In the lands of Achaia
Was born a warrior’s child
With strong hands and will
Ready to claim his worth
Through day and night, years passed
And the child became a man
Strong and swift to catch many an eye
Much to his parent’s joy and pride
Alas, the young man’s heart
Was twisted with pride
Demanding more than right
Never to be satisfied
He roamed the land
Both Achaia and Hellas at all
In a quest to quench his desire
Yet none would tame his fire
He proved his worth
Both with sword and wit alike
By hunting down those who opposed
Earning awe of friend and foe alike
Alas, the young man’s heart
Was twisted with pride
Demanding more than right
Never to be satisfied
In his travels he came across
The city of Magnesia
Majestic and grand
And a treasure he did find
Next to Brave Artemis stood
Another deity’s temple
Tended by a young girl
Who dutifully prayed
Borus found his call
This woman was to be
To quench his desire
Once and for all
Alas, the young man’s heart
Was twisted with pride
Demanding more than right
Never to be satisfied
He approached her
Time and again
Trying in vain
To tell her about his ache
She turned him away
Each time he went
But he would not relent
Incurring the ire of the goddess
Alas, the young man’s heart
Was twisted with pride
Demanding more than right
Never to be satisfied
He again entered the temple
In search of the priestess
But as the moon shone bright
He found Selene herself
She broke his strength
Despite his will to fight
and the tale of Borus came to an end
consumed by his own desire
She finished reciting the text again, the audience silent in awe, adults at the implications and children at the story. Whether it was for the actual moral of the story or her looks, she could not tell exactly. It was most likely a blend of the two, since her goddess had certainly blessed her with enough beauty to attract Aphrodite’s ire should she ever find out.
As the audience left, Breiseia retired inside the temple herself. The day was done, but she still had to pray for their patroness. Her footsteps clinked against the stone floor, while her cloth bands fluttered around her giving her a mythical aura.
“Not that far off really…”
“Breiseia, mind if I join you in prayer?”
“Not at all, Pyrrha.”
She was joined by her fellow priestess, and the one that, in hindsight, had caused her to find her revelation. Pyrrha was a beautiful woman, lean and gorgeous, with a glowing copper hair that seemed to flow in the breeze. Her physical appearance had been enough to have her approach the priestess so long ago, and her kindness only made her that more precious. She really had been a fool back then.
“How many came today?” Asked Pyrrha.
“Enough. You don’t have to worry about that.” She answered, “Our patroness will not abandon us.”
“The voice of experience I hear?” Teased Pyrrha.
“Very funny.” Answered Breiseia. “But…”
“Yes?”
“I... wanted to apologize. I did not think about what I was doing.”
“Breiseia, look at me” said Pyrrha as she stepped before her and held her hands “No need to chastise yourself further, what’s done is done. And you certainly have atoned.”
Breiseia looked down at her hands, now held by her peer. Her silvery body glistened in the dim light, the result of divine intervention back when she was known as Borus. In fact, had it not been because Selene had bestowed upon her the silvery sheen of the moon, Pyrrha and her could have passed off as twins. And with the time she had spent at the temple, the two had certainly grown close. Much closer than their disastrous first meeting ever had expected.
“Regardless, I wanted you to know.”
The two women arrived shortly after before the statue of their patroness, Selene. Not an Olympic, but a titanness, and a less important deity. Rather ironic that their temple was so close to the one that worshiped Artemis, but they would pray to her regardless. The statue was their size and made of white marble, depicting a woman dressed in a form fitting dress while a moon rested on her head and a veil covered her hair.
In complete silence, both women kneeled before it, reciting their prayers in perfect synchrony. There was no change of tempo nor voice cracks, the two women acting as one when chanting her prayers and praises to the lunar deity. And as the moonlight bathed both of them and the statue with its gentle light, they finished.
“Shall we get some rest?”
“I… will follow shortly.” Answered Breiseia. “You go first?”
Pyrrha gave her a silent look, but said nothing, instead giving her a warm smile and going her own way. The silver woman was alone in the chamber, bathed by the clear moonlight that snuck in. Turning around, she walked towards the statue, which seemed to glow under the light, and she bent her knee, looking at the floor as she waited in silence.
“And here I thought you would have not noticed me…” Said an ethereal voice. “You have come a long way since that night.”
“Only thanks to your intervention, your holiness.”
“Your holiness?” The voice giggled, now sounding much closer. “You really have changed, but that doesn’t mean you have to use such formalities with me, I am your patron deity after all.”
“A deity… the sister of Helios himself… and yet, I challenged her regardless… how foolish…”
“Ah, ah, ah. No chastising yourself further Borus, you have atoned for your crimes.” Selene spoke. “And as such, I will hold my promise.”
“Your holi- Selene” Breisieia corrected herself “May… may I ask for a selfish request?”
