The waves crashing against the beach of Seriphos were slow and tender. The tides could be quite unpredictable at times, but the moon guided them through each step like a parent behind their child. Many of these cycles repeated themselves until finally six months had passed.
Six months without the return of the expedition or any news of their exploits.
Atop the trees of the small forest the birds were making their nests. Their low chirping was interrupted by the occasional rustling of boars rushing through the thicket. They had lived here for longer than the humans and nobody knew how they had come here. Did they swim all the way to this island?
Among the clacking of hooves was another strained sound… the creaking of wood pushed to it limits. The string’s tension as it was drawn rippled through the hunter’s hands. With a calm posture he sat between the bushes and kept the arrow tip aimed at the black boar’s piggy eyes. The animal was completely unaware of the mortal danger it was in. To this overgrown pig the hunter was an unmoving piece of the forest.
The fingers opened ever so slightly, ready to let go of the strained string. It moved forward bit by bit until it would pass the point of no return and dash forth with enormous force.
He was holding his breath. The kill was almost assured. He counted inside his head. Three, two… one!
“Perseus!”
Swish
The arrow missed the boar by a hand’s length and penetrated a nearby tree. The boar and its brethren squeaked and rushed off into the deepest parts of the forest. The archer sighed with a disgruntled expression.
“Perseuuus, where are you?” The intruder kept shouting his name with increasing panic.
“Right here Ajax.” He raised his arm to forcibly stop his friend from walking past him.
“Wah!!” He went pale as if he had just seen a ghost and would surely have tripped over his own feet if he had not been held up by Perseus’ muscular arm. “Y-you scared me.”
“Now you know how the boar felt.” He muttered under his breath and then grabbed his friend’s lower arm for a greeting. “You didn’t come here to help me on my hunt?”
“Sorry. Dyctis was calling for you, but he couldn’t find you anywhere!”
“I didn’t tell anyone that I was out hunting. My mistake.” He put the bow on his back and got ready to leave the forest.
“Did you catch anything?”
“A scared hare.” Perseus replied deadpan.
“Amazing, I never managed to hunt anything except berries.” Ajax was giving him one of those admiring stares again.
“Picked. You pick berries.” He corrected him with the hint of a smile.
They made their way back to the town on the shortest route, which was straight through the least tread muddy paths. The sun was shining as oppressively as ever and almost blinded them when they left the shade of the trees. As they walked side by side Ajax seemed to be nervously moving his eyes about, occasionally looking at his friend and then hastily averting his gaze.
“Come now Ajax, you can speak your mind around me.” He amicably grabbed his friend’s shoulder and stopped their brisk walk.
“It is just… please don’t misunderstand, but I feel like you are avoiding the palace.”
“What makes you think so?” Perseus didn’t give any reaction.
“Fath- Zeretos says he sees you go hunting and fishing every day when he makes his rounds around the lookout.”
“So I was seen.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Your coming of age ceremony is tomorrow! Aren’t you looking forward to it at all?” He seemed worried now.
“I shan’t celebrate becoming that man’s vassal.” He said defiantly.
“Please Perseus, don’t get into trouble with the king.”
“You misunderstand my dear friend.” He started walking again and showed him his back. “This is all part of turning our situation around.”
Ajax just watched his friend move towards the town walls with an unsure look on his face.
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“What is going through your mind this time? The ceremony is right around the corner and you go off to play Artemis in the forest?” Dyctis’ inevitable lecture had come even quicker than expected. The fisherman and king’s younger brother was acting as Perseus master and felt a deep responsibility for his pupil.
Which also included chiding him for his unruly behavior.
“Master, I only wished to hone my skills.”
“Your skills are already excessively proven boy. There is not a single man in the Aegean and beyond that could match you in combat. What will a few more boar hides prove?” Dyctis sighed and handed a wooden mug with clear water to his student.
“…” He had no answer for that and simply downed the entire contents in one swig.
“I can tell that you are thinking about something strange again. Can you not simply be happy for the honor that is to be bestowed upon you tomorrow?”
“An honor…” He looked at the bottom of his empty mug with a disgruntled expression.
“Perseus look at me.” He raised his head with both hands and stared him down. “Becoming a vassal to your king is a great opportunity. If you stay patient and do your work well you may advance to become someone that all of Seriphos can look up to. Your mother will be as proud as Zeus was with Heracles.” He let go and smiled. “And so will I.”
“Thank you, master.” He truly appreciated those words.
“If everything goes smoothly, we may be able to go out fishing together afterwards. How does that sound?” Dyctis added.
“Whenever I go to sea with you we get dragged into one of Poseidon’s wrathful fits.” Perseus replied unenthused.
“Are you saying I am cursed?” He frowned.
“We managed to survive thus far, so perhaps it is only a mild one.” Now even Perseus managed to smirk.
