-Alkaios POV-
When the words Pandora's Pithos escaped Chiron's lips, my whole being froze. Who didn't know the name Pandora's pithos? Or what would become known as Pandora's box? But that should have been impossible for the box to reopen.
"Chiron, please tell me you're saying Pandora's Pithos has been reopened?" I pleaded with panic in my voice. I didn't even want to think of the consequences of Pandora's box being reopened.
Chiron disagreed, shaking his head. Asclepius and I exhaled with relief. "Trust me, boys, we would all know if someone opened Pandora's Pithos," Chiron said thoughtfully. "But I need to look into this. Alkaios, Asclepius, keep this confidential. Asclepius, continue your work. We can't do much until we know more," he added.
I wanted to argue with Chiron, but what choice did I have? I was completely clueless. Pandora's Box was unknown to me. I was aware it was a major plot element in *Illya Prisma*, but I'd never actually watched the show.
"Chiron, what about Athens? I refuse to allow the people there to suffer," Asclepius said. Despite the cool look on Asclepius's face, I could feel the anger in his words.
"I said no such thing, Asclepius. But rushing in with no plan will lead to more lives lost." Chiron retorted. I could tell Chiron wanted to change the subject. But I had one last question I needed to ask.
"Chiron, you must suspect what is happening?" I asked. I watch Chiron's face, hoping to catch any flicker of emotion. But no matter how much I searched, Chiron's face remained the picture of serenity:
Chiron was silent for a beat, considering whether to speak. His expression shifted suddenly as he decided. "I believe one of the released evils has stirred," Chiron said finally.
Confused, I frowned at Chiron's words. I knew Pandora's Box contained all the world's evils, but were they actually *alive*? I glanced at Asclepius, and the horror on his face mirrored my own.
"Chiron, are you serious?!" Asclepius asked with horror. "Then what are you still here for, Chiron! We should head to Athens," Asclepius added with haste.
"Asclepius, I understand your concern. I don't want the people of Athens to suffer either. However, we need to focus on finding a cure first. If we act without a plan, we could risk contracting the illness ourselves. I believe Athens is safe for the moment, but we must work quickly to find a cure," Chiron said.
Asclepius's jaw clenched as he forced his mouth closed. I could tell that Asclepius disagreed with Chiron. He wanted to rush off and heal all he could. I placed a hand on Asclepius's shoulder to calm him. Asclepius's eyes snapped to me, meeting my gaze.
Asclepius and I shared a long look. My stare conveys a single message. 'Later'. Asclepius met my gaze, and despite the little time we spent together, Asclepius understood. Asclepius and I nodded.
"Asclepius and I understand Chiron. I hope you can tell us more later." I said as I dragged Asclepius away. As I dragged Asclepius away, a plan formed in my head. It wasn't until Asclepius and I were back at his workshop that I let him go.
"Now that we're far enough, Asclepius, I have a plan," I told him. Asclepius dusted himself off and straightened his clothes, giving me a small glare for completely manhandling him.
"What's your plan, Alkaios?" Asclepius inquired. A small smile touched my lips. Like Asclepius, I was torn about abandoning Athens in its current state. Though some Athenian soldiers were brutal to innocents, they were only a small fraction. Countless innocent people in Athens didn't deserve to die. That's why I devised my plan.
"Asclepius, what do you need for the cure?" I asked, needing to know for my plan. Asclepius was silent for a moment, considering my question.
"I would need new subjects. I need to know how this plague has changed. Now that we know this plague targets humans, I need more samples from humans." Asclepius answered after he thought a moment.
"Can't you get samples from me?" I asked Asclepius, bewildered. I was ideal for him, considering I couldn't get sick if he needed a human. Asclepius snorted at my question.
"Alkaios, you could resist and overcome the plague with magic and a blessing. Normal people can't do that. If we want a cure, it needs to be one that works for everyone," Asclepius said, pausing for a moment. "That being said, we might use your blood to help create a cure," he added.
I nodded, unsure of the medical specifics. But an idea struck me. "Asclepius, why couldn't we use your blood? You're a god's son. Wouldn't that be more effective?" I asked. Asclepius's response was a laugh, which surprised me. I'd never heard him laugh before.
"Alkaios, what do you know about demigods?" Asclepius asked, his laughter fading as his expression turned serious. His sudden shift caught me off guard, and I blinked in surprise. After a moment to consider his question, I realized: I only knew the basics about demigods.
"Demigods are born from a god or goddess and a mortal," I explained to Asclepius, sharing my limited understanding of them. "They have a connection to their divine parent's domain."
