The epic story continues, as Achilles will need the advice of his father Poseidon to aid him in the battle that is to come.

Awakening

Achilles woke up at long last. When he opened his eyes, he saw the stars of the sky flickering. He sat up, grabbing his head, from the pain that he was feeling.

“You are a mess” said a voice behind him.

He turned his head abruptly, a thing that he immediately regretted, because his vision became blurry from the headache and almost passed out.

“Let’s lay you down” said the other man who was there.

Although he couldn’t see him, Achilles recognized the voice of his friend Nikolaus.

“My head feels like it’s pierced with an arrow”.

“You don’t remember the way you were injured?” asked the mage.

“I don’t recall many things…” he said, while closing his eyes, in a futile try to search his memories. “All I got is scraps of these events, that don’t even make sense”.\

“You doomed the Hindus at Hydaspes” said Nikolaus coldly.

Achilles tried to stand up. It took a lot of effort, but he made it.

“I remember this giant creature that messed with the forces of Alexander” Achilles said with his hands on his head, in a desperate attempt to hold back his pain.

“You were that creature. Your powers were unleashed upon Alexander’s men, but you also created a storm that very night, which gave the opportunity for the Greek army to cross the river and attack Poros. We tried to help him, but we were overrun. Now the Hindu army is scattered, and we managed to escape into the desert to hide”.

Achilles was just standing there, listening. Was it all over? The world was hanging from a thread. They had reached so close to the Gates of Hades, only to lose it all. The world would fall and Hades, alongside his beastly companions, would rule the world.

Abandonment

Was it bad though? This world, since the days of Gaia, had changed many times. Once Titans ruled this land, then the Gods with the demigod heroes. Now it was Hades’ time. Why should he keep on fighting? For humans? Mankind is one of the many that have occupied the world. Many other beasts and creatures lived before them but were now extinct. Why humans should be any different?

“So, Alexander won” he simply concluded. “It’s time we get out of here”.

Nikolaus could not believe his ears.

“What do you mean? That you are done fighting? You will let the whole world burn, because of your ego?”

“Please, tell me how my withdrawal from an already lost battle is a byproduct of my ego” Achilles said, smirking.

“Oh, I don’t know, how about your newfound immortality and the fact that, in anytime, you can withdraw from here, without any consequences. But have you ever thought about us, your friends? We are still mortal, and a world conquered by beasts and Titans, is not a good environment for us to survive!”.

Nikolaus was breathing hard. He could feel the emptiness of his friend, the pain of abandonment, his troubled mind. He could understand him. Up until recent years, they were simple warriors and priest. And now for the last eight months they were trying to save the world from the god of the Underworld and the one who had sacrificed almost himself was Achilles. But if he backed down now, all would indeed be lost.

Achilles didn’t say anything. He understood the point that Nikolaus made. But what was the reason? Even if he saved the world, would be left alone someday, as everyone around him would later die. Better feel the pain sooner and be done with it.

The Way of Virtue

“You are my friends” said Achilles after a long period of silence. “I owe you that much. But after that I will be gone”.

“Why? Why not stay with us? Are you that depressed that you don’t need us anymore?”.

Achilles shook his head. A smirk appeared on his lips, as he looked at the sun setting.

“Because I will live, and you will die. We are not the same anymore, Nikolaus”.

Nikolaus wanted to punch him hard but stood his fists. After all, he would get a worse beating from the much more powerful Achilles. Arguing was leading nowhere.

“Do as you please” said Nikolaus at last and turned his back to leave.

Although he wanted to change his mind, he realized that Achilles was right. They weren’t the same anymore. And Nikolaus understood another thing. Achilles was not underestimating his friends. It was not his arrogance that made him want to be away from them. It was fear. The fear of death. Not his own, but the death of the people that were around him. After some steps he stopped and turned to Achilles again.

“He was here you know…” said Nikolaus after a short period of silence.

“Who?” asked Achilles, not being able to understand.

