These moments in James’ life prove that he values friendship, Cerulean reflected, while Cielo enjoyed the pleasant music.

Suddenly, glowing letters formed excerpts from the Iliad, the ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer:

No, deadly destiny, with the son of Leto, has killed me,

and of men it was Euphorbos; you are only my third slayer.

And put away in your heart this other thing that I tell you.

You yourself are not one who shall live long, but now already

death and powerful destiny are standing beside you,

to go down under the hands of Aiakos’ great son, Achilleus.

— Homer, Iliad 16.849–854 (Lattimore 1951).

The excerpt on the left spoke of fate.

For my mother Thetis the goddess of silver feet tells me

I carry two sorts of destiny toward the day of my death.

Either, if I stay here and fight beside the city of the Trojans,

my return home is gone, but my glory shall be everlasting;

but if I return home to the beloved land of my fathers,

the excellence of my glory is gone, but there will be a long life

left for me, and my end in death will not come to me quickly.

— Translated by Richmond Lattimore

The second excerpt, on the right, conveyed the concept of glory gained from heroic battle.

Another vision flashed in Cerulean’s mind: the Seven Acolytes assembling to rescue their grandparents from gangs that had stormed a mall, targeting banks and jewelry stores.

Oppa (Big Bro, transl.) Rockstar (James) understands the importance of teamwork, too, Cerulean concluded.

Cerulean stopped playing the lyre, cutting short Cielo’s enjoyment. The excerpts from the Iliad vanished as well.

Back at the altar and the giant weighing scales, the Griffin awaited.

“I see you’ve chosen the lyre this time. You have a knack for picking unique items among my treasures,” the Griffin remarked.

Cerulean, alongside Cielo, raised the lyre, sending it to join the wooden brush, Aphrodite’s mirror, and the Greek family’s tapestry. The right dish, or eastern scale, descended to match the western scale’s level.

“Cielo, we did it! We’ve reached equilibrium!” Cerulean cheered.

“Congratulations,” the Griffin said. “But remember, our agreement requires the scales to tip to the east, not just reach balance, for you to claim victory.”

“We know, Griffin. That’s why Buddy and I are off to find the fifth object and secure our win,” Cerulean declared with renewed spirit. “Let’s go, Cielo! Let’s win our treasure!”

Cielo neighed energetically as he and Cerulean headed back toward the remaining treasures.

Cerulean Arlentis, the paladin, and his white-winged pony, Cielo, approached a sword resting atop a mound of gold coins and treasure chests.

“A weapon, this time. Huh?” Cerulean observed.

Cielo neighed in agreement.

Cerulean picked up the sword, his gold-laced silver gauntlet caressing its blade. Suddenly, visions flashed through his mind: Spartan (Michael), the superhero, valiantly battling and defeating the Minotaur alongside Captain McKinley (Benjamin), the space ranger, in the Labyrinth of Crete. Another vision followed, showing Spartan single-handedly slaying three Harpies from the highest mountain of Thrace, casting them down into the sky.

The sword glowed scarlet in Cerulean’s hand. “This is Spartan’s, Michael’s, treasure. It’s a weapon that symbolizes courage and heroism.”

Cerulean and Cielo then returned to the Griffin, who stood by the altar within the vault of treasures.

“We’re ready. This is our fifth object,” Cerulean announced, presenting the sword.

The sword floated upward, joining the wooden brush, Aphrodite’s mirror, family tapestry, and the lyre on the right dish of the scales. Cielo neighed in anticipation as the eastern scale descended, breaking the balance with the western scale now tilted in favor of the east.

“We won, Cielo. We did it!” Cerulean exclaimed joyfully.

Cielo neighed back, sharing his happiness.

“It is not yet the time for celebration, my child,” the Griffin interrupted.

“What?! What do you mean? I don’t understand, sir,” Cerulean replied, as confused as Cielo.

To their surprise, the Griffin, who had stood on four legs, rose onto two. He spread his wings slightly, his gaze fixed on the giant scales.

“I must apologize. Perhaps it is due to my advanced age that my memory fails me. These scales before us have seven levels. You managed to tip the balance to the fifth level in favor of the east. But this trial only recognizes a complete victory or an utter loss. To truly win, you must lower the eastern scale to its lowest level, thereby raising the western scale to its highest,” the Griffin explained.

“Oh, I see. The trial is a zero-sum game,” Cerulean noted.

Cielo’s ears drooped, feeling cheated and unfairly treated.

“Don’t be discouraged, Cielo. We only have two more levels to go to claim victory,” Cerulean encouraged, remaining optimistic.

Cielo’s spirits lifted once again.

Cerulean Arlentis and the pony Cielo carefully navigated through the scattered treasures.

