It was not long before the actions of the treacherous women were unveiled. Palla went on the offensive the very next day and accused the ones involved in the crime. They had not expected her to return, let alone survive. When the corpses of the sailors were found the priestesses saw little reason to doubt that they had been punished by the gods for their transgressions. The envious orchestrators of the kidnapping had been tied up and put to trial as well.

“We did nothing wrong! She is the heathen!” They protested loudly.

“To attack a priestess, even if only still an acolyte, is a great crime. To shed blood on this hallowed isle is sacrilege on top of that. Your hired thugs have received their dues, so you will follow in turn.” The current head priestess declared with stoic righteousness and spoke the sentence.

“Y-you can’t do that… that was not what we agreed on!” They desperately struggled, but where taken away by the soldiers who were here on pilgrimage.

“Make certain they never speak again.” The head priestess whispered into the ear of the soldier with a glint in her eyes.

Thus the threat on Palla’s life had been erased. My involvement in this situation was not brought to light and I did not speak up during any of the heated human arguments. They had nothing to do with me. As a guest I had no interest in the internal politics of the owl’s followers.

Palla did not approach me for a while. I could not rightly tell what was going through her head the few times I caught a glimpse of her in the temple. When she saw or heard me she swiftly turned to evasion. She had never deigned to apologize for her insults or to thank me for saving her, yet I did not care. I had decided to ignore her and so I would.

Without the occasional lessons I did feel a certain lack of entertainment after a while. That realization itself made me all the more stubborn and so I stayed on Sarpedon to prove that it was not the human girl’s presence that kept me around. It was a twisted stubbornness that possessed me, one which was a common sight during my long life. I thought myself above the Olympians, but I was no less petty.

One late night I was sick of sleeping on the same pillows each day and left my guest room. I spread my wings and flew up to the temple’s wide rooftop to perch myself up and rest there. It was a nice viewpoint that gave me an intrinsic sense of superiority. A few birds were migrating this time of year and had made a stop at the temple as well, so they bunched up around my large wings as if I was their mother. Animals were typically fond of goddesses.

As I let my mind drift off I heard the quiet conversations below me.

“…will be replacing you soon if we don’t stop this. She has gotten popular with the others and has been saved by the gods twice. Additionally to the fact that she was found and raised by Grand Priestess Crene. There is no greater proof that she was blessed.”

“You think I don’t know that?”

“During the next summit…”

“I know.”

“I am on your side, but the other temples will only see those points and ignore that this servant girl is not meant to lead.”

“They want a puppet, so this is all too convenient for them.”

“Then what will you do? She is clearly protected. Violence will only lead to the same results.”

“The necklace!” The older voice was suddenly raised.

“The seashell she wears? What of it?”

“You were not there on that day. When she was saved by Lady Athena on Crene’s plea the wise and majestic one had put the necklace on her as a protective charm. As long as she wears it she escapes death. Take it away from her…”

“…and she will die.”

“We must be careful about this. Nobody is allowed to know and not a soul can see us do it.”

“We still have time until the summit. Haste will be our downfall. Instead let us make plans.”

They moved to another room and disappeared from my ears' range. To the sound of looming winds I closed my eyes and embraced slumber. The ominous talk did barely register in my mind.

After that night I was not taking any action in particular. At the time it seemed unnecessary to get involved. New visitors had arrived on a ship and took up much of my time. The same occurrences from the previous arrivals seemed to be repeating.

Men were gathering to woo me and women came to admire me and get blessed. For these foolish humans my beauty and divine status meant that I had gifts to share. No matter how much they complimented me and acted subservient, their intentions could not get past my sharp mind.

But soon there was another movement. The deeply faithful men that had only come here to take the knee before their goddess could not stand my presence in their sanctified grounds. Often when I wandered the island I received dark glares and growls from the devout. One day when I passed them provocatively one of them finally lost his mind and drew his blade in front of me.

“You’re strolling on our land as if it were your own. You are no goddess. I will cut you down!” He raised his short sword and attacked.

I did not move, nor did I even honor him with a single glance. As I stood in place and heard the sword be stopped by another blade I disinterestedly combed through my hair.

“How dare you attack a guest of Lady Athena?” One of the men who had fallen to my beauty had blocked the sword swing with a spear. “Medusa is a goddess that has earned this temple’s trust and respect. Your vile nature will not taint her!”

“You were seduced by this vixen. You’re no more than a lapdog!”

They traded blows and the crowd was howling. They raised their fists and fanned the flames between the two men. Swing after swing shook their arms and dealt minor injuries to the other. However, I was not giving them any attention. I was far more interested in the water basins. It would have been nice to take a dip.

“Stop this madness!” Suddenly a short-haired priestess arrived and went between the men. “Has the fog of Ares completely swallowed your vision?!” It was Palla and she was clearly distraught.

“Out of my way child.” The back of the sword hit Palla against the cheek and she cried out and fell.

“You barbarian!” This only got his opponent more riled up.

“I said… stop it!” Palla forced herself back on her legs and spread her arms wide to interfere with them again. “Killing each other will not achieve anything! Take better care of the lives that were granted to you!”

“This is a matter of principle…”

They were not going to stop even with her in-between them. I ignored the deadly situation entirely.

“Cease the bloodshed, in the name of our mistress” The head priestess shouted and stomped towards the commotion. Seeing Palla in the center made her frown.

“C’mon Apolonio, let them be.” The aggressor’s comrades pulled back the swordsman and wrestled him down.