“I only rarely ride into storms. It just happens that it occurs most frequently when you are with me.”
“So it is my fault?” He snorted.
“Danae says the gods are on your side, so I will try to remember that next time we almost capsize.”
They were having such leisurely talks in the training quarters. It had been a while since they had both been in here. Dyctis was a fisherman first and foremost, but as the king’s brother he often took over duties that were more appropriate to his standing. Recently he had prepared for another set of festivities with guests from afar. Only half a year had passed since the last one and yet Polydectes was already salivating for more.
With Perseus’ coming of age ceremony around the corner things would get quite busy for both of them. This jovial spirit that they shared was a mask before the worries that plagued the islanders.
“Have you decided on your offering yet?” Dyctis asked as he polished the tip of his spear.
“Hrm… I am not sure.”
“You are cutting it awfully close. You know that the king expects an offering from each of his new vassals. With your hunting skills you must be thinking of giving him a trophy.”
“I fear there is nothing on this island that could impress him.” Perseus said with a gloomy expression.
“Did you really set out to impress my brother? A normal gift will be more than enough.” He seemed surprised by Perseus ambitiousness.
“I can’t allow my offering to be outdone by any other.”
“Is that so?” The master viewed his student with a contemplative expression, but then simply shrugged and returned his attention to his gear.
“I wish to be acknowledged by the king.”
“Not out of respect for him I surmise.”
“No.” Perseus confirmed.
“My brother has been living a life of turmoil Perseus. I know that he has not treated you like one of our own, but he knows what is best for Seriphos.”
“And what is that?” he squinted his eyes.
“To keep people working together and not cause trouble.” Dyctis said firmly and hit his student with the handle of a short sword. “Now put that overflowing energy to some use. I want to see your progress with a blade.” He let go of the sword he had grabbed by the flat side of the blade and then pulled a spear from the wall.
“Our range isn’t equal.” Perseus commented as he caught the sword and held it close to his body.
“If you have time to complain about how unfair your opponent is…” Dyctis spun the spear with his wrist and then drew a quick arc across the room to make distance between them.
“…I have time to overcome that difference.” Perseus completed the lesson and then got ready to fight.
They clashed heavily and relentlessly for over an hour. Dyctis fought with discipline and stamina that rivaled most Spartans, while Perseus was giving it his best to stay defensive until he could find an opening. Both knew well that the young man had the strength to overcome his master at any time, but by the measure of pure skill, he could not break such an advantageous defense.
Sweat poured down their chiseled bodies as they kept clashing inside the training room and the rays of the lowering sun made them truly glisten. This excess of energy and violent strength cleared Perseus mind. He felt truly alive when he was engaged in battle and lost all worry to the next strike he deflected and the next strike he performed.
At the end of their training he finally shattered the spear in two and left his master at the mercy of his sword. The broken wood was covered in countless gashes and it was a miracle that the weapon had withstood the strain for even this long. Even though he had held back his strength in favor of swift slashes, it still turned out this way.
“It seems… haaah… that as far as dueling is concerned… phew… I may have nothing left to teach you.” Dyctis admitted as he dropped the spear halves on the ground and wiped sweat from his eyes.
“You did not try for my life.”
“Do not decide that on your own. I was aiming for your vulnerable spots all along.” He revealed.
“…I see.” He truly had not realized it. He thought Dyctis was still just measuring him.
“You underestimate your own skill. Or perhaps you are putting me on a pedestal? You should be aware that some of the men you defeated before were far more skilled than I.” The fisherman had never praised Perseus to this degree before. There was that pride laden smile again. “Tomorrow you will become a defender of Seriphos. The guard will be all the better for it.”
“Will they take me in?” He wondered as he put the sword down on a bale of hay.
“They’d be foolish not to.”
“If I were to impress the king and join the guard, could I become someone that has power over my own actions?” He asked with a glint in his eyes.
“Independence is a right only given to those who prove themselves.” His eyes softened. “Give it time.”
“I… don’t have time.” Perseus shook his head.
“Why not?”
“Master, are you ignoring the king’s actions because he is your brother?” He suddenly cut deeply.
“What is this about? Ignoring his actions?” He didn’t seem pleased of the accusation.
“Master Dyctis.” The young man looked his mentor directly in the eye. “You like my mother, do you not?”
“She is a dear friend.” He replied truthfully.
“Mother holds you dear as well. I can see it in her smile when you two talk. You are the only one she confides in.”
Dyctis looked troubled and averted his gaze. That send a sting through the boy’s eye, straight to his mind.
“The king is extending his arms around mother. He is becoming bolder every day. She cannot deny him because of our debt. Are you saying you did not notic-“
“Quiet boy. There are things you may not say inside the palace. Those words are dangerously close to defamation.” He cut him off harshly.
