Revelations by a goddess

Chapter 6: A visit by a power above.

After the trip of Helos we returned to the farm in the night, we had dinner at the tavern, so we just arrived at the farm manage the drachms we earned and went to sleep after a long day on the road. The whole trip I felt a strange air around us but most importantly targeting me… something was following us, but it was blind to the eye, I think Arbos noticed it too, but he kept it quiet not wanting to get anyone scared especially after the news he shared on the tavern.

While I was sleeping, I felt a strange feeling around me keeping me awake… It was that female voice again calling from me but this time there was something more, in my room a orb of light was waiting for me to wake up. “Kayn… follow the light.” The eerie voice said.

Following a strange floating orb in the middle of the night while following the guidance of a voice in your head should be a red flag, but I know this is important and the voice has proven to be help to me before… I need to get to the bottom of this, so I decided to follow the orb.

The orb led me through the quiet farmstead, then into the dense forest beyond. The night was shrouded in darkness, but the orb’s glow lit the way. It moved deliberately, weaving through trees and underbrush until it reached a hidden passage. Beyond it lay a serene clearing, dominated by a crystal-clear pond bathed in moonlight. The scene was otherworldly, as if the gods themselves had blessed this sanctuary.

“What are you trying to show me?” I asked aloud, my voice barely a whisper.
The orb floated to the center of the pond before dissolving into the water. The moonlight grew impossibly bright, illuminating the pond as if Selene herself had descended. The surface rippled, and from its depths, a figure emerged.
A woman stepped forth, her presence commanding yet graceful. Her beauty was divine—medium-length hair shimmered in the moonlight, framing eyes that glowed with wisdom and power. Her movements were fluid, her aura radiant. As she approached, a sense of familiarity tugged at the edges of my mind.
“Greetings, Kayn,” she said, her voice both gentle and powerful. “It’s been a while.”
I stared, captivated and confused. “Who... who are you?”
“Do you not recognize me?” she asked, her words lingering in the air like a melody.
“You’re the voice,” I realized. “The one who’s been guiding me.”
“Indeed,” she replied, a warm smile gracing her lips. “But I would prefer you call me by my true name. I am Athena, goddess of war and wisdom.”

Shock coursed through me. A goddess, here? And not just any goddess—Athena herself.

“It- it can’t be.” I stammered

“Why not? I’m here.” she said, her smile unwavering. “I’m here to help and protect you Kayn.”

“I don’t understand… why me?” I ask completely bewildered by everything going on around me.

Athena’s expression softened. “Calm yourself, Kayn. I am not here to harm you. Tonight, I speak to you not as a goddess but as your guide and ally, an equal in this plane.”

I nodded hesitantly, unable to tear my eyes from her.

“Kayn, your life has been upended these past days,” she began. “Your fall from the heavens was no accident. It was destiny. The gods themselves have chosen you as their champion in the battle against a rising darkness. And I have volunteered to be your guardian.”

“Darkness? What kind of darkness?”
“The Erebosians,” Athena said, her tone grave. “A coven of dark sorcerers wielding forbidden magic. Their power rivals even the gods, and their ambition knows no bounds.”
The name sent shivers through me, a creeping familiarity I couldn’t place. “I... I think I’ve heard of them before.”
“You have,” Athena confirmed. “They are the ones responsible for your amnesia and your fall. They feared what you are, what you are capable of.”

“Why me? What’s so special about me? And why can’t I remember??” I ask

“Because you have been hit with dark magic by them. You are not just any mortal you are something bigger than anything you will come across. Even myself, but for that you need your powers and strength to be at their maximum. The Erebosians knew this and so they created a curse to cut off your abilities by locking off your memories and shattering them all over the world.” Athena explains “Their magic is so strong that is not allowing me to be even close to you.” Athena says motioning at her ethereal figure “You probably notice I’m not here physically, that’s because of them and the dark magic they used on you.”