“Aegidius.” The guardsman put a hand on the spear wielder’s shoulder and he put his weapon down voluntarily.

“Never cause trouble around here again or you will be punished severely.” The head priestess threatened them.

“I have a clear conscience.” Aegidius said with his arms crossed. “This man tried to break the sacred oath of hospitality.”

“Are you some zealous Heranite? Who cares about hospitality? That woman is an abomination against the 12!” Apolonio and his comrades barked back at the steadfast warrior.

“As long as the mistress welcomes her to these lands, we must too. This is her temple, not your barbaric Cretan war ground.”

“What did you say Athenian?!”

Their bickering continued for a while, albeit it would not escalate into physical battle again. Meanwhile I was resting my body in the clear water of the basin and let the small ripples caress my clean skin. Surely an outsider would have put the blame for this conflict on my shoulders, but that was a painfully human viewpoint. I had not given either side my support nor did I care to. Neutrality meant not to acknowledge them at all.

My half-closed eyes picked up the troubled expression of the young acolyte who had covered her bruised cheek and watched the argument. This fight seemed to have a profound effect on her. To throw oneself between two sharp blades when one had no involvement in the squabble was perhaps a sign just of how desperate a person could become.

The argument finally stopped when both parties were dragged apart and the priestesses returned to their duties with chagrined expressions.

“Why would they hate each other so much if they both follow Lady Athena? We are all the same…” Palla asked with a shadow across her face. She wandered to the servant quarters with a slight limp.

As I wrung the water from my hair and left the water with a splash, I was approached by the head priestess. I had thought she had already left, but she had clearly waited for me to get out.

“Lady Medusa, a word, if you will.”

“Speak your words then.” I let the water drip from my curves and stretched unperturbed.

“It is far from my intention to upset you, but your presence does incite the men quite often. I humbly request that you could intervene with their base approach next time you are in the area.” She lowered her head subserviently.

“Why should I do that?” I asked with one hand on my hip and looked down on her.

“I-I am certain you too feel bothered by these constant skirmishes and escalations. We are a peaceful cult. Our Lady only asks for violence in times of war, but this island is neutral ground. No matter what conflicts may arise outside, we cannot allow a feud to extend here.”

“That is all well, yet you fail to convince me that this is my concern.” I rebuked her bluntly.

“E-even as our valued guest, you still are on the Lady’s ground, so her rules are yours as well.” She backed away anxiously. It was clear that she feared me far more than any of the violent men.

“Rules, hm?” I felt fire rise in my chest. This heat of disdain was one that had not been lit in a long time. To be shackled by any rules was something that made my skin crawl. “I will consent to compromise with Athena herself. Whatever you humans ask of me is irrelevant.”

“But-!”

“Out of my way human.” I pushed through her and walked towards the temple.

“…” The head priestess watched after me with a horribly humiliated face.

This was the moment I had made another enemy for myself, but I had no sense to realize so at the time.

After this little conflict things turned more strained between the two camps. A cold opposition had formed and split the tents and men apart. It became harder for anyone to stay entirely neutral in the brooding atmosphere. Even as a new ship arrived, many visitors would not leave, which had been a rarity before.

“Lady Medusa, did you know that our master Aegidius owns four great properties in Attica?”

“His clothes are made from the hides of the goats they groomed around the greatest of flocks. They would sell for six times the usual price on the market!”

“I saw him slay four armored men once, while he only had a butcher’s knife.”

The followers of Aegidius were in the camp that was more interested in me than the goddess they allegedly worshipped. Surprisingly instead of trying to gain something for themselves they kept singing the spearman’s praises. I had heard many men and women boast about themselves at length, but this was the first time I had experienced such ample support for another human.

It was slightly intriguing and could sate my boredom, if only a little.

“Does he own more land than a king? Are his goats bred superior to Pan’s children? What manner of legendary butcher knife did he obtain from the gods? Did he slay more men than Heracles did with his bare hands?” I asked them all with a depreciating smile.

Immediately they turned silent and thoughtful. Not often did a woman have such preposterous standards, but they could not object, seeing as how I was divine. Nothing short of a fantastical hero could impress me, at least that is what they must have surmised. Truthfully, not even a hero would stand a chance to gain my favor. Humans were so simpleminded.

“That’s quite enough. Return to your tasks and do not bother Lady Medusa.” The much praised man of the hour appeared before me and waved his followers away.

“Is it not rash to send them away when they have nothing but admiration for you?”

“It does do my ego good, but I am sure you have far more admirers to spare.” He sat down cross-legged before me and put the long spear over his shoulders, letting his arms hang over it laxly.

“Do you count yourself among their ranks?” I raised a brow.

“Certainly. I am… intrigued by your qualities.” He grinned daringly.

“Which you would list as follows…” I looked at him like a snake would at a rat.

“A countenance I have never met in a woman. The presence of a queen, yet the wisdom of a scholar.” He tilted his head to the side and then added one last thing. “And beauty to rival Aphrodite herself.”

“Such wonderful sentiments.” I smiled back and his eyes lit up. “Only unlike you, I have met many men who had much the same. Flowery words or direct courting, it matters not, you are just another wolf in sheep’s coat.”

“Yet a wolf is no match for a goddess.” He replied without regret.

“As long as you understand.”

“Does my presence bother you?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“Then I would ask only that you let me enjoy it for longer, as I wait for the news from the priestesses.” He said seriously.

“We are both guests, that one trait we share.” I replied vaguely.

“I appreciate it.” He said amusedly. He raised an amphora of wine and poured it into my earthen cup.