Asclepius gave a nod to my words. "That is the basic knowledge of Demigods, but there is more to that," Asclepius said, but he raised his hand like a teacher instructing a class. "Demigods are born when a God or Goddess essence merges with a mortal. The amount of power that a Demigod receives is up to the God or goddess; that's why you can see why Heracles is so much stronger than Castor and Pollux," Asclepius said, as I nodded along.
Asclepius's explanation made perfect sense so far. I've always been curious about the process of how a demigod is born. I knew the basics involved sex, but that seemed too simple. Why was Heracles a demigod, but not Iphicles? I always just figured it was Fate needing Heracles, not Iphicles.
"I understand your explanation," I said, "but it doesn't answer my earlier question. Why can't we use your blood?" I asked. Asclepius looked at me, and I understood he wasn't finished.
"I was just about to get to that, Alkaios," Asclepius said. "The reason using my blood, or anyone's blood here, won't work is because we're Demigods. We're all connected to our divine parent, and that's how we access our abilities. For instance, I draw on my father's domain when I use my healing powers. Using my blood would mean the cure could allow mortals to tap into my father's domain, and that's why it's impossible." Asclepius explained, A look of realization appeared on my face. I already knew where Asclepius was going with this.
Asclepius nodded, observing my expression. "Judging by your face, you understand. Because I received permission, I can wield my father's domain, which is something no ordinary mortal can claim. If Apollo sensed a mortal using his power without consent, it would be a death sentence, and even that would be a kindness. The Gods do not appreciate mortals helping themselves to what isn't theirs," he explained.
I winced at Asclepius's pronouncements. I, more than most, understood the Gods' capacity for cruelty. Possessing future knowledge, I was privy to the fates of countless mortals in Greek mythology. But something about Asclepius's words troubled me. "If that's true, what about Jason?" I asked, my voice laced with concern. "He's not a demigod, yet you said only my blood could be used at this camp. Does that include him?"
Asclepius looked pleased, like a teacher whose student had grasped a hidden detail. "Jason might not be a demigod, but he has a demigod in his ancestry. Althrough Jason's divine blood may be diluted, he received recognition from his divine ancestor. Because of that, Jason was granted limited access to his ancestor's domain. Aren't you curious why Jason, despite not being a demigod, can even undergo Chiron's training? He may try to avoid training, but he's still capable of doing things normal mortals can't. That's because his ancestor's recognition has strengthened him," Asclepius explained.
After listening to Asclepius, his explanation felt like it came straight out of a Percy Jackson book. He described how a God or Goddess acknowledging a mortal created an inherent link. If that was the case, it made sense regarding the medicinal use of Demigod blood. Even ingesting it seemed unsafe. I couldn't confirm without witnessing it, but I figured the sheer power connection could kill a regular mortal. That's when it clicked for me.
"I am entirely mortal. Any power I possess is my own," I realized. If that were true, my blood and Asclepius's medical knowledge could create a cure. I recalled the Divine Protection I'd requested from Od Lagna after allowing myself to be infected by the plague.
Divine Protection of Anti-Malignance, Divine Protection of Anti-Magic, Divine Protection of Detoxification, and Divine Protection of Panacea.
It was the combination of these four Divine Protections that allowed me to survive the plague. The Divine Protection of Anti-Magic made me immune to curses. Simultaneously, the Divine Protection ensured that no diseases could harm me. This, coupled with the Divine Protection of Detoxification, which granted immunity to poison, rendered the plague completely ineffective. When I became immune to curses, alarm bells started ringing in my head. However, it was receiving the Divine Protection of Anti-Malignance that made me realize something was amiss. The power to resist miasma told me the plague was not a natural occurrence, but something created.
A sudden thought struck me. Could I share my Divine Protection, or at least create a diluted version for a cure? Was that even workable? I knew all Earth Dragons possessed the Divine Protection of Wind Evasion, but how? Did Od Lagna design Wind Evasion with the intention of it being shared? The questions piled up, and the lack of answers frustrated me.
"Asclepius, use my blood," I offered, meeting his gaze. "If it holds the key to a cure, then I'm willing." We exchanged a look, and he nodded.
"Come on, Alkaios, let's head to my workshop. We can draw blood there," Asclepius said, opening the door. I smiled, thrilled. A cure was something I never imagined we were so close to. I followed him inside, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"I hope your room's cleaner than this," I said with a laugh. "I don't fancy drawing blood in a space full of sick animals." Asclepius snorted.
"Certainly. My workshop has ample space for bloodletting. However, Alkaios, I'll require a significant amount of blood for this," Asclepius cautioned. A sudden, unsettling feeling washed over me.
