The noise of spears hitting against scales and claws against wood impregnated the air with an atmosphere of frenzy. Arrows sailed through the feverish swings and found their targets everywhere on the monster’s body. The sand was swirled into the air by sandals stomping through it. In the center of that death and destruction was the Gorgon, clawing her way through enemies left and right. Some were grazed by her gaze and petrified, but they mostly kept attacking her lower half to avoid looking up. They were instructed well.

Nonetheless the brave warriors stood little chance. A monster of this caliber could break through any of their weapons and took very little damage in return. They were thrown through the air or crushed on the spot, but none could do what they set out to.

Not a single one could slay the Gorgon.

“Aim for her eyes.” Typhos ordered the archers behind him. They were sweating beastly from the constant effort of drawing their bows. The efforts of these men were the only reason that they could slow the Gorgon down at all. She had to regularly deflect projectiles and while she did that she could not swing for the spearmen and sword wielders.

Of course aiming for eyes that one could not look at was less than ideal. They barely managed to aim in the area of her head. To make matters worse, the snake hair kept biting at the arrows and thus stopped those few who got close to her face. This battle was incredibly unfavorable.

“Milord, this is madness. The monster’s too much for ‘em! If you keep attacking we’ll all be decimated!” Captain Pelagios called out to the scholar with concern. He was the only one who dared to approach Typhos right now. “It’s suicide, sir!”

Typhos looked at the ground where he inspected the black dagger that was used to end the Shade of Athens. He squatted down and pulled it out of the sand. He didn’t seem to have heard Pelagios at first, but then he rose again and gave the seaman an encouraging smile.

“I hear the wisdom in your words. Prepare the ships for retreat.” The scholar ordered without breaking his smile.

“W-What about the mercenaries?” Pelagios watched the massacre close by with a bad premonition.

“We have not finished our business yet.” The scholar said seriously and dropped his carefree voice for a moment. Then he turned towards the battlefield without hesitation.

“Milord-- Typhos!” He shouted his name to gain his attention. “What of you?!”

“I will be right behind you. Get your crew to set off first, and then ready the ship for us.” He said, hand raised without looking back.

In this moment Pelagios knew that he was not allowed to say any more in return. How many times had he heard such words before? Even he once lived as a pirate in the Aegean Sea. Back then many a brave man was left behind to assure the fleet’s survival. This cold feeling in his gut was never wrong. Heroes were the most foolish kind…

“Poseidon’s beard. This damned expedition.” Pelagios cursed and then spun around and shouted orders towards his crew. They hastily prepared the triremes to leave the island.

Meanwhile Typhos walked through the battlefield. His step was measured and nearly serene. He managed to avoid flying bodies and sword swings without giving them any attention. An arrow cut through his hair and severed a strand, but he did not show any sign of fear. The Gorgon’s claw passed his face as she swung to behead several men who hastily jumped out of the away. In her blood frenzy she didn’t even recognize him.

“Surround her. She only has cursed eyes at the front.” Typhos said to the leader of the squad, who nodded emphatically and barked orders at his men.

The spearmen surrounded the Gorgon and kept poking at her vitals from several directions. Her long snake tail crushed the spears behind her and she broke the arms of those in front. Ex-soldiers with finely crafted short-swords were slipping past her attacks and attempting to stab her gut, but she headbutted the first in line and then grabbed his sword to impale the next two.

As their blood splattered through the sand and barely missed the scholar’s sandals, he merely kept looking ahead. He had passed the Gorgon now and saw a crazed mercenary raise his sword to cut down a cowering girl below him. She was holding her hands above her head and in them she held a broken spear. It was clear that a priestess would receive no combat training, but she had managed to block a few swings of a man in complete blood rush.

Any moment now he would swing down and cut the spear hilt apart, ending the priestess’ life alongside it. That is, until he gasped in shock. There was a dagger deep inside his lungs, making it hard for him to breathe. He looked back at the scholar who had stabbed him and then fell awkwardly to the side, sword still raised. He could not scream thanks to the blood in his throat.

“I did not give any orders to attack the priestess.” He scolded the twitching corpse and then moved forward. “Insubordination is a crime, you know?” He muttered while grabbing Eugenia by her long hair.

