When the Ocean Desires to Conquer the Sky
Hearing this, Aphrodite turned her gaze to Promise as well.
Her eyes lingered on his clear green eyes, and for a moment, her expression flickered with an unreadable emotion before settling into calm acceptance.
"So, that's how it is. I understand now," she said softly.
In that moment, it seemed as though something shifted within Aphrodite.
Whatever complex feelings she had harbored—whether resentment, curiosity, or frustration—were momentarily put to rest.
The words of the Fates had offered her clarity, even if they hadn't given her the answers she originally sought.
Aphrodite nodded gently and spoke to Promise, "Congratulations, you've passed my trial. Your music dispelled the desires of those heroes, and your vision of the future served as judgment for the women on the island.
Originally, I intended to give you the painting here and now."
She paused, her expression growing more serious. "But... Promise, you still need to return to Helen."
"Helen?" The latter tilted his head slightly to express his confusion at the beautiful goddess in front of him.
"I told you I intended to destroy you. Did you think I was joking all along?" Aphrodite's expression turned complicated as she continued. "The desires of the heroes were meant to turn you all against each other. The women on the island were meant to stir up the desires in your heart… and to ignite Helen's jealousy and fury!"
"In fact, the true trial I prepared for you has been Helen from all along"
Hearing this, Promise, who was still bewildered, couldn't understand the gravity of the situation.
"That's not a trial," Atropos, the eldest of the Fates, cut in, her voice emotionless. "This goddess simply seeks to destroy you."
Being the eldest and having no emotions, Atropos was the most rational of the three sisters—except when it came to her younger sibling, Clotho.
"That girl named Helen has developed feelings for you," Atropos continued. "And the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, who noticed this at the very first sight, manipulated her into falling into the depths of her own desire.
Helen now carries Cupid's bow and arrow, the very one that represents love.
And after all these events, she has already decided to shoot that magic arrow straight into your heart."
When Atropos said these words without any emotion, Promise's expression changed from confusion at the beginning to enlightenment and finally horror.
"The girl named Helen is the most beloved believer of the noble goddess of beauty Aphrodite, so...she is naturally loyal to her inner desires," Lachesis added with a smile, picking up where her sister left off. "So, once she shoots the arrow of love at you and claims your heart, she will only do one thing."
"She will imprison you. Forever. She will keep you by her side, never letting you go."
After she finished speaking, Lachesis coughed violently twice, but even so, it couldn't hide the upturned corners of her mouth and the gloating look in her eyes.
Promise, Promise...you make us work overtime every day, and now you will have a day like this too!
"I-I... Goddess Clotho, save me!" Promise, finally realizing the seriousness of the situation, suddenly remembered all the times he had unknowingly danced on the edge of a cliff with Helen.
His face paled as the implications sunk in.
That arrow was no joke.
It was Cupid's magical arrow...
The very example of what would happen to someone who got hit by that thing was Daphne, who still stood as a laurel tree.
So, the panicking young man, lunged toward Clotho for help, only for the latter to push his face away with a look of disgust, preventing him from getting closer.
"What's wrong with that? My Helen truly regards you as an important treasure."
Aphrodite said, crossing her arms over her chest and watching Promise's increasingly desperate reactions with a satisfied smirk.
The thrill of vengeance danced in her eyes as she laughed. "And she will be the most beautiful woman in the world in the future.
So, what's there to complain about?"
"No way! Even if I really want to get married, it should be with the goddess Clotho who smells sweet when hugged and is soft to the touch!"
"Shut up!" Upon hearing his words, Clotho's face flushed bright red,
She could no longer maintain her dignified goddess image as she furiously shoved her crystal orb into Promise's mouth to silence him. "Stop spouting nonsense!"
Atropos and Lachesis remained expressionless, watching the chaotic scene unfold.
They were used to this by now.
Even Pegasus, grazing peacefully nearby, let out a yawn.
As for goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, she was momentarily taken aback by Promise's audacity.
She never thought that he would actually speak about marrying a goddess, but then she quickly remembered his achievements and found that it was not that surprising.
After all, the young man in front of her had accomplished miracles no mortal should be capable of.
Perhaps it wasn't so outrageous.
In fact, regardless of other things, if we only count the matter of Hades, Demeter and Persephone, Promise was already qualified to enjoy a god status...
Wait, a god?
For a fleeting moment, Aphrodite felt as though she had grasped onto something important.
She glanced at Promise with a thoughtful look, and subconsciously wanted to say something, but then she noticed the serious stares from Lachesis and Atropos.
They were clearly warning her not to speak further.
After a brief pause, Aphrodite finally spoke, her tone more contemplative. "Actually, you might not need to worry too much. Now that I think about it carefully, that magical arrow may never even reach you."
Promise blinked in confusion, his panic momentarily halting at her words as she continued.
"After all, Hephaestus has likely been aware of this situation for a while. Now I think, Athena sending me to her was probably her way of setting me up from the start…"
"But Promise," Aphrodite continued seriously, meeting his eyes. "Regardless of what happens, you must face this love."
"This is not only because Helen is dear to me, but also because this is your true trial. Only by resolving this can I give you the painting.
So, you have to complete it no matter what."
Hearing her words, Promise felt silent for a while.
He didn't say anything so capricious as to say that I could not give it up.
Because after a moment of silent contemplation, he realized there was no running from it.
Thinking about that loli Helen for a long time, he sighed silently, then looked up at Aphrodite, his gaze steady and resolute. "I understand, Goddess Aphrodite."
"I will handle this," Promise said, his voice firm. "I will properly face Helen's feelings and respond to her love."
As soon as he finished speaking, Promise felt that his face was hit by the crystal ball.
He tilted his head with an innocent look on his face only to see that the goddess of fate had turned around and was walking away holding the crystal ball, with an expression that showed that he didn't want to pay any more attention to him.
Ah, such a tsundere goddess!
The second sister and the eldest sister looked at each other.
The second sister, Lachesis, shook her head in amusement, then stepped forward once again, taking up the lines that should have been Clotho's.
"Promise, you cannot return to the Argo just yet… Have you forgotten? When you arrived, we told you—we've been waiting for you for quite some time."
Promise blinked, confused, as Lachesis's voice echoed.
"The ocean desires to conquer the sky, and thunder will be bound by love. When the supreme god himself is bound, you—who seeks to paint the gods—what choice will you make then?"
At this moment, Lachesis, with her light smile and air of wisdom, looked remarkably like Athena at that moment.
Recalling the series of events that had happened recently...
Ah, My dearest goddess Athena... I'll remember this grudge, I swear it!
Even with the Golden Apple Tree incident, Promise had never really held a grudge against Athena.
But this time, he really couldn't help it.
"Please go to the Mount Caucasus and the deepest parts of the sea," Lachesis continued. "There, the foresighted god and the wise seer of the ocean will reveal all you seek. They will help you ascend to the highest place in the world—Mount Olympus!"
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