She received the gift of God [Greek mythology]

"Triple oath?"

"After I failed to bring you back to Olympus, he swore to me under the witness of Styx that he would send you to the mortal world and let you fulfill the duties assigned to you by Zeus. However, he failed to stop it in time. You, can't fulfill your promise to me. This is one of them." Apollo walked slowly towards her.

"His golden rod was originally my property, and the Father God granted him the identity and power of an envoy, allowing him to open the door to any place in the sky and the earth. The entrance to the Cave of Si is taboo. When he became an envoy, he swore a heavy oath that he would not abuse his abilities. This is the second oath he broke because of you."

Apollo has come to Pandora.His blue eyes were cold and bright, and he locked on her firmly, as if he wanted to find some traces of guilt on her face.But he was disappointed after all.He couldn't see what she was thinking, and even suspected that she was indifferent to what he saw or what he said.

"The children of Zeus who boarded Olympus once swore that they would never make any actions or decisions that would harm the god of Olympus. However, on that day, he not only refused to do anything to you, but also prevented your body and soul from collapsing and sent you to Entering Chaos, causing disasters to stay on the earth and the sky for hundreds of years. Zeus has almost disappeared, and has been sleeping in the polluted mountain sanctuary until now. The king of gods who appeared in front of mortals is just a phantom created by us. .”

Apollo emphasized: "It is not an exaggeration to say that Hermes became the sinner of Olympos for you."

Pandora's eyes flickered, but she didn't show timidity.

"I don't understand why he would do this for you." Apollo stared at her.

She was silent for a while, raised her eyes and replied with a smile: "I want to know too."

The blond-haired god narrowed his eyes unkindly.

Pandora asked softly, "How do you want me to answer?"

"I can understand that you are wary of me, but I just want to know what happened that day. Hermes... He absolutely could not have done such a thing. Even if he was confused by Eros' golden arrow, he would not As for the loss of sanity——" Apollo watched Pandora's complexion change suddenly, and he remained silent, with annoyance flashing across his face.

"Eros' golden arrow?"

"I thought you knew already," Leto's son made up his mind for a moment, confessing the truth, "Eros kindled the flame of love in Hermes' heart at the beginning of your birth. His affection for you began with Cupid's mischief. .”

Pandora raised the corners of her lips subconsciously, and it took a while before she said: "I see."

"I foresaw that his obsession with you would lead to disaster, so I tried to take you away. I warned Hermes, but I failed to convince him. Everything that was prophesied finally came true the moment you opened the box."

"Do not."

Apollo raised an eyebrow.

"If you are willing to help him instead of hindering him, maybe none of this would have happened." Pandora stared sideways at the swaying hyacinth flowers.

"Let me tell you one thing too. It's up to you to believe it or not," she turned to face Apollo, "You asked me why I opened the box in Olympos and how I knew what was inside. The answer is simple , I have already died once because of the gift the gods gave to mortals."

Apollo's eyes widened in astonishment.He suddenly understood something.

"He originally promised to take me away, but he didn't show up until I died in the mortal world. I don't know why, but I returned to that day from the future where I died miserably a few days later," Pandora paused for a moment, as if It took a lot of effort not to look back at the sleeping Hermes, "What I don't know is that I am not the only one who went back in time. He... probably went back to an earlier day."

There was no need for her to reveal more, Apollo immediately understood the reason, and his expression became complicated.He paced back and forth among the flowers: "That makes sense... Epimetheus is not talking nonsense."

Without waiting for Pandora to ask, he immediately said: "I roughly understand the reasons for your respective actions. You must also have a clue about the reason why he fell asleep."

What Dionysus mistook for the curse was the last part of the calamity from Hermes.Probably Apollo also thought it was her revenge against Hermes in her anger.

If she told the truth that Hermes took the initiative to steal part of the power of disaster from her to save her body and soul from collapse, what would this powerful and confident son of Leto look like?But Pandora just thought about it.She nodded succinctly, without describing the details, and asked instead:

"So, do you know why he and I can reverse time?"

