She received the gift of God [Greek mythology]

Pandora tasted fear for the first time.

My heart pounded against my chest like it was about to jump out.She didn't understand what she saw just now, where she was at the moment, and what happened?She just wanted to escape, to a safe place.

In the night, the only familiar figure was the figure of Hermes, and she immediately leaned towards him.

There was a special aura about the god, which was cooler than the night breeze, and it was enough to dispel the fear left by sleep.

"You were dreaming just now," Hermes gently stroked her hair, "it's okay. It was just a dream."

Pandora couldn't help pressing closer to his chest: "What happened in the dream may come true, I know it."

And she saw too many horrible things in her dreams.

Hermes did not continue to comfort her in a hurry, but asked at the right time: "So, what did you see in your dream?"

"I've seen a lot of people. Sometimes they're talking, other times they're making horrible noises and charging forward with things called 'axes' and 'swords' at other humans Hit him, and then... the person hit will bleed red blood and fall down," Pandora was silent for a moment, and deduced in a low voice, "I think, that's death."

"I also saw villages with black smoke, fires, and 'cities'. No matter where, many people died..." She shuddered suddenly, "At last, many thunders suddenly fell from the sky, Whether it is a house or a human being, as long as it is struck by lightning, it will turn into black dust. After that, it began to rain heavily, and the torrent covered everything, and the dust was washed away, and there was nothing left."

Long after the voice stopped, Hermes still did not speak.

Pandora looked up at him.

Hermes was in the shadow by the window, the unique light of the gods was restrained, and his expression could not be seen clearly.But Pandora felt for no reason that the envoy, who always loved to laugh, didn't have a smile on his lips at the moment.To the gods, the scenes she just narrated may not only not be scary, but may even be so commonplace as to be boring.Hermes' embrace suddenly became a little cold.

"Are you afraid?" he asked suddenly.

Pandora was confused and silent.Hermes seemed to be asking more than if she was afraid of what she saw in her dream.

Finally she nodded. "In the dream, I was scared. But now I'm not so scared."

Hermes was stunned for a moment, then let out a chuckle like a sigh, and stroked her hair gently with his fingertips again: "Some dreams are indeed prophecies, but there are also some dreams that will not come true. dream."

"The other residents here, no matter they are mortals or demigods, are the dead who have long separated from the mortal world. During the day, they live a quiet and peaceful life. Once at night, when they are still alive, they close their eyes and fall asleep. , the residents of Ilysion began to dream, and the dreams were all about their lives.

"They will not only see their own past in their dreams, but they may also see other people's—the sea of ​​souls here is unobstructed, and every fragment of a dream is connected to other fragments. But when they wake up at dawn, they will not Remember the dream you had."

Hermes is the most story-telling existence in the sky and on the earth, and everything he says is beautiful.

"But you are different, Pandora, you are still alive. When you fall asleep, you may stray into other people's dreams, and when you wake up, you will remember what you saw. But whether it is fighting or killing, it has already happened. do not be afraid."

Pandora had lingering fears: "Then... what are the lightning and floods I saw? Everyone and the entire land were destroyed. Isn't that a prophecy?"

Hermes replied indifferently: "Humanity has been destroyed twice."

Her eyes widened in surprise.This is new knowledge that she does not know.

"You just had a nightmare. If I continue talking, it will be even more difficult for you to fall asleep."

Pandora shook her head: "I still want to hear it. Please continue."

Hermes told her about the golden and silver age of mankind:

"The earliest mortals were carefree. They didn't need to work hard to live comfortably. They lived a long life and kept their youthful appearance. They died peacefully after reaching the end of life. But the ten-year war between the Olympians and the Titans Disastrous to the mortal world, the earliest human beings perished."

It's the Titans again.

Pandora had only vague notions of the dispute between Olympus and the Titans.She knew that the Titan King was the father of Zeus, and Zeus became the master of the sky in his place.In this way, the Titans should be the enemies of the Olympian gods.But Pandora is also a gift to a certain Titan Protoss in the world.

For the first time, she had some doubts about the reason for her birth.

But she listened quietly as Hermes continued.

"Because the original human beings were noble in character and could be compared with gold, it was called the Golden Age. People in the Golden Age did not disappear after death, but became Daimons who guarded the world."

"After that, Father God Zeus created new human beings. They didn't become adults until they were a hundred years old, but they only had a few years to live after they became adults. It's over, most people enter the underground world after death, and a few come here." Hermes paused, "You may see the scene at that time. The Silver Age is also a long time ago, don't be afraid. "

Pandora asked: "What about the current human beings?"

Hermes did not intend to continue telling the story: "I will continue when I have a chance. You should rest, the night is already very deep."

"Do I have to sleep now?"

Pandora's eager eyes look a bit like a child's.Hermes coaxed her more softly: "Although you are not human, you need sleep just like humans."

She naively asked what could be called disrespect: "Doesn't the gods need sleep?"

"Basically not necessary."

"That is to say, you can't dream?"

Hermes smiled. "I'll still dream if the God of Sleep casts a spell on me. And occasionally... I'll take a nap if I'm exhausted too much to recover, or if I'm too bored."

"Then where do you go when I'm sleeping?"

