Sometimes even the shallowest waves could draw in the greatest surprises. When things started to float across the ocean they began to lose buoyancy over time, which was especially true for humans. They could only float on the surface so long before an unfortunate wave would lead to their inevitable demise by drowning. To avoid that ghastly fate, a conscious person would cling to anything they could hold on to.

There was one such person engaging in a desperate struggle to hold on to a ragged piece of driftwood right now, as the waves shook him left and right without mercy. The floating lifeline creaked under the weight of its passenger and the force of the waters. The man coughed ceaselessly as the ocean tried to drown him, knowing well that if he lost consciousness he would lose everything.

His tired eyes and worn body wanted to rest - until he finally caught a glimpse of the distant shore. The darkest clouds above him seemed to part and the incessant rain stopped pelting his body. Sunlight was reflected across the surface of the sea and blinded his night trained eyes completely.

There was an island in front of him with a shining white beach. Something in its center reminded of architecture and civilization, in other words: hope!

The man felt relief spread across his mind and chest, but that was his greatest mistake. As he loosened his despair, his hands let go as well. The tension left him completely and so he fainted, sinking into the greedy tendrils of the sea currents…

Eugenia took a walk along the beach, something she had gotten used to doing across the slow days on Sarpedon. It helped her clear her mind and she also had hopes that something useful might get spilled onto the island. It was surprising how many times she found the odd chest or barrel that had fallen off a ship and been carried here across the storm barrier. It seemed like the captains of the ships still didn’t quite learn to avoid this circle of destruction yet. That or the cargo came from ships wreckage in the island’s surroundings, of which there seemed to be many if Medusa was to be believed. Whether they were victims of the storms or the owner of the cursed isle was hard to tell.

The more she thought about it, the more amazing she had to consider the captain of the ship that brought her here. They didn’t lose a single person or thing from the ship during their entire journey here. Typhos really knew how to pick the right people for his endeavors.

Eugenia stopped to release a long sigh. No matter how much she told herself to forget about it, she still couldn’t stop thinking about the expedition and how she was abandoned. That was most likely her biggest regret of being stuck here. She could not find out the truth behind that day.

Shaking her head wildly, she forced her feet to keep moving and then with some surprise, hit a wooden something with her toes. After jumping in a circle and suppressing a cry she finally settled back down and patted the barrel to find any sign of what it contained. There was no marking or seal on it to indicate a specific city ownership and she could not find an easy way to open the lid either.

All she could tell from the texture of the wood was that it was relatively new compared to most things that landed here. The wood hadn’t been soaked completely yet and there were no traces of seaweed or salt on it. To find out more she would need to get a rod or something to break it open. Maybe she could ask Lady Medusa to do it for her, considering her enormous strength. No, that was a bad idea. She told herself not to rely too much on the Gorgon.

Eugenia walked back the way she came to find a tool, but was surprised to run into another barrel already! A strange coincidence. Now she was more careful about walking and ended up avoiding any more collisions. Surprisingly there were several more chests, baskets and barrels stranded across the beach. She had to conclude that a big ship must have gotten stuck in the storm and lost most of its cargo.

With a heavy feeling in her chest she prayed that none of the sailors had lost their lives to the ocean. At the same time she stepped on something squishy.

“Ghk!” A strange noise was released from that squishy thing.

Eugenia froze and slowly raised her leg afterwards. Then she set it down more softly. Again, she was pressing down on something squishy. Yes, this was definitely a hand.

“By Athena’s mercy!” She knelt down next to the person and fidgeted around anxiously. “Someone got shipwrecked and drifted all the way here?! Are you alive?” She shook the person, who turned out to be a man, but he didn’t reply. Although the sound of pain he made before was a good indicator that he was still alive.

The priestess held her ear to his chest and could hear a faint heartbeat. She gulped and considered her options. It was good that he was alive, but he probably swallowed a lot of water. From his cold and stiff limbs she could tell he had been inside the freezing ocean for a while. All she could do was to try and revive him as best as she could, but…

She turned her face up to the temple. Lady Medusa had a natural instinct that told her of intruders. The fact that she hadn’t rushed over yet meant that this man, ever so close to death as he was, didn’t trigger it. Was that a good thing? Could she really keep this a secret? For how long?

“Krhrk.” The man had a bad case of water lung. That wasn’t good.

