Themyscira, Midgard.

1000 A.D.

Diana took in a deep breath of salty sea air mixed with the faint scent of wildflowers. Even here, at the edge of what used to be the epicenter of the Amazon culture, the fragrance permeating the surroundings hadn't changed much from where they were before. Her sight, however, told a different story.

Nature had slowly reclaimed much of the ruin. Vines climbed over ancient stones, and flowers bloomed in the cracks of fractured walls. Buildings, statues, and high pillars, once grand, stood as observers and victims to the flow of time. Although it was not time that had initially damaged the city so. Some structures remained intact, distinctly Themysciran in their architecture. Others lay crushed, with fallen pieces of Olympus protruding above them. Most were a conjoined mixture of both, now unrecognizable from one another.

The city had been built on the aptly named Mount Themyscira, with the palace adorned at the top. Only some of the mountain or the palace remained due to the gargantuan earthy mass of Olympia lying above or, more accurately, leaning against them. With the declining sun, the palace was overcome by the shadow that the larger bulk cast. It was poetic in a sense.

Loki's figure edged closer to her in a comfort motion, just as Thor's hand laid on hers. "Are you ready, little sister?" The eldest prince asked.

"As much as I can be." Diana nodded hesitantly. They had stopped by an old hut on the outskirts of the city. Nearby, she traced the frames of a dried-up waterhole, its basin cracked and empty. Moss covered its surfaces, and fallen leaves filled the basin. Her gaze fixed on the path leading up to the city. "Or at least, as much as I hope to be."

With enough said, they walked in silence, and soon, their steps began to echo on the pebbled road of the deserted city streets. They passed a communal eatery, the space long abandoned. Broken furniture and faded tablecloths lay strewn about, reminders of when the area buzzed with shared meals and lively conversations. Once, it had been a place of gathering. She envisioned the Amazons enjoying their feasts, foods, and plenty from the Cornucopia gifted by the river god Achelous. The air had been filled with voices once. Once, long ago.

More and more ghostly skeletons of theater, marketplace, and residences appeared in their path. Thor and Loki stayed near, still silent in their support. Their eyes shifted about, curiosity-filled like hers, to the foreign setting. Diana caught sight of a reasonably untouched temple planted prominently on the main road. In front of it were statues, both whole and shattered. She could only make out etched prints below them for Adonis, God of Rebirth, and Soteria, Goddess of Safety and Salvation. Above in the large architrave, she read: Οἱ Φρέατα τῶν Ψυχῶν.

Surprise laced the budding woman's expression.

"The Well of Souls?" She whispered. It was real. It must have been. Which meant... Her eyes brightened with hope.

"What is it?" Thor asked.

"Diana…" Loki tried to say something about her rising mood, but she had already rushed towards the building.

The entrance to the well was partially blocked by rubbles. Diana easily pushed fallen stones aside, revealing ancient, rusted bronze doors. Symbols of protection and renewal adorned its covering. She entered through the screeching gates, her brothers chasing behind, unsure what to do or say. It wasn't like they knew what was going through her mind. However, at the moment, she didn't entirely know either. Disbelief mixed with wonder, but mostly, there was hope.

Cool and still air greeted the trio in their steps. The chamber was vast, with a circular well at its center. The water, while deep, ended on stained white flooring. Soft light filtered through cracks in the ceiling, casting a glow that reflected against the murky water. More statues of gods and goddesses lined the walls with expressions of serenity and tenderness. Diana approached the well, or better yet, the pool—considering its size—with her heavy heart in hand.

She had heard of this place in a whispered fable and had seen its mention in a hidden scroll only few could read. What had seemed like a myth was now present, open, and obvious for all to see. For, of course, it was. How many had set foot on an island hidden from even Heimdall's sight? How many could have known of the truth before or after it had fallen? Diana knelt beside the pool, touching the surface gently. The water rippled, and for a moment, she felt a connection to…nothing.

