but with a roar of defiance.
"Pandora, you know you won't survive this. I don't know how you came back to life. Perhaps you used a forgotten incantation, or you tricked Thanatos. But know this, Pandora: this time, the gods won't let you die. They will ensure your suffering is eternal, a perpetual torment designed to break your spirit, to erase any semblance of hope." I said warning Pandora of her fate.
My mind conjured the image of Prometheus, chained, his liver devoured by an eagle only to regenerate, a cycle of agony without end. "They will torture you every day," I continued, the words laced with a chilling finality, "like Prometheus suffers to this day." I watched her, bracing myself for a reaction—fear, anger, despair. I had delivered the gravest of warnings, a prophecy of unimaginable pain.
But to my utter astonishment, the girl shrugged. It was a gesture so dismissive, unconcerned, that it sent a tremor of unease through me, a different dread than I had expected. Her nonchalance was more terrifying than any tearful plea or defiant roar could ever be. It suggested a resilience I hadn't accounted for, that she had already accepted the fate I was trying to warn her against. The implications of that single, casual movement sent my warning down the drain.
"I know this already, Big Brother. I know the gods much more than you ever will. But that doesn't matter to me. If I can knock them off their thrones, that will be enough." Pandora said her voice was filled with madness.
I bit the inside of my cheek at her words. I could tell Pandora was lashing out, and for good reason. What happened to her was injustice, and I could understand despising the gods. Coming from a different era, I felt the world was better off with them gone.
Pandora's approach is misguided. While the gods might appreciate the Greeks reviving their worship, this plan wouldn't succeed. The gods are inhuman; any sadness they might feel over the loss of their worshippers would be fleeting, disappearing as quickly as it arose.
"Pandora, why are you telling me all this? Why pretend to be human when you could just kill everyone in Athens?" I asked, still confused, why Pandora would do such a thing. I couldn't fathom her motives, especially since I knew she could eliminate all the Athenians if she controlled the Nosoi.
"My initial plan was to destroy all of Athens, Big Brother, but then I met you," Pandora confessed, her words halting me in my tracks.
"What do you mean by that, Pandora?" I asked, wondering how our meeting could change her mind. I racked my brain, trying to recall any specific interactions I'd had with her, but drew a complete blank.
"Big Brother, you must have noticed how the Athenians regard me. When I opened the pithos, I was cursed to be despised by humans. All the evils in the world bathed me in their aura. Now, humans are disgusted by my very presence," Pandora said, her voice softening as she explained.
When she spoke those words that I realized she was telling the truth. I hadn't noticed it before, but all the Athenians were looking at her with disdain. I never noticed because I was thinking about the plague, and when I saw her, I was only concerned about protecting her. But if Pandora was just a normal girl, why wouldn't any adult try to protect her from the Nosoi? Yet, they left her to fend for herself.
That's when it hit me. Pandora claimed she was cursed; however, I am not affected by curses. The Divine Protection of Anti-Malignance made me immune. That's why I never noticed Pandora's curse and why she's so cordial with me. I'm possibly the only being, besides the gods, that could stand in her presence and not hate her.
I felt a pang of pity for Pandora; she seemed like a child lashing out at the world. After considering everything she'd said, I came to a single conclusion. "I'm going to save you, Pandora," I declared, and for the first time, Pandora's blank expression shifted. Her face filled with surprise at my words.
"Save me? Didn't you hear what I said, Big Brother? I intend to burn everything down. I'll be the enemy of the gods, and that includes the Goddess you've claimed. How can you want to save me?" Pandora asked, and I just mirrored what she did earlier.
I shrugged, "Pandora, you seem to forget I'm a hero. That means saving everyone who needs saving. And right in front of me, I see a girl crying out for one." I told Pandora. At first, Pandora's face was blank, but a slow blush spread across it. However, the blush vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"Very well, if you wish to keep me, then stop this plague, Akaios Astrea," Pandora declared, dark energy swirling around her, creating a whirlwind. "Show me how sincere you are by saving these humans first. If you can't even save these Athenians from this plague, you'll never save me." The wind obscured my vision, and when it dissipated, Pandora was nowhere to be seen.
I couldn't help but sigh in exhaustion. That conversation with Pandora seemed to drain years off my life. I was worried my hair would go grey. With a quick application of the Divine Protection of Swift-Running, I dashed back to the plaza. I arrived in an instant, scanning the plaza to see if any Athenians remained.
It didn't take long for me to realize that all the Athenians had departed. Knowing everyone was gone, I raced back to the palace to meet with Chiron. As I dashed back, I heard hooves approaching. Skidding to a halt, I saw Chiron with a worried expression on his face.
"Alkaios, do you know where that dark energy came from?" Chiron asked, and I felt a headache coming on. I knew Chiron would soon feel the same.
"Chiron, I think it's better we meet up with everyone. What I have to say needs to be heard by everyone." I said tired already; imagine the reaction I would receive from everyone. Chiron's face seemed to grow just as tired as mine.
