12 years later
High, hidden away in the mountainous terrain,
a heavily defended government facility stands. The facility is unknown to the public. Its purpose is classified, even for lower-level government workers. The buildings go deep, but the secrets go deeper.
A government agent is sitting with a young Helios, now aged twelve. He looks into Helios's eyes, now widened with curiosity.
"So, Helios, not long after the masked men committed those vile acts against you and your family, our mythical beings' power source indicators screamed and blared. So the government sent me and other top agents to come save you. You're super lucky we found you in time, Helios," the agent said with a calm yet firm voice.
Helios's face lit up with excitement.
"But… how did you guys save me? I know it must have been a cool, action-packed mission!?" Helios asked, excitement edging closer.
The agent's eyes darted around the room as he carefully prepared his next words.
"You know I can't tell you about it. It's classified. Agents like me can't tell you all the fun. Remember, you're lucky to know this much," he replied to Helios in a strict yet caring manner.
"But… I'm technically classified too. I know myself. So why can't I know this?" Helios asked again, testing his luck.
The agent's gaze hardened and shrunk Helios.
"That's enough. I said I can't tell you. That means I can't tell you, simple as that.
Anyway, isn't it time for you to go to your first school class?" he replied with a firm voice, leaving no room for argument or discussion.
Helios knew better than showing up late. As his teacher, Ceto would make sure he remembered it. He dropped the questioning act, for today at least.
"You're right. See you later, Agent Fifteen," Helios said, glancing back with a small smile.
Agent Fifteen did not smile back.
"Move along now," he said, already facing away.
Helios sprinted towards the corridor doors. Just before they sealed, he dropped low and slid between the narrow gap.
The doors slammed behind him.
The conversation was over.
Helios scanned the doorway. Ceto was already waiting.
"You're late. Again," Ceto said, his voice stern and low.
"Sir, Agent Fifteen was holding me back," Helios attempted a white lie.
"When you're on a battlefield, will you let another man stop you from doing your mission?"
"No, sir," Helios answered, his voice low, eyes sunken into the ground.
A sharp voice cut the awkward silence.
"When are you ever going to show up on time to our lessons?" Levia said, her tone edged with irritation.
A harsher voice followed.
"You're slowing my learning down, boy," Drakon said in an angry, snappy tone.
"Enough," Ceto said, his voice cutting the conversation. "You're teammates, not enemies."
The room fell silent.
Helios walked to his seat and sat straight down.
"Today we will not be doing physical training or battle practice," Ceto continued.
Helios, not able to keep to himself, called out,
"Drakon, I guess it's your lucky day."
"I'm trying to listen. Helios, shut it," Levia snapped, more annoyed than before.
Ceto didn't raise his voice, yet calmly said,
"If one more of you speak, we will conduct an assassin assessment."
The room fell silent yet again.
"Great," Ceto said.
"Now, today we will be learning about the Great War and why curses and gifts were sent to Earth."
He redirected their eyes towards the hologram in front of him.
A hologram flashed on.
A ruined world. Burning towns and cities. Endless war.
Ceto stood still, gathering his thoughts.
"Here, what you see is not mythology," he said. "It is memory."
The room felt heavier. Even Helios was silent.
"This Great War lasted for centuries. Artillery fell more often than rain. Cities were scarred with tank tracks and shell craters. Women and children were left without food. Without water," Ceto said, his voice steady.
"Famine kills millions," he continued. "It grew so severe, humanity even turned on itself. People ate one another to survive."
The hologram slowed, showing hollow faces. Sunken eyes. Skin stretched tight over thin bone.
"Imagine looking at your classmate," Ceto said, his tone hollow, "and seeing food."
No one dared to speak.
"The Great War did not end because of strategies. It did not end because of weapons. It did not end due to human peace."
The hologram morphed.
"It ended due to intervention from those older than humanity itself."
The image flickered,
changing to a dying child. No muscle. Only bone. His eyes faded as the last strain of life slipped away.
"The Unicorn sent itself," Ceto said, "not to kings, not to a soldier, but to a boy who should have died in that moment."
Helios leaned closer to the hologram.
"The boy levitated," Ceto went on.
"A light was seen for miles. The boy was reborn stronger. Able to heal. Able to fight."
Ceto paused just for a breath.
"The boy helped the faction that would become the government achieve victory. He healed the sick. The soldiers. Entire cities."
Levia's eyes locked onto the hologram. Her finger tightened against the desk.
"He was the first Gift," Ceto said firmly, "but it came with a cost."
His voice hardened.
"That cost was them."
He steadied himself.
The hologram turned to darkness.
Chains. A child bound. Left to die.
"A boy chained by his loved ones, left to die, prayed to be set free," Ceto paused. "The one who answered that prayer was not God. It was the father of all curses."
"Typhoon used this boy to show his disgust for the Unicorn's intervention," Ceto said. "Typhoon answered a gift with a curse."
Ceto paused yet again.
The image morphed again.
"Typhoon made a deal with the boy to set him free from his chains," Ceto continued. "In return, Cerberus was unleashed. The first curse. Given to a boy betrayed by his own parents."
The hologram shut down.
Silence filled the air.
"
Gifts and curses are not equals," Ceto finished. "They were born in response to each other."
Helios slowly raised his hand.
"
Sir… I swear from this moment on, I will kill any curse I see," he said. "I will kill them all."
Ceto looked at him
.
Pride painted on his face.
"One last thing, class," Ceto said. "This unit was made to ensure history does not repeat itself."
He paused.
"This is why I was made your teacher. The first, teaching the next."