In the cave of Peleion Mountain, the place where the centaur sage Chiron gives his lessons.
"Promise, you have to help me this time!" Hermes, wearing a feathered hat and with squinted eyes, put on a pitiful expression and pleaded with the boy.
Hercules, who was watching the god's shameless behavior at the feast, stood dumbfounded.
Chiron, on the other hand, remained calm.
After all, it was impossible for him not to notice Hermes' arrival.
Since he didn't intervene, it was clear he had already guessed Hermes' intentions.
The reasoning was simple.
Since he had stolen Hera's golden apple, running away was futile.
No matter where he hid, Hera would eventually find him.
Therefore, the only option was to find a way to resolve the situation.
In this case, Promise, who had repeatedly altered destined events and was Hera's favored devotee, was undoubtedly the best candidate to help.
"Now that I think about it carefully, it's clear I was deceived by Athena!" Hermes said as he walked in uninvited, placing a golden apple in front of Promise.
"Stealing the golden apple did me no good; it only enraged Hera. Athena, of course, has nothing to fear, but I..."
He sat down, took off his hat, and continued with a miserable expression, "But if I get caught, I'll surely be thrown into the abyss of the underworld... So, Promise, let's make a deal."
"If you can convince Hera to stop blaming me, I'll give you my painting!"
Promise, unfazed by Hermes' pleading, thought for a moment before asking, "Honorable Hermes, I've often heard that you are a clever and witty god."
"So, can you tell me why, knowing it wasn't in your best interest, you decided to steal the golden apple with Athena?"
Promise didn't believe for a second that Hermes was unaware of the consequences of stealing the golden apple.
Hearing this, Hermes squinted at the boy for a moment, thought it over, and replied, "What if I told you I was forced by Athena?"
Promise remained silent, simply watching him.
Meeting his beautiful green eyes, Hermes suddenly seemed to understand something.
He glanced at Hercules and Chiron before laughing.
"Oh, I see now. You're upset because we dragged your teacher and friend into this... Alright, I surrender."
With a cheerful smile, Hermes raised his hands in surrender.
Watching the smiling, squinting Hermes, Promise's suspicions were confirmed.
His initial feeling was right.
This guy was a troublemaker!
"But let me clarify, Athena was the mastermind. I was just an accomplice. As for the reason... it's just as you're thinking."
Because it was fun!
Yes, Hermes knew the consequences of stealing the golden apple and even guessed that Athena involved him to force him to hand over the painting.
But knowing that didn't matter. He couldn't resist such an interesting situation.
In fact, he added fuel to the fire by encouraging Hercules to chop down the golden apple tree!
"It's like this, then," Promise nodded, his face showing no extra emotion.
When Hermes arrived and offered his painting to Promise, he had already guessed the general situation.
"I think this shouldn't be too difficult. If you sincerely apologize, the beautiful and kind goddess Hera will surely forgive you," Promise added.
Even Promise could guess that Hera's true anger wasn't primarily directed at Hermes or Hercules but rather at Athena, who orchestrated the theft.
Thus, Hermes' involvement was indeed the easiest to resolve.
What Promise didn't notice was Chiron's sudden change in expression as he spoke, and even Pegasus stood up.
Tonight's unexpected guests were a bit too many.
Hermes noticed this too.
Initially stunned, he turned to run but then he realized it was a good opportunity so he quickly said,
"So, you're agreeing to help me plead with Goddess Hera, and in return, I'll give you my painting afterward!"
As soon as Hermes finished speaking, the two people outside stopped and didn't push the door open.
"Hmm... thinking about it, I really have no reason to refuse," Promise replied. "After all, if I just help a bit and can get your painting, it's a great deal for me."
"Moreover, if you're willing to help, with your wisdom and ability, you could also help Hercules and prevent Goddess Hera from blaming my friend."
"Of course, I'll help!" Hermes responded, adjusting his feathered hat with a smug smile.
"So, Promise, you have decided to help me plead with the honorable queen Hera, right?"
Chiron watched, wanting to warn his student but realizing it was too late.
Pegasus, meanwhile, quietly started moving towards the window, planning to jump out unnoticed—a skill honed from much practice.
Just as Hermes thought he could get away with this and enjoy the spectacle, Promise smiled brightly and said, "No, I refuse!"
Hermes' triumphant smile froze.
Chiron and Hercules were both stunned, as were the people outside.
Only Pegasus remained calm, jumping out of the window and beginning to graze on the grass as if nothing had happened.
"I should help you, God Hermes, given what you said. And thinking about it, Goddess Athena might really intend for me to get the painting from you," Promise said.
Hermes, snapping out of his shock, couldn't understand. "If you know that, why refuse?"
Lying to a god is pointless—they can sense the determination behind your words.
"There are many reasons," Promise said. "For instance, you dragged my friend and teacher into this mess. You didn't just steal the golden apple but also encouraged Hercules to cut down part of the tree for Chiron."
Feeling a chill down his spine, Hermes quickly defended, "Wait, Promise, that was all Athena's idea. I was forced..."
