-Heracles POV-
I couldn't help but feel shame; I could do nothing as Alkaios, Castor, and Pollux fell into the depths of the temple. With no way of knowing if they survived that fall, I wanted to rage, to destroy the ground and make my way to my friends. Clenching my hands, I took a deep breath, remembering what Chiron said about controlling my rage. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Looking to the side, I could see Jason's hand on me.
"Heracles, they will be fine. Castor and Pollux can survive anything together, and Alkaios has some random blessing; he will survive," Jason said, reassuring me. I looked to the side as Asclepius nodded his head.
"I have complete faith that Alkaios will survive. Right now, our duty is to find Pandora and to stop her," Asclepius said, his face showed no worry showing complete faith in Alkaios's abilities. I tilted my head at Asclepius's faith in Alkaios. 'Asclepius must know something we don't,' I thought to myself. Unless Asclepius was sure of Alkaios's survival, he would not be so calm.
"You are right," I said as I looked at Chiron. "Teacher, I am ready," I added as Chiron nodded his head. The four of us slowly searched the temple. As we traveled through the temple, room after room seemed empty. The only things we could find were empty rooms filled with carvings on the walls.
As I looked at the walls, a sinking feeling came to my stomach. My heart stopped as I looked at a carving; there on the wall was my mother in bed with my father. But under my father's carving was the name Zeus. My heart sank even more than the next wall showed my birth and Hera breastfeeding me. The more I looked at the carvings, the more I saw my life up to this moment. It should have ended there, but it didn't. I watched as the carvings continued my life after my training with Chiron.
My journey began anew after completing my tutelage under Chiron. With a grateful farewell, I stepped out into the world, driven by the urgent news of an impending invasion of Thebes by the Minyans. A desire to offer my sword to the beleaguered city fueled my haste.
Upon my arrival, King Creon of Thebes initially hesitated to accept my service. However, the sheer force of my presence, an almost palpable aura of power, was undeniable. In a time of dire need, as the Minyan threat loomed, Creon could not afford to refuse any potential defender.
The pivotal confrontation occurred at the Battle of Orchomenus, where I led the Theban forces against the invading Minyans, commanded by their king, Erginus. The fate of the battle hinged on a dramatic one-on-one duel between Erginus and me. Despite Erginus's clear prowess as a warrior, he was ultimately no match for me. His defeat marked the turning point; the Minyans surrendered, their will broken, and they were compelled to submit to Theban tribute.
My victory brought widespread acclaim, and I was hailed as a true hero of Thebes. In recognition of my service and valor, King Creon bestowed upon me his eldest daughter, the beautiful Megara, in marriage. Love blossomed swiftly between us, and our union was blessed with two sons. As we hoped for a third child, a disquieting unease settled within me. Despite the burgeoning happiness, a strange clenching in my heart and a stilled breath would intrude. It seemed a cruel pattern in my life: whenever joy found me; it would fade, often followed by the smell of blood.
I found myself increasingly transfixed the longer I stared at the carving. The carvings seemed to stir, to breathe life, and I found myself transported into a vivid vision. The temple vanished, replaced by an unknown place. "Teacher, Jason, Asclepius!" I cried out, searching for familiar faces. Then, two tiny figures, my sons, Therimachus and Creontiades, clung to my legs, their faces alight with pure joy. Though I recognized the illusion, the connection was too strong to sever. I allowed myself to be drawn deeper into this cherished memory.
The days that followed were idyllic. I lived a life of peace alongside Megara and my two sons. We tilled the fields together; I trained the boys and even commanded troops alongside my father. The shared smiles and laughter brought a profound sense of fulfillment, a peace I had never known.
My idyllic existence was further enriched by the frequent visits of my dear friend, Jason. He would regale me with tales of his own triumphant return to Iolcus, having achieved his lifelong dream of becoming king. I found immense happiness in witnessing my friend's success, a beacon of shared aspiration in this dreamlike existence.
It didn't end there. Asclepius had become a world-renowned healer, attracting thousands seeking his aid. It was Asclepius who had helped deliver my children into the world. Asclepius and his father had reconnected, the God admitting his faults. It warmed my heart that even the Gods could see they were wrong.
Castor had become the reigning ruler of Sparta, but he chose a different path than tradition dictated. No longer did children have to fight at a young age; they could simply be children. Sparta would not discard any newborn child; they would instead give them a fair chance at life. I smiled, realizing that tradition and circumstances were not unchangeable.