"How much blood do you need exactly?" I asked nervously. Asclepius chuckled as we entered a white room filled with instruments. I watched him take down a clean amphora and then beckon for my hand.
"I don't know Alkaios, so I'll need a full amphora of blood," Asclepius said with a dark chuckle.
... Ah, so that's why I felt so uneasy. It turns out Asclepius was always a mad scientist. With a sudden lack of enthusiasm, I offered my wrist to him. I watched, horrified, as Asclepius gleefully sliced into my skin, and the blood flowed.
// Next Day//
I woke up utterly drained. Asclepius had taken over three amphorae of blood from me. With how my aura and natural healing restored my blood faster than he could take it Asclepius did not hold back. Asclepius drained both of my wrists. Any dizziness I felt, he quickly healed. I'd lost so much blood that I even gained a new Divine Protection from it. I wasn't thrilled with how I earned the Divine Protection of Shedding Blood. After Asclepius practically bled me dry, I immediately went to sleep. I was just so exhausted.
Jason and I practiced with spears today. We attempted to copy Chiron's techniques, and his spear usage amazed me. But it made sense; Chiron could be the best cavalryman. It was just Jason and me because we were the only ones who needed spear training. Castor and Pollux learned to use a spear since they were children. In Castor and Pollux's own words, "Every Spartan warrior's first weapon is a spear," they said with a proud look. As for why Heracles wasn't here, it was simple. Heracles was training with a Marmyadose.
Heracles warned us that the weapon was incredibly powerful, so he needed to learn restraint. A simple swing of the blade unleashed so much magical energy that it nearly decapitated Castor. We were all stunned by what we'd seen... well, all of us except Pollux. She erupted in a rage, and I watched as the tiny girl, compared to Heracles, boxed him around. Heracles's inability to do much against her horrified Jason, Chiron, and me. Castor, I think, was more shocked than anything, seeing his sweet sister transform into a demon.
Chiron had therefore instructed Heracles not to join us until he mastered Marmyadose's power. I sympathized with Heracles, yet he remained indifferent. It appeared he was used to it. That made the situation even sadder.
Jason and I were following Chiron. "The spear is the most honest weapon on the field. It doesn't forgive clumsiness, but it rewards discipline. Men conquer more often with spears than with swords. Remember, the spear is the easiest weapon to use, but the hardest to master." Chiron said as he instructed us.
Chiron followed, subtly correcting our stances with his hands. "Feet first," he instructed. "A weapon in the hands of someone unbalanced is a blessing for their opponent." He tapped the butt of his spear against Jason's ankle. "Wider. You're not trying to look good; you're trying to survive." Jason adjusted his stance.
Chiron examined our stances, then tapped my waist with his spear. "You stand like a swordsman," he observed. "Too narrow. Too eager to rush in and strike." I corrected myself, widening my stance. My body instinctively wanted to adopt the Astrea swordplay I'd practiced countless times in this life. The spear felt alien in my hand, and I knew there were adjustments I'd need to make.
Chiron took my right hand and adjusted it on the spear. "Lighten up on your front hand," he instructed. "Firm grip in the back. The backhand aims; the front hand steers. Don't squeeze the spear as if you are trying to choke the life out of it. Let it flow."
Following Chiron's guidance. I did not give in to the desire to use the War God's Divine Protection. I would instantly understand how this weapon functions if I had it. However, that seemed like a simple task. I sought to build discipline rather than depending entirely on my Divine Protection. I wanted to learn the hard way, and using a shortcut like that seemed wrong.
It doesn't mean I wouldn't do something like that in an actual combat situation. In a life-or-death situation, I wouldn't hesitate to reactivate all of my Divine Protections. Yet, I aimed to endure the same physical and mental challenges as everyone else during training. Why bother coming here if I couldn't do that?
After assessing Jason's, and my positions, Chiron plunged his spear into the earth. "Let us start the first drill," he announced. "Move forward and attack. You move as a unit. Do not make eye contact or try to outperform one another. As soldiers, you two are battling alongside each other. Just execute the movements correctly." He scraped a line in the dirt with his hoof. "Front foot here. You will move forward, attack, reset, and go back when I say so. Repeat until your arms scream louder than your legs."
Chiron met Jason's, and my gaze, then nodded. "Begin." "Advance!" he commanded.
I stepped forward with my front foot, letting my back leg push, not lunge. The spear darted out of my hands; the haft sliding a little through my front grip.
"Thrust," I grunted, following Chiron's instruction. My sword slammed into the straw dummy's chest, the force vibrating up my arms as the wood resisted, then finally gave as my spear went through the dummy.
"Recover," Chiron commanded, and I twisted, pulled, and stepped back. I let the spear retrace its path.
