"I'll be back!" "You must wait for me!"
Cyd shouted towards the palace, his voice trailing behind [Reforged Pandora]. Unfortunately, Hephaestus didn't respond as he used to.
"Alright then," Cyd clenched his fist, "I'll go say goodbye to Sensei."
After all, the person he needed to bid farewell to was none other than his father figure, Chiron...
Cyd whistled towards the sky, then descended from the clouds onto a Pegasus with wings spread wide.
"I'm counting on you," Cyd said, patting the white horse's head before mounting it. With a flick of its wings, the horse soared into the windy skies among the clouds.
"He's coming soon."
"Yeah, I know."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm as okay as I can pretend to be. You should hurry."
"Sorry for dragging you into this."
"——"
A deep bellow echoed from the cave entrance, followed by Cyd's voice.
"Sensei? Are you in there?"
"Come in. You should hide for now," Chiron slowly rose from his seat and walked towards the cave entrance.
"Sensei?" Cyd was puzzled as he jumped down from the white horse to look at Chiron, sensing something was amiss.
"What's wrong? You seem anxious," Chiron's lips curled up in a smile, gentle as ever.
Good, just his usual Sensei.
Cyd relaxed, but his expression soon grew conflicted.
How should he broach the topic?
"I've already figured it out," seeing Cyd hesitating, Chiron shook his head helplessly and ruffled Cyd's hair affectionately, "go on, say what you need to."
"Is something wrong with you, Sensei?" Cyd squinted, the Hermes crystal on his left wrist shimmering.
"I have an immortal body, Cyd," Chiron lightly tapped Cyd's head, not letting him dwell on his worries.
"But your hands, one feels cold and the other hot. Something must have happened," Cyd persisted, but Chiron gently pressed his head.
"Really, I'm feeling quite well now," Chiron reassured, patting Cyd's head.
Cyd checked his left wrist again. The blessing was active, and Sensei hadn't lied to him. But why did he still feel unsettled? Sensei didn't need to lie, and it should be fine...
"Sensei, don't get involved with those half-centaurs lately. If something happens, I'll be devastated," Cyd cautioned.
Chiron looked surprised for a moment, then gave Cyd a smile that was bittersweet yet proud. There was an ominous feeling in Cyd's chest.
"Sensei won't really have any problems!"
"Well, it's common enough. I've survived worse. But do I look like something's wrong? And I'm immortal," Chiron waved his hand and flexed his muscles.
He wasn't lying. So why was Cyd so worried?
Cyd tugged at his hair, Chiron should be fine, right? Even if he looks like he's going to vanish at any moment, the blessing shouldn't fail. Chiron didn't need to lie to him. He should be fine...
"Alright," Chiron gently tousled Cyd's unruly hair, "you've made me very proud."
Cyd blinked. He felt something wash over him, and his unease grew stronger.
"What did you give me, Sensei?"
"Something you might not need," Chiron patted the white horse's head and then gently slapped its hindquarters. The horse neighed and spread its wings.
"Wait, Sensei, I..."
Before Cyd could reach out to him, Chiron stepped back.
"I'm proud to have had a student like you."
Chiron smiled as he took several steps back.
"Wait for me!"
"I didn't lie," Cyd murmured as soon as Chiron's face turned pale. "I really feel okay."
With that, Chiron turned to the side and collapsed.
"Sorry, Sensei, but I'm going to disappoint you..."
"You shouldn't have held out for so long!" Chiron struggled to hold Cyd in his arms.
"I know you've grown up, but I can't help but worry. It's my weakness," Chiron held out his trembling hand, and rays of light overflowed from his body. "You said I was too cautious, Prometheus?"
"I shouldn't have let him come find you in the first place," Prometheus took Chiron's hand and held it. Chiron's body became solid again as he became more transparent. "Then you..."
"I've come to this conclusion," Chiron clutched his chest and breathed heavily. "I've encountered him, and that's a good thing."
"I'm sorry you've had to endure such pain for so long," Prometheus frowned deeply, unable to bear the pain of being excessive. "I'm sorry, Chiron. Everything is my fault. Hercules accidentally injured you because of me. Cyd being able to find you was also because of me. You have no way of getting out of this because of me."
"What are you talking about?" Chiron smiled as he looked up at the sky. The pain was evident in his shaking body, but he continued to smile, seemingly happy. "I'm very happy... Even if in the end, I'm still able to help my student."
"But you'll have to endure this pain for a long time," Prometheus clenched his fists.
"It doesn't matter. After all, I raised him. And..." Chiron chuckled, "if this trivial pain and this broken body can trade for his future, isn't that a good thing? You should understand."
"Yes," Prometheus sighed deeply. Initially, he regretted being bound to a mountain, where his liver was torn out every day to satisfy human destiny. Now, looking at Chiron's expression, he resembled his former self.
Enduring every moment of life was better than dying for the sake of a student's safe return. But he was freed, and Zeus had silently consented to his release, and...
"But when will you be free?"
"That's not important.