Pain flared in my head as she spoke, sharp and relentless.
“Ah! My head!” I clutched it, the agony unbearable.

“Forgive me Kayn it’s my fault.” Athena says while moving closer to me trying to make me feel better, “The magic the Erebosians put on you hurts you when someone tries to make you remember what happened to you. Especially if it’s a divine intervention from an Olympic god.”

“How... how do I break it?” I managed through the pain.

“Removing the curse will not be easy,” Athena said, her voice laced with both gravity and determination.

“The magic the Erebosians inflicted upon you is ancient and insidious, crafted to block your memories, sever your connection to your powers, and scatter the fragments of your past across the world.”
I gripped my head as a sharp pain lanced through it at her words, a cruel reminder of the curse’s hold on me. “Then how do I fight this? How do I undo it?”
Athena’s gaze softened, and for a moment, the stern goddess of war seemed almost... human. “By recovering the pieces of yourself, one by one,” she said. “Your memories are not lost, merely locked away. To regain them, you must seek the aid of those who can unravel such powerful enchantments. Your journey begins at Delphi.”
“Delphi?” I repeated, confusion evident in my tone. “Why there? What could possibly help me in Delphi?”
Athena’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “You won’t be going there for yourself, but to meet someone who can help you. Lissandra, the Grand Oracle of Delphi. She is no ordinary seer—her abilities as a telepath and sorceress are unparalleled, and she is uniquely attuned to the will of the gods. If anyone can break through the barriers placed upon your mind, it is her.”
The name stirred something faint within me, a distant flicker of recognition I couldn’t place. “Do you really think she can help me?”
“I do,” Athena said with unwavering confidence. “She will guide you to unlock your first memory, and with it, a fragment of your lost power. It may seem small, but even a spark can ignite an inferno. Each memory you recover will bring you closer to your full potential—and closer to defeating the Erebosians.”
The weight of her words sank in, but so did the doubt gnawing at me. “And what if it’s not enough? These Erebosians... they’re not just powerful, they’re cunning. They already knew enough about me to take everything from me. What if I fail?”
Athena stepped closer, her ethereal form radiating reassurance. “You will not fail,” she said, her voice firm yet gentle. “The gods chose you for a reason, Kayn. Not because you are infallible, but because you have the strength to rise, no matter how many times you are struck down. Her hand brushed against my cheek; a gesture so tender it momentarily silenced my doubts.
“Lissandra will not do this alone,” she continued. “I will guide you as best I can. And you will not face this journey without allies—those who stand by your side are there for a reason. Trust in them, just as you trust in yourself.”
Her words settled over me like a protective cloak. For the first time, the overwhelming uncertainty felt... manageable. “Alright,” I said, nodding resolutely. “Delphi it is. What do I need to do when I get there?”
Athena’s smile returned, radiant and full of pride. “Simply find Lissandra. She will know you when she sees you. And she will know what must be done.” Her tone turned solemn, a trace of warning in her gaze. “But beware, Kayn. The Erebosians will not sit idly by while you reclaim what they worked so hard to take. They will come for you, again and again. Be ready for their treachery.”
“Good,” I said. “Let them come”
Athena tilted her head, her expression a mix of approval and something softer, deeper. “That fire within you,” she said, almost wistfully. “Never let it be extinguished, Kayn. It is the light that will lead you through even the darkest of nights.”

