52 Despair

Pandora liked humans, despite the fact that she had never met one at all. Her father, however, created them. And that was enough for her.

This does not imply that she was unaware of humanity. She had received Athena's blessings. She could immediately discern knowledge and information about something or someone if she concentrated on them.

She was also well-versed in human civilization, culture, tradition, language, and so on, as well as the continents, pantheons, worlds, galaxies, and universe. Everything was literally at her fingertips.

Despite all of her knowledge, her enthusiasm for her journey was unaffected. After all, there is a difference between knowing and witnessing. Though she still had doubts, they disappeared the moment she set foot in the mortal world.

Oh, the beautiful world ~ Birds flew past her eyes as she gazed at the beautiful sunrise, and the crashing waves battered her ears. Her lungs were intoxicated by the salty sea smell.

It was beautiful and ethereal. Pandora wished she could stay in this lush forest forever, building a comfortable home and witnessing her father's glory every day. Those were merely fleeting ideas in her mind, as the weight in her hand remained her responsibility and purpose. But maybe after finishing this, she could have this life. A small part of her heart pondered.

Pandora's journey continued. She received Hermes' blessing, which showed her the path to the nearest human settlement once she wished for it in her mind. There were numerous routes to that settlement, and she extracted knowledge from each one with Athena's blessing. Then she took the quickest and easiest route, avoiding more dangerous ones with monsters.

It's not that she was scared. On the contrary, she even somewhat wished to meet a monster in the back of her mind and have her first fight. After the fight, she wanted to sacrifice her trophies to her father to show him her strength and power.

Her father...

Pandora tightened her hold on the golden box and hastened her footsteps toward the human settlement in her path, reining in her thoughts.

She had many wishes and dreams, but they all had to wait until she fulfilled her father's order and will. He had created her for this purpose, and she really didn't want to let him down. The mere thought of disappointing her father haunted her.

She wanted to complete this as soon as possible and return to her father in Delphi, where she could truly begin her new life with him.

Pandora smiled, her gaze drawn unconsciously to the otherworldly golden box in her hands.

And she lost her smile.

The golden box was a gift from her father and other gods to humanity. But there was a weird feeling in her heart whenever she looked at it. She also remembered the indifferent and sympathetic eyes of gods and goddesses when her father gave her the box, which only added to the strange feeling in her heart.

But she didn't think deeply about it, as it was her father who granted it to her. There could be no problems with it.

Pandora trusted her father.

And she continued on her journey, quickening her steps along the path.

Time passed as the sun slowly moved across the sky to the other end of the world. Despite a few hours of travel, Pandora didn't feel tired or worn. She was strong. She recognised it.

Ares' blessing was bestowed upon her for her incredible strength, endurance, and near-invulnerability. She could break up islands with a single punch and run across the continent without breaking a sweat. All in all, her slow journey was unimpeded and unhindered.

It came to an end as she stooped at the mountain's edge and peered down in surprise and awe.

It was there, an ethereal city with narrow avenues and massive bridges. Tower blocks dominated the centre, surrounded by thousands of residences. At the top of the towers was a blazing sun emblem. It glistened brilliantly in the sunlight.

It was magnificent.

Pandora narrowed her eyes at the sun emblem on one of the towers and nodded in understanding.

'This is the city of my father, huh?' She pondered. 'No wonder it is this magnificent...'

She concentrated on it. The information and knowledge about the city immediately appeared in her mind.

Tyre…

In her thoughts, Pandora cheerfully made her way down the mountain and strode onto the empty bridge leading to the gate of the Tyre.

The colossal gate opened with a rumble, as if anticipating her arrival, and she walked into it with excitement under the cruel shimmer of the sun.

She can't wait to meet humans.

Pandora was greeted by crowds upon crowds of humans packed throughout Tyr's streets and towers, all looking at her with equal excitement and anticipation.

Her emotions were nearly overwhelmed by the sight. She had anticipated a welcome, but such a warm welcome completely caught her off guard.

She wasn't really that important.

She just stood there for a moment, taking in everything and everyone in this surreal moment.

Until a man in a white chiton approached her and welcomed her.

Pandora immediately felt a sense of familiarity with him and asked him about it. And his response washed her worries away and soothed her heart.

He was Aegor, the King of Tyre. Above all, he, like her, was created by her father.

Does that make them brothers and sisters?

Pandora was almost over the moon at the thought. She didn't know why, but the thought of having a sibling just filled her heart with happiness. It was as if she had rediscovered a missing piece of her heart.

She focused on him and found out that he was married and had two adorable children.

So, am I now an aunt as well?

She flashed a brilliant smile.

Aegor rescued her from her tumultuous thoughts and invited her into the city. However, Pandora didn't forget the instructions from her father.

"Yes, yes, brother." Pandora nodded, holding an otherworldly golden box in her hand. "But before that, I have to open the gift."

"Father instructed me to open it the moment I entered a human settlement."

The moment she raised the box, it immediately attracted everyone's attention.

It was the zenith of art, seizing their hearts with allure and desire. This was not something mortal; everybody could feel it. This was something otherworldly, free of mortality, impermanence, and transience.

It was crafted by the divine hands of God himself, bathed in his power, might, and authority.

