-Alkaios POV-
The atmosphere in the camp was thick with unspoken anticipation, a palpable tension that settled over the gathered figures. Chiron had summoned everyone in camp, and their presence attested to the occasion's gravity as we awaited his imminent arrival. Only a select few–Chiron himself, Asclepius, and myself knew the true reason behind this unusual assembly. I focused my gaze on Castor and Pollux. Their twin forms stood near the front, and their bewildered expectations mirrored each other as they also awaited Chiron. The meeting Chiron had called confused them; their usual demeanor replaced by a quiet bewilderment.
Of all the individuals present, it was Castor and Pollux whose reactions I most keenly expected, and indeed, most worried about. The news I carried, the reason for Chiron's summons, concerned Athens, and I was uncertain how they would respond. I questioned whether either of them would even entertain assisting the city. I was aware of the fierce historical rivalry that existed between Sparta and Athens, a deep-seated animosity that had shaped generations. My concern was whether this ingrained loyalty to Sparta would overshadow any sense of broader duty or compassion. Would they stand by and allow a city to perish because of this age-old feud? The uncertainty gnawed at me, leaving me apprehensive about their impending reaction.
I looked at Asclepius, who sat next to me. As always, Asclepius's face betrayed no thoughts, and I couldn't help but wonder just what was going through his head. I could make a few guesses, with Asclepius's thoughts focused on how he could help Athens. "If Chiron plans for all of us to go, how do you plan to protect everyone else from the plague?" I whispered to Asclepius.
Asclepius heard me, considering the way his ears twitched at my question. "I have created multiple copies of the mask I gave you," Asclepius whispered back to me. Nodding my head at Asclepius's words but a thought came to my head.
"What are your plans for dealing with infection? Even if we can't get sick ourselves, our clothes could still carry the plague," I whispered. It is possible that the plague's adaptation to kill humans would also lead to its adaptation to attach to our clothes. Frankly, with all the diseases in the modern world, that wouldn't even surprise me.
Asclepius nodded, unfazed by my question. "Besides creating masks, I have also crafted clothes for all of us to wear. Yours, in particular, was harder to create," he stated. His words left me confused, and seeing my bewildered expression, Asclepius continued his explanation. "Alkaios, do you know how rare red hair is? The only other person I know to possess such a vibrant hue is the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta. Chiron has informed us of your commendable deeds in fighting Athenian soldiers, and we are uncertain how your presence might be perceived in Athens." Asclepius elaborated, and while his reasoning made sense, I felt as though he was overlooking two rather significant, unspoken issues.
"What about Castor and Pollux?" I whispered, careful so the two figures nearby wouldn't overhear my words. "I feel like the twin Spartans would be less welcome than I am," I retorted to Asclepius. "While Athens wouldn't welcome me right now, Castor and Pollux would find it impossible to be welcomed in Athens. If anything, their presence there could mean they were spying on the city." I pointed out to Asclepius.
"In normal circumstances, you would be correct," Asclepius stated, his gaze sharp and probing. "But Alkaios, you must have heard of celebrating Castor and Pollux's birth that happened many winters ago? Just what did you hear?"
I frowned at his pointed question; the words hanging in the air like an unspoken challenge. My mind raced, sifting through the fragments of gossip and hearsay that had reached my ears and still echoed despite it being years ago. I could recall whispers of their hair color: blond. But beyond that, nothing concrete. The details remained elusive, a frustrating blank in my memory. "Never did I hear anything else about them," I admitted, the inadequacy of my knowledge feeling like a personal failing.
"Despite the massive celebration for Castor and Pollux's birth, Sparta has kept their appearance a secret. Unless someone has seen Castor or Pollux, one wouldn't know what they look like. We don't need to worry about the common folk knowing what they look like. As long as the two wear something to cover their hair around the Athenian soldiers or nobles, we need not worry," Asclepius said, and I couldn't help but agree. It wasn't like there was the internet in this era. Information could only travel so far by word of mouth, and even then, rumors would change after being passed through so many people.