And the degree of backtracking is not the same.

Apollo has some reservations: "It's hard to say. The most important thing right now is to wake up Hermes before other gods find you here."

"His soul is mixed with an ominous aura of disaster. Even I can't directly purify it, but can only maintain the status quo. Part of his power has disappeared. Fortunately, the punishment for violating the oath summoned sleepiness and eroded him. His catastrophic aura is also temporarily dormant. The opportunity to wake him up is undoubtedly on you."

Apollo paused for a moment, and his tone was rare and prudent: "Pandora, if my guess is correct, you obtained the qualification to become a god in Chaos, purifying the black water and clearing the Epimean swamp will not only help you gain power, but also Witness the miracles of your power. Reviving the gods can be the cause that paves the last stretch of your path."

It doesn't sound like Apollo had any objection to her being one of the gods.

But is that really the case?Dionysus and Ares were definitely not friendly to her.Before ascertaining the respective attitudes of the Olympian gods, Pandora didn't intend to agree to anything rashly.

"How many gods know about my affairs here?"

Apollo immediately read her real problem, and didn't hide it anymore: "Only Hecate and I know you are here. The mists of Maia hide the location of this place. Frankly, the Olympians have no idea how to deal with you." Opinions differ."

"Both Hera and Ares advocate doing everything possible to destroy you, hoping to restore Olympus and wake up my father Zeus." Apollo glanced towards the direction of the stone platform, "For this, they can sacrifice Hera. Hermes Poseidon also thinks you should not exist, but is not so enthusiastic about Zeus' awakening."

"Dionysus, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus did not give up on Hermes, but they are not happy to see you as our equal." Apollo said implicitly, but Dionysus, The plan of God of Beauty and God of Craftsmanship is nothing more than to imprison her and control her.What Hecate had warned her earlier was probably the intention of these three gods.

"And what about you?"

"Things have developed to the point where I have a certain responsibility. Eros is the same. I am willing to do my best to help you advance to the god position. Hecate has another reason to support you. Athena just cooperated with Eros's tricks, and finally understands Take your stand. As for Demeter and my sister, they don't intend to interfere. If you don't trust me, I can swear to the water of the river Styx, so-"

Pandora interrupted Apollo, and did not continue to use honorifics this time: "After that, you seem to have seen Epimetheus."

Apollo narrowed his eyes: "Indeed. Epimetheus broke into my temple madly, so I took him in. I learned many interesting things from him, including the wonderful changes that took place in him. "

"Then you should also think that once I reveal my real name, I may subvert the gods and make you no longer immune to disease and death."

Apollo, who has both sides of healing and purifying and spreading the plague, chuckled lightly when he heard the words, the crown of light around him soared, and the terrifying coercion spread unreservedly, pressing on her.As if answering the call, the white hyacinth swayed violently, the petals flew away, and the holy and clean breath overflowed, even the ground under her feet seemed to repel and suppress her existence.

The most valued son of Zeus showed full confidence, looking directly into Pandora's eyes, with a bright and fearless expression, as if sending an invitation: that's okay, but first of all, it depends on whether she can overcome his purifying power!

The next moment, he restrained his coercion, his blue eyes flickered, and stared at a point in the void solemnly: "I foresee that as long as you reveal your real name and ascend to the throne, the ominous curse left on Mount Olympus will naturally be eliminated. No matter what, we must return to Olympos. You might as well regard this as my real purpose."

As if anticipating what Pandora would think, he chuckled slightly: "That has nothing to do with whether I want Father God to wake up or not. Gods should not mix with mortals on the earth, and the so-called holy state should not exist at all. If they don't return to the sky, there will be one day." On that day, the Olympians will fight each other without restraint like mortals. That is the last stupid ending I want to see."