“T-Typhos, stop this!” She appealed to him with a vulnerable voice, but he did not let go. Instead he put an arm around her throat and dragged her backwards, away from the battle.

“I must say, Eugenia, I am somewhat disappointed in you. Was it honestly too much to ask for you to play your role the way it was prepared for you? I am an advocate for free thinking, but thoughts this mad will lead to certain doom.”

“Y-You don’t decide what is best for me!” She retorted and tried to loosen his arm with both her hands, but to no avail. Despite his frail build, Typhos was surprisingly strong.

“I underestimated your need for acknowledgement. I thought simply appealing to your duty and wish to be useful would be enough. The Gorgon was one step ahead this time.” He kept talking to himself with an emotionless expression and then pulled out the dagger from the dead soldier’s back. “To think I would dirty this precious dagger with the blood of peasants. It was the only item I kept from the Bisanthian treasury.”

Eugenia was anxious when hearing him ramble on by himself. This was a Typhos she had never known. He seemed to be close to the edge now.

“Please, stop this madness.” She said with forced bravado. “If you don’t stop this now, none of you will survive!”

“We were prepared for that as well.” The scholar said mysteriously, but then put the dagger to Eugenia’s throat. “Now call for your mistress, would you?”

She shrieked loudly when the blade softly pricked her flesh.

The Gorgon had heard the scream of her protégé and was turning their way. She was currently standing on top of a hill of dead and petrified men. Without looking she threw a spear after the last remaining archer and impaled him so strongly that he was sent flying into the ocean. It seemed that Typhos had just barely made it in time for his entire attack force to be crushed.

Medusa looked upon them in a mix of anger and terror. In her bloodlust she had overlooked the most important opponent of all. She growled and advanced towards the much smaller scholar.

“Free her, you mad dog.” She demanded with her claws extended towards him.

“Ah ah ah, we would not want to antagonize the man with the knife.” He said with a set smile and brought the blade closer to Eugenia’s throat. His eyes were focused on her claws, which stopped mid-swing. “You already know how this goes, so please go ahead and close your cursed eyes. Thank you.” He chuckled as Medusa followed his commands begrudgingly.

“Let goooo!” Suddenly Eugenia bit into his arm so strongly that she drew blood. The red liquid ran down his arm and body and even into her mouth. She kept putting strength into her jaw.

Typhos did not even flinch.

“The only one who acts like a rabid dog seems to be your pet.” He addressed Medusa again and tightened his arm around Eugenia’s head until she could no longer bite down. “Did they not teach you manners at temple school?” His mocking question almost made Eugenia shrink away in shame.

“You know that you will not get out of this alive.” Medusa said in her most threatening tone. “The moment you hurt her I will crush your head.”

“Hm, yes, you are far faster than me. That is why I need to keep a good look at your movements.” He said still completely focused on the Gorgon. “So would you please not attempt some foolish action like drawing closer?”

Medusa stopped her almost imperceptible movements with a frown. The scholar’s eyes were far sharper than she could have anticipated. But if he was looking at her so intently…

“I only need to open my eyes and end it all.” She said with certainty.

“Oh? Why have you not done so then?” He smiled sardonically. “There is no need for you to say it. I already know quite well. I had the debatable pleasure of witnessing your cursed eyes in action after all. Over and over again.” He nodded towards the mountain of petrified bodies. “I have realized something quite interesting. The moment a man is struck by your eyes he petrifies, but it does not happen instantly. There is a short duration in which some body parts can still move. Merely a second or two.” He focused his eyes. “Enough to slice a throat for instance.”

He had her by the tail. From this distance she had no option to stop him from taking Eugenia’s life. And he would not allow her to come up with a new counter-measure either. This stalemate was incredibly fragile. If only she could gain some time.

“You would kill a priestess of the goddess you worshipped so intensely before? Can you make peace with your conscience after such blasphemy?” She asked with a forced smirk. Provocation was her only remaining option.

“I might have to, because of your incompetence.” He said with a long-suffering sigh.

“What?” She was taken aback by that reply.

“Some monster you are. Unable to kill a single blind woman. Your unnecessary mercy has caused me no short amount of grief.” The scholar said disparagingly.

“W-What are you saying, Typhos?” Even Eugenia was shocked.

“My apologies. It seems unnecessary to hide it at this point.” He said calmly. “I brought you along on the previous expedition for one reason alone. To be killed by the Gorgon.”

