In the heart of Corinth, a city renowned for its beauty and splendor, there lived a maiden named Lamia. Her presence was like a beam of sunlight that pierced through the darkest of clouds, casting a warm and enchanting glow upon all who gazed upon her.
Lamia was simply the most beautiful woman, her every feature a testament to the divine artistry of creation.
Her raven-black hair flowed like liquid night, and her eyes, the color of sapphire seas, held the secrets of the universe. Men would often speak of her as if she were a goddess incarnate. Yet, beneath the surface of her captivating beauty lay a heart filled with longing and a soul yearning for love.
It was during a visit to Corinth that Zeus, the king of the gods, first laid eyes on Lamia. Disguised as a mere mortal, Zeus wandered the city streets, his divine curiosity piqued by tales of a mortal woman whose beauty surpassed that of all others. Lamia's radiance drew him like a moth to a flame, and he found himself ensnared by her presence.
As Lamia went about her daily life, unaware of the divine eyes upon her, Zeus watched her with growing fascination. Her laughter was like the sweetest music, and her every movement was a dance of elegance. It did not take long for Zeus to realize that he was utterly infatuated with the mortal maiden, and he resolved to make her his own.
Zeus, known for his numerous affairs, had seen countless beauties in his immortal existence. Yet, with Lamia, it was different. He found himself genuinely and deeply in love with her, a love that surpassed mere desire or passion. Lamia, too, felt the stirrings of her heart, and the connection they shared was profound and undeniable.
For a time, their love remained hidden, a secret known only to the two of them. Lamia reveled in the affection and attention of the powerful god, while Zeus treasured the mortal woman who had captured his heart. They shared stolen moments together, far from the prying eyes of Olympus and the jealous gaze of Hera, Zeus's wife.
Hera, the queen of the gods, possessed an uncanny intuition when it came to her husband's affairs. She sensed the depth of Zeus's affection for Lamia and soon uncovered the truth about their love. Consumed by a jealous rage, Hera's wrath was as fierce as the thunderstorms she could conjure.
In her vengeful fury, Hera sought not only to punish Lamia but also the innocent fruits of her love with Zeus. Lamia had borne two beautiful children, their existence proof to the forbidden love that had flourished in secrecy. These children, innocent of their parentage, became the targets of Hera's relentless wrath.
In the early days of their love, Zeus had vowed to protect Lamia from the wrath of his jealous wife, Hera. He promised to shield her from harm and to ensure that their love would endure, untouched by the wrath of the gods. Lamia, believing in his words, had allowed herself to hope for a future filled with love and happiness.
Zeus's promise had been the hope that guided Lamia through the darkness that shrouded their forbidden love. It had been her solace and her reason to believe that their love could withstand any obstacle, even the divine forces that sought to tear them apart.
However, as time passed, Zeus's initial ardor waned. He became preoccupied with his responsibilities as the ruler of Olympus and the affairs of the mortal world. Lamia, who had once been the center of his world, began to feel the distance grow between them.
Zeus's visits became less frequent, his words less tender, and his promises faded into the shadows.
Hera's vengeance was swift and devastating. She descended upon Lamia with a curse that forever altered her destiny. Lamia's once-magnificent beauty was transformed into a grotesque and nightmarish visage. Her eyes, once captivating and full of life, became empty voids, and her melodious laughter turned into haunting wails of despair.
The curse afflicted Lamia with an insatiable hunger, not for sustenance, but for the blood of innocent children. Transformed into a monstrous creature, she became a terror that lurked in the shadows, preying upon the young and vulnerable. As her monstrous form struck fear into the hearts of mortals, Lamia's anguish knew no bounds.
Her beloved children, the products of her love for Zeus, suffered a fate worse than death at the hands of Hera's relentless vengeance. Their lives were cruelly snuffed out, and Lamia's heart shattered into a million pieces as she witnessed their demise.
Lamia, who had sacrificed her beauty and faced the curse of Hera for the sake of their love, was now left to bear her suffering alone.
As the divine neglect of Zeus became more obvious, Lamia's despair deepened. She knew that her love for the king of the gods was unwavering, but she could not endure the pain of abandonment. One fateful night, driven to the brink of despair, Lamia beseeched Zeus to fulfill his promise and rescue her from her cursed existence.
