Under the starlit night, Promise sat on Pegasus, holding the reins, and spoke to the winged horse against the gentle night breeze.
Pegasus turned its head to look at the young man, a human-like confusion in its eyes.
"You see, didn't I accidentally tear your painting?" Promise said, showing an embarrassed expression.
Pegasus had initially allowed him to capture it because of the drawing he made for the winged horse.
Promise naturally rembered this.
Later, that drawing had always been the item he used to summon Pegasus.
However, hearing his words, Pegasus shook its head and neighed softly to Promise, indicating it didn't mind.
Since being captured by Promise, the drawing had beco irrelevant.
Now, even without the drawing, it would hear Promise's call, no matter where he was.
"Hmm... how about this? Once I get a pen and so canvas, I'll draw you another one, okay?" Promise misunderstood Pegasus's intentions. Seeing it wasn't upset, he sighed in relief.
Pegasus nodded.
Having a new drawing would be good, just like back in the Underworld, so it could be summoned in tis of danger.
"But speaking of pens and canvas... do you think I should find so ti to visit Goddess Athena?" Promise spoke. "She ntioned it to so ti ago, but I haven't heard anything since."
Indeed, since the incident with the Calydonian Boar, he hadn't seen her.
Thinking about all the recent events without her around to witness the chaos, Promise felt a bit strange.
Pegasus didn't respond and continued on its way.
It considered itself a very smart horse, knowing when to speak and when to graze- understanding this perfectly!
Later, Promise, drowsy and nodding off, gradually fell asleep.
What he didn't know was that as soon as he fell asleep, Pegasus halted.
Because a chariot in the night sky approached... It was the chariot of Nyx, the primordial goddess of night in Greek mythology.
From the chariot, Nyx, adorned in a garnt dotted with the night sky and stars, erged smiling.
She gently carried the sleeping Promise into the chariot, and Pegasus joined the night- embodied horses, pulling the chariot through the starry sky.
When Promise awoke much later, he found the sky already bright.
They had reached their destination.
Pegasus had brought Promise to the temple Deter had built for Persephone.
Upon descending, Promise saw Argus, the hundred-eyed giant,
in front of him, watching him alongside two giant lions.
"Argus, why are you still here?" He asked in confusion.
Argus remained silent.
Those countless eyes on his body looked at Promise, showing a hint of grievance and sorrow. "Ever since you entered the temple that day, you haven't co out. I thought sothing had happened to you and kept debating whether I should rush inside the temple..."
Hearing this, Promise was stunned, then looked extrely embarrassed.
He bowed his head and apologized, "I'm sorry, Argus. I should have inford you about my situation imdiately."
"It's alright," the latter shook his head and stood up. "As long as you're safe, I can face the esteed Hera without sha."
As Argus turned and walked away, his massive fra made the ground tremble with each step.
"Forget it, I'll find a ti to make it up to him later," Promise thought as he watched Argus's departing figure.
Focusing on the temple before him, he shook his head and didn't pursue Argus since more pressing matters were waiting for him.
Just as he was about to say sothing to the two giant lions guarding the entrance, they opened the doors for him and lay down obediently, wagging their tails as if to welco him. Once inside the temple, Promise found the nymphs even more enthusiastic than last ti, chattering around him just as they had in the Underworld. He dealt with their exuberance until...
"Ahem... what are you all doing?"
A gentle yet displeased voice rang out, imdiately silencing the nymphs.
They quickly stepped away from Promise and stood to the sides, heads bowed.
Before Promise stood Deter, the goddess of agriculture, wearing a crown woven from golden wheat.
Her kind and motherly deanor was evident.
Knowing that Persephone was still in the Underworld and that he was partly responsible, Promise felt a bit guilty, despite having ntally prepared himself for this mont.
"Lady Deter, I..." he began to speak but before he could continue, Deter interrupted him.
"Co with ," she said, leading him to the beautiful garden pavilion from that day.
