Legend has it that in the Black Sea far away from Greece, there is a kingdom called Colchis, where there is a rare treasure - the Golden Fleece.
For a long time, the Greeks have had many legends about it. It not only symbolizes wealth, but also adventure and indomitable will, as well as ideals and the pursuit of happiness.
In fact, it is rare because it is a gift from God.
It was also a gift from Hermes, one of the twelve gods of Olympus and the messenger of the gods.
Although it now belongs to the god of war Ares, because the Golden Fleece was sacrificed to the god of war Ares by the current king of Colchis.
But all in all, because of its symbolic significance, many heroes and kings wanted it.
They embarked on a dangerous journey, but no one succeeded.
Many people fell on the long journey without even seeing the shadow of the treasure.
Therefore, at this moment, on the sacrificial platform of the Kingdom of Iolcus, when the noble Queen of Heaven once again came to the world from the Holy Mount Olympus, she asked her believers to call everyone together and told everyone the oracle in front of them.
King Pelias, who stood at Hera's feet with Jason and Noyan, listened to the oracle.
The expression that had always been very ugly revealed a look of surprise at this moment.
Before Jason and Theo could speak, Pelias could not help but said to Jason, whose face changed slightly at the moment: "My dear nephew, it seems that you also know the story of the Golden Fleece, right?"
"It symbolizes wealth, power and fearlessness, and countless people have died because of it.
"Therefore, my dear nephew, you also know that it is an impossible task, and I don't want you to die in vain! "
"How about this, my dear nephew? In front of the great Queen Hera, I am willing to promise to share a portion of the royal power with you, and you don't have to undertake this impossible task!"
When Jason heard what Pelias said, his face hesitated.
After all, the legend of the Golden Fleece had spread throughout ancient Greece, and countless people had died in it, which made Jason feel a little hesitant.
but,
"Since this is a test given by the great Queen Hera, we will naturally complete it, even if it is an impossible task."
Theo's gentle voice sounded, and he said to Jason: "Moreover, the great and kind goddess Hera gave us such a trial, which represents her trust and expectations for us. How can we live up to her expectations?"
After Theo spoke, although Hera, who was at the highest point of the platform, had not said anything, if you looked at her now, you would have seen that the corners of her mouth slightly raised.
When Jason heard this, he came back to his senses and looked at Theo. Looking at his calm expression, Jason couldn't help but think of his oath.
He swore to the gods on that day that he, Jason, would eventually become a hero and a brave man worthy of the title!
Then Jason's panic disappeared. He raised his head and answered firmly, "Yes, even if it seems impossible to accomplish, we will definitely complete the trial under the watchful eyes of Hera, the Queen of Heaven!"
Seeing Jason's brave and fearless look when he made up his mind, Pelias's face turned ugly again.
"By the way, King Pelias, what will you do if we really bring back the Golden Fleece?" At the same time, Theo smiled and said to Pelias who was looking at him angrily, "Under the witness of the great Queen Hera!"
When Theo spoke, Hera lowered his head and cast a coercive gaze on Pelias.
Not only that, the people gathered around were also looking at Pelias, waiting for his answer.
Under such circumstances, Pelias had no choice but to bow his head, make a promise, and grit his teeth and said unwillingly: "In the presence of the great Queen Hera, if you can really get the Golden Fleece back, then I...willingly give up the sacred throne!"
So from that day on, the news spread rapidly throughout the ancient Greek continent.
Bards played their harps, weaving poems to tell the world.
Those who knew about this were all looking forward to their official departure and were enthusiastically discussing whether they could really return!
Just like that, about a week had passed since Nahra bestowed the trial.
A week later,
Early in the morning, before daybreak.
Jason stood outside the royal city of the Kingdom of Iolcus, looking at the man in front of him who had already packed his luggage and was ready to leave, Jason seemed to be hesitant to speak.
"The matter of ship is now left to you. Pelias will not let us build the ship so easily." Theo spoke first and said to Jason.
Although he knew in his heart that Athena would actually help in the process, using trees that would never sink into the sea as wood, he would eventually build the Argo.
When Jason heard this, he immediately patted his chest and assured, "Don't worry, I will definitely supervise them well!"
"But you...are you really okay?"
Jason looked at Theo with a worried look on his face.
"What's wrong with me?" Theo replied with a smile: "I just went to find them."
As he spoke, Theo raised the list in his hand.
All of them were his fellow disciples who had refused to bring him down the mountain, and some even grabbed him by the neck and sent him to Chiron.
