-Alkaios POV-
The pre-dawn air hung thick with unspoken dread. Sleep had been a luxury none of us could afford; our minds were a whirlwind of anxious anticipation. As the first hint of light bled across the horizon, we reconvened in the stark reality of the meeting room. The clinking of metal, the soft rasp of fabric, the meticulous cleaning of weapons–these were the sounds that underscored the gravity of our impending mission. I, for one, found solace in the familiar ritual of checking and adjusting my gloves, a minor act of control in a situation that promised only chaos. The weight of the night had settled upon me, the understanding that this operation was a stark binary: victory or oblivion.
My focus then shifted inward, a silent communion with my Divine Protections, ensuring their strength was at its zenith. Across the room, Chiron was a picture of focused intensity, his fingers tracing the unfamiliar contours of a new bow, one eerily reminiscent of the one gifted to Jason. Jason was a whirlwind of preparation, sharpening arrowheads with jeweler's precision and cinching his armor into place. Castor and Pollux, an inseparable unit as always, worked in tandem, their movements synchronized as they attended to their respective armaments. Heracles meticulously polished Marmyadose, its surface gleaming dully. Asclepius secured a belt laden with vials, their contents a mystery of potent elixirs.
"Jason, reiterate the strategy," Chiron's voice, calm yet commanding, cut through the pre-mission tension. We all leaned in, re-immersing ourselves in the intricacies of the plan. Jason cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping across our faces, a shared seriousness settling upon us.
"Castor, Pollux, you two will accompany me. Our aim is to draw out and concentrate all the Nosoi," Jason stated, his eyes meeting the twins'. They nodded, though Castor's brow furrowed with a flicker of concern.
"Jason," Castor began, his voice tinged with worry, "what of the plague the Nosoi carry? We do not know how long our immunity will hold." He voiced the unspoken fear that their protections, however potent, might not be absolute against such a pervasive contagion.
A sly smile touched Jason's lips as his gaze shifted to me. I met his gaze, a silent understanding passing between us, and offered a subtle nod.
"That," Jason continued, his voice resonating with newfound confidence, "is where Alkaios comes in. We will leverage his unique gift. Alkaios possesses immunity to the plague, and he will share that boon with us. His shared immunity will ensure the Nosoi pose no threat to our group," Jason explained, as a wave of murmurs rippled through the room. I watched confusion bloom on most of my peer's faces, save for Chiron, Asclepius, and Jason, who already grasped the implication.
"Now that we are clear on that," Jason's tone shifted, his focus narrowing, "Castor, Pollux, your primary goal is to funnel all the Nosoi into a single location. However," his gaze then landed on Heracles and me, "now that I know who caused the colossal hole in the city, Heracles, Alkaios, I require you to replicate that feat. This time, your combined target will be the entire Nosoi." Jason said, looking at Heracles and me, the weight of the impending task settling heavily between us.
My eyes widened at Jason's request. I was probably already on thin ice with Athena, and now Jason wanted me and Heracles to launch another attack like that? That would surely ask the goddess to strike us down.
"Jason, I don't need to tell you this, but I will anyway. Heracles can't keep launching attacks like that. It affects the people, and Goddess Athena will not be happy with our actions," I said, warning Jason while dismissing my concern.
"Alkaios, I've already accounted for that. You and Heracles will launch the attack into the air outside the city. That's why Castor, Pollux, and I will lure all the Nosoi outside the city. Asclepius and Chiron will establish a bounded field to keep the Nosoi away from the palace. Once we've dealt with all the Nosoi within the city, we'll strike the temple where Pandora is," Jason explained. We all nodded in agreement with his plan.
Chiron's gaze held a mixture of pride and worry. "I want you all to know how proud I am of how far you've come. It was never my intention for you to have a quest so soon. I just wanted you all to worry about your training. But I am proud of you all," Chiron said, a note of pride in his voice. He then turned serious. "Let us begin," he declared.
Nodding solemnly, we sat up as the operation began. As my peers departed, I tapped their shoulders, bestowing upon them immunity to the plague. A single touch was all it took for me to grant them a fragment of my Divine Protection. As we walked away, a single thought occupied my mind: 'I'm coming for you, Pandora, whether you like it or not.' I thought as I closed the door behind me.
