章節 50: Unbreakable Destiny
Indian Peninsula, the territories of the Hindu Pantheon.
Prometheus was slowly moulding the clay into a pot in a burgeoning city alongside the coast of a vast and boundless river pouring from the Himalayas, his fingers streaming across its surface, engraving it with spiritual symbols. And the humans marvelled at him, some of them holding a parchment leaf, recoding each and every step of moulding.
Prometheus gazed at the city with emotional eyes from time to time, taking in its magnificence. The entire city was bathed in spiritual light, which illuminated truth and reality itself.
This was the cradle of spirituality.
Varanasi.
Prometheus recently arrived in Varanasi. This was an important place on his journey around the world, as it is the spiritual capital of the world, blessed by the Trinity themselves.
He had spent the past year travelling the world after creating the human race on Europa. Under the guidance of Apollo and other gods, humans prospered steadily. This had lifted a heavy burden from his shoulders.
Prometheus, free of the bonds of fate, decided to travel the world, witnessing the cultures and civilizations of various pantheons. And he intended to bring his accumulated knowledge and experience back to his home and impart it on his creations.
The sunrays illuminated Prometheus as he finished the modelling, revealing a mud pot to humans who looked on in awe, as if he had performed a literal miracle.
Prometheus smiled and took the pot in his hand, gifting it to the humans. They paused, their eyes wary and suspicious of his generous actions. Among them, however, was a young boy of about twelve years old who bravely approached Prometheus and accepted the pot.
"What is your name, son?" Prometheus questioned, amused, and impressed by his courage.
"Krishna." The youngster proudly patted his chest.
"Krishna..." Prometheus said. "That's a beautiful name..."
"I know, right? ... Krishna giggled.
Prometheus chuckled at his vigour.
Krishna whispered softly, looking at the pot. "You don't belong to this land...."
"Yes." Prometheus said, gazing at the twilight sun. "I come from a far, far away place."
Krishna inquired, perplexed. "Does it resemble here?"
"In some ways, yes." Prometheus nodded, sighing.
"Could you take me there?" Krishna abruptly requested, "I wanted to explore the earth just like you."
Prometheus shook his head, saying soothingly, "No, son. My journey is a perilous one. It is not suitable for a child."
Krishna continued to look at him with pleading and belligerence.
Prometheus sighed and reached into his robe for something. It was his divine emblem. He passed it on to Krishna.
"This is my emblem. When you are strong and grown, you can use this to find me and my land."
Krishna smiled brightly and grabbed the emblem. Then, bowing his head, he said. "Thank you."
Prometheus nodded and sent the youngster forth with the rest of the humans.
Krishna halted after a few steps and asked aloud. "I forgot to ask what your name is."
"Prometheus." After a moment of silence, Prometheus revealed, "I am Prometheus."
"Then, Prometheus." Krishna waved his hand, walking away into the crowds. "Wait for me...."
Prometheus peered at the fading figure of Krishna, frowning slightly. That boy gave off a very odd and mysterious feeling. He was a mere mortal, not a god in disguise; that much was certain.
Finally, he closed his eyes, giving into his curiosity. He wanted to pry into fate, but someone intercepted him just then.
A divine woman emerged from the vast and boundless river that flows through Varanasi.
Ganga, the Hindu Goddess of Purification and Forgiveness, was her name. She embodies the immense and endless river from which she arose, which springs from the crown of Shiva.
Prometheus opened his eyes, solemnly gazing at the Goddess of Purity as she severed Shiva himself.
"Prometheus." Ganga spoke ethereally. "It is time."
Prometheus frowned. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes." Ganga nodded. "But not here or with you. It is your home and your creations."
"Creation and home..." Prometheus whispered into a trance.
Ganga waited patiently for his recovery, knowing he was receiving a revelation from the fate triggered by her words.
"No..." Prometheus muttered incoherently, breaking free from his trance. "No. It wouldn't be... Apollo wouldn't do..."
Then he exhaled deeply, suppressing his emotions and focusing on Ganga. "Thank you."
"This is all the will of Mahadev." Ganga said humbly.
"Please accept my apologies; I can't thank him in person," Prometheus said, pulling a bronze ring from his robes.
Ganga nodded. And Prometheus whispered to the ring.
"I need your help, my friend," A circular portal made of orange sparks appeared, revealing a sanctuary.
"Prometheus," Ganga called out, catching his attention. "Mahadev also said something else."
