Abhii28
patreon
(Fate) Chapter 215: Let’s Split the Golden Apple (Promise) Among Us! (2.7k)
🕑 Added 2024-12-02 15:54:35 +0000 UTCHow naive I’ve been, truly too naive .
How could I have ever trusted Athena and believed she wouldn’t stir up trouble?
If she didn’t cause chaos, could she even still be called Athena?
Looking at the flawless goddess before him, smiling serenely, Promise heaved a sigh.
Thinking back on past experiences, he realized he really hadn’t learned his lesson.
Or maybe it wasn’t about lessons at all.
Perhaps, because it was Athena, deep down in his heart, Promise didn’t really mind.
At most, he felt a little helpless, like there was nothing he could do about her.
His eyes drifted momentarily toward Hecate, who had fled earlier but returned halfway through.
You're here to watch the show, are you? Laughing, are you? Fine, I’ll remember this vengeance.
Mentally, Promise jotted down Hecate's name and today’s events in his personal Book of Grudges.
Then, he swept his gaze across his surroundings, and found how lively the scene had become tonight.
And why wouldn’t it be lively?
Like Hermes, Hestia, and even the goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, who had somehow pushed Hephaestus’ wheelchair over—were all present.
People like them are obviously just there to watch the fun and enjoy the trouble.
And they weren’t alone, in fact there were many people of this kind.
Particularly striking was Nyx, the goddess of the night, who had chased away the sun, blanketed the sky with stars, and now sat as Promise’s most devoted spectator.
For example, the sleepless dragon and the green-haired nymph, nearby watched on with expressions that seemed to say, I don’t know what’s happening, but it looks fun!
And then there were the more distant onlookers: king of gods, Zeus, Thetis, the ocean sage, and of course, Chiron himself.
Yet beyond these gods and spirits, there were the direct participants in the matter at hand.
Athena and Queen Hera were, of course, at the center of it all, so there was no need to say much about them.
The moon goddess, Artemis and goddess of agriculture, Demeter looked eager to join in, while even his goddess teacher, Hephaestus, seated silently in her wheelchair, kept her gaze fixed firmly on Promise.
Even Apollo, god of light, gazed at Promise with anticipation in his eyes!
So, although Promise was acutely aware of how lively things had become, he figured that most of the onlookers, like his trusty horse companion, were just here to graze and enjoy the show.
What Promise couldn’t have anticipated—or rather, what no normal person would ever imagine—was that at this very moment, gods of the sky, the sea, and even the underworld were all staring at the scene curiously.
No one could resist joining the spectacle.
Especially when the drama promised to be this explosive.
Promise, in fact, still didn’t fully comprehend the weight of his actions and the sheer prestige he held among the gods.
Take, for example, his journey through the underworld.
The events surrounding Hades, Persephone, and the blooming flowers of the underworld had cemented him in the memories of every underworld deity.
Not to mention how fond Hades and Persephone were of him. Even Nyx, one of the primordial gods, seemed to seek him out regularly.
As for the sea, the Argonauts’ six-month adventure had traversed most of its expanse.
On the ocean side, the Argonaut's adventure lasted for half a year and spanned most of the ocean, not to mention the recent wedding of the ocean sage Thetis and the incident of the golden apple, the aftermath of which had not yet completely dissipated.
Speaking of the golden apples, many goddesses now held one, each inscribed with "To the fairest." These alone were enough to amuse the Greek pantheon for ages.
And the sky?
Well, that was a story all its own.
Shortly after Promise first descended the mountain, Queen Hera had been grabbing other gods left and right to brag about having Promise as her follower.
Not to mention the chaos that followed—hunting with Hermes, storming Olympus, and countless other things.
At this point, it would’ve been harder for the gods not to know him!
So at this point, Promise’s name was nearly synonymous with fame among the Greek gods.
Even if not everyone knew him, his reputation had reached the level of "Who under heaven doesn’t recognize you?"
Given the circumstances, most gods were well aware that Athena and Hera had been battling over Promise’s allegiance as a follower.
Hera’s jealousy and pettiness, of course, were even more infamous than her status as Queen of the Gods.
Now, seeing the situation unfold, wow it turns out that this wasn’t just a dispute between Athena and Hera—it had escalated into a grand spectacle involving more than half of the Twelve Olympians!
How could they not be amused?
They weren’t just entertained—they were ecstatic!
While the gods reveled in the drama, thanks to Chiron and Medea’s involvement, the heroes were equally entertained.
After all, events like this were far more captivating than the so-called exploits of heroes.
Stories like these spread quickly, remained in circulation for ages, and became the stuff of legend.
As for the resolution of this chaotic affair, it would only come to light when Promise eventually returned to the modern era.
For now, beneath a starry night sky filled with suppressed laughter, in the sacred grove of god of war, Ares, Promise stood before the gods with a pained and exasperated expression.
He felt like a weak and helpless lamb waiting to be sacrificed, while people like the unabashed moon goddess Artemis looked at him with a green glow making no effort to hide her predatory stare.
