Bring Miracles to the Heroes

Orpheus, Note that this is not Oedipus.

He is a poet of Thrace, considered the illegitimate son of the sun god Apollo in the mortal realm, and a fellow student of Thaumas, both having studied under the master Chiron.

He is a master of the harp, his musical skill peerless and exquisite; even Thaumas learned his own craft by seeking his guidance.

Whenever he played his harp, not only humans and wild beasts, but even trees and rocks would become intoxicated by the sound.

Orpheus's beloved wife, Eurydice, was bitten by a venomous snake and tragically passed away.

Because Hades, the King of the Underworld, was also a loyal fan of Orpheus, the poet moved him with his music within the Underworld, causing his wife Eurydice to temporarily regain her vitality.

Thus, Hades made a special exception, agreeing to return his late wife, who had already departed the mortal world, back to him.

However, Hades set a condition for the poet: before leaving the Underworld, he must never turn back to look at Eurydice. Orpheus, desperate to bring his wife back, readily agreed to the King's demand.

Yet, after a long and perilous journey, just as he was about to leave the Underworld and return to the mortal realm, Orpheus's heart was suddenly shrouded in a sense of unease: "What if my wife hasn't followed me?"

In a state of utter bewilderment, Orpheus could not help but turn his head to look.

In that very instant, Eurydice was dragged back to the Underworld by the power of death, never to escape again...

This act of Orpheus has been interpreted by later generations as a sign that his love for women was actually a facade, a form of soft control; through gentle and righteous means, he controlled the beloved to satisfy his own desires.

However, Thaumas does not quite agree with this interpretation, because this event happened exactly as it was.

In many myths, Taboos like "do not look" are too numerous to count, such as the crane's repayment of a debt, Bluebeard, or Pandora's box, or Lot's Wife, and so on.

As for why he mentions these?

Because Thaumas is currently at the entrance to the Underworld, which is a volcanic crater filled with poisonous gas.

Thaumas patiently listened to his senior, Orpheus, recount the sequence of events.

Thaumas had not anticipated this situation; he did not know that Orpheus had also been in the Underworld these past few days.

No wonder that silly dog Cerberus dared to say he would keep it a secret from the King of the Underworld; it turns out it was because Hades had been delayed by this matter.

Orpheus was overcome with grief, wandering at the entrance of the Underworld for a long time, playing over and over again the Seven-stringed Lyre (the Lyre mentioned earlier) given to him by his father, Apollo.

He was waiting for a miracle, hoping that the King of the Underworld would make another exception.

But the gods had already given him a chance; from the moment Orpheus turned his head, he had personally killed the wife who was about to be reborn.

"Orpheus~" Thaumas called Orpheus's name softly.

"Thaumas, don't try to comfort me, just let me be for a m... Ah--!"

Before Orpheus could finish, Thaumas struck him directly.

"What are you doing!"

"And, why are you so strong now!"

Orpheus clutched his cheek in pain, suppressing the urge to fight back, and angrily questioned Thaumas.

"Heh, you still dare to talk back? Take that!"

Another punch came flying, but this time Orpheus was prepared and dodged it quickly.

After all, they both studied martial arts under Master Chiron; taught by the same mentor, it was easy to anticipate the other's thoughts, and breaking the moves was not difficult.

"Oh, you still dare to dodge!" Thaumas swung another slap, but this time it was caught firmly by Orpheus.

"Thaumas, don't think that just because you are younger I won't hit you. If you don't tell me why, I really will fight back!" Orpheus forgot his sorrow, turning it into anger directed at Thaumas.

"Do you think you are still a hero? Answer me, Orpheus!" Thaumas withdrew his hand, even angrier than Orpheus.

This left Orpheus stunned; he did not know why Thaumas would say such a thing.

"Orpheus, you were once a great hero. Your music was praised even by the gods, and even the King of the Underworld made an exception for you, but,"

Thaumas paused, stretched out his finger, pointed at the volcanic crater, and roared:

"You actually threw away this opportunity with your own hands! What's more ridiculous is that you are still here crying helplessly, waiting for a miracle to happen!"

"If you want a miracle, go create one yourself! Do you think your wife can be resurrected just by you acting like this!"

Thaumas wanted to wake up this confused hero and scold the muddled Orpheus into clarity.

Thaumas really wanted to change some things, especially those related to him. Orpheus was his friend, and he would help.

Since he failed to stop the tragedy in time, he had to do something at least to prevent a greater tragedy.

Although, judging by the legends, Orpheus boarded the Argo, which meant he would not sink into this state forever.

