Hit on the Head by the Goddess of Fate

"They haven't returned yet?"

At noon, the red-haired youth Meleager came to the town gate and asked the guards who had been watching there.

The two guards looked at each other, then shook their heads respectfully at Meleager and said, "Your Highness, we have been guarding here since last night per your orders and have not seen them return."

Meleager said nothing and looked at the hunters lounging nearby.

Noticing his gaze, they shook their heads, indicating they hadn't seen Promise or Atalanta either.

"Why haven't they returned yet? What's going on?" Someone couldn't help but complain, "I still want to know what happened last night!"

"Yeah, yeah." Someone immediately echoed, "Last night's hunting festival was going well, we were about to kill that monster, but it was suddenly called off."

"Calling it off is one thing, but the main issue is that the nymph who suddenly appeared said the hunt was over, and the one who won and would meet the beautiful goddess Artemis was Promise!"

"Hey, keep it down. He's the messenger designated by Queen Hera..."

"So what if he's Queen Hera's messenger? I can understand that part, but you say he can hunt that monster? That's pure comedy. You've seen him yourself, he can't even draw my bow!"

"Everyone, be quiet!" Meleager, frowning deeply, suddenly raised his voice, shouting at the noisy hunters, "What exactly are you questioning? My friend Promise or the great goddess Artemis?!"

His words immediately silenced the scene.

But soon, a hunter who had been with them that night couldn't help but speak up, "Meleager, I'm just feeling indignant on your behalf.

We all saw your bravery last night. No one but you dared to stand before that monster.

You gathered us to hunt the beast, and we were about to succeed.

But what happened? All the glory was taken by that guy who did nothing. He's so weak; there's no way he could have defeated that monster!"

"Exactly."

"That's right."

As the complaints grew louder, the enraged Meleager walked up to that hunter.

"Uncle Toxeus, are you insulting me and my best friend?!" Meleager angrily confronted the hunter.

His name was Toxeus, Meleager's uncle, destined to steal the Calydonian Boar's hide from Atalanta and die at Meleager's hands.

He was also one of the arrogant hunters who had approached Promise for a spot on the Argo the day before.

"Meleager, what are you talking about?" Toxeus looked at him in shock and said, "I'm trying to restore your honor because it should rightfully be yours..."

"I don't need it!" Meleager shouted, "Because that glory was never mine to begin with; it belongs to Promise. I know him better than anyone here. Yes, he is indeed weak, but even so, he is braver than anyone here, including myself!"

"I never doubted that he could hunt the monster. I'm only worried about how badly he might be injured!"

"Meleager!" Toxeus trembled with rage, pointing at him and saying, "What nonsense are you spouting? Don't forget the promise you made to your father. The mission you bear!"

Meleager was silent for a moment but eventually looked up and firmly replied, "When I return, I will tell my father everything truthfully.

And even without the goddess Artemis's gift, I will stand before that giant monster to protect my country!"

With that, Meleager turned and left, leaving everyone else in silence.

"What now, Lord Toxeus?" someone couldn't help but ask.

"What do you mean 'what now'? Go find them!" Toxeus angrily shouted at the people around him. "Ignore Meleager. That boy can't even draw a bow, and a woman—do you think they could hunt that monster and steal the glory that should be ours? Ridiculous!"

"But Lord Toxeus, that place, and that monster last night..." Remembering the terrifying creature from the previous night, the hunter speaking couldn't help but shudder.

"They said it was hunted, so there's no danger. If it wasn't hunted, it means everything was a lie, and only we deserve that glory. Understood?"

Hearing this, the surrounding people showed expressions of sudden realization.

They quickly formed small groups and, before the sun set, returned to the site of last night's hunting festival.

Meleager, seeing this, initially intended to stop them but considering that Promise and Atalanta, who had disappeared together, still had not returned. Ultimately, he decided to join them back in the ancient forest.

They searched until nightfall.

As there were no traces of the two left behind, Meleager grew increasingly anxious, unknowingly delving deeper into the ancient forest, separating from the main group.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he realized he had ventured deep into the forest alone.

The late hour prompted him to turn back, planning to resume the search tomorrow.

"Who's there?!" Hearing footsteps, Meleager turned sharply, drawing his sword in vigilance.

Then, he saw the monster he hadn't killed the previous night emerge from the darkness.

"It's you?!" Meleager was initially shocked, then incredibly angry. "You didn't die? Damn it, what have you done with Promise and that beautiful huntress? Damn you!"

Saying this, Meleager raised his sword and prepared to charge at him.

"Wait, Meleager, I mean no harm! Promise and the huntress are safe!" Actaeon quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture.

Meleager paused, looking at him in surprise. "You can speak? What exactly are you... and why does your voice sound familiar?"

Seeing the confusion on Meleager's face, Actaeon wanted to tell him who he was, but remembering his agreement with the moon goddess Artemis from the previous night, he hesitated before finally saying, "I am actually a messenger of the great moon goddess Artemis."

"Last night's hunting festival was a test of your bravery by Artemis.

The boy and the huntress who earned her praise have received a new oracle and will undertake a trial witnessed by the gods. As for me..."