Eugenia fell silent with a pale face. Medusa’s eyebrow twitched.

“So that was your scheme.” The snake woman seemed almost impressed by his deviousness.

“I originally would have settled for any priestess really, but to think Eugenia was actually blessed by Lady Athena herself, what a boon!” He declared exaggeratedly. “And blind to boot, it seemed almost too perfect.”

“I d-don’t understand…” The girl stuttered in his unyielding grip.

“It is quite simple, if the Gorgon had slain one of Athena’s chosen she would have experienced retaliation. However, if you had simply been petrified, there could have been a loophole. This clever monster could have claimed that your gazes met without her will. An unfortunate accident. Yet if you are blind, her method of disposal had to be far more physical. It is a crime beyond redemption to cause the death of a priestess, but bludgeoning one? You may well find yourself in Tartaros the moment you awaken.” He explained it to her as if it was the plot of some play he watched recently. “I am glad we met back then in Athens. Otherwise I might never have conceived this plan.”

“You- You always planned this?” Eugenia shivered, completely devastated.

“Bastard.” Medusa felt her beastly anger resurface.

“I already told you, I am no bastard.” He said in a low voice. “I am the proud son of King Heroides! The man whose life you took twenty years ago.”

“Hmph. So that is what this is? Your attempt at petty revenge?” She mocked his motives openly. This was not the first revenge quest she had stopped in its tracks and it would not be the last.

“Laugh all you will, I have my sights set far beyond your corpse.” He replied coldly. The dagger in his hand seemed to be clutched a bit more tightly though.

“Heroides you say?” Medusa suddenly said in a musing tone. His body movements were subtle, but told her that she was getting somewhere. “I seem to remember that name.” Her memory was impeccable after all. If she wished she could recall each instance of her life on this island on command.

Typhos fell uncharacteristically silent.

“A burly man with an ear-puncturing voice? Taller than your average bear? His comrades kept throwing themselves in front of my claws to shield his body, yet he kept going back to face me directly.” She recalled with a nostalgic expression. “I have never seen a greater fool, but it was ever so impressive how he managed to keep fighting without meeting my eyes. He was like a beast, only focused on my throat and heart.”

Typhos glared at her with all his might.

“I kept him for last or rather; the rabble fell in front of him before I could finish him off.” She crossed her arms and smirked darkly. “I let him impale me out of curiosity, but he was not strong enough to pull the spear out again. It was so pathetic that I just had to pull his head up and look him in the eyes. The last expression on his face was pricele-”

“Enough.” Typhos interrupted her. “You are not as clever as you believe. Words cannot incite me and neither will you gain anything from stalling me.” With those words he pulled back his arm from Eugenia’s head, but kept the blade at her throat. Then he dragged something out of his light cuirass and threw it at the Gorgon’s ‘feet’.

Thwump.

The heavy black dagger sank into the ground and left a dent. Medusa did not need to open her eyes to realize what dagger it was.

“I have pondered long nights how this expedition could end in a complete success. Eugenia’s sacrifice was a failure and mere superiority of numbers would not do it either. Even the Shade proved no match for you, although I never contracted it to assassinate you anyway.” His mouth twisted into an awry smile. “I seemed to have been out of ideas, beyond doing the deed myself. That was, until I met a certain merchant.”

Both women froze and understood his meaning right away.

“What did you do to Zosimos?!” Eugenia struggled again, but the scholar’s grip was unbreakable.

“All I did was give him what he wanted.” Typhos replied sleekly. “A man of his caliber can be bought. I was quite generous honestly, for just keeping his life would have been payment enough.”

“The merchant betrayed her?” Medusa asked with a hollow voice.

“Haha, not at all.” Typhos denied it with a dry laugh. “He begged me not to hurt Eugenia until the very end. I even made a promise.” He said with a light shrug. “In return he gave me some invaluable information. A map of this island, the details of your relationship and of course your weakness that entails with it.”

Medusa swallowed. Her throat suddenly felt incredibly dry. This was her mistake, was it not? She had let that useless man escape from her island. She should have known nothing good could come of that mercy.

“I could hardly believe it myself, you know? His explanations seemed rather farfetched, that is why I had to confirm them myself. Of course there are many strings holding up this one yarn, but it seems he was not entirely wrong. The Gorgon’s weakness is… Eugenia.” He said meaningfully.

