chapter 9 ( edited)

The sky was a canvas of swirling clouds and the faint glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows over the world below. Prometheus watched as Cyd and the white horse vanished into the heavens, his gaze unwavering. "That child has left. You should come out too," he murmured.

From behind a rocky outcrop, a figure emerged. Tall and imposing, his presence commanded respect. "I wasn't hiding," Zeus said, arms crossed over his chest. "I was just observing. And I lost the bet quite easily."

Prometheus smiled faintly. "Still as astute as ever, I see."

Zeus shrugged nonchalantly. "I bet on that child to win Poseidon's warhorse. Clearly, I miscalculated. I spoke with Thetis. Perhaps, if possible, I might grant that child a day of divine fire to temper his flesh."

Prometheus nodded thoughtfully. "Thetis, the Goddess of Water... You still believe in that prophecy?"

Zeus narrowed his eyes, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Remember, I didn't imprison you solely for your actions. Your current expression reminds me of the first time you tricked me with the tributes. But you should know better…"

"Of course, as the omniscient and omnipotent King of the Gods, my minor cleverness can't escape your notice," Prometheus replied, shrugging.

Zeus looked into the distance, his mind seemingly far away. "That child trusts you greatly."

"Yes, and that's why I feel so guilty. He only wanted a peaceful life, yet I used his trust to push him onto the irreversible path of becoming a hero," Prometheus admitted, his eyes downcast.

"This is the first time I've seen you like this," Zeus said, studying Prometheus intently. "Explain to me why."

"That child is an anomaly in this world. Regardless of his wishes, he cannot live an ordinary life," Prometheus said with a sigh. "So, I decided to make his life remarkable, at least in the eyes of others."

Zeus stepped closer, intrigued. "Even if you show such guilt? You've never bowed your head all these years. Rest assured, I won't harm the child. But how will he be forced to become a hero?"

"He will become a hero whom everyone praises."

"Then… that makes me even more curious." Zeus's dark wings unfurled behind him. "I won't gnaw on your liver today. After all, I've seen the expression I wanted to see on your face." With that, Zeus transformed into an eagle and soared away.

Prometheus watched him go, then turned his gaze to the horizon. "Cyd, Pure Son of Man," he whispered, "your life may never be ordinary again, but your words will never give up. So, I bless you until you reach that seemingly unreachable place."

Cyd shivered atop the white horse. "I've got a bad feeling about this. Are we really heading to the Styx River?" he asked, more to himself than to the horse.

The white horse rolled its eyes, clearly irritated by Cyd's incessant questions. They had already reached the Styx River, the river that had been the bane of many a hero's journey.

The horse's pure white wings folded slowly, and it descended gracefully near a river that looked more like a tranquil stream than a cursed boundary of the Underworld.

"Is this the Styx River?" Cyd asked, his skepticism palpable as he scanned the peaceful surroundings.

The serene landscape was beautiful, with birds chirping in the trees and grass swaying gently in the breeze. The clear water of the Styx River flowed calmly, betraying none of its deadly reputation.

Cyd hesitated, still astride the horse. "Is this really the river that kept my ancestor from being washed away?" he wondered aloud.

The white horse, growing impatient, shook its body slightly, urging Cyd to dismount. Reluctantly, he slid off the horse's back and approached the water.

As he dipped his hand into the river, he felt a strange sensation. The water seemed harmless, almost inviting. But he knew better than to trust appearances.

Before he knew it, Cyd found himself submerged in the Styx River. He lay back, hands behind his head, letting the water rise until it almost touched his nose. "So peaceful…" he thought, staring into the clear water.

"Does this make my body invulnerable?" Cyd pondered, his thoughts drifting as he remained submerged. He considered the implications—would invulnerability protect him from suffocation, from being crushed, from poison?

Lost in thought, Cyd didn't notice the woman with sea-blue hair and a Greek gown approach the white horse. She petted its head, her presence calming.

Startled, Cyd nearly choked on the water as he scrambled out of the river. Gasping for breath, he looked up to see the woman watching him with a curious expression.

"Such an interesting child," she said, crouching beside him.

"Which god are you?" Cyd asked nervously, realizing he was in the presence of a goddess.

The woman smiled. "I am Thetis," she said, pinching his cheek lightly. "Your hair is beautiful. It would be even more so if you let it grow."

Cyd, keeping his eyes tightly shut, dared not move. "What does Thetis-sama need from me?"

"Perhaps I can help you instead," Thetis said, stepping back. "You have immersed yourself in the Styx River, making your body almost immortal. You should be able to handle mortal threats."

"No, there are many issues," Cyd said, rubbing his neck. "My body can resist external attacks, but not poisons or curses."

"That's why I'm here," Thetis said. "Although you lack divinity, you now possess an immortal body. With my help, you could endure the heat of a day and become nearly perfect, comparable to demigod heroes."

"Perfect?" Cyd smiled apologetically. "I'll pass, thanks."

"Really? Mortals rarely have the chance to become immortal," Thetis looked puzzled. "As you said, your seemingly immortal body has weaknesses. Now you have the opportunity to become flawless."

Cyd scratched his head. "Let me explain. Thank you for your kindness, but I prefer to maintain my imperfections. They make me cautious."

"I don't understand," Thetis admitted. "It's because I'm a foolish mortal," Cyd chuckled.

Thetis sighed. "It seems I've come in vain, or perhaps quite the opposite," she said with a chuckle. "Pure Son of Man, you should go. Your journey has just begun."

"I hope you can bless me to end this journey soon," Cyd said, feeling helpless as he climbed back onto the white horse.

"Gods may not decide this matter; only you can decide when to stop," Thetis smiled, turning away. "Keep moving forward, and stop when you are satisfied. That is my blessing to you."

"It feels like a long journey ahead!" Cyd's words were cut off as the white horse suddenly launched into the sky, carrying him with it. His cries for it to slow down echoed in the clouds.

With a gust of wind, Cyd's shadow tore through the clouds, carried by the white horse. But the journey was not without its challenges.

"Horse! Slow down!" Cyd tightly gripped the horse's neck, pleading for it to descend. "I was wrong! I apologize!" he begged, realizing his mistake but unsure of its cause.

The horse's speed didn't decrease, and Cyd's pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears. "I'm going to fall!" he cried, bracing himself for the inevitable.

The horse's flight trajectory changed suddenly, and it dove faster. Cyd closed his eyes, hoping the horse wouldn't harm him or test his newfound invulnerability. He clung to the horse's neck as they descended.

The horse landed gracefully on the ground, but Cyd wasn't so lucky. He rolled off its back, feeling incredibly distressed. "I almost met Hades," he muttered, crawling on the ground, his empty stomach churning.

The horse snorted and kicked Cyd's buttocks before flying away, leaving him behind. "You tricked me!" Cyd watched in disbelief as the horse disappeared.

As Cyd lay on the ground, the sound of hooves grew louder. He turned to see a figure emerging from the darkness of a cavern.