She may not have been a student of seidr, but she should have felt something, at least. If there had been any magic here in the first place, it was gone now, along with its patron gods and goddesses. Nothing remained to tether spirits to the realm of the living. There were no souls here; only murky water was left. The spark that had brightened her eyes dimmed. Of course.

Diana didn't exactly fall, but she did something similar and seated down on the pool's edge. Her fingers continued to swirl around the water's surface. Her brothers didn't know what had made her so excited or what had changed her mood so suddenly, yet they could tell that something had gone wrong.

Thor lay down first, his form sprawled onto the dusty tiles. His feet were hanging off the edge but not touching the water. With head resting on the ground, he looked up to the aged veins that marred the ceiling. "Paradise Island seemed so…different from what we had read. Considering how old those texts were, I should have expected it, but…well." He hesitated to continued. Probably unsure how to be tactful in this situation. "Still, seeing it in person is something else."

Loki chose to sit with a little more grace. One knee was slightly curled with an arm on top. The other was planted on the ground to stabilize his posture. His sight also drifted to the fractured lines. "I would have liked to see Themyscira in its prime. It is a wonder how such fine people produced one such as you, sister."

A huff escaped Diana's nose as she attempted to hold back the laughter at her own expense. With limbs wrapped around her knees, she followed her brothers' lines of sight.

Age, neglect, and all manners of damage flawed the ceiling with web-like cracks and faded paint. Nothing left in the ceiling contained any clues to what the mural that once covered its entirety displayed. Although, Diana imagined it to be a grand and beautiful work. Much like the mural her father had commissioned on Asgard. Through the largest breaks in the ceiling, the golden hour light streamed in, casting a soft, warm glow over the now barren stone.

Thor spoke softly with a rumble that came in his adulthood. "Whatever it is, Diana, we are with you."

Loki nodded, his usual demeanor replaced with empathy that he rarely displayed for others. "We may not understand everything, but we are here."

"A story." Her voice cracked before picking up again. "I thought I had read about this place in a story before. It was silly. Don't think much about it."

"Tell it to us and let us be the judge instead." Loki quickly chided.

Thor got himself comfortable, similar to how he usually did when Sir Ratatoskr visited. "You know I always have time for a tale or two."

Diana wasn't the best storyteller but something about their earnestness made her wanted to try. "Alright." It would serve as a good distraction anyhow. "When Olympians still meddled in the lives of Midgardians, there was a mortal princess named Iphigeneia. Her father, King Agamemnon, unknowingly killed a treasured stag of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and in his pride, boasted that he was a better hunter than even the divine.

You see, a war engulfed much of the Greek world at this time, and King Agamemnon was standing as the victor due to his numerous fleets. In response to Agamemnon's provocation, Artemis becalmed the sea, and only with the sacrifice of Iphigeneia could the Midgardian king appease the goddess into granting him fair wind—a sacrifice Agamemnon reluctantly provided. He tricked his daughter with the promise of a good marriage and brought her to the temple of Artemis.

There, she realized the truth, and instead of resisting, she proceeded to the altar of her death. Standing beside her father, who had given her life, she addressed the king. 'I give my body, freely on behalf of my country, for all the land of Greece. May this gift from me bring you success. May you win the crown of victory and win thereafter a glorious homecoming. In peace and in good heart, I offer you my throat.' Heartbroken but resolute, King Agamemnon turned his head to one side and wept as his knife took away his beloved daughter."

Thor grimaced. "I fear to ask how old you were when you read this story."

"Mother surely would not have approved." Loki added.

"No, she wouldn't, but that was partially why I continued anyway, despite how horrified I was at Iphigeneia's fate." Head tilt back to the pool, Diana continued. "And I'm glad I did. Because her story didn't end there…

Iphigeneia awoke, naked and dazed, with her whole body submerged in crystal-clear water. Even though she could feel the cool wetness enveloping her skin and the gentle pressure in her lungs, the liquid caused her no suffering or pain. Surprisingly, she found that she could breathe easier than ever before. The water seemed to cradle her, washing away the memories that had led her to this strange place.

