Judgement and Painting
"Circe, out of jealousy in your heart, you cursed the water nymph and turned her into a monster with your magic potion. So, how did you feel watching it all unfold?"
Promise then questioned the witch, Circe.
"How else could I feel? Of course, it was the satisfaction of revenge!"
Circe answered very straightforwardly.
She didn't even think she had done anything wrong and answered in a matter-of-fact tone, "Why should she get Glaucus's love? Besides, didn't she reject him at first? Why did she agree later?"
"And it's not like I didn't give them a chance. Didn't they both say that they loved each other so much, right? Then prove it to be!
I didn't lie—if Glaucus truly loved her and had kissed her that day, she would've turned back. So, how is it my fault?"
"Am I supposed to do nothing and just watch the person I love being lovey-dovey with someone else in front of me? No way!"
When Circe said this, Queen Hera in the audience couldn't help but nod in approval, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Do you still love that fisherman now?" Promise continued to ask, "Would you still be willing to save him from the punishment of the sea goddess Thetis?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the audience curiously looked over.
Circe instinctively glanced at Glaucus, then curled her lips disdainfully and said, "Of course, I'm not interested anymore. At first
I was planning to wait for him to give up, thinking that once he gave up I would run over and make him fall in love with me again.
"But when I secretly saw how pathetic and ugly he looked while running away, I completely lost interest."
In the family section, Medea clenched her fists angrily upon hearing Circe's words, expressing her dissatisfaction.
Hecate beside her also couldn't help but cover her face, feeling too embarrassed to keep watching.
At the same time, she glanced at Medea beside her and immediately made a decision in her heart.
Originally Hecate was going to pass on the blame and give Medea to Circe for nurturing, but now she has changed her mind.
Because she finally understood why Medea, who was so well-behaved and sensible now, and at most a little bit mischievous, would become the treacherous witch she would be in the future.
She used to think it was because of Jason, but now it's clear... Circe, you're the real culprit!
And indeed, Medea was really influenced by Circe in this regard.
Circe's love was like a forbidden sweet poison.
It could make people degenerate and go crazy!
"I see," Promise nodded calmly without showing much emotion.
"Scylla, you are the complete victim in this situation. A single act of kindness brought such disaster upon you.
You should have deserved the greatest sympathy, but...
Do you hear them? The cries of those innocent souls who died at your hands."
As his words fell, the beautiful water nymph turned her head and looked at the audience.
With her movement, the shadow of the monster behind her also shifted its gaze, making the water nymph see nothing but fear and anger.
Finally, her gaze rested on the sea goddess Thetis.
Now that she had fully regained consciousness in this pure white court, she naturally remembered everything Thetis had done to her so far.
When the two looked at each other, Thetis, who had already seen the decision in her eyes, was instantly filled with sadness.
She understood the decision her friend had made.
"I hear them," the beautiful water nymph replied to Promise, "I am willing to atone for my sins and offer my life.
Even if it means descending to the abyss of the underworld and enduring the torments of hell, I will not resist. Therefore, honorable judge, please pass your judgment!"
After she finished speaking,
"I feel the same way." The fisherman, who lowered his head and dared not look at the water nymph again, gave the same answer.
So now, everyone's eyes were once again focused on Circe.
Circe opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, looking at Promise, then at the goddess of justice, Themis, behind him, and then at the group of goddesses sitting nearby.
Finally, her gaze landed on her own goddess, Hecate.
Hecate, who had been looking away and didn't want to deal with Circe, struggled internally for a while under Circe's gaze, but in the end, under everyone's eyes, she stood up slowly in front of everyone.
"Promise, she... is my student," Hecate said with a reluctant sigh, forcing herself to speak. "Could you hand her over to me? I promise, from now on, I'll strictly discipline her!"
To be honest, Promise was quite surprised at this time, and even Medea, standing next to Hecate, looked at her teacher in shock.
Because Hecate had always given them the impression of being unreliable and the kind that tends to give up terribly.
Therefore, they really did not expect that when something really went wrong, even under the watchful gazes of so many gods and goddesses such as Queen Hera and Goddess Athena, she would still stand up for her students.
