chapter 8 (edited)

"That child has left; you should come out too," Prometheus said softly as Cyd and the white horse vanished into the clouds.

"King of the Gods, Zeus," Prometheus continued, glancing around.

"I don't need to hide," Zeus replied, stepping out from behind a rock with his arms crossed. "I was gambling, and I lost quite easily."

"As always, you are clever," Prometheus smiled.

"Yes, I bet on that child to win Poseidon's warhorse, but I miscalculated," Zeus shrugged. "I met with Thetis, and if possible, I might grant that child a day of fire to temper his flesh."

"The Goddess of Water, Thetis? So, you still believe in that prophecy?" Prometheus nodded thoughtfully. "That child…"

"I want you to remember, I didn't lock you away just because of your actions," Zeus narrowed his eyes. "Your expression makes me think you've deceived me about the tribute for the first time. But you should know better."

"Of course, as the omniscient and omnipotent King of the Gods, my cleverness in trivial matters can't hide the truth from you," Prometheus shrugged. "But why didn't I respond to that child's prayer as you did?"

"That child trusts you," Zeus said, staring into the distance, still worried about Cyd's well-being.

"Yes, and that's why I feel guilty. He only wants a peaceful life, but I used his trust to push him toward the irreversible path of becoming a hero," Prometheus admitted, looking down.

"This is the first time I've seen you act this way," Zeus remarked, intrigued by Prometheus's guilt-ridden face. "Explain yourself."

"That child is an anomaly in this world. He can't live the ordinary life he hopes for," Prometheus felt helpless for the first time. "So, I could only make his life remarkable, at least in the eyes of others."

"Even if you wear such an expression? You've had many low moments these years," Zeus approached Prometheus. "Rest assured, I won't harm that child. But how will he be forced to become a hero? You should care about that too."

"He will become a hero whom everyone praises."

"Then… I'm even more curious."

Zeus's jet-black wings unfurled behind him.

"I won't gnaw on your liver today. After all, I've seen the expression I wanted on your face."

With that, Zeus transformed into an eagle and soared away.

"Cyd, Pure Son of Man," Prometheus murmured, gazing into the distance. "Your life may never be ordinary again, but your spirit will never waver. I bless you until you reach that seemingly unreachable place."

"I've been feeling… strange," Cyd trembled as he rode on the white horse's back. "Is this horse really taking me to the Styx River?"

The white horse rolled its eyes, clearly irritated by Cyd's worries. Who would dare attack Poseidon's warhorse? They had already arrived at the Styx River.

With a graceful descent, the horse landed near a river that resembled a gentle stream.

"Is this the Styx River?" Cyd asked, hesitating to jump into the water. He looked around suspiciously, not quite as excited as one might expect.

It wasn't what he envisioned. The scenery was beautiful—birds chirped in the branches, and the grass swayed gently in the breeze. The water of the Styx flowed slowly and peacefully.

"Is this really the cursed river that prevented my ancestor from being washed away?" Cyd wondered aloud. The white horse approached the stream, shaking its mane, but Cyd remained deep in thought.

As he expected, the Styx River couldn't harm him. But was this gentle motion of the water comforting?

Cyd lazily swished his tail, lying back with his hands behind his head, letting the water rise until it nearly touched his nose.

So peaceful…

Submerged in the Styx River, Cyd gazed into the clear water.

Does this make my body invulnerable?

Before he ran out of breath, Cyd pondered. Did invulnerability mean immunity from physical harm, or did it extend to other dangers?

If it was just about physical harm, what about suffocation or being crushed by a Titan? What if someone tried to poison him or tricked him into drinking from the Styx?

Cyd glanced at the white horse grazing nearby and noticed a woman with sea-blue hair in a flowing gown, petting the horse's head.

Suddenly, Cyd was jolted from his thoughts, nearly choking on the water of the Styx.

Then he realized—his respiratory and digestive systems were also invulnerable.

Struggling to crawl out of the river, Cyd collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.

After barely escaping death at the hands of two female demons, he had almost met his end in a simple stream.

"What an interesting child," the woman said, kneeling beside him.

"Which goddess are you?" Cyd asked nervously, recognizing her divine presence.

"Me?" She tilted her head, squatting down.

In that moment, Cyd's gaze fell on her gown, which spread out, revealing her snow-white thigh right in front of him.

Instantly, Cyd closed his eyes, reminding himself not to look or cause trouble. Even ants feared the wrath of the gods. And this was the Underworld, where survival was uncertain.

She smiled warmly, giving Cyd's cheek a playful pinch. "I am Thetis," she said. "Your hair is lovely. It'd be even better if you let it grow out."

Cyd, now a bit flustered, kept his gaze averted. "What does Thetis need from me?" he asked, trying not to fidget.

"Maybe I'm the one who can help you," Thetis replied, stepping back. "You've bathed in the Styx, so your body's almost immortal. You can withstand most mortal threats."

"Not quite," Cyd said, rubbing his neck. "Sure, I'm tough, but poisons and curses? I'm still vulnerable to those."

"That's why I'm here," Thetis said, her expression turning serious. "You may lack the divine spark, but with my blessing, you could withstand even greater dangers. You could be nearly perfect, like the demigods."

"Perfect?" Cyd let out a nervous chuckle. "Thanks, but no thanks."

"Really?" Thetis seemed puzzled. "Most mortals would leap at the chance to become immortal. As you pointed out, your invulnerability has limits. This is your chance to become flawless."

Cyd scratched his head. "Look, I get it, but I kinda like my flaws. They keep me on my toes."

Thetis tilted her head, confused. "I don't quite follow."

"That's because I'm just a dumb mortal," Cyd grinned, hoping to lighten the mood.

Thetis sighed but smiled anyway. "It seems I came for nothing—or perhaps quite the opposite. Pure Son of Man, your journey has just begun."

"I hope you bless me to end it soon," Cyd said with a sigh as he climbed back onto the white horse.

"The gods don't get to decide that," Thetis said, turning away. "Only you can choose when to stop. That's my blessing to you—keep moving forward until you're ready to be done."

Cyd opened his mouth to reply, but the horse shot into the sky before he could get a word out. His protests were lost in the wind as they soared higher.

The wind whipped through Cyd's hair as his shadow streaked across the clouds. Despite the thrill, panic soon crept in.

"Hey, slow down!" Cyd tightened his grip on the horse's neck. "I get it, I messed up, I'm sorry!"

But the horse didn't listen, speeding up instead. "I'm gonna fall!" Cyd yelled, squeezing his eyes shut, bracing for the worst.

Then, without warning, the horse veered sharply downward, plunging toward the ground. Cyd held on for dear life, praying his invulnerability would hold up if they crashed.

The horse landed with perfect grace. Cyd… not so much. He tumbled off, rolling across the dirt until he lay on his back, groaning. "I almost got a one-way trip to Hades," he muttered, his stomach still in knots.

The horse snorted, giving him a playful kick before flying off, leaving him sprawled out on the ground. "You tricked me!" Cyd shouted after it, still in disbelief.

As he lay there, trying to regain his composure, the sound of hooves echoed from the cavern ahead. Cyd squinted into the darkness, curiosity sparking in his chest despite everything that had just happened.