บท 53: Repercussions
Pandora opened the Gift of the Gods in Tyre and unleashed the evils of the world.
It was the punishment of the gods. By the time humans realised it, it was too late. They were already part of them, corrupting them for the rest of eternity. The damage had already been done; it was irreversible and immutable.
The evils have become a core part of all of their lives. Where there is happiness, there is misery; where there is peace, there is violence; where there is honesty, there is deception; where there is health, there is illness; and where there is hope, there is...
Despair.
It almost brought the entire burgeoning Western civilization crashing down on itself.
Evils took many forms: Death. Diseases. War. Chaos. They were everywhere, tearing civilization apart with their twisted and dark claws. And the western world wept. Within hours, rising kingdoms and city-states collapsed, and anarchy consumed the western world. The scars of anguish and sorrow brought by evil began to deeply penetrate into the heart and soul of the world itself. The eternal night had descended with the evils, as the sun hadn't risen for almost five days, plunging the world in despairing darkness.
Western civilization would have collapsed if not for the Gods, who intervened in time to pick up the broken pieces of their world.
And, despite the divine punishment from the Eternal Blazing Sun, the humans did not lose faith in the Gods, as it was the only source of support in their hearts. In desperate times, the Gods were all they could turn to for hope.
Their fear and reverence for the Gods grew stronger in their hearts. And a famous saying quickly emerged from whispers and mutters, spreading like wildfire around the world.
'Believe in the might of the Gods, not in their benevolence.'
It burned into the hearts of all who heard it, and it would go down in the annals as a reminder and warning to future generations.
And, in the Western world, Trier, the Sun City, was the least affected by evils. The power and authority of the Eternal Blazing Sun always shrouded the city, which upheld order and law with the emergence of evil. The Angels of the Eternal Blazing Sun immediately took action, trying to offset the repercussions brought by the evil. The swift response alone saved the city from falling into complete anarchy like the rest of the western world.
Overall, despite the intervention of the gods, the world was drowning in despair, and the very foundation of Western civilization was crumbling. If nothing is done, the fate of humanity is doomed.
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The silver moon shone brightly in the night sky, casting veils of argent light over the darkened world.
Leto and Apollo stood on the balcony of a palace in Delphi, looking out over Trier, the Sun City.
"How is the situation, mother?" Apollo asked quietly, his gaze riveted on his city.
Leto hesitated, looking at him with worry.
"Tell me," Apollo pressed.
"Things aren't looking good." Leto sighed in defeat, her distressed face illuminated by the moonlight. "As we speak, son, mothers are taking their final breaths with their children huddled, falling prey to diseases; final goodbyes are being said to their loved ones as they enter the embrace of death; every minor disagreement evolves into conflict and fight, resulting in bloodshed and death; a pair of lovers jumping off the mountain, kissing each other one last time, completely giving up on life..."
She told him of the desperate situation of his Trier, observing him from time to time. Apollo just listened in silence.
Leto finished. "This is just considering Trier, my son, where the impacts of evil were stopped by you. However, if we consider the rest of the western world, it is far worse than here."
"Am I cruel, mother?" Apollo asked quietly.
"No," Leto said, shaking her head. "Not at all, son."
"You only say that because of who you are." Apollo exhaled a sigh.
Leto approached him and gripped his hand tightly. "Obviously, I am your mother after all. You did what you had to do. It may seem cruel and heartless in the eyes of many, but not in mine."
She locked her gaze on him. "And what had happened had happened. It's pointless to mop over it. So, now, do what you can and save your creations."
Apollo gazed down at the dimmed and darkened city, which was filled with despair and anguish.
Leto looked at the dampened city with him. "The entire civilization is drowning in despair. The only thing keeping it from collapsing is not the gods, but... "
"Hope." They said it in unison.
"You can feel it, mother?" Apollo inquired, surprised.
"Yes." Leto said, "The hope. I'm not sure how. But I could feel it. And it is dying, my son, slowly consumed by Despair."
"In a way," Apollo murmured. "You are the grandmother of humanity. It could be because of this."
"It could be..." Leto laughed as the heaviness waned in the air.
Apollo then fell silent, his gaze fixed on the starry sky, which glistened brilliantly with millions of stars.
"I'll see to it," he finally said, his surging eyes settling. "Hope will not perish on my watch, mother."
Leto nodded, sighing in relief and lightly patting his shoulders.
Apollo reached into his personal space and handed her a book. Then he instructed. "This contains information on a new branch of healing I invented specifically for mortals. This will allow mortals to tend to themselves without the need for supernatural power."
"It is medicine."
The book covered fundamental and basic medical practises. It described how to collect medicinal plants, grind them, mix them, heat them, and turn them into powders, potions, and preparations that could be eaten, drunk, or mixed into food. It also had instructions on how to staunch blood flow, concoct fomented poultices, dress wounds, reset fractured bones, and so much more.
Leto opened the book and read it thoroughly as Apollo returned his gaze to the city, quietly watching it.
"This is great, my son." She commended. "It will benefit humans, especially now, and take some of the burden off our shoulders."
Apollo hummed.
"I'll give it to Athena." Leto went over it again and finalised it. "She will immediately spread knowledge of it throughout the Western world."
"Mother." Apollo said. "Don't credit me as the creator. Let it be you."
