The Goddess of Fate Raises Her Head to You

Late at night,

Tonight there was a beautiful full moon, and its bright light illuminated the entire land.

Following Themis, Promise walked for several hours, and during this time, the goddess did not say a word.

However, the boy did not feel tired, his eyes were bright and full of energy.

After all, he had just eaten a golden apple not long ago.

He was already full of energy, and the golden apple made his stamina overflow.

Just as Promise began to find the path increasingly familiar and was feeling puzzled,

Themis's sudden words made him pause.

"Actually, if it weren't for me, you should have been following Athena to the temple of Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, meeting that god."

Hearing this, Promise instinctively looked towards Themis in front of him.

"Because this was Athena's original plan for your trial."

Walking ahead of Promise, leading the way, she spoke in an emotionless tone, "She prepared this relatively easy trial for you with the intention of meeting the god of craftsmanship, Hephaestus, as your reward.

This way, she could give you the ability to move around the world without fearing that a gust of wind would blow you to the underworld, thus allowing you to fulfill your promise to her."

"The river goddess Aegina was meant to be your first painting, prepared by Athena. However... everything was completely disrupted by my arrival."

Hearing this, Promise began to understand the nature of this trial, but...

"But I suppose you have always been curious about why I appeared suddenly at that time and ultimately placed you in the judgment seat."

Promise nodded honestly; he had always been curious about this.

Themis did not answer, she simply quickened her pace.

Promise hurried to keep up, and after some time, he finally realized why this path seemed so familiar.

This was where he had stayed when he painted that picture of the kingdom for Aegina.

A place on the mountainside overlooking the entire kingdom.

'...When I was painting, was this goddess standing beside me?'

'No, no, Athena must have been there too!'

'I remember wondering why, despite staying there for so long, no wild animals disturbed me, not even a single flying insect...'

With these thoughts, Promise couldn't help but glance at Themis beside him.

But with her face covered by the white cloth, he could not discern anything.

And just as he was thinking this and blinked,

He saw his canvas appear before him, and the paintbrush that was in his luggage was now in his hand.

...Wait, does that mean?!

Just as Promise instinctively looked towards Themis,

"It is not me... because you are not yet able to depict me," the latter said, explaining, "Even if I allowed you to paint me as you did Athena, once the painting leaves me, it will still quickly fade."

Hearing this, Promise felt a pang of regret, but then he saw Themis's right hand draw out the sword of judgment, the sword that could cut through all injustice and evil in the world!

As if sensing his thoughts, Themis responded.

"That's right, child, paint it onto your canvas."

She said, "Your journey has just begun, and it will protect you along the way, until..."

She didn't finish her sentence.

She simply placed the sword down and then came beside Promise, helping him lift the paintbrush.

And although it was just a sword, when Promise regained his senses, having been fully immersed in his painting with Themis's assistance, the sun had already risen.

Promise put down his paintbrush, and a wave of exhaustion washed over him.

"Promise..."

Hearing the voice by his ear, he instinctively turned his head, and a golden apple was placed into his mouth.

Promise blinked, looking at Themis.

Another golden apple!

He then obediently ate it, feeling his energy and spirit recover, and couldn't help but marvel at how wonderful it was.

It's just a pity that the two he had saved up were all sacrificed to Hera...

As Promise thought this, Themis suddenly took out two more golden apples and placed them in his hands.

He was stunned and looked up at her.

"Counting the first time, we've met three times in total, so here are three golden apples."

Themis explained, but her explanation only confused Promise more.

What does that mean?

It sounds like every time I meet you gods, I get a golden apple...

As Promise thought this, he noticed Themis seemed to be gazing into the distance... even though her eyes were covered by the white cloth.

Following her gaze,

He saw the kingdom that had awakened from a night's dream.

Even from a distance, he could vaguely see the people of the kingdom moving about, bustling in a scene of prosperity.

Seeing this, and recalling the initial image of the kingdom ravaged by disasters and plague, Promise naturally smiled.

And at that moment,

"The reason I placed you in the judgment seat is simple. From the moment we first met, I saw this future through the scales of judgment... When we first met, I asked the scales two questions.

Are you just and kind, and is your judgment fair... And now I have the answers."

As she spoke, the scales of judgment appeared once again in Themis's left hand.

It was still swaying, representing Promise's uncertain future, both abandoned and cherished by the goddess of fate.

"That day, I asked you why you came here, what feelings you had standing before Hera. Your answer was that you came because you wanted to."

"And I think if I asked you now why, despite wanting to become a hero, you chose to deliver a dream judgment during that trial, your answer would be..."

"I didn't think that far ahead."

Because if it weren't for Promise's judgment turning everything into a dream known only to the gods, the feat of judging gods would have brought him unimaginable fame.

But at that time, Promise simply believed it was the best outcome...

Yes, despite its flaws, it was the best outcome he could think of under the circumstances.

The kingdom was restored to its original prosperity, those who shouldn't have died returned to the world, and the goddess in the high tower smiled, having regained what she had lost.

Even Hera did not loose anything, after all, her rival built a temple for her and became her most loyal devotee, praying to her every morning.

This wasn't the first time such a choice had been made.

Back in Jason's homeland, in that kingdom, facing the imminent wrath of Hera, Promise had also achieved what he believed to be the best outcome.