“A request, you say?”
“Indeed.” She steeled her nerves, her eyes fixed in the ground and glow of the goddess, trying to hold her ground and respect for the lunar deity. “I… I do not wish to go back to my former life.”
The goddess said nothing. She could not see her face, so should she explain herself fully? Or had she unknowingly wronged her goddess, and going ahead would only make things worse? She knew what she was able to first-hand… Still, given Selene’s silence, she wished not to test her patience.
“I… I had not lived a good life. Despite fame and fortune, I spent my time stumbling from one place to another, without a clear goal in mind and with a ravenous need. One that would not go away.”
No answer was received.
“I… I know our meeting was… under the worst of conditions” she said, words struggling to come out as her voice threatened to crack. “But I have received so much more than I could have hoped for.”
Her sight became a bit blurry, as some tears welled in her eyes, but she remained looking at the ground, kneeling before the silent goddess.
“I found a purpose, a place to truly call home, and a sister. And… I do not want to give it up, to return to a worthless life.” Her voice cracked, turning into a brief sob. She would not disrespect her goddess, and she would accept her decision all the same; but she did not wish to leave her, the temple or Pyrrha.
“I wish to remain by your side, until time itself returns to chaos.”
The silence was heavy, and Breiseia tried her best to hold her quiet sobbing back, but the burden that had been lifted from her was much heavier. In a way, she felt completely at peace. Regardless of her patroness’ decision, she would forever treasure the time at the temple, and at her servitude.
“After this punishment, you wish to remain under my servitude?”
“Yes, my goddess.”
The glow became brighter and brighter, as if the moon itself had descended from the heavens above, deviating from the usual course, only to enter the temple and peek at the scene. And in a way, it had done so.
The light felt… blissful and relieving. Every part of her felt alleviated and light, as if she had just woken up and faced a brand-new day. She closed her eyes, basking in such a lovely feeling, in the display of her deity’s power. Whether she ignored her plea or she sent her soul to meet the lord of the underworld, she was content and would treasure her memories. Even if she had to beg Hades himself to keep them.
“Your body is to reflect my shine until the end of time, and your voice will sing praises of me to the crowd.”
A hand grabbed her chin delicately, making her look up and stand up.
She was as radiant as she had been in their first meeting. A tall and lean woman, with light and fair skin, and her long and dark mane covered by a thin and delicate veil. She was a gorgeous maiden, a beauty to behold, and yet, some scars could be seen across her body. There was always more than what one saw at first sight, more so with the divine. How foolish she had been.
“You must not fear either time or blade any more, for your body is no longer mortal flesh. You will serve me, remaining on this land as long as the moon shines over it.” Selene smiled. “Deal?”
As tears threatened to well on her eyes again, Breiseia returned the smile, the goddess leaning forward and locking her lips with a silver pair. The arms of the deity surrounded the silver oracle, bringing the two of them together as the metal woman thought she would melt from the pleasure.
Their tongues battled back and forth, silver arms clinging to the goddess as the kiss refused to end. And the goddess would happily play along, as her hands sneaked around her oracle’s body, teasing at her gorgeous curves and her breasts, visible under the see-through cloth. The cloth band that Breiseia carried with her fluttered around them, reflecting her user’s joy and delight. Eventually, their moonlit kiss came to an end, flesh and silver lips parting while the two women remained embracing.
“You have come a long way, I’m proud of you, Breiseia.”
“You… you know my name?”
“How could I not? I am you deity after all.” Selene laughed as she washed away the silver woman’s tears. “Now, now, no need to cry.”
“Your ho- Selene, if I may, might I ask for something else?” Timidly said the oracle.
“My, my, another request? Perhaps some of that desire remains…”
“N-no! It’s not for me!”
“I merely jest, my dear.”
“It’s for… my sister, Pyrrha.” Breiseia explained. “Unlike me, eventually her time will come. I wish for her to be like me, so that we can remain under your service. As long as the moon shines over the land.”
“I’ll entertain the thought.” Selene said, letting go of her oracle. “Now, run off, you have duties to attend tomorrow, do you not?”
“Yes, I have. I am most grateful, Selene.” Breiseia said, showing her proper respect before walking away with a wide smile on her face.
Selene watched the woman walk away, whether she was headed for her room or the other priestess’ she did not know. But she was on her way too, as her body regained the moonlight glow and became light and ethereal, sinking back into the statue. And yet, she couldn’t help but smirk. She would entertain the thought of her request. Maybe she could do with two immortal servants at her side.
“Mortals can be so predictable…”
Still, another thought creeped into her mind. She had not tried before, but pleasure seemed to be much better at gaining the hearts and minds of the mortals. It could take time, and maybe they were not willing at first, as this fool had shown, but it certainly worked better in the long run.