-Alkaios POV-
I was stunned, but the proof was there for everyone to see. The Plague of Athens had emerged years earlier. To my knowledge, it wasn't supposed to strike until around 430 BCE.
I hesitated. If such a significant event had arrived prematurely, what else had shifted? Asclepius said that he and Chiron had detected it early, so it wasn't widespread. But there are no proper means of halting an epidemic in this era.
I grew somber, recognizing the urgency. The Plague's early onset could have serious consequences, leading to Athens' defeat by Sparta earlier than expected.
My immediate worry was that Theseus or his mother would get sick. Without Theseus, Asterios could kill. Who knows how long Asterios can stay sane before another massacre? It reminded me of Lostbelt 1—and the Asterios Chaldea met. That could change the timeline.
I shook my head, unsure if the Minotauros would appear. If he did, I'd handle him. For now, a cure was the priority.
"Asclepius, what have you and Chiron found?" I asked to find out how much they understood about the illness.
Asclepius nodded when he saw how concerned I was. "Chiron and I have just figured out where this illness started—the docks in Athens. We were there gathering herbs for my workshop when we found a sick rat." He gestured toward the rat inside a cage.
I studied the rat Asclepius showed. It was in awful shape—its body riddled with large, swollen lumps under the skin, especially around the neck and thighs, matching the pattern of buboes. Its muscles had wasted away, replaced by swollen, discolored tissue. Its greasy, clumped fur exposed red, ulcerated patches and sores, clear signs of severe infection.
The smell was unbearable—rot and metal scraping my throat. Even the other rats avoided it, moving. It surprised me that the rat was alive. Its eyes burned in the dim light. It twitched, shuddered, and breathed. A living nightmare, it fascinated and disgusted me.
"Why is this rat still alive?" I asked Asclepius, even though I already suspected the answer.
"I've used magic to keep this rat alive," Asclepius said. "It's been the most affected and most useful in my experiments." Despite my discomfort, I admitted Asclepius wasn't wrong. Animal testing was necessary during the epidemic.
"I imagine Chiron didn't feel thrilled about this," I said, and judging by Asclepius's expression, I guessed correctly.
"Master Chiron wasn't happy, but he understood. I needed something affected by the plague," Asclepius explained. That fit what I knew of Chiron. He loved animals but accepted the need to find a cure.
"Alright, Asclepius, what have you tried already?" I asked. It wasn't every day you could discuss medicine with the future god of medicine.
Asclepius's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I glimpsed the boy beneath the healer, squaring his shoulders like a student about to answer.
Asclepius turned from the cage to a table stacked with wax tablets, covered in symbols, notes, and rough diagrams of rats, lungs, and swollen lymph nodes.
"We started with what already exists," Asclepius said, picking a tablet up. "Herbs for pain. Those that slow rot."
Asclepius tapped the symbol on the tablet. "We tried willow bark to reduce fever, honey and diluted wine compresses on the swellings to curb infection and swelling, garlic paste and onion poultices to draw out pus from the sores, and vinegar on open wounds to cleanse them. Some treatments reduced sweating or delayed the spread of buboes, with a few rats living longer." His mouth tightened. "But no rat recovered. The swellings continued to appear and spread."
Asclepius's voice was flat, his hand tight on the tablet until the wax creaked.
"What about the goods that arrived with the rats?" I asked to change the topic. "Did you and Chiron burn anything that may carry the plague?"
Asclepius nodded. "Chiron and I burned everything that might spread the plague—clothes, bedding, straw, even traded food. We were discreet. Chiron convinced the city elders. They feared him more than the plague."
That sounded right. Chiron could be intimidating. Still, the plague had already reached the city. How far had it spread?
I watched Asclepius check another smudged tablet. "Juniper, laurel, and myrrh—burned in rooms of the ill and nearby homes. It helped some breathe easier; others saw no change."
"What about the rats?" I asked, "You said you and Chiron discovered this Plague at the docks?"