But this only served to enrage Perseus more. Now he felt the heat run through his veins and his eyes became filled with pain.
“You are all we had. I am thankful for your guiding hand, for the kindness you showed us.” He put a hand to his chest and gave him a barely suppressed frown. “But if you are not going to protect mother, then I will do it in your stead.”
With that declaration he brushed past Dyctis and left the training room, only stopping briefly to pick up his clothes.
The fisherman was left behind with a subtle expression of regret.
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The next day the ceremony was scheduled for the zenith of the sun. Perseus rose early from his bedstead and took in the fresh morning breeze at the window. Today he would make good on his promise to the scholar from Athens.
He grabbed his leather garments that he had sewed from animal hides he got from his hunts and then made his way through the halls. The palace was positively abuzz with the coming festivities pushing servants to action. The quarters that Perseus and Danae slept in were rather quiet however. To be nearly empty at dawn… there really was no time to spare for anyone.
His feet took him to the storage room outside the palace where he had hid his most precious trump card that would define the future. He moved the huge wooden bar that blocked the door with his immense strength and then hurriedly slipped inside. The place was filled with stale air as there were no windows or gaps for air to circulate. A large chest was buried among dozens of trophies that had been seemingly carelessly piled up without care.
This was just a distraction of course. He pushed boar tusks and fish scales aside to uncover the chest. He pulled the lid open and looked inside. Even in the weak light from the gap in the door he could see the ashen glow clearly. His hands touched the soft fur and carefully raised it out of the chest.
A boar hide unlike any other was spread in the air. It was of a divine white and the size of a lion. This beast had roamed an island to the south that he had accidentally discovered during one of his fishing trips. It was said that white hides were a sign of a godly blessing and beasts that wore this divine skin would either bring a great boon or catastrophe upon the lands.
This boar in particular was vicious and mighty. Perseus had taken an entire day to wrestle it down and finally break its enormous neck. Despite the magnitude of this feat he had not shared this knowledge with anyone. This hide would gain him the acknowledgement he needed from the king.
“It must.” He reassured himself and put it back into the chest. The king was a man who loved nothing more than a heroic tale and exorbitant gifts. He was a vain man that could not deny a favor when faced with such a unique and desirable trophy. Anything that could impress his many guests during a festivity would be infinitely tantalizing to him.
With his mind elsewhere Perseus closed up the shed and threw the wooden beam back down and wiped his dirty hands on some rag.
“What are you going here brat?”
Perseus muscles tensed up as he heard the familiar and displeased voice call from behind him. He took care not to turn around immediately and instead pretended to be inspecting some cargo that was badly tied up on a pile.
“I am talkin’ to you, you worthless scumbag.” The guard was now right behind him and glared down his neck.
“Just inspecting the storage. The king has many important guests who are in need of proper accommodation.” He said dryly and turned around to be eye to eye with the disheveled guardsman.
“This ain’t any of your business, aye? Does you think ya can just gain the king’s favor by actin’ like a quartermaster?” He reeked of cheap wine and sleepless nights. Seeing his every mole and scar from close-up was no joy either.
“That was not my intention.” He replied courtly and moved past the man. He was all too familiar with this man and his companion. They had the duty to guard the gate and had always hated Perseus. They were the main reason why joining the king’s guard would be a troublesome. After his outburst during the night of the last festivities he had tried his hardest not to antagonize them again, but they were not the type to ever forget or forgive.
“Parasite.” The guard spat on the ground and watched him leave with a piercing glare.
It was just a word, so Perseus tried not to let it bother him. If he had not been so focused on the upcoming most pivotal moment of his life he might have questioned why the guard was taking this unusual patrol route…
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The shouting and singing from the main hall were as loud as ever when Perseus entered. All around him were foreigners and servants walking from and through the throne room, taking food from the tables and laughing in merriment. This sight had become so common that it lost all its luster on the young man. This excess and debauchery were perhaps a delight to a follower of Dionysus, but to a warrior it seemed like no more than an excuse to get drunk.
The king was surrounded by men who were sucking up to him relentlessly and gave offerings to him by the wagonload. He was telling them stories of other guests that had come by and loved to boast about what kind of aristocrats and heroes had walked his halls. To Perseus relief he did not see his mother anywhere near that center of trouble.
“There you are!” Ajax came running over after spotting him from the lower class tables outside the open hall. He was dressed in a chiton for once, which seemed rather out of place. His somewhat boyish appearance was well suited for this get-up, but he had dirt all over his nose and hands like usual. He must have worked until just a short while ago.
“Ajax, you should clean yourself up before wearing white.” He smiled ever so slightly and handed him a wet rag that a servant was carrying past them.