But it was Alkaios who truly changed things for our land. Alkaios married Pollux, and together they created a kingdom–a paradise where all people were equal. Alkaios and Pollux's home was where Megara and I married, according to my memories.
What softened my heart most, however, were the memories of my adventures with my friends. The Argonauts, under Jason's command, rid the land of monsters. No longer was there a need for heroes, as our group had eradicated all the beasts in the land. People no longer lived in fear of not waking up the next day. This was what Alkaios had said many times: "Bring about a new Tomorrow."
Things truly had changed. With Alkaios and Castor at the helm, wars in the land ceased to exist. I could only laugh as I recalled our past adventures: Jason's leadership often led us to situations where we had to rescue him. Asclepius would treat our wounds, often scolding us for our recklessness. Castor once attempted to kill Alkaios for courting Pollux, a memory that still brings a smile to my face. Most amusing was how women seemed irresistibly drawn to Alkaios, with Pollux fiercely fighting them off. The battle between Pollux and the Queen of the Amazons was magnificent, as they tore up the land. Alkaios, in his attempt to end the fight, only seemed to incite the women's anger towards him.
"Haha," I chuckled at the memory as I sat with Megara after a hard day of work. Father had truly put me to work today, and I felt utterly exhausted. "You look tired, love," Megara said softly, caressing my muscles. We were sitting in our living room while our children played outside.
"…yes, I think I am," I said with a sigh.
"Father had been giving you a lot of work?" Megara said.
"Indeed," I said with a chuckle, thinking about how much work I had done today.
Megara chuckled, her long red hair swaying as she stood. "Rest easy then; I'll bring you a goblet of wine." She said with a loving smile.
I nodded. Then, a wave of madness surged through me. My body stiffened as bloodlust radiated outward. All I could see were my enemies closing in. I seized the closest one and choked the life out of its neck.
"H-Hera-cles…?" But I couldn't hear her. All I heard was jeering and curses. I squeezed hard, ensuring my enemy was dead, then flung it away. I went on a rampage, smashing pillars and walls. Fire from the torches spilled from their holders and spread everywhere.
"P-papa!" I didn't hear them. I struck one hard enough to leave an imprint on the wall and lifted the other into the air by the throat... then hurled them into the raging flames.
Then my sight cleared…
The first thing I saw…my son fell into the fire. I gasped and quickly rushed to save him, ignoring the flames that licked my skin… but I was too late. I surveyed the destruction that I had caused…and the corpses of my family, all died by my hands. Trembling, I fell to my knees…my body trembling as I cradled the body of my dead son. Tears leaked out of my eyes, and the droplets touched his skin. And I started crying, full of sorrow and regret for the family that I had lost.
It should have ended there, but the vision continued. Jason had died falling to his hubris as he lost his throne, dying under the mast of the ship we traveled in. The great god Zeus struck Asclepius down for bringing the dead back to life. His people wanting to go back to the old ways struck Castor down. Pollux fell into grief and ended her life, unable to live without her twin, despite Alkaios trying to comfort her. Then the gods struck down Alkaios for bringing about a land that should not exist. Not even my teacher was spared, as I was the reason for his death; I had poisoned him until Chiron begged for death.
The vision ended with my death. My wife poisoned me, just as I had poisoned Chiron. Why? Why me? It was then I saw it all–Hera was the cause. Why? Was happiness too much to ask for? What did I do to deserve this? Why did my friends have to suffer? Why did Hera make Zeus kill Asclepius, ruin Jason's life, cause the death of Castor and Pollux, and destroy Alkaios' life? All just to get back at me.
I sank to my knees, tears streaming down my face. "I truly am a monster," I cried, realizing everything that had happened was because of me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Jason POV-
I should have known something was wrong when my teacher, Asclepius, and Heracles had fallen into a trance. "Everyone, what is wrong?" I asked in panic, seeing the three transfixed by the carvings on the way. I looked at the carvings, and while they were odd, I couldn't see why the three were so captivated. "Heracles!" I shook the demigod, but he was stiff and unmoving. No matter what I tried, I couldn't shake the three awake. I narrowed my eyes as I looked around the chamber. "Pandora!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls. "What have you done to them?! I know you can hear me!" I bellowed out, and then I heard giggling coming from everywhere.