“Themistokles said that?” Eugenia bit her lip as she listened to this, but she did not seem convinced.

“He did not seem to grasp the true reason the Gorgon had kept you alive, that being the fear of Athena’s wrath, but he was not entirely wrong either. She has perfected her ‘human’ act. To that end she has feigned compassion and kindness, which appealed to you, naïve as you are. It is quite adorable.” He almost fussed over Eugenia like she was his little sister or something. “That is, if it was not so sickening.”

“Now that you have found that apparent weakness, what is your aim?” Medusa asked stoically. She would not show him any weakness even as she already realized her fate.

“I would prefer not to be made a liar, so you have the choice Gorgon.” His tone became business like. “You can attack me in a futile attempt at vengeance, the thing you mocked just before. I guarantee that I will take Eugenia with me and break my promise to the merchant not to harm her.”

Medusa understood the situation all too well now. The reason why Typhos had ordered the owl to be silenced for good and why he had chosen to bring Eugenia to his side. The depth of his corrupt ways was unfathomable and yet it was exactly what she expected of humans. After all, humans were a reflection of the devious ways of the gods. This was a scheme that fit right into Athena’s repertoire. How ironic that she was merely a pawn in a human’s scheme this time. She had to respect him for his daring mind.

“As you already gathered, Athena cannot see what happened, but she will know Eugenia’s life has been extinguished. It is far too easy to blame this on you, especially when the great goddess wishes to see you responsible.” He explained matter of factly. “If she had seen me do it with my own hands it would have been a different matter, but this way the blame will be with you alone.”

“No way.” Eugenia gasped.

“The alternative?” Medusa asked while staring at the black dagger in front of her.

“Cut off your own head with the anti-divine dagger.” Typhos said with a wide smile.

“NO!” Eugenia shouted, but her mouth was covered by Typhos hand now. Her rebellious words were suffocated completely.

“No normal wound may end your cursed life. I am not quite certain whether impaling your heart of stone will even suffice. But there is no monster that would survive getting its head severed from its shoulders with that, save the Hydra itself.” He declared. “Am I correct?”

“Yes.” She admitted and picked up the dark dagger, which was still covered in traces of her own dried blood.

“What a relief. You will see that this is the most beneficial solution for all of us. You will die either way, but with this method, Eugenia will be safe.”

“…you promise?”

“Of course.”

“On the good name of your father, King Heroides?” She inquired with a sharp voice.

Typhos looked at her serious features. His knife hand was still. There seemed to be things even he valued above his own gain. That had been established now.

“I swear by my mother’s honor. I will protect Eugenia and bring her home safely. Given that you agree to this contract and keep your part of it.” His words were not tinged in lies or deception. This was the final step. If he got what he wanted, no more bloodshed would be necessary. Medusa could tell a man’s character from only a few short interactions. Despite her revulsion, she had to admit that she understood the scholar completely. In some sense they were quite similar.

Medusa felt the cold metal of the hilt in her hand. It was a heavy metal, quite unlike the light spear and arrow tips scattered around them. It had the weight of one immortal life already. One semi-mortal could be added to its insatiable thirst soon.

“You shall be useful beyond your death, of that I can assure you. Once I take your severed head with me, I can redeem my family name in the eyes of the citizens.” He spoke almost sweetly of his future. “And once I meet the treacherous council I shall show them my trophy quite closely, with wide open eyes.” His revenge was already more than settled in his mind.

“You would make a terrible king.” Medusa said honestly.

“I pay no mind to a monster’s idea of leadership. With the rhetoric and wisdom I acquired from the philosophers of Athens I shall lead my people back to prosperity. This dark age of Rhaidestos will be smothered by my own hands and Bisanthe shall rise again!”

“You believe the people will welcome you with open arms for slaying me?”

“They loved my father. They loved the monarchy. What ended this bond of trust was one failure. One failure I will now undo.” He said with conviction. Only, there was the slightest hint of uncertainty in his eyes.

“Mmmpgh!” Eugenia was still trying to force out words, but her compulsory silence did not end.

“A man who would sacrifice so many people for a petty show of superiority is not worth the throne of the hero king. People should sacrifice themselves for their leader of their own free will instead. That is the mark of a true king.” Medusa took the dagger in both hands and put it to her throat.