Tears of joy and happiness welled in the eyes of humans witnessing the sight of such divinity. It was a moment of honour that burned in their memories forever more. The city was filled with fervent and ardent exclamations that drowned out all other voices.

And under the witness of Man and God, Pandora placed her divine hands on its lid tightly. Curiosity adorned her sapphire eyes as she narrowed her gaze on the golden box.

The world stood still. Across the universe, every star in every galaxy dimmed, as if terrified of what was about to be unleashed. The mighty Skyfathers stood on their thrones, gazing down at their world. The cosmic entities themselves turned their attention to this universe, to this earth, to this Mediterranean, to…

Pandora.

And she opened the box.

There was a fast fluttering, a furious flapping of wings, and a wild wheeling and whirling in the air.

Oh! Glorious flying creatures!

But, no, they were not glorious at all…...Pandora cried out in terror and fright. Her hands and heart trembled.

The golden box ejected a terrifying and unsettling darkness. Its surface was covered with distorted and inhumane faces. They were like abyssal demons creeping out of the endless abyss, liberated by Pandora.

And the humans were jolted out of their trance and allusions, witnessing the gift of the gods to them. They screamed, were gobsmacked, and were startled. Some fragile mortal minds almost collapsed in the presence of terrifying abyssal demons. The horrifying truth gradually crept into their broken hearts, drowning them in despair and terror.

This was no gift, but...

The Punishment of Gods.

"HUSBAND, RUN!" Telephassa shirked. Her hollering voice seemed to rattle the world itself. She dashed towards her husband, who was literally standing next to Pandora, clutching her chest tightly.

Aegor gazed at the rising darkness from the golden box.

"There's no running it, my Telephassa," he murmured silently, and through the encroaching darkness, he saw the sun, which was no longer warm and gentle in his eyes but was the cruellest thing in existence.

"Why?" Aegor finally asked, as his vision was slowly filled with surging demonic darkness. And it consumed him, tearing him apart.

"NO!" Telephassa let out a heartbreaking cry, crashing into the ground with tears and blood.

Chaos immediately exploded throughout the magnificent city of Tyr as people ran for their lives. But there is no running from this.

The demonic darkness thrashed into the darkening sky, forming a massive dark column visible from all corners of the world. It was like a pillar of creation, supporting the earth itself.

Humans and gods alike stared at it, horrified and wide-eyed. The demonic faces made their skin crawl in fear. It ignited their worst nightmares and awakened their deepest fears; Despair consumed them, corrupting them.

Within the dark pillar, Pandora stood, her figure emitting the gentle light of the sun and moon, unaffected by the swirling darkness.

Her brilliant eyes were dull and empty. She stared in a trance at the opened golden box.

A spark of weak and dim light slowly emerged from within it, attempting to leave and join its brethren to enter the glorious world.

"Pandora, close it." A gentle voice resounded in her mind, jolting her.

Without hesitation, Pandora followed, summoning up the courage and strength to close the lid and seal the box with that gentle and weak light.

BOOM!

Immediately, the dark pillar of creation exploded with demonic darkness, sweeping into Trye, the countryside, and around the western world, even beyond.

CLANG!

Pandora's hand sank, losing all its strength. With a reckoning sound, the golden box landed on the ground. She slowly turned around to witness the world.

And she saw it all in her mind. The burgeoning western civilization was unravelling and collapsing in Despair, Death and Destruction.

"No," she muttered quietly, clutching her chest.

"No, no, no..."

"What have I done?..."

A sorrowful cry resounded, capturing her attention. And Pandora saw the ageing Telephassa clutching the broken and lifeless body of Aegor.

"Why?!" As her hair greyed and her face wrinkled, Telephassa roared at the cruel sun. "What have we done to earn this?"

Pandora dashed over to them, tears streaming down her cheeks. Then she kneeled in front of Aegor, placing her hands on his corrupted body.

"Brother…" She cried out. "Everything will be fine. I will pray to our Father…"

"REMOVE YOUR FLITTY HANDS FROM MY HUSBAND!" Telephassa screeched, dragging him away from Pandora.

"I just want to..." Pandora flinched.

"No!" Telephassa snapped. "Get out! Leave!"

She broke into tears, resting her withered head on top of his lifeless chest.

"Please. Just leave. Leave."

Pandora rose from the ground, her dull eyes gazing at them. And like a lifeless robot, she walked back towards the fallen golden box and picked it up.

Then, she strode silently along the broken path, leaving Try for the dark and broken world.

The cruel words of her father resounded in her mind.

'I am not your father. I am your creator.'

'You will understand everything eventually.'

The truth shattered her heart, sending her sinking into the abyss of despair.

Pandora gazed at the cruel sun.

"I was never your daughter, was I?..." She smiled, a smile that spoke volumes of despair and agony.

Pandora held onto the golden box ever so tightly in her hands.

"Why? Why? Why? ..."

She muttered again and again as she continued on her tortuous path eastward, towards Europa, towards Delphi.

_________________

A short and pudgy woman stood atop a mountain. Her skin was as pale as the moon, and her dark eyes were as lifeless as a corpse.

She whispered sombrely, spreading her hands towards the sad and broken world.

"So beautiful..."