Nature was waking up from its long winter dream. The first flowers were coming out shiny above the earth. Trees were blooming. There were thousands of their flowerets which were looking forward waiting for the Sun to warm them a little more. I cannot say that the students were in perfect form as the nature was. Their winter holiday was over and they were slumbering on their desks. To write and study was a supreme effort for them. But it was normal – because it was 7:30 in the morning. Mrs. Maneva rushed in the room with high spirit:

Good morning, students!

Good morning Mrs. Maneva!

I have news for you! And I think you cannot believe in it! Lately the scientists are gone crazy and they think their imagination is science. Just hear it! And after that I will ask you for your opinion.

All sleepy eyes went open, the students head on. There was completely silence. Everyone wanted to hear the news! The teacher went on with the tale.

You know, we live in very strange age when some people began to become savages: They start to worship some pagan gods. They are so crazy that they asseverate that there was a proof which was so unchallenged to ruin the basics of the present civilization – the religion. They think it is very civilized to worship more than 12 gods and to slaughter people on altar. But … let's tell you the news … The scientists have found a scroll which is 3000 years old. It is said that in our times the people will worship one man as a god and they will be completely forgotten the true gods. This man is immortal so he will challenge all pagan gods in one fight to win the rule of the world. But Hera will bear a female child from Zeus called Teida. She will bring back the old laws and gods. I will tell you what I think about it: All it is lies and they want us to be worried about that. They want to be popular and interesting, but I cannot say that they are. Have you ever heard of 3000 years old scroll?!

I trembled when I heard the news. All the world has known the Phropesy, hasn't it?

The teacher continued talking about subject with mockery:

They are some other information in this scroll. It is said the goddess will be very young when she had to "save the world". And she will be bred from mortal family here, in out country. I thought you will be very happy to know that we have a goddess in Bulgaria.

This was disturbing news for me and somehow the trouble could be seen in my face. The teacher noticed it and asked me:

Simona, I suppose you want to tell us something about the subject and that's why you are troubled.

Nothing special, Mrs. Maneva. Only simple words I can say. – The people have the right to believe in what they want! In this case I think pagans are more tolerant than the Christians. The pagan cults have elements from other cultures. One god has never been rejected from some ancient civilization. He becomes a part of the religion. That's why the pagan cultures are different from each other and unique in their own way. I do not think people were split because of the religion. Actually they were united because of it – more united than we are today. What will we do today? We spit on the other cultures and gods. We think we are the best, but are we? In ancient times no one has ever told who is the best. You know Mrs., the inquisition and destroying other people's world in the name of the God was not practicing in ancient pagan times. It was practicing in the middle ages – and you know which is the religion, don't you?

Well, you talk as silly person, no offence here….

And here we go with the dull, silly, boring lecture about Christianity. I was horrified when I understood my teacher was Christian zealot. The woman who has told us our soul was sacred temple and we had to decide who is allowed to enter. She told us the belief was something personal and private and no one was allowed to touch there. The teacher who was talking about religious tolerance in that moment entered my temple with free ticket scorning my belief without my permission.

Some days have gone after the strange conversation with the teacher. The news for the Prophesy spread quickly in all the city of Rousse where I lived. It was in newspapers, magazines, on the news … the people in the centre of the city were talking about Teida, Greek mythology. There were a lot of gossips, too. Some of them maintained Teida was leached in Hristo Botev Secondary School – my school. Some people believe in it – some not. The believers were too many so the priests in all churches were worried – their religion was slowly dying.

One sunny day Mrs. Maneva entered the room very pale and worried. It was something for Teida again. I knew it!

For a very long time I do not believe in all these Prophesies and gossips about them, until today. I saw her in the morning walking down the street. It sounds a little crazy, but it is true!

All the students were staring at the teacher and they couldn't believe in even a word. But the teacher continued:

The girl is using some really good cover because I have never seen her in our school. She was beautiful, slender, tall lass with lovely face and body. Her eyes were as blue as the sky is. And her hair … curled and as black as feather of raven. The mysterious thing is everyone was passing as there was nothing unusual and I was the only one that could see her.

The class continued starring at the teacher. I was the only one laughing with tears in my eyes. It was funny – the reaction of the teacher and the students. Yonito, the girl sitting next to me whispered:

It is possible. The teacher is not using her imagination, I think. The Gods can choose who can see them.

Right. I cannot argue with you. But I'm laughing for something else. One day, maybe, you will understand.

But I have never thought that this day could be very soon.

II


The gates of the throne room went open and a tall figure of a man rushed in it. He wasn't very calm, but I cannot say that he was anxious about something:

Have you heard what had happened when the archeologists searched again the cave where they had found the first scroll?

No, father, but what troubles you? – I asked

They have found a new scroll! It is said that a young goddess will lead a legendary war against the human god. There will be no help for her. They will kill her and they will destroy the empire of the united pagan gods. This means that the people would never have a second chance to know the truth. And they will be exactly look alike sheep and the human god will be their shepherd.

My eyes went open wide.

Why didn't you tell me early?

Because we didn't know. And the other thing: The scrolls are probably rewritten. The originals have sunk with Atlantis.

You weren't born – I said with lower voice, but very anxious.

Look, my dear, we will be out of Olympus for a couple of days, because I want to ask for the help of the Northern gods.

And you want me to stay here, alone?! I don't want to … if they attack us? What will happen then?