Typhos’ face twitched. “How do you know that title?”

“I told you already. I remember everything those brave men said.” She replied and her closed eyes became softer. “The truth is that they respected him more than the gods themselves. To the very end he seemed determined to save the people that I supposedly robbed from their families and villages at the shore.”

Now Typhos knew that she spoke the truth. Those were details nobody could have told her on this isolated island.

“He may have been misguided, but the people seek a savior, not a schemer. The scheming is left to the gods, because they are above human needs, is that not so?” She didn’t know why she had this urge to advise her enemy. It seemed appropriate as her possibly last deed.

H e

“…what good are ideals like that in the face of reality?” He replied quietly. “What good is a ‘savior’ that cannot save anyone?! A man with a good heart will always lose to one with a twisted tongue. A good king will die to the hands of a monster!”

“She is no monster.” Eugenia had wound herself out of Typhos’ hand and managed to squeeze out a few words. Her expression was tortured. “Why will you not see that this is wrong? Medusa is not evil; she is not responsible for your father’s or the council’s actions. Rather than slay her, you should convince the people of your righteousness! Even the one you call a monster is more decent than you!!”

These accusations were completely unlike the shy and polite girl that they had known. Eugenia was desperate and it showed.

“It does not matter who the Gorgon truly is. She may even be a beauty rivaling the Graces with the mind of a grand scholar. She will still be a monster to them.” He did not even notice that he was not addressing her as an ‘it’ anymore. “Reality is cruel. It is unkind. Let me tell you the truth of this world.” He talked close to Eugenia’s ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “I stepped over hundreds of corpses to get here. I culled the dreams of dozens of upstanding people to reach this point. I have swindled, betrayed and averted my eyes from evils you cannot imagine, bargained with the scum of the world and even lied to a goddess!”

His words were rough, almost hoarse. His calm demeanor had finally cracked completely.

“By all means, call me evil. Call me corrupt and morally bankrupt. Tell the world that I am the evil one. You may even be right.” He said self-derisively. “But no matter what I do, she will always be the monster and I will be the hero.”

Medusa felt a cold hollowness swallow her mind. To hear spoken what she had always thought was far too vexing.

“Why- why does it have to be like this?!” Eugenia cried out.

“That is because this is the world of the gods. Heroes are made by their legends and those legends are approved by those above. King Sisyphus is infamous, but he is no hero, despite doing something equally impressive to the deeds of Herakles. A hero is simply someone who does something the gods fancy. Their own motives matter not.”

“That can’t be. Lord Hermes said…” Eugenia whispered to herself in denial. Typhos didn’t seem to hear her.

“I always suspected that this truth is a double edged sword. My theory has been proven astoundingly correct. Hahaha.” He chuckled to himself. “I told you once that we should live in harmony with the gods. I still stand by those words. However, that balance is based on the principle that humans will be used. I think that is not quite fair.”

“You really are mad.” Medusa said with some pity.

“Mad, perhaps. But I am also right. To live in harmony with the gods, we have to use them as well. To exploit Athena I have abused her flaws, just like I would any human’s. The gods are not infallible, they are flawed. Therefore they can be tricked and made to do your bidding. Someone who can even manipulate the gods is quite fit to be a king to be remembered, is he not?”

“Is that your philosophy? Your final credo?” Medusa asked as she put the blade against her skin and slightly cut it.

“It has to be. Or else… what is left?” He replied emptily. The sins on his back were far too manifold. If he dared to buckle in, to lose a hair’s length - if he ever looked back - he would be crushed beneath them. “It is time for you to leave this cruel world behind, Gorgon. Your death will benefit a greater cause. View it as freeing yourself from injustice.”

It was a hollow sentiment, but even Medusa could somewhat appreciate it. In the end she would die for someone she cherished rather than revenge. She listened to Eugenia’s ragged breathing and struggling. Naturally she could not accept this outcome, but perhaps this would teach her the reality that had ruined Typhos already. An expensive lesson indeed.

The dagger moved-

“Don’t do it!” Eugenia shouted.

“Quiet down-” Typhos tried to silence her, but she rammed her head against his face with full force and made him stagger back. He still did not pull back his knife, but she had a short moment of free speech.