"Destiny is sometimes unavoidable and unbreakable."
Prometheus listened, his eyes closed in pain and agony.
'I hope I am not too late.'
Then he took a firm step into the portal.
_______________
Olympus. The council of the gods adjourned. The Gods and Goddesses immediately departed, returning to their abode and realm to witness the epochal event that was about to occur in the mortal world.
Apollo and Artemis walked shoulder to shoulder through the winding paths of Olympus in heavy silence.
"Brother." Artemis finally asked, breaking the silence. "Are you fine?"
She looked him in the eyes. "Pandora…"
"I'm fine," Apollo said, finally chuckling. "My heart isn't that frail, sister; Pandora was merely my creation."
Artemis shot back. "However, you ruffled your hair."
"What?" Apollo asked, blinking.
"You ruffled your hair." Artemis repeated, elaborating. "You only do that when you're pretty frustrated."
"Do I...?" Apollo asked, perplexed.
Artemis laughed. "Yes, you often do that," she said, holding his hand and gently asking. "So, brother, tell me about Pandora if you want; there's no need to keep it all in your heart."
Apollo sighed, ruffling his hair. "Fine."
He averted his gaze. "I've always said that I honour free will, and it's even written in my holy rites, but I failed to do so with Pandora."
"Brother." Artemis said quietly. "You didn't do anything wrong. Free will is invaluable. You can't always uphold up with everyone. You know it. I know it."
"You are indeed right." Apollo drewled, his eyes gleaming with light. "But Pandora is different from everyone. She is my first true creation."
Artemis exhaled a sigh. "You could still give her a choice when she returns to you in Delphi, Brother."
"You think she will come back?" Apollo arched his brow.
"She certainly will." Artemis nodded. "Mark my words."
"Let's hope so," Apollo said.
Artemis dragged him down their path, hastening their steps.
She inquired. "Where are we going anyway?"
"We..." Apollo said, looking down.
But he stopped and looked back down their path. Artemis followed his gaze and noticed Athena nearing them.
The Goddess of Wisdom strode in front of Apollo.
"The Evils. They will gradually tear down the humanity that we have created. They will plague all of mankind until their deaths. And yet you…" She drawled, looking for an explanation from him.
"No, Athena." Apollo shook his head. "Humanity will prevail."
"How..?" Athena questioned, though the worries in her eyes began to fade as he spoke.
Apollo looked her in the eyes. "Believe me on this."
"You expect me to trust you when you don't trust me?" Athena glared at him. "If you have forgotten, humanity is your creation as well as mine."
"It is our creation," Apollo said. "You should be aware of the stakes involved. I don't want any unknown variables to emerge at this critical juncture. So, Athena, trust me."
He pointed up at the cosmos above them.
Artemis approached Athena, who had gone silent in thought and deliberation after hearing her brother.
"Athena. My brother will stand by his words. Humans are also my creations. They'll get through it. I promise on that." She said firmly.
Athena looked uncertainly at her and Apollo, and then sighed. "Fine...."
Artemis immediately smiled.
However, Athena continued, her gaze narrowing at Apollo. "You better not let me down, as the stakes are very high, like you said, Apollo."
Apollo nodded solemnly. Then he extended his hand to everyone. "Come on. We can oversee it and bear witness to it."
"This is much better." Athena nodded and took his hand in hers. "At the very least, if there is really a problem, we will be able to respond immediately."
Artemis clasped his hand as well. And light erupted, slowly dissolving their figures into shimmering golden particles.
"Where did you send Pandora?" Artemis inquired.
"Phoenicia, Mediterranean."
__________________
Eastern Mediterranean, Phoenicia.
Athena, Artemis, and Apollo descended from the peak of a mountain, overlooking a rising city alongside the coast of the Mediterranean.
"This is Tyre." Apollo revealed. "One of humanity's first settlements. And they chose to believe me and received my blessings. To honour me, they even named their city Tyre after my first city."
"Pandora will arrive here."
"You actually chose your own city for this, brother." Artemis said, peering at him.
Apollo smiled as he shook his head. Then he gave them instructions. "Come on. Let's enter the city."
Artemis stood there, looking at her brother silently, before following him with Athena. Her brother had already concealed their presence. However, they were soon interrupted.
A blaze of crimson flames erupted, forming a massive pillar. Prometheus emerged from it, his gaze fixed on Apollo.
