Medusa blindly swung her arm, banking on her scant understanding of dimensions to work. In a fraction of a second, the buzzing stopped. The ensuing silence was so sharp and sudden that her ears popped.
Relief washed through her when she cracked her eyes open and came upon an empty sky. Not a single bee in sight. It worked! When she sharpened her focus, she noticed a floating transparent mass about the size of a cartwheel. It rippled in and out of sight, and if she wasn’t directly looking out for it, it vanished from her view.
Sighing, Medusa glanced around and flinched. The boulder bear was a mere fifteen feet from where she stood, but despite being within the beast’s line of sight, it did not approach. Has its blindness worsened? She tentatively waved her arm. Zero reaction. So the bees helped its navigation. Interesting.
Even though she had gotten rid of the bees, she was still in a bad spot. The numbness had travelled past her knees, and the urge to freak out was overwhelming. If the paralysis was anything like her petrification curse, she was doomed. That thing easily killed powerful blood carriers.
Okay, breathe and think. There had to be a way. Now that the bear appeared disoriented, she could kill it. No. Instead of that, she could attempt holding it in a dimension. Yeah, trapping it in a dimension made more sense.
As Medusa did with the butterfly, she connected to the bear’s movement line and got a sense of how air and aether moved around it. She frowned; something felt off with the way the elements acted around the beast’s rocky back. Her fear was soon confirmed when her attempt to trap it was repelled.
Come on!
After five failed attempts, she gave up. But as soon as she stopped, the beast halted mid-pace, lifted its snout, and sniffed the air. Then, it turned and began lumbering in her direction.
You've got to be kidding me. Heart sinking, Medusa attempted to flee and whimpered when she recalled she was stuck. Desperate, she snatched an arrow, manipulated air around the bowstring to muffle its twang and aimed it at the bear. Making a last-minute decision, she shifted her target a foot away and fired. It reacted instantly, pouncing and attacking the arrow with a rabid ferocity.
As Medusa watched the rampaging beast, goosebumps raced across her skin. That speed. If anything would kill her, it would be the bear’s insane reaction time. It raised its head and sniffed again; drool slid down its maws as it released a huff and resumed its approach.
Biting back a shout of frustration, Medusa reached for another arrow. That beast must never reach her. Despite the cool morning breeze, sweat poured down her brow; a line slid into her eye and forced her to blink hard. She’d have to take multiple shots to counter its speed, but her fingers wouldn’t stop trembling and her breathing was ragged. It also didn’t help that her thumb still throbbed with hot pain from the bee sting.
Medusa had just controlled her breathing and was about to release the arrow when she heard it. A drawn-out groan. Horrified, she chanced a backward glance and spotted Lonian struggling to sit up. Of all the times to come to, it had to be now.
From the corner of her eyes, she caught the bear’s movement. It leapt in their direction, claws extended, jaws unhinged and cloudy enraged eyes fixed on her.
Medusa couldn’t tell if some higher being reached into her mind and opened a door, but understanding suddenly dawned and she attempted something she would never have considered even with a million do-overs. Expanding the divide, she enveloped both her and Lonian in a dimension.
The bear jumped right through her.
Panting, Medusa noticed in shock that she was on her knees. The paralysis was gone and so was the feeling of the wind against her skin. She turned and spotted the bear. It bounded about, flattening the grass and swiping at nothing.
“What’s happening?”
“Lonian!” Medusa hurried over. The red patches and the stiffness were gone. He appeared perfectly fine. “You're okay.”
He sprung to his feet when he noticed the bear. “That’s a boulder bear! What’s a boulder bear doing in the Grecian continent?” Eyes wide, he looked from the bear to Medusa. “And my sword. Why can’t I access my pocket?” He flicked his wrist and frowned when he spotted the beaded band. “Why am I wearing this? What happened?”
Medusa sighed and stood too. “Are you allergic to bees?”
His frown deepened as he nodded. “But it's only mild. I remember we saw a carcass. And a bee…” his words faded as he glanced around, appearing even more confused. “This is strange. I can’t feel the wind.” He sniffed. “Or pick any scent. And why isn’t the boulder bear attacking us?”
