Athena Pierce

StoryNPC

Athena Pierce
CurrentAltaire CampYoung
Title	Bowman Instructor
Hometown	Elluel
Current Residence	Henesys
Gender	Female
Race	Elf
Affiliations	Maple Alliance Elluel Explorers Mercedes Pathfinder
Enemies	Black Mage Black Wings
Status	Alive
Name (Other Servers)
KoreaMS	헬레나 (Helena)
JapanMS	ヘレナ (Helena)
ChinaMS	赫丽娜 (Helena)
TaiwanMS	赫麗娜 (Helena)
MapleSEA	Athena Pierce
Voice Actors
GlobalMS	Peggy O'Neal
KoreaMS	So-eun Lee
JapanMS	Reina Kondō

World Archive

“The instructor at the Henesys Bowman Instructional School. She's taught every Bowman Explorer, including yours truly.
She came with the first refugees when Victoria Island split from Ossyria. As one of the founders of Henesys, she is the hero who saved the village during the war 300 years ago. It is said that Athena Pierce is one of the few elves to escape the Black Mage's curse. Even today she continues her good work, representing Explorers in the Maple Alliance.
Perhaps you have heard of Legor, one of my fellow students under Athena Pierce? When he was younger, she rescued him after he became lost in the forest. That day, she told him the words that would shape him into the Legor we know today: 'Even without sight, if you have true insight, you will always hit your mark.'
As one who walks the path of the Bowman, I too will continue to train diligently under Athena Pierce's guidance until my bow becomes as a storm.\r\nWhen we meet, I confirm my commitment by repeating to her a deferent phrase: 'My bow will never waver.'”

― Chronicler Ritt

Athena Pierce is the elven Bowman Instructor for Explorers, the head of the Explorers' Guild, and one of the leaders of the Maple Alliance.

Story

Joining the Heroes

Athena Pierce was an elf child who grew up in the kingdom of Elluel. Growing up, Athena was friends with Lucid, and the two often spent time training together under Danika, the Elder of War. Athena and Lucid both respected Mercedes, though Lucid's respect quickly grew into idolization. One day, after a training session, Athena asked Danika whether she could show off what she had learned to Mercedes, who would be returning back soon. Danika told her that Mercedes would see them tomorrow, after which Athena and Lucid began heading off. Though Athena was quite excited to show her skills to Mercedes, Lucid was rather nervous. As Lucid practiced in the middle of the night, she soon discovered that she had the power to manipulate dreams, having created a perfect dream of herself showing off her skills to Mercedes.

As the Black Mage's threat grew larger, Mercedes decided that she would join the Heroes in order to fight against him. As all the elves saw her off, Lucid grew worried that she might be seeing Mercedes for the last time and decided that she would go with her. Just then, Athena stepped up and declared that she would accompany Mercedes, causing some of the other children to speak up as well. Mercedes thanked them for their bravery, though she told them that it was her duty to protect them, not the other way around. That night, Lucid followed Mercedes and Danika as they headed off, intent on joining them. To her shock, however, she discovered that Athena had gotten there first. Lucid watched in horror as Mercedes agreed to let Athena accompany them, even giving her the elven treasure, Mistelteinn, for protection. Distraught at not being chosen, Lucid ran away and used her dream magic to erase herself from the memories of the elves, causing Athena to forget that she existed.

Evacuation of Ossyria

During the war against the Black Mage, Athena was tasked with keeping the Mistelteinn safe, as Mercedes had given it to her with the intention that it would keep Athena off the battlefield. As the final battle against the Black Mage drew near, Athena was entrusted with overseeing the evacuation of the refugees from Ossyria to Victoria Island. During the evacuation, Athena secretly brought Alicia, who had been severely damaged by the Black Mage's attempt to steal her Transcendent powers. As the refugees boarded the airship, the Black Mage's army began growing closer and closer, for which Aran - who had been injured in an earlier battle - nevertheless decided to hold them off while the other Heroes set out for the Temple of Time. The Heroes then met with Athena and informed her about the plan, though a worried Athena noted that Aran was already injured.

After Freud reassured Athena, he turned to Aran and told her that he had initially planned to send Aran to safety aboard the refugee ship, knowing how stubborn she was, though he told her that he trusted her to handle things on her own. Mercedes then asked Aran to keep Athena and the others safe before Freud teleported them to the Temple of Time. Aran then single-handedly held off the Black Mage's army, allowing Athena and the others to escape. After seeing that Aran had no intention of fleeing with them, Athena asked her to keep Mercedes and the other Heroes safe. After Aran left, the airship departed for Victoria Island. Though Shinsoo guided the way for the airship to reach the southern plains of Victoria Island, a mysterious dragon attack nevertheless caused the refugees to crash-land in Ellin Forest. There, the refugees established Altaire Camp, where Athena became the de-facto leader, dividing the camp into hunters and gatherers to explore their unfamiliar surroundings, as well as to find a better place to live. Because of the Mistelteinn's power, Athena was rendered immune to the Black Mage's curse, which had frozen all the other elves in Elluel.

Seal Stone of Ellin Forest

During this time, Aran - who had traveled through a Temporal Gate in the future - traveled back into Ellin Forest of the past, where she met with Athena at the Camp Conference Room and and began to explain who she was. However, Athena remained unconvinced of her identity, as Aran looked different and she was unable to remember Athena. Aran began explaining everything that had happened to her since awakening from the ice, including her memory loss, and though Athena found it unbelievable, she could not deny that Aran's eyes and her manner of speaking suggested that she was telling the truth. Choosing to believe her, Athena introduced herself and told Aran about how the refugees of Leafre had crash-landed on Victoria Island and established Altaire Camp while searching for fertile lands in order to relocate to. She then asked Aran why she looked different, causing them both to realize that coming through the crack in time had likely changed her appearance. Athena then asked Aran whether she had come in search of her lost memories, but when Aran explained that she was looking for Seal Stones, Athena told her that she had been given a Seal Stone by the Heroes, which she was keeping locked in the library. After obtaining the storage key from Loha, Aran entered the library and encountered Hiver, who stole the Seal Stone of Ellin Forest.

Aran then returned dejectedly to Athena Pierce, who apologized for not having better secured the Seal Stone, though Aran reassured her that it wasn't her fault. Athena then recalled that Aran of the past had written a letter, in which she had mentioned something about the Seal Stones. Suspecting that Aran had forgotten to send it before fighting the Black Mage, Athena attempted to give it to Aran of the present, though the letter merely fell through Aran's hands. Athena found it strange, as Aran had been able to take the storage key from Loha without any problems. Aran replied that though she couldn't be sure of why, the fact that they were from separate time periods made her believe that she could no longer interact with the past. However, Athena suggested that since she was an elf, and thus had a long lifespan, she could keep the letter and instructed Aran to find her in the present day.

Ephenia the Fairy Queen

Traveler from the Future

After Aran's departure, Athena continued working to help the refugees build a new home. Though she established friendly relationships with the Queen Ephenia, a fellow fairy, the influence of a mysterious follower of the Black Mage - Kirston - encouraged Ephenia's hatred for humans to develop into a desire to wipe out all humans from her forest. Soon after, another traveler from the future was brought to Athena by the magician Perzen, who believed them to be an intruder. However, upon hearing the traveler's story, Athena immediately vouched for them and told Perzen that she was sure that the traveler was telling the truth, as she had met people who had come from the future before. Athena then asked Perzen and the traveler to keep the fact that they had come from the future secret from the other refugees, explaining that it would only confuse them. She then asked the traveler why they had come in the first place, to which the traveler explained that they wanted to know more about Ellin Forest.

Athena told the traveler that things weren't going well between the Black Mage splitting Victoria Island from Ossyria and the refugees being swamped with difficulties. She explained that when the Heroes had gone to fight the Black Mage, she had intended to lead the refugees to the southern plains of Victoria Island, but for some unknown reason, dragons had attacked their ship and had forced them to crash land in Ellin Forest instead. The traveler then told Athena and Perzen that Yuris had asked them to convey that repairs to the airship were nearly complete. Perzen realized that he would need to begin preparations to magically activate the floating gemstone on the ship and set off to do so. Athena thanked the traveler for the information and explained that the refugees had been trying to create a village in Ellin Forest, though she regretted it would no longer be possible, as Ephenia the Fairy Queen didn't want to coexist with them anymore, despite having been a gracious hostess when they had first arrived. As a result, Altaire Camp had been divided into hunters and gatherers. While the hunters searched the wilds for a better home, the gatherers stayed and maintained the camp. As the only ones capable of defending the camp were herself, Perzen, and Tess, Athena asked the traveler to help the refugees.