“How do you go about extracting the water?” She wasn’t a sailor and much less a medico, so there was no way she knew how to save someone from drowning.

In a desperate attempt to find a solution she walked in circles and eventually tripped over the guy’s legs. She fell elbow first on his stomach and chest, making him cough up some water.

“Guaaaargl!!” He cried out for a moment before fainting again.

“So I just need to apply force!” She said with unfounded confidence as she got up. While stepping back to prepare another body drop, she hit something big and metallic. Her back shivered in response and she spun around, hitting a lever.

Pang! Swiiish!

Something shot forward with incredible speed and arced across the entire temple yard, all the way to Medusa’s lair. Eugenia listened to the loud impact with a petrified face. Moments later a rumbling went through the temple and then the door was thrown open and a very angry snake-woman slithered towards them at the speed of a horse-drawn carriage.

“Intrudeeeeer!” Medusa growled with death in her eyes. “Too cowardly to face me in direct combat, you dare to use projectiles now? You made a fatal mistake. Not even Chiron would manage a shot that could slay me inside my chambers.” She was holding a long metallic thing that resembled an arrow, but with a bend sharp tip that had gotten stuck terribly inside the door, which would explain the big hole inside it. Medusa had simply torn it out, ignoring the barbs.

“Wait Lady Medusa!” Eugenia stepped in front of the fainted man and stretched her arms to the side. “That was an a-accident! I was the one who shot that thing!”

“You? Not in one hundred years of deception would I believe that you had the strength to draw a bow that far!” She didn’t believe her for a second and slammed the metal ‘arrow’ into the sand where it got deeply stuck. It was as long as her arm.

“It really was me.” Eugenia insisted with a sweat covered brow.

“Is that a confession that you collaborated to kill me then? I am impressed by your audacity.” The Gorgon was furious. Eugenia could tell that her glare could have petrified people even without the curse right now.

“I already told you it was an accident! Listen to me for once you... you…” She didn’t manage to come up with a brave response, let alone an insult.

Seeing her upset reaction Medusa was taken aback a little and cooled her head. She crossed her arms and inspected the situation. Eugenia was blocking the way to the unconscious human who was looking quite worn out.

“Even if I were to accept that you were responsible for that attack.” She said with a low voice. “That man clearly came here armed with unknown weapons to slay me. Step aside and let me deal with the intruder.” Her words did not leave room for objection.

“No.” Yet she objected nonetheless.

“What was that?”

“We don’t know what his reason for coming here is. You can’t take his life so hastily.”

“I will show you right now what I can do.” She stretched her hand forward and revealed her long nails, which appeared almost claw like now. Her murderous intent was palpable.

“He almost drowned and his lungs are still filled with water. If we don’t help him he will die.” The girl said with a begging expression.

“All the better for me. Then I will not have to dirty my hands. Then again, it may be preferable to end his suffering quickly.” She said with a dark smile.

“I won’t let you do something so violent!” Eugenia shouted and then turned around raising both her fists. For a second Medusa considered that she might attack her, but instead she slammed them down on the man’s chest with all her weight.

“GUAAARH!!” He cried out in pain and water left from his lungs.

Medusa wondered who was actually more violent here.

“Live! Please, I beg of you, liiiive!” She kept hammering his chest and stomach with force.

“Gah! Argh! S-stooop! Aheeee!” His cries of pain were a lot more conscious now.

“I think you are killing him actually.” Medusa pointed out dryly. Seeing this intense display of incompetence made her rage dissipate like vapor in the air.

With a pained expression the man slowly opened his salt encrusted brown eyes. His hair was short and black as ink, while his skin was almost a scorched brown. A short stubble framed his chin, but otherwise he had no facial hair. His tattered clothes didn’t look very noble, but they were made in an unfamiliar way. This wasn’t the fashion around the Aegean Sea, at least not in any of the major ports.

“Where… am… I?” He whispered with a sore throat. His eyes met the face of the woman that was holding him up by the back first. “Graces… Are you… the goddess?” He stretched his hand forward to touch her face, but lacked the strength.

Eugenia caught his hand and pressed it tightly.

“I am no goddess, sorry. Gather your strength before I tell you what you want to know.” She pulled out a small skin filled with fresh water and put it to his lips. He thankfully gulped it down until it was empty. After a few seconds his eyes regained focus. “Please remain calm, but you stranded on the island of Sarpedon.” She revealed the truth after he seemed to have gathered his mind.