"Why, Jason, I just showed them a simple vision. Those three had such heroic souls; how could I not show them how wrong they were," Pandora said, her voice cold, no longer giggling. I clenched my teeth in anger, seeing what this little witch had done to them. "Why not me?" I asked, but a part of me already knew the answer. Pandora had already told me, after all.
"Jason, why ask? You know why. I can sense the amount of envy within you. Such jealousy towards your peers. You envy the bond Castor and Pollux have. The medical skills that Asclepius possesses. The vast amount of knowledge that Chiron has, the strength that Heracles wields, and finally, my big brother, Alkaios. Alkaios has everything you want. The two of you share similar origins, but you are so different. He is brave, a king, strong, and loved by the world. But yet here you are, with none of that," Pandora said, her voice flat as if she were stating the obvious. I grimaced; everything that Pandora said was true. I felt all of that, but I couldn't help but chuckle.
"How naïve, Pandora," I said as I laughed.
"What?" Pandora asked in shock, unable to understand why I was laughing.
"Don't you think I know that already, Pandora? Every single day, I feel this. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't," I said, my mind dwelling on the constant envy I felt. I thought about Chiron's wisdom, and how my teacher, in his kindness, shared his knowledge with less intelligent students like myself. Castor and Pollux showed me what family looked like, always by each other's side. Asclepius honed his medical skills because he wanted to prevent the deaths he had witnessed. He wanted to use his gifts to help countless people so they wouldn't experience the pain he had.
The weight of Heracles' strength, I understood, stemmed from heartbreak. Despite possessing immense power, he endured deep emotional pain. Yet, he did not succumb to it; instead; he pressed onward, carrying his sorrow with the unwavering hope of a brighter future. My thoughts drifted to Alkaios, whose origins mirrored my own. Where I faltered, he stood resolute. A pang of envy struck me, but a desire to emulate Alkaios quickly overshadowed it–his boundless kindness was truly remarkable. It was no wonder Pollux seemed so captivated by him. Genuine kindness was a rare gem in Hellas, and it was this rarity that fueled my aspiration to be like Alkaios, to change myself. This internal drive rendered Pandora's words almost insignificant.
"Yes," I admitted, "I envy my friends and my teacher. But it is precisely because of this envy that I will transform. I will become someone worthy of leadership. Alkaios already sees me as his captain."
I reached for my bow, a determined glint in my eyes. "Come on, Pandora, show me your worst!" I declared, drawing an arrow and nocking it.
"Huh, it turns out I have a specific type of man I detest above all else: Jason," Pandora's voice dripped with ice as the surrounding walls cracked. From within the fractured stone, a dog's head emerged, then another, and finally a third. My eyes widened in disbelief as a Cerberus, a monstrous beast from the Underworld, materialized from the walls, its sole purpose to end me.
"Did you know that creating a replica of Cerberus is surprisingly easy once you've seen the beast?" Pandora taunted, her voice laced with cruel amusement. "I hope you enjoy my pet, Hero~," With that, she abandoned me to face the monstrous creation alone.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, I prepared myself for the inevitable confrontation. A primal urge to flee screamed within me, but the vulnerability of Heracles, Chiron, and Asclepius, positioned behind me, anchored me to the spot. "Okay, Jason," I muttered to myself, "time to be a Hero." I loosed an arrow, which sailed true, striking one of the Cerberus's eyes. A grim satisfaction washed over me as I snatched Asclepius's satchel of vials and bolted from the room.
"Over here, you colossal brute!" I bellowed, drawing the Cerberus's enraged, pained roar. I sprinted down the hallway, past countless doors, the thundering pursuit of the massive beast echoing behind me. The rhythmic pounding of its paws on the stone floor sent my heart into a frantic gallop.
My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat accompanying the desperate pumping of my legs. "Okay, Jason, what now?" The thought was a whisper against the roar of the pursuing monster. Direct confrontation was out of the question; I was woefully outmatched in sheer power. But what other options remained?
My mind, a whirlwind of panic, snagged on a memory. Alkaios. A sparring session, a stark reminder of my inability to overpower him. His words, sharp and clear, cut through the fear: "Jason, you won't overpower me. Work smarter, not harder. Out of all of us here, you possess the keenest strategic mind. Use that." His wisdom, a distant beacon, guided my desperate flight.
