Calypso’s Tears

Is it over? Kronos asked himself once the light had died down. He removed his hand from his right eye. The sunny day was back; it was as if there hadn't been a storm. The clearing he and Calypso had been fighting in had been turned into a deep crater. His opponent was lying on her back, her body torn up. That’s it. She’s dead.

Kronos had mixed feelings about this. He was surprised he had managed to defeat Calypso. It didn’t seem possible. He felt joy; he was finally free. He could move on from his village; he could live his own life. I am definitely retiring from combat once I heal up. But Kronos couldn’t help but feel sad. He wished it hadn’t had to come to this.

Kronos grunted and fell to his knees, right hand on the hole in his stomach. He was surprised he hadn’t passed out yet. The bleeding had finally stopped, but his vision was fuzzy. He was certain his left hand and lower arm were broken, and his jaw was in agony. He dipped his head to his fallen opponent in respect.

“ I’m sorry, Calypso.”

“ Don’t be.” Kronos’s good eye went wide as a saucer while Calypso begin to stir. No, no, no! Kronos thought as he watched Calypso start to sit up. “ That… may be the closest I’ve ever come to dying,” Calypso told him coldly. “ I'm honestly surprised to still be breathing. But more than that, I’m insulted. You had something like that at your disposal for who knows how long, and you still refuse to apply yourself in battle.” Kronos was unable to say anything. His ultimate technique has failed him. Just what kind of monster is she?!

“ Looks like you’re about done,” Calypso said, extending a hand. Her lance flew into her hand, causing her to smile. “ Which means I win. And I shall claim my victory, in my true form.” Kronos began to tremble upon hearing that. No! Anything but that! With a crazed laugh, Calypso planted the lance into the ground and dripped some of her blood on the blade before chanting in the native language of the Sintar.

“ I, Calypso of the Sintar heritage, call upon my ancient blood to aid me in this battle. Aid me, so sort of the honored ancestors and be honored in this fight,” Kronos translated to himself. I can’t let this happen! He tried to get to his feet but found himself unable to move. A pillar of pale green light engulfed Calypso and her lance.

The ground began to shake and crack; a loud roar filled the air. Kronos could only stare numbly. Her Mana is increasing by the second! She’s deadly enough in her Ocradian form! Her dragon form dwarves that! I’m as good as dead! Once the light died down, Calypso was gone. In her place was a dragon.

Restless obsidian eyes sat high within the creature's horned, bony skull, which gave the beast a savage-looking appearance.

Several large tendrils sat atop its head, just above its thick, dog-like ears. Several rows of tiny tendrils ran down the sides of each of its jaw lines. Its nose was thin and had two thin, curved nostrils, and there were crystal growths on its chin. Several sharp teeth poked out from the side of its mouth.

A lean neck ran down from its head and into a short body. The top was covered in crystal-like skin, and a row of thick armor plating ran down its spine. Its bottom was covered in thick skin and was colored darker than the rest of its body. Four massive limbs carried its body and allowed the creature to stand illustrious and imposing. Each limb had six digits, each ending in huge nails seemingly made of stone.

Colossal wings grew starting from its shoulders and ended at its hips. The wings were almost butterfly-like, the inner sides of the wing were full of minor holes, and jagged edges at the bottom gave it a feathered look. Its long tail ended in a gentle point and is covered in the same crystal-like skin as its body.

Kronos grunted and conjured an orb of white lightning and forced himself to stand. Calypso hungrily eyed Kronos and whipped her tail at him. Kronos gritted as the tail slammed into his stomach and sent him on his side. Her tail wrapped around Kronos, and she threw him again. Kronos grunted as he hit the side of the crater. Kronos forced himself to his feet and tried to throw the orb of white lightning, but it did nothing to Calypso upon impact.

Calypso reared on her hind legs and stomped on the right leg on Kronos. The Half-Breed wailed in agony, feeling the bones in his leg shatter. Calypso let out a joyful roar before scooping Kronos up with her tail, tossing him up in the air, then slamming her tail into his ribs. Blood flew out of his mouth as he heard his ribs shatter. Kronos flew through the air for several yards before landing hard in the crater where he lay motionless.

The Half-Breed lay in the dirt, feeling the life bleed out of him, unable to move. He was vaguely aware of the world around him. Calypso snorted and, with a single flap of her wings, levitated in the air, gathering Mana in her mouth. Farewell, my friend, she thought before opening her mouth and firing a burst of wind, a cyclone that fashioned itself into a drill at Kronos. The Half-Breed had no chance of getting out of the way, his already ruined body torn apart even more.

Calypso landed on the ground, her body glowing light pale green. Her dragon formed, fading around like mist, restarting Calypso to her Ocradian form. She frowned at the motionless body of Kronos and spat on the ground.

“ Such a waste,” she grumbled, turning her back on him. She walked away half a dozen steps but stopped when she sensed movement behind her. She looked over her shoulder and gasped, unable to believe what she was seeing. Kronos was slowly but surely standing up.

“ Impossible!” She said. As she watched Kronos straighten up, his right eye blank, she felt herself begin to tremble. Her hand went to her mouth as Kronos started to limp towards her. He took one step. Then another. Then another. Calypso took a step back, violently shaking in fear.