Upon arriving, Deter turned to face Promise and solemnly declared, "I, Deter, goddess of agriculture, swear by my na that I will never let the earth wither, all things perish, or desolation descend upon the world."
As her vow was made, in the ancient temple of fate, the two sisters of the Fate goddess Clotho witnessed the fate thread connected to Promise's crystal ball begin to evolve, creating futures that were once deed impossible.
"Ah... it seems we'll be busy for a while," sighed the sickly Lachesis, though she smiled despite her complaint.
"Sorry, sisters..." Clotho, holding the crystal ball, apologized, feeling embarrassed.
"Oh, it's alright. After all, it's for our dear sister and that little troublemaker of yours," Lachesis reassured, waving off the apology. Then, she added thoughtfully, "But next ti, when you see him, be sure to give him a good scolding for always causing trouble!"
Clotho nodded gently. "Alright, I'll hit him with the ball."
Your strength is like a gentle tap... Even Atropos, who usually showed no emotion, twitched her lips slightly, wanting to speak but ultimately saying nothing.
After all, she was their sister.
"Lady Deter..." Promise was naturally surprised by her vow.
"You completed the trial I gave you... My daughter's absence grieves deeply, but I find I cannot be angry with you," Deter said, her gaze complex yet gentle.
She had witnessed Promise's journey to her, and the incredible way he completed the trial.
"Not only can I not be angry with you, but I also feel genuine happiness for you... Hera truly has a good follower," she spoke, feeling a bit wistful.
What a waste... she thought inwardly.
"Oh, right, Lady Deter, I ca here to tell you this: Persephone will return in about ten days," Promise said after regaining his composure.
"...What?" Deter blinked in surprise.
"My daughter... she will return?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Of course, because I promised you, Lady Deter," Promise nodded. "Even if I were to take
Persephone away, it would have to be with your consent..."
He paused slightly before continuing with a smile, "Lady Deter, you don't think I'm soone who goes back on their word, do you?"
"No, not at all!" Deter quickly shook her head, saying, "I never thought that. It's just that my daughter... she managed to leave and yet is willing to return. I truly didn't expect this!"
Promise blinked at Deter, realizing he had a rough understanding of the mother-daughter
relationship.
It wasn't surprising that Deter thought Persephone wouldn't return.
After all, during their journey in the Underworld, Persephone had said she didn't mind its
terrors and was willing to stay there.
"Is that so." Deter's expression softened, no longer clouded by initial sadness and confusion. She smiled genuinely. "So, my daughter is really coming back..."
With that, she looked at Promise, the last trace of estrangent disappearing from her eyes.
Instead, they shone with the affectionate gaze of a mother looking at her beloved child.
Unable to contain herself, she reached out to Promise and beckoned, "Co here, child."
Holding his hand, Deter led Promise to sit down in the pavilion. She looked at him with motherly affection and asked, "Did you suffer in the Underworld?"
Suffer?
Promise recalled his ti in the Underworld and couldn't help but nod.
Indeed, he had suffered, always fearing Hades might throw him into the River Styx.
Speaking of which, didn't a hero once bathe in the River Styx and beco invulnerable...
As Promise suddenly rembered this, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Sister, sister, you didn't do anything to Promise, did you?"
Flowing golden curls spilled from her crown as Hera, the most esteed goddess of Olympus,
arrived.
Unlike her usual dignified and elegant self, at this mont, she looked quite flustered.
"I heard that child Promise ca to see you again. Promise, are you alright? Did..."
Hera, who was anxious to ask if Promise was hurt and if Deter had taken out her anger on
him, saw the scene in the pavilion.
Deter was sitting next to Promise, speaking to him with concern.
...Eh?
As Hera stood there blinking, Deter noticed her and smiled warmly. "Hera, you're just in
ti. I have sothing I wanted to discuss with you."
And seeing her joyful and urgent expression, the goddess had a bad feeling.
It was the sa feeling she had when she realized Athena was eyeing her possessions.
...
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