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**Chapter 385: Troy**
Sersi retracted her delicate feet from the rubble, raising her hands. A torrent of purple energy surged forth, swirling the stones into a vortex.
A flick of her fingers reduced the uneven stones to powder, which she commanded into a heap.
With a snap of her fingers, a crystal bottle appeared in her grasp, filled with clear liquid resembling ordinary spring water—but brimming with vitality.
"Water from the Well of Rebirth," Sersi teased, her gaze carrying a trace of madness.
"The Well is Gaia’s womb, the birthplace of all life. It’s also where all Amazons are born. Typically, beings born of the goddess would at least be demigods, but a new pantheon? Zeus would never allow that. So the goddess had to dilute their power. Even so, Amazons remain formidable, the elite among demigods."
Sersi casually tossed the bottle, which hovered in the air as its cork vanished under magical control. The water flowed like a snake, merging with the pile of dust.
"Just a touch of the Well’s water to guide her latent power, and a powerful demigod will emerge under my command."
Sersi conducted the magic like a maestro, her fingers dancing in the air. The mixture of water and dust solidified into clay, which molded into a figure resembling a doll.
Under her tutelage, the clay took shape, becoming a humanoid form. Her exquisite craftsmanship refined its features until it bore a resemblance to Diana, albeit only fifty percent.
Sersi nodded, impressed with her work. Once the magic ceased, the clay figure dissolved, leaving behind only the elegant form of a young woman.
"Something’s missing," Sersi tapped her chin, her usual sensuality replaced by a playful mischief.
"Ah!" Sersi exclaimed, turning to find the apprentice witch had vanished. On the coffee table lay a crimson orb, swirling with dark energy.
"Smart girl," Sersi summoned it into her hand, cradling it delicately. She smirked at the black mist swirling within.
A flick of her index finger dispersed the mist, blending harmoniously with the crimson hue. The orb turned a dark red.
Blowing softly, it drifted toward the prepared vessel. Under Sersi’s watchful gaze, the orb embedded itself into the vessel’s forehead, transforming her entirely.
If once lifeless, now vibrant, her eyelids fluttered open. Azure eyes, like Diana’s, blinked in curiosity, taking in the world anew.
"Troy, my dear Troy."
Before the girl could survey her surroundings, Sersi appeared, embracing her nude form tenderly.
"Who are you?" Troy furrowed her brows, displeased by the intrusion.
"I am your mother, my dear," Sersi whispered, her slyness fleeting. The befuddled girl didn’t catch it.
"Mother?" Troy’s confusion deepened, her once-clear eyes now clouded.
"Yes," Sersi released her, flipping her wrist to produce a robe. She draped it over Troy, concealing her beauty.
Troy regained her senses, clutching the robe timidly. "Please, Mother, tell me what’s happening."
"Of course, my sweet," Sersi smiled gently, recounting her tale.
In her fabrication, she was a banished queen, scorned by Hippolyta for birthing Zeus’s heir. Hippolyta had framed her, sculpting a clay imposter to steal divine blessings. The clay child usurped her place due to its rapid formation.
Hippolyta had manipulated the gods with her beauty and lies, diverting their gifts to the clay imposter. Now crowned with divine favor, the imposter claimed legitimacy, while Sersi was cast adrift. Vowing revenge, she failed due to her weakness. Troy lived as an ordinary girl.
But at eighteen, Troy awakened her divine bloodline. Equipped to challenge the imposter, Sersi finally revealed all. Enraged, Troy cried, "Thirty years east, thirty years west, don’t underestimate the young!"
Armed with a blade, she charged for Paradise Island. Finding only Hippolyta, she slaughtered the imposter’s creator and escaped wounded. Recovered under Sersi’s care, she regained clarity.
Though riddled with flaws, the tale disoriented Troy. Sersi’s magic and influence clouded her mind.
"Mother," Troy wiped Sersi’s tears, declaring solemnly.
"I’ll help you reclaim your throne and collect what’s owed. Alas, I’ve forgotten the imposter’s name. Please tell me."
"Her name is Diana," Sersi sniffled. "Paradise Island’s princess and current Wonder Woman."
Troy’s eyes flared red, her azure gaze extinguished.
"Satisfied, my Troy," Sersi concealed her smirk.
"Until you claim victory like a Trojan horse, Mother won’t truly rejoice."