Could this be an Apollo trap?No.A mighty god with power to match his arrogance, he disdains lies and deceit.If he really intended to be her enemy, he would not have brought her here with the help of Hecate.As for whether he will try his best to expel her after the matter is done, it is another matter.

Pandora stared at Apollo for a long time, and finally said: "I will try to take back the power of disaster on him. As for whether he will wake up or whether Mount Olympus will change, I cannot make any promises."

"That's enough."

"So, what should I do?"

Apollo choked, his expression indescribable.

"You probably don't want me to directly order to devour him. After all, that's what I did when I recovered my power before."

"During his sleep, he has been dreaming." Apollo pulled out a leather rope with many black feathers strung together. He is willing to open the sea of ​​spirit to you, and you can enter his dreamland."

Anticipating what Pandora was going to ask, he tensed the corners of his mouth, and said flatly: "Maia and I have tried and failed." After she took the dream catcher, Apollo said abruptly: "He Probably waiting for you."

Pandora turned around silently, once again passed through the hyacinth's sea of ​​light, and came to the edge of the stone platform.

She raised her eyes, and Apollo simply turned his back and walked to the entrance of the corridor.Kires also tactfully faded into the depths of her consciousness.

It was just an illusion, but she and Hermes seemed to be the only ones left in the cave where the flowers were swaying.

For the first time since Chaos escaped, Pandora let some thoughts run wild.

There are many conveniences in becoming close to the gods, as they spread their existence over countless incarnations, so she was able to carve out sensuality and shelve it with the name Pandora.Elpis doesn't need these things.But walking the land as Alpis for so long, she even suspected that she had lost the ability to express strong emotions.

it's not true.The inseparable embers of enthusiasm and resentment, the cautious doubts, the urge to touch confirmation, the equally strong resistance, and the bewilderment of the upside-down situation... The person who is least used to emotional surges is Pandora, who should be strong and flexible. new body.She stood stiffly, fighting against the inexplicable tears, and squeezed the string tightly until red marks appeared on her palm.

Even so, her expression remained calm.

Until she looked at Hermes in the sea of ​​white flowers again.

The position of the gods of Olympus, the future of the gods, and the things that had been discussed with Apollo just now faded into the background.Now her and Hermes' every move seems to affect the fate of the world, lack of reality, and even absurd.Obviously, what happened between them was just a vulgar drama that can be seen everywhere: natural love, wishful thinking, hidden dangers, a series of accidents, questions that should have been revealed, excuses that missed...

Why is Hermes willing to pay so much for her?Is it because of Cupid's prank?Did he regret it?

If he didn't intend to abandon her and let her die, should she forgive him?If they can forgive, can they still have a future?

Pandora doesn't know.

She stretched out her hand, stopped before touching Hermes' pale cheek, then slowly retracted, and turned to pull his hand.

His translucent body feels weird and warm, but it is always empty and real, like some kind of fragile crystal that will be scattered into dust at any time, so she dare not use force.

"At that time, what did you want to say to me?" She murmured.

Of course there was no answer.

"I've come to see you.

"I hope this time I have enough time with you."

She put her left wrist on his right hand, and wrapped it with a rope decorated with Oneloy's feather as promised.Panic suddenly hit her heart: if she couldn't enter Hermes' dream—

Before this thought dissipated, a veil fell in front of her eyes, making everything blurry.

As if she had just fallen asleep and was awakened by a dream of falling, Pandora suddenly opened her eyes.

The white hyacinths disappeared.She stood at the end of a long, familiar temple corridor.

Make no mistake, this is the temple of Hermes in Ilysion.

There were approaching footsteps behind him, as well as deliberately suppressed laughter.Pandora suppressed her trembling, not giving herself a chance to hesitate, and turned her head in a huff.

She saw Hermes coming with another self, approaching step by step, as if heading straight for her.

She didn't have time to dodge, they had already come in front of her, but they didn't stop walking, passing directly through her, like passing through a colorless and invisible breeze, talking and laughing and continuing to move forward, unaware.