Nearby, Iphigeneia watched as women of various ages floated aimlessly in the calm waters. As she inspected more closely, she found that each woman bore wounds that were open yet miraculously unbled. Her own hands instinctively reached for her neck, where she felt the fatal cut that had ended her life. With this touch, terror took hold as haunting memories of her sacrifice flooded back, and she screamed out in anguish.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

In response to her desperate cries, three kind souls approached the princess. The first, an elderly woman with a caved skull, cradled Iphigeneia's head in her arm and tenderly stroked her hair. In a wistful voice, she soothed. 'Forget the past, sister. For its shadows can no longer harm you.'

Then, a graceful woman with a bruised neck approached, gently wiping away Iphigeneia's tears as she whispered hoarsely. "Forget the present, sister. For its burdens are not yours to bear."

Lastly, a young girl took her hand. Even though no wounds were present on her skin, Iphigeneia noticed this child's cheeks were sunken, her lips parsed, and her skin clung to her bones. The girl offered a comforting squeeze as she said. "Forget the future, sister. For in its loss, you shall be free."

These words and actions calmed Iphigeneia, but her tears never ceased. "I wanted to live." She whispered as a surge of life's fervor soon overtook her. Her silent cries echoed into screams as her limbs thrashed against the clear water. "Live!" She yelled at the unfairness of it all. "I want to live!"

"Then live you shall." The three spirits proclaimed in unison. Combined together, they pushed the girl heavenward. And with their help, she swam vigorously, never stopping for rest until she found an edge where she could pull herself out of the water. Emerging from The Well of Souls, Iphigeneia stepped into a stronger and kinder life.

…or so the story ended. I had thought this was the very same place and that it could once again bring back the Amazons, but it was only wishful thinking on my part."

"A magic pool that brought warrior women to life. I believe it." Thor shrugged. "I've heard taller tales, and they didn't have…all of this." He swirled his hand and gestured to their surroundings.

"Eir always believed that births in Themyscira resulted from the union between the Olympians and the Amazons." As Loki's eyes sparkled with magic, he surveyed the temple and peered into the depths of the well. Shaking his head, he resumed. "This Well of Souls might have served more as a house of prayer or a symbolic homage to your story. I was not able to find any traces of engravings or runes that indicated there was once magic here. If it did then…I lack the necessary expertise to find its mechanism. I'm sorry it didn't turn out as you hoped, Diana."

"I know, brother." It showed how much her brother cared for him to minimize his own skills in magecraft to give her some semblance of hope. It was her own fault for jumping to conclusions. If the well was real, then she and her brothers wouldn't have been walking through these streets alone. "Can't blame a girl for trying."

"There is still much to explore; we haven't yet reached Olympia. There may still be signs of surviving Olympians or Amazons that we have not discovered."

Thor sat up forcefully and rallied. "So what are we waiting for? Let us continue our search while there is still some sun left."

"Thank you, brothers, for being here. For giving me hope. For everything." She replied. Although her eyes looked away from their own. "But I think I have seen enough for now. I doubt the island will be going anywhere."

It was overwhelming. She had believed she grasped the concepts of death and destruction, thought her dreams had prepared her. Yet, standing here amid the tangible remnants, grappling with fleeting hope only to lose it, proved too much. She could not face this again, not today.

"We understand, sister." Loki turned to Thor, and they exchanged glances, seeking guidance from one another on how to deal with this situation. They found none and fell silent. Her brothers were speechless. Now that she could focus on it, she found a little humour in their plight; And that was better than what she was feeling before.

"So what will it be then?" Diana asked.

"What will what be?" Thor answered with his own question.

She pointed to Thor. "Will you carry Loki and me on your flight?" Then she turned to Loki. "Or will you transform Thor and me into an assortment of critters and seeds again? It will be dark long before we reach the skiff on foot. And even then, we'll need to pass through the island's concealment before Heimdall could find us."