---
(End of Chapter)
Sersi retracted her delicate feet from the rubble, raising her hands. A torrent of purple energy surged forth, swirling the stones into a vortex.
A flick of her fingers reduced the uneven stones to powder, which she commanded into a heap.
With a snap of her fingers, a crystal bottle appeared in her grasp, filled with clear liquid resembling ordinary spring water—but brimming with vitality.
"Water from the Well of Rebirth," Sersi teased, her gaze carrying a trace of madness.
"The Well is Gaia’s womb, the birthplace of all life. It’s also where all Amazons are born. Typically, beings born of the goddess would at least be demigods, but a new pantheon? Zeus would never allow that. So the goddess had to dilute their power. Even so, Amazons remain formidable, the elite among demigods."
Sersi casually tossed the bottle, which hovered in the air as its cork vanished under magical control. The water flowed like a snake, merging with the pile of dust.
"Just a touch of the Well’s water to guide her latent power, and a powerful demigod will emerge under my command."
Sersi conducted the magic like a maestro, her fingers dancing in the air. The mixture of water and dust solidified into clay, which molded into a figure resembling a doll.
Under her tutelage, the clay took shape, becoming a humanoid form. Her exquisite craftsmanship refined its features until it bore a resemblance to Diana, albeit only fifty percent.
Sersi nodded, impressed with her work. Once the magic ceased, the clay figure dissolved, leaving behind only the elegant form of a young woman.
"Something’s missing," Sersi tapped her chin, her usual sensuality replaced by a playful mischief.
"Ah!" Sersi exclaimed, turning to find the apprentice witch had vanished. On the coffee table lay a crimson orb, swirling with dark energy.
"Smart girl," Sersi summoned it into her hand, cradling it delicately. She smirked at the black mist swirling within.
A flick of her index finger dispersed the mist, blending harmoniously with the crimson hue. The orb turned a dark red.
Blowing softly, it drifted toward the prepared vessel. Under Sersi’s watchful gaze, the orb embedded itself into the vessel’s forehead, transforming her entirely.
If once lifeless, now vibrant, her eyelids fluttered open. Azure eyes, like Diana’s, blinked in curiosity, taking in the world anew.
"Troy, my dear Troy."
Before the girl could survey her surroundings, Sersi appeared, embracing her nude form tenderly.
"Who are you?" Troy furrowed her brows, displeased by the intrusion.
"I am your mother, my dear," Sersi whispered, her slyness fleeting. The befuddled girl didn’t catch it.
"Mother?" Troy’s confusion deepened, her once-clear eyes now clouded.
"Yes," Sersi released her, flipping her wrist to produce a robe. She draped it over Troy, concealing her beauty.
Troy regained her senses, clutching the robe timidly. "Please, Mother, tell me what’s happening."
"Of course, my sweet," Sersi smiled gently, recounting her tale.
In her fabrication, she was a banished queen, scorned by Hippolyta for birthing Zeus’s heir. Hippolyta had framed her, sculpting a clay imposter to steal divine blessings. The clay child usurped her place due to its rapid formation.
Hippolyta had manipulated the gods with her beauty and lies, diverting their gifts to the clay imposter. Now crowned with divine favor, the imposter claimed legitimacy, while Sersi was cast adrift. Vowing revenge, she failed due to her weakness. Troy lived as an ordinary girl.
But at eighteen, Troy awakened her divine bloodline. Equipped to challenge the imposter, Sersi finally revealed all. Enraged, Troy cried, "Thirty years east, thirty years west, don’t underestimate the young!"
Armed with a blade, she charged for Paradise Island. Finding only Hippolyta, she slaughtered the imposter’s creator and escaped wounded. Recovered under Sersi’s care, she regained clarity.
Though riddled with flaws, the tale disoriented Troy. Sersi’s magic and influence clouded her mind.
"Mother," Troy wiped Sersi’s tears, declaring solemnly.
"I’ll help you reclaim your throne and collect what’s owed. Alas, I’ve forgotten the imposter’s name. Please tell me."
"Her name is Diana," Sersi sniffled. "Paradise Island’s princess and current Wonder Woman."
Troy’s eyes flared red, her azure gaze extinguished.
"Satisfied, my Troy," Sersi concealed her smirk.
"Until you claim victory like a Trojan horse, Mother won’t truly rejoice."
---
(End of Chapter)