“We’re on the sixth treasure now. Keep your eyes open and stay alert,” Cerulean instructed.

Cielo widened his eyes, mimicking vigilance.

As they moved forward, they encountered six busts positioned on stands—each representing a Greek scholar.

“Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates on the left,” Cerulean identified. “Aristotle was Plato’s student, whom we encountered back in the lost city of Atlantis.”

He then turned to the right. “And here we have Heraclitus, Epicurus, and Diogenes, the Cynic.”

Between the two rows of scholars stood a podium with a scroll and quill resting on it.

“Let’s take a closer look,” Cerulean suggested.

Cielo stepped closer, joining Cerulean’s side.

“This appears to be an illustration of the Pythagorean Theorem—though incomplete,” Cerulean observed.

The diagram showed only the square on the hypotenuse (c), with the squares on the legs (a and b) missing.

Cerulean quickly sketched the missing figures, and the scroll, along with the quill, began to glow cyan. Suddenly, visions flooded the paladin’s mind: Captain McKinley (Benjamin) skillfully used the interface of his space armor, MAurI&S.E. (Multifunctional Artificial Intelligence & Search Engine), to anticipate the movements of both the first Siren and the Goat-headed Chimaera, gaining a tactical advantage.

“The sum of the areas of the two squares on the legs (a and b) equals the area of the square on the hypotenuse (c),” Cerulean said as he wrote the algebraic formula beneath the figures and the Latin title, “Theorema Pythagorica,” on the side.

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

“Scholasticism, mathematics, and strategic combat—this must be Benjamin’s treasure,” Cerulean concluded.

Cerulean Arlentis and the pony Cielo returned to the Griffin by the altar.

“This is the Pythagorean Theorem, the sixth item,” Cerulean announced.

The scroll levitated above Cerulean’s hands, while the wooden brush, Aphrodite’s mirror, family tapestry, lyre, and sword lifted from the right dish of the scales and floated toward him.

“Griffin, why are the objects we gathered leaving the eastern scale? How are we supposed to tip the scales to the east now?” Cerulean asked, confused.

The five objects that had left the scale began to revolve around Cerulean, with the scroll of the Pythagorean Theorem still floating above his hands.

“What’s happening? The items are moving around me,” Cerulean wondered aloud.

The scroll then drifted away from his hands, and the six treasures split into two sets that took opposite sides of him. The family tapestry, Aphrodite’s mirror, and the wooden brush floated to Cerulean’s left, while the lyre, the sword, and the Pythagorean Theorem hovered to his right. These treasures, with Cerulean in the center, glowed seafoam green, pink, yellow, orange, scarlet, and cyan from left to right.

“It’s like they’ve become my wings,” Cerulean remarked with a hint of awe.

Cielo, wide-eyed, watched as the eastern scale descended to the sixth level.

“You’ve done well, Child. For that, I shall grant you your reward,” the Griffin said.

“But I haven’t lowered the eastern scale to its lowest point or raised the western scale to its highest,” Cerulean objected.

“Sometimes, it is not about the destination. More often, it is about the journey, my Child,” the Griffin replied.

The Griffin handed Cerulean a small piece.

“This is my reward? But it looks like only a fragment of something larger,” Cerulean said, puzzled.

A long, high-pitched sound echoed through the vault. “Tsiiiing.”

Cerulean glanced to his left and right, watching as the six treasures transformed into individual pieces.

“Wait, is this piece you gave me—the central one?” Cerulean realized.

The six fragments gravitated toward the seventh piece in Cerulean’s hands, merging to form a small, mystical chest. The chest glowed with a warm, white light, and Cielo witnessed the eastern scale descending to its lowest point while the western scale rose to its highest. It was both a complete victory and an utter loss.

The Griffin spoke, “When Prometheus stole fire, he angered the gods. Zeus, in response, crafted a plan: a wedding gift for Pandora, the first woman. However, she was told never to open it. But curiosity overcame her, and she lifted the lid, unleashing all the evils of the world—pain, suffering, disease, and death. She closed the jar, but it was too late. Do you know what remained inside Pandora’s box?”

“Hope. It was hope that remained,” Cerulean answered, cradling the small chest in his palms.

The Griffin continued, “That small chest may appear humble, neither made of gold nor adorned with jewels. But its value lies beyond appearance. You once told me that true worth is often hidden. Pandora’s box represents the hope of your people—the only and greatest hope capable of vanquishing Typhon and the monsters for good. The greatest trial lies ahead, Paladin. The hardest battles are not fought on the field but within the heart. Only the brave, the good, and the wise can wield and awaken the chest’s power when the time comes.”

Cerulean stood in silent contemplation while Cielo listened intently. Beyond the Griffin’s altar and the giant scales, a vast expanse of gold and treasure filled the spacious vault.