“No matter what the world may think of you, to me you are not a monster! You would rather die than see me put to harm, but I am the same!” She shouted with tears in her eyes.

“Eugenia?” She wavered. That voice was powerful. Much stronger than her shaking hand.

“Don’t think that you have the right to decide this for me! My life is my own! And I will not let you exchange yours for mine!” Her voice only got louder. “Don’t you dare kill yourself! I will never forgive you!”

Why did she have to be this naïve? Why did she have to say these simple words at a time like this?

It only made her choice more obvious.

“I am sorry for being cruel to you. For not listening to your concerns and leaving you behind. For ignoring your final wish to me.” Medusa said with a weak smile. “You will keep your promise, scholar. Otherwise you will not be safe from my retribution even in the depths of the Underworld itself.” She threatened with all her authority as a monster.

“I know to repay my debts.” He said formally and gazed upon the dagger as it penetrated the Gorgon’s neck.

“I said that I am the same.” Eugenia said with hot tears running down her face. “I will not be the reason that Medusa dies! I would rather – die – my – self!”

To their surprise Eugenia suddenly freed her arms and pulled on Typhos hand. Instinctively the scholar moved the jewel covered dagger to slice her throat, but in this one instant, Eugenia overpowered his arm. She had laid all her remaining strength into this one push. The dagger was pushed downwards and away from the girl, but it still reached her body. Typhos cut cleanly through her waist. Eugenia suppressed a cry of pain as the cut opened her side widely.

Both daggers fell to the ground at the same time.

One covered in the priestess’ blood, the other in the Gorgon’s.

Medusa’s eyes opened wide in shock and despair. She looked straight into the surprised eyes of the scholar.

“TYPHOOOS!” She yelled at the top of her lungs and lunged forward.

The young man merely seemed surprised, no, bedazzled. He stared into Medusa’s eyes and then smiled.

“Your eyes are surprisingly beautiful.” He said as his body stiffened up. “What a shame… that no mortal shall ever see them… again…” His final words echoed in the empty air as his face turned to stone. His mouth still turned up in a playful smile. At the last moment, in the realization of his death, he found peace.

“RAAAAAGH!” Medusa’s hand grabbed on to the statue and smashed it into the ground, shattering it into a thousand pieces!

There was no satisfaction in punishing him, for Eugenia was laying on the ground in a puddle of red liquid. Medusa rushed to her side and put a hand on the open wound to keep the lifeblood from flowing into the open.

“You fool! Why did you do that- I- you fool!” She twisted her face in agony as she saw painful gasps leave the girl’s lips.

“I’m sorry… It was the only way…” Talking seemed to stress her twisting body immensely.

“I do not know how to treat human injuries.” Medusa panicked. “What… what can we do? This wound is so big… You are losing far too much blood!”

“The wound… must be closed… needle and… thread.” She forced herself to keep a cool head, because the Gorgon was clearly out of it. “At the camp… must be there.”

“I cannot leave you like this!”

“You must!” She replied with a cringing face. “I’ll keep the wound… closed…” She tore off some of her dress and then pushed it over the wound. Her shivering hand could barely apply pressure.

“Gods be damned!” Medusa cursed and rushed towards the camp. In the water she could see the ships slowly start to row away. The hatred in her heart was overflowing. She would not let these pests escape!

No, she had to contain it… contain it. Eugenia needed her.

With forced focus she dug through the camp and sought any hint of needle and thread. She finally found some among the many rags and old clothes of the crew. This needle did not look clean and neither did the thread, but she had nothing more to lose.

When she returned, Eugenia looked paler than ever, even the tanned parts of her arms and legs seemed to lose color. Her breathing was ragged and the piece of cloth atop the wound soaked completely.

“I have the things, but what now?” She tried to appear collected, but she was losing her mind.

“You must stitch… the skin togetherrr.” Eugenia muttered under her heavy breath.

“I have no skill for such fragile work!”

“Then… hand me the… needle.” Eugenia was determined. With sheer super-human willpower she grabbed the needle and managed to pull the thread through it. Medusa held the rag over her wound, but could only look on in terror. “I haven’t done this… with skin before… haha…” The girl’s laugh seemed delirious. “What pattern should I make?” Without sight, she stabbed the needle into her flesh and began to sew it shut.