Next to me, Jason's breathing was fast but steady. His motions were more fluid and quicker than before, clearly comfortable with the spear in a way I wasn't. He'd been practicing with them for ages. We fell into a rhythm: step, thrust, pull back, reset. We kept this up for what felt like hours, sweat dripping as the sun blazed down.
Jason and I kept practicing until Chiron halted us. "Stop." At his command, Jason and I lowered our spears. "Second drill," Chiron instructed. "You'll learn that a spear is also a shield, if used correctly." He let out a sharp whistle, and Heracles emerged from the side of the terrace, lugging a heavy sack. Stones, I figured.
Heracles put the sack down and opened it silently. "Heracles will hurl stones at you," Chiron stated plainly. "He won't target your heads. Probably. Deflect the stones you can with your spears. Move your feet to dodge what you can't deflect. You two will not run. The most you can do is shift your body to deflect."
I watched Jason's face drain of color, turning as white as chalk, as he stammered, "Teacher, that sounds a little—"
"Educational," Chiron finished. "Take your positions." As soon as those words came out of Chiron's mouth, my eyes turned dead. If I wasn't sure before, I am now. Chiron truly was the man who trained Achilles.
Jason and I stood shoulder to shoulder, spears held horizontally with the tips angled slightly downward. We were far enough apart that we wouldn't interfere with each other, but close enough to appear as a unit.
Heracles picked up a stone the size of my fist and weighed it in his hand. His face was as expressionless as ever, as if this was just another chore.
"Begin," Chiron said.
The first stone was thrown at Jason. With a swift movement, he lifted his spear, deflecting it with just a hair's breadth to spare. The force of the impact caused the wood to resonate. Jason's arms trembled from the impact, and he hissed through clenched teeth.
"Good," Chiron said as he nodded at Jason, "But do not swat it, Jason, if you want to redirect the blow."
The next stone arched toward me, faster than I'd like. I shifted my grip, stepped to the side, and lifted the spear shaft so the stone glanced off instead of hitting dead on. Energy rolled along the wood and into my arms as I deflected the stone away from me.
"Good Alkaios," Chiron said. "Let the spear absorb the blow and send it away."
Stone after stone flew. Jason and I blocked, dodged, and deflected every stone that Heracles threw. Once, a stone clipped my shoulder because I misjudged the angle, and pain flared through me.
Chiron's voice came right after the strike. "That is the price of counting on your arms when your feet could have saved you, Alkaios. If you believe you can not deflect or block, you move."
My getting hit seemed to make Jason's eyes sparkle. However, his eyes dimmed when a stone struck his ribs, causing him to utter a curse.
"Language," Chiron said mildly.
Eventually, the stones came to a halt. My arms trembled with each hit, and sweat rolled down my face. He retied the sack without a fuss and resumed the savage training that Chiron had organized for him. Heracles departed swiftly and silently, as though his actions were commonplace.
"Now," Chiron stated. "You're familiar with the essentials of offense, and you've also learned how to use a spear defensively. It's time to do something productive." His eyes shone. "You will face each other."
Jason perked up immediately. "I'll go easy on him," he offered.
"Jason," Chiron said, "if you go easy on him, I will make you spar Heracles for the rest of the week." Jason's mouth shut with a click.
Chiron drew two circles in the dirt with his spear tip. "Both of you inside," he ordered. "The rules are simple. The first to force the other out of the circle wins. Striking the head and using breaks in the spar are against the rules. You are training partners. "
We stepped into the circle, and the world narrowed a little. Jason rolled his shoulders, twirling the spear once to loosen his grip. Jason, I had to admit, looked good with it. The weapon sat in his hands like something he'd grown up with.
I raised my spear, settling into the stance Chiron had drilled into us. With a silent command, I activated the Divine Protection of Training, allowing it to bloom.
"Begin," Chiron said.
Jason moved first, which was predictable. He darted in with a quick thrust aimed at my chest, a probing strike meant to test my reactions. In response, I slid my front foot back instead of forward, letting the point pass just in front of my tunic, and snapped the butt of my spear toward the side of his shaft. The wood knocked his point off-line.
"Good," Chiron called. "Do not meet strength with strength if you can turn it instead."
Jason growled low in his throat and pressed the attack. He was faster with the spear, chaining thrusts and quick jabs, trying to herd me backward. I gave ground when I had to, feet careful not to step across the circle's edge.
My usual instinct was to draw my sword and cut in. I had to clamp down on it. I am using a spear, not a sword. But that didn't mean I couldn't use what I knew. Taking the footwork of the Astrea family swordplay, I slid into Jason's guard. Holding the spear in the middle, I slashed up; the spear rising across his chest.