Ephenia's End

Soon after, the traveler returned back to Athena with a message from Ellin the fairy, who revealed that Ephenia and the fairies of the forest had grown corrupted, causing the forest to wither away. Knowing that Athena would likely be in disbelief of a fellow fairy's corruption, Ellin gave them a letter that Ephenia had written to Guwaru as proof of Ephenia's actions. Though Athena was still hesitant, even after reading the letter, Perzen was adamant that Ephenia was a threat and asked the traveler to eliminate her. The traveler went into the heart of the forest and successfully killed Ephenia before returning back to camp. Athena thanked the traveler and explained that though she knew that she ought to have faced Ephenia herself, her judgement had been clouded. She told the traveler that because of Elluel's proximity to the Fairy Forest, the elves and the Sylphs once had close relations, adding that she and Ephenia had once been close too.

She then confessed that she had believed that the Heroes' battle with the Black Mage had ended the war, and so she had focused on settling Victoria Island instead of searching for the Heroes. However, she realized that she was wrong in thinking that the Black Mage's threat was over and confessed that she didn't know what to do. The traveler began to reassure her that her efforts wouldn't be in vain, as the town of Ellinia would be founded as a place where fairies and humans could live together in harmony. However, Athena stopped the traveler, believing that it would be too dangerous to know about the future. Perzen argued that learning about the future would be an opportunity to plan better, adding that the traveler's arrival itself was an auspicious omen. Athena countered that the future was determined by their choices, and thus, it had to be their own free will that carved the path ahead, not the words of a time-traveler, no matter how well-intentioned. Perzen came to agree and decided to stop casting his artificial rain, as he knew that he would need to focus all his magic on the barrier in order to ward off the fairies that would inevitably come for revenge.

The Prospector

After Perzen left, the traveler noticed Athena's expression and asked if they could do anything else to help defend the camp. Athena reassured them that they had already done enough, adding that she was merely worried about whether not asking them about the future was truly the right decision. She then asked the traveler why they had come back to the past, if not to change it, to which they explained that they had been told that the past must not be changed. Noticing their hesitation in answering, Athena decided not to press the issue. The traveler then wondered whether they had altered the past by killing Ephenia, and so they opened the Chronicles of Ellin Forest and saw that a new line had been written that described how Ephenia had been killed by an unfamiliar traveler. The traveler also read that a prospector of Altaire Camp would die shortly after Ephenia, and they concluded that it had to refer to Destonen. The traveler asked Athena about who would most embody the word ‘prospector', to which she agreed that it would refer to Destonen, who had once sailed in search of new lands before the rise of the Black Mage, and who would pave the way for pirates in the future.

The traveler then decided to go after Destonen and warned them not to enter Kirston's tent that he had stumbled across, claiming that he would meet his end if he did. Destonen thanked them for their warning and gave them a letter to deliver to his wife, Yuris. Back at the camp, however, the traveler was shocked to realize that Yuris had already died from Kirston's poison spreading across the forest. Believing that their warning had averted Destonen's death, however, the traveler returned back to the present in order to verify that the blood curse mentioned in the book hadn't transferred to his children, Kyrin and Tess. Aboard the Nautilus, however, they discovered that nothing had changed. Confused, the traveler returned to the past and told Athena the real reason why they had come to Ellin Forest. Athena revealed that in spite of their warning, Destonen had entered Kirston's tent and had gotten cursed, with Tess leaving shortly after Destonen's death in order to find a way to lift the curse from himself and Kyrin, as the curse worsened when they were in close proximity to each other. She also revealed that though she wasn't sure about whether the history was still the same, Ellin had become the new master of the forest. She added that she would also work with Ellin in order to establish the town of Ellinia that the traveler had described. Overwhelmed, the traveler realized that Karen's warning about changing the past hadn't been a warning, but a fact, that people were fundamentally incapable of changing the future, as everything in the past had been preordained.

Bowman Instructor

Following Destonen's death and Tess' departure, Athena began Kyrin's guardian, raising the young girl over the centuries, with Kyrin's quarter-elf heritage granting her a long lifespan. Over the years, the people of Altaire Camp managed to reach the southern plains of Victoria Island, where they founded the capital city of Henesys. After the refugees were settled and safe, Athena attempted to return to Elluel many times, though she found that the entrance had been sealed shut, making her believe that she was the last elf left in the world. Soon after, Alicia - whom Athena had brought back to Altaire Camp - left in order to seal herself in Root Abyss, hoping to recover her power in deep slumber beneath the World Tree. As the years passed, Athena Pierce became a well-respected figure in the community, serving as the Bowman Instructor for Explorers at the Bowman Instructional School, as well as the head of the Explorers' Guild.

Around three hundred years before the present day, a mysterious war broke out in Maple World. Though nearly all details about its origins and history remained shrouded in mystery, it was rumored that Lotus, whose spirit was capable of leaving his comatose body and possessing others, may have been the cause. Alongside five legendary Explorers - Sayram, Aurelia, Lira, Kalix, and Draken - as well as the Noblesse who carried out Shinsoo's will to protect others, Athena Pierce participated in the battle and brought about a swift end to the conflict. Centuries later, some years before the present day, Kyrin left Athena's care and decided to become a pirate like her parents, amassing her own crew and a ship called the Nautilus. Having heard rumors about the Black Wings and their goal to resurrect the Black Mage, Kyrin realized that she needed to warn the world and sailed back home to Victoria Island. Resolving to help the Explorers' Guild prepare for the threat of the Black Mage, Kyrin decided to teach Explorers the ways of the pirate.

Amongst the many students that Athena trained, one particular Explorer - with an unquenchable thirst for adventure, ancient ruins, and rare artifacts - became Athena's greatest student. Despite her talents, however, Athena would often warn her about rushing into danger merely to satisfy curiosity. The bowman became a prolific adventurer, though her quest for adventure eventually led her to the ruins of Partem, where she was cursed by a relic that she discovered, for which she learned that she would need to become the relic's true owner in order to lift the curse. After making it out of Partem, the bowman - now known as the Pathfinder - decided to visit Athena in Henesys. Athena was impressed to hear about the Pathfinder's quick thinking, which had helped her survive her trials. She noted that the Pathfinder's instincts had been sharp when she had been a student, and that she had matured considerably since then as well. Wishing her well on the path that she was meant to walk, Athena promised to offer guidance whenever she could.

Letter Across the Ages

In the centuries since Aran had traveled to the past, Athena kept the letter which she had been unable to pass on in Ellin Forest, waiting for the day that Aran would seek her out to claim it. However, the Black Wings - who had overheard her making the promise to Aran in the past - traveled back to the present and attacked Athena before reading the letter for themselves. Just then, Aran arrived to find that Hiver had knocked Athena on the floor. Athena weakly told Aran to stop Hiver, who had already read the letter. After Hiver was driven away, Athena gave Aran the letter that she had kept for hundreds of years. She then told Aran that though she wanted to talk more, she needed to strengthen the town's defenses, as well as to let Mercedes know that Aran was alive, causing Aran to vaguely recall that Mercedes was one of the Heroes.

Mercedes' Return

After Mercedes was freed from the ice, she sought out Athena Pierce, believing that the Mistelteinn had shielded her from the curse. She traveled to the Bowman Instructional School, where Athena couldn't believe her eyes upon seeing her queen. After a heartfelt reunion, Athena told Mercedes how she had crashed in Victoria Island with the other refugees and built Altaire Camp. She explained that after the situation had stabilized, she had tried entering Elluel many times, but always found the path blocked at the border. Mercedes told her that she had closed the border in order to prevent the curse from spreading and had never gotten the chance to warn her. Athena then asked about everything that had happened during the final battle, and so Mercedes explained how the Heroes had sealed the Black Mage, how his curse on Mercedes had extended to the other elves, and how she was currently trying to awaken them. In turn, she asked Athena about everything that had happened over the past centuries. Athena told Mercedes about how Victoria Island had been completely settled, that Cygnus had become the new Empress, that the Black Wings were trying to revive the Black Mage, and that Von Leon had returned.

She also told Mercedes that she had been in contact with Aran, which surprised Mercedes, as humans didn't have long lifespans. Athena explained that Aran had also been frozen for centuries, and that she was traveling around Maple World trying to recover her lost memories. She then asked if they could return to Elluel, as she longed to return to her homeland. As they began heading outside, Athena remembered that she had forgotten something and asked Mercedes to wait outside for her. While Mercedes was waiting, Francis approached her and, after confirming that she was indeed Mercedes, began to attack her. Mercedes forced him to retreat, just as Athena came out. She brought Mercedes back inside and explained that based on the symbol that Francis was wearing, he was likely a member of the Black Wings. She told Mercedes that she had always suspected that the Black Wings were watching her, but Francis' attack had confirmed her suspicions. She wondered if the Black Wings had made their move because she had been trying to take out the Mistelteinn. The fact that she still had the Mistelteinn after so long surprised Mercedes, but Athena explained that even though she knew that Mercedes had ordered her to safeguard it in order to keep her off the battlefield, she had nevertheless taken the order from her sovereign seriously.