Pandora didn't realize it, but the tone of her question sounded like she was trying to keep him.Eros' vile gifts began to stir again.Hermes took care to control his expression, but the words that were not from his heart took the opportunity to sneak out:

"I'm not going anywhere."

She immediately showed a relieved expression and lay down again.

Hermes tapped lightly on her forehead: "You won't have any more nightmares tonight."

Stardust-like shattered light scattered from his fingertips.

Soft drowsiness crept up her brows, Pandora barely opened her eyes, and said to him in a daze: "Since you're not going anywhere, why don't you sleep for a while?"

But before she could answer, she had already fallen asleep again.

Hermes regretted giving Pandora the blessing of sleeping.He has nothing to do in bliss, and no one needs his message.And he knows that it doesn't matter how far you go.Even if he wandered around the island all night, he would concentrate his spiritual awareness on this small window, and he would know immediately if there was any movement.

But sitting on the edge of the bed is another kind of torment.

After Eros pointed it out, Hermes could no longer turn a blind eye to his abnormality.The golden arrow didn't disappear when it hit him, but became a part of him; it turned into a flame that gnawed out from the depths, and the more he was awake, the more it burned, and it seemed to burn him from head to toe.

Pandora was better when she was awake, and Hermes was able to cover it up with the power of deception.But without an audience, the benefits of empowerment are greatly diminished.It seemed that the body no longer belonged to him. With his own stubborn will, his fingers and arms were eager to move, wanting to touch and possess.

——Do you want to sleep for a while?

The unintentional invitation lingered in his ears, and Hermes wanted to sigh again.

Compared with when she first gained spiritual wisdom, Pandora no longer accepts everything silently, and her questions and requests are more and more active and frequent.This indicates that her curiosity has begun to sprout.But curiosity is only the beginning.After walking out of the ignorant cave and realizing that the shadow swaying on the wall is only a corner of the vast world, the feelings that other gods and humans have will quickly mature.

She is becoming more human and has learned to fear.

But she wasn't afraid of him.

After Pandora finished describing the nightmare just now, Hermes deliberately released a little pressure from the gods. She was obviously confused by the icy breath, but she didn't feel any more fear.

However, compared to other people's old dreams, what Pandora should fear more is Hermes, the envoy of God.

There is an insurmountable gap between the immortal gods and other living beings.Awe is not only a courtesy to the arrogant gods, but also the instinct of self-protection of living beings—whether it is favoring or cursing, the attention of the gods is too heavy for the fragile life that will decay and die.

Hermes has watched, and even meddled, in countless instances: demigods, fairies, and mortals have fallen to misery under the gaze of Olympus.

Thinking of this, Hermes' thoughts stagnated in confusion.

Leaving aside the arrogance of not wanting to admit defeat to Eros, what else is he worried about?Could it be...he was worried about hurting Pandora?

Compared with some gods, Hermes is indeed more gentle and friendly, and because he often deals with humans, he can realize what the gods look like in the eyes of other creatures.But in essence he was no different from the other inhabitants of Olympus.Both ruthlessness and willfulness are gifts of overwhelming power and endless life.

Hermes' fingertips rubbed along Pandora's cheeks, like touching a soft and fragile flower.

She was in a deep sleep and felt nothing.

The touch exuding a cold air moved to the slender and fragile neck.After the clay was infused with life, it was no different from a mortal body. Hermes pressed against Pandora's warm skin on the side of the neck, feeling the rhythmic agitation.The same goes for the chest.

This joyful vitality is something he doesn't have.That's why it's so attractive.

Hermes suddenly understood a little bit of his countrymen's fascination with mortal things.

But he regretted it again.The flames that tormented him grew stronger, and the smoke of desire made him dizzy. For a moment, self-esteem seemed to be of no importance at all, and the thought that it would be okay to bow to Eros filled every corner of his mind.Eros was right, he could keep Pandora for himself for as long as he wanted.Maybe after his desire is filled, he will return to normal.It doesn't matter if you don't.Anyway, as long as the result remains the same and Zeus's plan is not disrupted, no one will be held accountable for what happened in the Blissful Field.

He could even tell Pandora that this was part of his teaching, that his love would make her more human.She will believe and accept.He was absolutely sure of that.

As long as you can kiss her, nothing else matters.

Going down a little bit, Hermes will stick to Pandora's lips.

One kiss certainly wasn't enough, he knew that.

He couldn't bear the flames alone, but they could melt together.

The moon wheel chasing the colorful clouds passed by the hills outside the window, and the light and shadow changed only for a moment.

But Hermes only needs this moment.He suddenly woke up and jumped out of the window.

Standing in the night wind, Hermes solemnly greeted a certain eventful God of Eros in his heart.

The next day, when Pandora woke up, she found a stone building outside the window.Compared with ordinary houses, the structure is more like a shrine.When she asked, Hermes explained indifferently:

"My temporary residence in Ilysion."

Pandora nodded, thinking it was reasonable.As expected of Hermes, the envoy of the gods, not only did he know everything, but he was able to build such a grand and tidy shrine overnight.

After comparing the sizes of the two buildings, she couldn't help guessing: the golden temple on the top of Olympus is so spacious and magnificent, and the hut where she lives is naturally too cramped for the gods.He probably hadn't been very comfortable last night, and another room would make sense as well.