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“So what did he do, then?” said Hector.

“Secho worried that the Heart of the World had lied to him about the placement of the goblets, but he did not know for sure. So before he decided, he asked the Heart of the World a question: ‘Why have you presented me with such a terrible choice?’ ‘To show you your truest self,’ the Heart of the World told him. And based on that answer, Secho decided to drink from both goblets at the same time.”

Hector breathed half a laugh. “And that actually worked?”

“His wife was cured, yes, but the Heart of the World explained that there had been no goblet which would grant him the power of a god. That had been a lie, as Secho expected. Instead, that goblet had been simple poison.”

“Oh.”

“As Secho lay dying, the Heart of the World chastised him for his greed, telling him he was fool for thinking he could have both his wife and power. Rather than despairing, however, Secho laughed in the god’s face and said that he’d known all along he couldn’t trust the Heart of the World’s words, so drinking from both goblets was the only way to ensure that he drank from the one which would cure his wife.”

“Hmm.”

“Then a miracle occurred, and Secho ascended to godhood truly.”

“Wha? How?”

“It is explained thus: Secho, due to both his intention and ultimate decision, had effectively rendered the Heart of the World’s entire ‘game of choice’ meaningless. He completely avoided making the difficult decision between love and power, which was what the Heart of the World was trying to force him to do. Or in other words, he had ‘defeated’ a god. And in doing so, he became a god himself.”

“That’s... convenient.”

“I enjoy this story, because while it at first appears as though Secho will be granted the power of a god by another, that does not happen. Ultimately, he ascends to godhood independently, as a result of his own actions.”

“What difference does that make?”

“The entire ending of the story is about the temptation and promise of power. It is about how these things can be illusions and dangerous. The ‘goblet of power,’ for instance, was never even real. It was poison all along. And yet, the story does not wholly dismiss the notion of obtaining power, either. It simply provides an alternate explanation for it.”

“Eh... was it really explained, though? Seemed like it kinda just came out of nowhere, to me.”

Royo bobbed his head. “It certainly depends on one’s perspective. For me, I find the explanation to be not only interesting but also an important lesson--relevant even to this day.”

“Really?”

“Oh yes. A lesson in the natures of power, greed, and heroism. I should admit, however, that my opinion is generally considered to be one of dissension.”

“Why’s that?”