As Asclepius and I discussed plans, the door to the cabin opened. The two of us quieted down as Chiron entered, his face set in a frown. Chiron's expression made me tense; in the past three months that I had been here, I had never seen Chiron with a frown. Chiron was clearly unhappy, and I didn't need a god to tell me. But at what, I didn't know. There were so many things happening that it could have been anything.
The hushed anticipation was palpable as Chiron paced with visible restlessness before us. Everyone stood frozen, a tableau of silent concern, unwilling to be the first to shatter the heavy quietude. Then, a voice cut through the stillness, surprising many. It was Jason who spoke, his tone laced with concern, "Chiron, what is wrong?" His question, a gentle probe, broke the unbroken silence that had held us all captive.
The weight of exhaustion settled upon Chiron; his breath was a weary exhalation as he turned to address the assembled company. His voice, though tinged with fatigue, carried the gravity of pronouncements from on high. "The Gods," he began, his gaze sweeping across our faces, "have decreed an investigation into a plague that has appeared."
A collective stir rippled through the group at the mention of the Gods. Everyone but Asclepius perked up at the mention of the Gods. Chiron's omission of the plague's location, however, caused a subtle wince from me. Chiron didn't mention that the plague was at Athens.
There was a silent acknowledgment of the inherent danger that such a decree represented. It was an open secret, an unspoken aspiration that bound us all together in this camp: we were here to forge our destinies, to become heroes.
Everyone but Asclepius and I felt hopeful anticipation, not apprehension, about the prospect of a quest issued by the Gods. This was not a task; it was an opportunity. A chance to prove our mettle, to distinguish ourselves in the eyes of the divine, and to etch our names into the annals of legend. The path to true heroism in this era often included divine interventions, and this plague, though it heralded suffering, was the perfect crucible for forging nascent heroic spirits. The promise of fame, of earning renown and respect, hung in the air, fueling eagerness to answer this celestial call to action.
Jason seems to be the most excited out of everyone in the room. Considering Jason needed this the most, that was not surprising. I knew Jason needed all he could get to gain his rightful place as the King of Iolcus. "Chiron, where are we going?" Jason asked with excitement that caused me to wince.
Chiron was silent for a moment before he shared a look with me and Asclepius before he let out a sigh. "The Gods have revealed the plague to be centered in Athens," Chiron declared, making the room go quiet. Jason and Heracles winced and turned their gaze to Castor and Pollux, whose faces were blank.
I expected a lot of things to happen at the reveal. With fiery indignation or defiance, I expected Castor or Pollux to be enraged, striking the trapeze with their fists. But no such thing happened at all; instead, to my utter bewilderment, with blank, almost serene faces, they simply nodded at Chiron's words. I found their reactions deeply confusing. On one hand, I didn't expect them to throw some type of tantrum. No matter their young age, they were royalty, heirs to a significant legacy. I would imagine others taught them proper conduct, self-control, and the decorum befitting their station, even in the face of shocking news. Their placid acceptance of the situation, devoid of any visible emotion or question, unnervingly felt passive, almost as if they had already resigned themselves to whatever fate presented. This dichotomy left me feeling unsettled, questioning the true depth of their understanding or their internal reactions.
Chiron studied Castor and Pollux a moment before he faced the rest of us. "We shall all leave right away. Collect everything you might need and meet at the entrance." Chiron declared before he left off to gather his own things. Castor and Pollux were the first to leave their forms, leaving to get their own things. Not once did they spare the rest of us a look? Jason left in a rush to gather his supplies with Heracles right behind him. That left Asclepius and me the only ones in the room. With a sigh, I got up to gather my little belongs that I might need.
"I'll meet you at the camp entrance, Asclepius," I said, waving him goodbye. Asclepius nodded and headed off to his workshop. It wasn't long before I reached my cabin, where I had been staying for the past three months. The room was sparse, with only my haversack and Reid in a corner. I couldn't help but chuckle at how similar the room was to my old home; I've never been one for many possessions. Grabbing Reid, I left my cabin to wait at the entrance.
Upon arriving at the entrance, I noticed I was the first one there. It wasn't long before Jason and Heracles showed up together. Heracles, much like myself, had the bare essentials: his Marmyadose and a bow with arrows. Jason appeared to be wearing a smaller version of his iconic armor that his servant self wore. I couldn't help but wonder if that armor could change sizes and was actually his future armor, the only difference being that it lacked that silly headpiece.