"Very well, Alkaios," Chiron said, as the two of us ran back to the palace. "If what you have to say is that important, let us join everyone else. They're all waiting in the guest rooms." It took less than a minute, but to me, it felt longer. My mind was in turmoil, wondering how Pandora was alive.
If anyone would know, it would be Chiron. I don't know when Chiron was born, but I'm confident he knew about Pandora. When we arrived at the palace, the guards had already made way for us. No doubt they could see the dust cloud we created.
Chiron and I skidded to a stop before the doors, and then we both walked inside. I could see the looks on the two guards' faces from the corner of my eye as we arrived. I held back my snort, and I could see a slight smile on Chiron's face.
Chiron showed me to the palace's guest room. As I stepped inside, I saw Heracles, Jason, Castor, Pollux, Asclepius, and finally Theseus, all waiting. I wasn't surprised to see Theseus; it made sense for the acting ruler to be present, especially with his father being ill. What surprised me, however, was that someone had pulled Asclepius away from the sick.
Chiron entered and closed the door behind me. Once the door was shut, I heard him chant a spell too quickly for me to understand. "Alkaios," Chiron asked, "now that we're all here, what happened while you were gone?" I noticed everyone's faces light up with interest.
"Everyone, Pandora is here," I announced, and instantly, looks of confusion appeared on everyone's faces. Everyone but Chiron, that is.
"Pandora, but how is that possible?" Chiron exclaimed, shocked. "Pandora died in the flood Lord Zeus created. No one could have survived that. Even if she had, Pandora was mortal and should have died ages ago," Chiron added, his tone shifting to one of horror.
I couldn't blame him; I was just as confused as Chiron. The only way Pandora could still be around is if she were immortal or escaped from the dead. Knowing what I knew about Hades, that's just about impossible. The only one I knew that escaped death was Sisyphus, but not even he could stay alive long.
"I'm sure it's her teacher," I stated, letting my words settle in the air. "I watched as she claimed it herself. She created the obsidian that grew from the ground. All the obsidian seems to be her own energy. And the way she spoke of the gods and the Pithos itself... there's no doubt it's Pandora," I finished. I saw everyone's faces pale at my words, shock and horror etched upon them. "I don't know how Pandora is alive; she didn't say. But I know she's controlling the Nosoi. I think the only way we can stop this plague is if she stops it," I added.
I saw Asclepius's expression darken with a flicker of rage. He was clearly furious that Pandora had caused this plague, and I couldn't blame him. I was also angered that she would target innocent people. While I could understand anger directed at the gods, targeting the innocent was where I drew the line.
Chiron's face flickered through a myriad of emotions that I couldn't quite decipher. Finally, a look of profound weariness settled upon him, making him appear ancient. It was in that moment that the full weight of his years seemed to rest upon him. "Alkaios, thank you for finding the source of this disaster. Did Pandora say anything else to you?" Chiron asked. I recalled the conversation Pandora, and I had had, then shook my head.
Pandora and my conversation about her curse weren't relevant. Chiron studied my face for a moment. I could tell he knew I'd left something out. For a moment, I thought he would demand that I reveal what I was hiding, but then he looked away. I let out a breath of relief that he allowed me to keep my secret.
"Everyone, our new aim is to locate Pandora and put a stop to her. We're unsure of her whereabouts, but she poses a significant threat. The method she used to prolong her life remains a mystery, which means no one is to be alone from this point forward," Chiron declared. A chorus of nods followed, each person taking his warning to heart. I couldn't help but furrow my brow, contemplating Pandora's next move. With control over the Nosoi, her capabilities were vast and unpredictable.
What I dreaded most was if she had her box with her. I didn't know what Pandora could do with her box, but I knew one thing: in this world, the older something was, the stronger it became. Pandora's Box was one of the oldest things in existence, and I had no desire to find out what she could do with it.
The ground lurched before we could continue our planning, sending us stumbling. The massive obsidian in the ground grew. I hurried to the window, watching as the rock surged upwards from the earth, ever larger. The cloud of Nosoi thickened, and my face drained of color. I clenched my jaw, witnessing the scene worsen. Before I could even process what was happening, a cough drew my attention.
As Jason coughed, I turned my head. My eyes widened as black spots started appearing on him. When we all noticed the signs of the plague, everyone turned to Jason, filled with worry and fear.
"What's wrong?" Jason asked, as we all stared at him in horror. Before anyone could answer, Jason's body trembled, and then he collapsed. I dashed forward, catching him before he hit the ground.
I turned to Chiron as his face turned serious and a hint of rage appeared. "Chiron, we need to see what's under that rock," I said to him, and Chiron nodded.
I looked at Jason, my worry growing as he became sicker by the second. The situation felt more and more dire with each passing moment. 'Pandora, how can I possibly save you if you do this to yourself?' I thought, watching my friend get closer to Thanatos's grasp.
Chapter 20: Pandora End
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*Author's Note*
I would posted earlier but my Patreon told me the chapter I posted was messed up. So I had to go over all the chapters I made with my phone. Turns out Grammary sucks on your phone. Thanks for waiting.
Support Me on: https://www.patreon.com/cw/SchweinHinoKami if you want more and can't wait.