ATN 3: THE JAR IN THE MAZE

THE TEMPLE OF ARES

Something about Urwa's beliefs made me think. I remembered a line Dad had said to me, "A person is only full by two halves. Each person has a half more dominant than the other. Same is the case with you. Remember, don't let that half completely diminish from inside you. It will help you when you need it the most."

At that time, I didn't understand what it meant, but I knew what my other half was: Dad's culture. Whenever we had bedtime story time, Dad would tell me stories of not only the gods I could see everyday, but also the ones I would, perhaps, never see. Dad told me of the Trojan War. He also told me of the Battle of Kurukshetra. He told me of Medusa. He also told me of Ravana. He made me know Zeus, he also made me know Shiva. Yes, Dad made me whole.

Next morning, we were woken up at six in the morning. Gerard came to wake us up, at six in morning. We got ready and came for breakfast, I found Iris sitting on a grand seat in the table, while the rest of us sat around her. After breakfast, I asked Iris, "Enjoying?"

"Oh yeah!" She said, "They gave me the biggest bedroom in the guest cabin."

At about eight, we were invited to join in training. They all trained. The Atlanteans were humiliated in training, except for Tina, who humiliated the Amazons herself. (Proud boyfriend moment). However, when I was called, Tina said to Delilah, "He isn't a warrior."

"You are dating a non warrior?" Delilah asked.

"Well, he can still fight." Tina said, with a slight defiant tone, "Believe me, he starts using his powers, none of us can fight him."

I was loving this. I was enjoying this. Tina was bragging about me. This was fun. However, Delilah said, "Lets see. Urwa, dear, show me an India vs Pakistan match."

I got up. Urwa got up too. Urwa and I faced each other in the battle field. I looked behind me, and found all the swords and spears used by the others. Urwa unsheathed her dummy sword, and pointed at me, and said, "Choose your weapon."

"My hands." I said. I didn't take out my wand. I didn't need it for this.

Urwa left out a maniac laughter, and charged at me. I closed my eyes, and flicked a finger. One of the wooden swords behind me flew over and hit Urwa on the feet, knocking her down. Then, I spread my arms. All the wooden spears behind me took the aerial route, and landed right around a grounded Urwa, forming a cage around her. "Chakrayudh!" I said, "Abhimanyu got into it, never came out." My other half was still there, for the first time, speaking. Urwa stood up. So did Delilah. She asked, "Who are you?"

Yes, it does seem weird. I was the guy who had taken down two giants, and had led the mission to Delphi a month ago. But I was also the guy who had not revealed who I was yesterday. No one had asked, actually. 

So, Tina kept on bragging, "He is the only son of Hecate, and the only one who has found the full manifestation of his power. His powers are no match for any of us. He is..."

"Tina, stop." I said, "That's enough praises."

"Yeah!" Iris said from beside Delilah, "His cheeks can't get any redder."

I looked down, clearly embarrassed. The Amazons looked at me with big eyes. The Atlanteans knew me very well. 

In the training, Riya caught a lot of attention, because of her trident. She was the only one who could at least stand long enough against the vicious girls of Themiscyra.

Our day's schedule was to go to the temple during the day, and to sit and devise a plan. At about eleven, all the Atlanteans got out to visit Ares's temple. Gerard was given the responsibility to show us the temple. There was nothing major that happened in the temple, except for I and Tina had a talk with Gerard.

We reached the temple soon after eleven. This was, by far, the biggest temple I had seen. Atlantis never had a temple, I always wondered why. However, this was something else. The temple was made of grey stones. This place had big walls, red curtains by the windows, and straight at the end, Ares's stone made statue. It was just as I imagined him to be before I met him: long cape, battle armor, spear in hand, and face covered by a Greek war helmet. 

Tina, who was walking beside me, said, "They say that our voices amplify for the deity once we walk in his or her temple." She looked up, and said, "Hey Dad! I am here, and I am safe. Give me a signal if you here this." At this, the curtains slid away due to wind, letting the sunlight get inside. Tina gave me a 'told you so' look.

Two girls walked forward, with a goat carcass, and some wood logs. They kept the wood at the feet of the statue, and lit fire. Then, they put the carcass on the fire. One of the girls asked us to repeat what she said next. Her words were, "Oh great god of war Ares, we pray to you for your blessings in our upcoming tough times. Please, accept the sacrifice, and shower us with your blessings." We repeated this word by word. Nothing happened. Apparently, you ask a god to make a dramatic appearance, they do, while you pray to them for blessings, they don't reply. Two years and still didn't get the gods. I still don't.

While getting out of the temple, I and Tina caught on with Gerard. "Hey, Gerard." I said, making the guy turn towards us.

"Hey! Jay and Tina, right?" He did a hair flip that could make Justin Bieber's hair flip a run for its money.

"Yeah! Hey, I like your name." I said.

"Thanks, my mother gave it to me. She and Dad had a fight about who got to name me. Dad let her name me on the condition that Mom won't dip me in the river Styx."

"She proposed that idea?" Tina asked.

"Yeah, she was insistent."

"Sounds like Thetis." Tina said.

"Anyway, buddy, there is a thing."

"Yeah?"

"You are the only child of Thetis we know." Tina said, "And the big Prophecy kinda mentions one."

"So, I am a part of it?"

"Yeah." Tina said, "So, when we devise a plan tonight, you should be present there."

"Okay." Gerard said, "I am intrigued about the part I play here."

Now that work stuff was done, now was the time to go personal. I said, "How are you doing? You know, everything that happened?"

"How do you know? You got here yesterday."

"Urwa told us."

"Urwa, the gossip girl. Anyway, it isn't anything confidential. I am doing fine. I've been here nearly five months. I remember Dad a lot, but life has to move on, right?"

"Yeah."

"You know, after all this is over, if I live, I would like to go to Atlantis."

"Really? Leave here?"

"Yes. I kinda don't feel like I belong here. It's too vicious and yet too girly for me. Don't get me wrong, I like these girls, but I kinda don't feel warlike. Plus, Atlantis was the original plan. So, I guess, that needs to be completed."

"Well, if you do," Tina said, "you are always welcome. It is a place no person can hate."

"Lovely, I guess."

"It is surprising how they let you live here for so long." I said, "Isn't it strictly women zone?"

"Delilah says that Gerard was a guest, and an injured one at that. Hospitability is a virtue of a Queen, so Gerard is allowed to stay until he chooses to leave." Tina said.

"Queen Roca is very sweet. She is not exactly the vicious kind, but keeps an icy cool head in battle."

"Found out when I fought her today." Tina said.

We returned to the cabins. Gerard and us had talked. We had made him feel important in this battle. Now, we had to wait for the meeting tonight. So, as Tina went to see Iris and her new found sister, I and my cousins went for a walk in the garden.