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“R-right, sorry.” He began to wipe and then immediately changed his mind. “T-this isn`t about me, it’s y-your big day! Congratulations on becoming a man!” His friend was truly overjoyed and raised his fist in joy.
The coming of age ceremony. The day on which he was born. The day on which he was finally accepted as an adult who would serve his king. Until Ajax overjoyed congratulations he had barely even registered it.
“Thank you. I look forward to your ceremony next year.” He replied slightly flustered.
“Zeretos and grandfather won’t throw a feast for me. Nothing w-will really change after all.” He laughed awkwardly and rubbed his dirty nose.
“Don’t say that. Your duty is important as we-“ He was about to reassure his friend when he spotted someone over his shoulder.
She had carried some fine wine to the crowd and then walked leisurely across the hall. Her flowing festive garments were something to behold. All men around her were stopping their idle conversation to follow her with their eyes. Danae always drew the crowd’s attention with her youthful beauty.
“Mother.” Perseus called out to her and she immediately beamed a smile at him.
“You look so presentable today my son.” She grabbed his cheeks and pressed her forehead against his. “You really are your father’s son.” She said almost involuntarily.
“…” Perseus stayed silent and let her fawn over him like any mother would. The mention of his father was rare and brought him no joy. Danae avoided this topic however she could, but moments like these made her forget her caution. It was the pride of a mother that could not be contained.
“And you really need to clean up your face Ajax.” She added after finally letting go of her pride and joy. She grabbed the rag from the boy’s hand and wiped his face.
“I-I can d-do it myself Lady Danae!” He hastily tried to wind out of her attack.
“Mother, have you seen Dyctis?” Perseus asked quietly.
“He should be with the king I believe. He said that he was looking forward to your audience.” She explained and finally managed to clean the dirty nose with force.
He looked towards the king and his men. It was hard to make out anyone below the throne. Was Dyctis really there?
“Perseus.” Her soft voice pulled him back to where they stood. “If you had an argument you simply need to apologize.”
“Who said-“ He wished to refute her, but her eyes were too perceptive.
“I raised you to be an honest man. You know that to accept one’s faults is the greatest show of courage.”
“Yes mother.” He lowered his head in shame.
“You are too serious my dear.” She chuckled and pushed a flower into the gap of his belt. “There will be plenty time to furrow brows and groan when you become an old man. For now you must live and laugh.”
“Haha.” He had to chuckle as well when seeing her pretty smile. She always knew how to blow his worries away. To make sure that she could keep smiling this way, he could not allow himself to slip up.
Against all odds he was drawn in by the atmosphere and Ajax awful attempt at singing. Some of the servants and the boy’s friends joined them and made a big spectacle of it all. Perseus momentarily forgot his worries and just clapped his hands in rhythm with everyone else, laughing when a man collapsed after chugging an entire barrel of wine and dancing with some of the servant girls that seemed to be mustering their courage today.
Could happiness like this truly last?
Eventually the sun hit the zenith and the loud festivities died down slightly. Aside from Perseus two other boys had become men today and were already swearing fealty to their king. Their humble offerings did not impress the king, but they were not important enough to even be acknowledged anyway. Dyctis was the one who took their vows and handled the procedure.
Finally it was Perseus turn. He walked through the split crowd and made his way to the throne. Then he fell on one knee and looked up to Polydectes, king of Seriphos. A man with a beard as long as his arm and eyes filled with a mix of sharpness and rejection. As usual sparks seemed to flying between them.
“Perseus, son of Danae and a valued guest of the king has today reached his age of maturity. He has come before him to swear his eternal loyalty to his highness and accept service.” Dyctis spoke solemnly and loudly. The crowd was giving mixed reactions. Somewhere tense and swallowed as they knew of the tension between king and guest, while others seemed fascinated by the young man’s charismatic pose.
“I took you in alongside your mother when you were nearly frozen to death and starving. Danae has been an invaluable guest that has enriched my court with her beauty and elegance.” The king spoke slowly and leaned his face on his fist as he looked down on Perseus. “I expect that you will offer me something of equal value with your service. Useless men have no place on Seriphos.”
“I swear to be a man that keeps his word and honor, my king.”
“Honor? Hmph.” He scoffed.
“And of course I also have prepared an offering that is befitting of your greatness.” He added seriously.
“Oh?” With that alluring bait the king’s deep displeasure was replaced by greedy expectation.
“As a man who shall be your greatest asset and someone worthy of your full trust, I will offer you the trophy of a monstrous beast that you have never possessed before!” He declared loudly and made the audience gasp in excitement.
“Very well, yes, I shall be quite impressed if you can bring forth such an enticing gift.” The king was in an unusually good mood now and seemed to be salivating for this rare morsel.
Just as Perseus had hoped, the king’s desire for fame surpassed his dislike of him. This would guarantee him a position in the king’s court that gave him enough influence to protect his mother!
