The Ancient Prophecy

68 : Awakening - Phedora

By then the artifacts have been transported inside the base already , placed each by the filled altars of their respective godly owner .
        Everyone gathered in a circle behind the altars , the High Priest taking his spot in the centre of the circular chamber . The aged man was wearing his ceremonial robes , his grey hair tied back into a long braid . He was the oldest member of the Resistence , having witnessed more than any of the demigods and mortals . His happiness was uncontained , a warm smile on the Resistence leader's face as he glanced around the crowd . He was happy to finally see the two factions united as one .
        Then , as if on cue , a blinding light slowly appeared into the room , right besides the High Priest . Phedora squinted as the light molded into a figure . And then out of the light sprouted Athena , shinning gloriously in her armour .
"Now that we are all present..." the High Priest started , seemingly unfazed by the appearance of the goddess "...We shall begin ."
        The crowd stood in silence , waiting for the priest's next words .
"This day will be marking a new beginning for all of us ." he announced "And it will also be marking the beginning of an era of allience between us , the Resistence , and The Finders ." a smile grew on his aged face as the crowd cheered .
"I never thought that I could live to see the day when our two factions finally came to an agreement , sitting one besides the other in this chamber ." he started to pace around the edge of the circular space in the centre of the room , glancing with a warm smile at anyone that caught his eye . His white robes slightly brushed the floor as he strolled . Athena remained in the middle of the room , stoic as always .
"Before we begin the Ritual of Awakening , I would appreciate us to take a moment of silence to mourn the ones lost in our final battle , and any that died in all those centuries so this moment could finally become reality . Even if you do not recall all their names or their faces , mourn their loss and hope they all ended up in the Fields of Elysium . Because the lost deserve to be remembered as much as any hero ."
          The crowd formed by the two factions went silent just as the priest finished his sentence .
          Phedora thought about her mother , dead in a mission she took two years ago when Phedora was fifteen . Then she had thought that her mother could only be lost , struggling to return . Then she still had hope . Now she knew that her mother could not be possibly still lost after such a long time .
          Phedora thought of the demigods and mortals they had lost in battles against the Finders . She thought of all those who could have tried to get to the Vault and failed .
          Then she thought of the most recent loss she knew of , though it was not even her own . Co-general Iro . Phedora thought of the conversation she overheard from the Vault's entrance , of the way the two half-siblings spoke their last goodbyes in such depressing tones . She remembered the quiet sobs of Alkaios as he embraced his half-sister one last time .
        Alkaios .
        Phedora turned to gaze at him , who stood right next to her . Even despite his hollow and disconnected look , he kept on following close behind her like a lost child , never getting lost into the mass of people . She felt sorry for him .
        Alk had his gaze fallen onto the ground , the same look on his face . His eyes were puffy still , though there were no new tears in his eyes . But from the strain she saw in him , in his clenching fists at his sides , in the vein that pulsed in his neck , she noticed that he was forcing himself not to cry again .
         Phedora thought of reaching out to take his hand in hers , to try to comfort him in a way . It broke her inside to see him in such a state . So sad , so... ended .
         This was the moment everything was supposed to end happily . When all the struggle and work finally paid off . When they had won .
          It was just moments apart from the Ritual of Awakening , that could solve everything once and for all . Then why did Phedora felt so uneasy ? Why was her heart beating so unsteadily , as if it was expecting an attack from an unknow enemy ?
         The exhaustion she entered the building with rubbed off her again , making her limbs shake faintly once again .
If this is the end... then why does it not feel like a good one to me ?  Her brow furrowed , eyes fixed onto a point in a corner of the room , as if she could find her answers by doing so .
This is supposed to be the ending where everyone is happy . Her gaze softened , realising what was that  made her feel unease . Though not everyone is... He is not . Her gaze shifted to Alkaios once again . She hated to see anyone she cared about sad . Not if there was in the least something she could do to soothe their pain .
          To her surprise , Alk's look was now serious , any sign of his previous hollowness gone . He glanced around , as if finally taking in his surroundings .
           He looked again like the general he was for the past two years . Unshaken , with a face that never betrayed any emotion . He looked just the same but for a small quiver of his lip .
He is trying to show strong despite his sadness .
           This time Phedora did not stop herself from reaching for his hand . She took in her hand the callused skin of his , scarred from numerous battles . Just the same as hers . His hand was cold , opposite of Phedora's warm one .
           This gesture was supposed to tell Alk that she was there for him . That he was not alone . That he still had a shoulder to cry on . That there was still someone who loved him despite everything .
           Alk's serious expression faltered for a moment , letting Phedora see a sliver of suprise behind the  crack in his mask . He did not look at her but only closed his hand around hers too , squeezing tightly .
           Phedora could not care less if any of her friends saw them . She knew that they must be close behind , for all five entered the building at the same time . She could not deny that she owned them some explanations . But now it is not the right time to give them .
           Phedora did not realise that the seconds of mourning had gone out by then .