Apollo looked at the raging flames without an ounce of surprise.
"Apollo…" Prometheus raged and charged at him. "How could you do this? This was our creation!"
Apollo raised his hand and stopped others from intervening. Then he approached Prometheus, and they faced each other in the bright sunlight.
Apollo stated. "Every action has a consequence, Prometheus. Punishment was inevitable. And I managed to reduce it."
"No." Prometheus desperately shook his head. "You only made it worse. At the very least, there would be some hope for humanity. But by doing this... "
"You vanquished hope itself..." He raged.
"Listen.." Apollo said.
But Prometheus cut him off, glaring at him. "I thought you were different, Apollo, different from them."
Athena and Artemis frowned. The divine gazes of gods and goddesses were immediately cast here, noticing and witnessing them.
Apollo chuckled. "Different? Prometheus, have you truly forgotten who you are? Do you begin to think of yourself as a mortal after spending so much time with them?"
"Mortals are better than gods in every single way." Prometheus uttered those blasphemous words fearlessly. "It is the truth. You're aware of it, Apollo, aren't you? Their bright and brilliant future with no…."
"Enough." Apollo sighed exasperatedly. "I have had enough of this charade."
"Prometheus." He rubbed his temples. "You truly are a hero. Brave. Fearless. And also... dumb. Do you think your petty tricks and façade can fool me?"
Apollo summoned. "Anastasia."
A dark golden light erupted. Anastasia emerged from it, dressed in a dark gown. Behind her back, six dark-golden wings swayed in an authoritative aura. Her hand held a shimmering golden chain that bound a titan.
It was Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus, the guider of humanity.
Prometheus' brave and fearless countenance collapsed.
Anastasia kneeled, saying, "My Lord, as you anticipated, I found him on Pandora's path. He was planning to stop her, when everyone's focus had been turned here."
Apollo nodded and pointed to Epimetheus, completely ignoring his struggle. He gave the order. "Reveal."
Numerous yellow sparks of pure magic erupted from Epimetheus, streaming out of him and morphing into a mystic rune.
The rune represented "concealment."
"Eldritch Magic and Mystic Runes," Apollo explained, his dark-golden eyes in order. "This is a great concealment magic, alerting reality itself to ignore Epimetheus. But it's a pity he met my Angel of Judgment."
He went on, looking around. "Prometheus, it appears you have many secret connections with the human world; will they come to save you now? Will they defend you, acknowledging your sacrifice?"
The world was silent as ever. And Prometheus bowed his head, his face shrouded in his own shadows.
"I assumed as much," Apollo shook his head, hearing the deafening silence. He then looked at Prometheus. "I wanted to give you a chance, to reason with you despite knowing your ploy, but you were stubborn and refused to listen."
Apollo turned and looked at the sky, but his remaining words continued to ring in the mind of Prometheus. 'From the woven fate, you assumed the truth. You saw humanity's extinction by the evils unleashed by Pandora and believed it wholeheartedly.'
'Don't you recall? I broke fate and set you free, Prometheus. But you still fell prey, and the shackles of fate bound you once again, forcing you to fulfil your predetermined fate.'
Prometheus snapped his eyes at Apollo. His words were like thunder, rattling his mind and heart to their core.
'Destiny is sometimes unavoidable and unbreakable.'
Shiva's words flashed through his mind as well, allowing him to see the truth and how he had been manipulated to fulfil his original fate in a different way and on a different path. And his heart shattered in despair.
Apollo said. "Every action has consequences, and one must bear them."
He stated. "You have betrayed and blasphemed the gods, Prometheus, and you will face trial and punishment in Olympus under my father, Zeus."
"But, the world and history will remember your actions, and you will go down as the hero...."
"The First Hero of humanity."
Prometheus gazed at Apollo, his eyes dimming with a last glint of despair and agony.
He begged. "Please, Apollo, look after them."
"Enough!" roared the sky, unleashing a massive bolt of lightning that submerged Prometheus and Epimetheus.
Apollo stared silently at the dimming lightning…
_____________
Pandora walked under the shimmer of the sun, her eyes curiously observing the world. Soon, she saw a faint and blurry structures and dashed towards it with enthusiasm.
As the shimmer of the sun faded, the faint and blurry structures gradually became clear. Pandora stood there, dazed by the beautiful city in front of her.
It was Tyre, the Phoenician city.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票