Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past
Diana led Sarive through the winding corridors of the palace, the white stone gleaming in the soft, filtered light. The air was cool and still, carrying the faint scent of incense and the distant sound of flowing water. Sarive couldn't help but stare at the intricate carvings that adorned the walls, depicting scenes of battles, mythical creatures, and powerful women. He wished he could read the inscriptions that accompanied the images, to understand the stories they told, but his inability to decipher the ancient script was a frustrating barrier.
"This palace has stood for millennia," Diana said, her voice echoing slightly in the vast space. "It has been the home of Amazonian queens and the center of our civilization since our founding."
Sarive nodded, trying to imagine the centuries of history contained within these walls. "It's… incredible," he said, his voice filled with awe. "I've never seen anything like it."
Diana led him to a chamber that would be his for the time being. It was a spacious room, simply furnished with a comfortable-looking bed, a table, and a few chairs. A large window offered a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding landscape.
"This will be your quarters," Diana said. "It is modest, but comfortable. If you need anything, you only need to ask."
Sarive looked around the room, a sense of gratitude washing over him. After the shock and confusion of the past few hours, it was comforting to have a place to rest, a place to begin to make sense of his new reality. "Thank you," he said, his voice sincere. "I… I don't know how to repay you."
Diana turned to him, her expression serious. "You can repay us by learning. You possess a great power, Sarive, a power that could be of use to us in the coming conflict. But you are untrained, and you know nothing of this world. You must learn quickly if you are to survive."
She gestured to a stack of scrolls and tablets on a nearby table. "These contain the history of Themyscira, the story of the Amazons, and the knowledge of the Pantheon War. You must study them."
Sarive's heart sank. He looked at the pile of ancient texts, the unfamiliar script swirling before his eyes. He knew what she was asking of him, but it felt like an insurmountable challenge.
"I… I can't read," he said, the words heavy with shame.
Diana frowned, her brow furrowed in confusion. "You cannot read? How is that possible?"
Sarive shifted uncomfortably, his gaze fixed on the floor. He had never been good at explaining his illiteracy. It was a secret he had carried for most of his life, a source of embarrassment and frustration.
"I… I don't know," he mumbled. "I just… I never learned. I can recognize some words, basic stuff, but… not like that." He gestured to the scrolls, the complex script mocking him with its incomprehensibility.
Diana stared at him for a long moment, her expression a mixture of surprise and concern. "I… I do not understand. In Themyscira, reading is a fundamental skill, taught to all from a young age. It is the key to knowledge, to understanding our history and our place in the world."
Sarive felt a flush of shame creeping up his neck. He knew that. He knew how important reading was. He had just never been able to master it.
"I know," he said, his voice barely audible. "I know it's important. I just… I couldn't. The letters… they just jumbled up in my head. I tried, but…" He trailed off, unable to articulate the frustration and helplessness he had always felt.
Diana was silent for a moment, her gaze thoughtful. Then, she stepped closer to him, her expression softening. "Very well," she said. "If you cannot read, then we will find another way to teach you. We have other ways of preserving our history, ways that do not rely on the written word."
She placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch surprisingly gentle. "You must not be ashamed, Sarive. Your inability to read does not diminish your worth. But you must be willing to learn. The knowledge contained in those scrolls is vital to your survival and to the challenges that lie ahead."
Sarive looked up at her, his heart filled with a mixture of gratitude and determination. "I am willing to learn," he said, his voice firm. "I will do whatever it takes."
Diana nodded. "Good. We will begin your training immediately. You will learn of our history, our customs, and the nature of the Pantheon War. You will also begin to master your powers, to understand the potential that lies within you."
She paused, her gaze intense. "But first, you must understand the world you have entered, Sarive. You are no longer in Indianapolis. You are in Themyscira, a land of warriors and gods. And you are caught in the middle of a conflict that could reshape the very fabric of reality."
With that, Diana began to speak, her voice weaving a tapestry of words that transported Sarive to another time, another place. She told him of the Amazons, their origins, their history, and their unwavering dedication to justice and peace. She spoke of the ancient gods, their power and their conflicts, and the delicate balance between the mortal world and the realm of the divine.
She spoke of the Pantheon War, a conflict that had raged for centuries, a war that threatened to engulf the world in chaos. She explained the various factions involved, the alliances and betrayals, and the stakes that hung in the balance.
Sarive listened, his mind reeling from the sheer scope of the story. It was a tale of gods and heroes, of magic and war, of love and loss. It was a story that spanned millennia, a story that was both epic and deeply personal. And it was a story that he was now a part of.
As Diana spoke, Sarive began to understand the gravity of his situation. He was no longer just a teenager from Indianapolis. He was a player in a game far larger than he could have ever imagined, a game with consequences that stretched across worlds and time.
And he knew, with a growing sense of certainty, that his life would never be the same again.