"Why are you still saying that, Esteemed Hermes?" Promise asked, puzzled. "You admitted you participated willingly because you thought it was fun."
Hercules, sensing the danger, looked outside cautiously.
"And why would you ask for my help? You stole from the goddess I worship, the queen Hera."
Promise's loyalty to Hera was clear, and he had even angered Hephaestus over it.
Hera, though known for her jealousy, had never wronged Promise and even protected and favored him.
"I agreed to help Hercules because he stole the apple and damaged the tree for me. But he still deserves punishment for his actions," Promise said, looking at Hercules. "Helping him means facing Goddess Hera's wrath together."
Hearing this, Hermes was taken aback. "So you don't want my painting? It's your oath with Hephaestus."
"Of course, I want it," Promise smiled, then said seriously, "But not this way."
"So, Honourable Hermes, how about we play a game?"
"Three days. If I lose, I'll plead with Goddess Hera for you. If I win, you give me the painting."
"And the game will be your specialty."
"Oh?" Hermes was intrigued. "What game?"
"You run, I chase," Promise explained. "You can go anywhere in the world, but if I catch you within three days, I win."
Hearing the boy's words, everyone fell silent.
Hermes, the messenger of the gods, was shocked.
He had two divine artifacts: the Caduceus, a staff that could induce sleep even in gods, and his winged sandals, allowing him to travel anywhere at incredible speed.
"Are you sure?" So, he asked, surprised.
"Yes. Honorable Hermes, are you accepting?" Promise asked, smiling.
Hermes, ever cunning, sensed a trap.
But what if there are issues?
He is Hermes, after all! Who can outrun him among the gods?
Thinking about this, he confidently replied, "I won't refuse. But I wonder what the esteemed goddess Hera thinks about it."
"Hmm?" At that moment, Promise hesitated, unsure of how to reply.
How would he know what Goddess Hera thinis about it?
However, at this moment, the door opened, and two goddesses entered, one in a rose-colored dress and the other, the most revered goddess.
"Goddess Hestia and... Hera?"
Seeing the two goddesses enter, Promise was both surprised and enlightened as he glanced at Chiron.
The latter smiled helplessly at Promise.
Promise then looked at where Pegasus had been...
As expected, it was gone!
You sure are good at pretending to graze!
At the same time, Hercules was also shocked, standing up stiffly as he looked at Hestia and Hera.
But Hera, who should have been furious at Hercules for stealing her golden apple, didn't even glance at him.
Her amber eyes gently rested on Promise.
After a while, she looked at Hermes.
"Hermes, I can agree not to pursue the matter of you stealing my golden apples, as long as you return them to me and give this child the painting."
Hermes, hearing this, just smiled and said, "Esteemed queen Hera, I am willing to return the golden apples to calm your anger. However, the painting depends on Promise's decision."
Promise didn't answer but looked at Hestia and Hera.
"I originally planned to come alone to ask you to catch Hermes," Hestia explained, smiling at Hera. "But your goddess insisted on coming along."
"I didn't expect things to turn out like this..."
As she spoke, her beautiful purple eyes scanned everyone in the small wooden hut, her smile growing brighter.
Hearing this, Promise smiled and said, "Isn't that perfect? I was just about to catch Hermes."
"So..." Hermes asked, wearing an unsurprised expression. "You still want to play this game with me?"
Hera couldn't help but say, "Promise, you don't have to..."
"Goddess Hera," Promise interrupted, looking seriously at her. "Please allow me to play this game with Hermes. Allow me to catch him and bring him to you, to atone for myself and my friends and teacher."
Looking into Promise's clear green eyes, Hera hesitated for a moment.
She wanted to say it was impossible, as no one could outrun Hermes. But...
"Yes," she smiled after only a moment's hesitation. "Go ahead, child. You have never disappointed me."
Thus, the game began.
The rules were simple: Hermes runs, Promise chases.
If Promise catches Hermes within three days, he wins.
Outside the cave, under the night sky filled with stars, Hermes, wearing his winged sandals, leaped into the sky.
He didn't run immediately but stood in the air, looking down at Promise provocatively.
"Has it started?" Promise asked calmly.
"Yes, it has. Come catch me, Promise!" Hermes said proudly, crossing his arms.
Pegasus, beside Promise, spread its wings and urged him to hurry up.
"Hera, do you really think Promise can catch Hermes?" Hestia asked curiously.
To be honest, she felt a bit disappointed, as the situation hadn't escalated as she had hoped.
"It doesn't matter if he can't," Hera answered calmly.
Hestia understood, as did Chiron from a distance.
Chiron looked at Hercules and said, "You two are really opposites!"
Indeed, Hercules was cursed and despised by Hera all his life, while Promise was deeply loved by her.
Physically, too, they were extremes.
Hercules was likely the strongest in ancient Greek mythology, while the fragile Promise was the weakest.
Hercules, confused, looked at Chiron and asked nervously, "Teacher, do you think Promise can catch lord Hermes?"
"That's Hermes, the messenger of the gods," Chiron replied helplessly.
"Then why did he challenge Lord Hermes?" Hercules couldn't help but asked in confusion.