          The High Priest began to slowly chant the words of the spell . Words all of the Resistence have been taught in their first ever lessons "Είθε οι θεοί να αναστηθούν ξανά, με τη δύναμή τους πίσω μέσα τους ." May the gods rise once again , their power back within them .
          Phedora muttered the words under her breath first , in time with the priest . The same as any of the Resistence that stood inside the circular chamber .
          Slowly , some of the altars that formed a circle in the centre of the room began to glow a faint light . The Resistence chanted louder , filling the room with the words of the spell . The glow spread on , engulfing slowly but steady .
           Phedora realised that Alk had started to chant the words too , probably learning them by ear from the people of the Resistence . The other finders did so too , a cacophony of voices echoing off the walls of the circular chamber .
          The daughter of Zeus could not contain her happiness , a smile twisting the corners of her mouth . Her hand involuntarily squeezed Alk's again , almost immediately gaining a squeeze in response from the son of Hyperion . The chant got louder and louder , and the glows of the altars got brighter and brighter . The Ritual of Awakening was approaching its zenith .
           By the time the altars got bright enough to not be able to look at them , the chanting had gotten so loud no other sound broke it . The artifacts from the marble started to dissipate from existence one by one , leaving behind small clouds of gold smoke .
          The crowd repeated the words of the spell again and again until the altars of the minor gods were empty . 
          They all repeated it again and again with as much force as they could muster . They repeated the words until there was only one altar left to take on the process the others went through . It was the altar at the very middle of the circle , the one who stood taller than any and piled with most artifacts . Zeus' altar . Now it was complete after centuries of his lightning bolt being locked inside the Vault . Phedora felt each second pass slower as the artifacts of the last altar began to disappear too .
          When all of the altars were empty , a dazzling light bursted into the room , making everyone close their eyes . The shock of the blinding light made Phedora drop Alk's hand , bringing both her hands to her eyes .Too much godly power in a single room , Phedora thought as she closed her eyes under her palms . 
          She remembered of the moment when Athena was awoken after using the Flask of Life . The light that came from a god's true form . If it was so powerful then... I wonder how the true form of so many gods could be like ... She got her answer quick enough .
           Phedora's skin felt as if it was set on fire , even in her place in the depth of the crowd . Pain creeped through her , almost insupportable . She knew that right after the incandescence of their true form will disappear she could forget the pain instantly . But the force of the flame beneath her flesh made her not realise when the long seconds ended .
          The daughter of Zeus took her hand away from her eyes , opening her eyes slowly . The circular chamber looked just the same as it did when she last saw it . Just the same but for the empty white marble  altars and the tall figures who stood before them . Phedora's breath hitched inside her throat as she took in the faces of the ones who stood in the centre of the room . The Gods of Olympus... all of them awakened once again . Standing in the same room all at once .
It is done . The Ancient Prophecy is fulfilled . She watched as the whole crowd started to kneel down before the gods . She did so too , head bowed down . Her heart beat frantically inside her chest as she stared down at the floor of the room .
           Then a deep voice boomed through the room , making a small shiver run down Phedora's spine .
"Where is my demigod daughter ?"
           Phedora's head snapped up almost immediately , though it was not noticable by the gods from where she stood in the crowd . But before she could register who was the owner of the voice , she heard the familiar voice of the High Priest .
"She is here with us , Lord Zeus ." 
Lord... Zeus... Phedora slowly got up from where she kneeled . Now she stood above the crowd , facing the circle of now empty altars . It was only then she took in the new faces before her eyes properly . But her gaze darted almost instantly to the one who was taller than all the gods , standing in front of the altar that was piled until the moment of the Ritual with the artifacts of Zeus .
           The god of thunder was looking just the same as in the paintings hanged throughout the Resistence's base . Dressed in robes white as the clouds in the sky . A menacing look on his face and piercing electric blue eyes .
"Father ." Phedora bowed her head in courtesy . She felt the eyes of the immortals all gazing at her , which only accomplished to raise her nerves .
            As she rose her head , Phedora noticed the proud smile that crossed Zeus' face .
"Step closer ."
           Phedora oblidged , slowly making her way to the centre of the room through the crowd of kneeled folk . The gaze of the gods was piercing , making Phedora to anxiously calcute her very steps , afraid to make a wrong move .
           When she managed to get in the circle of altars , the only thing that reasured her slightly was the presence of the High Priest , with his warm gaze .
"I knew you would not disappoint , daughter ." Zeus spoke , laying a hand on Phedora's shoulder . The girl fought a shiver at the sudden contact . After spending so much time in the presence of Athena , with her ever lasting serious look , it felt weird to see a smile on a god's face .
           The god of thunder turned his gaze to the crowd "Now all of you rise back up ."
           The crowd of bowed down heads stood back up in seconds .
"We have plenty to talk about and even more to catch up on ." Zeus announced "But until then... we shall  celebrate our return from the depths of Tartarus-" his gaze drifted down to Phedora , his hand still standing on her shoulder "-and the one who managed to make this moment possible ."
          Before Phedora could argue that she was not the only one who contributed to the cause , the crowd cheered loudly , drowning the first words that left her mouth .