“Your father. Poseidon. He told me… actually ordered me to tell you to seek him out, when abled”.

Achilles clenched his fists.

“This man seriously…”

Nikolaus just stood there, not knowing what to do nor what to say.

“Do you want me to do anything else for–“ he went to say, but Achilles did not let him.

“Just leave me be. Be assured, I will talk to my father. Now get lost!” he said coldly.

Poseidon

He wandered in the desert for some time and reached a small pond, at an oasis. Achilles kneeled down beside the water and tried to use his water – manipulation powers in order to heal his wound properly. But his hands were shaking. It was not possible to focus, and he failed. His blood started to boil.

“I am here, damn you! Don’t you see me?” he shouted towards heaven.

No one responded to his outburst. In his anger his eyes turned purple, the color of the deep sea. Clouds were starting to form just above him. The water in the small oasis started to shake violently. Achilles’ wounds immediately healed as he started channeling the water.

“I know my powers father!” he shouted. “If you don’t turn up right now, with this little pond of water, I will demolish this earth. Do you hear me?!”.

Suddenly a lightning bolt came out of the sky, pinning him to the ground. The clouds disappeared and the water in the oasis became calm again. Achilles was coughing, badly burned throughout his body. He tried to reach for the water, but he realized that he wasn’t able to move. Two figures, one in a dark grey tunic and another in deep blue, stood above him, talking, and laughing softly. He wasn’t able to hear what they were saying, because his ears were still buzzing from the hit. But in him, he knew who these men were.     

“Uncle…” he grunted through his teeth. “Great…”

The man with the grey tunic turned to his partner.

“He’s got a mouth. Probably a characteristic from his mother, no doubt” he said.

Like Father, Like Son

Achilles forced himself up. The man in blue offered his hand. In there, was a small drop of water. Achilles rejected the help. He stood and limping from the pain, he went up to the pond and put his hand in. For a moment, nothing happened.

“Do you mind?” asked Achilles, really frustrated from the presence of the two men.

“Come on, brother, I think we had enough fun with the kid” said the man in grey.

The water then started flowing through him and Achilles’ wounds healed up. He then stood to face the two men.

“My father Poseidon and my dear old uncle Zeus” he said with a grin on his face. “What do I owe the favor?”

Zeus pulled his cloak and revealed his white hair and beard. Spark of energy was sparkling through his face. He had a smile on his face, but at the same time he was sending a message to the young demigod that he was not there to play around.

“Your fight is coming at an end” Zeus stated. “One last push and it will be over”.

Achilles laughed hard.

“Are you blind? Alexander smoked the Hindus! The way to the Gates of Hades is open and there is nothing we can do! Even if I decided that it is worth it, which I do not, we can’t reach him. It’s too late now” Achilles replied.

“He is truly stubborn like you, brother mine” commented Zeus, with a soft smile.

Poseidon just brushed his shoulders.

“And to make things worse, you are of no help! You ask everything from us, while you do nothing, just watching from Olympus!” Achilles continued.

Zeus seemed troubled. He didn’t know how to address that question.

Answers

They stood in silence.

“Well?” continued Achilles, demanding an explanation. “Why have you not interfered?”

Zeus seemed afraid.

“We are bound by the Fates… We promised, after the events of the Trojan War to stop interfering with human affairs”.

“Ah yes, when you decided to commit genocide against us!”

Zeus rolled his eyes.

“How do you know about that?”

Poseidon didn’t look surprised.

“So, father dear, you were in it too!” laughed Achilles. “And you want me to fight, to fix your own mistakes. Hades told me about that”.

“And you believed him?” asked Poseidon.

“You didn’t exactly deny it” replied Achilles.

“Everyone makes mistakes nephew… Even a god”.

“And please tell me how you, the Father of Gods and Men, are afraid from three old ladies with one eye?”.

“There are individuals above any man or God! You are a fool if you think that being the king of the Olympians makes me the strongest being in the universe!”

“What are you not telling me? Why do I have to suffer, to help you stay in power? I think, considering all these I have been through, I am worthy of an explanation!”