“Hm. You do not drink?”

“I was once a soldier, so I have learned not to drink near a battlefield.” He replied ominously. “Wine and meat are reserved for the victory banquet.”

“A dull way of life the soldier leads.” I snorted and sipped on my wine. Of course his implication did not pass me by.

“I would consider it the lot of those who put duty before worldly desires.”

“Is battle not a desire?” I argued with a finger raised from my cup.

“It is a means to an end to me.” He said with a smirk.

“Understanding humans is a futile effort indeed.” I dismissed his vague elaborations and leaned onto my side. His countenance was not bad either, considering he managed not to glue his eyes to my body the entire time, as most men did.

“I agree, but that is exactly why I wish to understand the gods instead.”

“You are not a true follower of Athena, hm?”

“Your perceptiveness is humbling.” He laughed. “I follow a foreign faith. That is why I am interested in those who do not follow the status quo. Outsiders, such as yourself.”

“I am indeed not bound by their rules. I am free.” I agreed and drank my wine, satisfied.

“True freedom is a cleansed heart, free of doubt.” He laid down his spear and crossed his arms.

“Rather low qualifications.”

“I am fascinated by you, because you can say this with such confidence. To us humans, a live without doubt is no life at all.” He rubbed his curly haired head and looked at my legs.

“To doubt is to be weak.”

“And yet if one stays too rigid, is it not easier to fall apart? Soft wood is better for shields than superbly rigid material.”

“To squirm around and cling to your pathetic lives at all costs is why you will never be gods. It is better do die with pride than to live with shame. If you lose your original self, then what is the meaning of your existence? I say, to stay rigid and true to yourself is better than to change into something else.” I set down the empty cup and waited for him to refill it.

“You may have a point. If that is indeed true, I wish to test it.” He slowly poured more wine.

“Testing the gods is no better than stepping into a forest fire.” I gave him a sharp look.

“Fire has a cleansing effect as well.” He said with a subtly dark smirk.

“Hmph. Play your games if you wish, but I will not side either way.”

“I am counting on it.” He finished pouring the wine and then put the amphora to his mouth.

“Oh?” I grabbed the cup and watched his throat convulse with each swig.

“It is a good drop. Deserving of a victory toast.” He winked.

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Thanks to Aegidius and his followers I had little contact with the men who were angered by my presence or even the priestesses. There was hardly a day where I could enjoy some solitude. Thus the news of the summit of priestesses coming closer had not reached me immediately.

By complete accident I had overheard some servant girls talking about it and was then reminded of what the head priestess and her confidant had discussed. This summit was certain to be quite important for the power structure of the temple. And there was one person especially involved in this struggle.

Palla had been working on her own and not shown her face outside much. Whatever she had been preparing did not seem to make the other priestesses happy. I did not pay much attention to her and yet I could still taste the strained air around them.

I also smelled something peculiar. The smell of blood and fear. It came from the quarters of the head priestess. In my mind I could picture very well what this meant, but knowing meant little for those who were uninvolved.

Deciding to avoid the large statue of Athena, as it was an eyesore, I walked across the outer gardens. There was a large building in the back, but at the time I did not know that it was the Greenhouse. I had never ventured there and saw no reason to. So when I saw the young woman leave through the large door I was rather surprised.

“…” She seemed lost in thought and inevitably ran into me. She bounced off and fell onto her behind. “Ouch… look where you are going!” She hissed.

“Your impertinence is the only impressive thing about you.” I retorted with deep irritation.

“Medusa?” She looked up in surprise, but then hastily switched to frustration. “What are you doing out here? Just go back to your personal cult.”

It was nearly unbelievable to hear such infuriating words from this girl. She had never apologized for her insults, never thanked me for my assistance and now she even gave me orders. I was incredibly close to breaking the temple’s rules again. A bit more blood would not change the ambience much.

“I have to prepare for the summit, so please don’t bother me.” She rose up and patted off her clothes from sand and dust.

“My bothering will be of a magnitude you shan’t recover from.” I said with a face like a cold mask.

“…you are angry.”

“Hahaha.” I laughed dryly at her slow realization.

“You are causing so much conflict and tension in the temple, so I wish you would leave. I don’t care if that makes you angry, we humans have our own issues.”

“Which are?”

“You don’t really care.” She averted her eyes.

“Correct.” I posed disinterestedly and yawned.

“I want to become a full-fledged priestess… no, I want to be the next grand priestess.” She blurted out unprompted. “I have been building up support and tried to keep everyone peaceful, so the summit will be successful. If you have a shred of compassion you should just leave.”

“Compassion is earned, not gifted.” I responded and pushed my finger against her forehead. “You have angered me too many a time. You should not sleep easily from now on.” I threatened with piercing eyes.

“!” She turned pale, only now realizing her predicament. With jittery hands she grabbed the hem of her robes and bit her lower lip. “Y-you won’t get me!” She rushed off.

I clicked my tongue and put a hand through my hair. That push had been entirely unnecessary. Again I could hardly tell why I had done it.

As night fell I could not stop my curiosity. I slipped past the sleeping humans outside my room and snuck into the temple. The steps of a careful, yet anxious person alerted me to their presence. I followed them and reached the servant quarters.

The woman in front of my eyes who had decided to sneak through the darkness was holding a small knife and looked about every few seconds. She was looking mighty desperate. With slow and silent movements she opened a certain door and slipped inside.

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I perked up my ears to listen in. The slow steps of the intruder led her through the small room and ended at the owner’s bedstead. The air was moving in ripples as the woman raised the knife. She was ready to cut off the necklace.

