88. A Fitting Reward #2
"Hmm." She shut her eyes and appeared in deep thought once more. "That's... that is possible. He does have many enemies."
Medusa nodded, satisfied. "Then I'll take your advice."
She stood to leave when a thought occurred. "That communication thing Clotho does with her followers. Can you do it too?"
Lachesis shook her head. "As I said, I must limit using my powers. Zeus' attention is not what I need at the moment."
"Understandable."
"Oh!" She perked up. "I almost forgot the promise I made. Go ahead and ask for a reward. If it's within my power, I'll gladly help."
Sceptical, Medusa asked, "And you're certain you wouldn't change your mind if I ask for something ridiculous?"
Lachesis' face fell. "Do I seem that dishonourable to you? I swear by the Monolith that if it's something within my ability, I will do it."
Her light flared like Clotho's did when she made a similar statement.
"You may not understand the gravity of the correction you made, but I do, and I'm grateful. So go on and ask; I trust your judgement."
How could she be so naive? Was it Zeus' doing? Did he do something to her mind? It hardly made sense that such an ancient being was this ignorant of humanity's selfishness and penchant to deceive. And Medusa was not so different after all.
Swallowing the rising guilt, she made her request. "Can I touch your ruler?"
Silence descended like a physical presence, pressing around her until her ears popped. There was an unfamiliar sharpness in Lachesis' gaze as she observed her. Then she stood, still staring at Medusa.
A kennel of fear blossomed in Medusa's chest when she realised she couldn't move. She was frozen under a power that felt like a law spoken into her body rather than a tangible force. Though she sensed no malevolence from Lachesis, her fear continued to climb as she approached.
Did I make a mistake? Of course it was a mistake to ask an actual demigod to touch her ruler. Atropos had hated it. Who was to say her sister would be fine with such a request?
Lachesis finally stopped in front of her, pink eyes glowing and unblinking. When she raised her hand, Medusa strained to move to no avail. Instead of a chastising strike, the Moirai gently touched her shoulder. And as though she dreamed it, the tense moment was gone along with Medusa's frozen state.
Sound rushed back in as Lachesis' eyes lost their unnatural glow. "I accept your request," she said solemnly. "What you did for me is worthy of such a gift. And I see that you also have my sisters' essence. I can understand Clotho willingly giving you hers, but Atropos? How did you get it?"
Medusa readily offered the truth. "I found her trapped. Her sniper was there. I touched it."
Lachesis chuckled. "Oh, she must hate you."
Medusa massaged the back of her neck. It was sweaty. "She promised to hunt me down and kill me."
"And you should take that threat seriously," Lachesis said, chuckling. "Now that I understand, you can touch it."
The ruler appeared between them. Glowing and flaring with Lachesis' essence.
Lachesis made a go-ahead motion. "It's fine."
Medusa did as she asked, her fingers curling around the slender metal.
It was cool to the touch, and packed with so much essence that for a moment, her vision went white, only to suddenly return with dots of flickering black spreading across her vision.
She blinked over and over until they finally faded.
The ruler had vanished from her grip, and Lachesis watched her with an expectant look.
"So?"
Medusa checked herself and sensed them. All three Moirai's energy sat in her, doing nothing. The only time the essence had made a difference in her body was when she nearly died in Drys Valon, and Clotho shared her essence.
"How do you feel?" Lachesis pressed.
"I feel... normal."
Lachesis' face fell. "That's all?"
"Yes." Medusa shrugged.
"How underwhelming." She clicked her tongue before walking away from her shack. "I should resume my position."
"Position?"
"My intuition tells me that Zeus may send one of his generals to check on his prisoner."
"What?" Medusa hurried after her. "Will you be fine?"
"Of course."
Medusa noticed it then. Just ahead was a roughly hewn altar. She had seen the rock before, but her gaze always passed over it.
"Zeus sends his generals to do random checks for essence leaks. He hardly comes personally, though. But I can't be sure."
A surge of panic swelled in Medusa. "You think Zeus may come to this island?"