Jason seems to be full of excitement. I couldn't blame him after all this quest would seem easy. It wasn't like Chiron would not be here with us. But knowing what I knew with the Nosos that appeared to be in Athens, I couldn't feel the same.
Jason and Heracles were conversing as they arrived. Their voices carried on the breeze. "Heracles, I'm counting on you for any fighting. My strategies will lead us to victory," Jason declared, his tone confident, bordering on boastful. The words reached me, a hidden observer, and I had to suppress a choked laugh, a sound that threatened to betray my presence. Jason's head whipped around, his gaze locking onto my position, and his confident smile faltered, replaced by a look of surprise and perhaps a touch of annoyance. Just as he seemed poised to address me, a more urgent sound commanded our attention–the rhythmic pounding of horse's hooves. Our focus shifted, and there, emerging from the dust cloud kicked up by his approach, was Chiron. All I could see on Chiron's figure was his familiar bow and quiver of arrows slung over his shoulder, a simple leather bag his only other accoutrement.
Chiron gave us all a small smile that I gave back. "Chiron, what exactly is the plan?" I asked him, and with my question both Jason and Heracles perked up. They were also curious about what we would do in Athens.
"I will explain once everyone arrives, Alkaios. That way I will not have to repeat myself," Chiron responded. With his words, I fell silent. My ears perked up at the sound of two footsteps in perfect sync. That was only two people who could move like that. My head turned to Castor and Pollux's arrival. On their person were their weapons, but missing were their head pieces, I couldn't help but look at them confused.
Castor, seeing my look, let out a snort, "Our headpieces show we are Spartan royalty, Alkaios. If we are to sneak into Athens, we cannot bring them." Castor said, it was honesty weird to see Castor and Pollux without their headpieces. Like if one day I suddenly dyed my hair blue, completely different.
"Do you not have any reluctance to enter Athens?" I asked curious and both twins let out a snort that surprised me. Pollux gave me an amused look.
"Alkaios, this is our chance to scout Athens with the permission of the Gods," Pollux declared, a wide smile gracing her lips. It was then that the realization struck me with full force. Castor and Pollux once famously invaded Athens to rescue the abducted Helen in myths. I could vividly picture the divine fury that such a transgression would have undoubtedly incited in Athena, the city's formidable patron goddess. Yet, here they were, presented with a golden opportunity to survey meticulously every inch of Athens, not as invaders, but under divine sanction. Athena might instruct the Athenians to bolster their defenses, but such measures would be of little consequence. The twins, with sanctioned presence, would still glean invaluable knowledge of the city's hidden secrets and strategic vulnerabilities — knowledge that could prove crucial in the days to come.
A smile I couldn't suppress touched my lips. Getting revenge on Athena and settling old scores for her past transgressions is deeply amusing. The memory of her soldiers' brutal actions against the innocent populace of Koutalas remains vivid and unforgotten. Castor and Pollux's words were true. It is increasingly apparent that Athens, in the not-too-distant future, will inevitably stand as an adversary to my burgeoning kingdom. Maybe I should have brought a notebook to identify any potential vulnerabilities within their defenses and political structure for future strategic advantage.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Asclepius' arrival. He moved with a silent grace that belied the gravity of his purpose. Suddenly, he threw a bundle of soft fabric at me. I fumbled, pulling the material away to reveal Asclepius, his own attire now mirrored in the identical white cloak he had distributed to everyone present. The effect was striking: a sea of ghostly figures against the familiar backdrop of Chiron's training grounds. Chiron himself, his imposing frame swallowed by the voluminous folds of his cloak, cut a comical figure, his centaurian legs peeking out from beneath the hem.
"These cloaks," Asclepius announced, his voice resonating with an authoritative calm, "ensure that the plague remains contained within the walls of Athens. Before we enter the city, each of you must don one." He gestured towards a collection of intricately crafted masks laid out before him, identical to the one I had received earlier in his workshop. "And these masks," he continued, holding one up for emphasis, "will serve as your shield against contagion. They will protect you from falling ill. Under no circumstances, I repeat, under no circumstances, will anyone remove these masks once they are in place." The weight of his words settled upon us, a palpable reminder of the invisible enemy we were about to face.