Hera, who had mistaken him for Jason and was ready to bestow all glory upon him, lost nothing and gained even more.

And Jason, trusting in Promise's promise and courage, did not hesitate to seek the Golden Fleece, and found hope for the future.

"Whether you are just and kind, the scales of judgment did not provide an answer. This shows that your future cannot be observed by fate, and it also means... child, you don't have an answer in your heart either."

Holding the scales, Themis told Promise, and this time, her previously cold voice was much gentler.

"Athena has already told me about your promise and her vow, but... child, have you ever thought about what kind of hero you want to be, and what kind of end you truly desire?"

Promise was stunned, looking at the goddess of justice before him.

In Greek mythology, there was a hero named Achilles.

His father was the great hero Peleus, and his mother was the sea goddess Thetis.

Before he was born, his mother knew from the goddess of fate that her child would die in battle.

"He will be famous, but he will not live to old age, dying young on the battlefield".... This was the prophecy the goddess of fate told Thetis.

In response to Achilles' birth, Thetis held his heel and dipped him in the River Styx, making his entire body invulnerable except for the heel she held, which did not touch the river water, leaving a weak spot.

In addition she also forbade him from going to war, hoping this would escape the notice of the goddess of fate, but after learning all this, Achilles responded to his mother.

"Rather than living a peaceful life under your great power, Mother, I would rather burn my life on the battlefield, fighting bravely.

Even if it is short, I want to live gloriously!"

That was Achilles' choice, the finale of an epic story.

When Themis asked Promise, he immediately thought of this story and realized he truly could not answer the question posed by the goddess of justice before him.

"Even though the goddess of wisdom has promised you a grand finale, child, I hope that when that day comes, it will be your own choice, a result you yearn for and decide in your heart."

Seeing that Promise did not answer, Themis was not concerned and continued speaking softly, "But you need not worry too much, for your journey has just begun.

Along this path, I believe you will eventually find your answer. Until then, my sword will protect you..."

"And child, when you have your answer, please use your brush to paint me on your canvas."

Promise's green eyes reflected the goddess of justice, Themis. The sunlight shone on her, making her appear radiant.

"...I understand, Goddess Themis."

After a long time, Promise looked up at Themis and nodded firmly.

Then said with utmost seriousness, "There will come a day when I am worthy of painting you, Goddess Themis, on my canvas!"

"Then, do we have a deal?" The latter smiled and asked softly.

"Yes!" Promise also smiled at this moment, "We have a deal!"

"I look forward to that day, and I believe it won't be too far off, for... as I said from the beginning, I already have the answer in my heart."

With these words, Themis once again raised the swaying scales of judgment in front of Promise.

Clad in her white robe, she stood illuminated by the sunlight, with her back to the kingdom that had awakened from a night's dream, and the temple built by the river goddess Aegina.

She reached out, steadying the continuously swaying scales, and in Promise's watchful gaze, gently raised the side representing goodness.

"Go forth, child, and let your name, your deeds... be known to the entire world!"

.

.

And then,

That afternoon, Promise departed.

He left the kingdom, bidding farewell to the river goddess Aegina.

Aegina had known for a while that Promise would leave, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon.

At first, she seemed quite flustered and even thought about asking him to stay, but in the end...she chose to give her blessing.

"Go, Promise, may your future journeys be illuminated by the sun, and may the stars and moon watch over you, guiding your way."

Aegina had intended to give everything to Promise, the accumulated wealth of the kingdom, even the crown and throne that symbolized royal authority, but Promise ultimately accepted none of it.

He left behind only a wish that made the sad, tearful Aegina eventually smile again.

Though Promise still didn't have a clear idea of what kind of hero he wanted to become or what kind of end he would choose, he did have one goal...

"Please help spread my name. I am a student of the centaur sage Chiron, and I will become a hero and leave my name in this world!"

After nearly three months, Promise finally left the place.

His next destination was quite clear.

After all, in three months' time, Jason, who had been waiting for his news, must have grown quite anxious.

Promise, carrying his little book of grudges and the sword of judgment that would protect him on this journey, set out to meet the heroes who were either already famous or destined to become renowned in ancient Greece.

He would invite them to join him in Jason's homeland.

To complete the trial given to him and Jason by Queen Hera, the most famous story in Greek mythology... the legend of the Argo!

But, while that was the plan, where exactly were they now?

Should he perhaps prepare an offering and ask Athena or Hera?

As Promise pondered this question,

He hadn't walked far outside the kingdom when he suddenly saw a familiar figure under a large tree by the roadside...

It was a delicate-looking girl, dressed in a white garment of ancient Greek style, with a few strands of white hair peeking out from her hood.

She sat with her eyes closed, holding a crystal ball, seemingly asleep under the shade of the tree.

Promise looked at her in surprise, recognizing the petite girl before him.

He had seen her before, in Hera's temple in Jason's homeland.

She was the goddess of fate who had foretold that Promise would bring glory to Hera... Clotho!

And just as Promise was staring at her in surprise, wondering why the goddess of fate had appeared here,

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Clotho's eyebrows trembled slightly before she slowly opened her eyes.

Although she couldn't actually see anything due to the white cloth over her eyes,

The goddess of fate, Clotho, raised her head towards Promise.

.