Mercedes then wondered why the Black Wings had attacked her and not Athena, to which Athena explained that the Black Wings had a Master of Disguise, whom she believed had been planning to impersonate Mercedes in order to take the Mistelteinn from her. Athena then realized that the Black Wings may have been listening in on their conversation, meaning that they knew about the existence of Elluel. They immediately rushed over, where they found Black Wings henchmen invading the kingdom. While Athena and Philius - the Elder of Magic - drove them out of the town, Mercedes eliminated all the enemies at the border. After forcing them to retreat, Philius told Mercedes that they still didn't know enough about the outside world to form conclusions about the reason behind the attack. He added that since Athena had other responsibilities outside of Elluel, they couldn't rely on her to guide them forever. Athena then returned from eliminating the stragglers and reported that the Black Wings had successfully been driven off, with no injuries on their side. However, she told Mercedes that the elders were too weak from the ice to hold back a larger invasion in their current state.

Mercedes told Athena to keep holding onto the Mistelteinn, as Elluel was no longer a safe place to keep it. She briefly considered standing guard at the border, but Athena insisted that Mercedes needed to train in order to regain her full strength and free the elves. She suggested that the Cygnus Knights could offer their aid to Elluel if Mercedes approached them. Mercedes agreed to visit Cygnus in Ereve and Athena told her that she would write a letter to Cygnus so that she knew to expect Mercedes. After Mercedes met with Cygnus and arranged for the Cygnus Knights to protect Elluel, she began having doubts about whether Cygnus, a frail little girl, would have the strength to lead the people in the event of a full-scale war. Nevertheless, she returned to Henesys and told Athena Pierce about the successful negotiations. Athena noticed that Mercedes looked unwell and asked whether she was alright. Mercedes confided her doubts about Cygnus, to which Athena told her that Mercedes herself had taught her that a good ruler would go to any lengths to save their people, which was precisely the kind of ruler that Cygnus was, adding that Cygnus reminded her of Mercedes in a way.

Attacks on the Elves

After Mercedes fought the Shadow Knight, she met with Athena in order to ask her who he was. Athena was unfamiliar with such a person and asked what he had been wearing. Mercedes described how he had worn a bamboo hat and a cloth that covered his face, explaining that his clothes looked like they were from Mu Lung. She added that his speech was old, but not from centuries ago, and that he also wore a black robe with a wing symbol on his clothes. Based on her description, Athena concluded that he was likely part of the Black Wings and told Mercedes that she must have scared them. She explained that the Black Wings had agents all over Maple World and asked Mercedes to stay safe in Elluel while she herself hunted them down.

Mercedes warned Athena that she was overstepping her bounds to suggest that the Ruler of the Elves hide while her people were in danger. Realizing that she couldn't persuade Mercedes, Athena told her to visit Manji in Perion, as he might know something about the Shadow Knight. When Mercedes described the Shadow Knight to Manji, he told her that he had seen such a man training by fighting Wild Boars some time ago. In the Wild Boar lands, Mercedes discovered a Tongue Twister Scroll and brought it back to Athena Pierce. After reading the scroll, Athena learned that the Shadow Knight did indeed belong to the Black Wings, but that he had disobeyed their orders and fought Mercedes alone, rather than lead her into an ambush. However, Athena was more worried about the one who had written the letter, as the wording of the letter made it seem as though the person not only knew Mercedes personally, but held a grudge against her.

Soon after, Hiver tricked Mercedes into walking into a trap by sending a letter in the name of Athena. After defeating the Black Wings, Mercedes rushed back to Athena Pierce to warn her that the Black Wings were sending fake letters in her name. After Mercedes explained how she had been ambushed, Athena wondered whether there was an information leak, as the only people who knew about Mercedes' goal to revive the elves were Athena, the elders, and the Cygnus Knights. Athena told Mercedes that she would personally speak with the Cygnus Knights and ensure that they were careful with what information they divulged to others. She also suggested that they agree to only speak directly instead of sending letters so that they wouldn't fall for any other Black Wings schemes.

After Mercedes defeated Orchid in the Verne Mine and rescued the kidnapped elf child, Moonie, she met with Athena and explained what had happened. She confessed that she was worried about the possibility of the Black Mage returning, for having faced him once, she knew all too well about the terrible power he possessed and told Athena that the Heroes had been lucky not only to have sealed him, but to have escaped with their lives. She feared that there was no guarantee that she could defeat him a second time, especially when she had grown weaker while he was managing to break through the Seal of Time. She confided to Athena that she was terrified of the Black Mage, but Athena told Mercedes that she wasn't alone, as the Explorers, the Cygnus Knights, the Resistance, and the returned Heroes all stood with her.

Warriors of Grandis

After the Nova decided to use the Interdimensional Portal in Pantheon to visit Maple World, several heroes of Grandis - Angelic Buster, Kain, Adele, Khali, Ark, Hoyoung, and Lara - met with Athena, who served as the de-facto leader of the Explorers. In order to help them get started on their adventures, Athena told them about several opportunities to assist the people of Maple World, such as Ellinel Fairy Academy, Gold Beach, Riena Strait, and the Secret Forest of Elodin.

The Stolen Seal Stone of Victoria Island

Following Orchid's attack on Rien, Lilin - believing that the Seal Stone of Victoria Island was no longer safe - decided to send it to Athena Pierce, hoping that the Explorers would protect it from the Black Wings. However, while the Seal Stone was being transported from Rien to Henesys, Baroq the Master of Disguise transformed himself into an Explorer named Olive in order to steal the Seal Stone. Soon after, Athena issued an emergency announcement to all Explorers that Olive was wanted for stealing an important treasure of Victoria Island. One Explorer who had met Olive on their journey to Victoria Island was surprised and traveled to the Bowman Instructional School, where Athena explained that someone had stolen the treasure while it had been in transit. She added that it was a very precious jewel, and so its owners had charged the Bowman Instructional School with its safe delivery. Though she found it hard to believe that Olive, her own disciple, was responsible, she asked the Explorer to join the search. The Explorer agreed to help, and so Athena sent them to reinforce the search party in Ereve.

Soon after, the Explorer returned back and informed Athena that Olive had claimed that the Master of Disguise had used her identity to steal the treasure, bringing back a document from Neinheart about Baroq's powers. Athena was relieved to know that Olive wasn't the culprit, but explained that there were still more complications, as the treasure stolen wasn't merely a precious jewel, but a Seal Stone. She told the Explorer that the Seal Stones had the power to reshape a continent, and that it had been created by one of the Heroes who had fought against the Black Mage. She added that the stolen Seal Stone - the Seal Stone of Victoria Island - was one of many. The Explorer asked about the Black Mage, whom Athena explained was a great villain who had invaded Maple World centuries ago and destroyed everything that he touched, even splitting the continent of Ossyria, which had resulted in the formation of Victoria Island.

Regarding the Heroes, Athena explained that there were five Heroes who had fought against the Black Mage when he had invaded Maple World, and that one of those Heroes had created the Seal Stones. The Explorer asked why the jewels were called Seal Stones if they had the power to reshape continents, to which Athena explained that they had been created to seal the Black Mage. She told the Explorer that before the final battle, the Heroes had created two contingency plans. The first one was that in the event that they lost the battle, the Seal Stones would bind the Black Mage for eternity. The second one was that in case the sealing failed, the Seal Stones would turn back time for the split continent and restore it, which was a last resort. With their questions answered, the Explorer was sent to join Olive as part of an investigation team to infiltrate the Verne Mine in order to find the Master of Disguise and the Seal Stone. The Explorer team's mission was largely successful, with the Explorer returning with the Seal Stone and a document given to them by Xenon about the Black Wings. Though the Explorers wondered whether Xenon's document was trustworthy, Athena briefly looked through it and noted that they could trust the source.

The Black Mage's Return

Soon after, the Explorer decided to return to Athena Pierce in order to ask her for a new mission. Athena told the Explorer that they had good timing, as she had something she wanted to discuss something with them. She explained that after looking through Xenon's document, she had begun to wonder why the Black Wings wanted the Seal Stone if they were planning to bring back the Black Mage. She explained that the Black Mage had split the continent, and so it didn't make sense that they would want an object that could put it back together. The Explorer speculated that if the Seal Stones had the power to seal the Black Mage, then perhaps they held the power to break it as well. However, Athena told them that it was impossible for someone to undo the Seal of Time, as the Black Mage was sealed behind the Gate of the Present, which had been locked up ever since the seal had been activated. She explained that even if the Black Wings had the power to break the seal, there was no way for them to access it behind the Gate of the Present. She also explained that she regularly sent scouts to monitor the Gate of the Present, and that all of them had consistently reported that there was no way inside.

