The Return
Athena had always prided herself on her wisdom and control. She was a goddess who could see through the fog of time and reason through complex matters. But nothing had prepared her for the agony of losing Pallas.
The pain of losing Pallas, combined with the interference of her father, Zeus, shattered Athena in ways no battle strategy could heal. Her love for Pallas was not just passion-it was a bond of two souls intertwined for eternity. But when Pallas died in her arms, Athena couldn't help but became obsessed with her memory.
Over the millennia, Athena buried the weight of her grief beneath layers of armor, becoming the cold, calculating goddess that others feared. But she never truly moved on from Pallas. Instead, she held on to a semblance of her, keeping her name, her essence, alive in the form of one of her owl symbols.
So when Athena saw a certain nymph, no not nymph, a mortal. A mortal woman in fact, that had Pallas face on it. The mortal named Paisley for the first time in the mortal world, her heart was shaken. This wasn’t just some mortal; this was Pallas, reincarnated. And Athena knows she could feel the pull of her soul, the echo of the one she had lost.
But there was another problem. Pallas-Paisley didn’t remember her. Worse, it seems she had no understanding of the divine world nor had any recollection of it. To see her lover in such a vulnerable, mortal state made Athena feel helpless and desperate. She would never let the mistake of losing Pallas again happen.
Athena’s feelings of possessiveness grew quickly. She saw the return of Paisley as fate, but it felt more like an opportunity to reclaim what was hers. There was no rationality left when it came to her feelings for Pallas. Athena couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else drawing near her Pallas-Paisley. and while she had the power to shield her, she also had the power to manipulate her surroundings.
Athena’s obsessive nature, though initially subtle, would start to show in her actions. She sometimes guide Paisley in mysterious ways-arranging for her to "accidentally" find mythological creatures that only Paisley could probably defeat. She did this once she realized that Pallas, no, Paisley is a clear-sighted mortal, who was able to see some creatures behind the mist.
Athena wanted to awaken Paisley’s memories, but she also wanted her to be close on her. This wasn’t just about protecting Paisley; it was about keeping her close, right besides Athena.
Athena started to monitor Paisley’s movements, even manipulating certain parts of her life, such as making sure Paisley would be drawn to certain places or people that would maybe help jog some past memories on her along with-places Athena herself could keep an eye on.
Sometimes, Athena's internal conflict began to weigh heavily on her. As much as she loved Paisley, she was aware that her actions were starting to blur the line between love and obsession. She knew this wasn’t the right way to approach things. But every time Paisley looked at her without recognition, it sent a painful reminder of the past. Athena had sacrificed so much in the name of love and wisdom, but how could she remain wise when she had to face the harsh truth that Paisley might never fully love her again?
She knows she struggles with how to balance letting Paisley go with the overwhelming urge to keep her close forever.