When Theo thought about seeing them next, he smiled brightly.
"They will be very surprised if they see me!"
"I think it's fright." Jason couldn't help laughing when he heard it, and said to Nuoyan, "You must be worried about why the teacher let you go down the mountain. After all, we all know that you went down the mountain with all your heart to seek death!"
"What's there to be afraid of? The teacher has given up and doesn't care about me anymore."
"And..." Theo hesitated at this point, and his face became visibly depressed.
"And what?" Jason was naturally curious when he saw this.
"Nothing... Well, anyway, because of some things, even if I want to die now, I don't dare to die." Theo sighed heavily.
He apparently recalled Athena's oath.
The most important thing was the slightly yandere statement at the end - if he died before the grand finale she had prepared, she would definitely catch him even if he had to hide in the underworld!
So now Theo is really afraid to die, and even thinks that if he really dies accidentally, it might be a good thing that he can't ascend to the Throne of Heroes.
He didn't want to have a goddess appear with a smile when he was summoned by the heroic spirit, and then strangle him fiercely.
Oh, it's scary to think about it!
It turns out that these virgin goddesses all have problems!
"Well, although I don't know what happened, just don't go and seek death." Jason said with his head tilted.
"Don't worry, after all, I promised to help you ascend the throne." Theo waved his hand and said, "And I have said more than once that the premise of my death is to be glorious and become a hero, so how can I let go of the adventure of the Golden Fleece. But you all kept staring at me, you are so weird!"
"What he pursues is not the glory, wealth and women in life, but all these things that he cannot enjoy after death... The real wonder is who he is!"
Jason looked at Theo speechlessly and said, "Don't say that we mortals can't understand you. Even those great gods can't understand you!"
Teh!
Thinking of Athena's reaction at that time, Theo found that he really had a way to refute it. After all, even the goddess of wisdom looked at him with surprise when she knew his dream.
"Forget it. The sun is about to rise. Goodbye Jason."
"Yes." Jason nodded, "Goodbye Nuoyan, and... don't really die, come back soon, we still have to complete the trial of Queen Hera!"
"Good."
Looking at what was in front of him, Jason, who was still very afraid of the Golden Fleece, smiled and promised, "I'll be back soon!"
After saying this, Theo turned around and was about to leave when he suddenly recalled the ancient Greek tradition. After thinking for a while, he turned around and said to Jason: "By the way, I'm about to leave, won't you give me a few words of blessing?"
Jason was stunned and fell silent.
After a long silence.
"Well...I wish you a glorious death?"
"You won't let me die?"
"Then I wish you would not die?"
"Fuck, I helped you and you cursed me to live!"
puff!
Just when Jason's face turned dark and he almost couldn't help but draw his sword to duel with Nuoyan.
The goddess who had been eavesdropping on their conversation couldn't help but burst into joyful laughter.
Hearing the silvery laughter ringing in his ears, Theo was slightly stunned, and instantly realized who the other person was, so he gave up the idea of continuing to play with Jason.
"Goodbye, Jason!"
After saying this, without waiting for Jason to react, Theo turned around and climbed onto the horse.
Gradually he disappeared into the distance.
At this moment, the promise started its own journey.
...
"Good morning, beautiful and wise goddess Athena."
A small stream not far from the kingdom.
The flawless and elegant goddess sat on a stone beside the stream, the rising sun adorning her waist-length silver hair.
Those golden eyes looked at the young man who came in front of him with a smile and nodded slightly.
After Theo dismounted and walked closer, she took out another golden apple from somewhere and placed it in Theo's hand.
"Goddess Athena, may I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
I don't know if it was because she found Theo's playfulness with Jason just now interesting, or because he was finally going to embark on his journey, which made this goddess who loved heroes and heroic stories full of anticipation.
But she was obviously in a good mood at this time.
"Goddess Athena, why do you give me a golden apple every time you see me?" Theo asked in confusion, holding up the golden apple.
"Eh, you don't like it?" Athena tilted her head.
"It's not that I don't like it..."
Although Theo also knew that these ancient Greek gods were moody.
In many stories, they often give benefits for no reason and get angry for no reason, but the one in front of him is a goddess of wisdom after all, and after getting to know her, Theo feels that her rationality is obviously greater than her impulsiveness.
"Actually, there is no other reason. I just want you to grow stronger as a child." Athena said with a chuckle and pinched Theo's face.
"After all, even compared to Jason, you seem like someone who can be blown down by a gust of wind."
"I'm not that weak, am I?" Theo was a little unconvinced. Although it was true, the other party was Jason!