Nevertheless, she told the Explorer that she could never have too many scouts and asked them to visit the Temple of Time. She then teleported the Explorer to the Three Doors, after which she wondered aloud that if the Explorer was as special as Tess thought, then perhaps they would catch something that she and the others hadn't. Upon arriving, the Explorer was surprised to find the Gate to the Present open. As Athena had emphasized how dangerous the Temple of Time was, they decided to report back to her. However, they felt something calling to them and instead decided to enter the Gate of the Present. Upon entering, they made their way to the Black Mage's throne room, where they found the Black Mage sealed behind the degrading Seal of Time. The Explorer immediately noted that the aura of evil was like tar all over their skin, as well as the fact that one of the five Seal Stones powering the seal was cracked. The Explorer returned back to Athena Pierce and explained that not only was the Gate of the Present open, but one of the Seal Stones powering the seal was cracked. They then suggested replacing the cracked Seal Stone with the Seal Stone of Victoria Island.

Athena and the Explorer returned to the Temple of Time, where Athena noted that the Gate of the Present was shut. When the Explorer told her that it appeared open to them, Athena realized that they had a special power that allowed the Gate of the Present to open for them. The Explorer entered the Black Mage's throne room, where the Black Mage himself began to speak to the Explorer, telling them to turn back because it was not yet time. He declared that he would soon break free, and through his power would the world come to order. He then offered the Explorer a place in his new regime, but the Explorer decided to ignore his words and began to replace the Seal Stone. The Black Mage then asked whether the Explorer had chosen to walk a broken path, just as the cracked Seal Stone shattered. The Black Mage immediately broke free of his seal and quickly disappeared, teleporting the Explorer back to the Tree Doors. The horrified Explorer apologized to Athena Pierce for failing to fix the seal, though Athena reassured them that it wasn't their fault.

Soon after, the Black Mage sent his shadow to destroy Maple Island, though the Explorer was able to defeat the shadow using their special power, stemming from the residual power of the Adversary in their maple leaf. The Explorer and their allies were then able to restore the broken land by using the Seal Stone of Victoria Island. The Explorer then returned to Athena Pierce and told her about what had happened on Maple Island. Though they apologized for using the Seal Stone, Athena told them that they had done exactly what they had needed to do and asked them once again not to blame themselves when the Explorer noted that they had merely fixed the mistake that they had created. Athena then asked how they had been able to use the Seal Stone, as even she didn't know how, to which the Explorer told her about the mysterious voice that had explained how their desire to protect others was the key to using the Seal Stone. Athena realized that she was right when she had declared that the Explorer had a great power, as they were no ordinary person to have walked through the Gate of the Present, face the Black Mage's Shadow, and use the Seal Stone. She then told them to become stronger, as the power they held may save Maple World one day.

Birth of an Alliance

Following the Black Mage's return, Empress Cygnus sent out letters to the leaders of Maple World in order to form the Maple Alliance. Soon after receiving the invitation, Athena called called the four Explorers to the Bowman Instructional School. She explained that she wanted them to meet the Heroes in order to consult with them, as the ones who had originally sealed the Black Mage might have knowledge on what to do now that he had returned. Olive immediately asked to speak with Mercedes, a fellow archer, while Rondo decided that he wanted to meet with Phantom, a fellow thief. Tess decided to speak with Aran, as he remembered how she had protected them until the very end when the Black Mage had invaded, even going so far as to leave the escape ship in order to find a missing kid who had fallen behind. The Explorer wondered how old Tess was for him to have recalled memories of Aran in the past, but they nevertheless agreed to go meet Luminous.

Soon after, the Explorers returned back and reported that after speaking with the Heroes, they had learned that it was impossible to reseal the Black Mage. Though they were disheartened to know that they had no means of defending Maple World from the Black Mage, Athena reassured them that they wouldn't be defeated so easily and explained that she would call on them again when the time came. She then asked the Explorer to stay behind as the other Explorers left and explained that Empress Cygnus had sent a letter proposing to create an alliance between the major world powers of Maple World. She then asked the Explorer for their opinion on the alliance. The Explorer told her that they felt responsible for the revival of the Black Mage and asked if they could really fight the Black Mage while they remained so weak. Athena reassured them that they could very well become a great hero who protected them all, but even if they couldn't, every hero had people standing behind them who all worked together to protect what they loved. She declared that it was time to stand together in order to face the Black Mage and asked them to join her at the upcoming conference.

Soon after, Aran met with Athena and asked her whether she would accompany her to the conference. Athena agreed to accompany Aran, though Aran wondered whether she herself ought to be there without her memories. Athena reassured Aran that she was still a hero, and that she had seen Aran's bravery for herself when Aran had saved her from the Black Wings. She then added that Mercedes would also be there, suggesting that they could all go together. On the day of the conference, Athena and Aran met with Mercedes at the Six Path Crossway. Upon seeing Mercedes, Aran recalled how Mercedes and Freud had seen her off as she had left to fight the Black Mage's army. The pair began to catch up, with Mercedes revealing that the curse had affected the other elves as well, and that the other Heroes were roaming Maple World and trying to regain their power. However, she then told Aran that Freud had likely already passed away, as Afrien had taken the curse in his place, which meant that Freud hadn't been frozen like the other Heroes. As both of them remained solemn, Athena asked them to put aside their sorrow, as it was a happy day of reunion for them both. Mercedes and Aran realized that Athena was right, and so they decided to continue catching up on the way to Ereve. Though Aran was happy to be with her old friend again, she nevertheless felt a strange sense of loneliness.

After receiving unanimous confirmations, the First Continental Conference took place and the Maple Alliance was officially created. Soon after, Athena reached out the the various heroes of Grandis - Ark, Hoyoung, Adele, Kain, Lara, and Khali - inviting them to the Maple Alliance. With the Black Mage remaining eerily silent after attacking Maple Island, Athena called the four Explorers and asked them to check Victoria Island for any sign of strange activity, though the Explorers found nothing out of the ordinary.

The Forgotten Hero

After Shade returned back to Maple World, he met Chief Stan in order to learn more about the changed world. After seeing the new geography of Maple World, Shade recognized Ossyria. Stan explained that Athena Pierce had come from Ossyria as well, and told him to speak with her at the Bowman Instructional School. Shade recalled Athena as the little girl who would follow him and the other Heroes around. He remembered that she had been heading to southern Victoria Island by airship and had likely settled down. He also wondered whether she would know anything about Mercedes. Arriving at the Bowman Instructional School, he was surprised to see that Athena was an adult. Athena, in turn, was surprised by his words and took it to mean that Shade was surprised that she hadn't been cursed by the elves. She explained that she had been lucky to avoid the curse, adding that the centuries which had passed since then were enough time for an elf to mature. Shade was utterly confused by her words, as he recalled that the day that they had faced the Black Mage was the same day that young Athena had gotten on the airship to Victoria Island.

Athena realized that Shade had been cursed by the Black Mage and explained that it had been centuries since he had been sealed away. She then explained the story of how the Heroes had successfully sealed the Black Mage away, and how they had been cursed to be frozen in ice soon after. Shade then asked what had happened to the other Heroes, to which Athena explained that all the curses had lifted on the five Heroes. As they had gotten weaker from the curse, they were roaming Maple World in order to rebuild their skills. She added that though no one knew why the curse had broken, she suspected that it was due to the Black Mage's resurrection. At Shade's surprise, she revealed that centuries after the Black Mage had been sealed away, the seal had been broken, after which he had attacked Maple Island, with the slumbering Heroes awakening soon after. With the Heroes wandering Maple World in order to regain their power, Athena told Shade that she would inform him once she learned where they were. Shade thanked her and explained that he wanted to see Freud first before wondering what had happened to Afrien. Athena uncomfortably told him that Afrien had taken the curse in Freud's place, which meant that Freud – a human – couldn't have survived for centuries.

Athena added that after the other Heroes had been cursed, Freud had roamed the world and told the story of the five Heroes, but she wondered why he had never mentioned Shade. Shade was overwhelmed by the news, unable to believe that he would never see Freud's smile again. He began wondering why Freud had left him out of his stories, and whether it was out of guilt that Shade had taken his place as a sacrifice. Though Shade had wished to find Freud and tell him that it wasn't his fault, he noted to himself that he would need to accept that Freud was gone, no matter how hard it was. As Shade began training to regain his strength, Athena soon reached out to him and informed him that Mercedes would be visiting Henesys. Shade quickly returned to Henesys, where he found Mercedes good-naturedly teasing Athena for her gullibility in thinking that she had met another one of the Heroes, reminding her that only Aran, Freud, Phantom, and Luminous had accompanied her into the battle against the Black Mage. Just as Athena noted that Shade didn't seem to be lying, she quickly noticed Shade's distraught face as he ran away. Athena sadly watched him leave as she told Mercedes that Shade had seemed genuinely upset while hearing about Freud's fate, to which Mercedes wondered whether he had been a mercenary who had accompanied Freud, though Athena remained unsure.

