The Story of Perseus - Part 5
After slaying Medusa, Perseus was passing near Ethiopia when he discovered a woman offered as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Her name was Andromeda. Perseus turned the sea monster to stone and rescued the princess, eventually becoming the son-in-law of King Cepheus of Ethiopia.
However, as Perseus was about to marry Princess Andromeda, someone burst in with soldiers, interrupting the wedding.
"Who is this nobody trying to take my place? Andromeda was originally betrothed to me!"
"Father-in-law...? What do you mean by this? Betrothed?"
"Ha! Pay him no mind, Perseus. That man was one of those who supported offering my daughter as a sacrifice."
"Is that so? A coward who fled from the sea monster’s threat, only to return and seek power now."
With that, Perseus reached into the pouch where he kept Medusa’s head, ready to reveal it, and shouted:
"Everyone on my side, close your eyes!"
"Hah! What nonsense..."
"What the...?!"
As Medusa’s head, capable of turning any mortal who gazed upon it to stone, was revealed, all those who didn’t close their eyes were petrified.
However...
"Father! Mother..."
"My father-in-law and mother-in-law... I’m so sorry..."
The King and Queen of Ethiopia, who closed their eyes too late, were petrified and died.
Deeply saddened, Perseus returned to the island of Seriphos, where he found King Polydectes threatening his mother, Danaë. When the king saw that Perseus had returned alive, he was terrified, having assumed that Perseus had died at the hands of Medusa.
"What...! You survived Medusa? Don’t lie to me!"
"See for yourself whether I’m lying!"
As the lustful king was turned to stone by Medusa’s head, Perseus brought his mother Danaë back to safety.
"Perseus... Although your grandfather abandoned you because of the prophecy, I’m sure he still misses you."
"Yes, Mother. I’ll send a message to Argos and try to meet him."
However, Perseus’ grandfather, Acrisius, fled Argos in the dead of night, abandoning the throne. Perseus married Andromeda and became the king of both Ethiopia and Argos.
As a king, the first thing Perseus did after returning the sacred weapons borrowed from the gods was...
"I will sponsor the temples of the gods who helped me, in the name of the royal family. Lady Athena, Lord Hermes, and..."
"Your Majesty, but there is no temple of Pluto in Argos."
"Then we’ll build one, won’t we?"
It was his way of repaying the gods who had aided him.
In the Underworld:
Here in the Underworld, where I, Hades, reign, I ordered my followers to create a new statue for Medusa, now a goddess of the Underworld. A few days later, when I listened to the mortal realm...
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"I thought Medusa was a monster, but the priests of Pluto tell a different story."
"She was originally human but became a monster due to a tragic fate?"
"Is that true? I only knew of her as a monster."
"I don’t fully understand it either, but Pluto isn’t just any god. He must have uncovered the truth and restored her honor."
"After all, the god of the Underworld has no reason to lie."
"Does this mean that those who suffer sorrow and misfortune are rewarded even in the Underworld? Oh, merciful god..."
It seemed Medusa had slightly altered her story when relaying it to the living. Perhaps she thought that directly blaming Athena and Poseidon might cause problems for me?
Regardless, my followers are now praying at Medusa’s statue, albeit with some uncertainty. Times like these make the status of one of the three rulers quite useful.
I received word from Olympus questioning whether making Medusa a goddess was appropriate, but I made my stance clear through the messenger god, Hermes. At least, I hope so.
"Tell Zeus to mind his own business and stop raping mortals."
"Uh... Uncle Hades... Should I deliver that message exactly as you said?"
"...You handle it."
With that, the matter of Medusa seemed to be nearing its end. However, I suddenly heard a voice calling out to me from the mortal realm, not from Thebes, but from Argos.
"..Lord Pluto..."
There aren’t many ways to get my attention when I’m not focused on the mortal realm... Is it from Argos? Perseus?
Now a king, Perseus had built a great altar and was offering sacrifices to me, speaking as he did so. The amount of burning offerings was enormous, befitting a king of two nations.
"Lord Pluto! I have built a temple in your honor to repay the favor of lending me the Helm of Darkness. Please send a priest in return!"
Standing atop the high wooden platform, Perseus personally conducted the burnt offerings. Despite having many servants at his disposal, the hero chose to perform the ceremony himself.