Medusa gave him a rundown of the situation. His gaze became unreadable when she got to the part about creating a ‘pocket’ to trap the bees and hide.
Lonian suddenly offered a sharp bow as the muscles of his jaw ticked. “Forgive this mortal for not recognising a deity,” he said through gritted teeth.
“What?” Medusa was so shocked by the insinuation that her mind went blank.
“I will keep your secret, so you don’t have to—”
“What are you talking about?” She would have laughed if this was funny. “I am not a deity.”
“If that is what you wish me to believe, I shall believe it.” The shift in attitude was so jarring that Medusa wanted to scream. Whatever air of easy friendship he exuded vanished and in its place was cold formality.
“I swear I’m a mortal.” Medusa facepalmed as she struggled for an explanation that made sense. “Why would I need the wristband if I’m not a mortal?”
“This lowly mortal can never understand the workings of a deity’s mind.”
Medusa laughed bitterly. Of all the things to be mistaken for, it had to be a deity. “Lonian, if I was playing mortal, why would I save you?”
“Sincerely, there is no need to further convince this mortal—”
“If I were a deity, I would have obliterated the beast, manipulated your memories and waited for you to come to. Why would I hide like some rat if I had all that power?”
“Oh.” Lonian tentatively straightened and cocked his head. “You do make a valid point.”
Medusa threw her hands. “Of course.”
“You truly are not a deity?”
She chuffed. “Why would I want to be something I despise?”
“You despise deities?”
“Um… some of them,” she answered with a shrug.
A thoughtful look crossed his face as he continued observing her. “I also have some…reservations about them.”
They both fell silent and watched the bear. It had stopped its rampage, now it paced back and forth like a caged animal. Must be determined and hungry.
“How did you create this though?” Lonian stretched a hand. Upon contact, the wall of the dimension rippled like water. “I’ve never heard of a pocket that holds living things.” His gaze returned to her and widened. “Does this mean you’re now awakened?” His tone grew excited. “But I don’t sense any difference. Is it because we’re in this space? How do we get out?”
I don’t know. But Medusa couldn’t tell him that. Clotho had taught her how to create dimensions, not destroy them.
As if thinking of the Moirai summoned her, Medusa sensed her link.
Just say you're awakened, that will help explain away things.
“I… think I’m awakened?”
Medusa stumbled forward when Lonian slapped her back and laughed. “Awesome! A great win for the dogs.”
How did you think to hide in a dimension? There was a proud note in Clotho's voice. I teach you one and you learn a hundred. Even the venom lost its potency.
Thank you? Medusa was stuck between feeling proud of her achievement and bemoaning how weak her attack was. She had been powerless against the bear, a mere prey waiting to be killed.
I planted a thought in that boy. The one with the beautiful face.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Akrivi?
Yes. He should be here any moment.
“This is really impressive.” Lonian’s already happy face appeared even happier as he observed the dimension. “The first pocket I made was the size of my fist. At my awakening ceremony, they covered my eyes with the seeing blindfold and—”
“Someone is coming,” Medusa said.
They both looked in time to see Akrivi shoot through the grass. In a blink, he was upon the beast, slashing with precision. Each movement was as fluid as water and with each cut a blue line followed. Blood splattered as the bear roared. Each swipe from the beast led to a severed limb. The bear staggered, attempting to balance on its hind feet, but Akrivi flashed behind it and sliced through both ankles.
The bear released a strangled huff. As it landed on its severed front paw, Akrivi’s sword was waiting. The blade pierced through its head, instantly killing it.
“The showoff,” Lonian muttered despite wearing a big grin.
Akrivi dislodged his weapon and flatly watched the beast collapse. Flicking the blood off his sword, he glanced about with sharp eyes.
“How do we get out of this?” Lonian asked.
“Umm… give me a moment.”
Clotho…
You figured out how to hide in a dimension but you can’t figure out how to destroy one? There was a note of incredulity in Clotho’s voice.
My mind is fried.
Fine. Remember the line? Just snap it in half, Clotho said with a sigh. And you were doing so well as a star pupil.
Cut me some slack. I nearly died.
But here you are, still alive.
Medusa rolled her eyes and did as Clotho said. Akrivi was before them in an instant, and she had to go through the whole process of explaining how they managed to survive.