After receiving the Fox God's blessing so that he would no longer be forgotten after crossing dimensions, Shade committed himself to growing strong enough to stop the Black Mage, for which he decided that he would need allies. He decided to meet with Athena Pierce, who had forgotten about his existence after he had crossed dimensions. Mistaking him for an Explorer, Athena asked him whether he wished to join the Alliance, adding that more and more people were joining now that the Heroes had returned. With Athena's help, Shade traveled to Ereve and met with Cygnus before joining the Alliance.

Siege of Heliseum

Having increased their strength since repelling Magnus' invasion of Pantheon, the Nova began their operation to retake Heliseum. As the battle began, Kaiser was summoned back to Pantheon by Beldar, who told him that the Nova had finally begun the operation to retake Heliseum. Though he admitted that Magnus was a formidable foe, he explained that they couldn't put it off any longer, as they needed to recover the Outrigger, a holy relic given to the Nova by their Ancient Gods. In order to gather allies, Beldar asked Kaiser to deliver a letter to the Cygnus Knights in Ereve. In Ereve, Kaiser delivered the letter to Neinheart, who told him that the Alliance needed to hold a conference to discuss the matter. At the conference, Claudine and Athena Pierce were informed by Neinheart about the Nova. Athena noted that though she knew about Grandis, it was strange to work with people from an entirely different world. After discussing the matter, the Alliance agreed to send volunteers and the Alliance's most elite soldiers to assist the Nova in their operation. After the Nova reclaimed Heliseum, Edea decided that the Nova would officially join the Maple Alliance, for which she traveled to Ereve in order to finalize the details. There, she spoke with the Alliance leaders - including Athena - who were pleased with having new allies.

Gate of the Past

While exploring the Temple of Time, the player's memories get drained by Dodo, for which the Memory Keeper tells them to return to where their adventure began. Pathfinder decides to meet with Athena Pierce in Henesys. Pathfinder tells Athena that she recalls the day that she first ventured out into the world and how Athena had pulled her aside to have a chat. Athena remembers that she had lectured Pathfinder on the prudence of tempering her insatiable curiosity with a healthy measure of caution and restraint. She then adds that despite this, she can't help but acknowledge how much Pathfinder has grown and wonders whether she was only half-right about the advice that she had given back then. Athena explains that the world will always need people like herself who protect and maintain the path walked by many, though they'll also need people like Pathfinder who venture into the unknown and discover new paths. She adds that she'll keep doing her part and wishes Pathfinder good luck as she blazes new trails, though she reminds her not to hesitate, and to let her courage guide her.

Gate to the Future

Alliance Tensions

After the Resistance sent a scout to investigate the Gate to the Future, they discovered that the Cygnus Knights would betray Maple World. At an Alliance conference, Claudine furiously reported the results of the Resistance's investigation, to which Cygnus asked Claudine to calm down, explaining that the future which they had witnessed was nothing more than a fabrication created by the Black Mage. As the Resistance and the Cygnus Knights continued to bicker, Athena attempted to keep the peace, reminding them that they couldn't allow the enemy to divide them, and entreated them to stop fighting. Soon after the Alliance's official investigation into the Gate to the Future, the Alliance held an emergency conference, which was attended by the top leaders of the Alliance, as well as the Alliance member who had first entered the Gate to the Future. As Athena Pierce began the meeting, Claudine impatiently noted that the proceedings were taking forever, and that so many had not attended. As she wondered whether theirs could truly be called a proper meeting, Neinheart testily replied that everyone had their own work to do, and that it wasn't as easy to gather all the warriors of Maple World in one place as she believed.

Claudine retorted that it was the duty of the Alliance to carry out the impossible, as otherwise, there was no point to their existence at all. Neinheart replied that Claudine was talking without thinking, reminding her that the Alliance had been created through the hard work of many people vowing to defeat the Black Mage, to which Claudine sarcastically asked him whether she was actually hearing a lecture about promises from the Cygnus Knights. Athena Pierce then cut in and urged them both to stop their wasteful debate. Cygnus agreed and added that the purpose of the Alliance was to protect the future of Maple World, with internal bickering being inappropriate for their mission. She then explained that the reason why they had gathered was to discuss the grave events happening as of late – nightmares of the ruined future plaguing the people of Maple World. Lady Syl noted that the Alliance had already proven that such a future was merely an illusion, which Neinheart confirmed, though Claudine pointedly added that the possibility wasn't completely zero. Mihile angrily demanded to know how dare Claudine could insinuate that they would be involved, to which Belle asked Mihile what he planned to do about it. Athena once again ordered everyone to stop fighting, while Claudine added that she simply meant that they needed to keep all possibilities in mind. The Alliance member then noted to themselves that it would take some time before the Alliance could start working together properly.

Athena explained that the situation was quite serious, for while she had already warned the people of Henesys about the false rumors at Neinheart's behest, she had never thought that she herself would experience such dreams. Neinheart added that the situation was much different from when rumors were merely circulating, as the false future within the Gate to the Future was actually flowing into the dreams of Maple World's people. Grendel the Really Old wondered whether such a thing was even possible, as that kind of dream control would be next-to-impossible for even the most highly-trained magician, which made him wonder how powerful their enemy really was. Cygnus then explained that it wasn't just Henesys that was being affected, as the nightmare was spreading like a plague. Athena noted that while the enemy's purpose in spreading the nightmares throughout Maple World was unknown, they couldn't just stand by and do nothing. She added that Perion, in particular, had an unusual atmosphere, surprising Claudine, who believed that it would have been Henesys. Athena explained that the people of Henesys had already been prepared for the nightmares involving their ruined town, but the people of Perion had been having entirely different nightmares altogether. Evan asked Athena what measures the Alliance was taking to remedy the situation, to which Athena explained that the Silent Crusade had already begun taking measures, though she feared that it wouldn't be enough.

Neinheart added that the Grendel - who was an expert on magic - was joining together with the Cygnus Knights, Claudine, and Athena Pierce to investigate the matter, adding that it was the least that they could do to justify the Alliance's existence. He then turned to the Alliance member and explained that the Alliance was still planning to continue investigating the Gate to the Future, and that he hoped that the Alliance member would continue lending their support. As the meeting concluded, Athena asked the Alliance member to speak with her about their mission, explaining that she hoped that in the meantime, the other Alliance leaders would take care of their respective regions and calm their citizens. After the meeting ended, the Alliance member spoke with Athena, who told them that their first order of business was to calm their citizens from the nightmares plaguing them, and that Perion, especially, was their top priority. She explained that the people of Perion were steadfast and great warriors, and that they were especially sensitive to such omens. As their nightmares were different from the one plaguing the rest of Maple World, she believed that Perion would be even more on-edge than expected. She then asked the Alliance member to visit Dances with Balrog and hear his story about the nightmares.

Twilight Perion

After speaking with Dances with Balrog, the Alliance member reported back to Athena and told her what they had learned from Dances with Balrog. Athena realized that the only way to put Perion at ease was to return back to the Gate to the Future and see Perion's future for themselves, as they could prove that the nightmare was false if it matched up with the illusion within the Gate to the Future. The Alliance member then traveled inside the Gate to the Future, which warped them directly into Twilight Perion. After finishing their preliminary investigation, Athena contacted the Alliance member and thanked them for finishing their investigation into the Gate to the Future. However, she explained that the situation had taken a turn for the worse and asked them to meet her at the Magic Library in Ellinia. At the Magic Library, the Alliance member met with Athena, Neinheart, Claudine, and Grendel, who told them that while the Alliance member had been investigating the Gate to the Future, people all across Maple World had begun exhibiting serious symptoms of dream addiction, which left them unable to discern dreams from reality.

Athena explained that the people were repeatedly declaring that there was no future for them as long as the Empress still lived, and that they were convinced that the Resistance had betrayed them, as well as that the Alliance couldn't be trusted. Neinheart added that he had been concerned about such a phenomenon, and that he had been hoping that proving that the nightmare wasn't real would prevent such symptoms from manifesting. Athena reassured Neinheart that it was likely because of his efforts that the symptoms had been delayed until now, though Claudine pointed out that the situation had reached a point that they could no longer stop it. Grendel explained that dreams were the realm of the subconsciousness, and that no matter how actively one tried to reject it, the subconsciousness could become an effective tool in steering one's conscious mind. He noted that by being inflicted with the same nightmare over and over again, many who didn't possess strong mental fortitude could be hypnotized into believing things such as the Empress being evil or the Resistance being traitors. Neinheart asked whether there was a cure for dream addiction, to which Grendel explained that the only cure was Lucid Matter, which could only be harvested in dreams. Athena then asked the Alliance member to return to the Gate to the Future, to which they immediately agreed. Grendel told the Alliance member that he would instruct them on how to harvest Lucid Matter, though he asked the other Alliance leaders to try and calm their people in the meantime.

