The next day, Medea returned the Golden Fleece to her father.
Seeing the tattered land soaked with dragon blood and the missing Golden Fleece, Aeëtes despaired. Who dared to take the Golden Fleece from the demon dragon? He felt a mix of anger and helplessness. If you're going to slay the dragon, just take the Fleece directly! Why involve him?
However, when Medea appeared holding the familiar Golden Fleece, Aeëtes jumped from his chair.
As planned, Medea decisively explained the situation.
Cyd had tamed Khalkotauroi, defeated the Dragontooth Warriors, and captured the Golden Fleece. He had even tricked Jason with another Golden Fleece, eventually returning the real one to Medea. Calmly, she recounted the whole story, despite Aeëtes' bewildered expression.
Aeëtes listened in silence, absorbing the overwhelming information. The hero, blessed by Apollo, had accomplished these feats without his knowledge, infiltrating his daughter's quarters, taming Khalkotauroi, weakening the Dragontooth Warriors, and slaying the demon dragon. Aeëtes felt a mix of fear and respect. This hero helped Jason but also gave the Golden Fleece back to Medea.
Seeing the situation in a new light, Aeëtes felt relieved. The hero hadn't demanded anything in return.
"If it were any other hero, they'd have demanded wealth and women," Aeëtes mused. "But not this one. We must honor him!"
Although Aeëtes didn't mention returning the Golden Fleece to Cyd, he praised the hero for slaying the dragon.
"Sorry, I can't keep my promise to you my dear hero," Medea muttered to herself as she gazed out her window, her thoughts distant.
Cyd was intelligent and fierce, qualities that had attracted Medea. Despite giving her the Golden Fleece, she found herself longing for his companionship. She had hoped Cyd would help Jason obtain the Fleece so she could leave with him. Now, with the Fleece returned, she knew her father would be content, but her feelings for Cyd complicated matters.
Back in Colchis, the story of the pure white-haired hero spread quickly, reaching Greece. Jason and the other heroes soon heard of Cyd's deeds. While some heroes felt uneasy, Jason envied Cyd's praise. Despite wanting to share in the glory, he knew Cyd had achieved far more.
Jason, as the captain of the Argo, began to ask poets to eulogize their journey, including Cyd's vital role. Although he didn't detail Cyd's specific actions, he acknowledged his importance.
Cyd, now famous, embarked on an aimless journey under the guidance of his compass, unaware of the growing admiration. He sought the blessings of the gods, with mixed success. Hephaestus, Hestia, and Poseidon had blessed him, but others like Ares and Athena proved more elusive.
Confused about his next steps, Cyd considered seeking blessings from the remaining gods. Zeus and Hera were difficult to approach, and beautiful gods like Aphrodite would likely pose challenges. Demeter, the goddess of harvest, seemed more approachable, so Cyd decided to seek her first. However, he knew the most challenging would be Hades, the ruler of the Underworld. Despite myths of living mortals entering and leaving the Underworld, obtaining a blessing from Hades seemed nearly impossible.