Jason, surprising jumped back, avoiding the spearhead. Jason committed to a lunge after his feet landed. But Jason's front foot slid too far from its base.
I seized the opening when I saw it. I pivoted, letting his spear slide past my ribs, and hooked my shaft under his, adding a twist. Simultaneously, I stepped in and used my shoulder to bump his chest.
Jason staggered towards the edge of the circle, which loomed behind him. For a heartbeat, it looked like he would fall out. Jason snarled, snapped the butt of his spear down like a third leg, and used it to vault his weight sideways, barely keeping his heel inside the line. I raised an eyebrow at Jason's unexpected move.
"Good recovery," Chiron said. "But you see your error."
Jason's jaw clenched. "I overreached."
"Yes," Chiron replied. "You trusted your excitement more than your balance. Do not do that on a ship's deck. You will drown."
Jason and I circled each other like two lions. This time, I pressed a little, testing my blows. My spear darted out, feinting low, then high. Jason blocked, adjusted. Jason was good. I could tell Jason was burning. I could see there was a fire in his eyes. Jason put everything into his attack. With every exchange, I could sense he wanted to win.
Chiron didn't interfere until Jason became worn out. Jason battled with each blow until he could not fight anymore. I don't know what fueled Jason's fire, but I respected him for it. This wasn't the Jason from Singularity Three but the one I saw in Lostbelt Five.
"Enough," Chiron Commanded.
Jason and I step back, sweat dripping down our bodies.
"Jason," Chiron said, looking at him first. "Your spear work is quick and your instincts are fierce. But you lean too much on the first attack to end the fight. You will face things that do not fall on the first strike. Learn patience." Jason bowed his head, cheeks flushed, somewhere between chastened and still annoyed.
"Alkaios," Chiron said, turning to me. "You adapt quickly, and your weapon easily becomes your limb. But you are too cautious with a weapon that is decisive. A spear is for ending threats before they reach you. Trust your reach. Do not always wait." I nodded at Chiron's words, accepting his wisdom.
I stepped towards Jason, smiling wide, with my hand extended. "That was an amazing spar, Jason. I would not mind doing so again." I said with a smile. Today, Jason had impressed me. Jason seemed hesitant before he reached out and clasped my arm.
"I suppose I can agree with you, Alkaios. But you'd better not slow me down." Jason retorted with his usual snark. My smile widened at Jason's words. A sudden thought appeared in my head.
"Jason, if you have time, I would like to speak to you about matters of ruling. I haven't had to chance to ask Chiron, but I would like to rule someday. It would be nice to speak to a future King like yourself." I said to Jason. Jason's face flickered through countless emotions before settling on pride.
"If you want Kingly matters, who better to ask than Jason of the future King of Iolcus?" Jason laughed as he tapped my back and walked away with a smile.
I turned to Chiron, who had a look of pride on his face. "Well done today, Alkaios. You and Jason did wonderfully." Chiron said as he directed me to walk alongside him. I took a step next to Chiron as we walked side by side.
"Asclepius says he is on the trail of a cure. I shall help him after today's training. But I am curious where he collected all that blood," Chiron thought out loud. I could only look away.
"Chiron, just what do you think is behind Athens' Plague?" I asked him. Chiron's eyes seem to look older as he stares into the distance.
"Alkaios, I believe it is Nosos," Chiron said, and I tilted my head in confusion at the name. Seeing my expression, Chiron explained himself. "Nosoi are the personifications of plague, sickness, and disease. Pandora released them into the world when she opened her Pithos. Never have the Nosos been active in such a way. Lord Apollo has commanded the Nosos, but now they have disobeyed him. I fear something is coming." Chiron finished.
My face grimaced at the thought of these spirits disobeying a God. What gave them the confidence to do so? I felt Chiron's hand on my shoulder, which caused me to look at him.
"Alkaios, for now, keep it out of your mind. Asclepius has told me you have helped enough. Your duty is now to grow stronger." Chiron said, and I nodded in agreement. I could worry about the Nosos later when they appeared. Asclepius was working hard, so I should do my part. Still, I couldn't help but be curious about why these spirits were growing restless.
Chiron and I looked off in the distance, and despite the trouble soon to come, I couldn't help but voice a single thought.
"The view is sure beautiful, Chiron," I said.
Chiron nodded in agreement with a smile.
Chapter 15: Medicine and Spar End
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Author's Note: I know you've all been waiting, so here's the chapter! Thanks for all your support. My Patreon is always two chapters ahead for this story and one chapter ahead for my other stories.