“Sarpedon?” He shook his head softly in her arms. He had no idea what this place was.

“It’s the home of the Gorgon.” Eugenia explained without looking up to the Gorgon in question. She could feel her glare on them though.

“Is that a title of some kind?” He questioned without recognition.

“You never heard of the horrible monster on the cursed island?” The priestess was surprised. Even children knew about this old tale!

“Monster-?” Now his eyes filled with fear. “T-there couldn’t be a monster here if it let a beautiful maiden like you stay untouched.”

“That’s er… complicated.” She blushed slightly at the compliment, but what she was really flustered about was the swishing of a certain tail behind her.

“I am sorry for being unknowledgeable about these lands… I was gone for a long time.” He coughed again and leaned forward on his own. His torso had regained some strength. His words explained his strange accent at least.

“Are you done now? What kind of guest does not look the Lady of the isle into the eye?” Suddenly Medusa spoke maliciously. The man had clearly not realized that there was another person behind him and turned around in surprise.

“Sanctified sand!” Eugenia shouted and threw a handful of beach sand into the man’s eyes.

“Gaaaaah!” He rolled over the beach holding his burning eyes.

“How could you Lady Medusa?! That was so cruel.”

“If he looks into my eyes that is his own mistake.” Medusa shrugged. “Also what about that sand was sanctified exactly?” She watched the bending and screaming man with squinted eyes.

“B-because I am a priestess, any sand I use is sanctified.” She said with embarrassment.

“Is that how it works?” She snorted.

“It was just a slip of the tongue! Never mind it!” She bit her cheeks and tried to get a hold of the writhing man. “I am sorry about that! You cannot look at the Lady of this island directly or you will suffer a horrible fate.”

“I am feeling very horrible already!” He retorted while holding his tear filled eyes.

“W-we can wash the sand out. Just relax for a moment-“

“Ahhh, this place really is cursed! First I feel the bulls of Helios trample me and then they throw sand into my eyes!” He pushed his head against the ground as if to surrender.

“Quiet already. Men should not complain so much.” Medusa grabbed him by the hair and pulled him up.

“Don’t-!” Before Eugenia could stop her, Medusa moved forward and splashed the man’s face into the shallow seawater closeby.

“Bluurbrglgl?!”

“What are you doing?” The girl was confused.

“That should wash the sand out of his eyes and cool him down.” Medusa replied coldly.

“But that is ocean water.”

“So?”

“It’s salty, so it will hurt even more. Human eyes are frail!” Eugenia said matter of factly.

“I see.”

She watched him struggle inside the water, bubbles indicating that he was screaming in pain. Several seconds passed.

“If you don’t pull him up soon he will drown.”

“Human lungs are frail as well.” Medusa huffed and pulled the poor shipwrecked man up. “Better?” She asked in feigned kindness.

“My eyes - huurgh – buuuurn.” He was falling down like a sack of flour.

“Are you alright? She doesn’t mean anything bad by it; Lady Medusa is just not used to interacting with humans.” Eugenia knelt down next to him and apologized frantically. “Why are you so cruel to this poor man? He barely escaped the horrors of the ocean, we should show him hospitality.”

“Actually could I go back to… the horrors of the ocean?” The man muttered with a pale face and a defeated expression.

“Don’t give up!” She shook him violently to keep him from fainting again.

“I apologize for fainting again. I had a strange and very painful dream.” The man said with an ashamed smile and settled closer to the fire Eugenia had prepared.

“Yes, it was a ghastly experience; it is only natural that you were in a sort of delirium.” The girl said with a dry throat and handed him something to eat.

“Let me introduce myself.” He cleared his throat. “My name is Themistokles of Rhodes. Most of my companions called me Zosimos, though.”

“I am Eugenia of Lamia.” The priestess returned the introduction and sipped on her mug of water. “Why do they call you Zosimos?”

“It’s because I always get out of troublesome situations by the skin of my teeth.” He laughed hoarsely. Zosimos was a name associated with survival, but to hear it used as a nickname meant he must have had quite a reputation. “Even now I was saved by such a gracious young lady! The goddess must be with me.”