"How’s it going? Come on, tell us, tell us, tell us, Chiron-sensei!"
Over in the Kingdom of Colchis, even Heracles couldn’t suppress the grin spreading across his face.
Jason was practically bouncing with impatience, frantically urging Chiron to give them an answer.
"Don’t rush, don’t rush. Promise, that kid, hasn’t made his choice yet... Wait, what’s this?"
At that moment, the elegant and refined sage, Chiron, seemed to shed his dignified persona entirely, transforming into a mischievous, gossip-loving teacher.
Not only was he eagerly following the drama surrounding his student, but he also seemed to be giving live commentary as events unfolded!
And so, Chiron naturally noticed something new.
"The goddess of fate is here too… Wait, even Themis, the goddess of justice, has arrived?!"
Chiron’s voice carried a hint of surprise as he continued his live commentary.
Hearing this, Atalanta and Medea couldn't help but look at each other.
They were a bit astonished but also found it unsurprising.
Well..now that things have come to this point, some truths could no longer be withheld.
Atalanta looked at the bewildered heroes around her and said, "Clotho, the goddess of fate… I think it’s fair to say she’s Promise’s favorite goddess."
Small, gentle, and soft-spoken,
More importantly, when Promise chose his path in life, it was fate that he embraced, meaning his entire existence would be intertwined with Clotho’s presence.
Atalanta’s words left the heroes stunned, their gazes all turning toward her, filled with surprise and curiosity.
"As for the goddess Themis,"
Recalling what she had witnessed and what her teacher had later shared, Medea added thoughtfully, "I heard that during a crucial judgment, she personally lifted her hand. When the scales were weighed, she raised the balance in favor of Promise’s kindness and fairness.
She even removed the white cloth that had covered her eyes for eons, a symbol of absolute impartiality, just for him."
"Something like that actually happened?" Hearing this, even Hercules asked in surprise.
After all, he had never heard of these things!
"Of course it did. But… those aren’t the most important details."
Medea, who was now fully indulging her mischievous side, flashed a sly smile.
At that moment, Atalanta’s emerald-green eyes shifted toward Jason as she asked suddenly, "Jason, didn’t you once mention that both you and Promise are considered Queen Hera’s heroes?
Because the goddess of fate herself acknowledged that your lives are intertwined with Hera’s destiny, correct?"
Jason, caught off guard, nodded instinctively.
"And yet," Atalanta continued calmly, "the threads of fate that intertwine with Promise aren’t just one—they’re four."
She spoke without pause,
"The noble Queen Hera, the radiant and wise Athena, the fate-weaving Clotho, and the judgment-wielding Themis… All four of their threads of destiny have been deeply entwined with Promise’s life from the beginning."
"And those threads, represent the very path Promise has walked in life."
Medea took over the conversation, looking at the dumbfounded heroes in front of her.
She began to explain the implications of fate as interpreted by Thetis, the ocean sage, sharing the insights with the gathered heroes.
Chiron, listening with a broad smile, seemed to enjoy every bit of it.
After hearing the full story, the heroes were left stunned.
Jason couldn’t help himself and, quite naturally, turned to Medea and Atalanta with a puzzled expression.
"How do you two know all this? We’ve never heard anything about it!"
Heracles was equally curious.
He had always thought he knew Promise well—after all, he even knew about Promise’s hunt for Hermes.
Now it seemed like he’d been overestimating himself all along.
"Because when Promise’s fate was first drawn, I was there with my goddess Artemis and the god of light, Apollo. I saw everything and learned the truth," Atalanta said casually, brushing her waist-length green hair.
"I was there too," Medea added with a cheerful smile. "My teacher dragged me along, so both Atalanta and I witnessed it firsthand.
My teacher even explained some things to me afterward."
Hearing this, the heroes finally understood and began to process everything.
And then...
"Wait a second!"
Jason suddenly shouted, turning to Chiron.
"Chiron-sensei, you just said that the goddess of fate and the goddess of justice—both of them—came here?!"
As soon as Jason finished speaking, the heroes froze and their eyes widened in shock.
After all, they finally realized the magnitude of the situation.
"That’s what I’ve been saying," Medea, pretending to be helpless, spread her hands, grinning as she said: "Everything Atalanta and I just said? It’s not even the main point. The main point is...
Promise has to make the final choice right now!"
The heroes finally grasped the gravity of the moment. Silence fell over them again, followed by a collective gasp.
"Choose one from four?!" Heracles blurted out, unable to contain himself.
"Not just four."
Chiron, the ever-refined and caring centaur teacher, couldn’t resist chiming in with a chuckle.
"I already told you—my goddess is very interested," Atalanta said, shrugging.
"And I mentioned earlier," Medea added, also shrugging, "that the god of craftsman, Hephaestus is Promise’s goddess mentor.
Plus, when I first met Promise, he was still wearing that necklace used for confinement by a certain goddess."
Then think about the other gods like Apollo, Persephone, and Demeter, the list just kept growing.