Two heartbeats increased and the swing of the blade was followed by a loud tear in straw and pig’s skin.

“I was prepared for you!” Palla shouted and grabbed her stick. She swung it at the surprised intruder and seemed to hit her hand. The knife was dropped and the woman gasped in pain. “You won’t kill me Medusa-! Huh?” She was taken aback by the face she saw in the pale moonlight.

“You foolish wench!” The head priestess tackled Palla down and blocked the stick hitting her shoulder. Then she started to put her hands around the younger woman’s throat. “I will sever your soul myself!”

“Graagh… gurgll… Whyyy..?” She resisted with all her might as she was choked.

“You were Crene’s favorite, despite being some orphaned slave. DO you –ghhhr- have any idea how many favors I had to earn to get here? And. You. Little. Strumpet. Just gained everyone’s approval by no merit of your own!”

“Guuhh… stop… it.” Palla resisted and scratched the head priestess' face. She managed to draw blood, but the woman was in a rage and adrenaline made her ignore the pain. She now started to tear at the necklace. The shell was creaking under her intense grip.

“This little piece of divine favor should never have been wasted on your dirty neck. I will take it alongside everything you stole!”

“Krrk… grk… plaaah…” Palla’s eyes were turning dull as her mind drifted away from lack of air.

“Hahaha! I don’t even need the shell, your neck is as frail as kitten’s!” She seemed to be intoxicated with her power as she forced her hands to strangle the girl more rather than tearing off the necklace.

“Frrrkk…” Palla was about to die. There was almost no life left in her.

“Hahaha-rrgh?!” The head priestess' laugh got caught in her throat. Or rather her throat was filled with something else that prevented her from breathing. A knife was stuck in her chest and filled the air pipe with blood. Her eyes rolled into the white and she fell to the side.

“Haah… faah… waaah…” Palla was terrified and nauseous from the red on her hand and the twitching body of the woman. “W-what should I do? Oh no no no…”

“And here I thought I would have to step in.” A man stepped out of the shadow of the door and watched the bloody scene with a smile.

“Aegidius?” Palla had one eye closed and rubbed her reddened throat. Her vision was blurry in the pale moonlight.

“I happened to be taking a short walk for the sake of digestion. When I heard your struggle I was on my way to save you.” He had one hand on a carved bone dagger. “You handled yourself marvelously.”

“No, I didn’t- this isn’t my- what am I supposed to do?!” She panicked.

“I have an idea, but you would have to keep quiet about what happened tonight.” He said with one finger on his lips.

Some time later Aegidius left through the window with a sack on his back. Even from my position I could smell the irony blood soaking it. When he spied me leaning against a pillar he seemed to hesitate just a moment. Then he turned my way and approached me.

“Lady Medusa.”

“You seem comfortable with that corpse soaking your back in fluids.”

“Well, death is not rosy. Do you have any objections to my actions?”

“I care not.”

“Thank you. I will be disposing of the body in a beneficial fashion then.” He said with an innocent tone.

What benefit could he have been talking about? I already had my guesses, but I was too repulsed by the depth of human degeneracy. Even the corpses of their kind were a tool. Killing out of envy, jealousy, power hungriness and other such flawed concepts. These base desires were perhaps what tied them to the Olympian gods the most.

I was not going to lower myself to their level.

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“She killed the highest authority…” Eugenia leaned her head against Medusa’s shoulder. She had left the Gorgon’s lap to listen more comfortably. “You didn’t even try to stop them?”

“Of course not.” Medusa showed no regret for that decision.

“That is cold.”

“You may feel a need to help every person that comes your way, but there are things you cannot get involved with.”

“Is that why you never wanted my help with Athena? Because there are things that nobody should get involved with?” She asked sadly.

“You finally figured it out.”

“I don’t believe that.”

Medusa sighed. She was all too aware of the girl’s overly curious and intrusive nature. The only reason she was telling this story was because of that nature after all.

“What did this Aegidius do with the b-body?” She swallowed at the grisly description from before.

“He put it down in the eastern camp. Smuggled it directly into Apolonio’s tent.”

“What?!”

“That man was nothing if not daring.”

“B-but then what happened to them?”

“The next morning there was a clamor like none before. The body was found and Apolonio naturally pleaded innocent, but the blood was on him. The head priestess’ accomplices most likely knew better, but they could not reveal themselves by pointing fingers at Palla.”

“Aegidius really did save her then.” She exhaled.

“I doubt he cared much for her. His goal was more devious. Apolonio did not accept his punishment and instead fled the island with his followers. On the retreat they fought with Aegidius men and left countless more corpses behind.” Medusa made a hand motion to show the mountain of piled up bodies.

“Such senseless bloodshed.” The former priestess heart was too compassionate. She was grieving for men that had died centuries ago.

“Despite these stark circumstances, the summit did happen as planned…”

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The results were shocking. The unexpected death of the former head priestess had left a power vacuum and the spirits were low all around. In this uncertainty, Palla was still showing her determination. Against all their dark miens, she alone stayed positive and pushed for a vote.

And thus, with a landslide victory, Palla was declared the new grand priestess of Athena.

She was too young for the position, so she had plenty of advisors, but the result was shocking nonetheless. The young woman had been prepared and showed a great deal of motivation, so things were indeed looking up soon.

I personally had no objection to this vote. Not that I was asked.