"Why?" Leto inquired, perplexed.
"A new divinity will be born out of this." Apollo deliberated. "It's best if you inherit it, mother, since it suits you best."
"This is yours, son." Leto furrowed her brows.
"And I've decided to hand it over to you." Apollo stated unequivocally. "Don't reject it. It will immensely help in your divine path."
"Fine." After a brief moment of silence, Leto sighed. She placed the medical book solemnly in her blue bag.
"I'll take care of it then." She patted his shoulders and whispered. She then turned to exit the room.
"Has sister returned?" Apollo interrupted her.
"No." Leto shook her head, her gaze flickering to the moon. "She is still off purifying the remnants of evil in her moon chariot. And it has been a hassle. It could take months or even years."
In sunken silence, Apollo nodded, his gaze drawn to the moon as well.
"Son." Leto exhaled a sigh. "Don't go back to mopping after I've gone."
"Mother, I'm fine." Apollo muttered.
Leto gave him a silent stare. Then, she turned and left the room, leaving him alone in the serenity and tranquilly of the night.
Apollo poured himself a glass of ambrosia and slowly drank it. His attention was fixated on the city gate, as if he were waiting.
"Hey." From behind, a gentle voice whispered, and cold hands embraced him.
"I missed you so much." Apollo exhaled, placing his warm hands over her icy hands.
"I'm sorry I couldn't come right away." Hecate said. "There were some issues with my mother..."
"It's fine." Apollo waved his hands, his lips forming a rueful smile. "But, you know, it felt like an eternity to me."
"I am here now." Hecate whispered softly, her iced lips kissing his warm cheeks. "I am here now.."
As their hands tightened their embrace, Apollo hummed, resting his head on her cold shoulders.
"So, do you want to talk about it?" Hecate finally asked, breaking the ice.
"About what?" Apollo arched his brow.
Hecate sighed. "Apollo. Stop feigning. About Pandora. I know how much you like to create. It is your passion. And Pandora could be regarded as your first true creation."
Apollo left her embrace and walked towards the edge of the balcony, grabbing the wine and gulping the rest of it down.
Hecate strode forward and stood with him.
"Honestly, I don't know." Apollo smiled ruefully. "I felt bad at first for not giving her a choice, but now..."
"Do you consider her your daughter?" Hecate interrupted.
"No." Apollo jerked his head towards her.
Hecate firmly gripped his hands, seeing through his true emotions. "I have no problems, Apollo. If you are to decide on it, then we shall accept Pandora as our own."
Apollo looked at her with emotional eyes. Then he sighed and shook his head. "It's pointless, my love. I have already broken everything beyond repair."
"It could be," Hecate said. "But, Apollo, you can still try to mend it."
In utter silence, Apollo turned toward his city.
Hecate continued, her brow furrowed in doubt at his silence. "Why did you actually do this? With Pandora. With the evils?"
"I desired something, something very crucial for our future." Apollo whispered. "I planned on this for a long time. I tried to seek different paths to accomplish it. But, in the end, this was the only path that was absolutely safe and viable."
"So, despite everything, I decided to take it..." He suddenly looked at the city gate.
Hecate followed his gaze and soon noticed a weathered figure approaching the Sun City.
"She is here." Apollo breathed out.
"Do you want me to come?" Hecate asked.
"No." Apollo shook his head. "This is something that I should do alone."
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Pandora walked into Trier. Her eyes were still dull as she strode through the city's magnificent streets, like a lifeless robot.
The city of the sun has lost its warmth and glow, turning dark and cold at night. The air was thick with sorrow and sadness. Cries, sobs, and whimpers filled the nooks and corners of the city.
Pandora ignored everyone and everything, strolling unhindered towards Delphi while clutching the golden box firmly.
The people huddled together in long lines to get relief and help from the temple of the Eternal Blazing Sun. Their figures appeared worn down, and their eyes were dim.
Pandora entered Delphi. She strode through the winding paths, past rising palaces, spires, and towers teeming with priests and priestesses rushing in and out to assist people.
She reached the centre of Delphi, the Parthenon, and began climbing up the stairs to it, her legs quivering ever so slightly. But, as she ascended, each next step became more and more firm.
She finally entered the empty Parthenon. And there he was, Phoebus Apollo, waiting for her between the ivory pillars.
Pandora froze at the sight of him. Her empty eyes glowed with a spark of emotion. Immediately, all the suppressed emotions in her heart burst forth.
She hollered at her creator.
"I HATE YOU!"
_________________
A/N: I write novels for fun to relieve myself of the tensions of my university.
But you see, comments like this: 'Apollo can die and be crippled or be replaced. And I don't think anybody would care.'
Then, a deleted comment said, 'Apollo is a dickhead worse than Zeus; he can go and die.'
Another one that I personally deleted in frustration. 'Your story is dung. Nobody should read this emotionless and logic less piece of shit.'
This completely dampens my spirits. This is truly just hate comments. And I don't understand why some people keep reading if you hate my MC and my story that much, just to spew hate on me?
And Apollo is not perfect; he has many flaws, just like my own story. This is fucking fanfiction written by a student, not a novel written by an actual author, so what else do you expect?!
Sigh...
I am sorry, this is just my rant..
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