"Respected mother, my great mother goddess, I want to ask you sothing."
In the temple adorned with various blooming flowers, Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, looked seriously at Deter and asked, "Am I your daughter?"
In the courtyard pavilion, Deter, with golden hair and purple eyes, wearing a crown woven from golden wheat, looked at her puzzled and said, "Yes, why?"
As she spoke, she fed a washed grape to Promise.
In ancient Greek mythology, grapes were considered one of the gods' delicacies.
Therefore, grapes symbolized sanctity and nobility in ancient Greek culture.
Moreover, the ancient Greeks believed that grapes had healing properties and would drink grape juice to pray for good health.
Persephone silently watched this scene and said, "I feel like I am no longer your daughter... Mother, at least look at . I just returned from the Underworld!"
"But weren't you the one who kept insisting on going to the Underworld?" Deter replied indifferently. "And you even told in front of all the gods that you wanted to stay in the Underworld forever."
Persephone was speechless.
Hearing these words, the nymph standing nearby, waiting to serve, couldn't help but chuckle, which earned a glare from Persephone causing her to restrain her laughter and lower her head.
This scene showed that these attendants lived very well under Deter's care, unlike in Hephaestus' realm, where the atmosphere seed to freeze.
"I feel like there's no need for to co back," Persephone continued, feeling downcast. "You don't have to co back."
Deter's indifferent answer silenced the atmosphere completely.
At this point, Promise, who hadn't spoken, blinked while watching the mother and daughter bicker.
As an observer, he could naturally understand the situation at a glance.
Deter couldn't possibly be indifferent to Persephone so she was expressing her displeasure in this way.
Although most of the problems had been resolved, and everyone's fate had changed, with the three Fates working frantically to complete nearly impossible tasks, Deter had not yet relented.
Even though Persephone's role as the Queen of the Underworld had been tacitly approved by the gods, Deter had not given her consent, which was why Promise brought her back.
Later, Persephone, who was angry with Deter, ran away.
Once Persephone was gone, Deter stopped pampering Promise, and looked at the direction where she went with her purple eyes.
After a long ti, she smiled and looked at Promise, softly saying, "I thought you would persuade ."
The boy shook his head without speaking.
"Are you no longer planning to persuade to let my daughter stay with Hades?"
Promise responded, "I never intended to... Though I don't really have the right to say this, given that it was who took Goddess Persephone to the Underworld, whatever my reasons might have been."
Hearing this, Deter affectionately patted his head.
"No, you certainly have the right. You not only completed the difficult trial I set for you but also... child, do you know that you changed my originally tragic fate?"
Promise was taken aback and looked at her in confusion.
Deter couldn't reveal the conversation she had with Hera or her original future.
This was one reason why she was so fond of Promise.
"After experiencing so much and hearing her express her wish in the Underworld, I actually... had already compromised."
In the boy's surprised gaze, the goddess softly said, "I originally intended to let her witness the ugliness of the underworld so that she would give up staying by my side forever and being protected by , but I didn't expect that she would show her growth and determination instead."
"At that mont, I understood she had grown up and I shouldn't keep her by my side forever. Now, keeping her by my side was no longer protection but a constraint."
Promise was silent for a mont before praising Deter, "Goddess Deter, you are truly a wonderful mother."
"But if she hadn't returned, I wouldn't have agreed."
Saying this, Deter winked playfully at Promise, surprising him again as she continued, "Hera already told . She will spend half of each year in the Underworld and half with ."
"By the way, don't tell her. Let her experience half a year first... She didn't respect as her mother!"
Seeing Deter's pouting and resentful expression, Promise wisely kept quiet and nodded obediently.
Though he couldn't lie to the gods, he could avoid ntioning it if Persephone didn't ask.
As for Hades, Goddess Hera would inform him.
After all, she had long promised him a wedding.
"Oh, by the way, child, what do you plan to do next? I heard from Hera and Athena that you are looking for companions to embark on the adventure for the Golden Fleece?"
Although the Golden Fleece, famous throughout Greece, couldn't compare to the artifact in Promise's possession, it was still Hera's trial.
Promise nodded but then shook his head, answering Deter, "Yes, Goddess Deter, I have been preparing for the Golden Fleece adventure. But before that, I plan to return to Goddess
Hephaestus."
Leaving Hephaestus was accidental, as the magic Goddess Hecate left was tid to send Promise out of the Underworld, leaving a trace behind.
Because she found it troubleso, Hecate left this task to her familiar, the Underworld
butterfly.
In other words, if Hecate had paid more attention and noticed Promise's situation, he wouldn't have left so easily.
After eting dea, Hecate didn't know if sealing her temple doors would help!
"Child, you plan to go back?!" Deter was shocked and confused by Promise's response.
Hera was already anxious to find Zeus. You managed to sneak out and now want to return and
be imprisoned again?
"Yes." The boy nodded and took out the artifact, explaining the situation to Deter.
Though returning ant imprisonnt, the oath with Hephaestus to complete the carving of the Olympian gods was a must to obtain the artifact.
Due to the oath, Promise knew Goddess Hephaestus wouldn't harm him and only wanted to
use him against Hera.
After understanding the situation, Deter looked at the boy strangely.
"If I'm not mistaken, you plan to help Hephaestus?"
Help Hephaestus against Hera!
Promise was silent but this silent more so confird his stance.
Yes, this ti he intended to be on Hephaestus' side.
After all, although this artifact is subject to oath restrictions, it doesn't make much difference
if you pick it up for free.
"I respect Goddess Hera and am grateful for her efforts for .
I don't plan to help Goddess Hephaestus against her, but...
I want to do sothing for that goddess," Promise said.
He rembered Hephaestus, who was thrown off Mount Olympus, breaking his legs, with a marriage that beca a joke, wearing a mask, known as the ugliest god.
Promise wasn't foolish.
Although he had no specific concept at the beginning, he could see the reactions of Deter,
Persephone, and even Hades.
From their shocked look, he had naturally determined that the artifact Goddess Hephaestus had made for him was a creation that even the gods would marvel at!
Therefore, under the influence of these circumstances, Promise really cannot remain
indifferent.
Seeing his determined expression, Deter, knowing he had made up his mind, didn't say
more.
"Then I bless you."
Smiling, she gently said, "I've witnessed the miracles you've created, and I'm one of them.
So... I believe you will create another miracle."
"Thank you, Goddess Deter."
Although Promise answered like this, there was actually so confusion in his eyes.
Because he actually hasn't figured out what to do after returning to Goddess Hephaestus. After all, he couldn't really stay there imprisoned forever and wait for Hera to rescue him.
He had to complete his heroic journey and then have a glorious ending.
Oh, if at this ti...
"It would be nice if a beautiful and wise goddess appeared at this ti, just like she did
before, and gave the boy who longed to beco a hero and ended up like a hero an oracle to guide him on the way forward, that would be great...right, Little Promise?"
While the boy was thinking, the sound of silver bells that he hadn't heard for a long ti rang
in his ears.
Hearing those words, Promise was stunned, and turned his head in surprise, looking at the silver-haired, golden-eyed goddess who had co behind him at so point, wearing a flawless white dress and showing a beautiful smile.
Before he could speak, she reached out and fed a golden apple into his mouth.
By the way, she gently pinched his face and complained: "Little Promise, do you know that it
is so difficult to see you now!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)