Hecate, a true goddess, and a figure Medea deeply revered, had just concluded a crucial experiment. She stepped out of her temple, ready for the next phase of her mysterious mission. As she neared the entrance of the underworld, the infamous Cerberus—guarding the gates with all the ferocity one would expect from the three-headed hellhound—immediately fell to the ground upon seeing her. Its tails wagged furiously as it whined submissively at her feet.
"Don't follow me this time," Hecate murmured, her hand gently patting the beast's massive head. "I've just got a small task to take care of. I'll be back before you know it."
With that, she exited the underworld, stepping into the light. A moment later, ethereal blue ghost butterflies materialized out of nowhere, swirling around her. The fluttering masses of spirits dispersed as quickly as they had come, and with a final flicker, Hecate vanished from the gate.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared in a faraway land—Arcadia, to be exact. The towering mountains were home to Chiron and the young heroes training under him. She glanced around at the lush surroundings before choosing a shadowed corner to rest, away from the intense sunlight that made her uncomfortable.
With a subtle flick of her wrist, Hecate uttered a spell. The transformation was swift: from a goddess of breathtaking beauty to an elderly woman with silver hair and a crooked cane. The disguise was perfect.
Not long after, two young men appeared in the distance. Jason, a bright-eyed and energetic twelve-year-old, was followed by Meleager, his older companion. They were both in the apprentice uniforms that Chiron had made specifically for his students, designed for hunting and survival in the wilds.
"We finished gathering the herbs for today. Thanks again, Meleager. I'm so grateful, I'll roast some hares for you when we get back!" Jason said, his voice filled with excitement.
Meleager, a few years older, smiled in response. "No need to thank me, but I wouldn't mind a good meal. Hares sound delicious."
Jason, with his blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, had quickly formed good relationships with the other students in Chiron's care. In the short time he'd been here, he had already become popular, aided by his charm and sweetness. Despite being the youngest of the group, Jason's natural charisma had earned him the affection of his fellow students.
Their conversation was interrupted when Meleager suddenly stopped. "Jason, look—there's an old woman ahead. What's she doing here?"
Jason followed his gaze, spotting the silver-haired old woman sitting quietly in the shade. "An old woman... What's she doing in such a dangerous place?"
Meleager, ever the helpful type, immediately wanted to rush over and assist her. "We should help her! Teacher Chiron always says we should respect and assist the elderly."
Jason, however, had other thoughts. His hand shot out to stop Meleager from moving forward. "Wait, wait!" he whispered urgently. "Don't go near her!"
Meleager gave him a puzzled look. "Why not? She might need help."
Jason, his heart pounding in recognition of the danger, quickly added, "If she's really an old woman, why would she be here? It doesn't add up."
Jason knew, from his experience with myths and legends, exactly what was going on. He had read about such tricks in the ancient stories. Gods often disguised themselves as vulnerable figures to test mortals, and this was no different. But Jason couldn't exactly tell Meleager that—it would be too dangerous.
"Look, you're right, Meleager. We should help her. But..." Jason suddenly clutched his stomach, groaning in exaggerated pain. "Ah, my stomach... I have to go back to Chiron. I'll get some medicine and come back to help you later!"
Before Meleager could respond, Jason bolted, running as fast as his legs could carry him.
Meleager stared at Jason's retreating form in confusion. "What's with him?" he muttered to himself, but he shrugged and decided to approach the old woman.
"Excuse me, ma'am, are you all right? Can I help you with anything?" Meleager asked politely.
Hecate, in her elderly disguise, looked up at him with an unreadable expression, but her attention quickly shifted to Jason, who was long gone.
With a sigh, Hecate muttered to herself, "Youngsters… always running away." Her gaze softened, and with a single word, she uttered a spell. "Sleep."
In an instant, Meleager collapsed, slumped to the ground in front of her.
Hecate stood and stretched, considering her next move. Moments later, she vanished into the air, her form transforming yet again. When she reappeared, she had shifted into a much younger form—a graceful woman with dark hair, wearing a simple but striking outfit. With a light sigh, she set off to find Jason once more.
Meanwhile, Jason, after his frantic run, felt a sense of relief. "That was close. Good thing I outran her." He wiped his brow, still a little shaken from the encounter. "I just have to stay out of her sight now, and everything will be fine."
But as he rounded a corner, he froze.
There she was.
Hecate—again.
This time, she wasn't disguised as an elderly woman or a young woman; no, now she appeared as a powerful goddess, standing serenely in the middle of a pavilion that had materialized out of thin air. Her black dress swirled around her, her hair flowing like a river of night.
Jason's heart skipped a beat.
She watched him, her red eyes gleaming with amusement. "Little one, you're quite clever, aren't you?"
Jason gulped, trying to muster a smile. "I, uh... I thought I might have... mistaken the path? You know, just trying to avoid the—uh—dangerous stuff."
Hecate raised an eyebrow. "I see you've learned well. Chiron has taught you not to be reckless. But you can't avoid me forever."
Jason scratched the back of his head nervously. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I just... well... I've heard a lot about gods and their... uh... temperaments."
Hecate chuckled, her red eyes twinkling. "Don't worry, I'm not here to cause you harm. But I do have something I need from you."
Jason swallowed hard, his nerves tingling. "What do you need?"
The goddess smiled softly. "I need you to swear an oath to me. In return, I will grant you a favor. Anything you wish."
Jason's mind raced. This was serious. Chiron had warned him about dealings with the gods. Nothing came for free.
Hecate's smile grew, sensing his hesitation. "What's it going to be, Jason? An oath of trust for a promise fulfilled."
Jason, already regretting not running faster earlier, sighed. "Fine. What do you need from me?"
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Chapter 3 is done. Did you like it? Or are you still here because you're hooked on this wild ride? Either way, if you want to skip the waiting game and see more of my brilliance before the rest, check out my Patreon (Patreon.com/Dracode). It's where the cool kids hang out. 😎