"Pfft—cough, cough, sorry!" Theseus apologized as he tried to suppress a laugh.
"How could you, Theseus?! That’s our dear brother you’re laughing at!" Meleager exclaimed indignantly.
Actaeon, the giant stag, gave Meleager a sideways glance and retorted, "Before you say that, maybe wipe that grin off your face first."
"You’re one to talk!" Jason chimed in, glaring at Actaeon. "You should tone it down too. You’re a giant stag—your smiling face is terrifying!"
The heroes began pointing fingers at one another, each accusing the other of failing to hide their amusement.
Before , finally...
"Hahahaha!"
They couldn’t hold back anymore...
Their laughter echoed through the Kingdom of Colchis, startling many of its inhabitants.
"Stop laughing already, or Promise will find out and add every single one of you to his little book of grudges," Chiron warned after some time, trying to bring the group back to order.
Hearing this, the heroes froze for a moment.
Even Atalanta hesitated; after all, no one wanted their name added to that infamous little book.
But the problem was...
"Chiron-sensei, you’re laughing too!" Jason pointed accusingly at Chiron’s face, where his lifted smile betrayed him.
Chiron froze when he heard Jason’s words as he touched his face, fell silent for a moment, and then sighed.
"It’s over... I don’t think I can stop smiling anymore."
Heracles laughed, the memory of Promise’s hunt for Hermes crossing his mind ad he said with a chuckle:
"If Promise finds out about this, we’re in serious trouble."
"Then let’s make it our little secret," Medea suggested with a mischievous grin.
Everyone immediately agreed, including Chiron, who found himself siding with them.
"Now, the key question arises."
After laughing so hard that his stomach hurt, Jason finally recovered and turned to Atalanta and Medea, asking curiously:
"Who do you think Promise will choose?"
As soon as he spoke, the heroes all stopped laughing and turned their curious gazes toward the two human girls who understood Promise best.
It’s worth noting that in this era, most people revered the gods deeply, and many heroes had been known to compete openly or covertly for divine attention and favor.
Yet in this moment, none of the heroes present felt even a hint of jealousy or resentment toward Promise for being so adored by the gods.
If anything, they were all collectively relieved they weren’t in his position.
After all, it wasn’t a blessing—it was something beyond comprehension, bordering on terrifying!
"Hmm..."
Faced with Jason’s question and the curious eyes of all the heroes, even Chiron, Medea and Atalanta fell silent.
The two girls exchanged glances, their eyes communicating silently.
Finally, Medea spoke cautiously:
"I think it’ll likely be one of the three—Clotho, the goddess of fate; Athena, the goddess of wisdom; or Queen Hera."
Atalanta nodded in agreement, adding her quiet affirmation.
After much thought, Medea finally spoke.
Atalanta, standing beside her, nodded in agreement and said:
"Those three goddesses are undoubtedly the top contenders. Whether it’s the things they’ve done for Promise or how much he cares about them, it’s clear they hold a special place far above anyone else."
"Themis, while her fate is intertwined with Promise’s, seems to inspire more respect than personal attachment.
So, after the three—Clotho, Athena, and Hera—it would likely be Themis, followed by his goddess mentor and Demeter."
Chiron gave a faint smile but didn’t refute their conclusions, indicating his agreement.
In fact, Atalanta secretly hoped Promise would choose Artemis.
That way, they could spend more time together.
But she knew it was a long shot, given how Promise always seemed inexplicably afraid of the moon goddess.
Medea had similar thoughts.
She couldn’t help but wonder why Promise seemed so strangely concerned about her teacher, Hecate.
If Hecate knew what Medea was thinking right now, she might appear in a flash and spank her on the spot.
"I just thought of something interesting,"
Peleus, who had been mostly silent until now, smiled and said, his sudden words drawing the curious gazes of everyone around him.
"You all know about the 'to the fairest' golden apple, don’t you?"
The heroes exchanged glances and nodded.
Of course, they knew about it.
After all, Promise had spent a good while handing out golden apples to nearly every goddess he met.
"Well then," Peleus continued with a sly smile, "don’t you think Promise’s current situation is just like a golden apple being presented before all the gods?"
The heroes froze for a moment before realization dawned.
Wait a minute—he’s right!
It was another case of goddesses dividing the golden apple!
But this time, it wasn’t just three goddesses involved.
A whole host of gods, both male and female—seemed eager to claim the prize for themselves.
"So, who will Promise ultimately choose?"
Jason swallowed hard and voiced what everyone else was thinking.
Yes, in this situation, where Promise was like a golden apple coveted by the Olympian gods, the question remained:
Who will he choose?
.
.
.
"Do I really have to choose one?"
Promise looked at the scene before him—Goddess Clotho, who was brought here by the two goddesses of fate Themis who had removed her symbolic white cloth of impartiality, Athena and Hera both waiting with expectant gazes, and Artemis and Apollo eyeing him intently, their stares like sharp blades.
He forced a strained smile, despair evident in his eyes, and stammered:
"I... I...
Can I choose all of you?"
