Story of Pluto's Temple - (2)

"Aah!... Ha... ha..."

Parona, the priestess of Hades' temple, woke up with a scream. The knowledge that had been injected into her mind caused a throbbing headache, and she felt an unusual energy coursing through her body.

She quickly drank the water beside her and began to organize the knowledge that had been imparted to her.

Her lord, Hades, wanted her to revive the temple and expand its influence. Ultimately, he hoped this would help in locating the Gigantes, the monstrous creatures.

She shuddered at the thought of the Gigantes' appearance. They had the lower body of a snake and the upper body of a human, were large, and were man-eating monsters.

"Ugh..."

She had received a surprisingly generous number of blessings from Hades. Like the priestesses at Apollo's Delphi temple who prophesied in ecstasy or the huntresses who received Artemis's hunting blessings by pledging their virginity, she could now wield some of her god's power. She could feel a cold, dark energy when she raised her hand.

'Well, I was a bit envious of Hecate's priestesses...'

Hecate, the goddess of magic. To wield magic, one had to become her priest or follower, only then receiving knowledge and the ability to use mystical powers.

Despite serving one of the three prime gods, she had received no abilities until now. If her lord, who seemed to have little interest in the mortal world, granted her such powers, the Gigantes must be truly dangerous.

'Lord Hades... Honestly, I'm a bit scared...'

Finally, she was appointed as the high priestess of Hades, the lord of the Underworld.

'This responsibility seems too much for me...'

With a forlorn expression, Parona slumped her shoulders.

Still, as a priestess of Hades, she was determined. Just as she was firming her resolve, a visitor arrived.

A young servant, dressed in elegant and tidy clothes, appeared.

"Are you the priestess of Pluto? King Polydoros of Thebes, the rightful ruler, summons you."

Polydoros, the current king of Thebes and descendant of the great hero Cadmus who founded the city, held his head in his hands as he saw the priestess of Hades approaching.

When she bowed in greeting, he slowly spoke.

"Last night, in a dream, a figure who called himself Morpheus said that if I revive the temple of Pluto, the kingdom will prosper..."

This was clearly an oracle. An oracle is a divine message or prophecy given by a deity, often concerning the destiny of a particular individual or conveying a divine will or warning.

"And he told me to speak with the priestess of Pluto."

Given that the previous king of Thebes, Pentheus, died because of his connection to the gods, was this another divine intervention?

Pentheus had been punished for oppressing the followers of Dionysus, the newly born Olympian god. Dionysus was the god of wine and madness, but Hades...

"So, if I don't follow the oracle, does Pluto threaten to bring all the people of Thebes to the Underworld?"

King Polydoros looked at the priestess with a mixture of fear and displeasure. It was rare for the words from such a beautiful priestess in black robes to seem so terrifying.

The priestess, looking flustered but composed, replied.

"Lord Hades... only mentioned the benefits. He did not threaten any punishment." "No punishment?"

Polydoros found it hard to believe. Gods were often capricious, self-centered, and arrogant. At least, that was his view.

Anyone who experienced what he had would think so.

Pentheus, the previous king of Thebes, had lightly restricted the followers of Dionysus, which led to his death.

"Aah! Mother, it's me! Pentheus!" "A boar! It's a boar! Kill it!" "It's a boar disrupting the festival of Dionysus! Kill it!" "Aaaah!"

It was horrific, having the king of a country, killed by his own mother driven mad. Since then, everyone was careful not to anger the gods.

No thieves ever broke into Hades' temple, and no one dared to flirt with the beautiful priestess.

Polydoros asked again, more earnestly.

"Speak honestly. I intend to follow Pluto's will anyway." "It is true. The more followers, the more prosperity he promises for Thebes."

Could the god of the Underworld be more merciful than the god of wine? Maybe, as the lord of the dead, he showed mercy in the mortal world because all would become his subjects eventually?

Or perhaps, when intervening in the mortal realm, he acted solely as the god of wealth. Hades was also the owner of all treasures beneath the earth.

Whatever the case, following the god's will seemed to offer benefits and posed little risk to Thebes. Though it meant relying on Pluto's mercy, they might gain divine favor.

Having quickly calculated the risks, King Polydoros showed his support.

"Very well. Is there anything I can do to help?" "First, by royal decree..."

Cold, dark, gloomy, and frightening, the Underworld.

I was watching the events unfold in Thebes from here.

"They say praying at Pluto's statue brings wealth." "The king officially announced it. There's talk of him receiving an oracle." "Is Pluto now protecting Thebes?" "Not exactly. But he brings wealth to his followers."

I imbued my statue in the temple with power so that true prayers would receive a minor blessing of wealth.

"I prayed at the temple and found a drachma on the ground." "Pluto's other name is scary..." "Ares won't get angry if I go there, right?" "I hope I won't be dragged to the Underworld for rude prayers."

Gradually, more people visited the solitary temple of Pluto on the outskirts of Thebes.

At first, it was mostly merchants seeking wealth. But as the royal decree and rumors spread, curious ordinary citizens began to visit too.

The offerings I received from the mortal world increased, and the effectiveness of the wealth blessings attracted more followers.

"Pluto, please bless my trade journey to Athens." "I'm entering a mine soon. Please guide me to a gold vein."

Most prayed for wealth. Exactly what I aimed for.

Though the name Hades invoked fear, Pluto, the god of wealth, was favored by all. If mortals feared the Underworld, I would act under a different name.

"Lord of the Underworld, Hades, are my parents who passed away last year well?" "My friend wasn't the kindest, but please show mercy..."

Sometimes, followers sought me not as the god of wealth but as the lord of the dead. Usually, these were people nearing death or those whose loved ones had recently died.

Their prayers were more desperate than those seeking wealth. For those who prayed sincerely, I occasionally sent Morpheus to let them meet their deceased loved ones in dreams.

This was strictly monitored by Morpheus and Hypnos, and most humans forgot the details upon waking.

"Please... let me see my mother one last time!" "Hearing my father's last words in a dream... at least he's well there."

The number of people wanting to see their deceased loved ones again increased, coming to my temple to pray fervently.

This rumor began to spread among humans:

If you want to see your deceased family even once, go to Pluto's temple...

In the Underworld, in Hades' office.

I watched with satisfaction as the influence of my temple grew daily. If this continued, I could quickly gather information on the Gigantes...

If necessary, I could even descend upon my priestess.

When someone prayed about a half-human, half-snake monster near Thebes, it would likely lead to traces of the Gigantes.

Priestess Parona was doing well. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for information about the Gigantes to surface.

"Hades."

I turned to see the goddess Lethe with her long silver hair approaching, her lips pouting. What could be displeasing her now?

"Hades, I hear you're expanding your temple in Thebes?" "Yes, that's correct..."

Disappointment flickered in the blank eyes of the goddess Lethe, who seemed to stare into the void. Could it be she was sad about not having her own temple?

"Why isn't my statue next to yours?"

Though some couples are worshipped together in one temple... we aren't married, you know?

The goddess Lethe slightly opened her mouth and looked at my face. Soft words escaped her beautiful lips.

"I want to be by your side too..."

Looking at me like a drenched little animal... It's not good for my heart.