Recalling Promise's words from the previous night, Actaeon paused briefly before continuing, "My name is Tony Tony Chopper!"

---

..

"Where exactly is the god Asopus?"

Late at night, by the campfire.

Promise had built a fire, and Atalanta had hunted game, even sharing some with Promise.

This was quite rare, as Atalanta, raised by bears and later brought to the human world by an old hunter, never gave away her hunted game without something of equal value in return.

But now, she was worried that Promise might get killed by his prey or starve to death, so she decided to feed him.

"I don't know," Promise replied casually as he handed a roasted rabbit to Atalanta sitting beside him.

Hearing this, Atalanta was stunned.

Her bright green eyes fixed on the boy as she said, "You don't know?"

"Yeah, I don't know." The latter nodded sincerely.

"You've been walking for a whole day and night without knowing where you're going?" Atalanta's eyes widened.

"No problem." Promise waved his hand and said, "We've always found our way by just walking."

"You..." Atalanta, about to get angry, suddenly sat up by the campfire when a melodious deer cry suddenly rang out.

Instinctively turning their heads, they saw a beautiful golden-horned deer emerging from the forest and approaching Promise.

"Hey, it's you." Recognizing it as the golden-horned deer beloved by Artemis, Promise petted its head and asked curiously, "Did Artemis send you?"

The golden-horned deer nodded happily, letting out a soft cry and nuzzling him affectionately.

"Hmm... did Artemis send you to guide me?" Promise guessed again, his eyes lighting up.

The golden-horned deer nodded once more.

"Great, Atalanta," Promise turned to Atalanta with a smile, "now we can find our way... Do you want some of this?" He offered the roasted rabbit to the golden-horned deer.

The golden-horned deer shook its head quickly and stepped back, then raised its head, its golden antlers glowing softly in the moonlight.

Under its power, a tree quickly sprouted, blossomed, and bore fruit.

The brightly colored fruits then all fell on Promise.

"Wait, that's enough! I can't eat all of this!"

Atalanta stood by, dumbfounded at the scene before her.

Regaining her senses, she looked at the roasted rabbit in her hand and then at the brightest moon in the night sky.

At that moment, Atalanta felt something blocking her chest, making the rabbit in her hand lose its appeal.

Promise, seeing Atalanta's unhappy expression, found it amusing.

After thinking for a moment, he rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a paintbrush and a scroll.

"Atalanta, would you mind if I painted a picture of you?"

"A picture?" Atalanta looked up in confusion at Promise upon hearing his request.

"Yes," Promise nodded. "Consider it a reward for sharing your hunting spoils with me and protecting me..."

As he spoke, he paused slightly, then raised his head and said in a somewhat boastful tone, "You should know that my paintings are not ordinary. They can be recorded in legends, even recognized by the goddess of wisdom..."

Promise hadn't finished speaking.

"No need." Atalanta replied decisively.

"...What?" Promise was stunned for a moment, then became anxious and said to Atalanta, "Wait, Atalanta, do you know what you're saying? Let me tell you, my paintings have been praised by..."

"I said I don't want it. I don't like it." However, she interrupted him, looking annoyed. "If you really want to repay me... then play your lyre for me."

"This is my painting, and you might be the first person I paint after leaving the mountain. Are you sure you don't want it?" After a moment of silence, Promise asked Atalanta again.

"Yes, I'm sure." The latter nodded without hesitation.

"Alright then." Promise, full of regret, put away his paintbrush and canvas.

If a certain river goddess were here, she might have kicked Atalanta away and taken her place.

Following Atalanta's request, Promise took out his lyre and began to play beautiful music by the campfire.

Under the enchanting melody, who knows how much time passed before Promise, still holding his lyre, unknowingly fell asleep against the golden-horned deer.

The effect of the golden apple finally wore off.

The golden-horned deer also closed its eyes, carefully cradling Promise in its embrace under Atalanta's envious gaze.

But suddenly, its ears perked up, sensing something.

It lifted its head abruptly, looking at Promise in confusion.

It saw a thread pulling at Promise... a thread from the spindle of fate!

.

.

.

Thus,

In the temple of the goddess of fate, woven from the threads of all destinies in the world.

Rubbing his eyes and slowly opening them in confusion, Promise saw the goddess of fate, Clotho, kneeling beside him, her eyes white and holding a crystal ball and was too stunned to speak.

Clotho, the goddess of fate, informed Promise of the future she had seen not long ago. "Promise, when the night goddess Nyx decorates the night with stars, and you soar through the vast sky with the silver comet... you will die."

Clotho spoke to Promise in a gentle but serious tone, "You won't be able to grasp the silver comet, and your body won't withstand its power. So, Promise, leave quickly. Don't follow Athena's instructions; go find Queen Hera. Otherwise, you... will really die!"

Hearing this, maybe because his mind was still a little confused,

The boy didn't even think about it, and answered Clotho with eyes wide open and happiness: "I'm going to die, there's such a good thing?!"

In the next second, Clotho raised the crystal ball containing Promise's fate thread and smashed it against his head, bringing him to full consciousness...