Episode 10 (480 B.C):
My solemn figure was enveloped in a black mantle, no part of my "skin" could be seen, and a veil covered my face, revealing a mask.
Have you seen the masks of Greek theater? One happy and the other with a strange expression that is between anger and sadness? Well, imagine that we separate both masks by their vertical half and join them, that was the face that I decided to show these confused mortals.
Yes, that's right, my dear reader. I am the narrator, one of the many characters. Since only I could access everything that went through the minds of these individuals, right?
But let's leave the surprises for later, now these seven wonderful humans had doubts. My deep voice resonated in the heavy air.
Welcome, my dear actors. For the most important moment of your lives has come.
I said, while raising my arms in a gesture of welcome.
A whirlwind of emotions took hold of those present. Fear was reflected on their faces, understandable. It was the first time they had seen someone like me.
Upon my appearance, Arsames, trembling, raised his dagger and pointed it towards where my heart should be. Also understandable, after all, imagine yourself as a Christian and that before your eyes Satan himself appeared.
— Angra… Mainyu — He murmured in terror.
That's what they call me.
Before Arsames could commit something reckless, Demosthenes stopped him.
— Wait — He said, putting an arm between him and me —We must hear what he has to say.
That was reasonable, Demosthenes.
— He knows our names —Callisto murmured, with the distrust typical of those who fear the unknown.
I know everything about you, my dear actors.
— Why do you call us actors? —Asked the young Agatha without much thought. Her mortal mind understands so much, but at the same time, ignores a lot.
Because you are the protagonists of this grandiose play.
— So, to you, we're nothing more than actors? — Auxentius asked, concealing his fear.
The lives of mortals are nothing more than a play, with some in leading roles, others in supporting roles, and events that surprise even me. Among all of you, I find the seven most fascinating souls I have ever met.
— So we are your toys —Kharma replied, her mind as sharp as ever, she would have been a great leader in another time. —I'm leaving, I don't want to know... anything about him.
I didn't force you to come. In the face of any eventuality, you seven came. Because of that and more, you are exceptional people.
Demosthenes, feigning bravery, also wanted to leave.
— Forget it, I'm leaving too.
— Wait —Said my favorite actor, everyone turned to Zenodulos. —He helped me a great deal, I wouldn't be here without him. We must listen to what he has to say.
Indeed, Zenodulos, the voice you heard in your slumber was mine. My will kept you alive. And now, a being beyond your imagination, offers you a humble gift: Eternal youth. I will even give each of you a unique ability.
— Immortality —Callisto murmured. —Many men have sacrificed much of their lives seeking what you offer us so humbly. How can we believe you?
What other proof do you have besides the fact that I have already bestowed immortality upon you by coming here?
—What...? —She replied, her eyes wide open reflecting a terror I had never witnessed in a mortal. Her mouth opened in a grimace, like that of a dying fish.
Dismay seized all those present. Their faces contorted into expressions of terror, searching in vain for an answer among them, a hope that would dispel that terrifying reality.
I supposed that some of you would not accept my gift.
— I didn't accept this! —Kharma shouted, her shrill voice interrupting me rudely
Arsames, with the determination of a warrior, brandished his dagger at me.
— The stories were true!
The Persian ran, this time Demosthenes did not stop him, as his mind was a whirlwind, unable to process the magnitude of the events unfolding before his eyes.
That foolish man lunged at me with his weapon, but the blade passed through my body without any resistance, without shedding a single drop of blood.
I believe it is time to demonstrate your new gift.
A swift movement of my hand was enough to decapitate the impetuous Arsames. His head rolled across the floor until it came to rest in the middle of the group, while his body fell lifeless with a thud. A chill ran down the spines of those present.
Agatha screamed in terror, then everyone tried to escape.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Don't worry, he will be back to life soon
But my words failed to calm those mortals. Their fear was irrational; they were no better than wild beasts at this moment.
Faced with their imminent flight, I had no choice but to stop time.
I ask for your patience.
Their bodies froze in the instant, muscles rigid in mid-stride, and faces petrified with panic.
Since everyone was in their place, I walked calmly towards the only person who had not succumbed to terror: Zenodulos.
His calm gaze watched me as Demosthenes released him, allowing him to fall slowly to the ground. Without my intervention, his body would have succumbed to gravity.
I approached this unique man and spoke to him in a way that only he could hear.
The truth is that I have not yet given you the gift of eternal life. I lied to you, as I wanted to observe your reactions. And I must say that they were more exquisite than any other I could have imagined.
Zenodulos listened attentively to my words. Although he could not move a muscle, his mind was a storm of thoughts, trying to comprehend the surreal situation he was living in.
"So Arsames is dead?" he wondered.
Yes, your Persian friend is dead. Unless you accept immortality.
He then wondered why he should accept eternal life for the slave.
I already told you: because you are the most interesting of these seven. Your entire life has been nothing more than the sweetest tragedy in my eyes.
At that, the man became angry, recalling his life as a slave, Acacius's treatment, his years in a coma…
It is true that those events were terrible, but they also made you the man you are today. And now you shine with more intensity than the other mortals.
Zenodulos fell into thought.
Besides, you are the one who most desires immortality among all these people, aren't you? You want to use that power to become something more than a freedman. You want to be a legend, a person everyone admires. And I assure you, with my gift and your experiences you will have everything you desire.