“Awakened, huh?” He looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. “But I don’t know why I keep feeling like you’re trouble.”
Not knowing how to react, Medusa focused on the bear. Akrivi wasn’t wrong to be suspicious. Even though she wasn’t a deity, she was deceiving them to an extent. Yes, she was mortal, but both her parents were deities, this wasn’t her real face and freaking Athena had a chain around her neck.
Akrivi mulled over the kill. “I’m not sure about the beast’s meat, but I’ve heard good things about its honey.”
“Hey, soft hands, ever skinned an animal before?” Akrivi asked as he produced a leather strip holding a spread of flaying knives.
Lonian chuckled at the nickname. “Stop teasing the rich kid.”
Swallowing a retort, Medusa mutely joined them in extracting the comb. They worked in silence until Clotho dropped the bomb.
It’s about the being you saw when you nearly died. Yes, she is my second sister, and I believe she intends to join hands with the one they call Perseus.
The bitter liquid slid down Perseus' throat and warmed his belly. Since he arrived at this pit of Hades, the rain had refused to let up. It either poured or drizzled, but never ceased.
Despite the coolness in the air, sweat misted his brow and the back of his neck. He bounced his knees as his gaze travelled from the shadowed corridor to the open space of the arena.
It’s mercy. Doing this is mercy.
He retrieved his sword from his pocket for the fifth time since his watch. Lightning struck, illuminating the dim early morning sky for a fleeting moment.
Perseus took another gulp of wine. The hunched girl had been kind enough to sneak him a flask. Wine, smoking pipes and an array of strange elixirs were a norm in Cronus’ Hovel. Money and power held sway in the school and those willingly sent by their house had access to monetary provisions. But he was kidnapped. No backing. A nobody. Having an empty pocket meant he depended on the school for everything. But that was fine. Everything was as fine and perfect as the weather.
His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as he glared at the small body on the muddy ground.
Why, just why did he see Linos whenever he looked at that boy? Day and night, the child remained in the same pitiful state. Whenever he dared to move, the dryad moved as well, never relenting as it stabbed the boy, crushing his fight.
This is mercy. Perseus assured himself as he drowned the content of the flask and discarded it with a careless hand. He stood and stepped into the drizzle. Another step. Then another. They said nobody was permitted to help him, but they said nothing about ending his suffering.
If that were Linos, I would be thankful to anyone who would put him out of his misery. The arena was empty. Perseus had absconded the mandatory morning drill for this, and he would bear whatever punishment came after. Since his stunt with lightning, the news about whose blood he carried spread fast. The seniors did well staying out of his way, and his perpetual black mood did not help matters.
Not that he cared if anyone saw what he was about to do. The swine who ran this accursed school would meet the end of his blade once he learned all there was to learn of his power.
The drizzle grew heavier, rain pelting him as he finally came to a stop. The boy groaned as he rolled to his back. Curiously, the dryad did not react. Perseus glanced at it and noticed the filthy beast had turned its face away.
You wait. Once I free this child, I shall come for you.
Hunkering down, Perseus cocked his head as he peered at the boy. He blinked his eyes open and flinched when he noticed Perseus.
“You are suffering.”
The boy’s breathing grew laboured as he stared at Perseus.
“You have no strength to reach for your sword.”
The boy blinked from his discarded sword to Perseus’ face. “Help me.” His voice was raspy from disuse.
“That is why I am here,” Perseus said in a gentle voice. “But the instructor said I can not kill the dryad for you.”
The boy seemed to think about Perseus’ words for a moment. His eyes widened. “Then you…”
Perseus nodded. At least he was smart. “Yes. I plan to end your suffering.”
The boy’s face crumbled as his tears joined the rain. Perseus could not tell if they were tears of fear or gratitude, but that mattered little. It was only natural to feel terror in the face of death.
“I have a brother much like you back home. Weak Linos.” Perseus’ gaze flitted to the dryard, but it was not the beast he saw. He winced when Linos’ smiling face morphed into the demented grin of the mormo. “I would want… I would want a similar mercy to be shown to my brother if his weakness causes him unbearable suffering.”
The boy’s breathing grew even more laboured. Perseus dispassionately watched as he weakly strained for his discarded sword.
