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(Fate) Chapter 222: My daughter
🕑 Added 2024-12-09 17:55:20 +0000 UTCNyx's eyes sparkled with delight at Promise's immediate response.
"You truly mean it? You’re willing to do anything for me?"
As she spoke, she leaned in closer, narrowing the space between them in the chariot.
The faint, soothing scent that clung to her enveloped Promise.
Feeling a bit awkward, the latter instinctively leaned back slightly.
Noticing his reaction, Nyx couldn’t help but chuckle and gave his cheek another playful pinch.
Well..unlike certain goddesses, she harbored no ulterior motives; and simply found his reaction a bit interesting.
After all, compared to the typical heroes and gods in ancient Greece (most of whom were either shameless scoundrels or on their way to becoming one) Promise’s genuine innocence was refreshingly amusing.
To Nyx, Promise wasn’t just another mortal; she loved him like a child.
In her eyes, she embodied the role of a nurturing, all-encompassing maternal figure, much like the night itself.
"Goddess Nyx, maybe you should tell me what the matter is first," A little bit of caution arose in his heart, and after calming down, he said this.
"Hey, but you just said that you'd do anything for me."
Looking at the pouting goddess of the night in front of him, Promise had a blank expression on his face.
After all, what I said earlier was earlier—now is now... well the main reason was that he suddenly realized that this ancient god was actually a god with a strong evil taste like Athena and Hermes.
From peeking cautiously in the beginning to peeking with a clear conscience now!
"Actually, it’s about my daughter."
Then the goddess of night Nyx said again as Promise blinked in surprise.
"Daughter? Goddess Nyx, you have a daughter?"
His thought about it but only remembered that one of the other party’s children was Thanatos, the god of death in the underworld, and the other was the river god who ferried people across the River Styx.
Just as he was thinking this, Nyx saw the confusion in his heart and said, "I mean Hecate... Although she is not my real daughter, but in my eyes, there’s little difference."
"Goddess Hecate?" Promise looked at her with some surprise this time.
On reflection, though, it wasn’t entirely unexpected.
During past events, Nyx had indeed treated Hecate with a motherly tenderness, especially during the incidents involving Mount Olympus.
Still...
"What could I possibly do for Goddess Hecate?" Promise asked, genuinely puzzled.
If anything, it seemed more plausible for Hecate to help him instead.
Nyx tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, Hecate is actually quite adorable, wouldn’t you agree?"
Promise nodded earnestly.
"And although she’s a bit homebody, her power and background are remarkable. As for a dowry, let’s just say it would be... exceptional."
Before the Goddess of Night finished her words, cold sweat had already appeared on Promise' forehead.
Before she could finish, he quickly interrupted, his voice slightly louder than usual.
"Goddess Nyx! What on earth are you trying to say?"
This conversation was quickly veering into dangerous territory—dangerous enough that Promise could already picture Hecate hanging herself in despair if she ever found out about this.
Nyx sighed theatrically, her face filled with exaggerated sorrow.
"Do you know how much older that child is than Zeus or Hera and many others? And yet, she’s still single.
You don't know..her mother has asked me for help countless times.
As a result, now Hecate avoids me whenever I bring it up!"
Listening to Nyx’s exasperated monologue, Promise couldn’t help but recall Hecate’s usual haughty demeanor toward him and chuckled softly.
This gossip is surprisingly juicy.
Curiosity piqued, Promise pressed further, "But surely there are gods who are interested in her, right?"
After all, putting aside her personality, Hecate was indeed a first-class existence in terms of appearance, strength and status.
"Of course," Nyx replied with a shake of her head. "In fact, she’s had several suitors among my children and others.
But as I mentioned before, Hecate may appear just like that, but deep down, she’s extraordinarily proud. Even toward the god king, Zeus and Hera, her respect is only surface-deep.
In truth, the only god she truly holds in her heart may very well be the flawless goddess of wisdom, Athena."
Hearing her words, Promise blinked rapidly.
"Wait, so... during the whole Olympus incident, even though she seemed completely unwilling on the surface, she was actually excited on the inside?"
Nyx glanced at Promise but didn’t answer directly.
Instead, she covered her mouth, suppressing a laugh, which was obviously a silent confirmation.
Seeing her like this, black lines seemed to form on Promise’s forehead.
He thought about it carefully and felt that it made sense.
No wonder she took the battle against Athena so seriously back then. She must have been enjoying herself!
"So even my own children were not in her eyes... But in fact, I also felt that none of my children were worthy of her, so I just let her do what she wanted."
Promise was nodding in agreement when something suddenly felt off.
Wait, they’re not worthy...
"Me?"
Promise pointed at himself in a dumbfounded manner, then said very self-awarely, "No, Goddess Nyx, if even your children aren’t good enough, then I’m definitely not!"
"Whether someone is 'worthy' isn’t the most important thing.
What truly matters is whether she likes the person."
"That makes it even less likely!" Promise exclaimed. "How could she possibly..."
Mid-sentence, he paused, another thought striking him like lightning.
Looking at the black-haired goddess before him, who was smiling knowingly, Promise felt a chill run down his spine.
"Goddess Nyx, surely you don’t mean..."
"Hmm..."
Nyx tilted her head, adopting an expression of genuine contemplation. After a moment, she said, "It might not be ‘like’ in the traditional sense, but I can assure you, Hecate truly cares about you. For whatever reason, you have a place in her heart."
"Well... Nyx," Promise said, struggling to process this revelation. "Don't you think..there's a possibility.... a possibility... that she cares because I’ve driven her crazy?"
Nyx gave him a sidelong glance, then chuckled softly.
She didn’t answer directly, leaving Promise to stew in uncertainty.
Whether it’s annoyance or genuine affection...it didn't matter at all.
After all, how could she, a half-mother nor see it?
However, for now, Nyx wad content with the current state of affairs, so, she decided not to push the matter further.
After all, she saw Promise as a child she adored, and she had all the time in the world.
When Promise inevitably ascended to immortality, they would have eternity to figure things out.
Thinking of this, the goddess of night Nyx put aside her little thoughts for the time being and told her original plan.
What she wanted to ask him for was not a big thing, but not a small one either.: she wanted Promise to drive her chariot of the night.
"Child, you’ve already agreed to help Helios. Will you deny me?"
After the Goddess of Night blinked at him and showed an expression as if she was sad, even though he knew she was pretending, Promise couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
As it turned out, the task was much easier than expected.
Nyx’s horses were far gentler than Helios’s fiery steeds.
And because they were already familiar with Promise, they welcomed him without resistance.
To Promise’s surprise, Pegasus, who came joining in the fun, even took the lead, happily guiding the chariot through the vast expanse of the night.
Together, they ran through the dark skies, pulling the chariot of the night for an entire evening.
Thus, without much fanfare, Promise quietly accomplished the feat of guiding the night across the world.
.
.
.
The Next Morning
As the sun began to rise, Helios rode his blazing chariot across the heavens, scanning the earth for any sign of Promise.
At the precise moment the two celestial chariots met, marking the transition from night to day, Helios froze in astonishment.
There, on the black chariot of the night, was Promise, guiding the night’s descent as seamlessly as Helios heralded the day.