The mind of that extraordinary man was spinning like a hurricane. He couldn't believe that I, a superior being, was praising him.
It is natural that I praise you. I am the only one besides you who knows all that you have suffered and all that you have desired. Now, your eternal prayers to the gods have come to an end, because now your destiny is in your hands...
So I ask you one last time: Are you sure this is what you want?
Immortality?
"Yes" Zenodulos declared with a strong thought. Doubt had no place in his mind; from the time he could reason, he had fervently longed to transcend his condition as a miserable slave. Upon hearing the stories of celebrated heroes, magnificent kings, and ruthless tyrants, the hopeful child could only conceive of himself at the forefront of the world, ruling and governing it with a firm hand.
That man had already made his decision since we met.
And with a snap of my fingers, the world of Zenodulos, his companions, and all of humanity was transformed forever...
With my work finished for now, I retired amidst that reddish haze. It dissipated slowly, just as it had arrived. When everything returned to something like normality for these mortals, time began to flow again. But there was no need to escape anymore: I had already disappeared.
Everyone's first reaction was to check on Arsames. They wanted to see if his gift (or his curse) had worked. Undoubtedly, from the Persian's cleanly severed neck emerged a red and unpleasant mass of muscles and veins. These joined together to form a round mass, then the skin covered it, and finally his eyes, teeth, and brown hair appeared on that mass, giving it the complete shape of a human head.
The severed head, on the other hand, disappeared in a red smoke. My last gift for that night was to get rid of the proof of their immortality for them.
Arsames rolled over and got up. Terror and surprise contorted his expressions.
—I felt my consciousness fading— the Persian murmured as he stroked his face. — So it's true...
—Indeed —Callisto responded — For better or worse, we are all immortal.
Kharma could not contain the trembling of her body.
—I want… to vomit — She added. Her tone of voice was the same as when she lived in Acacius's house.
She ran to the back of the statue to get rid of her discomfort... vomiting. Agatha rushed to comfort her, rubbing her back gently. Zenodulos managed to hear a broken whisper from the slave:
—I don't want to live with all these horrible memories for eternity — She sobbed —. The idea of reliving Acacius' face over and over again...
—I'm sorry — Her owner comforted her without much energy, probably having a lot to think about herself as well.
A sepulchral silence fell over the agora. Callisto's words echoed in the group's ears like a distant echo: "For better or for worse, we are all immortal."
The lady who had spoken such words was pale, her face as livid as the moon that illuminated them. She did not want to share her thoughts with the group, but fortunately for you, I can reveal what was going on in her mind. The wise hetaira could not bear the idea of continuing to witness the death of her loved ones while she remained unchanged in the face of the indifferent passage of time.
—This is an unbearable cruelty — she finally murmured.
—Look at it as an opportunity — Auxentius told her.
Callisto turned and glared at him with a flash of fury.
—I'd like to know what's good about being immortal — the lady replied — I don't know if you've noticed, but there are a lot of stories about the gods punishing mortals for longing for eternity. Of course, I don't believe in that nonsense, but they must contain some message.
—You don't understand — The merchant replied, an incandescent gleam in his eyes. — Since I am immortal, I can amass an unprecedented fortune and even reach the ends of the world without harm.
—I love your positivity —Callisto said sarcastically.
Agatha and Kharma emerged from behind the statue, both with eyes red from crying. Kharma approached Zenodulos in silence, while Agatha went to her husband and wrapped him in a deep embrace.
—What will become of us now? — She murmured with a trembling voice.
—I wish I had the answers, my love —Demosthenes replied. — But we must remain calm above all.
Their embrace lingered, slightly irritating Zenodulos, who watched as even immortality was unable to give him the love of the person he most longed for. Demosthenes gently pulled his wife away to look into her eyes.
—We will have time to decide what to do with this new reality, but now we have a more urgent matter.
—The Persian army... —She whispered —But what happened with the Spartan king's offensive?
—They lost. The Spartan king is dead and his troops too, the Persians must not be far from here.
All the immortals listened to the soldier's words, without a doubt the enemy army was a more imminent problem than the uncertainty about their new immortality.
—Please promise me you will leave here tonight —Demosthenes finally said.
—Yes. I promise —Agatha replied.
Kharma took Zenodulos' hand, perhaps trying to imitate the couple, but his mind was torn between envy of his former master and the endless possibilities that immortality offered him.
Arsames got up from the ground, it was not time to think about his round trip to the underworld either.
Waiting for the opportune moment to intervene, Auxentius and Callisto approached the married couple.
—Callisto has informed me that the refugees who cannot fight are heading for Troezen — Auxentius said. That place is quite far away.
—It's true — Demosthenes confirmed.
—In that case, it would be best for all of us to go to the port of Phalerum in the south and then sail by boat to Troezen, so the journey will be safer... So the journey will be safer. We are immortal now anyway.
—Then I'm more at ease — Replied the soldier in training. — I will return to Salamis with the other soldiers.
With the plan in place, the couple said goodbye with a kiss, laden with the uncertainty that enveloped them.
Meanwhile, the rest of the immortals headed to the couple's house to recover their last valuables before the invading army could catch them.