After the Adversary successfully cured the nightmares, another Alliance conference was held, in which Athena told the Alliance member that the nightmare was slowly fading away from the minds of everyone in Maple World and asked them how they did it. The Alliance member explained how they used the Fog of Oblivion, to which Grendel noted how impressed he was by their solution. Claudine told the Alliance member that they had gone through a lot of hardships trying to stop the nightmare, adding that their efforts had taken the Alliance one step closer to stopping the Black Mage. Neinheart – and a reluctant Claudine – both admitted that it was fortunate that the Alliance had been able to successfully save Maple World, with Cygnus noting that their people could finally stop believing in the false future and suffering from nightmares. She added that she believed that she would have good dreams that night, thanking the Alliance member for all their help.

Black Heaven

Aerial Battle

After the Alliance member successfully rescued 10 Boogies from the Black Wings, an Alliance meeting was held at the Conference Pavilion, where the Alliance member and Neinheart met with Cygnus and Athena Pierce in order to go over what 10 Boogies had unearthed. Athena confirmed to the Alliance member that while the news was classified, the Black Mage had indeed returned. When they asked why the Black Mage hadn't made his move yet, Athena told them that it was the Alliance's theory that the Black Mage hadn't fully regained his powers. As the Black Wings had been created to revive the Black Mage, she emphasized the importance of defeating them in order to delay the Black Mage's rise to power. Neinheart then explained that in the past, the Alliance had been able to interfere with the Black Wings' smaller operations. However, the Black Wings had recently begun to use codes in order to communicate through the Edelstein newspapers. 10 Boogies had managed to solve Gelimer's latest message that said ‘Black Heaven is ready.'

After the Lumiere was attacked by the androids of Black Heaven, Athena began fighting the enemies in the airship, regrouping with the Alliance member as they continued fighting through waves of androids. Athena soon sensed an evil energy in the next corridor, where they ran into Eleanor the Black Witch. After fighting her off, they arrived at the deck, where Cygnus told them that the Black Wings were dropping androids onto the deck from above. The Alliance member grouped with the Piyo siblings and began to fight off the androids on deck. From the sky, Baroq returned in his own fighter plane and engaged the Alliance member, who was able to crash his ship. Just then, Hiver arrived in a large airship, which they recognized as Black Heaven, and began firing rockets at the group, who struggled to dodge the firepower. As more androids landed, the group continued fighting them off while directing all their own firepower at Hiver's ship, which they eventually succeeded in destroying. They returned back to the main deck and reported their victory to the Alliance leadership. Just as everyone began celebrating the destruction of Black Heaven, a dark shadow loomed over their heads as they looked up, horrified, at the real Black Heaven, which was hundreds of times larger than both the Lumiere and the airship that they had struggled to take down.

With hundreds of the smaller airships that Hiver had been flying surrounding Black Heaven, Athena ordered the Lumiere to immediately pull back and retreat into cloud cover. That night, Claudine pointed out that the Alliance had been reckless, and that they should have had clearer plans. Neinheart remarked that their plan had been sound, based on the given information, and snidely asked what the Resistance had been doing all the time while Gelimer had been constructing Black Heaven. As tensions continued to rise, Athena attempted to maintain the peace. Just then, the Alliance member heard a noise and began to investigate. They discovered dozens of puppets sent by Francis the Puppeteer, who had infiltrated the Lumiere in order to search for Orchid. After engaging Francis, the Puppeteer managed to escape to the deck, though he was quickly detained by the Alliance.

Infiltrating Black Heaven

After the Alliance member successfully pierced a hole in Black Heaven's defenses, Athena was one of the members of the advance team which boarded the airship in order to secure key areas. Together, the group began infiltrating Black Heaven in an attempt to reach the core. Along the way, the ground encountered Orchid and Francis, with the Alliance member and Orchid being separated from the others due to Gelimer's interference. After Orchid left the Alliance member to face hordes of androids alone, Athena and the others arrived just in time to save them. As they chased after Orchid and Francis, Neinheart began to wonder what Black Heaven had been built so largely for, as it didn't hold the android army, which was being teleported as needed from the Scrapyard. As they arrived near the core, Neinheart's question was answered when they found that thousands of large bombs were being stored in the area, guarded by Xenoroids modeled after Xenon and Beryl. As they proceeded deeper into Black Heaven, the Alliance member, Neinheart, Claudine, and Athena Pierce fought past the Xenoroids that attacked them. Claudine and Athena also used their whip and arrows, respectively, in order to bring down several platforms that had been raised up, which was cutting off their route forward.

Deeper into the ship, the group noticed that strange green gas was permeating the further in they went, requiring them to wear gas masks. They soon found themselves in Gelimer's lab, where a dying Admiral Martini begged them to stop Gelimer and his mad plans. He explained that he had been dying from an incurable illness, and that Gelimer had offered a solution. However, he told them that he now saw that Irvin had been right to leave. As Martini passed away from the toxic fumes, Neinheart noted that Gelimer must be quite ruthless to backstab an ally. The group then began searching Gelimer's lab and obtained several research notes. They learned that Gelimer had been researching the Seal Stones after learning that Orchid had ordered the Black Wings to find them. Upon learning about the incredible power of the Seal Stones, and the fact that the Black Wings had collected all the Seal Stones except for the Seal Stone of Ereve, he had attempted to use them as an energy source. However, he had failed to harness their power, as the Seal Stones would only grant the wish of a population. His research had also led him to conclude that as long as even one Seal Stone existed, the Black Mage couldn't fully regain his powers, as the collective desire of the people of Maple World to keep the Black Mage from regaining his strength was being channeled through the Seal Stones, acting as a restraint on his power. He had also learned that Freud had created the Seal Stones centuries ago and noted that the more that he learned about the Seal Stones, the more nonsensical it sounded that the desire of human beings could somehow be turned into power.

They also found Gelimer's research on Lotus and how Gelimer had coveted the powerful body that Lotus had been granted by the Black Mage. It detailed how he had lied to both Orchid about promising to return Lotus to her, and to the Commanders about promising to alter Lotus' body to serve as a vessel for the Black Mage. In order to power Lotus and Black Heaven, Gelimer had taken over the Verne Mine and ordered Admiral Martini to obtain coolant from Riena Strait. After Lotus had been completed, Gelimer had forced him to steal Orchid's power in order to obtain the complete Wing Masters' power so that he could launch Black Heaven. He also detailed how he had created the Evolution System to imprint combat data onto Lotus, making him stronger as he received more data. They also uncovered information on the bombs aboard Black Heaven, which contained a chemical agent called Retoxin that could turn humans into obedient puppets, all of whom would be controlled in a hive mind by Lotus.

They then found a map that listed the targets that Black Heaven would bomb and realized that Gelimer's goal was bombardment, rather than invasion. Neinheart realized that Cygnus had been right to make the Alliance meet Black Heaven in the air, rather than form a ground defense like they had originally planned, as she had experienced a vision of the future, in which she had seen a giant whose head had blocked the sun and whose foot had crushed entire towns. However, she had also foreseen shining birds charging at the giant, whose bright lights wiped it away. Neinheart then told the Alliance member and Athena Pierce to stop Gelimer while he returned with Claudine in order to formulate a plan. Athena and the Alliance member took the elevator up to the core, but Gelimer anticipated their arrival and broke the elevator, causing Athena to fall many levels below, though not before telling the Alliance member to confront Gelimer.

Battle's End

During the Alliance member's battle against Gelimer, they were poisoned with Gelimer's Retoxin, which slowly began shutting down their body. As Orchid carried them outside, Athena - having survived her fall - took over for her. Orchid told Athena that it was likely too late for the Alliance member, who would become an emotionless zombie if the Retoxin didn't kill them. However, she confided to them that Lotus had been happy in his final moments to be free of Gelimer before she walked away. Athena and the Alliance member hopped off Black Heaven and landed on the deck of the Lumiere. The Alliance's celebration was short-lived when they learned from Athena that the Alliance member would most likely die from the Retoxin, causing the Piyo siblings and many others to mourn. However, Cygnus - with the support of the Alliance - used the Seal Stone of Ereve to save the Alliance member's life, inadvertently turning them into an Adversary in the process.

In the aftermath of the battle, the Alliance member spoke with the leaders of the Alliance as they returned back to Ereve. Athena told the Alliance member that she would return back to Henesys, as she needed to train more bowmen to defend Maple World. She told them that she looked forward to everyone gathering again, though she hoped for it to be under happier circumstances. The Alliance member told her that they would stop by the next time they were in Henesys, to which Athena jokingly told them that elves never forgot a promise.