She stood before him, her once-magnificent beauty now marred by the monstrous curse that Hera had bestowed upon her. Her eyes, once filled with love and adoration, now bore the weight of sorrow and longing. Lamia pleaded with Zeus to save her, to grant her the reprieve from her monstrous form and the insatiable hunger that tormented her.
Lamia waited for a long time but there was nothing but silence.
In that heart-wrenching moment, Lamia understood the depths of her solitude. The promise of protection and love had been nothing more than empty words
As Bennet witnessed the heartbreaking memories of Lamia's abandonment, he couldn't help but empathize with her. Her love for Zeus had led to a curse that transformed her life into a nightmare.
The oppressive darkness hung heavy in the air, wrapping itself around Bennet like a shroud. He could feel the weight of centuries of pain and anger emanating from Lamia, and as the smoke cleared, her grotesque and terrifying form took shape before him.
Bennet's initial fear was noticeable, an instinctual response to the nightmarish visage that stood before him. But as he observed Lamia more closely, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pity. The curse that had befallen her, twisting her once beautiful features into something so horrifying, was a cruel fate indeed.
Lamia's voice, though tinged with bitterness, held an air of honesty as she spoke. "Now you see my story. I may be perceived as evil, but within me lies the truth of a soul wronged."
Bennet found himself stepping forward, approaching the scary-looking creature.
"I'll carry your vengeance," Bennet declared.
Amidst the conversation, a strange, ethereal voice called out Bennet's name, almost like a haunting whisper carried by the wind.
"Bennet...," it murmured, weaving through the chaos and reaching his ears. The voice seemed to echo in his mind, distant and enigmatic.
"Bennet.... Bennet...."
Bennet felt a strange sensation wash over him, as though he were being drawn into an unseen current. His surroundings blurred, and the sounds of combat faded into a distant hum. It was as if the world around him had momentarily melted away, leaving only the eerie echo of that spectral voice.
"Bennet! What's wrong with you?" Captain Robert's voice, sharp and concerned, pierced through the strange reverie.
"Bennet! What's wrong with you?" Captain Robert's words were filled with genuine concern as he gently shook Bennet, his eyes searching for answers.
Bennet blinked rapidly, his senses reeling from the vivid and unsettling journey through Lamia's memories.
"I... What's going on?" he stammered, his voice laden with uncertainty and disorientation.
"You spaced out for a minute," Captain Robert remarked.
"For a minute?" Bennet couldn't believe it.
It felt as though he had traversed a lifetime while ensnared in the labyrinthine memories of Lamia's tragic past. The vividness of her story had been so consuming that it left him feeling as though he had been transported through time itself.
Captain Robert, recognizing the need to ground Bennet in the present, swiftly handed him a dark mask and hood. "Here, wear this," he instructed. "Orion should not recognize you."
Bennet nodded and accepted the disguise, the cool fabric of the mask and hood comforting against his skin. As Bennet adjusted the mask and hood, a chilling reminder swept over him like an unwelcome shadow—that they were still being pursued by the Silver Blade Pirates. It was a bitter truth that he, Hugo, and their mother were still being hunted by the Pirate Lord's crew.
If Captain Orion recognized him, it would confirm their presence in the kingdom of Alfira. Their mother and Hugo could be in grave danger if that information fell into the wrong hands. The weight of this knowledge pressed heavily on his shoulders.
Bennet turned his gaze toward Captain Robert, a silent question in his eyes. He wanted to ensure that he had worn the mask and hood properly, concealing his identity.
Captain Robert carefully examined Bennet's disguise. He adjusted the hood slightly, making sure it concealed Bennet's features without obstructing his vision. After a few minor adjustments, he nodded in approval.
"All set," Captain Robert said in a reassuring tone. "You look like just another White Wolf member. Now, let's keep moving and stay cautious."
As they were moving towards the injured Pirate Lord, he couldn't shake the lingering sense of the world he had just witnessed a while ago—a world of gods and curses, love and betrayal, and an eternity of anguish carried by Lamia.