The Story of Bellerophon - Part 1
As aspiring heroes began their training in the underworld, the number of them becoming my followers steadily increased. Perhaps it was due to being constantly exposed to the aura of the underworld, though Persephone's power had sowhat neutralized it...
"Pluto, if you can hear , please show rcy! Aaargh!!"
Boom!
"Iarytos! Are you alright?" "This guy’s completely lost it. Hey, snap out of it!"
Hmm. The human whose voice I just heard seems to have beco my newest follower.
In fact, it’s not unusual for heroes who constantly suffer at the hands of mythical monsters to call out my na. When facing monsters that are nearly impossible to defeat with mortal strength, it’s only natural to turn to a god nearby.
However, no matter how desperately they call for , I never help them. Unless they call from the living world, the trials of the underworld are rely training exercises.
"Pluto, yet another soul has passed through today's trial and entered the underworld..." "Thank you for your grace..."
anwhile, the priests connected to the living world through the outskirts of the underworld were also doing their part. Occasionally, spies sent by Gaia, tainted by madness, were discovered, but they were well-filtered with a stone imbued with Dionysus' power.
As I watched the heroes' training from my throne with my eyes closed, a soft voice called out to . It was the voice of Styx, the goddess I had grown accustod to hearing.
"Hades, are you available?"
"Goddess Styx...? There’s no one here in the audience chamber, but what brings you here?"
She quietly opened the door of the chamber, glanced around, and entered.
"Have you heard that a new hero is attempting to kill the Chira?"
"Chira... one of Typhon and Echidna's offspring."
The Chira, a terrifying beast that combined the forms of three animals, was indeed one of Typhon and Echidna's monstrous children. It had the body of a lion, with a goat's head protruding from its back, and a snake for a tail. The lion's head breathed fire, the goat's head was known for its cunning, and the snake’s fangs dripped with deadly venom.
Co to think of it, Typhon's offspring are all incredibly strong.
Take Cerberus, who guards the underworld's gates, or the Nean Lion that lived in the valley of Nea... Even the Sphinx, which was taken in by Hera and later killed by Oedipus before coming to the underworld, fits the category.
"So, a hero is going to kill one of Typhon's children. I imagine many gods are watching closely."
"Yes, Olympus has reached out. They’ve suggested we lend Pegasus to the hero—the winged horse born from the blood of the beheaded dusa."
Pegasus, a magnificent white horse with wings, had been born from the blood of dusa when the hero Perseus severed her head. Unlike ordinary horses, Pegasus could soar through the skies with the wings on its back.
The last ti dusa, who had beco a minor goddess of the underworld, visited the surface, she brought Pegasus back with her. Apparently, when she approached him, Pegasus recognized her as a mother figure and followed her calmly.
Thus, Pegasus now leisurely resides in the underworld alongside his "mother."
"Alright then, let’s summon dusa and ask her opinion. Since Pegasus was born from her, after all."
"I think she’s with nte right now. Shall I call for them?"
"There’s no need. I’d like to see Pegasus myself. I hear he’s grazing in the Elysium Fields."
Since Pegasus had eaten the food of the underworld, he’s long been bound to this realm. Still, depending on dusa's wishes, it might be possible to lend him temporarily to the hero.
The Elysium Fields, where I soon arrived, exuded warmth more comforting than the goddess of spring and cozier than the goddess of the hearth. A vast, endless plain, with gentle breezes and the chirping of insects in the air, greeted .
Elysium looked no different from the fields of the living world. On a distant hill, a man lay enjoying the scenery. As I approached, he noticed and stood up with a pleased expression. It was Cadmus, the great hero who had tricked Typhon and now lived here in Elysium.
He smiled and spoke as he recognized .
"Lord Hades! What brings you to Elysium?"
"It’s been a while, Cadmus. Have you seen two goddesses with a winged horse around here?"
"If you an them, they passed by not long ago."
Cadmus pointed in a direction, and I assud the goddesses had taken Pegasus to graze. Since the horse would return once it finished grazing, I figured I could wait here and chat with Cadmus.
I decided to ask him how he was enjoying life in Elysium. After all, it's only proper to gather feedback from the residents of a paradise I had carefully crafted.
"How is life in Elysium? Are you satisfied?"
