A Hero's Folly, part 2

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Euhemeros travelled far and wide, earning renown and boasting his skills. One day he met a beautiful woman, Empusa. She witnessed his affinity for magic with her own eyes. She saw how even after casting a few spells, he was still virile and ready for anything. Clearly infatuated, she asked to join the hero on his journeys. Desiring her body and her praise, he agreed.

One day, Empusa brought him a jug of wine. Euhemeros drank from it greedily – it wasn’t much to his taste, but he didn’t care, sure that this was the night the woman would become fully his. But suddenly he felt his powers fading, his body becoming weaker and weaker. Terrified, he asked Empusa what this meant. ‘Remember the hippocampus you slayed for those spoiled naiads?’ she replied. ‘He was my good friend. He was the only one that could make me laugh. And you killed him because you wanted more power. So now I’m cutting your legend short, hero.’ And as she said those things, Euehemros noticed that her teeth had turned into long fangs. He tried to escape but was powerless – and soon Empusa drained his blood in full and feasted on his lifeless corpse.