Thaumas could not change things he could not see, but since he saw this, he could not help but want to do something.

Perhaps it was his nature.

He was not sure if he was a kind person, because kindness itself is open to definition.

He had always been suspicious of the definition the Monument gave him, which was actually "Lawful Good," not something like neutral. It really judged him based on the legends, didn't it?

However, there was one thing he could be certain of—he could not stand things that were too ugly.

Take, for instance, the decadent Orpheus.

"Hahaha—" Orpheus laughed loudly.

"You really came to persuade me. Forget it, Thaumas. You wouldn't understand the pain of losing a wife. Go back up the mountain; Master Chiron must be worried about you! Just leave; I really want to be alone." Orpheus was incomparably mournful.

"What if I told you I have a way?" Thaumas suddenly said.

Orpheus's eyes lit up. He remained silent, seemingly clinging to a shred of hope, waiting for what Thaumas would say next.

The scolding from earlier was merely to force Orpheus to focus, to ensure he could actually listen to what was being said.

After all, you can't reason with someone who has given up on life. Like a pigeon or a eunuch, if you scold them, will they ever change?

At the beginning, Orpheus wouldn't listen to a word.

"Orpheus, did you hear what I said clearly? I said, I have a way," Thaumas said calmly.

"You mean you have a way to resurrect my wife? Thaumas, can you really persuade Lord Hades?" Orpheus was filled with hope. He knew Thaumas well and knew that Thaumas never shot an arrow without a target.

"As a hero, you should know clearly that the gods have already given you one chance. Not to mention me, even the Goddess of Wisdom might not be able to persuade Hades!" Thaumas said.

"Then what is this? Are you mocking me, Thaumas?" The light in Orpheus's eyes dimmed, and he spoke weakly.

"When a person is dead, they are dead. Even if you stormed the Underworld now, no one would pay you any mind, least of all the gods. I am truly disappointed, Orpheus. You are no longer worthy of being called a hero. Do you really deserve such a heavy title?" Thaumas shook his head.

"Then what else can I do? I couldn't even protect my wife. Do you know, every detail of Eurydice before she died is branded into my mind? You wouldn't understand, because you didn't see that scene. How could you possibly empathize with me?" Orpheus stumbled and fell to the ground, but he didn't get up, clutching his chest as he spoke in sorrow.

Orpheus was right; Thaumas truly could not empathize. How can one who has not suffered the pain of others urge them to be kind? But he truly could not bear to watch this friend sink into such despair.

"Orpheus, I don't know what happened, but looking at you, you must be in great pain! But she is already gone. I have never understood love; I don't know what love is. But I understand one thing: your lover is gone. Instead of wallowing in grief, why not do something for her while her soul still possesses consciousness?" Thaumas advised sincerely.

"But what is the point? It would be nothing more than psychological comfort," Orpheus laughed self-deprecatingly.

"You are quite right; it is indeed psychological comfort. But what if this could also comfort your wife? Have a proper farewell with her!" Thaumas said again.

All he wanted to do was allow this couple a proper goodbye; it was the only thing he could help with.

"Can you let me see her again? But Lord Hades is no longer willing to see me, and even Hermes is unwilling to take me through the volcanic crater into the Underworld. I can no longer do it." Orpheus's hope was reignited.

What a coincidence. If it weren't for the night, he would have indeed tried to contact Hermes.

But since he had to go see Goddess Clotho anyway, there was no harm in using the dowry, right?

If it didn't work out with Goddess Clotho, he could just return the power and try his best to compensate her later. At worst, he could pay with his life to Nyx; perhaps he might even obtain a Noble Phantasm similar to Stella.

(Stella, the Noble Phantasm of the great hero Arash, a suicide attack. The author has maxed out his bond with the great hero, and it is truly useful. Although he just finished collecting five copies of Kama recently and neglected him.)

"Hey, Orpheus, do you have any money?" Thaumas asked.

"Of course I do. Why do you ask?" Orpheus replied.

"Hurry up, give it all to me. This is the payment you owe for my help!" Thaumas closed his eyes, nodding with a smile.

?

What was this for? As far as Orpheus knew, Thaumas had no interest in such wealth.

However, Orpheus could ponder that question slowly; there were more important things at hand.

Thaumas, He is a man of contradictions, And a hero of miracles.

Just as Thaumas said, miracles are created by oneself.

Those who do nothing, waiting for a miracle to arrive, are destined to be abandoned by them.

So, Let us bring a miracle to the lost Orpheus!

A miracle to be forged by the two of them together!