Chapter 10 #3
Clutching my head, I struggle to grapple with what’s happening. The artifacts are real. Their powers are real. Even if we had been intently searching for it, the odds of such a discovery would be nearly impossible. But to stumble across it accidentally is nothing short of a miracle.
When I finally come back to my senses, I look up to see that Henry is holding a letter knife, drawing a cut across his hand. I rush forward, stopping him before he can press his open wound against the chest.
“Henry, what are you doing?” I exclaim, gripping his wrist and wrapping a spare handkerchief around the wound.
“I wanted to test out Dr. Alarie’s theory,” he says, confused by my sudden resistance to experimentation.
“We don't know anything about how any of this works. We cannot be careless and experimental when it comes to testing out theories with artifacts created by the Olympians.”
The last thing I need is for this to become even messier than it already is. Yet, scholar at heart, curiosity to know tugs at me. “What is your theory?”
“I believe there can only be one wielder of the artifacts at a time,” Dr. Alarie explains, lifting the civic crown into the air. “Since they only respond to you, I believe you and the artifacts became bonded once you placed your blood onto the chest. Their powers will only function through you.”
“Is that what you were trying to do? See if you could become bonded to them?” I ask, turning toward Henry.
He nods, eyes dropping to his bandaged hand.
“Clara is right,” Amina says. “We are heading blindly into unknown territory here. We need to be extremely cautious about using the artifacts. For now, let’s assume Dr. Alarie’s theory is correct—that there can only be one wielder.
In regard to studying and analyzing the artifacts, we will be cautious and only let Clara conduct them. ”
Dreadful terror courses through me, my mind and body finally catching up to what this means.
“Only one person can wield the artifacts?” I repeat, letting that fact sit inside me, the realization settling in. “And now that person is…me. I’m the Eudaemon.”
And I don’t want to be. I don’t want to be the only person in the world with access to this kind of power.
Regret consumes my entire body—regret for ever stepping into that cave at all. I look down at the artifacts and see through an entirely different lens now, one warped by distaste and fear.
The power these artifacts behold is ruinous—destructive, as Henry put it.
What a single person could do while wielding them is infinite and catastrophic.
The world will easily fall into their hands.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, who would fight to get this kind of power.
And here I am, the wielder of them, wanting nothing to do with it.
I glance around the room. The others remain oblivious to my new dilemma, enraptured by the magnitude of our discovery.
Multiple voices overlap around me, debating where we should begin our study, using me as the focal point.
“We should investigate the creation of the artifacts,” Dr. Alarie suggests. “This is the first physical piece of evidence to prove the Olympian deity’s existence.”
“Someone should telegraph the University right away about our discovery,” Henry adds. “They might send us more resources for our research.” He looks at me with utter excitement and silently mouths, this is it—convinced this discovery will secure my place in the program.
He is right. This will undoubtedly get me into the program, but even that realization doesn’t brighten my mood.
The image of me using the artifacts to alter the archeology department’s decision flashes through my mind.
I could easily sway their mind now that I’m the Eudaemon.
But forcing them to change their mind is not what I’ve envisioned.
I want them to do so of their own accord, not because I have the power to do so.
I think back to my conversation with Amina on our first night. I don’t think this is what she meant when she said I needed to become a novelty. Becoming the wielder of artifacts with god-like power is slightly more than I’ve bargained for.
“We can’t tell anyone about this,” Grandad says, his voice raspy.
I notice he hasn’t said a single word during the team’s whole discourse. Like me, he has been apprehended by his own mind.
Everyone, including myself, turns to him, confusion etched on our faces.
“Why not?” Dr. Alarie asks. “This is the discovery of a lifetime. It will define all our careers; even those outside of our field will know who we are and what we’ve uncovered. Why would we not announce to the world what we found?”
“I would be inclined to agree with you, Dr. Alarie, if these were ordinary artifacts,” Grandad clarifies.
He glances down at the artifacts on the table and then back at me.
“As you brought to our attention, these are the first artifacts that can connect us directly to the Olympian deities, and with them a taste of their power. Once the world knows these artifacts are not a legend, but real, there is nothing that someone wouldn’t do to get their hands on them. ”
“We would be putting a target on our heads, especially Clara,” Henry concludes.