The Argo Sets Sail!

A few days later...

The winged horse returned to Jason's homeland, the kingdom of Iolcos, bringing Promise and Atalanta back to the gathering place of the heroes...

"Huh, Theseus?"

When he came back, Promise was surprised to see Theseus tied up with ropes, hanging upside down from a tree. "How did you get back so fast… Could it be that you broke our agreement?"

It hadn't even been a month since the incident with Theseus, and Promise couldn't understand how he managed to return so quickly without any form of transportation.

As for why Theseus was hanging there, it was naturally because Helen's sister and brother had beaten him up and tied him there as punishment.

"No, no, I didn't!" Theseus, who was still hanging, quickly explained when he saw Promise's displeased expression.

"I went to Helen's homeland, apologized to her parents that day, and after they forgave me, I fell asleep. When I woke up, I found myself back here. And in that half-asleep state, I think I heard the voice of Persephone, the goddess, saying she had forgiven me and telling me to hurry back or something…"

As Promise stood there dumbfounded by Theseus' explanation...

"Promise and Atalanta, why are you so slow?" The red-haired youth Meleager, who should have been behind them, walked over at this moment.

By now, the lingering affection in Meleager's eyes when looking at Atalanta had completely vanished.

It turned out that no long after Promise and Atalanta had left, Hermes helped him return to Iolcos.

Within two days, thanks to an ointment Hermes had given him, Meleager's wound from being pierced throw the arrow had also healed long ago.

"Brother Promise!"

Just then, a little girl's voice called out, and little Helen came running toward him, immediately throwing herself into his arms.

"I missed you so much, Brother Promise. Where did you go? Why didn't you come back sooner?"

As she said this, Helen turned her head and her purple eyes spotted Atalanta standing next to the boy.

Of course this was not the point.

The point was that she suddenly discovered that Pegasus was standing very close to Atalanta!

It seemed this girl had known Brother Promise before and it seemed their relationship was quite close.

"Who is she...?" Atalanta also looked at Helen in confusion, somewhat astonished at how beautiful the girl in front of her was.

"She's Helen, the younger sister of the twins. Because of some reason, she seems to be very attached to me now," Promise explained to Atalanta with a smile.

Hearing this, the latter instinctively glanced at Promise, then turned to look at Helen, who was clinging to him and looking at her with a wary expression.

For a moment, Atalanta found the girl's behavior a little familiar.

It was almost as if she were looking at the Moon Goddess, Artemis…

And in that instant, Atalanta understood.

"Helen, this is Sister Atalanta.

Come and say hello to her." Promise introduced Atalanta to Helen.

Hearing this, Helen smiled sweetly and greeted Atalanta very obediently.

Yet, when Promise wasn't looking, she shot Atalanta a glance filled with unmistakable wariness and hostility.

"Promise, you're finally back!" Jason, Hercules, and Orpheus, strumming his lyre, emerged from their quarters, greeting Promise with excitement.

At the same time, Promise also noticed Actaeon, who had turned into a great stag, and the young witch Medea stepping out as well.

Seeing these ancient Greek heroes appearing one by one and gathering here because of him, the young man couldn't help but smile as he turned his head to look at Jason, and said: "Hey, Jason."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"It's time to set off," Promise grinned and said. "Let's leave tomorrow morning."

Yes, it was time.

The heroes were preparing to embark on their journey, and soon the news spread like wildfire across every corner of Iolcos.

After all, less than two years had passed since the incident and most of the kingdom's inhabitants still vividly remembered that day when Promise and Jason, who had just come down the mountain, came to this kingdom.

They remembered how, during the sacrifice to Hera, Jason's uncle, King Pelias, held a ceremony to honor the Queen of the Gods, and the trial that had been set before them by the goddess Hera herself.

The gods would bear witness to this grand adventure, and when they returned in glory, Jason would reclaim all that he had once lost.

So, that night, the light of torches made Iolcos shine like it was daytime, as the people cheered and, on their own accord, hosted a grand feast to send off the heroes who were about to embark on their journey.

They brought out their finest wines and delicacies, sparing no expense in celebrating the heroes' departure.

Even Jason's uncle, King Pelias, attended the feast.

"I don't wish to see you return, but… I also hope to witness that glorious scene," King Pelias said to Jason during the celebration.

"Well then, I'm going to disappoint you, yet make you happy at the same time," To this, Jason, who was full of vigor and vitality, replied as follows.

Pointing toward the assembled heroes, he declared loudly, "Because we will return, bringing back the treasure of the Golden Fleece, laden with glory!"

Jason's voice echoed through the banquet, and the gathered heroes laughed heartily, raising their cups of wine and toasting with him in celebration.