"Yes," Asclepius said, eyes distant. "Chiron and I found a sailor with a high fever, painful swellings in the groin and armpits, vomiting, and patches of blackened skin on his limbs. Chiron discovered many dead rats with identical swellings in the grain storage. We removed the corpses and burned all the contaminated grain." He pointed to another cage containing two dead rats, both with visible buboes, and one gasping for breath with blue-stained gums.
"I dissected the dead rats to examine how the plague ravaged them," Asclepius explained. "Their organs enlarged, including the lungs and lymph nodes, which contained a thick, dark fluid. The internal damage mirrored and was even worse than the external sores we could see."
I nodded to Asclepius, letting him know I understood. What he uncovered impressed me.
"Have you considered praying to Lord Apollo for guidance?" I asked, aware of Asclepius' strained relationship with Apollo. I wasn't even sure how their feud had begun. Asclepius' face tightened, then he composed himself.
"I tried calling on Father," Asclepius admitted. "Simple prayers to Apollo, asking him to ease the fever and pain. Sometimes the rat's fever would break for a bit, but the plague always returned. It's like pouring water on a fire that just won't die."
I frowned, unsure of what to do. I knew healing magic could cure diseases, but I wasn't very experienced with it. How effective is healing magic against diseases, anyway? What should I even focus on when I'm healing? The problem was I did not know how to cure diseases.
Healing a simple cut would be easy. But with major injuries, what was the best approach? What needed immediate attention? I just didn't know. I wasn't a doctor, and while I had some first aid knowledge, it wasn't enough. Frustration caused me to rub my forehead. I'd only just arrived, and I could already feel the stress building.
I glanced at Asclepius and saw that beneath his aloof exterior; he was just as frustrated as I was. It must have been worse for him, being the child of a god of healing. But nothing he did seemed to work.
"Asclepius, did you and Chiron determine if this was the work of the gods?" I asked, considering the era. It was a possibility. It was the only explanation I could imagine for this disease appearing so early in history.
Asclepius shook his head. "I first believed that this was the work of my father. He could cause this plague. But Chiron determined it wasn't the case of the Gods. While I believe Chiron is not lying but something is off. It almost seems like a curse." Asclepius said.
Asclepius' words gave me pause. Was it a curse? The idea formed in my mind, stupid beyond stupid. I took a step closer, eyeing the infected rats. Narrowing my eyes, I turned off the Divine Protection of a Closed Circuit. I could feel my connection with Od Lagna reconnect, filling me with power again.
Without hesitation, I ripped off my mask and let the toxic air fill my lungs. "Alkaios, are you mad?!" I heard Asclepius shout. I could feel him trying to force the mask back on, but I was much stronger. Reaching out, I touched one of the infected rats, waiting for a response.
As soon as my hand touched the rat, I watched in horror as the disease erupted on my arm. It was fast, far too fast. The infection affected me so quickly, which shocked Asclepius. I could sense the disease taking hold of me. Pain wracked my body, and my vision blurred. I felt like I might throw up at any moment.
"Asclepius, scan me with your magic," I requested, meeting his eyes. "I have a plan, but you need to trust me." I could tell Asclepius was torn; his doctor's instincts were fighting to reject my words and heal me.
"Asclepius, you're a doctor, and I'm a hero. I can endure some pain; don't worry about me. I have a plan to heal myself. So please, Asclepius, seize this opportunity I've given you," I pleaded. Asclepius and I stared at each other for a moment before he sighed.
"Alkaios, you're out of your mind! You must have been driven mad by Lord Dionysus himself," Asclepius exclaimed. "I expect you to live, or I'll be using you as a test subject." He began chanting his spells. I allowed Asclepius to carry me to a table, where he examined me. Concentrating on circulating Shiha throughout my body, I closed my eyes. I winced as Asclepius prodded at a burst bubo. This was going to be a long day.
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-Asclepius POV-
Alkaios was the most foolish person I've ever met. Who thinks the best way to solve a plague is to get infected themselves? I cast every spell I knew to speed things up, hoping to find an answer to this plague. There'll be time to scold Alkaios later. I don't envy him when Chiron gets to him. My body shivers just thinking about what Chiron will do to Alkaios.