Heroes of Maple

After Afrien was killed by Damien on Turtle Island, Evan and Mir traveled to Ereve, where they met with Cygnus, Neinheart, Claudine, and Athena. After being informed about the situation, Neinheart noted that Damien's plans not only included attacking Ereve and kidnapping the World Tree, but also going after Freud's memories imbued inside Afrien. He explained that it was likely that a full-scale war may break out against the demons, to which Athena wondered what the Commanders could be planning, as it hadn't been that long since Black Heaven. Neinheart replied that there wasn't enough time to prepare for the threat that they faced, as the demon army was already moving into Maple World as they spoke. After a pause, Cygnus offered her condolences to Evan and Mir for Afrien's death, apologizing for not being able to do more to prevent it. Evan bitterly noted that his weakness was the reason for Afrien's death, believing that he may have been able to prevent it if his connection to Mir as a Dragon Master had been stronger, which would have allowed him to detect Afrien's pain sooner. However, he told Cygnus that he knew that it was no time to blame himself, vowing that he would no longer allow anyone else to sacrifice themselves.

He explained that Freud had instructed him to reunite the Heroes, and that he planned on doing just that in order to learn Damien and the Black Mage's true purpose. He then asked Cygnus to mobilize the Alliance to face the demon army while the Heroes carried out their mission. Neinheart asked Evan whether it would be possible for them to succeed with just the Heroes, who had all been weakened from the Black Mage's curse. He also noted that since Damien already knew about Freud's memories, it was possible that he was baiting the Heroes into isolating themselves and working alone. Evan replied that it was precisely the reason why he had come to Ereve, as he already knew that they had no hope of succeeding without the Alliance. After considering it, Neinheart admitted that it would be more effective for a small, elite team to gather information, rather than a large-scale operation. He then asked the Empress for her decision, to which Cygnus told him that the Alliance would defend Maple World from the demon army while Evan and the other Heroes gathered more information.

After Damien stole Alicia's power, the Alliance began to mobilize in response to Damien and the demon army's imminent attack. As Cygnus and Neinheart oversaw preparations, Athena Pierce rushed to Ereve and warned them that the demons had already begun their attack. Though Neinheart believed that they could handle the demons, Cygnus suddenly felt the power of the Transcendent of Life fluctuating with Maple World's vitality. She asked Athena whether there was anything else to report, to which Athena replied that Maple World's trees were beginning to wither away. Suddenly, the sky grew dark as the World Tree began growing from within Root Abyss and towered over Sleepywood. However, Damien was soon defeated by the Heroes, with Alicia sacrificing herself to restore Maple World's vitality.

Arcane River Expedition

After the Alliance decided on sending an expedition to the Arcane River, Cygnus, Neinheart, Athena Pierce, and Claudine met with Edea, who arrived with Melange and revealed that he had devised a method to break down the Erda barrier around the monsters of the Arcane River. At Athena Pierce's suggestion, the Alliance solicited the help of Grendel the Really Old and the Magician Association.

Moonbridge

With dimensional collapse worsening as Maple World began getting drawn into the Arcane River, Athena was tasked with handling the various monster attacks around Maple World. As the final battle approached, Athena traveled to the Outpost in order to brief the Adversary about the situation. Athena noted that the soldiers seemed to be getting nervous and admitted that she was getting nervous herself, despite having lived for centuries and experienced many crises in her life. At her request, the Adversary met with several soldiers of the Alliance in order to help boost morale. Soon after, Athena briefed them about her role in the battle, revealing that Maple World was suffering from critical dimensional collapse, and that she needed to remain behind and manage the situation, as there would be no world to get back to otherwise even if they defeated the Black Mage. Neinheart told the Adversary that regional leaders like Athena were remaining behind to keep Maple World safe as the rest of the Alliance fought the Black Mage. He then told the Adversary that what he wanted to discuss with them and Athena was determination, noting how the Flame of Determination at the Outpost was emitting special power as the determination of warriors gathered. He explained that the determination which Shinsoo had spoken of wasn't simply a metaphor, and that the Alliance had concluded that it, alongside the Seal Stone and the Adversary, were the three elements to secure their victory. Because of this, he asked Athena and the other regional leaders to remain behind and keep that flame alive. After Athena agreed, Neinheart asked her to take care of things on Maple World while the Alliance prepared to embark on their mission.

Athena then told the Adversary that she planned to distribute emblems of the Alliance to each ship before departing in order to boost morale. She gave the Adversary their own emblem and asked them to give one to Kyrin aboard the Nautilus, explaining that Kyrin would represent the Explorers in her place while she remained behind on Maple World. Aboard the Nautilus, the Adversary gave Kyrin the emblem, as well as a letter from Athena Pierce reminding her that they were all in the fight together. Athena then met with Edea and explained that she had come to see the expedition off. She then gave Edea an emblem, thanking her for the Nova's help. Edea replied that she should be the one thanking Athena, as the Alliance had played a major role in retaking Heliseum. She added that the Nova would wear the emblem with gratitude and determination to protect the world. She then told Athena that the Black Mage's influence covered not only the Arcane River, but Maple World as well. Though she had prepared countermeasures with the help of Maple World's leaders, including Grendel, she feared that their efforts may not be enough, as their enemies had been created from the Black Mage's thoughts. For this reason, she asked Athena to lead the soldiers in her place while she was away at Tenebris.

Labyrinth of Suffering

After wandering the Labyrinth of Suffering, the Adversary was filled with vision of a destroyed Maple World as a result of Hilla's illusion. One vision that they encountered was a scene of Athena Pierce dying in a ruined Henesys.

Limina

After the Adversary fell into despair upon believing that they were unable to escape the Path of Destiny, Tana used the power of creation to conjure memories of the Adversary's allies reminding them of the Alliance's commitment to surviving together, including memories of Athena Pierce.

After the Adversary's victory at Limina, they returned back to the Outpost after the final battle. For Explorers, Athena Pierce, Grendel, and Kyrin arrive and congratulate the Explorer for all that they've accomplished. They reminisce about how curious and wide-eyed the Explorer had been when they had first met, and how much has changed since then. If the Explorer is a warrior or a thief, Athena Pierce will tell them that their job instructor couldn't make it, though they send their best regards. For Evan, Neinheart tells them that everyone in Maple World is grateful to them. Cygnus thanks Evan for everything that he's done for them. Athena Pierce then adds that she'd never thought that he'd grow so much, to which Evan laughs in embarrassment and says that he still has a lot to learn. Cygnus smiles and tells him that he doesn't need to be so modest, as he's already the hero of the Alliance. Athena agrees with Cygnus and adds that they have no doubt that he'll become a great Dragon Master, and perhaps even greater than Freud.

Aftermath

After the defeat of the Black Mage, Athena revealed to Kyrin the details about her family's blood curse, as well as Tess' relationship with her. Following the Black Mage's death, Tess and Kyrin reunited with the curse on their family gone at last.

Pathfinder

At the Bowman Instructional School, the Pathfinder reunited with Athena Pierce, who asked her pupil how she was doing, noting that she ought to take a break from finding new adventures after just coming back from a major war. After a pause, the Pathfinder asked Athena whether she remembered the day when they had parted ways, when Athena had warned her about rushing into danger merely to satisfy curiosity. She explained that there had indeed been times when her curiosity had gotten her into trouble, though it was Athena's other piece of advice that had allowed her to come so far – that her curiosity was also a beacon that could shine a light on new paths. Athena laughed and told the Pathfinder that she had never doubted her. She explained that initially, when the Pathfinder had first set out on her adventures, she had been worried that her curiosity could lead to trouble, though when she had seen the Pathfinder return and talk about the relic with bright and shining eyes, she had been reassured that the path of adventure that the Pathfinder walked would shine a new light. The Pathfinder thanked Athena for her kind words, after which Athena asked her what had happened to her curse. The Pathfinder explained that her curse still remained, though she didn't mind, as it only meant that her adventure was not yet over. She then vowed that she would continue finding her own path by going on an adventure that no one else had before. Athena smiled and told the Pathfinder that she didn't need any more guidance, as she was Athena's best student. She then wished her old pupil good luck on her journey.

Mercedes

In Elluel, Mercedes was overjoyed to see that the Black Mage's defeat meant that the curse on the elves had finally been broken. Mercedes welcomed her subjects back and began apologizing for her failure, though all the elves reassured her that she had done everything that she could to protect them. Athena Pierce then told Mercedes that with the defeat of the Black Mage, she would return the Mistelteinn back to its rightful owner. Mercedes decided to leave it on display in Elluel as a reminder to their people about all the challenges that they had faced and overcome together. Athena then asked Mercedes whether their fight was really over, as she had an ominous feeling. Mercedes admitted that she shared Athena's concerns, though she added that Elluel would no longer be silenced, and that even if another corrupted Transcendent appeared again, she would stop them as the ruler of elves. With that, Mercedes played Lucid's old music box to start the celebrations, vowing that Elluel would forever be filled with the sounds of life and joy after centuries of silence.