A guttural "ROAR!" shattered the air as I scrambled through a doorway, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws of the beast. I slammed the door shut; the heavy thud momentarily muffling the enraged bellows. I plunged through a labyrinth of rooms, the Cerberus's furious assaults against the temple walls echoing behind me.
Slowly, deliberately, the monstrous dog navigated the rooms, its triple heads weaving and its snouts twitching, sniffing the air for my scent. The putrid, acrid stench of its saliva dripped, a chilling indicator of its proximity. I fumbled through Asclepius's sack, my fingers searching for the precious vials of Indus's blood.
Chiron's earlier words surfaced, a lifeline in the chaos: "Indus worm blood is valuable. When set alight, the flames will not extinguish." A small, wry smile touched my lips. "Good thing Asclepius keeps his things organized," I muttered, pulling out several vials, their contents glinting darkly.
With trembling hands, I tore a rag from the sack and wrapped it around an arrow. Uncorking a vial, I carefully spread the viscous, dark liquid over the rag-wrapped arrow. "Okay, now I need a fire," I whispered, my gaze falling on two more arrows. I wrenched their arrowheads free, their sharp points glinting ominously.
Clutching the flint arrowheads, I scraped them desperately against the rough stone wall, the grating sound a symphony of my mounting anxiety. Each desperate scrape was a gamble, a bid for a single spark against the encroaching darkness and the terrifying symphony of the Cerberus. Its low, guttural growl, a promise of imminent oblivion, was undeniably nearer, a constant reminder of the suffocating pressure of time. I winced with every agonizing shriek of stone on stone, acutely aware that the noise would only draw the beast closer. My urgency gnawed at me, a ravenous entity in itself.
Then, a flicker. A tiny, defiant spark bloomed against the cold stone, a testament to the friction of my desperate efforts. Hope surged through me. With renewed vigor, I carefully coaxed the nascent flame, transferring it to the dry, broken arrow shafts. They caught, greedily embracing the fire, and soon two small torches cast an eerie, flickering light, pushing back the oppressive shadows. A surge of triumph, fragile and fleeting, washed over me, quickly tempered by the still-approaching danger.
My gaze fell upon the arrow coated in Indus's blood, a grim beacon of my aim. Bringing it close to the burning shafts, the blood-soaked rag ignited with a hiss. The arrow erupted in a vibrant, unsettling green flame; the air thick with a noxious chemical odor that clawed at my throat. My breath hitched, a premature celebration poised on my lips. But there was no time for relief.
A single, cold drop of water splattered on my face, a stark harbinger of the imminent confrontation. Looking up, my eyes met the burning, malevolent gaze of the Cerberus; its three heads were a terrifying vision against the gloom. Its roar, a deafening blast of pure fury, vibrated through my very bones, threatening to dislodge the flaming arrow from my trembling grasp. With painstaking care, I dodged to the side, the beast's massive heads snapping past me like a hungry maw.
A searing pain lanced through my leg. One of the Cerberus's heads had clamped down, its powerful jaws inexorably closing. I could feel my aura sparking, a desperate, vital defense fighting against the crushing force that threatened to sever my limb. A choked grunt escaped my lips as, with the burning arrow still clutched tightly, the monstrous dog whipped me through the room. The inferno of green fire became a terrifying beacon against the encroaching darkness, a dance of death.
I felt myself blacking out from the overwhelming pain. When my eyes fluttered open, the agony was still a searing presence. My gaze met the Cerberus's, its cavernous mouth wide open, ready for another devastating strike. Despite the horror that should have consumed me, a wry, pain-filled smile touched my lips.
"Good boy," I rasped, my voice hoarse, as I dropped the burning arrow directly into Cerberus's gaping maw.
For a suspended moment, nothing happened. Then, a small, pained whine escaped the beast. "Yuh-yuh-yuh," it whimpered, the sound alien and unsettling. The Cerberus thrashed violently, a contorted dance of agony around the room. I let out a grunt as the beast, in its uncontrolled thrashing, dropped me. My eyes widened in a primal instinct for survival as I scrambled away, desperate to avoid being crushed by the thrashing behemoth.
