Arcadia, in the cave on Mount Pelion.
In the afternoon,
Outside a wooden house built from trees, the centaur sage Chiron sat under a lush tree, eyes closed, playing a golden lyre, waiting for the arrival of that child.
Soon, the sound of Pegasus's hooves echoed in the sky above Chiron, and he smiled, opening his eyes to see his student returning after half a year.
Yes, the person Promise wanted to see was his teacher.
The one who taught him, protected him for more than three years, and even after Promise disobeyed and ran off with Jason, still guarded him until he made a vow with Athena.
"Long time no see, Teacher."
Pegasus landed before Chiron, and Promise dismounted, smiling genuinely at the one who had cared for him most in the Greek mythological era.
Yes, Promise now had the protection and guidance of Athena and Clotho, but that was only in the past half year.
But what about the three years before that?
Anyone could see how much effort Chiron put into this frail student, who seemed to be blown away by the wind, yet was more obedient and hardworking than anyone, determined to become a hero.
"You've grown up." Chiron smiled, clearly happy and proud.
"I've heard the songs praising your stories around the world. Promise, you've really done it."
Promise nodded. "But it's still not enough."
"I see." Chiron smiled again. "Then go, I will always watch over you."
"Huh?" Promise blinked, surprised. "Teacher, you're not going to stop me?"
Think about Promise's friends. Their first reaction upon seeing him was always, "Promise, you came down the mountain? Chiron must be out of his mind!"
Yes, everyone thought Chiron was out of his mind, including Promise himself. He was sure Chiron would try to keep him on the mountain again.
"Because you've grown up." Chiron stood up, looking at the still-frail but awe-inspiring boy who had repeatedly made the gods take notice and people look up to him.
"You are no longer the same as before, only seeking death. Now, you choose to challenge it, so I don't need to keep you on the mountain anymore."
Hearing this, the boy stood stunned for a moment, realizing the reason Chiron had never let him leave the mountain.
While on the mountain, many thought that his dream of becoming a hero was unrealistic because of his frailty.
But Chiron had always believed he would become a hero.
And the reason he opposed his leaving the mountain was kust because, at that time, Promise was merely seeking a symbolic death.
"...Chiron, let me draw a picture for you."
After a period of silence, Promise spoke to Chiron.
However, hearing this, the latter laughed and patted his head. "Have you forgotten? I am also a god, and I already have your picture."
"Hm?" Promise looked puzzled.
Chiron smiled, looking at the young man who had gradually been sculpted into his current form.
"Your growth, to me as your teacher, is already the best painting you could give."
....
Later, Promise prepared to leave.
Sitting on Pegasus, looking at his teacher, who was smiling and seeing him off in the sunset, Promise, thought for a long time, before speaking, "Teacher Chiron, I will survive."
"Because I have yet to change your fate."
With that, Pegasus flapped its wings, carrying the boy into the sky under the setting sun.
Athena, who had been watching over him, glanced at Hera beside her.
"Really, Hera, are you even jealous of this?"
Hera remained silent.
But the Goddess of Justice Themis couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
As the gods stared in disbelief at her smile, she calmly said, "But Athena, I sense the same jealousy in you."
The scene fell silent.
Hera looked disdainfully at Athena.
Hermes and Artemis wanted to laugh, but Hermes, with his bruised and battered face, found even a twitch of his mouth painful.
So Artemis, surprisingly, managed to suppress her laughter...
Later, the gods discussed what Promise might do next, but they couldn't reach a conclusion.
Because on the surface, the best choice seemed to be for Promise to use Hades' helmet to secretly take Persephone when Demeter wasn't looking.
This way, he could fulfill his promise to Hades and his friend, ending the matter and allowing Athena and the others to intervene.
But even Artemis knew Promise wouldn't do that.
And indeed, Promise never intended to do so from the beginning.
Not only that,
The boy made the choice that Athena and the others thought was the worst.
That was...
The next day at dawn,
Promise once again arrived outside the palace where Persephone was held, but this time he didn't wear Hades' invisibility helmet.
Pegasus flew in plain sight over the ancient forest, visible to Demeter, and landed directly at the palace gates.
The two giant lions guarding the palace, under Demeter's command, stood up, baring their sharp teeth, glaring at Promise and Pegasus.
But sensing the divine auras on Promise, they hesitated and didn't attack immediately.
Promise then tore apart the drawing of the Hundred-Eyed Giant Argus, as a projection wouldn't suffice; Argus needed to be here personally.
When the drawing was torn, Argus emerged, surprising the two lions. He then looked at Promise.
"Respected Argus, I need your help."
Hearing this, Argus, who was immediately ready to fight, was stopped by Promise.
"No, that's not what I meant!"
Promise quickly clarified, smiling at the two lions. "Would you be willing to listen to a song?"
He took out the black flute given by Hermes.
The two lions, looking at Argus and the divine auras on Promise, nodded.
Promise played a beautiful melody on the black flute.
After about ten minutes, the lions, Argus, and even Pegasus fell asleep.
The boy watched them sleep before entering the palace.
Inside, he encountered several nymphs serving the gods, who curiously came to see him.
Instead of stopping him, they made way and guided him to Demeter.
Thus, Promise boldly entered the palace and arrived at the evergreen courtyard maintained by Demeter's power.
.....
...
Demeter sat in a pavilion in the courtyard.
The goddess Persephone loved flowers, all kinds of flowers, so the temple prepared by Demeter was actually very thoughtful and decorated with all kinds of beautiful flowers.
One of the reasons why Hades, the god of the underworld, fell in love with Persephone was that she had the power to make flowers bloom even in the underworld.
Persephone was the goddess of seeds,
In Greek mythology, her presence in the Underworld represented seeds sleeping in the dark soil, and her return to the surface symbolized the arrival of spring and the revival of life.
Promise looked at the seated goddess Demeter, and then walked towards her lightly, and during this time the goddess did not even turn her head to look.
Only after he finally arrived did she sigh quietly, turn her head and ask him: "Child, why can't my daughter understand her mother's painstaking efforts?"
Hearing this, Promise did not answer immediately.
The two looked at each other for a while, and Demeter smiled; her smile was very gentle as she said: "Hera asked you to come... Is she planning to have you paint a picture to cheer up my daughter and me?"
It was clear that she knew Promise.
After Artemis' famous painting that night, it was hard not to know him, especially since Hera had initially boasted about him.
Therefore, Demeter naturally made this assumption.
She was quite pleased, thinking that a painting by Promise might indeed lift Persephone's spirits.
In this regard, Promise could have avoided answering directly...
Although he couldn't lie, he just had to tell some other truths.
But the boy's answer was blunt, in fact it was so straightforward that the gentle smile on Demeter's face froze in an instant.
"No."
Promise shook his head and replied, "It was Hades, the god of the underworld, who asked me to come here."
Hearing the name of Hades, the god of the underworld, Demeter was stunned but before she could react, she heard the boy continue to speak softly: "He asked me to come here and take your daughter, the goddess Persephone, to the underworld."
....