"Your Majesty, we could do this..."
"No, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself."
As I watched his humble demeanor, even as a king, I recalled the prophecy concerning Perseus.
A grim prophecy foretold that he would kill his grandfather, but prophecies are often vague and full of loopholes. If I could help him soften his destined tragedy...
A small piece of advice might suffice.
"Tell Hypnos and Morpheus that I am summoning them."
"Yes, sir! Right away!"
As Perseus offered sacrifices to Pluto in the Underworld, he suddenly felt a strange sensation. His mind grew hazy for a moment, and before him appeared a young man with wings.
"I am Morpheus, the god of dreams. I bring you a message from Lord Hades."
"...!! It is an honor!"
Kneeling before the god, Perseus listened as the mysterious figure spoke.
"The prophecy cannot be changed, but the path to its fulfillment is yours to choose."
"...?"
Leaving these cryptic words behind, Morpheus disappeared.
A prophecy that cannot be changed, yet a path that can be chosen... What could this mean? Isn’t prophecy an absolute fate that even the gods cannot alter?
What could Lord Pluto have meant by this? Could it be about the prophecy that he would kill his grandfather?
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Are you alright?"
"Uh?! What’s the matter?"
"Sire? You just fell asleep while standing!"
Perseus looked around to see the citizens and servants who had been watching the sacrifice murmuring among themselves. They seemed bewildered by what had just happened to their king.
He quickly gathered his thoughts. His sharp mind, honed as a hero, quickly assessed the situation.
Zeus, watching from Olympus, called upon the goddess of fortune, Tyche, to bestow a small blessing upon him.
The goddess of wisdom, Athena, also took note of the situation and briefly lent him some of her wisdom.
"...People of Argos!"
Finally, after standing in silence, the hero spoke. His words were intended to mitigate the tragedy that fate had decreed.
"You all know why my grandfather, King Acrisius, abdicated the throne!"
The people gathered there murmured among themselves. Many were aware of the famous prophecy linking Perseus and Acrisius.
"As you know, there is a prophecy that I will kill my grandfather. However, I have just received a new prophecy from Lord Pluto, the ruler of the Underworld!"
"Then... was that why His Majesty just fell asleep?"
"Did Lord Pluto grant him a vision in return for building a temple?"
"Was it about that terrible prophecy...?"
The crowd grew restless, but the king continued to speak undeterred.
"While the prophecy cannot be avoided, the path to its fulfillment can be altered—this is the message from the god!"
Everyone listened intently to the king’s words.
"I swear by the River Styx that I will treat my grandfather, King Acrisius, with utmost respect until he meets his natural end. And when his time comes, I will personally ensure that he passes peacefully!"
!!!!
The people erupted in astonished murmurs. The newly crowned King Perseus had just sworn an oath!
The oath by the River Styx, an absolute vow that even the gods of Olympus cannot break. If broken, a mortal’s soul would be dragged to Tartarus after death.
Could this have altered the prophecy even slightly? Wait a moment... but what if the king fails to keep this oath...?!
"Wait! Stop! You can’t!"
From the chaotic crowd, someone emerged. He was a shabby old man, but there was something familiar about his face.
"How can you make such an oath to the River Styx...?! What if you can’t keep it...?"
"Wait! Perseus, that man is your grandfather...!"
"Mother, is that really him?"
"Wait... is that!"
"The former King Acrisius?!"
Acrisius had secretly returned, curious to see his grandson’s face. Upon hearing his grandson swear by the River Styx, he stepped forward.
"Is... Is he truly my grandfather?"
"...You look just like Danaë, whom I wronged. The prophecy... But why did you make such a rash oath by the River Styx...?"
"Seeing how you worry for me and knowing what my mother has said... Please, allow me to escort you, Grandfather."
"I’m sorry... Perseus..."
They embraced each other, experiencing the joy of reunion. Danaë, witnessing this, burst into tears, and the people prayed as they observed the scene.
"To see them reunited and nothing bad happening... Could it be?"
"Has the absolute prophecy been altered slightly by the power of the River Styx?"
"Oh, the gods are merciful indeed. To witness such a sight..."
While it was certain that Acrisius was fated to die by Perseus’ hand, it now seemed that he would live out his days peacefully, eventually making his way to Hades’ embrace.