WONDER WOMAN : THE ENEMY OF MY ANCESTOR
PART 11
As the battlefield emptied, the Amazons slowly emerged from their defensive formations, their weapons lowered. But there were no cheers, no cries of triumph. Only silence. The body of Leandros lay where he had fallen, his blood soaking into the earth of Themyscira. The battlefield remained shrouded in silence, the tension hanging like a storm cloud over Themyscira. The retreating shadows of Apollo's army melted into the horizon, and the blood of gods and mortals alike soaked the earth. Diana stood over Leandros's body, her mind swirled with grief, anger, and the relentless echo of injustice.
Then, out of the open rift in the sky a figure emerged. The Amazons froze, their gazes lifting in unison to the sky. From the golden light, Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategy, descended gracefully as though stepping down from the stars. Her presence commanded reverence from all who beheld her. Her armor, intricate and unblemished, glimmered with an otherworldly radiance. Her golden aegis, adorned with the visage of Medusa, shimmered with a quiet menace, and in her hand, she held a lance that seemed to hum with ancient power. Her features were serene yet resolute, her eyes gleaming with an ageless wisdom that carried the weight of countless battles and countless decisions.
Not since the very beginning of Themyscira had the goddess stepped foot on the island. Every Amazon, no matter their standing, instinctively knelt, their heads bowed low. Athena's voice rang out, calm and measured, yet filled with a power that commanded attention.
"Rise, my sisters".
she said, her tone carrying both authority and affection. The Amazons had risen at Athena's command, their heads held high, though their hearts weighed heavy with loss. Diana stood motionless, her grief was as vast as the ocean, yet there was a flicker of something else in her expression—acceptance, perhaps, or a quiet resignation to the cruelty of the world.
Athena stepped forward, her silver armor gleaming even in the dimming light. She paused before Diana, her gaze steady and unyielding.
"You have fought with courage, Diana. But more than that, you have fought with love and compassion, even in the face of injustice. These are the qualities that set you apart, not just from mortals but from us gods as well".
Diana looked up at Athena,
"And yet, it was not enough to save him".
Athena reached out, placing a hand on Diana's shoulder.
"You did save him, your will gave him the strength to escape from the clutches of my half-brother".
She then turned her gaze to Leandros, her expression softening,
"And i cannot allow such sacrifice, such courage, to end in sorrow".
From a pouch at her side, Athena drew a small vial, its surface carved with ancient runes. Inside, a shimmering, silvery liquid seemed to dance, glowing faintly in the dim light. She held it out to Diana, her eyes solemn,
"This is water from the River Lethe. It has the power to cleanse the soul and allow for a new beginning. With this, Leandros can be reborn—not as a warrior forged by pain, but as a child who might know peace".
Diana took the vial with trembling hands,
"He won't remember, will he?".
Athena shook her head.
"No. His past life will be washed away, leaving him free to walk a new path. The gods are not without mercy, Diana".
With a deep breath, Diana uncorked the vial and let a single drop of the luminous liquid fall onto Leandros's lips. The effect was immediate—a soft glow enveloped his body and the air around him shimmered like the surface of a sunlit sea.