MATTHEW
"Do it."
N-no, I can't!
"You can."
[I suddenly felt a surge of bloodlust, overwhelming me, consuming me until, I could not think anymore.]
[I stabbed her, the blood gushing from her veins, the vessel of a bygone memory, finally released.]
A woman with a dark feather dress, appeared floating in the sky, with her eyes covered in linen cloth, and the world bending to her will.
"Very good mortal, now go forth my champion, under the banner of Hecate."
ACACIUS
"Matthew! Please! calm down!"
He was thrashing all over the place, flailing his arms and scratching head, screaming.
"Stop!" Out of impulse I punched him, and he went out cold.
"Matthew, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to do that..."
MATTHEW
I still remember what I did, I remember my grief, my guilt, but everything makes me stronger, so I can continue to live in this world.
I wake to a bright blue sky, as if I had been asleep for a long time, the colors brightened, and the world seemed pure.
"Matt...?"
"Acacius..."
Acacius ran over and embraced me.
"I thought you were never going to come back!"
"Hold on, Acacius how long has it been?"
He rubbed his eyes, still pink from his tears. "Uh...I think around 6 months...?"
Six? Did I hear that right? SIX MONTHS?!?! "Hold on, Acacius did you say six months?!"
"Ugh, s-st-top s-sh-aking me."
"Huh? Oh s-sorry."
"Calm down Matt, I know it's disorientating to awake like this, but I need to tell you something important."
"What?"
"First, when you passed out, flames engulfed your eyes and you were rendered blind, but after that, they somehow healed."
"What?! How?!"
"I know it's surprising, but get this, after that, you actually woke up, but you were acting...strange...like an animal that can't think, your eyes were like muddled glass."
"This...all of this happened? Why don't I remember any of that?"
"I don't know, but there's more to what I have to tell you."
"More?"
"It's...that you should probably get outside before the trainer finds you! Trainings almost over and you need to catch up!"
With that Acacius ran out faster than Us*in Bolt.
"Hey! You bastard get back here! I don't even know what to do!"
AINDREA
"It's almost over huh?"
I stared down at the lake reflecting the vanity of the sky.
"I finally get to Matt, and Acacius again, I wonder how they'll react when they see me?"
"Hurry up and get back to it!"
I swivel my head to face Areios.
"Damnit Areios! I'm just taking a break!"
"Well you're never going to learn body strengthening if you never practice!"
"Ugh..."
I got up from the lake, and began to study, magic, from what I've learned isn't just gathering magic, there's a science to it. I have an affinity to wind, water, and sunlight, that means I'm able to cast lightning magic, my affinity towards self buffing is very low counteracting the previous achievement, I can only cast {tier 3: body strengthening} at maximum for a buff, but with lightning I should be able to go up to {tier 9} there's no knowledge of {tier 9} magic in Sparta, but at Athens the limit there was {tier 7} with only 1 magician there being able to use it. But...the goddess Aphrodite told me, that I would be able to use {tier 9} magic, she told me she foresaw it.
"Areios, what level of magic can you use?"
"If you're talking about {body strengthening} then I can cast up to {tier 3} as of now, it tripled my strength combined with the amount of magic that I absorb that further enhances my strength, it should be plenough to create wind pressure just by punching. But you...your strength tripling is just stupid, who the hell gave you that kind of power anyway?"
"I used the orb once, it gave me the favor of Hercules, Perseus, and the Goddess Aphrodite."
"Must be Hercules then."
"Yeah, probably."
"Once you learn the first tier of body strengthening, I'll see if I can teach you lightning, although I can't use it, so I'm not sure."
"Really?! Thanks Areios!"
"Mhm."
LEONIDAS
"Did you succeed in negotiations with the slave trader?"
"Yes, my king, I have."
"Then I suppose this year will also be a fruitful award to those who win the competition this year."
"My king... may I ask why you would go to such lengths every year for the competition?"
"There must be motivation, but moreover the real reason is the strongest have the most rank over the others, and owning a slave will be a symbol of that."
The soldier nodded. "Yes, my king."
"Prepare the great games, it will be hosted in 2 months, after all."
The soldier understood, and excused himself from my chambers.
I reviewed our plans at the war table, the Persians has receded from Greece, as they feared the power that had destroyed Athens, they must think themselves unprepared to face this threat.
"But what destroyed Athens? There must be something, while the Persians have left there could still be a threat powerful enough to wipe the whole Sparta."
Paranoia filled my mind, grasping at straws, to comprehend what could have done this, to only leave Athens with a few columns and one building? The only place left somewhat intact was the area where the orb was left, maybe? Maybe it was the orb? If so...then... no it can't be the orb, the orb is only used for blessings nothing more, it was confirmed.
"This is too much..."
ASCLEPIUS
The meeting as already passed the Gods come again, in another month. But there is a pressing matter that cannot be expelled from their minds, the mortal, not just one, but two, the mortal who received too much strength, and the mortal too gifted with intellect and magic, even though he supposedly had none, wait...Hecate?! Did she use status disruption?!
"Shit!" I ran down to the overseers orb.