Perseus frowned. “Do you wish to do it yourself? But I fear you have no strength for that.”
The boy broke into audible sobs.
“Why do you weep? Because of your weakness?” Perseus walked to the sword and kicked it over. “Take it.”
He flatly watched the boy struggle to hold the weapon. He didn’t even have the strength to lift it up. This thing twisting in his chest—surely it was compassion. Yesterday, he had watched the dryad stab the boy about two hundred times within a horai. Painful to watch.
Resolute, Perseus’ grip tightened around his sword. If he injected enough aether in his strike, it would achieve a swift painless death. Even though his hand shook, the wine helped to settle his wavering emotions. He had never killed a person, but this was mercy. He had to do it.
“Please.” The boy’s whisper reached Perseus’ ears.
He is practically begging to be free. I must do this.
“What is your name?” Perseus asked. “I will build you a memorial when I leave this place.”
“H-Heracles.” The boy sobbed harder when he spotted Perseus’ raised sword.
“Do not weep, Heracles. This will be painless.”
“P-please,” Heracles begged with more tears. “I don’t want to die.”
Perseus shut his eyes and snuffed out the spark of pity in his chest. “I will remember you, Heracles.” He pierced down, but before his sword could stab his mark, someone slammed into him.
Pain exploded at his side as he struck the earth, somersaulted across the muddy ground and hit a wall. Groaning, he shook his head in a daze and blinked repeatedly. Who would dare—
His attacker was suddenly upon him, barely giving him a moment to catch a breath as they rained blows.
“You murderous bastard!”
A female’s voice.
Perseus re-enforced his fist with aether and struck her jaw. He got a mere grunt as a reaction and more blows, this time vicious uppercuts that sent blood spilling past his lips.
Curses! What was this inhuman strength? And she did something to the air around them. It weighed down on him, causing his movement to turn sluggish. He struggled against it, forcing blows of his own, but this girl… it was like striking a rock. Her body was reinforced with aether.
“You think death is easy?” Her voice was a harsh snarl. “I’ll take you to its door.” She grabbed his tunic and smashed her head against his.
Perseus’ brain shook within his skull as stars burst in his vision. Never. Never in his life had he felt more pain or humiliation. He imagined Dictys witnessing this shame of being trashed by a female and he recoiled in black rage.
“I saw you watch the young lord with a sick glint in your eyes.” She glared at him as if he was worse than dirt, and in the midst of his pain, he recognised her. She was the harlot-looking female who finished second during their induction. “I’ll show you what death looks like.”
Sensing incoming lightning, Perseus extended an arm not caring that he wasn’t holding a sword. Lightning did not affect him anyway. But the whore seemed to realise something was off. She leapt off him at the last moment and the lightning energy drained into the earth without a mark.
Perseus bared his teeth in rage as he forced himself to stand. Before his body could fully repair itself, she was upon him again, kicking him off his feet and stomping his face. When he attempted to rise, she straddled him and delivered more blows. At a point, she caught his arm mid-defence and viciously twisted it until she heard a crack.
Perseus bit back a shout as he jerked his body in a desperate attempt to ease his pain and free himself.
“Since you’re the weak one now, how about you die?” She grabbed his neck and began squeezing. “Isn't your suffering too much? Death is mercy.”
Perseus blinked, feeling woozy. Black was beginning to seep into his vision.
“Go on. Beg,” she spat through clenched teeth. “Plead for your life.”
Wheezing, Perseus madly tapped at her arm. She increased the pressure instead, coldly watching him struggle. Not a spark of pity. His heart skipped a beat as fear razed through his senses. The whore intended to kill him.
“P-please,” he managed to choke out.
“I will remember you,” the whore flung Perseus’ own words at him.
When he realised the bitch wouldn’t relent. He kicked his feet, struggling in futility to free himself. No, this can’t be how I die… no.
But no matter how hard he struggled, unconsciousness came and when he opened his eyes, he was back in that strange space with the enraged goddess.
She sat cross-legged, chin resting on a propped hand as she blinked at him with a bored gaze.
Should I let her kill you?
And here's a poll for you.
Do You Agree With Perseus' "Mercy"?