As long as I could enjoy my freedom I rarely cared for the details. Which led to the question whether Palla’s animosity would cause issues for my stay. She was surprisingly held back and said little to nothing in that regard. I suspected that Aegidius had used his support on that certain night as leverage against her. Not that I had any proof.

Things got ugly when I received poisoned wine. It killed several of the humans praying to me and gave me a light tingle on my tongue. The origin of the bad wine was traced back to a delivery from an unknown sender on one of the provision ships.

“Must have been Apolonio’s revenge.” Aegidius guessed.

That would have been fine as far as I was concerned, but unfortunately it was not the last poison attack. It was harder to tell which food to trust and while it did hardly affect me, it made the humans so unbearably paranoid that they started to become tiresome.

I could tell by smell which food was poisoned so I one day pointed it out and they made dozens of offerings to me to beg for more wisdom. It wasn’t much trouble and certainly made staying here easier.

As I pointed at a load of apples I wondered what exactly my purpose here was. I had been staying on Sarpedon for far longer than intended and it seemed there was little merit in it.

“The apples?! That is not good-!”

Should I really have been interested in being prayed to by humans? Would that not make me just as vain as the Olympians and their ilk?

“Did you bring the apples to the grand priestess? Quickly, tell me!”

Their offerings were pleasant enough. Unlike Athena, I had little issue with meat and valuables, so there was hardly a conflict due to overlap.

“Lady Medusa!”

“Hm?” I was torn from my contemplations.

“Grand Priestess Palla has eaten from the apples.” The servants were panicking.

“I see.”

“W-wait, why are you leaving?” They tried to stop me.

“If she wishes to be saved again she should beg her goddess.” I said curtly and pushed past them.

“We beg you, please don’t forsake her!” Now even the priestesses were running to my side to aggravate me with their pleading.

“We prayed to Lady Athena, but she will only listen to the Grand Priestess.”

“Then the solution is clear.” I waved them off.

“The Grand Priestess refuses to impose on our mistress again…” They lowered their faces into their hands pitifully.

“Hah? She would not beg for her miserable life and rather accept death?” I turned back and mustered their grieve-stricken faces. They were truthful. “Then bring me to her.”

“Thank you so much!”

My intent was not to save the grand priestess, I only wanted to know the details and hear it from her own blue lips.

As I entered her room and saw her lying under the woolen blanket, her body cramped up and her face blue, I knew she was in a fatal state. She barely seemed to recognize me at first, until I forced her to look my way with one hand on her chin.

“Thanatos must be tired of inching ever closer at a snail’s pace for you. How many times will you teeter on the edge?”

“Me…dusa?” She coughed and lost all blood from her face again.

“Why do you refuse to call for Athena?”

“She saved my life already… I … can’t impose my weakness on her again.” She said as cold sweat covered her entire body.

“Should I end you quickly then?” I whispered as I playfully tugged on her necklace.

“Don’t you… dare.” She forced a glare.

“Very well.” I let go and she fell back into the sheets.

“I am glad… that I… could die… after fulfilling my… dream.” She muttered.

“Is that something to be satisfied with? Merely obtaining the title and not accomplishing anything with it?” I wondered as I cleaned my fingernails next to her.

“…I wanted to do more.” She admitted.

“Then call upon your goddess and keep living.”

“Lady Athena… is not…” She closed her eyes and flinched.

“…” She had not much time left. I could feel her pulse slowing down. Her heartbeat was somewhat erratic.

“Medusa. Listen to my final words, alright? Even if I may be losing my mind.” She spoke softly. A young woman like her should not be forcing such a wise expression, not even on her deathbed.

“Speak.”

“I am sorry… and thank you.” She closed her eyes.

What? That was all? At the final moment she would give me some weak apology and think that would clear her conscience? The very idea was revolting to me. She had taken the easy path for everything and now she would get her direct trip to Elysium too?

I frowned.

“Cheap words are equal to cheap wine. I will not partake in them.” I picked up her head and pressed my lips unto hers.

“Mmmpphgr?!” She struggled in shock as I sucked on her mouth.

It was not just a normal physical motion, I used my powers to slowly extract the poison from her saliva and bloodstream. The two small holes I had bitten into her veins were causing iron to mix with bitter poison in my mouth.

With a disgusted expression I separated from her and spat out the poison alongside the red life juice.

“…” Palla’s eyes were open now and she looked baffled instead of near death. “You saved me…?”

“It was no pleasure, rest assured.” I would not get this taste out of my mouth for a while.

“I want to take back my final words…” She said with exhausted eyes.

“It would be best if you revised them dearly.” I said haughtily.

Palla rose from her bedstead, although her body was still cramped up and weak it did move. She looked me in the eye and then bowed her head.

“You saved me again and I am incredibly thankful for that.” She blushed slightly (which at least proved her blood circulated again). “I can still keep following my dream.”

“Is that it?” I already regretted tasting poison for her.

“Also… you are a good person.” She said with a wide smile.

Those words were so far out of the spectrum of my expectations that I only stared at her until she showed regret as well.

“If you don’t mind, I need to rest.” She laid back down.

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Medusa stopped her story for a moment as she took note of Eugenia’s muttering.

“So it wasn’t your first kiss…”

“It was no kiss at all.” She replied stoically.

“Then what was it?” She turned her head away, slightly sulking.

“I already told you, pressing lips together only has as much meaning as you assign to it. I have never and will never ‘kiss’ a human.” Medusa said resolutely.

“You played with my feelings.”

