She received the gift of God [Greek mythology]

Hermes stepped into the golden hall and came to the throne: "My father Zeus, you summoned me?"

"I know that you have successfully delivered the gift we prepared to the brother of Prometheus before you returned from Epimea, but I need you to set off again immediately."

Hermes raised his eyebrows in surprise, but still nodded: "But as ordered."

The King of Gods said solemnly: "Apollo sensed that there will be changes in the field of flames. That land is located at the edge of the world, scorching and barren, and mortals have not even settled there to reproduce. What's more, there is Gaia, the mother of the earth. There is not even a single temple in Olympus, and we naturally cannot use our avatars to confirm the situation. Therefore, my child Hermes, take your wings like wings and ride the wind to the field of flames, carefully Report back after investigation."

Hermes looked around the empty hall, now was not the time for the gathering of the gods, and there was no trace of the God of Prophecy. "My father Zeus, can you tell me what kind of omen Apollo foresaw? The prophecy is the best clue."

"He saw stones and ancient logs thrown into the sky, and great shadows stretched across the land."

Hermes didn't ask any more questions, and responded readily, "Then I'll set off immediately."

"Wait a minute."

The ruler of the sky and thunder seems to have noticed something in Hermes, his bushy eyebrows twitched, and his light blue eyes with insight into the world locked the trusted envoy, showing a rare surprise.

Hermes smiled puzzled.

"Nothing, let's go."

In an instant, Hermes left the snow-capped peaks behind.

The Field of Flame is located on the island in the southwest of the ocean current. It is a long way from Olympus. Even with the leg strength of the messenger of the gods, it will take a whole day to go back and forth. A harbinger of what Lo foretold—that is to say, Hermes was skeptical of the prophecy.

Apollo is one of the few insiders about his relationship with Pandora, and he has already blocked it before. This time it may be just a step to prevent him from hindering the end of the plan.

The Titans, who were defeated by the gods of Olympus, were thrown into Tartarus by Zeus, and the scene where his own son dragged his father down to the sky and replaced him was staged for the second time.The grief of Gaia, the goddess of the earth, caused the land to tear open wounds in the field of fire.There are several mountain passes near the rift that spit out fiery flames every hundred years; the rocks are melted under the high temperature, turning into a soft liquid like red mercury and flowing around; Stone and dead wood are pushed up into the sky.

It's entirely possible that Apollo just foresaw another eruption of the Fire Fields.As long as he exaggerated the scene every hundred years, he could use it to drive Hermes away.The night was getting darker, and the wedding began in the evening of the next day. When Hermes returned from afar at a normal pace, the wedding of Epimetheus to marry the bride given by the gods would have ended long ago. The box may have been opened for a long time.

It will be too late.

Thinking of this, Hermes quickened his pace, and at the same time separated a ray of divine consciousness to listen, ready to attach to the statue of the god in his residence in Epimea at any time because of a call.He has already considered every step after that, and prepared several backhands for each step to deal with unexpected situations.Preparing to use Epimea's avatar is just one of them.Even if the stone statue attached to the consciousness is unable to break the magic that divides the boundaries, and cannot directly break into the palace where the Titans sit, it is still enough to move Pandora to another place with a little trick.

Not only that, but Hermes secretly added a gift to it while taking over the magic box from Zeus.It was a precious treasure that he specially prepared for Pandora alone, and could accompany her to help her overcome dangers and difficulties.

The deceitful deity's elaborate captivity scheme ended with the successful taking of Pandora.

Of course Hermes prepared several safe hiding places, but he didn't know what would happen afterwards.In other words, what he could do after that was very limited.It is unlikely that Zeus would agree to give his stolen lover eternal life, so he would let Pandora drink the fairy food and secret wine he had stolen from Hebe, and gift her eternal life and youth without authorization.

However, this also means that he will break the Styx oath witnessed by Apollo.He would fall into a breathless coma for a year, followed by nine years of exile.