They were yet to recover from the last time Zeus visited her parents. She had to warn them now. Maybe they could leave, and—
"No need to worry about your family. Zeus already knows where your father is because of the thorns."
She drove her ruler into the altar and reverted to her toddler form.
"He probably hasn't doled out punishment because it isn't worth it. He has your mother's blood. Not only that, she is now one of his generals. He probably plans to use her if war comes. And no."
She clapped, yanking Medusa from her spiralling thoughts. "Do not waste your worry. Your parents and aunt are well aware of the situation. They've been alive far longer than you have, and they can carry their own burdens. "
Medusa exhaled heavily, forcing herself to relax. "Yes... Yes, I'll do that."
"Good." Lachesis smiled, but it looked sad. "Remember what I said about living."
"Yeah."
"Good," Lachesis said again. "If you walk two thousand akona to the east and five hundred akona to the south from there, you will find something that will help you at the Games."
"Thank you," Medusa said, touched.
"I wish I could watch you beat them." Her little shoulders drooped, then they perked up as though she had an idea. "Maybe I should watch a little."
"Don't do anything risky," Medusa said, resisting the ridiculous urge to pat her head. "I'll visit again."
"I would like that." Lachesis smiled, her red eyes shining again. "Then you should go now. See you later."
As Medusa headed for the exit, she included releasing Lachesis to her many burdens.
Later that afternoon, after Medusa bid her parents farewell, promising to visit after the Games, she returned to the shore with Akrivi and Rico.
She watched the waves lazily lap at the shore as the sea breeze snagged at her red locks.
God of the sea. It was a tall order, leaping from killing Perseus to an actual high deity.
She had since passed the point of wondering if it was something that could be done.
Tormenting herself with visions of how strong Poseidon was would be foolish, and fleeing...
Well, fleeing was an option. She could abandon everything and live out your days exploring Cosmolith.
The gods will end up tearing each other to pieces anyway.
Live a full life. What did that even mean on Cosmolith?
"After all this is over," Medusa said, still staring at the waves. "I will explore the other continents."
"Is that so?" Akrivi answered as he tapped at the compass. "I tinkered with this a bit, checked if I could make a copy. I think it'd be possible with more study."
"Please fund my trips with a pittance of your future wealth."
That got his full attention. "What are you on about? I swear you say the strangest things."
"Do you know there are other worlds out there?" Medusa asked, nodding at the clear afternoon sky.
Akrivi looked from the sky to her face. "I've heard theories, but—"
"Not theories, but truth. They exist, trust me."
"I see," he said with a straight face, imitating her cadence.
A dry laugh escaped before she could help it. She could use the portal stones and return to Themiscyra, but the plan was to start living a full life. Maybe she should swim back; not like she was eager to return to the hellish training with her curse.
"Medusa," Akrivi called after her.
She turned to find him wearing a resolute expression.
"I want to leave."
Thrown by the sudden announcement, Medusa could only manage a weak, "Oh."
"Since the Moirai is away, I plan to go beyond the plains, see what I can make of the plans I told you about. But I promise to return when she calls." He tapped his temple and flashed that forced smile.
"I see." This wasn't the first time he attempted to leave. The first time had been because of his fear that Poseidon would find him in Themiscyra; now his reason was lost to her. And to think she had assumed they were getting along fine.
"Was it something I did?"
He shook his head. "You did nothing wrong. You know I've always tried to run."
"Very well." She nodded, noting that her previous good mood had tanked. "At least you should thank Otrera before you leave."
"No. I'm leaving now."
Medusa swallowed another 'I see'. Why did it sting? But it was better this way. The fact that she considered him a friend already placed him in danger, considering her plans.
He retrieved a purple return stone and smiled. At least this one appeared genuine. "Good luck at the Games."
Akrivi vanished after she waved goodbye.
For a long while, Medusa sat next to Rico, watching the waves as she absently patted his head.
"No Clotho. No Akrivi. But I have you." She chuckled when he yipped.
Medusa finally stood and stretched. She didn't have a compass or a destination, but she would swim until she felt a little better.