The Philosopher's Stone: An Escape from Reality

CHAPTER 3.1: ODYSSEY

"Wake up young lady." A woman said.

She looks so worried and sad. I looked around and again, I am on a place that I don't know. In this place, I can see a sea. But why is she here? I think she cried because her eyes look red. "Where am I? And who are you?" I asked with a tone of worry.

She caressed my back to calm me down and she smiled. "You are in Ithaca and I'm Phenelope, their queen." She helped me to stand up then she cried again.

"Would you mind to stay here in our place for a while? I know that we're still strangers from each other, but I feel good to talk to you. What's your name, young lady?" she asked as we walk away the sea.

"I'm Athena. I know it's weird that I suddenly appeared in front of you, without conscious. But believe me, I'm a true person. I'm just traveling to different places where I can find some clues to conquer the challenge that I am in right now." I explained. I think she understood what I'm talking about. She just nodded as a response. And so, we continued walking until we reached a place where the are a lot of men, having fun. They drink liquors, dancing, others are fighting, and lot more is happening to those bunches of people.

"This place became like this because my husband left. He's not yet returned from his journey. Some says that he is already dead, including his mother. She believed that Odysseus is dead, and so she drowned herself in the sea so that they'll sea each other. But for m and my son, he is still alive because of this bow."

"Don't stop believing. Someday, he'll come back and that will be the time that Ithaca will gain the peace it has before he left for his mission." Wow! I can't believe this. Am I the one who talked a while back? Was that me?

Knowing the things that happened to this lady, made me more eager to pursue in finding the answers to my problem. Comparing to what I had gone through, she had a more worth depressing situation. She needs to make a good decision so that Ithaca won't get in vain but, she also needs to fight her love for her husband. Which of those is more important?

In the mangas that was made by my co-mangakas, the characters that is getting into a situation like what Phenelope is in right now, actually choose to fight for his or her love. But this is reality. We should make a decision seriously.

After a while, there came a riot outside. We went to look over there and the men look so scary. They are really aggressive to marry Phenelope. And so, Phenelope promised to them that she'll make a handmade fabric. And if she already finished that fabric and Odysseus is still not home, she'll choose from those men who are asking to marry her.

A lot of years had passed. But still, she's not yet done with her handmade fabric. Do you know why? It's because she's undoing what she had already done. What a very brilliant idea. If ever I can also undone what I had done before, maybe I'm not this pitiful right now. Am I right?---I guess so.

She looks so worried while undoing the fabric she had made. But while she's undoing it, a man came inside the room. And he saw everything that is going on, including Phenelope that was undoing the fabric she had made. What a lucky day it is (in sarcastic tone).

"So, this is what you are doing, why you haven't finished the fabric as you promised?!" the man shouted to us and because of that, he became wild and scary. We tried to stop him from destroying the things inside the room, but that was no use.

The old woman who was with us was hurt because she was pushed by the man. And with that, a riot again was formed.

A few days passed by, Telemachus; Phenelope and Odysseus' son, brought home an old man. According to him, Odysseus is still alive. And that made Phenelope more eager to wait for him. But she needs to choose already for the best man to become the king of Ithaca.

Then one night, as I was walking outside their house, I saw the old man that Telemachus brought home. As I was watching him with the old woman, he looks like he is a good man that has a good heart and has a lot of knowledge.

And then, when I looked at the old woman, she looked so shocked with what she saw on the leg of the old man. I bet, it was a scar. Then suddenly, the old woman got emotional and after that, they had a serious conversation then went apart.

The old man was left out there, so I walked towards him and sat beside him. "Is there anything that bothers you, young lady?" he asked. I don't know but thought just came to my mind that, what if this old man is the king of Ithaca, Odysseus? Well, that's so ridiculous, I guess. "Actually, this thought has been here on my mind a while back. What does life mean?" I asked out of the blue. I don't know why did I ask that kind of question. We all know that it wasn't on my mind but I don't care. As long as boredom won't strike me.

He gave out a deep sigh then as he looked at me, he smiled. "Do you know what? I was challenged by the great god of the sea in ten long years. But in that, I realized what life really is."

I looked at him and he looked so happy, but at the same time, he has a worried face.

"I have a challenge too that I need to pass through. And I think this challenge is test for me on how to rebuild myself that was broken because of my wrong deeds." I paused for a moment, "How did you conquer that challenge?"

"Are you willing to listen to my story?" he asked.

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A/N:

Merry Christmas :)

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