The Sixth Life of Medusa

41. Zeus' Mercy

"Expansive and intact," Lonian said as he took in the interior of Medusa's annexe.

"Isn't it curious how our voice doesn't echo despite the emptiness?" Akrivi asked with a beaming smile.

Medusa hummed in response. She had invited both boys over, not because Akrivi wouldn't shut up about wanting to see the place, but because she needed their help.

Clotho's map, if she could call it that, was impossible to make sense of. And since the Moirai wasn't around to explain things, her other option was seeking the help of those familiar with Agria's Nest. There was the other business with the dogs. Getting the Whites to fall in line was only a small part of her plan.

Akrivi made a beeline for the portal door, pointing but saying nothing as he looked from Medusa to the door. "That's... this is a portal door," he finally said, looking both shocked and excited.

Were portal doors not common? Judging from the surprised look on Lonian's face as he joined Akrivi, it seemed that wasn't the case.

Both boys touched the door, and Akrivi went further to press his ears against it. A mischievous smile animated his face as his gaze slid in her direction. "Wait, can we sneak out through this?"

Medusa shook her head. "I was told only my backer can use it."

Akrivi's face fell, then he flashed over and grabbed her shoulders. "Who's your backer? Can they let us out?"

"You sound like you're trapped." Though Medusa chuckled as she spoke, she was partly serious. Now that she thought of it, could she leave Drys Valon of her own volition?

"Trapped? Haha!" He let his hands drop and turned away, but not before Medusa spied a sombre shift in his expression. So, he likely wasn't in Drys Valon of his own free will, was cursed, and wore an earring Hera made.

"Why did you call us?" Lonian turned away from the door. "It's almost time for curfew."

"The dogs," Medusa said as she sat on the ground.

Since Vyron lost his bet, he oversaw creating the enforcers subpost and adding members. Medusa's only request had been to make Arke the leader. So far, he's been agreeable, even though he didn't attempt to hide his suspicion regarding her origin.

Lonian and Akrivi sat across from her.

"I've found a... unique way to improve aether control." If what Medusa recently learned about aether stones works, then a month was enough, though it would be cutting close.

"Though it may be ineffective on both of you," Medusa said as she pulled a scroll from her dimension. They crowded in when she spread it open.

"I don't understand," Akrivi mumbled as he read through the text. "What am I looking at?"

"Where did you get this?" Lonian quietly asked. There was suspicion in his voice.

"My backer provided learning materials. This was one of them." Now that Medusa thought of it, there had been countless scrolls, books, and tablets in Clotho's domain. If the Moirai truly predated the gods, just how vast was the knowledge she had amassed? Over the past two days, Medusa had pored over the scrolls Clotho provided; among them, she had uncovered some fascinating finds. One of which had given her the idea to improve the dogs.

"What's unique about it?" Akrivi leaned in to get a second look. "I see some words in Greek. Is this a coded text?"

"It's written with a mix of Iza, a near-forgotten language," Lonian answered before spreading the scroll further. When he looked at Medusa, his expression was serious. "This is almost similar to the ancient scrolls in the Seiraphon monastery. Forgive the face I showed you. I was only surprised."