'Really? That's what you're going with? What's next? That Sir Lionel did not teach me this way? I was under the impression that you were smart. Then look at me. Look at me, dammit!' The man spread his arms. 'I am a wreck! After what happened, it took me a while to stand up, and for what? I started this journey in hopes of getting stronger. To be better. To be good enough to find the treasure! And yet I achieved little! Yes, I found companions; yes, I faced the creature that haunted me for months. Yes, I did learn some things. I have better control over my rage; I am trying to be more patient, to enjoy the little moments in life. I did overcome many obstacles; I even reignited my will! Pride, love, failure I am getting a better handle on all those things. And despite all that, I have been once again kicked back to the mud. I am feeling as lost as I did in that cultist's maze. I tried to open myself to change, and yet it did not happen. I feel like I am not going forward at all. That I don't have what it takes to be better, even though I am still fighting for it with all I have. I am trying to love myself more, and yet every time I would, I fail, and I am back to square one. How could I save anyone if I am unable to save myself?' He stopped his rambling for a moment and continued. 'I am no hero. I am just a lost wanderer who has failed others and himself over and over again and one who will always be lost. A warrior always fighting. Such is my joy and my bane.'

Athena listened to her broken-speaking partner. She no longer saw her idealized aspirant before her. She felt sorry for him. So young, so troubled. And yet so strong, so enduring. She knew that he really tried his best so far to be better. Yet there was one thing he overlooked.

'You are building a house already built.'

The man looked at the goddess of wisdom with confusion.

'Is this one of your riddles?'

'No,' said the war goddess. 'Simply a fact. What you are trying to do is find the new blocks and bricks for yourself so you can improve. So you can build yourself to be better, yes? All of the things you described, what you learned and experienced, are those blocks, and important ones at that. But you forgot one thing: you already have a house. You are trying to shove those blocks in in the old house hoping it would fit, but they don't. They never will! You have to destroy the old house! Brick by brick, keeping what you need and throwing away the rest. And then with all those materials, build the building you want. You can and have to be open to change on the outside, but for the inside, that's just not enough. In other words, in order to change on the inside, you have to commit to it completely. And to be willing to change fundamentally. And then and only then can you become the person you want to be.'

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The man listened to the deity in a deep silence. Could it be done? Could he rebuild himself to the man he wants to be? If so, how could he start?

The goddess needed no spell to guess what was going through the young aspirant's head.

'It is by no means an easy or quick way. But by sticking to the rule of logic, it can be done.'

'So that's it?' Asked the man. 'I should cast myself aside, along with my emotions, and then I can improve myself? Be a cold, unyielding man of logic, discarding the feelings of joy, sadness, and pride, and make decisions based on my mind alone? Isn't that just the life of an automaton?'

The daughter of the god king let out a deep sigh.

'No, no, you misunderstand,' started the goddess. 'The rule of logic is not discarding the emotions. It helps you wield them. It is the control over them that can make you strong. That does not mean that you have to deny them from yourself, but it does mean keeping them in check. Think of it like how you wield your anger. You can wield other emotions the same way. Forge them into items; infuse existing ones as you see fit. Similarly, you don't have to "cast yourself aside" to rebuild yourself; quite the opposite, actually. You just have to accept that you are imperfect as of now and that you need to change yourself in the core should you be successful in your endeavor of being a better person.'

'But how? How do I start?' asked the guidance needing warrior.

'As I said: you have to break down yourself. Then pick up the rubble. Identify what can be used, discard what can't, and reforge what you think is important. There is no one way to do this. It differs from person to person. It's all trial and error, I'm afraid. But by thinking things through logically, you will find the way to accomplish this feat.'

The man stood silent for a moment.

'Do you really believe that I can do it?' He asked the warrior goddess of Olympos.

She smiled at him.

'To be ready to redefine oneself. To be the one to break everything it is and then stand up tall. That is a feat most men would never do, for they fear they can't. Are you most men, young one?'

The man smiled back. He knew that this task would be taxing. He knew that it would take everything he had to achieve and then some. But he also knew that whatever he becomes, how he will come out on the other end will be the person he always wanted to be. The person who can find the answers and the treasure he seeks. He will become that person! No matter the cost.