"And for that, I, Hecate, swear by my name as a goddess that if you ever need my help, no matter how difficult the task, I will assist you without hesitation!" Hecate gritted her teeth and continued, "As for the souls who died in this event, I will seek out Hades, the god of the underworld, and ensure they are treated well."
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene suddenly became very quiet.
To be honest, the offer was quite tempting for Promise, especially considering how Hecate had always shown him a cold face as her expression was constantly filled with disdain whenever they met.
So he was actually tempted to create a huge mess and then call Hecate to help clean it up, just to watch her struggle.
However, after a brief smile, Promise began the judgment for Circe.
"Circe, in the future, you will meet someone you fall deeply in love with."
He spoke calmly, "But you will never be able to gain his love. Moreover, when that person stands in front of you, you will be forced to help him with all your might, ensuring he returns to the one he loves."
"Huh?!" Circe's eyes widened in disbelief at this judgment.
"And from today on, you are Scylla's servant, and you will serve her until she is willing to return the freedom to you."
"What? Why?!" Circe was furious and was just about to protest when,
"Enough, be quiet!" Even Hecate couldn't stand it anymore and swiftly cast a silencing spell on Circe, stopping her from speaking.
This trial was obviously beyond Hecate's expectations.
She originally thought that Promise would directly throw Circe to the Furies to be endlessly tormented.
So, in fact, Hecate was relieved.
Although it wasn't endless torment, reflecting on the judgment, many couldn't help but laugh at Circe's fate, given everything she had done up to this point.
Among them was Medea.
"Auntie deserved it!" As the girl clapped her hands in delight.
Seeing this, Hecate became even more alert.
She absolutely couldn't let this girl interact with Circe.
If both of her students ended up ruined, she would be too ashamed to come out of the underworld!
"Scylla, you will remain in this hideous form," Promise tilted his head to look at the water nymph and said, "But from today onward, Circe will be your servant. You can command her as you please until you are willing to grant her freedom.
Additionally, you must atone for the things you have done by saving those who are drowning or in distress. When the world recognizes that Scylla is not a sea monster but a sea nymph, you will be restored to your original form."
The water nymph didn't respond to his words but instead turned her head, looking worriedly at the souls in the audience.
"They have already received the corresponding judgment in the underworld. They are already dead souls, so the underworld is naturally their destination."
Promise said and at these words, Clotho, who was holding her crystal ball in the corner, couldn't help but lift her head slightly.
So you do know!
"But since they were involved in this matter..." Promise continued, looking toward Persephone and said, "Goddess Persephone, could I trouble you to grant them three days of light?
During those three days, they may return to their loved ones, accompany them, and bid their final farewells."
When Promise made this judgment, he deliberately turned his head to glance over at Clotho and smiled at her.
This decision, of course, delighted the spirits, leaving them with no objections whatsoever!
"And as for you, Glaucus..."
Promise looked at the fisherman and said, "To be honest, you haven't done anything gravely wrong; you simply stopped loving her.
But the issue lies in the fact that she was your saviour, and when she needed you, not only did you fail to save her, but you also pushed her into the abyss."
"Thus, your judgment is that you will naturally endure the same suffering as Scylla and will never be able to receive her forgiveness...
Goddess Hecate, please give him a potion."
Hecate nodded, indicating there was no problem.
At this point, the scales that had been shaking in front of Promise since the beginning of the trial returned to stability, and Themis, who had been silent beside him, smiled again.
The spirits cheered—they had been granted three days of light, the fisherman and the witch received their deserved punishments, and the pitiful yet hateful monster would atone for her mistakes while still holding onto a hopeful future.
Thus, the trial came to an end.
The gods laughed as they left...
"Athena, you stop right there!"
"Hera, stop chasing her!"
Oh, more drama to watch!
Hermes immediately rushed forward, only to be kicked away by Athena, who took advantage of the situation.
Athena had regretted not joining the hunt against Hermes earlier, so she had been waiting for this chance!
"Teacher, why aren't you happy? Is it because of Auntie?" Medea asked, confused, as she looked at her road goddess teacher, Hecate, who wore a troubled expression.
"It's not because of her; it's because of myself!" Hecate said with a face full of grief and frustration as she looked at Medea. "I still can't get rid of you now, and I so owe that guy a favor because of what happened today....