Although Medusa barely felt pain and had received much worse injuries before she could suddenly not bear to look at this. The pain the girl must have felt was indescribable, yet she still kept fixing herself, because Medusa was useless.

“…didn’t hit my organs… lucky…” She was probably talking about Typhos dagger, rather than the needle. Not that she could be certain. The wound was finally closed by the shoddy stitch work. “I feel so heavy…” She closed her milky eyes and seemed to drift away.

“Stay with me! You cannot die! I will not allow it!”

“Hehe… we really are… alike…” Eugenia chuckled, which seemed to give her horrible pain. “This is my fault in the first… place…” She creased her brows with an apologetic smile and then fainted.

Medusa softly laid the exhausted girl’s head on a pile of linen and then rose to her feet.

This was not Eugenia’s fault. It was not even the fault of the scholar, really. It was that dark instinct inside her that would not let go.

“They will pay.” She said with a rough voice and spread her wings to follow the escaping ships.

Pelagios had watched Typhos end from afar. He had no way to hear the words exchanged between the young man and the monster, but he knew that he had no hope of winning. The last words he spoke about being right behind them? They were just another heroic lie.

He clutched the rope he was pulling to adjust the sail. The triremes he was riding was slower than the others and fell behind.

“Ya knew that ya couldn’t make it, so you gave us the time to escape. Damn hero.” He grieved and faced the ascending Gorgon. He put a blindfold around his eyes and then shouted loudly to the skies. “HERE I AM MONSTER! Pelagios of Rhodes! World renowned captain of the former pirate ship Lamia’s Lament!”

The flapping of wings was loud already. The monster had followed his voice and was rushing down on the ship. He rolled away just at the last second to avoid impalement and grabbed a large hook to ram into the beast’s heart. Of course she grabbed it and crushed it in one hand. Then she dragged him up by the collar and held him above her.

“You smell of the scholar. His friend? Does not matter. You will share his fate!”

“Hah! I’d be honored!” Pelagios shouted proudly. “I knew that I wasn’t made for the farmer’s life. Not me. But my crew deserves t’ finally settle down… find a real home.” He rambled as the blindfold was torn from his eyes. “Lord Typhos paid us in advance. Gave us a nice piece of land south of Athens. We didn’t deserve his grace and still he stayed behind for us.”

The Gorgon glared at him. He could already feel his limbs become stiff.

“What kinda man would I be, if I couldn’t do the same?” His determined eyes were returning the Gorgon’s pained desire for revenge evenly.

“Where is the crew?” The monster suddenly realized that there were no regular beats of oars hitting the water and not even the sound of cowering men.

“…there ain’t none…” The captain said with a wild grin. “It’s only us… and the ocean…”

Just as he said so the sound of rushing water could be heard from below deck. Furthermore the ship was slowly lowering down into the sea.

“You sank your own ship?” She didn’t comprehend his aim. She was already going to let go and leave the statue behind, but he suddenly held on to her arm with all his strength. Those arms that were turning into stone, he still kept the grip intact with the hardened hands.

“Miracles are possible as long as ya believe in a man like Lord Typhos. All… is as… it should… be…!” He repeated the phrase that even the Gorgon had come to fear. Surely that final look of anger was the reward for his sacrifice.

The ship was empty, except for one thing. A large pile of a certain ore that had been carefully transported in the driest conditions. Now however, the flooding ocean water was splashing across it completely. Typhos had told the captain to put it all into one ship for his backup plan, but now that he was dead, there had been no more need for it.

Indeed, there was no use for such a miracle aside from saving the souls of a bunch of worthless sailors.

Medusa realized that something was wrong and tore off the statue’s arms to fly away at full speed - but it was too late.

KRA-KOOOM!

The ship exploded in a large blinding fireball, with the Gorgon at its center.

“Captaaaaain!” The first mate and all the crew on the other two triremes shouted after their beloved captain with tears in their crusty eyes and regret in their hearts.

Pelagios became one with the ocean, the only home he had ever known, to save the two remaining ships.

And the Gorgon? She was nowhere to be seen. Had her fleshy pieces sunken in the ocean perhaps? Or was she vaporized by the explosion?

The sailors could not be sure. As they entered the storm barrier, they left the cursed island and all their fallen comrades behind to tell the tale of two proud heroes.