“I have hidden it away in a safe place. Allow me to produce it for you right away.” He rose to his feet and readied himself to return to the shed. All eyes were on him and the king nodded impatiently.
As Perseus walked past his mother and Ajax who both seemed curious he shot them a smile.
“F-FIRE!” Suddenly a servant came running into the hall and shouted loudly. The guards grabbed him by the neck and dragged him back, but he kept shouting in panic. “The yard is on fire! Someone laid fire to the outer buildings!”
“What is this nonsense?” The king clicked his tongue.
“He’s exaggerating my king.” The guard captain said with a disgusted expression as she kicked the servant down. Some old shed caught fire for some reason. We already put the flames out.”
“Then be gone already. Such minor incidents do not concern us.” Polydectes mood worsened and he waved them away.
Perseus was feeling a cold sweat run down his back. The guard who was dragging the servant away gave him a malicious toothless smile.
He was the man that Perseus had knocked down all those months back. One of the guard duo that he always clashed with. That toothless smile made him feel nauseous all of a sudden.
Without another word he sprinted out the main door and rushed down the hallways.
The guard who had seen him this morning had been in such an odd place. He had not noticed him until he left the shed.
He ran so fast that everything became a blur.
There had been no sight of his toothless partner. Why would they be separated? Why would they wait for him at the shed?
He breathed heavily as his sandals hit the sandy ground of the yard and he breathed in the smoke filled air. The sun was blocked out by dark clouds. There was a stinking ruin of a fallen in shed before him. The wooden construction had made excellent fuel for the greedy flames.
With a jittering hand he tossed aside cracking black wood and squinted his eyes at the stinging smoke. The fire had been put out by servant with water and sand, but they all taken their distance when seeing the desperate young man come their way. Nobody had tempered with the contents of the ruined shed yet, so there was still hope. There had to be hope!
He kicked over the singed remains of pelts and hides and dug through the rubble to get to his chest. The chest was sturdy, so perhaps it had survived the collapse. He was certain that it did-
His eyes widened as he reach the bottom. What he saw broke his spirit.
The chest was open. Before they had laid fire to the shed they had made sure to expose the treasure. The blackened coarse remains of the white hide were curled up like singed papyrus. It barely resembled the beautiful treasure it once was.
Perseus sank to his knees inside the ashes and just stared ahead aimlessly.
Something began swelling inside his chest. Dread. But not just that. Anger, fury and a desire for vengeance. He crushed a bronze buckler next to him and rose to his feet. He would find those guards and put them to justice!
In his fury he burst out of the ruined door and moved straight back to the palace. Of course he was headed back to the throne room were the two would gleefully await his return. He would turn those leering smiles into frowns. The door to the hall was violently thrown aside as he entered, drawing the crowd’s attention again.
What he saw made his anger die down and just leave cold embers.
The guards stood next to the king. Their haughty smiles were worse than before. Polydectes was glaring at his loud entrance and looked down on him as well.
It dawned on him right then. Those guards were not standing there by coincidence. This was a message to him directly. Something that only he could understand. The depth of the shrewdness that the old king’s exuded finally reached Perseus.
“You kept me waiting. Where is the offering your promised?” The king asked dismissively. His tone… he did not truly expect anything, did he?
“You…” Perseus swallowed his despair and kept looking ahead with all his might. “The fire has destroyed it.” He admitted. The crowd chattered loudly and some of the guests even laughed.
“Even the gods would not be able to create such a farfetched tale. You will lie to your king? You will take me for a fool? To promise something so grand and then tell me that a small fire has destroyed it just as you were to hand it to me!” Polydectes raised his hands and looked across the audience who all began to laugh.
“It is no lie.” Perseus replied stiffly.
“Danae, my sweet Danae, your boy is truly a disappointment.” Polydectes called out the woman who had been looked towards him with worry and then waved her over. She hesitantly walked up to the throne. “It is no fault of yours of course. A bad apple will often come from a crooked tree. His father must have been worthless indeed.” He grabbed Danae by her hip and pulled her next to him. “I have decided. I shall grant you a son that is far more worthy of your love!”
The guests began to applaud and shout with some delay and then they truly erupted. The king had just declared that he would take Danae as his wife and let her bear the next king. What joyous news. The woman’s stiff expression did not seem to bother anyone.
Dyctis seemed shocked and speechless. He stood close to his brother and just looked on like he had been struck across the face.
Then all eyes returned to Perseus as he loudly stomped unto the wooden floor. He left a crack inside it. His eyes were covered in the shadows of the pillars. His hand was stretched forward.
“My king.” He spoke with a deep voice. “I apologize for my mistake. There is nothing that I want more than to please you. I have not spoken a single lie today. My offering truly was lost. But as a man, as someone worthy of your trust – I shall give you something else instead. Whatever you desire, I will bring it to you!”