They will not attack! Probably the Christian will not be able to understand that we are out! If they do so, the attack will be very weak and you will cope with it.

I was upset and angry with arms folded.

- You want to kill me, daddy?

Dark clouds puckered above the palace.

Are you crazy?! Who are you? You want me to explain my future commanders, and with all your impudence you argue with me about them! Who is the parent and the king here? You? You might think you are very important about the Olympians, but you are not! You are a young goddess and you don't know anything about the world of the gods. I will tell you once again and I will be very glad if you can understand it! Tomorrow morning the other gods and I are going to Valhalla except you! You stay here, you go to school, you listen to you ridiculous teacher in literature and that is my final word! – He was screaming then – I don't want you to argue with me!

You have a Prophesy – I went on lower – where it is written that our enemies will attack me when I'm completely alone. Instead of staying with me you wish to go tomorrow morning and you want me to stay here! I'm scared! I don' want to spend the rest of the eternity in their hell because I don't like their religion!

You are not alone, my dear and I will not allow something bad happening to you! Look at the text once again! It is told that you would think that there is no help, but it is not specified if there is or there is not.

Who can answer that question? – I asked

I don't know. There are a lot of secrets in our universe that even we, the gods, don't know. They have been drown in the sea with Atlantis.

Who gave you the first scroll? – I asked

Does it really matter?

He or she might know the answers which we want to know. They might tell us what to do …

Even if they knew, they wouldn't tell us. Chronos gave me the first scroll in the last moment of his rule as a king of the world. Probably he knew everything about the Prophesy, but he remained silent. It's no use to go there! He won't tell us his secret.

If I to Tartarus and ask him, I won't loose anything. But if he wants to speak with me, we will understand important information about our future. I think it is better if I go there.

Teida, it useless! Nonsense, rubbish!

It's not for me. I will be back in the evening, father!

I crossed the frontier to the Hades' dark, gloomy kingdom. I managed to convince Hades of giving me the keys to Tartarus where the Titans were. My heart was beating quickly and I was very excited and maybe a little scared. My blood was running trough my veins like it was going to com out from my body.

The door creaked. Cold and stuffy air blew softly when I open it. In the large hall there was completely darkness and it was very cold. If I hadn't a torch in my hand, I would loose my way. I was walking along the corridor for a long time when I heard some stentorian voices. In the semi dark I saw their colossal figures.

Look! We have guests! – noticed one of them who was stretched in chains.

I cannot believe that I see the light one again! – said another

What does Zeus, the favorite of the human kind, want from us? – asked the first one

Shut up, you old fool! I told you nearly 5000 yeas ago that Zeus was no tyrant anymore and the people loved him! – involved the third one who had found a way to loose his chains and he was sitting down the floor.

I need Chronos – I stammered.

What a hypocrite is Zeus! First he chained us in this terrible place and now he wants help from our master. – screamed the second

What is it? – asked me the third one

I want to speak with him – I answered

Then speak. I'm Chronos. I would ask them to live, if they could– he smiled.

I opened my mouth in order to tell him why I was there, but he interrupted me.

- Wait, my darling! You are Teida, aren't you? You want to know more for the Prophesy, don't you? First I want you to answer me some very simple questions.

- I'm not allowed to answer, only to ask

He smiled

Then I won't tell you even a word. Tell me what I want to know and then I will tell you what you want to know…

I light up his face and I saw his innocent eyes. I knew that he was very cruel and very crafty, but I told myself that only a few answers cannot help him to escape from Tartarus.

- Then tell me what you want to know.

- How are my children? Are they happy?

I didn't expect such questions. Anyway … I told him everything about his six children – from the beginning to the end.


Alright … the deal is a deal. What do you want to know about the Prophesy?

Everything you know about it.

Ha! If I tell you everything about it, you have to set me free first. I will answer you only few questions.

Okay, we have found the seconds scroll. It is told that our enemies will be very strong and it is not sure if we would win. So … I wonder if you could tell me if we would win.

You, Teida, you. Your mammy and daddy will be away when you have to fight. They will have their own serious problems – fighting with others.

Will I manage to win alone?

Alone? Don't be silly! Of course not! You have to find help.

Whom from?

The gods of Atlantis

Where can I find them? – I was very surprised.

Enough questions, precious. Your head will spill from so many questions answered. I already have answered to three of you questions and three is nice number. Now go! And don't come back, because I won't tell you more.

I left Tartarus more confused than I was before. We search for information about the Atlantean gods in Hades' library in vain. Nothing anywhere could be found.

I came back to Olympus and I told Zeus what I had heard from Chronos.

- Everything which he had told you is a lie. There is no creature such as Atlantean god!

- You mean you think that the greatest empire ever seen the world had no god protector? Ha! Are you trying to tell me that the power of Atlantean people is a free gift?

- You are right. But maybe we know a lot about these gods, but we don't know they are Atlantean. Perhaps they have some other name? Maybe they are the gods of the Northern world. Maybe when Atlantis was destroyed their people came to the shore of Europe and spread their religion along the coasts of Europe and America. The nightmare will be gone after a few days. We will find the Atlantean gods, right?

- And by the time you talk with them at Valhalla, the Christians will kill me and we will loose our empire.

- You are pessimist!

- No, I talk about real things.

- Every pessimist things that he/she talks about real things!

Despite of my endless entreaty, Zeus and the other gods were going to Valhalla the next day to talk with the Northern gods who were famous with their bravery and as a great warriors.