As I examined Alkaios, I sensed an unfamiliar energy coursing through him. Upon closer inspection, I realized this energy was holding the plague at bay. He must be using the spell he showed earlier. I don't understand why he didn't use it on the rats instead of subjecting himself to this plague.
I could learn that this plague seemed to target humans. The rats infected Alkaios as soon as he touched them. From my studies, even in a closed-off room, the rats have never gotten this quickly.
When I first came into contact with this disease in Athens, I believed it was the work of my father. Apollo unleashed plagues upon mortals with his arrows, a devastating punishment for those who incurred his wrath. However, Chiron assured me that Apollo was not the source of this affliction. Based on what I have learned through observation and inquiry, the Athenians had done nothing to upset my father, making it unlikely that he was the cause.
I would believe nothing Apollo said, but Chiron was different. Chiron was the one who raised me, not Apollo. Apollo may have helped bring me into this world, but it was Chiron who was my father. He taught me everything I knew, from the proper way to hold a bow to the constellations in the night sky. He instilled in me a sense of honor and a deep respect for nature. So, if Chiron said the gods didn't cause this plague, I would trust him. I'd trust his judgment over any god's decree, any oracle's prophecy, or any king's command. His wisdom was a beacon, his word a bond, and his love the foundation upon which I built my life. He knew the world, the creatures that inhabited it, and the hearts of men and gods alike. If he said it, then I would believe it, no matter the evidence to the contrary.
That said, I knew this plague was not that simple. The symptoms, the rapid spread, and the utter devastation it wrought on the populace all pointed to something far more insidious than a simple disease. I had a simple theory that I kept to myself — a dark whisper in the back of my mind — until I had more concrete proof. My observations, meticulous notes on the afflicted, and late nights spent poring over ancient texts all fueled this burgeoning hypothesis. When Alkaios had come to the same conclusion as me, I knew something horrible would come to this land. Something created this plague.
Some entity created this plague. But who? While Apollo can both bring disease and heal, I knew it wasn't him. It was a different god, or perhaps... Chiron said it wasn't a god. I frowned, wondering who else could have caused it.
I examined how Alkaios's body responded to the plague. Based on my observations, this plague appears designed to kill humans, targeting the human body. It seemed like Alkaios could delay its effects, which made me want to study him further.
Alkaios's healing magic seemed to halt the plague at first. But I could see the disease was evolving, targeting him. Somehow, it was adapting to kill Alkaios more effectively. What I witnessed disgusted me. If the plague weren't so repulsive, I would study its abilities for my research.
As my scans went deeper, I sensed the disease was penetrating Alkaios further, as if trying to reach his core. I watched in shock as the disease tried to enter his soul, but his soul repelled it. I found myself mesmerized.
It was as if a god wouldn't let the plague in. Despite my curiosity, I had a job to do. I observed how the plague affected Alkaios. I noted his shortness of breath, the swelling, and every way his body changed. In particular, I also observed how Alkaios' magic healed him.
I already had several ideas for a cure, but the problem was how to help Alkaios. I examined his body, grimacing at his sickly appearance. Black swellings were consuming him. I cast every spell I knew, but nothing worked.
"Alkaios, you told me to trust you. Now's the time to prove it!" I pleaded, my voice strained. Alkaios couldn't die on my watch. I didn't stop casting healing magic, hoping to save him. For a moment, despair threatened to consume me. I felt like a failure; unable to save my new friend.
Before I could process it, Alkaios sat up. I watched in shock as he turned his head and vomited black sludge onto the ground. How? I stared, unable to utter a sound as Alkaios's swelling disappeared.
"Alkaios, how?" I couldn't help but ask. "You were sick! I saw your organs ravaged by the plague. It should be impossible for you to be healed, let alone…"
Alkaios raised a hand, signaling for a moment. He continued to cough and gag, expelling black sludge. Knowing he couldn't speak, I collected what he coughed up. Upon closer inspection, the sludge seemed to be alive. It was a revolting sight. I cast a spell, unable to suppress the grimace that formed on my face.