“Which goddess do you pray to?” She asked with curiosity. She knew almost nothing about the distant city of Rhodes. There were stories that the men from that island were the toughest sailor folk in the entire known world. With that in mind she would have assumed he was a follower of Poseidon.

“Lady Artemis.” He replied with a serious look.

The goddess of the hunt and the moon? Eugenia could not make sense of that. Certainly, nobody was forced to follow just the gods that were closest to their trade or home, but it was strange to think that a Rhodian would pray to her.

“She has guided me since childhood and gave me the strength to face my destiny.” He spoke with reverence. “I am a merchant, but Lord Hermes is not very popular on our island. But the moon, the moon is always watching over me, no matter how far I travel.”

Eugenia smiled softly. It was a beautiful sentiment. No matter how foreign the world around one seemed, the moon was always the same. Artemis watched the night, as Helios did the day.

“If you are a merchant, does that mean you were on a cargo ship to trade your wares in one of the ports?”

“Indeed. I have returned from distant lands with so many exotic wares. Oh such woe to have lost all of it to the callous sea.” He lowered his head in sadness.

“What happened to the crew? Did they make it?” She inquired sympathetically.

“Ah, there was… no crew.” He muttered while rubbing his head awkwardly.

“Eh?”

“I sailed on my lonesome.” He explained with an apologetic expression.

“You were crossing the ocean on your own?!” Eugenia’s mouth was agape from the sheer madness of what she heard.

“I wanted to cut on costs and the port master said that the ocean was calm around the coast!” He justified it hastily, but was clearly aware of how suicidal his actions had been. “This punishment is deserved I suppose.” He fell back into depression.

“Nobody deserves to lose their fortune to the wiles of nature.” She shook her head and put a hand on his lap to give him her condolences. It seemed to give him some comfort at least. “I cannot imagine that you were just doing it out of greed.”

“Why do you say so?” He was surprised to hear her claim.

“It is just a feeling I got while talking to you. Can you tell me why you were traveling so far and went through so much danger?”

“I would be a thankless dog if I denied my savior something so simple.” He scratched his stubble and looked up at the sky. “There is someone I love dearly.” He began. Eugenia listened intently. That kind of story made her heart flutter.

Themistokles was a merchant, but he had not always been one. He was once a simple thug on the streets of Rhodes, barely scraping by each day. In his youthful idiocy he thought he could rob an aristocrat’s daughter that was traveling through Greece, passing by the large island. Her entourage was distracted by the rest of his gang and he soon managed to slip past the bodyguards. Entering the inn they had rented, he snuck up into their rented quarters and took all the valuables he could.

Just as he was about to escape through the window he was discovered by the noble daughter. To prevent her from exposing him, he pushed her against a wall and covered her mouth with his rough hand. Unexpectedly, she bit his hand until she drew blood and he let go with a suppressed yelp.

“There is no need for such crude behavior.” She spat out his blood and wiped her mouth angrily.

“Don’t scream or I’ll cut ya down!” He threatened her with his curved dagger while wiping his bleeding hand on his rags.

“What made you assume I would scream?” She replied with both hands on her waist and stared him down. She was dressed formally, but her eyes were filled with a fire that he had only seen in the toughest brawlers of the gang. “Look at your desperate face, I would feel appalled to let someone like that take my life.”

“What’d you say, wench?!” He flipped his dagger and gritted his teeth. For some reason he was hesitant to cut down this beautiful pale maiden, despite her attitude.

“Quiet now or my father will hear you.” She put her dainty hand on his mouth to shut him up.

“Hrmgh?” He was entirely confused by her actions of course.

“You are a lowly thief, but you did not kill me on the spot when you had the chance, so I will repay you. What you have in that sack of yours is not that much.” She spoke quietly and then pulled something from her robe. “This is my father’s precious golden cup. He loves it more than even mother.” Her words were derogatory and her blue eyes filled with disgust. “You may have it if you call off your friends. The guards are not at fault for this, so I would prefer you did not hurt them.” She gave him a questioning look, as if to ask whether he understood.

He nodded and she slowly let go of his mouth. He did not say a word just as she told him.

“Now go already.” She pushed him to the window.

“Thanks…” He mumbled in stupor and climbed out of the window.

“You do not make for a good thief. Use your skills more wisely from now on.” She looked after him from the window with a last glance and then returned inside.