Medusa closed her eyes and sighed. The snakes seemed to be wriggling their heads back and forth between them to observe anxiously. They wrapped around Medusa’s head tightly as if to reprimand her.

“I wished to know the extent of your infatuation.” She finally admitted. “By your reactions I could see a picture.”

“…” That didn’t really help make Eugenia feel better.

“I was… anxious as well.” The Gorgon said quietly.

“Huh?”

“Do not make me repeat myself.”

“What do you have to be anxious for?” She asked cluelessly.

“My body….” She held her forehead daintily. “It reacts rather negatively to this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nevermind.” She suppressed the force tearing at her chest and throat and stabilized her breathing.

“Athena and the temple must have been really thankful for your actions.” Eugenia returned the conversation to the past out of consideration.

“At first…”

----------------------------------------

Months passed and things changed quickly. The amount of pilgrims and visitors increased each time the ships came and went. Some left, but many also stayed and the news of my presence on the island seemed to spread around the ports across the sea. There was no sickness that spread faster across human settlements than rumors.

What they had heard from this distant land was the miraculous power of the Gorgon’s Kiss. It was said that the Gorgon’s lips could revive the dead, return youth and end all sickness. None of the priestesses had been present and the hushed talk behind doors had grown out of proportion all by itself.

The poor and rich alike came to me for the sake of getting blessed. When before they had only come due to my beauty and divine disposition, they now asked of me to be gifted with my miracles.

It was not madness that compelled them, but desperation. In this world where humans could barely scrape by the skin of their teeth, anyone would chase a dream so convenient.

Less of them came to pray to the goddess whose temple they set foot upon and instead directed their prayers to me. I denied any and all of them my assistance, but the results were unfavorable. Foolishness overcame common sense and so I was worshipped for deeds I did not commit.

I knew that someone was fanning the flames and creating new stories of miraculous healings and the like, but it was impossible for me to tell all these humans apart.

All of this would have been reason enough for me to leave the island behind, but it seemed that no matter where I went, the stories were spreading faster. My choice was to either seclude myself in the way of my ancestors or to accept that humans would view me in this manner. As long as I walked upon human lands this would be the outcome. That or a strong and brutal rejection from other faithful followers that despised me for my very existence.

In all of this commotion there was also someone who supported me. Palla had changed considerably after my intervention. Her hardheaded dismissal had softened and she had become more appreciative of my presence. That may have been the reason that despite this bloated cult forming right next to the temple of Athena, I was not cast out. Surely the previous grand priestesses would have been stricter.

“They are singing their love songs again.” Palla looked out the window and watched the poets strum their lyres and clear their throats.

“Let them waste their breath.” I was lying on the wooden couch and turned my ears away from the awry tones coming into the room.

“Do you really think you can ignore them forever?” Palla leaned against the rim of the window and looked at me with exasperation.

“Singers get sore throats.”

“You know I am not talking about the poets.”

“Pah.” I clicked my tongue and spun my hair around one finger.

“It’s nice that they can see your good aspects, but if you don’t say anything they will just get out of control.” She pointed her finger at me.

“They are none of my concern.”

“You keep saying such childish things. Even if humans are beneath you like rodents, eventually they will pile up to reach your eyes.” The grand priestess was so young, yet her words already sounded experienced.

“They are still only rodents. I will topple their pile.”

Palla put a hand on her head and sighed.

“You know they brought a lion here? A living lion? It is in a cage, but that beast is terrifying. It has mauled several people trying to feed it already. I can’t imagine how they managed to contain it on the ship.”

“I have seen it.” I replied with a hint of amusement. The lion’s cage was placed on a tall hill and seemed to be an attraction for visitors now.

“The poor thing was driven mad already. Do you not care at all?”

“Hmph. He would have been a captive no matter where he was taken. Lions do not live long when left alone. He will not last more than a year.”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?” She squinted her eyes and looked over her shoulder. The cage could hardly be seen from here.

We stayed silent for a while and let the terrible melodies and lyrics wash over the temple’s façade.

“Did that man return yet?” I spoke up to drown out the ear wrenching songs.

“Aegidius? He hasn’t. Why do you ask?”

“I do not trust that one.”

“…” Palla looked troubled now and scratched her throat. There were still faint dark marks on it. The shell shook on the old string. “He is a good man.”

“Have you convinced yourself of that already?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“I understand far more than you know. I may feel no love for anyone, but I can tell when a maiden is struck by this sickness.” I gave her a disappointed look when she blushed. “Aphrodite would like such a tale. A grand priestess who renounces her vow of celibacy for a dashing lord.”

“You are unbelievable…”

“Look upon your faults, before discussing mine.” That was my stance on the entire situation.

“Suit yourself!” She scowled and left me to myself and the bad music.

Perhaps I should have listened to her advice, but I was far above taking any human seriously.

The love humans insisted on was selfish and one-sided. Men wished to marry me, but they could not give me anything of worth in return. It would not be long before even kings would arrive to take me as their bride. Such escalation had not seemed outrageous anymore. Others would ask me to heal them and save their children, begging for my love, but they would never understand that they only took what they needed and then threw the rest away.

The love that the followers of Athena had for their goddess had been twisted over time. What had once been an amicable and accepting cult had now become defensive and riddled with claws. Many questioned Palla’s authority and decisions.

It all came to a tragic head on the day that these foolish humans decided to erect a statue in my name. Such a statue, the size of a plum tree, would not belong next to the temple of another deity. It was an insult, no better than spitting into Athena’s face.

