The Other Side
1578 Words
I rappelled down from the cliff. It was very easy, because gravity did all the work, and I just controlled my speed. I am in the last place, and I need to hurry! I went to the next obstacle. I have to go prone and crawl under the barb wires. The ground is muddy, so crawling is harder than usual. The mud smells bad! And some of it touched my lips. I didn't mind it but crawled faster so as to catch up with others. I finished the obstacle with scratches and itching. My clothes are heavy with mud. I still have a significant distance from others. I need to try harder!
"Come on!" I shouted to my self as I punched my legs. I continued to the next. This time, it is rope climbing. I just got annihilated right at the start, and now this?
I realized that I was complaining, so I slapped myself, and began to climb the rope. It is high up, and I didn't care to evaluate its height. "Just climb," I said to myself. My arms are very tired. That was just three of the obstacles, and I am this tired. As far as I know, there are more than ten of these. Can I make it?
Yes, I can, come on! I fell down on the platform at the top after I finished climbing. My chest is killing me! I'm so tired! The sweat from my forehead ran down to my eyes, and it stings. I closed my eyes and thought that maybe I was just pretending to be a guy that never gives up and believes that can he surpass anything with hard work. I can't compete with these demigods no matter how I train... I am a human, born with a weak body. I am not gifted. I am weak. I can't beat them. I wish I was a demigod.
"Hey...," said someone. I didn't dare to open my eyes as I sat on the platform. The moment I open it, the mud and the sweat will hurt my eyes even more. I didn't know that there's someone behind me.
"Leave me alone," I said. "Go, and finish the test."
"I can't."
"What do you mean you can't?"
"Well you see, I am you."
"What-" That's when I realized that he has the same voice as mine. "Who are you?"
"I just said that," he said with a laugh. "Open your eyes and see."
I wiped off the sweat and mud from my eyes and I am confused to feel that there isn't any mud or sweat. I just opened my eyes and I saw a vast sandy land. I am on it. The sand is untouched, and it is very plain and smooth. My feet can feel the sand, so I can say that it is real. I even grabbed the sand with my toes. Up is a blue sky without clouds, but the sun is high in the sky. The breeze is gentle and warm. Then there I saw a reflection of myself. There's a mirror in front of me, and it is very clear like it almost looks like there's another me. I tilted my head, but the reflection didn't do so.
"What the-" I said confusingly. "You're not my reflection, are you?"
It smiled and it surprised me. "I guess not, more or less I am you."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, and he started to walk in a circle around me.
"Well, it's complicated."
"How so?"
"Let's just say, that I am the other side of you, as well as you are the other side of me."
"That's not all, is it?"
"Yeah, I suppose not."
"Then explain to me everything you know!"
"Okay, okay, calm down. No need to impose aggressiveness. Well, let's start with why the God of Gravity doesn't have an Olympian Strength. It's simple, really. As simple as, that I am the Olympian Strength. I have it, but for some reason, the one who controls the body doesn't have it."
What does he mean that he is the "Olympian Strength?" And what does he mean about "for some reason?"
I continued to listen as he spoke: "As you know, as everybody knows, that gods have two powers. The Prime Power that makes them a god, and the Olympian Strength. You are the Prime Power, and I am the Olympian Strength. I don't remember why this happened, but I guess the gods of Olympus have the answer."
"So you have been in many forms before me?"
"Yes, I have been, but as far as it goes, you are the first that I was able to talk to."
"Why is that?"
"I don't know. I tried talking to the past Gods of Gravity, but they never heard me. I am quite thrilled that I finally found someone that I can talk to. After all, I've been here for thousands of years, all alone in this barren land. If you want to know why this is happening, possibly... the gods have the answer."
"What about you, maybe you have some idea?"
"Well, I have one!" He stopped walking right in front of me and pointed up his finger. "Thank you for asking. All of my years, just listening to the interactions of the Gods of Gravity before you, I came up with an idea. I even learned how to talk by listening. I was just a clueless creature at the moment I realized that I have consciousness, except knowing that I am the other side of the consciousness of someone. I realized that after the first God of Gravity died, and I somehow ended up inside another human's mind. It disturbed me, but I got used to it after a hundred years. All the Gods of Gravity have lived unsatisfying lives. They never get praised for anything, and failure was expected of them. It made me sad, and want to help them, but I couldn't. I believed that there could be someone who will eventually notice me, and that is you. You are the chosen one."
What he says is quite interesting, but I can't trust him yet.
"This idea of mine started from when I knew that the Prime Power is some kind of a spiritual aspect, and the Olympian Strength is a Physical aspect. At first, I thought that I was the Spiritual, but then it doesn't match, because the power goes to the human I am inside, and I realized I am strong physically. It is not that weird for me, because the God of Gravity is already weird not to have Olympian Strength, but with a Prime Power of a god. Whatever is the reason why this happened could be related to why the power is only passed down to humans. The most difficult thing to know about the Gods of Gravity is the original owner of this power. There's no historical record about him nor myths that he is mentioned. Since being a demigod is something you are born with, humans can never attain it. That is what I think why I am locked here inside, instead of being attained by you. However, I think that you can use my power." He smiled. "Given the circumstance that we are able to talk. This time, it might differ." He went closer to me, and whispered to my ear, "Use me."
"What?"
"To finish this test, you need my strength! To stop suffering from your disadvantage, you need my strength! To beat those who are stronger than you, you need my strength! To become a god, you need my strength!! To become the King of Olympus! YOU NEED MY STRENGTH!!!"
He is right.... I have always been wanting to have enough strength like Philip and Sander. Deep inside I always knew that my hard work is never enough. Look at what the past Gods of Gravity that came before me. They all lived miserable lives without single praise from others. Failure is expected of them. This other me could be right, this time could be different now that he could give me the Olympian Strength. I am sure that the past Gods of Gravity wished that they have Olympian Strength. Their wish can be granted now. If I-
"Now come!" He held out his hand. "Let me give you my strength, and together we will make your dreams come true!!!"
I slowly held out my right hand, inch by inch the strength that the past gods before me and I, needed is now within my grasp. I will not waste this chance.
-
*
The kneeling Leo came to his senses, or did he? His eyes are different. Those eyes of black, have been replaced by grey, and it seems like he's a different person from before. He stood up and inhaled deeply with a smirk. The breeze suddenly became strong.
He looked at the sky and said, "I am finally back!" He laughed very hard.
Sir Heracles saw what Leo is doing at the top of the platform, and he can hear his laugh. "What is this brat up to?"
"Now, let's not fail this test." He jumped off the platform to the ground without even using the rope. The ground shook and ruptured as he landed. He cracked his neck and exploded a sprint. There was a sonic boom. "This is gonna be fun!" He maniacally laughed.
*
-
- Writer