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-Jason POV-
The air crackled with an unseen tension, and my body, traitorous and weak, trembled. It was an involuntary, primal reaction, a testament to the fear that had taken root within me. The Nosoi, those spectral harbingers, had left an indelible mark. Even now, long after the agonizing grip of the plague had loosened its hold, the phantom touch of its icy breath lingered, a constant whisper of mortality. I could still vividly recall the sensation of death's icy hand, guiding me towards the inky blackness of the River Styx. Each labored breath, each agonizing moment, felt like a step closer to the abyss, a proximity to the end I had never experienced.
My knuckles, white and rigid, clenched the worn grip of the bow Chiron had entrusted to me. The smooth wood was a familiar comfort, a symbol of the strength I desperately sought to reclaim. I vowed then, with every fiber of my being, to never again feel so utterly vulnerable, so close to succumbing. To regain my birthright, the honor and position that were stolen from me, I needed to embark on a heroic journey. There was no other way.
As Castor, Pollux, and I drew nearer to the swirling masses of the Nosoi, a familiar nausea crept in, a sickening echo of my past ordeal. "Castor," I managed, my voice raspy, "Once we draw their attention, I need you to carry me."
Castor, his brow furrowed in thought, let out a soft huff. "I was wondering how you planned on evading them," he admitted, his gaze sharp as he met mine. "I suppose that explains my question." His look, a potent blend of amusement and concern, promised a certain amount of regret for me, a foreboding I would have normally found terrifying. But the plague had reshaped me; its harsh lessons rendering me strangely immune to Castor's usual unsettling effect.
It was Pollux, however, whose presence sent a genuine shiver down my spine. I couldn't comprehend how such a small, delicate girl could inspire such a visceral fear in even the mighty Heracles. A sudden, unsettling realization dawned: perhaps the most terrifying creatures were the ones that hid behind an innocent facade. I filed this newfound wisdom away, a mental note for future reference.
With a final, determined glance at Castor and Pollux, I drew my bow. The pull of the string was a grounding sensation, a reminder of Chiron's rigorous tutelage. I inhaled deeply, channeling his teachings, the whispers of ancient strategies filling my mind. The arrow sliced through the air with a sharp hiss. "Castor," I called out, the word barely leaving my lips before he effortlessly scooped me onto his shoulder, a silent understanding passing between us.
A surge of magical energy gathered at the feet of Castor and Pollux. My arrow found its mark, a searing streak of light that pierced through one of the Nosoi, its ethereal form dissipating like smoke. In an instant, the unified attention of the entire horde shifted; their roars, a chilling symphony of moans, turned towards us. They surged forward, a tide of spectral menace.
Without a word, Castor and Pollux moved with an agility that defied the chaos. The sheer speed of their movement brought tears to my eyes. "Castor, Pollux! Through the groups around Athena!" I urged, my voice strained against the wind. A grunt of acknowledgment was all the response I needed as they veered sharply. I pushed myself up, nocking another arrow, my gaze fixed on the approaching spectral forms. Another shot, another Nosoi vanquished. I knew I couldn't defeat them all, but perhaps, just perhaps, I could soften their assault and make the path clearer for Alkaios and Heracles.
The pursuit was a dizzying blur of motion and nausea. Castor and Pollux, their speed a marvel, leaped from rooftop to rooftop, their movements so rapid that the world seemed to stretch and warp around me. I clung to Castor's shoulder, feeling my stomach churn with each impossible bound. We were outpacing the Nosoi, those spectral beings of sickness and despair, but a problem emerged: our speed was too great.
"Castor, Pollux, you're going too fast!" I yelled, my voice a desperate shriek against the wind. "We can't shake them, or they won't follow us!"
Pollux, ever the pragmatic one, acknowledged my warning with a curt nod. She turned, a whirlwind of divine fury, and plunged back into the dense cloud of Nosoi. I watched, awestruck, as her sword became a blur of silver, slicing through five of the spectral entities in a single, fluid motion. My stomach lurched again as Castor, sensing the danger, leaped skyward, pulling Pollux away from the suffocating mass of spirits.