I couldn't tear my gaze away as the Cerberus writhed, its belly beginning to glow with an unnatural green light. Slowly, agonizingly, fire burned through the beast's stomach, a testament to the volatile substance I had introduced. With a final, heart-wrenching collapse, the Cerberus lay dying, its roars replaced by pathetic whimpers.
"Did I do that?" I questioned, my voice a mere whisper in the echoing silence, as the monstrous hound writhed in its last moments. The question hung in the air, a testament to the impossible odds I had overcome and the terrifying power I had unleashed. Watching the beast die, I couldn't help but feel pity. Despite Cerberus trying to kill me, it didn't deserve this. I dragged myself to the beast and gently petted its dying form. "Lady Hera, please allow this noble beast to die with pride and be reborn," I prayed. As I spoke, the Cerberus glowed with a bright light. Slowly, the beast shrunk before my eyes until all that was left was a sword.
The sword's handle was adorned with Cerberus's fur, and its blade was forged from pure gold. It was longer than my arm, approaching the length of Alkaios's sword, Reid, but shorter than Heracles's legendary weapon. Inscribed on the blade was the name "Kerberóthymos", a name whose meaning I instinctively understood. As I held the sword, I could hear Cerberus's final howls echoing in my mind. "Spirit of Cerberus," I muttered, pushing myself up from the ground.
Gritting my teeth, I made my way through the halls, searching for my friends. I tensed as a group of undead hoplites advanced towards me. Placing a hand on my new blade, I could feel the Cerberus stir within it, a low growl rumbling through the hilt. With a look of curiosity, I held the sword aloft. Kerberóthymos glowed and suddenly yanked my arm forward. I watched in awe as spectral heads, reminiscent of the Cerberus I had just defeated, erupted from the blade and rushed forward, tearing into the undead hoplites. "That's so cool," I breathed, once Kerberóthymos had consumed the last of the undead.
The Cerberus then transformed, shrinking into a small dog that snuggled against my leg. Petting the animal, I couldn't help but smile. "You need a name," I said, as man and beast walked together. I smiled, realizing that despite the ordeal I had just endured, I had emerged stronger.
Making my way back to Chiron, Heracles, and Asclepius, I found the three still engrossed in the carvings. With a sigh, I looked down at my new canine companion. "Can you do something about this?" I asked the small Cerberus, who tilted its head in response. The creature then trotted over to Heracles and, to my surprise, opened its jaws and bit him.
"Hey, not that way!" I cried out as Heracles let out a shout of pain. Heracles's eyes locked with mine in shock. "Jason!" he exclaimed before throwing his arms around me. I tried to push the demigod away, but I couldn't, especially as I was still in pain myself. Before I could say anything, I felt my shoulders grow wet. My eyes softened as I patted Heracles's shoulders, not knowing what he had been through.
The rough stone floor was cold against my skin, a stark contrast to the lingering warmth of the struggle I'd just endured. For a fleeting moment, time seemed to suspend itself as Heracles, his massive hands gently releasing me, held me at arm's length. His brow was furrowed with concern; his eyes, usually alight with boisterous energy, now filled with a worried intensity. "Jason, what happened?" he asked, his voice a low rumble, his gaze shifting from my disheveled, bloodied form to the small, whimpering Cerberus huddled at my feet.
A shaky breath escaped my lips, a small huff of exhaustion and something akin to grim satisfaction. "I had some things to work through while you three were transfixed," I retorted, the words a little sharper than I intended, but born of the adrenaline still coursing through me. My eyes then fell upon the slumped forms of Teacher and Asclepius, still lost in their shared trance. "Now, come help me wake these two," I urged, already moving towards Teacher, my hand reaching out to shake Heracles's shoulder gently.
As Heracles joined me in our task, his powerful presence a comforting anchor, my mind, despite the immediate need, couldn't help but drift to the gnawing absence of my friends. A flicker of unease tightened my chest. "Castor, Pollux, and you, Alkaios, don't you dare die," I muttered under my breath, the words a silent plea sent out into the unknown.
A small, wry smile touched my lips as I glanced down at the gleaming hilt of my new sword, its polished surface reflecting my own weary, determined face. This was a tale that would need to be shared, a testament to the trials overcome and the friendships that, for better or worse, were now inextricably bound to my unfolding saga.
Chapter 25: Battle in the Temple Part 2 End
———————————————————————————————————————
**Author's Note:**
I appreciate the wait and hope you all like it.