The entire voyage passed under a veil of tension. I struggled against the curse, the Spartans remained on edge, and the three Athenians kept their distance. All my attempts to purge this blight were in vain. The only thing I managed was to slow its spread. I could feel the infected flesh expanding across my body.
The thought of severing my arm flashed through my mind, but I dismissed it. The curse was tied not to my body, but to my soul I could not rid myself of it through such crude means. Though the flesh on my arm had died, I could still command the hand by will alone. I took bandages and tightly wrapped them around the afflicted limb.
Upon reaching the shores of Sparta, we disembarked Kratos along with what remained of his unit, then continued on toward Athens. I decided to first deal with the remedy perhaps it might help me as well.
When we arrived at the grim streets of Athens, we mounted our horses and headed for the academy. But on the way, I felt something a cry of pain that seemed to emanate from a nearby tree. I halted beside it, listening intently.
"Damocles, are you coming?" called Androcles, turning back.
"No. Go ahead. I'll catch up," I replied, eyes fixed on the tree.
Suddenly, I heard a voice. It pierced through me a voice I knew. Diana. She was in trouble. But how could her echo reach here, in Athens? Nymphs were not capable of such a thing. My suspicions were confirmed she wasn't merely a nymph.
"She's a goddess," my lips whispered.
What happened to her…?
The curse came with a boon. Perhaps she protected me then and now pays the price. Who is she to me? Perhaps a friend... or something more. I never truly understood. But of one thing I was certain I could not let her suffer. If she was in danger, then it was my time to repay her kindness.
My fingers brushed the bark, and the cry became clearer, as though I'd drawn closer to its origin as though I were touching something thousands of miles away.
"Who…?" came a weak, broken voice Diana's.
"It's me. Damocles," I replied.
"Damocles?.. Please… help me…" she whispered.
And then a scream. Piercing. Wracked with pain:
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Everything snapped. The force hurled me away from the tree, and the connection shattered.
Nature here still brimmed with life that meant there was time. They would not dare kill her. The death of a god comes with consequences. Not only because nature would fade, but because my wrath would demand its toll.
Turning from the tree, I made my way to Plato. I needed a compass to find Diana.
When I reached the academy, I went straight to his chamber.
"Damocles! Quickly, show me the ambrosia!" Plato exclaimed.
"Here," I said, handing him a small piece of green substance.
"So little? Then the Spartan must have taken the rest," Plato muttered, frowning.
"At least we have something," Diogenes added.
"We will study it thoroughly and attempt to recreate it even if only in a weakened form," Plato said, eyes fixed on the glowing fragment.
"I need the compass. Now," I said, steel in my voice.
"I've been working on the remedy," Plato replied, not looking up.
"We had a deal: I bring you the ambrosia, you calibrate the mechanism," I said, firmer now. The change in my tone did not go unnoticed.
"Seems you're in trouble, aren't you?" Diogenes said, peering into me. "Someone dear to you needs you, but you don't know where they are? Plato, tune the compass for him."
"But what of the remedy? Its production must come first. The compass could take weeks to configure," Plato objected.
"Weeks?" I echoed with cold fury.
My spear struck the floor, cracks spreading from the point of impact. The room trembled. My anger flared with a force I hadn't felt in ages. I glanced at my right hand the bandages had blackened. I was still battling the curse, pouring all my strength into containing it. Emotions long buried no longer obeyed.
"Forgive me," I breathed, voice quieter now. "Create the remedy. But calibrate the compass as soon as possible. I can't afford to wait."
With those words, I left the room and headed to a quiet place. One part of me insisted I was right I had done enough, and they should honor their part of the bargain. Another part whispered I was wrong. That my decision might cost lives and many would pay.
I sat in the grass, trying to feel it again. The cries of pain had vanished from the world. Only sorrow remained, deep and unyielding, woven into everything.
"Diana…" I whispered.
"Find me… I'll be waiting… Just come…" her voice drifted to me, soft and fleeting as the wind and then, silence.
My fist clenched. Forgive me for hesitating. There is no torment greater than waiting when you are powerless. It corrodes from within.
Rising, I headed to Callista's house to ease her illness, as I did before. In saving one life, I lose another.
When I entered, she still lay motionless on the bed. Nikandros dozed at the table bearing the weight of caring for both himself and his mother in these harsh times.
"Nikandros," I said, gently touching his shoulder.
"Huh? Master?"
He jolted awake. "Did you find the medicine?" he asked, his eyes brimming with hope.
"Yes… but there's too little for now. We must wait," I replied, gently ruffling his hair before walking over to his mother.
A soft light, born of my will, gathered in my healthy hand as if something living reached out and touched Callista. I granted her relief, pushing back the moment of her death. No matter how strong I was, I was still a man. Trials struck one after another, each pressing upon me like a mountain, and every decision carried its price.
"Will Mama get better?" Nikandros asked, rising to stand beside me.
"She will. I promise. I'll help everyone," I said, the words sealing a final decision within me. The medicine came first it would save not only others but perhaps me as well.
"Thank you, teacher," he whispered and hugged me.
To lift his spirits and distract him from heavy thoughts, I decided to train him a little. The boy had the makings of a good warrior not more than a seed, but enough for now. Enough to protect himself and his mother.
With my thoughts in order, I returned to the academy. The remedy had to be the first priority. Plato immediately explained that to recreate ambrosia, we needed the divine fruit from which it was originally made. He hoped I could retrieve such fruit from the Garden of the Hesperides.
All I asked of Plato and Diogenes was that they look after Callista and her son while I was gone.
I remained in Athens for only one night.
The next morning, I sat in a tavern, eating and waiting while provisions were gathered for the journey ahead.
Suddenly, the voices in the hall fell silent.
Heracles entered.
With a faint smile, he strode toward me and took a seat across from me.