Chiron fixed us with a stern gaze, a look that clearly demanded we follow Asclepius's instructions. We immediately put on the cloaks Asclepius had given us, a uniform that undoubtedly made for a peculiar sight. Chiron, after examining each of us, addressed the group with serious pronouncements. "Once we enter the city," Chiron began, his voice resonating with extreme gravity, "no heroic deeds are to be performed. Our duty is to find the source of this terrible plague, and until that is done, complete unity is essential. No one is to leave the group." Chiron explained the grim details of their discoveries. "Asclepius and Alkaios have concluded that this plague is not a natural illness, but a curse stemming from Pandora's Pithos. Until we can identify the exact location from which this curse is originating and spreading into Athens, no one may wander off under any circumstances."
I could see Castor, Pollux, Jason and Heracles pale when Chiron said "Pandora's Pithos" I couldn't blame them, remembering how much I paled at his words. Jason turned stark white; his earlier confidence disappeared. Before he could run, Heracles grabbed Jason by his scruff of his cloak, not letting him run. "Jason, you and I shall meet we the city's nobles take this as a chance for future to learn how to navigate to courts. If you plan to rule Iolcus, you will need this," Chiron said, and Jason's attitude completely changed.
His complexion returned to its original color, and his face became determined. "You can count on me, teacher. After we're done, those nobles will beg for our help," Jason said with the utmost confidence. Chiron gave Jason a smile before he looked at Castor, Pollux, Heracles and me.
"The four of you will serve as bodyguards," Chiron instructed us. "With the plague originating from Pandora's Pithos, you need to watch out for the Nosoi. I don't know what form they'll take, so you four must question everything you see." We all nodded, accepting his words. I pondered what little I knew about the Nosoi, which was essentially nothing. However, if they were curses, perhaps I could discover something that would react to my Divine Protection.
Chiron turned to Asclepius last. "Asclepius," he said, "you and I shall create a cure. With Lord Apollo's blessing, we will find a way." Asclepius nodded, his usual blank expression filled with newfound conviction.
"We shall make haste to Athens; with our speed, we should be able to reach the city before Lord Helios sets," Chiron declared, leading us forward. As I followed him, my eye twitched, catching sight of a trail winding up the mountainside–a path I could have climbed. Judging by the subtle twitches and furtive glances of my peers, it seemed I wasn't the only one not to know.
The weight of uncertainty pressed down on me as we followed Chiron towards the city of Athens. My mind, a tempest of conflicting emotions and fearful premonitions, struggled to grasp what awaited us. I knew, with a chilling certainty, that the situation we were walking into would be dire. The question gnawed at me: how dire? What horrors would unfold once we set foot within its hallowed, or perhaps now defiled, walls? In hindsight, and with the bitter clarity that only comes with experience, I would gladly reach back through time and deliver a sharp, corrective blow to my former self. I was so tragically, terrifyingly wrong in my estimations. Things weren't just bad. Oh no. They were infinitely, unimaginably worse than I could have possibly conceived.
//Later that Day//
Our journey to Athens was remarkably quick, but the instant we arrived, we all let out a collective gasp. What unfolded before us was a scene that completely stunned us. Encircling the magnificent city, in an ominous and seemingly unending circle, were hundreds of Nosoi, forming a sphere around Athens. Their vacant, dead eyes felt as though they were piercing our very souls. I couldn't help but turn to Chiron, my voice quivering, "Chiron, I… I assume this isn't normal?"
His reply, tinged with a palpable horror that matched my unease, was swift and chilling. "No, Alkaios," Chiron responded, his voice strained with dread, "this is not right."
I wasn't sure what was happening in Athens, but one thing I was certain of: Pandora's Box had to be in the city.
Chapter 17: The Nosoi End
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Author's Note: Sorry for the late chapter. Needed to get back into it again as I had writers block. Posted the draft chapter by accident. My bad Lol
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