Oh my God, can someone come and save me!"
Hecate was in utter despair.
Amidst the noise,
The pure white courtroom faded away.
Everyone returned to the shores of the strait.
The tall and terrifying monster, Scylla, regained her consciousness.
Medea, who had been sleeping under a tree, rubbed her eyes as she woke up.
They all instinctively cast their gazes toward where Promise was, witnessing the moment when the Goddess of Justice, Themis, fulfilled her promise with him.
Promise handed back the Sword of Judgment to Themis, the goddess of justice and completed the painting they had agreed upon.
It was a painting divided into two halves.
One half depicted everything that had just happened—a lively courtroom.
The gods were chasing one another, the spirits were cheering, the witch being judged was furious, the fisherman was sorrowful, while the hideous monster was smiling.
Though it was a sacred and pure white courtroom, everyone in the painting appeared noisy, yet this chaos brought a smile to the viewer's face.
The other half naturally depicted the initial judgment—Queen Hera, the sea goddess Aegina, and the cursed fallen kingdom welcomed the dawn that tore through the dark night.
Later, after removing the white cloth covering Promise's eyes, Themis departed.
When the sun had just begun to rise, Scylla also left.
She no longer resisted her current appearance, but she was still worried.
Worried that her appearance might frighten the delicate boy who stood like a flower.
"Thank you, Promise."
At this point, after bidding a reassuring farewell to her friend, the gentle sea goddess Thetis approached Promise and sincerely expressed her gratitude to him.
"It's nothing. Besides, it's me, who should be thanking you instead," The young man said with a smile. "After all, thanks to this event, I fulfilled my agreement with the goddess Themis."
"There's no need to say that..." Thetis looked at the delicate young man in front of her with amusement.
His eyes, as beautiful as the ocean, reflected her.
The sun had only just risen, casting a bright horizon over the endless sea.
The breeze gently blew through Promise's black hair, and the morning light illuminated him, making his emerald eyes resemble stars.
Thetis found herself lost in thought for a moment before snapping back to reality.
"I don't know how I could ever repay you for this, so I will remember it in my heart and wait for the day I can return the favour... Also, Promise, may I ask you something?"
After coming back to her senses, the beautiful goddess spoke in an even softer voice, "Is your fate intertwined with Queen Hera, the Goddess of Wisdom Athena, the Goddess of Justice Themis, and the Goddess of Fate Clotho?"
The sea goddess Thetis was a wise sage of the ocean.
When Promise heard her sudden question, he looked at her, a bit puzzled.
Thetis smiled slightly and continued in a gentle voice: "I don't know if this will be of any use to you, but... I think I should tell you everything."
"The fate thread of the Goddess of Wisdom Athena represents wisdom and life.
You possess the wisdom to overcome any challenge, yet because of this fate thread, you will always walk a difficult path toward becoming a hero, facing various trials and hardships."
"The fate thread of the Goddess of Justice, Themis, represents fairness and kindness.
In all the people and events you encounter, you always strive not to favor anyone, be it mortals or gods, as you endeavour to restore fairness for them."
"The fate thread of the Goddess of Fate, Clotho, represents abandonment and attachment.
No fate can truly bind you.
Though you are forsaken by fate and can never fully grasp your own destiny, it's this very attachment that allows you to create your own destiny."
"The fate thread of Queen Hera represents affection and marriage.
Hera is the most revered goddess in this world. Her affection for you signifies that all other gods will also favor you. As for marriage..."
At this point, Thetis suddenly hesitated.
Looking at the adorable youth before her, she thought for a moment but decided not to speak the rest of her thoughts.
The marriage thread represents both beauty and chaos.
It's beautiful because it's tied to Hera, the Queen of Heaven.
No matter who it is, as long as Promise chooses, he can have a grand wedding with the other party and receive beautiful blessings.
But because of Hera's involvement, the seemingly perfect marriage would be filled with chaos.
If it's like Zeus, the king of gods, Promise might end up loving many people.
But if it's the other way around, Promise... would be loved by many!
And that kind of love would undoubtedly turn his romantic life into a mess!
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