Meanwhile, amidst the crowd, Helen was searching everywhere without success and began to grow anxious.

In her desperation, she finally approached Atalanta, who was standing alone in the shadows, reluctant but determined to ask, "Sister Atalanta, have you seen Brother Promise?"

Atalanta's calm green eyes glanced at her indifferently.

"There's no need to search. You won't find him."

"Why?" Helen looked at her, feeling a bit confused.

"Because when you notice he's gone, there's only one conclusion."

Rising to leave the noisy celebration, which she never liked, Atalanta said, "He's already standing before the gods."

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On the outskirts of the kingdom,, Promise stood alone by a small river under the moonlight.

The boy bathed in the soft glow of the moon, his reflection shimmering in the clear water.

Then, Promise placed a small doll—one representing the goddess Clotho, the Fate—on the grass beside him.

"Goddess Clotho, would you like to chat with me?"

Promise smiled as he spoke to the doll.

The doll did not respond right away.

However, its body stiffened slightly, and if one looked closely, a hint of panic flashed across its face.

"If you don't speak, I'll take it as your agreement," Promise said with a grin as he laid down beside the doll, gazing up at the starry night sky.

The cool night breeze passed by, and it didn't take long before the small figure of the goddess Clotho appeared in place of the doll, standing before Promise.

Clotho sat down, gently lifted Promise's head, and placed it on her lap.

Then, in a tender and gentle yet stern voice, trying to appear authoritative despite her youth, she asked, "When did you find out?"

"When you gave me the doll," Promise replied. "After all, the goddess Athena warned me early on not to casually speak the names of goddesses.

She said that no matter what I said, they would hear it."

This was, after all, the Age of Gods.

Hearing this, Clotho fell silent for a moment.

She then looked up, and the once white pupils of her eyes now gleamed with the blue of the sky.

Clotho and Promise gazed at the night scenery together.

They didn't say anything else, and there was no need for them to say anything.

Because as long as he needed her, the goddess of fate would always come to him.

...

...

Morning came.

The heroes gathered at the port, assembling on the Argo.

No one from the crowd followed them further.

The heroes quickly boarded the ship, except for Promise, who remained standing below, gazing at the dawn breaking over the horizon.

The light illuminated the heroes and the divine ship, the Argo, which was built by the gods themselves.

The boy's emerald eyes then looked far into the distance.

He knew that the gods were watching, having long awaited this moment.

And when he wanted to see them, they appeared.

He saw the main gods of the Olympus, the gods with whom he had formed bonds, all gathered there to witness this moment.

Even Hades, the god of the underworld, Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, and Hestia were present.

Promise also spotted Thetis, the wise sea nymph, who kept her Promise, standing amidst the waves of the ocean, smiling and waving at him.

"Ah, even my teacher is here."

Promise chuckled as he noticed Chiron, the wise centaur, standing in the distant forest.

Scanning the gathering, his gaze finally settled on two of the most revered goddesses—Hera, the Queen of the Gods, and Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom.

This time, the two of them stood together, which was rare.

When Hera noticed Promise's gaze, she gave him an incredibly gentle smile and Athena also smiled, but her eyes were full of expectation when she looked at the boy.

"It's time to set sail," Promise said, pulling his gaze back, then turned around and boarded the ship.

And with that, the Argo officially set sail!

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Orpheus, the son of the Apollo, the god of light, began to play the song he had promised Promise long ago—The Bink's Brew.

The beautiful melody of the lyre filled the air, and the rousing, joyful tune stirred the blood of every hero, filling them with excitement and anticipation for the adventure ahead.

When Promise moved to the bow of the ship, and stood right on the edge, many people were startled and frightened, fearing a gust of wind might blow him off.

Until, they saw the boy take out the white feathered brush from the sky.

Promise painted a picture.

And in that moment, he captured the scene—one worthy of being etched in time.

In the painting...

The light of dawn illuminated the darkness, casting its glow on the laughing heroes who had gathered together.

Orpheus played his lyre, filling the ship with beautiful music, while beside him, his beloved nymph Eurydice sang, accompanying her lover with her sweet voice.

Meleager stood alongside the great stag Actaeon, facing the sea breeze, while the Gemini stood with the most-beautiful Helen.

Medea was carefully greeting Atalanta, while Hercules stood tall on the ship, and Jason, full of spirit, manned the helm, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon as the mighty Argo sailed toward the rising sun on the sea's edge.

It was a beautiful scene, perfectly capturing the moment.

But...

"Brother Promise, why aren't you in this painting?" Helen poked her head over and asked in confusion.

The latter, who had just completed his painting, smiled softly in response.

"Because my place is not in this painting."

The journey began at dawn, and when they return, it would be at dusk.

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