“That was my first meeting with Eopia.” He said with nostalgia. “I fell in love with her on the spot.”

“Huh? What? But you robbed her family!” Innocent Eugenia was already lost.

“True. I gave the boss the entire booty and got praised for it too. The only thing I kept was that golden cup she gave me. I just couldn’t let it go. It reminded me of her dignified expression.” His words were filled with deep affection. “It just so happened that I ran into her father when he was combing the slums for the thieves. The gang was publically executed and everything retrieved, except the cup of course. When I met that man I gave him back the cup and apologized.”

“Truly? How did you survive? Was he moved by your honesty?” She now hung on his lips.

“Hah! Not at all! Eopia’s father is a ruthless aristocrat who would have killed me on the spot. I didn’t tell him that I was the one who stole it. I just said that I took it from my brothers in the gang to return it, because I knew it was the right thing to do. He lowered my punishment to thirty lashings.”

“You are cunning, Themistokles.” She could hardly believe his bravery in the face of death.

“I was just lucky. Now you see why they call me Zosimos.” He could look back on that with mirth now, despite the scars it must have left. “Eopia was not happy about it of course, because she is too kind. She felt responsible for giving me the cup, but it was my mistake to keep it.”

“You survived that day, but how did you become a merchant? I don’t see the connection.”

“Yes, about that. Eopia’s father took me in as a servant after my punishment. I still do not know why he was so gracious that day, but it helped me learn a lot from his business. I also was able to see Eopia almost every day.”

“A mistress and her servant.” These kinds of tales were common enough, but they never ended well. Yet they were exactly the kind Eugenia loved to hear.

“It took me two years to finally make myself worthy in her eyes.” He gulped down the remains of the apple he had been eating and threw the stalk into the fire. “Sadly, the good lord would not give his daughter’s hand to some peasant.”

Eugenia nodded. She had feared as much.

“So I asked what he wanted for her hand in marriage. He said I would have to become of higher standing than even him! What a trial.” He sighed. “The only way to improve my standing was to amass riches and influence to become part of the council in Rhodes. I couldn’t have done that in time before they finally continued their journey. They were headed for Athens.”

“Oh no…”

“That’s when I promised that I would become a renowned merchant and come to Athens in five years’ time. If I could buy myself into the council there and become as influential as a true aristocrat, if I could even become an Archon, father should have no objections.”

“How long has it been since then?”

“Four summers. My time is running dry.” He said woefully. “This ship was my last hope. Eopia will not be able to hold off her father much longer and she will be married to some rich boy in Athens.”

“I am so sorry.” Eugenia felt herself tear up.

“Please shed no tears for me. It was by my own foolishness that my dream ended this way. I was too greedy and tried to cut on all possible costs. These rare and exotic wares had to be kept hidden from jealous eyes or so I thought. Now only the fish can enjoy them.”

It was heart wrenching to see all his efforts sink to the bottom of the heartless sea. Eugenia wished she could do something to change his fate.

“That ship of yours sank like a rock.” A deep voice echoed inside the destroyed temple and they noticed Medusa standing leaned against a pillar behind them. She did not turn to them, instead watching the beach. “Your cargo is a different matter.”

“Are you speaking the truth?” He looked up with hope.

“Of course!” Eugenia rose up excitedly. “There were so many barrels stranded on the shore when I found you.” Her hopeful words broke the chains of sadness around Themistokles’ heart.

“I need to take a look right away! If my greatest treasure is still there I still have a chance.” He rose on his wobbly worn legs and moved forward determinedly. Eugenia came to his side and lent him a shoulder.

“Close your eyes please.” She asked him nicely.

“Oh? Erm... as you wish.” He didn’t get why, but he closed his eyes and followed her guidance.

They passed by the pillar which Medusa leaned on.

“Thank you. I knew you have a good soul.” Eugenia smiled happily towards her companion.

“Hmph.” Medusa did not acknowledge her and instead closed her eyes. The snakes were unusually calm and hung down like real hair.

The tale of the merchant had not moved her in the slightest. Just one foolishness after another. Even if his treasure was among the wreckage, there was nothing that could change his fate. This island was a prison to all. Hope was an insidious poison.

The Gorgon mused over these things as the humans did cling to the hope they adored. The newcomer had survived a perilous journey, but how would he affect the nature of this fragile peace established by the women’s hands?