For the gods, ten years is certainly not a particularly long period of time.But just leaving Pandora in the world alone for a day made him feel uneasy, let alone not hearing from her for a whole year.Hermes didn't want to admit it, but he was worried that this year would be enough to change Pandora's mind.He has watched this happen many times.

After starting to worry before bringing her back to him.Really stupid.

The premise of this idea is even more stupid: plotting to take possession of the masterpiece of the gods, and accepting the punishment of breaking the oath for it.A few days ago, he would never have believed that he would make such a decision that ran counter to reason with such calmness.

But the golden arrow that flies from the bowstring of Eros and pierces his heart is the one that makes all folly not only justified, but inevitable.

Hermes flew over the dark land swifter than Notos, the god of the south wind, who brought the summer storms.But not fast enough.He wanted to reach the Field of Fire as soon as possible and return.

Apollo's suspicious prophecy, the responsibility of being the god of Olympus, Eros' prank... his worries and the scenery along the way were all left behind by him.The long sprint-like gallop gave the illusion that he was walking with Typhon's children, the Sons of the Storm named Anisulei, knowing that he was sprinting towards the disaster of disorder, but he only felt happy.

He was born a liar, but if you think about it carefully, Hermes has actually obeyed the rules of Olympus so far.He knew humans better than most of the gods who inhabited Olympus, but never questioned his loyalty to his father.So... to add a small twist to Zeus's revenge, to satisfy his rare wish, he has every right to do so, and is willing to pay the price for it.

After defeating hesitation again, Hermes became even more anxious.

Why didn't she pray to him?Even a few words are fine.But this is his law.In order to prevent Epimetheus or others from being suspicious, before opening the magic box, she must keep silent and not read his name.

But the parting after exchanging hearts is so difficult.

The clumsy but ferocious restlessness gnawed at Hermes, and the fragments engraved in his consciousness were not enough. He wanted to see her again soon, kiss her eyes in the stars, and smell the fragrance of soft honey-colored hair. She found peace again in her silent smile and occasional sharp witty responses.

It was late at night when we reached the Field of Fire.Although Hermes was impatient, he still investigated carefully.

The rift valley and volcano have been silent for many years, and the tenacious gray-green shrubs have even overcome the hot air in the soil, firmly rooted and multiplying, and the leaves covered with fluff are like small hands, shaking weakly and resolutely under the moon; Fast-growing trees rise up next to streams created by melted snow from mountain passes.The fields surrounded by mountains look more like pastures with deep ravines.From the depths of the snow-covered mountain pass, there was a low, thunder-like hoarse cry faintly, which was the breath of the resting flame boiling quietly.Other than that, it didn't look like a Jedi who was going to be Lord of Fire again.

If Hermes doesn't believe his eyes, he can also call Gaia to ask about the situation.

But he didn't.

As a child of Zeus, even the eloquent Hermes would feel uncomfortable facing the original goddess of the earth.Like other Olympian gods, he chose to leave her as undisturbed as possible.

So he set off again and galloped towards Mount Olympus.

When Hermes stepped into the golden palace, Selene's moon chariot could reach the sky.Zeus was a little surprised that he came back so early, and finally felt relieved after carefully questioning the situation of the Flame Field, and summoned Hebe, the goddess of youth, and asked her to pour a glass of wine for the envoy who had traveled through the starry night to replenish his spirit.

After hastily gulping down the immortal food and secret wine, Hermes left before the throne of the gods.

He sat for a while high on the roof of his dwelling.Overlooking from Olympos, the world has a panoramic view.The city of Epimea, surrounded by pure white walls, is extraordinarily dazzling tonight, with torches lighting up the streets.He became restless.

Zeus, whose entry and exit from the sacred realm of Olympus could not be concealed from the gods, had returned from a long and swift journey, and it might have seemed suspicious to leave immediately instead of resting in his abode.Even so, he decided to sneak into the city directly, get close to the palace, and prepare early.

