The sea in fron of Stenilo is wonderful, all the shades of blue and green melting into it, the rocks and the lush vegetation providing quite a setting for someone who likes to tell stories to others. And I like very much to tell stories, even if most of the time I can't just get to end of a story because a new one pops into my mind; at least now I can say that's because of my old age even if that's a complete lie since I've always been like that. This is one of the reasons why you'll have to be patient with me.
The most important thing in my life has been my bond with Hermes.
I was eleven when Hermes first came to me.
One summer night I was unusually restless and I lied in my bed and looked at the stars out of my window trying to fall asleep when I heard someone moving in the dark.
"Who's there?" I asked out loud, sitting on the bed.
"Hello, Aesacus!" exclaimed a young man, emerging from nowhere. He was the most beautiful being I'd ever seen and he seemed to glow. He was clad in a blue coat and the Caduceus hung from his belt, so I had no doubt about his identity. He was smiling kindly at me and his turquoise eyes sparkled.
Uncertain, I stood, murmuring: "Sir…" and then I couldn't utter a word and I merely looked at him in awe. Hermes, of all the gods, had always held a special place in my heart and sometimes I fantasized about being his priest. He was exactly like I expected him to be, mischevious but sweet.
"If you want to look at the stars, you'd better climb on the city walls, come on" he suggested.
"But my family…"
"We won't wake them up, don't worry." He reassured me. With another smile, he got out of my room and I followed him.
He took my hand and we walked together silently till we reached the walls; once we climbed up he left my hand and sat in front of me, crossing his legs. He told me many stories about the stars and the constellations and soon I felt like I had known him from years, even if I hadn't uttered a single word since we had left my room.
At some point he started asking me questions about the stars and I, being the son of a sailor, answered confidently. He kept questioning me until I noticed that I was speaking from quite a time. I immediately went silent and looked at him, blushing.
He laughed: "Now, so you can actually speak! I thought that maybe some god had got your tongue!" and I laughed as well, in spite of myself.
I couldn't understand why on earth a god had come to visit me in the middle of the night, bothering to bring me on the walls, tell me stories, reassure me. Of course I couldn't bring myself to ask him even if he looked so friendly and easy-going.
We were on the walls from quite a time when Hermes regarded me seriously and said: "Aesacus, there is something I would ask from you. Beware, I don't want you to give me an answer now and I don't want to hurt you if you say no" I looked at him expectantly.
"I wish you to become my priest" he told me.
"Oh, yes, sir!" I answered happily "I've always wanted to!" I wouldn't have imagined, though, that Hermes himself could come and ask that of me and I must say that the thought still makes me gloat.
He smiled to me: "I'm glad to hear that but there's still another thing you need to know before accepting. I use to form a sort of bond with my priests, so that I'll be able to perceive your deepest feelings and emotions and you'll be able to perceive mine. And of course, we'll be able to communicate through this bond. Are you sure that you want such a bond wit another person?"
With anyone else I would have hesitated greatly. But this was Hermes – I knew that I wanted to be bond to him.
"Yes, sir. I am sure".
"Better then! You will enter my temple as soon as possible" he declared.
But something bothered me. I must say that I was quite the shy guy at the time. "Sir…"
"Yes?"
"Are you sure that I will be good enough?" I whispered. I barely knew Hermes but I dreaded to disappoint him.
"Of course I am, my dear. I do certainly not take this decisions lightly" he replied softly, putting his hand on my shoulder.
With that, he escorted me back to my home and disappeared.
-o- -o- -o-
I had to ask my parents' permission to enter Hermes' temple and I did so when my father came back from Nauplia. My father was a Cretan merchant and he spent the most part of the time at sea, while my mother was Trojan and slightly older than he was. I had also a brother, Cnydius; he was older than me and helped my father in his work.
I decided not to tell my parents about Hermes' visit because I feared I would not be believed, so I only said I wished to become a priest of his. Being a successful merchant, my father was very devoted and grateful to Hermes and was happy with my decision, as I had expected.
Late that evening my mother went to kiss me goodnight and asked softly: "When did you decide to become a priest, little one?"
"I made my decision some days ago but I've thought about it for quite a time" I answered.
"Are you certain about your decision, my son?" she asked seriously.
"Yes, very much so, mother. Does my decision upset you?"
"Not at all, Aesacus!" she said smiling "I just want you to understand that the path you wish to follow is not an easy one and it mustn't be taken lightly. But if you're sure about it, I'm happy and I believe you will accomplish"
"Thank you, mother." She then kissed my forehead and left my room.
-o- -o- -o-
After three days I entered Hermes' temple in Troy. The high priestess, Stamathia, was petite and white-haired and welcomed me warmly and I immediately felt at home. The temple was next to the market-square and somehow old and run-down, but I instantly loved it. It would've been my house for almost seventy years.
As soon as my parents left Stamathia and I went to sit next to the altar. She looked at me, studying my face, and asked "He called you, didn't he?"
"Yes." I said simply. She made no comment and she didn't question me further but I could tell she believed me. Probably she'd undergone the same experience when she was younger.
From that day on, I lived in the temple. I learnt how to perform the rituals, how to make sacrifices and how to appropriately pray and sing to the Lord of the temple.
When I entered the temple Hermes also formed his bond with me. It's really difficult –and actually impossible- to explain what it feels like to have such a bond. Let's just say that from that moment I felt in my mind, just beside my usual self, something tough but sweet and playful and shy that was just Hermes, I don't know another way to describe it.
At the age of sixteen, I was consacrated to him.