The Fates and the Gods

Zeus looked in the direction of his brother, who simply nodded. He sighed loudly.

“Following the events of the Trojan War, Poseidon and I decided to act and punish Hades for his plan to overthrow us. But the Fates stopped us from unleashing a second war of the Titans. They kept Hades in the Underworld and did not give permission to the Gods to interfere in any conflict of human making. The Gods then became observers and guides of the human race.”

“But how did Alexander know about the plans of Hades, if he was imprisoned?”

“You forget the act of worship towards a god. This road of communication can never be breached by anyone. If you pray to Hades, he can literally answer your prayers” replied Poseidon.

“Which he did in the case of Alexander” commented Achilles.

“Yes” admitted Zeus, sounding like a general who had lost a battle.

Achilles started walking slowly, towards the desert, to go back to his friends. He didn’t know how to feel about these revelations. It was understandable that the hands of Zeus are tied. But this threat was a problem of his own making.

“Before you leave, let me finish” shouted Zeus, stopping him.

Achilles annoyed stopped.

“How is the Temple of Delphi involved in all these events?”

The Brotherhood

“The Fates gave their authority to the Brotherhood of Delphi to keep Hades in his realm, with no chance to escape. But it seems, a millennia later they failed” added Poseidon.

“And why would the Fates trust the humans, the lowest of Creation to do that?” asked Achilles, with frustration in his voice.

“Odysseus, Philoctetes and Neoptolemus wanted to decide for their own kind. The freedom of your mind cannot be violated by none. And when Odysseus claimed this responsibility for the Brotherhood, he did it with the plan to become equal to use, to play a part in the functions of the Cosmos. After all, this is the world of Man. So, the humans decided they wanted a part in the protection of it” Zeus explained.

“And the Fates offered the keys of the imprisonment of Hades to the humans”.

“More like they transferred their energy to the honored weapons of fallen heroes, but you get the point,” said Poseidon.

“That’s why you’re here?” said Achilles, with anger in his voice. “To beg for us to keep on fighting, in hope that we win and save your sorry asses?”

He expected Zeus to become angry, but the thunder of his rage never came. He simply nodded.

“That’s exactly right. I simply can’t do anything about it. If I do help, the Fates are going to judge me and find me guilty of death. And no one knows what happens when a God dies. Maybe the world will end? Who knows?”

He sighed.

“The Fates hold the threads of the Gods themselves now”.

Fight On

Achilles felt tired and sat down on the scorching sand. He was sweating, not only from the sun, but also from his racing thoughts. His mind was screaming to let everything go. But in his heart, he knew that he could let that happen.

“I will follow your commands” he finally said. “But after that I am done.”

Zeus nodded in agreement.

“I wouldn’t ask you for more. After that, I absolve you of any obligation in the Temple. You are free”.

Achilles stood up and bowed, respectfully.

Poseidon smirked, surprised.

“He never showed me that much respect”.

Achilles glanced over him, not willing to comment.

“One last thing” Achilles asked Zeus again. “If Hades escapes his realm, wouldn’t that mean that the Fates would punish him?”.

“The Fates will interfere only if he harms the Gods. If he devours the whole world it shouldn’t matter to them, as he was the only one that never acted during the Trojan War”.

“He was smart” commented Poseidon. “He knew what was going to happen and about the Fates. Of us three, he was always the most cunning. He outplayed us and waited. His patience managed to trick us all.”

“But all is not gone. I am not completely useless” laughed, whistling with his hand.
Then a flaming chariot appeared in the sky.

“The chariot of Helios,” said Zeus. “Take it and go. Save your people from the end of the world”.  

Achilles stepped on the chariot and felt the energy of Helios. Poseidon approached to say farewell. But Achilles seemed distant.

“It’s too late to fix what’s already broken, father”.

“For us son, it is never too late” replied Poseidon and he disappeared onto the heavens with Zeus, leaving Achilles alone with the majestic chariot.