Athena took a step back, her glowing figure radiating power and purpose. “Before you leave, Kayn, there is something I must return to you,” she said, her voice carrying a solemn weight.
“Return to me?” I asked, watching her closely.
She extended her hands, and between them, a brilliant light began to form. The air around her shimmered, and a warmth, fierce yet comforting, enveloped the clearing. The light grew brighter, swirling with fire and gold, as though the sun itself had been captured in her hands.
“This,” Athena said, her voice steady, “is Dawn, the sword forged by Hephaestus in the fires of Mount Olympus and blessed by Helios with the essence of his flame. It is no ordinary weapon—it is a piece of your past, Kayn, a part of who you are. And now, it returns to its rightful owner.”
The light condensed into the shape of a sword, and as it solidified, the flames dulled, revealing a weapon of extraordinary craftsmanship. The blade gleamed with a metallic brilliance; its surface etched with intricate golden patterns that seemed to ripple like fire under the moonlight. The hilt was wrapped in dark leather, and at its pommel was a sunburst design that radiated an otherworldly glow.
As Athena held the sword out to me, I hesitated. The weapon exuded an energy that felt... familiar, as if it were calling out to me. Slowly, I reached out and wrapped my hand around the hilt.
The moment my fingers closed around it, a surge of warmth shot through my body, filling me with a sense of strength and purpose. The blade ignited with a soft, golden flame, its heat comforting rather than scorching. I could feel the connection between myself and the weapon, as though it were an extension of my very being.
“Dawn,” I murmured, the name stirring something deep within me.
“Yes,” Athena said, her tone both proud and wistful. “Dawn has always been yours, Kayn. It was forged to complement the power within you, a weapon worthy of a warrior chosen by the gods. When you fell, it was lost, waiting for the day you would reclaim it. That day is today.”
I turned the blade in my hand, marveling at its balance and craftsmanship. “It feels... right,” I said, a faint smile breaking across my face. “Like it was meant for me.”
“Because it was,” Athena said, stepping closer. Her eyes softened, filled with something more than just her usual divine composure. “Dawn is not just a weapon. It is a reminder of who you are and the strength that lies within you. With this blade, you will stand against the darkness and carve a path forward, no matter how dire the odds.”
I looked up at her, struck by the conviction in her voice. “Thank you, Athena,” I said, my gratitude genuine.
She smiled, her hand briefly brushing against my cheek in a gesture that felt both tender and grounding. “No thanks are needed,” she said. “I am merely returning what was always yours.”

As Athena and I continued speaking, a sharp scent pricked at my senses—burnt wood. I turned toward the forest’s edge, my heart plummeting as a faint orange glow rose in the distance. Smoke coiled into the night sky, unmistakable and horrifying.
"No..." I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Athena’s radiant expression hardened, her calm demeanor giving way to urgency. “Kayn,” she said, her voice cutting through the growing dread, “they are here. The Erebosians.”
I clenched Dawn’s hilt, the blade responding to my agitation by flaring to life, its fire bright and fierce. “I have to go,” I said, already stepping toward the glow.
“Kayn, wait.” Athena’s tone was firm, commanding. She placed an ethereal hand on my shoulder, her touch sending a wave of calm through my chaos. “If you go charging in without a plan, you risk more than just your life. You are not yet at your full strength. They will exploit that.”
“I don’t care,” I shot back, desperation tightening my throat. “Arbos, Iris, Ikaro—they’ve risked so much for me. I can’t stand by while they’re in danger. I won’t.”
Athena’s gaze softened, a mix of frustration and understanding flickering in her luminous eyes. “Your loyalty is admirable, but recklessness will only serve the enemy.” She hesitated, her form flickering as if the strain of staying manifested was taking its toll. “Still... I see there is no stopping you.”
Her hand shifted to my face; the touch more intimate now. “Kayn, listen carefully. I cannot follow you into this battle. The dark magic surrounding you has made it impossible for me to intervene directly. But I will guide you in spirit. Trust your instincts and trust the weapon you now carry.”
I nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. “I’ll protect them. I swear it.”
Athena closed her eyes briefly, as though bracing herself. When she looked at me again, there was a depth to her expression that struck me—a blend of pride, fear, and something unspoken. “Kayn,” she said, her voice quieter now, “you must survive this. For their sake. For your sake. And...” She hesitated, her next words heavy with emotion. “For me.”

“I will. I promise” I say as I charge as fast as I can to the farm to stop the Erebosians, running into what can only be described as Hades on earth.