322 Teaching the Wastrel a Lesson (2/2)

Now that he was confident that Eros couldn't lie and had to always tell the truth, Zero got to the point. He might have the ability to detect lies after receiving the blessing from Isaben but Zero couldn't force someone to talk if they didn't want to. This truth serum he concocted using some herbs and magic with a touch of hypnosis was a testing product. After all, Zero had never made anything like that before. Mii and Wii worked quickly to gather the materials Zero required and the young doctor couldn't be more thankful to Merlin for teaching him the joys of online shopping. That would have to be the most useful thing Merlin has taught him over the course of the last four months or so.

\”Why did you spread the rumours about Athena back then?\”

Eros rolled his eyes. Did this brat think that he could make him spill everything just because he was paralysed? Then again, his mouth opened and the answer came out smoothly without a hitch much to Eros' horror.

\”I was jealous of her.\”

The silence that followed after was deafening. Eros wanted to faint out of embarrassment for admitting that so easily. Who was this child? Why was he so powerful and what was that drug in the syringe earlier? Eros started to work his brain and remembered hearing about a strange visitor in Heaven who was actually hailed as Heaven's saviour. A teenage human boy with light brown hair and hazel eyes actually worked with Steve and Merlin to seal the crack at Titan Cliff. The same boy rebuilt Mount Olympia and revived the Tree of Knowledge. Among the gods, there were rumours about this mysterious saviour's interactions with the archangels and the Demon Lords. Some said that he was the new Demon Lord in the abyss while others claimed that he was a new god born from the void found by Buddha. Could this intruder be...?

\”Tell me everything you know about Athena and what caused her to become a fallen god,\” Zero commanded, no longer patient enough to ask for answers.

Eros couldn't stop the words that poured from his mouth. Zero wasn't surprised to know most of the things he said, the young doctor had already read about it in the books. Athena's birth was from Zeus, she was a very talented god who excelled in warfare and was said to be stronger than even Zeus himself. Athena was raised by Hades even though the God of Death was a very busy person simply because her father was too busy managing his household affairs at that time. Apart from that, Athena was actually in love with Poseidon who was her teacher.

However, when Eros started elaborating on the complicated relationship that Athena had with Poseidon, Zero started to understand why Athena's grudges ran so deep. Like Eros, Athena was powerless to her feelings. Jealousy was a very dangerous feeling and Zero didn't know this until now. No wonder Jevy and Gugu caused so much trouble wherever they went. Athena's feelings were rejected by Poseidon who only saw her as his niece or even a daughter that he didn't birth. However, Athena's feelings for him forced the god to retreat away to the seas and commit crimes in order to become a fallen god. Once Poseidon was banished from Heaven, Athena was driven insane from her longing and helplessness.

\”Why did Athena curse Arachne and Medusa?\”

Eros didn't answer immediately this time. Zero worried that the truth serum wasn't working but after two seconds, the god did answer.

\”I don't know. There were rumours going around about why she did it and what happened but back then, nobody was there to witness it. Athena cursed Arachne because the weaver was more talented than Athena. My sister hated the arrogance of mortals who didn't know their places and cursed her to become a spider demon who would weave for all eternity. But that was according to legends and rumours made up by folks over the years. As a permanent resident of Heaven, I've never seen Athena treat Arachne badly in Heaven. All the beautiful clothes worn by the gods back then were woven by Arachne. In fact, from what I saw, they had a wonderful relationship as close as sisters. Athena loved the tapestry and embroideries done by Arachne. Before Athena went to battle, she would have Arachne sew her war capes. When that spider lady died from an illness that not even Hua Tuo could cure, Athena buried her personally. As for Medusa, people talked about how she was seen kissing Poseidon in one of her temples. In her jealous state, Athena cursed that human queen and the sisters that helped her, making them into gorgons. Athena never really bothered them again after she cursed them. In fact, she didn't throw them off the planet they were in or out of her temple after she did it. Nobody understood the reasons for her actions.\”

\”Planet?\” Zero asked. \”Wasn't it Earth?\”

Eros sighed. \”No, At that time, Poseidon had already been exiled to his water prison on a planet called Hyacinth.\”

With enough information, Zero decided that he would stop asking about Athena. Even if he did, the wastrel didn't look like he knew much more. Now, it was time for the reason he created the truth serum.

\”How many people have you harassed?\”

Eros couldn't answer immediately even under the effect of the truth serum. Who would keep track of something like that?

Zero sensed something wrong and decided that Eros couldn't answer something he didn't know. Hence, he rephrased his question.

\”Is the number of people you harassed more than a hundred?\”

\”Yes,\” Eros replied. This time, his answer was close to immediate and Zero felt his mood darken.

Seeing the mood change, Eros started to plead for mercy. Instead, every plea that left his lips only made Zero angrier.

\”Listen up, Eros. For the crime of harassing the poor citizens in Heaven, I am putting a curse on you as a punishment.\”

The wastrel was so shaken that the words couldn't come out. Zero looked positively menacing as he delivered his sentence. Zero weaved a complicated spell in ancient writing that the god didn't recognise. He whimpered.

\”For every time you harassed a person in the past and every time you harass a person from now on, you will have to go to Mount Olympia to plant a tree and nurture it to adulthood. If it fails, you will continue until you succeed. The curse will only lift when you have found someone you found that you want to dedicate your existence to protect.\”

With that, the curse formed a ring of ancient letters that spiralled from Eros' left wrist all the way up to his elbow. Eros screamed at first at the searing heat on his left forearm but when that disappeared, all that was left were inky ancient writings tattooed into his flawless skin.

Zero walked over and calmly removed his needles after knowing the wastrel out with a sleeping spell. He hoped that Eros would learn his lesson by the time Mount Olympia gets reforested. For now, he would start cleaning up the filthy house and leave. Zero checked the time, he still had three hours to kill before he could find Hades at the Garden of Roth.