I could have stopped them. It was easy enough, all it had required was for me to declare such idols an affront to my eyes, for none could replicate my beauty. Any such self-serving excuse would have been enough. There was no chance of me admitting that I did not wish to oppose Athena, as it would have shown that I could fear the Olympians.

And admittedly, deep down in my soul, the statue gave me some gratification. This was the first and only time I would have reached the same pedestal as those usurpers. My pride… outgrew my better judgement.

All of their selfish love had engulfed me and clouded my mind. No matter how much I rejected their chains, they had tied them tightly around me and made them appear like reigns for a horse. It so happened that horse was a centaur, as I could only lead on myself with them.

The beginning of the cult of Medusa was also its end.

“Watch our gift to you, great Medusa!” The crowd cheered as the cloth was drawn from the statue.

There she stood, the woman that was supposed to be made in my image. Her white stone eyes looked back at me emotionless and cold. The jubilations of humans were numb to my ears as I focused on this construct. It gave me mixed feelings. A hint of joy, a pinch of revolt. White stone was carved to show the path to my future…

Swish.

My head was impaled by an arrow. I looked upon the wooden shaft protruding from the statue and heightened my senses. It had only taken half a moment for the other arrows to follow. I stood there as the rain of death passed me by and struck down my followers around me. Their screams and anguish barely reached me.

“At the port! Six ships!” Some of the armed men around me organized a defensive line and led the women and children away. They raised their shields to block another salve of arrows.

“T-there, look at the sails!”

“The Cretan bull?!”

“Apolonio has returned.”

I could see the vengeful man’s face across the distance as if he stood right before me. He seemed to stare back, even if he could not see my face from afar.

“Bring me Aegidius!!” He shouted to the islanders.

“He is not here!” The cultists replied.

“BRING HIM TO ME!” He repeated and ordered his soldiers to fire another salve of arrows.

“Have you lost your mind?” That is when Palla and her priestesses stepped out and faced the madman. “This is hallowed ground! You shall not bring war to this place.” She rammed her staff into the steps and glared him down.

“Bring me Aegidius. Hand out all the followers of that snake so we may slaughter them and pardon me from all crimes you have accused me of, priestess. Only then will I spare this temple.”

“I know that you are in conflict with Aegidius house, but this is neutral ground-“

“I will not repeat myself!” He swung his sword and cut the air menacingly.

“If you incite Lady Athena and the Gorgon’s wrath you will not make it out alive.” She replied sternly.

“The Gorgon pisses on Athena’s grace! That creature has already corrupted too many. If you love your goddess you will burn out this plague where it began. Let fire consume it all.” He raised his fist and several soldiers ignited arrow tips with torches.

“Stop it-!” Palla raised her staff, but was pushed aside by a swarm of people.

“Please spare us great Apolonio!” Several women clad in rags groveled before the man on the sandy ground.

“We don’t follow the false goddess.” Men in armor stepped towards the boat and dropped their weapons.

“She could not even protect her own statue, how could she be divine?” Frantic poets rubbed their sweaty palms together and badmouthed me.

“K-kill them all! We are true believers of Athena!” Other people from the tents rallied the Cretan soldiers on. Those who had been glaring at the cult for a while were now feeling empowered by this show of force.

“We will capture Aegidius for you, just destroy all of those heathens!”

Between those who wished to purge and those who surrendered, there was nothing left but imminent destruction. The priestesses seemed to pick a side that would prevent their demise and urged Palla to allow Apolonio free reign upon Sarpedon.

“First bring me the Gorgon and then I will decide your future.” The haughty master of the fleet stretched forward his sword and pointed it at me.

I had not moved a step since the arrow had hit the idol in front of me. I had not spoken a word, not responded to any questions or commands.

The humans surrounded me.

“Please, Lady Medusa… do something about them or we will all die!”

“Stop talking to that thing and help us subdue it.” Several men were taking up ropes and chains to tie me up. Apolonio’s men were already on their way with brandished swords.

“Why are you doing nothing? You really are not a goddess at all!”

“I came here for the sake of my son, but he has never been blessed…”

“Lady Athena’s wrath will destroy you!”

“You think you can play goddess just because you have beauty?!”

Their shouts and taunting did not reach me. I only looked upon the statue. That arrow between ‘my’ eyes was penetrating my soul. The dark feelings inside began to swell and my tolerance faded away.

They insulted me. Attacked me. Reviled me.

This arrow was a direct attack to my pride.

With hatred in my eyes I finally turned around and took my first steps. The men who tried to chain me up retreated in panic. In the end all humans were cowards who would just follow the strong. Then I would show them strength.

The sky had become cloudy and it began to rain. The crowds parted before me and began to shiver in fear as the black clouds seemed to swirl above my head. The ocean became restless and waves began to clash against the beach and cliffs.

“S-stop right there!” The soldiers in front of me held up their spears in fear.

I did not stop. I walked through their spears which parted just in time to make room. My glare must have made their arms go weak as they collapsed in terror behind me.

“You morons, shoot her already!” Apolonio shouted at his archers. They released their arrows and the rain hit people across the island indiscriminately. Only I was untouched, as I walked in the only safe path between the sharp projectiles.

My hair began to shake in the strong storm wind and I raised my hand.

“Another salve-WAAH!” The ships were shaking. The waters they had anchored in were not welcoming them anymore. Bigger and harder waves would crash into them over and over and shook the penteconters with nature’s wrath. Many soldiers fell into the raging sea and were swallowed in whirlpools. Even those that could swim would never survive.

“R-retreat! Draw the sails!”

“But the storm will tear them off?!”