The Nosoi shattered our brief respite. If the Nosoi were angered by my earlier arrow, they were now incandescent with rage. Castor and Pollux's hands moved in a blinding dance, their blades a ceaseless storm of destruction, cleaving through legion after legion of the creatures. In mere moments, those closest to them were gone, dissolved into nothingness. Yet, even as they fought, I could see that this was but a fraction of the monstrous hoard pursuing us.
With a powerful surge, Pollux, her strength lifted Castor and me, launching us back towards the rooftops. Before we could even contemplate our next move, she grabbed Castor's leg, and the three flew forward once more. In that fleeting instant, I saw a Nosoi lunging for Pollux, its spectral claws extended. But before it could strike, an arrow, impossibly swift, sliced through the spirit, reducing it to dust. My eyes darted to the distant palace roof, where Chiron stood, his bow drawn. It was clear he was providing crucial cover, felling any Nosoi that dared to close the distance.
A sudden glint on the ground below drew my attention. There, nestled amongst the cobblestones, was Asclepius's familiar, a serpent of shimmering scales. It was pointing resolutely eastward, and then, with surprising urgency, slithered in that direction.
"Castor, Pollux, follow Asclepius's familiar!" I commanded, my voice ringing with newfound purpose. "It's showing us the best route!"
The twins didn't need further prompting. They veered, accelerating towards the serpent, and we followed in its wake. The path it guided us on was remarkably free of any debris and rubble from the city. As we continued, however, the serpent led us directly into another gathering of Nosoi. I drew another arrow, and to my astonishment, it flew true, striking three of the creatures simultaneously. A strange thought flickered through my mind: was my patron, Hermes, guiding my aim?
With each wave of Nosoi we cleared, our pursuers grew in number. It seemed the entire city was now a swirling vortex of sickness, and we were at its heart. I should have been terrified, but a disbelieving laugh escaped my lips. Despite the peril, despite the bone-deep exhaustion and the churning in my gut, I had never felt more alive.
Asclepius's familiar continued its serpentine journey, weaving us through Athens, gathering wave after wave of Nosoi. After the third such engagement, a pattern became apparent: the path was circling the city towards the city gate.
"Castor, now head towards the main gate!" I said, our quarry now amassed. The chase, it seemed, had reached its intended destination.
"Okay," Castor said, and immediate concern washed over me. The sheer amount of magic Castor had spent in rapid bursts to escape the Nosoi had clearly taken its toll. My eyes met Pollux's, and she mirrored Castor's exhaustion. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her own reserves depleted just as severely. I knew our time was rapidly dwindling. Gritting my teeth, I desperately searched my mind for a solution, for anything that could help us.
While my mind wandered, a warmth enveloped my body, like flames consuming me. Then, knowledge flooded my mind, and I recognized the sensation. "Castor, Pollux, we're almost there! Keep running!" I commanded. The twins offered a wordless nod, their bodies suddenly radiating a white glow. I could feel a portion of my aura detaching, flowing into Castor and Pollux. The effect was instantaneous. Their breathing evened out, and their pace quickened dramatically.
A memory surfaced from the night before, a conversation with Alkaios: "You will gain an ability unique to you, Jason." This must be it, a semblance. I realized that as soon as the twins obeyed my command, they grew stronger. It was with the help of my semblance that Castor and Pollux reached the gates. I could feel my energy draining as I continued to channel my aura into the twins.
In a flash, we burst out of Athens, the Nosoi hot on our heels. Once the city became a distant blur, Castor and Pollux finally halted, their bodies trembling with fatigue. Our efforts left the three of us exhausted. My ears twitched as I could hear the guttural groans of the pursuing Nosoi closing in. Just as the spirits were upon us, a powerful hand grasped my arm.
"Good job, you three. Leave the rest to Heracles and Alkaios," Chiron said. A wave of relief washed over me as Chiron gently carried the three of us. "Jason, Castor, Pollux, you three did amazing," Chiron praised, his voice filled with pride. My eyes burned, not from exhaustion, but from the warmth of his commendation as Chiron carried us back towards the city.