She watched with rising improvement to her mood as her brothers started arguing about which method was better. Diana admitted that she let them stew a little bit longer than necessary before offering a third option. "Or…"

Loki recognized what she was doing and gritted. "Out with it."

"I supposed it wouldn't hurt if we returned in the morning instead. We could stay here for the night. It is peaceful, and it's been so long since we were together like this."

Thor raised a brow. "What would we tell father?"

"He doesn't need to know if we all keep it to ourselves."

Her eldest brother just grinned widely at her response, and Loki, well, he had that annoying little smirk on his face before he swooned. "Goodness. I am so proud of you, Diana."

______________________________

Light shone sharply on Diana's face as she twisted and turned to avoid the morning rays from disturbing her slumber. Throughout the night, her conversations with her brothers had stretched well beyond the dead of the night, fuelled by the mead that Thor, for reasons fully known, had brought along. So, yes, she was not looking forward to the groggy trek back to the skiff. A couple more hours of sleep would be very much appreciated.

Sleep, however, refused to return. The makeshift beds that they had clobbered up together from rocks and tattered cloths no longer offered the comfortability that being drunk provided. Who would have thought? As she tried to sink back into its stony embrace nevertheless, her eyelids fluttered open. Alertness surged through her as the sky outside the temple remained draped in a pitch blackness. No matter what hour it was currently, it was far from dawn like she believed.

Trained for years to react instantly, especially with having Loki for a brother, Diana's muscles snapped tight. She rolled from her back into a combat stance. "Loki, I swear!"

But her cries fell on deaf ears—her brothers were missing. But, not just Thor and Loki, the mess that they left behind from the night before had vanished as well. In fact, even the surface she thought she had been lying on was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the eerie blue light that had awakened her emanated from the Well of Souls itself.

Diana withdrew her sword, a standard issue blade she carried due to not having undergone her rite. She clamped down on her emotions, stifling both the rising hope and gnawing worry that bubbled beneath the surface. If this was some jest, then it was a cruel one. One that was wholly uncharacteristic of Thor or Loki.

Diana moved with measured caution toward the well, pushed by her concerns about her brothers' sudden disappearances. As she reached the edge, she leaned forward to gaze into the seemingly infinite depths that were not there before. Initially, the water remained motionless, hiding its secrets beneath a calm surface.

But, suddenly, two glowing red eyes opened in the depths below, and a dark, masculine figure surged upward. "Diana," it hissed, closing the distance rapidly. The princess tensed, preparing to confront the emerging threat.

Just as the creature neared the surface, golden glowing ropes sprang from the depths. They wrapped tightly around the figure's torso, pulling with immense force. With a violent yank, the ropes dragged the creature back down into the water. Its screams screeched against the stone walls of the well and faded into the darkness below.

Diana jolted awake, her back slick with sweat, ready to jump towards whatever was closest to her. But there was nothing in sight. Well, no red-eyed shadow monster. Nor were there any golden ropes. Her brothers lay beside her, still deep in sleep with two sets of snores drumming the air. In contrast with the dark sky of her nightmare, sunlight streamed through gaps in the ceiling, stronger than the day before.

She had anticipated that she would be plagued by dreams after her visit to Themyscira but that…that was something. Not quite a dream but clearly not reality either. Diana peered into the well of water and watched as lines of light shone harmlessly at its bottom. She didn't know how to make head or tail with whatever she saw but she knew one thing for sure. She was not getting any more sleep today.

______________________________

???, ???

It yearned for a new wielder, someone to crack open its spine and immerse themselves in its texts. Its previous host had possessed adequate power and a deep understanding of the dark arts, but she had ultimately betrayed its trust— His trust. After drinking freely from His wealth, she had banished it to this fiery realm, placing it far beyond the reach of those who might seek its power.

Amid the silence and solitude, the book detected a familiar presence, so so close yet frustratingly out of reach. It called out to this pure soul, but the jailer held its reach. No matter. It could wait. Sooner or later, someone would find it, regardless of where it lay hidden. They always did. Then, He would return.