chapter 42
"Hey, Cyd, wake up! No resting now!"
A delicate hand tried to pinch Cyd's face, but Medusa, who was snuggled in Cyd's arms, swatted it away.
Medea, seeing this, called out louder.
Medusa glared at Medea, though the dark robe she wore hid her eyes, diminishing the intensity of her stare.
"Relax," Cyd said, stretching with a drowsy look. "The first light of dawn refreshes me. I just need a bit more rest."
Medusa, nestled in Cyd's arms, nodded in agreement.
"My room doesn't get the morning sun," Medea pointed out, gesturing towards the window. "It's already noon."
"Can't a princess's room have better natural lighting?" Cyd muttered.
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In the Colosseum, Jason stood in the center, his arms crossed, appearing to meditate with his eyes closed. At the highest point, Aeëtes watched him intently.
"Hasn't Medea arrived yet?" Aeëtes asked his advisor.
"She's on her way," the advisor responded softly.
"Medea usually rises early," Aeëtes frowned, sensing something amiss. "Has there been any unusual activity in the Colosseum? Any incantations?"
"There have been some," the advisor nodded. "And they appear to be quite complex, probably Medea's work."
"Why didn't you mention this sooner?" Aeëtes' eyes widened, planning to stop the trial and perhaps even kick Jason out.
"Because the incantations..." The advisor hesitated, "are wild incantations, targeting the Dragontooth Warriors specifically. The level of sophistication is surprising for her age."
"Medea's handiwork?" Aeëtes looked puzzled.
"And she's added another layer, likely doubling the size of the Dragontooth Warriors," the advisor added, sympathetically glancing at Jason in the center.
"Hey, Cyd, wake up! No resting now!" A delicate hand tried to pinch Cyd's face, but Medusa, who was snuggled in Cyd's arms, swatted it away. Medea, seeing this, called out louder.
Medusa glared at Medea, though the dark robe she wore hid her eyes, diminishing the intensity of her stare.
"Relax," Cyd said, stretching with a drowsy look. "The first light of dawn refreshes me. I just need a bit more rest."
Medusa, nestled in Cyd's arms, nodded in agreement.
"My room doesn't get the morning sun," Medea pointed out, gesturing towards the window. "It's already noon."
"Can't a princess's room have better natural lighting?" Cyd muttered.
In the Colosseum, Jason stood in the center, his arms crossed, appearing to meditate with his eyes closed. At the highest point, Aeëtes watched him intently.
"Hasn't Medea arrived yet?" Aeëtes asked his advisor.
"She's on her way," the advisor responded softly.
"Medea usually rises early," Aeëtes frowned, sensing something amiss. "Has there been any unusual activity in the Colosseum? Any incantations?"
"There have been some," the advisor nodded. "And they appear to be quite complex, probably Medea's work."
"Why didn't you mention this sooner?" Aeëtes' eyes widened, planning to stop the trial and perhaps even kick Jason out.
"Because the incantations..." The advisor hesitated, "are wild incantations, targeting the Dragontooth Warriors specifically. The level of sophistication is surprising for her age."
"Medea's handiwork?" Aeëtes looked puzzled.
"And she's added another layer, likely doubling the size of the Dragontooth Warriors," the advisor added, sympathetically glancing at Jason in the center.
Just then, Medea hurried in, slightly out of breath.
"Sorry, Father, I stayed up late last night. I didn't mean to keep you waiting," Medea apologized, panting.
Aeëtes' annoyance softened, thinking his clever daughter had been working hard on the incantations.
"It's alright. Take your time," Aeëtes said, guiding Medea to sit next to him.
"Father, I can stand," Medea protested, confused by his unusual gentleness.
"Nonsense!" Aeëtes insisted, pressing her to sit.
Her brother, who had been listening, patted her shoulder. "Sit, it's fine."
Medea, still feeling uneasy, realized she hadn't done anything to upset Aeëtes. In fact, she had helped save the Khalkotauroi and enhance the Dragontooth Warriors. Relieved, she settled into her seat.
"How are the Khalkotauroi?" Aeëtes asked.
"They're a bit temperamental. They broke out of the cowshed last night, and we had to drive them back, injuring a few men in the process," her brother reported with a grin.
"Jason seems awfully calm," Aeëtes noted, looking at Jason. "Shall we begin?"
Jason, sensing the trial was about to start, opened his eyes and saw his companions in the stands, more interested in watching than helping.
"These guys..." Jason muttered, feeling frustrated but knowing he couldn't rely on them. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar white-haired figure who gave him a reassuring thumbs-up.
"I believe in you," Cyd seemed to say.
Bolstered by this, Jason faced Aeëtes.
"Great King of Colchis, I'm ready for the trial."
Aeëtes, amused, lifted his hand. "Let the trial begin!"
The gates of the Colosseum closed, and a metal grate rose, revealing a dark tunnel.
Jason took a deep breath, recalling the instructions: harness the Khalkotauroi, plow the field, plant the dragon's teeth, and defeat the Dragontooth Warriors.
Suddenly, a scream echoed from the tunnel as a column of flames shot out. Jason rolled aside to avoid it, his heart pounding.
The two Khalkotauroi emerged, wreathed in flames, charging straight at him.
"They can't be avoided!" Jason thought, raising his hands instinctively.
"Foolish," Aeëtes yawned, expecting Jason to be burnt.
But just before the Khalkotauroi reached Jason, they collapsed, spitting foam and extinguishing their flames.
Jason stared at his unharmed hands in disbelief. The flames had stopped just short of him.
"Cyd, I believe in you!" Jason thought, clenching his fists and turning to Aeëtes.
"Great King of Colchis, let's continue the trial."