We passed the pursuing group of Nosoi, who immediately turned to follow us. But I saw them standing together. Heracles and Alkaios, swords drawn, and I could feel an immense surge of magic gathering around them. As we passed, I caught the faint whisper of Alkaios's voice: "Good job, captain."
I watched in awe as Heracles, and Alkaios brought their swords down in unison. The world erupted in a blinding white light. My eyes burned from the intensity, while Castor and Pollux hissed in pain as we shielded ourselves from the glare. The world seemed to scream as the resulting devastation was unlike anything I had ever witnessed. When the light finally receded, all that remained before me was a barren valley, the stark testament to Heracles and Alkaios's devastating strike.
The sudden, visceral shock of the scene rendered me speechless. My jaw literally dropped. Alkaios, a figure I'd only just understood, was nonchalantly sheathing his sword as if the cataclysmic events that had just transpired were of no consequence. He was downplaying it, a gross understatement of the sheer, terrifying power I had just witnessed. A question, both incredulous and fearful, echoed in the confines of my mind: Were humans, even the exceptional ones like Alkaios and Heracles, truly capable of such feats?
Heracles, his brow furrowed with a subtle, almost imperceptible confusion, looked at Alkaios. The question hung unspoken between them, a silent inquiry into what had just occurred. 'What was that about?' I thought as Heracles starred at Alkaios.
As the two monstrous entities, so cunningly disguised as mere humans, regrouped, my own thoughts, stripped bare by the sheer intensity of the situation, coalesced into a single, urgent desire. "Being a captain doesn't sound that bad," I muttered, the words barely a whisper, lost in the lingering echoes of destruction. The first, terrifying phase of retaking Athens had concluded, and the weight of what was to come settled upon me with a chilling finality.
"What is next?" Alkaios said to me as he and Heracles had finally arrived. I couldn't help but cough out nervously.
"Uh… let me think for a moment," I said, taken aback by the sheer strength of Alkaios and Heracles. I hadn't expected their power, and now I needed to devise a strategy that accounted for their abilities. Gathering my thoughts, the simplest plan came to mind. "We just need to attack the temple," I declared, deeming it the most logical course of action.
Turning my gaze back to Chiron, I inquired, "Teacher, did you and Asclepius put a bounded field around the palace?"
"Just as you asked, Asclepius and I have shielded the palace," Chiron replied. "I also gave Theseus a weapon capable of slaying any Nosoi as a precaution."
A breath of relief escaped my lips. If that were the case, we had nothing to fear. "In that case, let's go to the temple," I said, hopping off Chiron's back. "Onwards… uh, what's a good name for our group?" I asked everyone, realizing the need for a unified identity.
"I think Argonauts is good," Alkaios suggested. There was something about that name that resonated with me. 'Argonauts, I like it,' I thought, the name feeling perfect.
"Onwards, Argonauts! It's time to strike at Pandora's temple!" I announced, standing with my arms wide. Perhaps it was a trick of the wind, but I could have sworn I heard Alkaios cheer. However, when I looked at him, his face appeared blank. Had I looked closer, I would have seen Pollux observing Alkaios with a strange expression.
'Huh, I may be better at this hero thing than I thought I was,' I mused, a flicker of confidence igniting within me. Despite the future pain that I knew would inevitably follow, a profound sense of optimism washed over me. Things were finally looking up. Our immediate concern, of course, was to stop Pandora, but my ambition to rule over Iolcus felt tantalizingly within reach. 'Take that, Pelias! I bet you've never could do this,' I thought with a surge of triumphant glee. The next aim was clear: strike the temple. At this moment, I was blissfully unaware of the true weight of the challenges ahead. Yet, in the years to come, I would look back on this very moment and utter a single, poignant phrase: "I wish things were as easy now as they were then."
Chapter 24: The Start of the Attack End
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Author's Note: Here's the chapter. I hope you like it. I'm trying to make this chapter from a different point of view as training for the future. Thanks for your patronage. I struggled to get the action scene right. As for how Jason got his semblance so quickly, it's easy. Alkaios has never felt a genuine need for his semblance, whereas Jason has, so his soul provided him with what he knew he needed.