"Haha! My wife, Harmonia, never stops smiling. These days, even more so. Life here is far better than in the mortal world..."
Cadmus laughed heartily, showing his teeth. It seed his relationship with his wife, the goddess of harmony, was still strong. Even in death, they lived in harmony—a mortal couple that remained close beyond the grave.
"Even after all these years, you and Harmonia are still so close."
"I may not be Aphrodite, but that’s the true essence of love, isn’t it?"
It had been many years since their deaths, yet their love had not waned.
Is this what love truly is? If so, perhaps I...
"But Lord Hades, what brings you here?"
"I’ve co to ask dusa if we can lend Pegasus to a hero in the mortal world."
"The mortal world is still full of unrest, I see... Could this have anything to do with the serpent monsters I ntioned to you long ago?"
I told him about the Gigantes and how heroes were being trained in the outer reaches of the underworld. I also updated him on the status of his descendants and the people of Thebes still living in the mortal world.
"Ah... so that’s what’s happening. In that case, may I make a request?"
"A request? What is it? Speak."
"Since the heroes are training on the outskirts of the underworld, I would like to lend them my assistance."
"...You should rest in Elysium. There’s no need for you to concern yourself with such matters."
I rejected his offer outright, but Cadmus laughed heartily and spoke again. This place is a paradise, a dreamland for all...
"Lord Hades, guiding future generations on the right path is the duty and pride of any hero. Sotis, helping them is more fulfilling than simply living in Elysium."
"But you’ve already completed your tasks and severed all ties with the mortal world..."
"Ask the other heroes. If they’re true heroes, they’ll give you a similar answer."
The first hero to steal Typhon's sinews and save Olympus, even after all these years, still had the sa unyielding gaze. If this is what it ans to be a hero, and if that’s their wish...
"...I’ll consider asking the others."
"Haha! Please, call on whenever you need. I’d be more than happy to pass on my humble experience to the younger generation."
As we continued our conversation, I heard a voice from afar—a goddess calling out.
"Cadmus~! Where are you?!"
"That voice...! It seems Harmonia is looking for ."
"Indeed. I’ll be off to collect Pegasus now. Enjoy your ti with your wife."
"Please, co visit again! Next ti, I’ll have sothing prepared for you!"
It wasn’t long after I resud my walk that I found the goddesses and Pegasus. The winged horse, with its beautiful white wings, noticed and imdiately whinnied, hiding behind dusa.
"Whinny!"
"Oh! Lord Hades! Did you co to see ?" "You’ve co all the way to Elysium?"
nte and dusa greeted with bright smiles, and I nodded in acknowledgnt. Though it seed Pegasus was still frightened of .
"dusa, I ca to discuss lending Pegasus to a hero in the mortal world."
"Huh? Oh, you could have just commanded ..."
dusa trailed off, and I remained silent. After all, she had been beheaded by a hero, and it was through that act that Pegasus was born.
After a mont of silence, dusa seed to realize sothing and bowed her head.
"Ah... There's no need to consider my feelings. Pegasus belongs to the Lord of the Underworld. You may lend him as you see fit."
"...Thank you. Once the hero has slain Typhon’s child, I’ll return him to you."
"Whinny!"
The clever animal seed to understand, but after dusa stroked his back a few tis, he quieted down.
"Does he still follow you around everywhere you go?"
"Hehe... That was when he was just a foal. He’s grown up now, haven’t you?"
"Whinny!"
"For so reason, though, he’s still scared of Lord Hades. Perhaps because he’s a sky horse?"
nte’s suggestion could be right. A creature like Pegasus, tied to the skies and oceans, would indeed find it difficult to adjust to life in the underworld.
Though he’s getting used to it, he still seems wary of . Perhaps it's because he senses the underworld's aura, which conflicts with his nature. Regardless, he’s becoming more accustod to the environnt here, even if he remains a bit fearful around .
I gestured toward Pegasus, and, despite his fear, the intelligent creature moved cautiously closer to my side.
"Well then, I’ll be taking Pegasus with ."
"Yes, of course. I look forward to seeing you again, Lord Hades!"
"Understood, Hades. Take care."
Now, it was ti to pass this magnificent creature to the hero. But who should I entrust with the task of delivering him—Hers? Athena?
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