Polydectes let go of Danae and looked down on the young man who so desperately called out to him. He went through his long beard and then a malicious smirk crept up his lips.
“I remember now something that I was told a few moons ago. It is regrettable, truly, but my good friend Typhos of Bisanthe seems to have failed on his expedition. As I told my valued guests, this man was to retrieve a trophy like no other for me. A promise made so lightly that death could stop it is really worth nothing, is it?” He lamented exaggeratedly. “He wished to slay a monster of infamy, the Gorgon itself. Can you believe it? He found this legendary creature and took with him three warships filled to the brim with able warriors. To those distant shores he sailed for the sake of glory. In the end this glory was not his to gain.”
The crowd laughed and agreed loudly.
Perseus eyes became sharp and he knew what would happen next. He took a knee and pushed his fist against the ground.
“Very well boy, if you wish to impress me and make up for your lies and blunders… Slay the legendary Gorgon and bring its head before me!”
“It will be done.” Perseus replied without hesitation.
“Hahaha, he has a legendary mouth on him at least.” Polydectes shouted and his court laughed.
“Until I return, I wish to make one request. As a reward for my services.” Perseus spoke with his head lowered. He could not even look that vile king in the eye.
“Making demands before you have anything to show for yourself? Impudence.”
“My king, I love my mother dearly. To see her wed before I return would greatly sadden me.” He spoke carefully and then gave an intense look at Dyctis. “I only ask that you wait with the ceremony until my return from the quest.”
“What if you fail? Am I to wait until someone picks up your corpse from the cursed isle? Do not make such unreasonable demands-“
“My king.” Dyctis suddenly spoke up and put a hand on the throne. “A vow of this magnitude deserves some compensation. In the name of honor you should grant Perseus a period of time to fulfill his task and return to you.”
“You are a man of integrity brother.” Polydectes looked slightly disgruntled, then sighed deeply. “I shall grant you the same span of time that Typhos had. Four lunar cycles. In four months Danae and I shall be wed!”
The cheers were numb to Perseus ears as he bowed his head before the king and then moved out of the hall.
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The boat was swaying in the waves crushing against the beach. It looked not too sturdy. Just like all the others on this pier it was made for short fishing trips, not for crossing the ocean. There was no telling what would happen if a storm caught this walnut shell in its strong armed grasp.
“Don’t go.” Danae said with tear filled eyes.
“I gave my word.” Perseus replied without looking at her.
“But-“
“Danae, your son is a warrior now. He has chosen his path and to stop now would be the end of his life as well.” Dyctis held her back by the shoulder and she turned his way and hugged him for support.
“Master… no, Dyctis. I ask you to make sure that mother is safe until I return.” He said as he put a sack unto the small boat.
“I give you my word.” He nodded. “It may be a perilous journey, but I know that you are the most capable man in the Aegean.”
He knew that Dyctis truly meant those words, but being a skilled fighter did not make him a monster slayer. Doubts were not allowed to him anymore however.
“Do you even know where to find the Gorgon?” Danae asked and wiped her tears.
“I do not.” He shook his head. “But I know someone who did.” He grabbed the rope tighter and thought back to that fateful night.
“You are headed for Athens then?”
“Yes. That man came from Athens, so he should have left some information behind. I may also ask Athena for wisdom while I am there.” He finished the preparations and put one sandal on the boat.
“My son… the gods will surely be on your side.” Danae assured him with an unexpected certainty.
“I would rather fight with my own strength.” His lips were shaking as he kept his back turned to them. “But if it means saving you I will even climb Mount Olympus to find a way.”
“All I wanted for you is to live a good life.” His mother said with a soft expression. “Please, if you ever find yourself unable to finish the task, do not be afraid to relent. You don’t have to save me. The king is not a bad man-” Before she could finish her appeal Dyctis stopped her softly and shook his head.
“The king is no man of honor.” He saw the image of the smiling guards and the malicious king’s eyes in his head. “That is why I must be better than him.”
“Perseus…” She lowered her head and relented first.
“I will return with the Gorgon’s head. Please… do not shed any tears for me while I am gone.” That was his only request as he stepped onto the boat.
“I promise.” Danae accepted it with a strong voice. She was incredible, he thought.
It was time to become a monster slayer and make a name for himself.
“PERSEUUUUS!” The shout from uphill caught all of them off-guard. He did still not dare turn around, but he knew that loud voice. He had thought they would not see each other again until it was done. “Waaaait! Don’t leave meeee!”
“Ajax, what is the meaning of this?” Dyctis seemed shocked for some reason.
“Haaha… waah… you forgot something you big fool!” The young man had ran all the way to the boat and seemed ready to keel over from something heavy on his shoulders.