“ Stay back!” She shouted. Kronos took four more steps before he collapsed once more, his breathing shallow. Calypso cautiously walked toward him and nudged him with her foot. No response. I suppose that’s it then. She extended her hand so that her lance could return to her. She swore as she had difficulty holding it; raising it proved to be an even more significant challenge.

She looked down at Kronos, still in disbelief he had managed to stand after all the damage he had taken. She knew the safe option would be to finish him off. There was no way he would honor his half of the deal they had made and be a faithful servant to her. He would be a pain in her neck every step of the way and look to undermine her. Closing her eyes, she stabbed downward and planted the lance into the earth beside him.

Calypso collapsed on her knees, breathing on and hard, on the verge of tears. I can’t do it. I can’t do it. She reached to feel his pulse. Although faint, she could feel it, but he wouldn’t last long without medical attention. Once again I have to save your sorry hide Calypso thought as she regarded her old friend. She returned to her dragon form, gently scooped Kronos up in her mouth, and flew away.

When Kronos woke up, he didn’t recognize his surroundings. He was in a plush bed in a small room. He recognized royal characters etched in the stone walls but could not determine their meaning. The carpet was crimson red. By the bed was an end table with a canister of water. With a trembling hand, Kronos reached for it, his mouth as dry as the desert.

“ Careful,” came a voice. Kronos looked around to identify the source, wincing at the effort it cost. He stopped when he noticed Calypso sitting on a chair at the far wall, studying him. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in days. Her various wounds from their battle were heavily bandaged. “ You’ve been out for some time. I was starting to worry.”

Her voice was quiet, just above a whisper. Kronos gave up on the water and focused his attention on her.

“ Where are we?“ he asked.

“ One of my many hideouts,” Calypso responded, getting to her feet and walking to his bedside. Their eyes met, both regarding each other. For several long moments, neither of them said anything. Both could tell the battle had caused something between them to change; the question was, who would be the one to address it?

“ Do you remember that day by the river bank?” Kronos asked her. Calypso said nothing, but by the furrow of her brow Kronos knew she did. “ Me, you, and Apollo swore no matter what happened, the three of us would always stand by together. That we would forever be each other’s war siblings, each other’s Zhiliria.”

“ That… was nothing but the foolish path of three children who had no idea what the world held for them,” she told him.

“ You can make any excuse you want. It won’t change anything. No matter what words you use, no matter how hard you try and deny it, deep down, you’re still the same as back then. I know that vow still means something to you.”

“ That vow no longer has any merit. We’ve both broken it, and Apollo is no longer here. The time you speak of died with him. I killed him so that I could realize my destiny.”

“ A mask only works if the one you’re trying to fool doesn’t know who’s behind it,” Kronos told her, his gaze burning into hers. “ You can’t hide it from me. I know you feel remorse for what you did.”

“ I regret nothing of what I’ve done,” Calypso told him sharply. “ I did what I had to. And because of that, I was able to take power. I’ve become the dragon I always wanted to become.”

“ We both know you’re lying. You have only continued along the path you’re on because you can’t forgive yourself. If you were truly remorseless, you would have killed me as well.”

“ I’ve only kept you alive cause you serve my needs, nothing more,” Calypso told him, trying her best to keep her voice cold.

“ No,” Kronos said, forcing himself to sit up. “ No matter how hard you try, you can’t hide your true self. You’ve lost yourself to your pain, and now you don’t even recognize yourself do you? I went through the same thing after my ordeal with the Naga.”

“ Just stop, Kronos. It’s too late for this kind of talk,” Calypso ordered, her voice starting to shake.

“ Who says there has to be a timeframe? It’s only too late when you’re dead. The Calypso from that day at the riverbank is still alive, desperate to be free. The Calypso who is still my friend. That is the real Calypso; stop pretending you don’t know she’s there.” Calypso gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. She hated this. She hated it, because it was true.

“ I told you to stop it. Don’t anger me, or I will finish you off,” she weakly threatened.

“ Stop denying it,” Kronos told her, his eyes never leaving hers. “ You know what I’m saying is true. Stop running from it. Take your mask off.”

“ I’m not wearing a mask! I’m-“

“ Stop lying to yourself,” Kronos interrupted, then took her hand in his. Calypso gasped and looked down. She stared at his hand, eyes wide. “ Look, I know you’re scared to take your mask off. But I can’t let you continue to go down the path you’re on. I won’t abandon you again; I’ll be there every step of the way. Together we will put things right.”

“ Kronos…”

“ Stop trying to act tough, and let me help you!”

“ Hold still, Calypso!” Her mind flashed back to when she and Kronos were children, to when Apollo was alive. She had just fallen out of a tree and had scrapped her arm. Kronos was trying to tend to her with a medical care kit, but she had made it difficult.

“ I’m fine, Kronos!” She had protested.

“ Stop trying to act tough, and let me help you!” Kronos had snapped.

Calypso felt her eyes tear up, and she struggled to hold them back. Kronos still held her hand as he gazed into her eyes.

“ Don’t betray what’s truly important to you. What’s still there.” Calypso couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. They started to leak down her cheeks and landed on the bed sheets. But she still smiled, the first honest smile she could remember smiling.

“ Shut up, you loser,” she whispered.