Cernium

After the mission to Cernium, the Glory Guard returned to Maple World and the Alliance leaders - including Athena - held an emergency meeting to cover the shocking events that had transpired. Edea explained that she had tried to protect the Adversary, but Mitra's power had badly injured everyone. She confessed that things could have been far worse if Seren hadn't been able to take control of her body back. Neinheart was surprised that the holy sword could have broken so easily, to which Edea echoed Aaron's words that only a god could challenge another god, and that Adversary and the Seal Stone were matched in power with Mitra and Azor, which was likely what Darmoor had intended all along. When Cygnus asked what had happened to Seren, Edea explained that Seren had left Cernium in order to fix Azor. She explained that after the Adversary had broken the holy sword, the city was in an uproar, and that it had been a miracle that they had been able to leave without getting hurt.

Neinheart then summarized that they had learned nothing of the Ancient Gods, the alliance with Cernium had failed, and the Adversary had lost the power of the Seal Stone. Edea agreed that it was a disaster, but she explained that there was no way that they could have known that Aaron was Gerand Darmoor. Claudine asked why Darmoor had not only allowed the Adversary and the other Alliance members to escape, but had also restored the library using the power of time. Athena Pierce supposed that it meant that he didn't consider the Alliance a threat anymore. Edea added that he was a Transcendent, and that there was no way to know what he was thinking. However, she noted that everything had seemed too well-coordinated for it to have merely been a move against the Alliance or even the Adversary. She also added that even though it may have been an act, she couldn't help but think that it had something to do with what he had told her when they had first met, which was that he hated the High Flora more than anyone else, despite being born as one.

High Flora Invasion

Soon after the mission to Odium, the High Flora launched a widespread invasion of Maple World under the leadership of the Apostle Reina, who intended to draw the Alliance's forces away from Ereve to capture Cygnus and drain her Transcendent powers. During the invasion, Athena defended Elluel from the High Flora, pushing them out of the kingdom. Following the battle, Athena attended an emergency conference after Cygnus' powers were drained, leaving her comatose.

If the player is an Explorer, Athena greets the player and asks them how their injuries are. She apologizes for being unable to help more at such a critical moment when she's meant to be the leader of the Explorers. Main Explorers, including Cannoneer and Dual Blade, tell Athena that they're fine before asking her whether Maple Island is okay, while Pathfinder tells Athena not to worry, noting that Athena had saved many lives during the invasion. Athena then tells the player that, thankfully, the enemy's focus on Ereve meant that the damage to other regions was comparatively less.

If the player is Mercedes, Athena greets her and explains that she'd heard that Mercedes has accepted Shinsoo's power. She asks Mercedes how she's feeling, to which Mercedes replies that she's feeling fine. She then explains that she's heard that Athena had protected Elluel during the High Flora attack and adds that she's grateful to her as always, though Athena replies that what she did is nothing compared to what Mercedes is doing. Mercedes then asks about Lucid's condition, to which Athena explains that Lucid is still unconscious, and that she may need more time. She then tells Mercedes to come visit Elluel soon, as everyone is worried about her.

Story (FriendStory)

Athena Pierce's counterpart on Friends World is a police officer, although unlike characters of other races - such as Areda and Magnus - Athena retains her original appearance, including her elven ears.

Cygnus and the New Kid

Several days after Areda was arrested, Officer Athena came to see Neinheart and Cygnus and reported that her investigation had revealed that Areda had been trying to take over the school.

If Episode 1 is being replayed, a bonus scene is added after taking the bus with Cygnus and meeting with Elwin in the park, in which Elwin will point out a random lady and call her beautiful. If the player is replaying this chapter, they get presented with the choice to call him a pervert or the option to say, “Pervert! I'm gonna call the police!” The first option will result in the story continuing as it normally does, but the second option will result in a special cutscene. The player's yelling will call over Officer Athena, who asks them about the pervert. A shocked Elwin will ask the player to make something up, and so the player tells Athena that the pervert was someone wearing a black cape and wrapped up in chains. Athena will ask the player in disbelief that someone with such a peculiar description could run 500 meters away in the three seconds that it took her to notice their yelling. Though she doesn't believe the player, she will exchange numbers with them in case they find more suspicious people, as they seem like they're not from around the area, and since they don't seem to know how to use smartphones either. After she leaves, Elwin will get mad at the player for getting her attention and tells them to stay away from the police, claiming that they only complicate things, especially sharp cops like her. Following this quest, Elwin will proceed with asking the player to deal with the Motes like he does in the regular story playthrough.

Mercedes gets some exclusive dialogue during this scene, in which she immediately recognizes Athena Pierce and says her name aloud. Officer Athena will ask Mercedes how she knows her name, to which an embarrassed Mercedes reminds herself that they're not on Maple World. Athena will then note that since Mercedes is a student at Shinsoo International School, it would make sense that she would know her name.

False Future (Gate to the Future)

In the illusory future created by Lucid in the Gate to the Future, Athena Pierce is one of the survivors of Cygnus' attack on Victoria Island. After the Alliance member arrived in the Henesys Ruins, they were shocked to learn that the Cygnus Knights had turned on Maple World. Chief Alex replied that it must be hard to believe if they only knew about the Cygnus Knights of old, and so he asked them get more details from Athena Pierce, explaining that she was no longer the head of the Bowman Instructional School, instead working to prepare for any impending attacks. The Alliance member then met with Athena Pierce, who was relieved to know that there were other survivors outside of Henesys. The Alliance member asked her why the Cygnus Knights had attacked Henesys, to which she explained that Empress Cygnus – deeply worried about the threat of the Black Mage – had attempted to seek out the World Tree, who had disappeared long ago, believing that she would be able to help them face the Black Mage. However, when Cygnus and her Knights had finally discovered the World Tree, they had learned too late that it had all been a trap set by the Black Mage. As a result, Cygnus' soul had been stolen by the Black Mage, who had turned her into his puppet. Having lost its divine power, Ereve had crashed onto Victoria Island, with Cygnus leading her Knights against Maple World, resulting in the destruction and isolation of Henesys. Upon hearing her words, the Alliance member was shocked and wondered whether this was really the future that they would be facing.

After the Alliance member obtained a special substance extracted from a corrupted monster by Jay, they decided to ask Athena Pierce about it, believing that she might have encountered it in her long life. Upon examining it, Athena was shocked to find that it was a Dream Fragment. Athena immediately grew belligerent and demanded to know who had dared to find it. The surprised Alliance member asked Athena whether they shouldn't have found it. When they asked what a Dream Fragment was, Athena dismissed it as nothing, adding that it was likely part of something that the Cygnus Knights were plotting. The Alliance member asked Athena whether she had meant to say the Black Mage, not the Cygnus Knights, to which Athena firmly emphasized that it had absolutely nothing to do with the Black Mage. However, the Alliance member pointed out that she herself had said that she didn't know much about it, and so they asked her how she could say that it had nothing to do with the Black Mage with so much certainty. After a long pause, Athena simply told them that they were a very curious person, adding that it was just her guess. When the Alliance member asked her once again what the Dream Fragment was, Athena curtly told them that she had nothing more to say and told them to stop asking her. The Alliance member then noted to themselves that Athena's demeanor had completely changed, as she hadn't been so aggressive just a minute ago. Realizing that they could learn nothing more by talking, the Alliance member decided to return back to the present and speak with Neinheart about their findings in the real world.

Gallery

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  Athena Pierce's original NPC Sprite
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  Athena Pierce's original NPC Sprite (Aran tutorial)
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  Athena Pierce's original NPC Sprite (Aran tutorial)
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  Athena Pierce's original NPC Sprite (injured, Aran storyline)
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  Athena Pierce's original NPC Sprite (Ellin Forest)
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  Bowmen's appearance as Athena Pierce during the Forest of Poison Haze Party Quest
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  NPC Sprite of Athena Pierce (Anniversary: Victoria Cup Event)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2022 - present)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (2014 - 2022)
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  NPC Portrait of a young Athena Pierce (Lachelein storyline)
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  NPC Portrait of a young Athena Pierce (Lachelein storyline)
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  NPC Portrait of a young Athena Pierce (Aran storyline)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (FriendStory)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (FriendStory)
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  NPC Portrait of Athena Pierce (MapleStory Idle RPG)
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  Azmoth Chasm Illustration of an encounter with Athena Pierce
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  Artwork of Athena Pierce (Anniversary: Victoria Cup Event; Non-KMS servers only)
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  Athena Pierce Card Chair (Anniversary: Victoria Cup Event; Non-KMS servers only)
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  Athena Pierce's Clone (formerly used for 3rd Job Advancement)
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  Athena Pierce's Clone Familiar
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  World Archive Illustration of Athena Pierce

Trivia

• In KMS, JMS and CMS, Athena Pierce is named Helena.