“…” Perseus could not turn around. Not even for him.
“You forgot… your friend…!” A heavy load was thrown unto the boat and he suddenly felt someone push against his side.
“You…” His eyes widened as he saw the smiling boy at his side.
“I won’t l-let you sail o-off on your own! What is a boat w-without a lookout?” He was so clearly forcing himself. Sweat was not the only thing running down his face. There was also blood and tears.
“But your father-?”
“I told him I would leave.” He said seriously. “And he c-couldn’t stop me!” He wiped the blood from his nose and then settled down on the shaking boat.
Perseus felt a wave of emotion splash across his mind and he balled his fist to not lose it. He was really… happy.
“We will be going into death’s maw and back.”
“B-bring it on!”
“We might have to eat insects and dirt to survive.”
“C-can’t be worse than Zeretos’ b-broth.”
“You are an unbelievable fool.” Perseus sighed and then loosened the rope tying them to Seriphos. “As you can see I am in good company. So await our return mother; Dyctis.” He finally looked at them with a reassuring smile.
They set off from the pier and unto the ocean. The route to Athens was well known. Their first step to the Gorgon was the easiest one.
The future on Seriphos was uncertain, but it would be shaped by this man, Perseus own hands.
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The present of Sarpedon was uncertain. The dry hands of the Gorgon pushed aside the fabric of the tent.
“Perseus?” Eugenia asked quietly.
“Who is he?” The Gorgon inquired standing tall behind her.
“I don’t… know.” The girl seemed confused.
“He must be important.” She insisted and curled her tail around uneasily.
“Why?”
“I do not know.” She replied in frustration. This was going nowhere.
“W-wait, I remember something.” Eugenia let go of whatever she had been holding and stored it back inside a pouch. Then she meekly turned to Medusa. “There was a famous king. The legends say he was the founder of Mycenae.”
“Mycenae?” She did not recognize that name.
“It was the greatest kingdom in the world once, they say. It fell apart a few hundred years ago and now the sovereign cities rule most of the world.” She explained with a concentrated expression. She seemed to recall lessons from long ago.
“So this Perseus was some king centuries ago?” She crossed her arms below her bosom. “Is he immortal?”
“Not that I know. He died in his sleep and let his son succeed him according to the inscriptions on his tomb.” She tilted her head to the side at the odd question.
“It cannot be him then.” A dead man was no threat. Aphrodite’s ominous words haunted her, but she doubted that she spoke of an actual haunting.
“What do you mean?” Now the girl had gotten curious.
“It does not concern you.”
“Ah…” She flinched at the cold response. She curled up inside the tent and was shaking.
Medusa scolded herself internally. She was so focused on this Perseus that she had forgotten about their situation. The last time they spoke Eugenia had cried and begged for forgiveness. The Gorgon was not capable of dealing with this awkward atmosphere.
Aphrodite had messed with them so much… perhaps even this warning only served to cause discord. Did the goddess of fertility have any need of such petty revenge, though? Too many conflicting thoughts tried to wrestle each other in the Gorgon’s mind.
“Medusa… I am sorry for what I said in the lair...” Eugenia honestly apologized with a shaking voice.
“It was not your own doing.” She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the pesky memory.
“I felt you slip away. These visions were so real. You were all alone on that hill.” She swallowed her fears and kept talking. “Even so, I should never have told you to… to betray the vow you made.” She could not even say the actual words again, in fear of enraging the snake woman.
“Eugenia, you are a foolishly honest girl.” Medusa looked upon her arched back with sympathy. “You are still a child, so you will make mistakes.”
“It’s true… you will never acknowledge me as a woman.” She nodded into her pulled up knees.
“I did not say that. Why do you need to be so complicated?” She huffed and swished her tail across the ground in irritation.
“I am sorry.”
“Quit apologizing. If you always defer to others you will never reach your own goals.” She was conflicted. To encourage this girl was going against her own goals as well. Their wishes were opposed, in a way. Then why did she always feel the need to support this struggling human?
“I hurt you.”
“So did I!”
“Huh?” Her ears perked up in surprise.
“I meant to say… you have suffered as well. It is an equal give and take in that way.” What nonsense was she spouting now?!
“Then we are even?” Eugenia wondered.
“Not utterly. You still did not apologize for growing those horrendous trees on my island.” She pointed at the olive trees around the new garden.
“Haha… hahahahaha!“ The foolish girl burst out laughing for some reason and made Medusa feel like a jester. How dare she? “This is what I love about you.” She said honestly and stood up before her.
“You are growing bold again already.” Was she not recovering far too quickly?
“Maybe neither of us wants to change too much.” She admitted. “I believe we can find a solution for both our problems if we just stick together.”
“My… problem?” She had no idea what this was about. She glanced at the trees.
