Snakes In My Hair? It's More Likely Than You Think.

Juno didn't think it would be this bad, this is terrible. She can't help the feeling of sadness that overcomes her. Normally, anything remotely sad will have her in tears so it's no surprise that she's already crying but it's different this time.

She's not the ones who's crying.

<I am so sorry, for I have failed you.>

She wipes her tears away and whispers gently, "Hey are you okay?"

<I am not. I will be fine though, I just, I need a moment. Excuse me.>

It's hard to describe it but Juno knows that it's gone. Again, and probably only for a few minutes.

So those tears were really the snake's.

//Noa went missing. Just like Mila. Could this be the same thing? Also, the snakes went missing too but now they're back. Why? How is this all connected? I can't even ask the Immortal Snake because it's grieving.//

She goes to type something new in the search bar but her hand wavers.

//Is that monster the cause of all of this? Is this the enemy? Did it, did it target Mila?! Is she going to...//

Juno shakes her head. She's overthinking! There's not enough proof that it's even real-

<It's real.>

She freezes.

<Juno, remember the memory I showed you? The last one?>

"You're not saying that..."

<I am. I understand now, the other  reason it's important is because it's my last memory. That terrible creature, it must be the same one we just now read about!>

"Oh."

<If some of those theories we read are true, then perhaps it was that monster that caused our downfall.>

"B-but you still don't know what it is exactly?"

<My memories are still broken, Juno. Although, if what we read is true, if that was our last sighting, then I'm certain that this thing is our enemy.>

"..."

<But what is it? How did it come back? Is it working alone? To do all of this, it's much more powerful and intelligent than I thought it to be. If it's the same thing that... killed Noa, we shouldn't fight it head on. That was my mistake.>

She swallows down her fears and asks, "What should we do now?"

<Keep looking up information. You may find something that will give us more clues.>

She looks up 'ferocious monster', of course that gives her nothing substantial. She tries being more specific and types 'ferocious monster from 2500 years ago' with the results being slightly better. She stumbles upon an article that describes the monster similarly to the other source.

Juno quickly realizes this monster doesn't even have an actual name.

<It is probably because no one has ever 'seen' it and been able to describe its appearance since...>

That's true. This article refers to it as 'faceless ferocious monster', 'monster living in the shadows' and 'mythical monster'.

It seems that since it never made much of a controversial appearance except for that time two thousand five hundred years ago, people just don't seem to care as much anymore. Juno can't help but feel that if she had better resources than just her laptop, they would find out more. But this is all she has to work with!

The school library itself could have more information but it's most likely restricted. It's also huge and a pain to navigate. There's also the fact that she can't leave the hospital just yet.

//Maybe Eve has..//

Anyways! She continues researching without much luck and doesn't stop until there's a knock at her door.

It's one of the other nurses bringing her some food.

Oh yikes, it's already 1? Where has the time gone? 

Juno thanks the nurse but she eyes the food with doubt. There's no way she's going to eat that again.

<The food here is a tragedy. How can they expect you to get better by eating that?>

Juno has no idea either to be honest.

<Ahem, you should at least drink the water. Also, Juno why don't you stop looking up that monster and instead look up...>

"What?"

It's silent for a moment before asking, <This is so humiliating, my Lady forgive me, but may you look up Lady Medusa and perhaps more about us?>

"Did you really forget all of that too?"

<No! I mean, I only remember the b.a.r.e bones of my existence and my undying loyalty for Lady Medusa. The details are fuzzy and I want to make sure what I do know is correct. Since you know, that culprit messed with my memories!>

"Hm."

<Wait, I'm being silly. You're a Gorgon! You can just tell me everything important. Wait no actually instead, do you remember any significant enemies of ours? From past legends? Scriptures?>

Juno's mind goes blank. She doesn't have the heart to tell the immortal snake that she knows less than it does. 

No offense Medusa! 

"Um..."

<Come on? Anything? Anything at all?>

"Well I don't know if this is like, important but almost everyone knows about Medusa and Athena's rivalry. Not enemies per say. Although, that's kind of debatable. Uh..."

<Hm, Athena... she's one of the most influential Goddesses. Rivalry. I suppose you could call it that. I don't remember much but I hold no fondness for her.>

Ouch.

"Yeah? Like there's always been things they've fought over. Uhh wars and ... stuff."

<Just her? Anyone else?>

"Oh! I remember learning how Thea rejected Medusa's proposal! But I don't think they became enemies? Which I think is weird... I mean like maybe Medusa didn't care that much because she had other partners?"

<Er- Thea? Another Goddess?>

"Hm. Yeah. I think so? But she's like ancient or at the very least the story is? I don't know much about her except for that. I mean, who rejects Medusa right? And lives?"

<I don't think she would hold that against her.>

"O-oh yeah, sorry."

<So I'm assuming that's all you know of your Goddess.>

"Hey! I'm not the best at remembering things okay? Well, boring stuff. Not that's she's boring! Aha! It's just a lot since she's super old!"

<Hmph.>

"Aah wait! There was this guy that tried killing her."

<Please be more specific, unfortunately that could be anyone.>

"Ack- like, I was taught that he found an all powerful sword that would kill anyone, as long you b-behead them. Even an Immortal Goddess! He almost killed her! But he failed? I mean of course he did! It's Medusa. He got sent to the underworld to repent? His name was Perseus?"

The snake hisses, <How dare he! But this might mean nothing, he still repents?>

"I think so? At least, he should be! It's mostly believed that he is but..."

<What?>

"There's like other versions of that ending too. The one I was taught was that he repents in the underworld but others say that he was e-excuted with the sword. I think there's also a version where he was also a god, and was stripped of his powers and left to die a mortal death. Or that he became a fallen god. Though I guess suffering in hell is more ideal to teach your kids or whatever."

<Hm. Maybe you should continue researching.>

She sighs but doesn't complain.

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