When passing through the last arch of the sanctuary, Hermes stopped abruptly.

A fierce chill hit him.

His consciousness paused briefly.

This feeling is not unfamiliar.The last attack was when Pandora was born, the moment he walked in front of her.

"Eros!" Hermes hissed.

Accompanied by the sound of flapping wings, the God of Eros appeared in the shape of a beautiful boy.He looked Hermes up and down unabashedly, whistled in amazement, shook his head and said with a smile: "It seems that you have lost to my golden arrow in the end. Vigilant son of Maia, you have become duller than before I’ve learned a lot, and now I’m discovering my aura.”

Hermes pressed his chest.Nothing unusual.In other words, he returned to "normal", and felt relaxed for a long time, as if he had finally broken free from the heavy shackles.His voice trembled without authorization: "What did you do to me?!"

The answer to this question is self-evident.

Eros holds the bow strung.

The naughty and cruel God of Cupid smiled slightly: "Zeus found out that I played tricks on you... Well, if he is serious, nothing can be hidden from his horrible eyes. He told me to stop, before you do something stupid Clean up the mess as soon as possible before, so I stayed here, just waiting for you to pass by absent-mindedly."

Eros grasped the bowstring, drew it halfway and flicked it.

The humming sound is like the whine of a musical instrument before its strings are snapped and destroyed.

"As your great father requested, and as you wished before, I send you an arrow of lead to turn tenderness into loathing. Congratulations, my young friend, on your release from the sweet torment of love."

Hermes stared at Eros.

It's as if he didn't understand what the other person said, so of course he couldn't answer.

"You..." The envoy with the power of eloquence was speechless, and took a few deep breaths before uttering a coherent sentence, "Eros, I didn't ask you to do that! You have no right to erase my love."

"Your love?" Eros asked with a lenient sigh, "If it wasn't for my golden arrow, would you have fallen in love with her for no reason? Why do you love her? What do you love about her?"

Hermes widened his eyes.

He was horrified to find that he couldn't give an answer.

He was able a moment ago, but he is losing, irreversibly losing.

The reasons behind those frantic emotions that didn’t need to be transformed into words before, all the trivial details that made his heart beat so hard to hold back, faded faster than the aftertaste of dreams after opening his eyes, just like the tide erasing the sand on the beach. Shallow footprint, only one take-off and landing is required.I just remember that I forgot one thing, but I can't say what I forgot, and I am speechless.He couldn't even grasp the shape of what he had lost. The only thing he felt was the non-existent hole that was deeply sunken and immediately filled after the loss.

"Don't make such an expression, shouldn't you be happy? Is it because the stamina of the golden arrow is too strong for the first time?" Eros seemed to be a little surprised, and he suggested thoughtfully, "If you are interested in her beauty If you are still infatuated, then ask Hephaestus to make another beauty for you, and then ask your father to give her life."

Even if a body identical to Pandora's was recreated from the same clay, it would not be her.

Hermes wanted to shudder.

Should he be angry?Should one resent Eros' vicious teasing?But this is indeed the freedom he wanted to regain in the first place.

"Also—" Hermes couldn't complete a sentence.

Because at that moment, the earth trembled and mourned.

It was dark under the clouds.

Indescribable things scattered around Epimea, the white city.

Misfortune, toil, and disease, these concepts fall into the mortal world, completely ending the era of human beings who have no worries about food and clothing.

This is the real gift prepared by the King of Gods for the human beings that Prometheus intends to protect.

At the same moment, Hermes clearly heard the words he had been anxiously waiting for:

"Hermes, I am calling you."

The blazing fire he had grown accustomed to was gone, but the venomous sting of Eros's promise had failed to sprout.The soul seems to have been burned to scorched earth.

"Hermes...can you hear me? Please...please come and take me away."

Pandora is calling him.Her prayers trembled.

But Hermes felt nothing.