“Not the olives.”
“I was not thinking of them.”
“I can hear your tail curl around the pillar. That means you are lying.”
“Oh really? I would be impressed if you could prove that.” She put up a strong front, but instinctively pulled her tail away from the pillar in surprise.
“You would just lie again if I did.” She smirked.
“Is this really the same human that wondered if lying is a deathly sin?”
“I said lying to yourself is the greatest crime.” She put a hand to Medusa’s cheek and the snake hair curled around her arm instinctively. These brats had grown too fond of her. “You are honest about who you are now, right?”
“Naturally. I am the Gorgon who kills pesky humans that invade my exile.” She replied with her fangs exposed.
“That is one side.” She nodded sadly.
“I am no coin. There is only one side on me. What you see is what you will receive.”
They stayed like this for a while, until Eugenia’s arm grew tired and she let it sink down across Medusa’s body. The snakes only let go after Medusa glared at them.
“What I see.” She spoke softly.
“Enough wordplay. You have been hiding something from me in there. Out with it.” She pointed her tail at the pouch inside the tent.
“Eh? Uhm… w-what do you mean? I can’t see it.” That thoughtful expression crumbled in an instant.
“Shall I pry it out of your frail little hands?”
“That is despotic.”
“I am a monster after all.”
“It was a gift! Why do you always have to pry?” She pouted.
“That is rich coming from you.” She shrugged and let it go for now. They had plenty of time. Just the two of them.
Until this Perseus arrived. This worry would not leave her mind. A single man could not stand up to her. Not even an army had managed that. Only one kind of chosen one could be so mighty that the gods were warning her about him.
A hero.
Ba-dump!
Her face twisted as her chest seemed to tear itself open. The twisted snake like eyes became blurry and red. Her entire body convulsed and she suddenly saw her skin covered in scales. It was like her skin was torn away by the exploding monstrous body below. Everything became dark for an instant and her body was on fire.
“-dusa… Medusa!” Eugenia’s concerned cries finally dragged her back to reality.
“Mgh…” She held her head as if it was about to burst in half. The snake hair was snapping its fangs at the air all around like they were rabid. What was that? Her mind was murky now.
“You scared me.” Eugenia admitted and put a hand on her wrist. Bad idea. Medusa felt horrible instinct to snap her arm off like a twig. It took all her self-control to stop herself.
Medusa was taking a few shallow breaths to calm down. These fits… she hadn’t experienced them since she had recovered from her grievous injuries caused by the punishment. No, this was far worse. It was not just her body that was hurting, it was her sense of self as well. For a moment... for just a quick moment she saw Eugenia as prey.
It deeply disturbed her heart.
Perhaps she had overstrained the curse too much when she froze Aphrodite. The repercussions…
“Speak to me.”
The clear voice cut through the murky mud of her hazy mind.
“Medusa, tell me what you feel.” Eugenia was not afraid. She was not backing away. This voice was like a spell that forced back the shade.
“It is just some nausea. I overstrained myself yesterday.” She spoke slowly.
“Are you scared?”
“Wha-?” The very question was insulting! But before she realized it she had curled up on the ground and leaned her face against the girl’s humble chest.
“I don’t know what happened, but you are safe. This is a safe place.” Eugenia repeated while stroking her face.
“…” Medusa felt unbelievably tired all of a sudden and lost herself to that voice.
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Eugenia sat still as Medusa’s head was pressed against her. The large snake tail was wound around the tent and blocked the exit. She listened to the rhythmic breathing of the woman she loved.
The pain she had felt when she realized how she hurt her had already faded. It was replaced by something else. A deep worry. For just a moment she had felt her life was in danger. The same way a hare would feel when a snake was about to ram its fangs into it. Medusa’s entire presence had changed and she could have sworn to hear a thousand scales pop across her. Yet the slumbering Gorgon was entirely covered in soft skin on her lap.
Medusa had many ill fits over the time they had known each other. Sometimes from injuries, sometimes for unknown reasons. But never once had Eugenia felt like she was in danger.
The thing she feared most in this world… was fear itself. To fear Medusa.
Instinctively she had spoken to her like she would a child that was scared of nightmares. Somehow that felt right. Perhaps once those ‘nightmares’ ended Medusa would be back to her old self and complain about being treated like a child. She could already imagine her getting up and frowning about resting on her lap. All that pride was going to be hurt.
Eugenia smiled.
“Perseus.” The former priestess repeated a name she had only known from temple studies. Medusa’s current state may have been connected to that name. If that was the case then she would not allow this name to hurt her beloved Gorgon any further.
A nightmare died once the sleeper was forced awake after all.
The blind woman was preparing herself to do what must be done. Her sentiments were not too different from the hero that sailed towards Athens with the same determined face.