“We need to get to land NOW!” The sailors were trying to get away from the storm and sailed to Sarpedon.

They may as well have tried to climb a mountain by rowing, as the ships were tilted and then turned upside down by gigantic waves and pushed around like pebbles. Thunder was stomping in the skies like the Minotaur.

The only ship left intact was Apolonio’s who had docked at the pier before the storm began.

“You! False goddess…” He stood before me with fear in his eyes, but hatred in his heart. The sword was not faltering. “MEN, slaughter every last one of her followers! Destroy this place.”

His commands reached the frightened Cretans who then followed the orders. Their loyalty in faith of a wrathful goddess was astounding.

Apolonio swung his sword against me, but I grabbed it in the air. The blade cut into my hand, but I stopped it through sheer anger. No matter how much he pulled back, I did not let go. The pain was numb enough not to bother me.

“Human.” I growled and tore the sword out of his hands. He pulled up a dagger, but I kicked it away.

“How can a being so beautiful have such horrendous strength?” The poets were all cowering on the ground, but they were still mesmerized by the legend before them.

“The wrath of the gods… simply sublime.”

I had meanwhile taken a hold of the foolish man’s throat and held him up. His feet were floating above the ground.

“You have angered a goddess. You must have been prepared for the consequences.” My words were accompanied by the cracking of bones as I broke his jaw.

“Graa…. aaahh! Naaahrr!” He shrieked as his body convulsed and began to dry up. It was like the moisture was escaping his every pore. At first it just looked like the rain washed over him, but instead it was the water from his very body that fled. My grip was siphoning it all out of him until his skin was wrinkly and torn. His terrified eyes were drying up as well.

All around me I heard screams of terror and disgust.

“Suffer to the last moment of your pathetic life.” I let go and let the shrunken husk of a man collapse onto the wet deck of the ship. He gasped for the heavenly drops of water that showered him, but they did not enter his mouth. They did not wet his dry hair or touch his parchment like skin. He was rejected by all liquids as he slowly died of thirst.

The carnage behind me did not even come to mind. Those humans who were killing each other were all traitors or enemies. The crew of the ship had dropped their weapons and just fallen to their knees in prayer.

“Medusa.” Palla called out to me with fear in her voice.

I turned back and glared at her with deep and unsettling eyes.

“She is coming.” The grand priestess said quietly and closed her eyes.

At the same time the dark clouds above parted and created a ray of light. It hit the Gorgon statue and in the next moment it exploded to tiny pieces and dust. Stepping out from the cloud of stone dust was the goddess of wisdom and war.

Athena had arrived.

Her silvery eyes saw all of the island at once, the bloodshed, the fearful men fighting for their lives and the raging storm that had sunken all the ships.

And me.

Our eyes met and we both stood before each other in a moment. The fighting stopped and the noises died down, only leaving silence between us.

“Gorgon, this chaos is your doing?” She asked a question that she knew the answer to.

“Humans have caused this.”

“Then you will reject all blame?”

“I will.”

Athena did not move a muscle in her eternally divine face. Her spear was resting in her hand and she seemed to see right through my eyes and into my mind.

“I have welcomed you here for your noble deed, I have tolerated you here for your service to my grand priestess and I have allowed you to exist for your intelligent mind.” The helmet reflected the blinding sunlight from the gap in the clouds and made all the humans around us shield their eyes.

I stared right into Athena’s face without flinching once. Her words confirmed what I had already predicted. She had been watching these events closely and was waiting for an opportunity to judge me.

“If you have no business with my temple, I ask you to leave.” Those cold words were all she uttered. She did not need to say anything more. I knew what she had truly meant to say.

‘Leave and never return.’

Without a response I turned away and walked into the ocean, leaving everything behind.

The last thing I saw before sinking into the dark waters was the sympathetic look of a certain priestess.

----------------------------------------

“I left Sarpedon behind with the intention to never return. That woman made clear that she would not tolerate me anymore.”

“That is how you came to hate each other…” Eugenia folded her hands and looked disheartened.

“I had never respected the gods. Athena had not come to hate me over this minor incident either.” Medusa spoke without bias.

“How could you say it was minor?” She couldn’t believe it.

“That woman needed me gone, because I undermined her authority. I knew the effects that the cult would have, but I did not care.”

“Y-you couldn’t have known that it would end up this way. It wasn’t your or Athena’s fault. It was the fault of those cruel people that used you.” Eugenia showed a rare moment of anger.

“I was little more than a symbol for them to fight around, that is true. There is no denying that I knew this from the beginning. I was not blind. I was not foolish enough to be surprised by it.” Her beautiful legs turned back into a long snake half and she wrapped it around a large rock protruding from the cliff. Her tail clenched it so hard that it broke off and fell into the waters with a loud splash.

“But you were still hurt.” Eugenia laid her hand on the Gorgon’s and felt her tense up.

“Listen closely and do not let your feelings get in the way.” Medusa was calm. Too calm. “I have told you all of this for a reason.”

“I will listen to all of it, but no matter what you say…” She did not finish and just held Medusa’s hand. It seemed she was bracing herself for the final part of the tale. Medusa had still not been cursed.

She had decided that Eugenia was worth the truth. Yet she felt hesitation. Medusa knew that she could not stay passive, not again. She had to believe that Eugenia’s heart had grown strong thanks to her journey and trials.

“Then let me tell you why I truly despise Athena.”

The Gorgon’s tale was reaching its conclusion and the blind woman held on to her lips in a wish to understand the truth.