This plague, as I suspected, was a curse–an ancient one. I could feel its vile presence, a sickening sludge unlike anything I'd experienced. The surrounding air vibrated with a dreadful energy, clinging to the skin, infecting the lungs, and poisoning the mind, leaving a path of death in its wake. But one thing was certain: this plague would wipe out humanity.
"What did you discover, Asclepius?" Alkaios asked. "I can tell you it's both a plague and a curse. A curse as a plague." I turned to him, confused. That was my conclusion, but how did Alkaios know? He was ill; there was no way he could have known while sick.
"Yes, I reached the same conclusion, Alkaios. More specifically, it's a curse designed to kill humans, with the animal affliction being a secondary effect. My reasoning is that animals are crucial to humans, so they're affected as well," I said, making a note of my findings on the tablet. "Chiron would be the one to consult about curses, one this old."
I turned to Alkaios, taking stock of him. I cast a diagnostic spell, but it baffled me. How had Alkaios recovered? The plague was gone; every sign vanished. It seemed his body was now immune.
I couldn't help but look at Alkaios. Did Alkaios have the favor of Apollo? I couldn't see how Alkaios could be healthy.
"You could say I'm blessed by the world itself. When I need it most, I get a blessing that I wish for. While you were studying me, I just kept healing, right until you finished. I asked for a blessing for my condition once you were done," Alkaios explained, but I still didn't understand. Blessed by Gaia? Was that even possible?!
"Asclepius, I know you have a lot of questions, but we should show Chiron our findings," Alkaios said. I realized he was right. There would be a time to question Alkaios, but now wasn't it.
I quickly gathered my findings with Alkaios, and we left my workshop. I couldn't help but dwell on Alkaios' words, which were swirling in my mind. How did he do it? Unlike others, I didn't care about heritage, but what had Alkaios done to earn the world's favor? It seemed impossible, yet here we were.
It couldn't have taken that long for us to reach Chiron. But with all the thoughts and questions I had for Alkaios, it felt like forever. I could see that Chiron was looking over tablets himself. I could recognize they were his thoughts on the plague he shared with me days prior. Chiron must have sensed Alkaios and me because his eyes quickly looked to us.
"Alkaios and Asclepius, it's rare for you two to be together. What can I do for you?" Chiron asked with a smile. Normally, Chiron's smile could always make me smile in response. But I couldn't, not after what I learned today.
"Chiron," I said gravely, "Alkaios was helping with my research today. Together, we might have found out what the problem in Athens is." Chiron's expression shifted several times before settling into a neutral mask, but his eyes betrayed his seriousness.
"Explain." Chiron said, his voice unusually stern. I swallowed, unnerved. I'd never heard him like this before, so I presented my research. He scanned the wax tablets, and I fidgeted, my hands clenched. Normally, Chiron had an immediate answer. But he remained silent as he read, and I could hear Alkaios shifting nervously nearby.
It felt like forever before Chiron spoke. His words sent a chill through me. "This is worse than I thought," he said, and I could sense the nervousness in his voice. "Asclepius, Alkaios, thank you for your work," he added.
"Chiron, what do you think this is?" Alkaios asked, and I had to agree. What could make Chiron nervous? I'd seen a lot growing up under his care, but never nervousness. Not even when speaking to the gods, but that research I wrote...
"Boys, if what's happening here is true... I have not seen anything like this in a long time. Something I thought I'd never see again. I can't tell you how bad the situation is right now, but it requires more work. All I can say is, every student here might be needed," Chiron said, his words filling me with dread.
"Chiron, what is this?" I asked, and I'd remember his words for the rest of my life.
Chiron was silent. He looked at the sky. Then, his eyes met ours. "Boys, what do you know of Pandora's Pithos?" Chiron asked.
…. Oh, that's bad.
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Chapter 14: The Anesidora End
I know you've all been waiting, so here's the chapter! Thanks for your support. Next story to be is Key in Amphoreus. Should be out in 5-6 days
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