"Would you like me to blow on it and try?"
"Well... in order to fulfill my promise to you, Goddess Athena, I also think I should eat two more golden apples."
Theo said this seriously and carefully packed the golden apple in front of Athena.
Athena just found it funny and didn't say much.
"Then do you know why I came to see you at this time?" Athena asked Theo again.
Theo thought for a while after hearing this, and at the same time his eyes inadvertently glanced at the reflection of Athena in the stream beside him.
She was sitting on a rock, wearing a long skirt, with long, white legs...
Those legs are really tempting and beautiful but it's not the time to think about that.
Theo think straight.
"Goddess Athena, you said that you would see me become a hero and grant me a magnificent ending in the end!"
Theo replied: "And I am obviously still a long way from being a hero, so if I am not mistaken, you appeared to help me become a hero, right?"
Athena did not answer, she just took out another golden apple.
But this time it was not handed to Nuoyan, but stuffed into her own mouth.
While biting the golden apple, Theo couldn't help but think of another thing.
As we all know, the golden apple is used to restore physical strength and it also has certain effect of increasing strength, but in ancient Greek mythology, it belongs to the Queen of Heaven Hera.
The golden apple first appeared in the wedding of Zeus and Hera. Gaia, the goddess of the earth, brought a large golden tree from the edge of the world and gave it to Zeus and Hera as a wedding gift. The tree was full of golden apples.
(Please Gaia here isn't the Earth consciousness Gaia but Gaia as in primitive God)
Finally, Hera placed the golden apple tree at the edge of the world, in the Holy Garden of the Golden Apple, guarded by three goddesses and a terrible monster, the hundred-headed dragon Ladon.
There are many stories surrounding the golden apples in ancient Greece. One of the twelve trials of Hercules was to go to the holy garden of golden apples and take out one.
In addition, the most famous ones should be the golden apple "Given to the most beautiful goddess" and the three golden apples that Atalanta got during the race.
"That's right."
Athena admitted it generously. She was not embarrassed by having her thoughts exposed. Instead, she happily replied, "I came here to help you become a hero!"
Athena loves heroes. If Theo could see her panel, he could guarantee that there must be heroes there, and they would all be at least EX level!
After all, most of the heroes in ancient Greece are related to her.
Her frequent actions not only earned her the title of the Mother of Heroes, but also made people in later generations believe that she was actually recruiting troops and preparing to overthrow Zeus' rule.
After all, in this world, there are only two people who are qualified and capable of overthrowing Zeus.
One of them is Typhon, the ancestor of all demons and the largest monster in ancient Greece.
The other person is Athena...
Hey, if Athena really intends to overthrow Zeus' rule, should I help?
Wait, as a mortal, dying at the hands of the king of gods Zeus, such a great feat...Ah, beautiful goddess Athena, I will definitely do it without shirking my duty!
"What are you thinking about!"
Athena suddenly hit Theo's head hard.
"Goddess Athena, you peeked at me!" Theo subconsciously hugged his head and looked at her with wide eyes.
"I didn't peek, but I remember I told you that even if I didn't see what you were thinking, I could sense what you were thinking about me in front of me... But what you were thinking just now was very bold. Although it didn't seem like you were scolding me, but..."
Athena placed her hand under her chin and looked at Theo with interest.
"It's really nothing actually...By the way, Goddess Athena, do you have any oracle for me?" Theo changed the subject and asked Athena.
Athena smiled after hearing this and did not continue to ask...
From this perspective, it is a two-way race between Theo, who wants to become a hero and even wants to die, and Athena, who wants to cultivate a hero.
It's a pity that she is a virgin goddess.
And after the last contact, Theo discovered that even though she was a goddess of wisdom, she also had the terrifying potential to become a yandere!
This also reminded him of some fan fics from his last life where Athena turned into yandere in the end.
Then Athena reached out and took out the list and the small notebook of revenge from Theo's luggage, opened it and took a look.
"Who are you going to see first?"
"Heracles!" Theo answered without any hesitation.
After all, when it comes to Greek mythology and legends, aside from the Argonauts, the first thing that comes to mind is the Twelve Trials of Heracles.
Oh, and there's a Trojan War.
These stories are equivalent to the signature Greek mythology.
Now that Theo has already had one sign in his mouth, he must be eyeing the other one.
But Athena shook her head when she heard that and said to Theo: "No, you can't go yet."
Theo didn't ask why, but just looked at her in confusion.
"Do you know what happened between Heracles and Hera?"
Theo nodded.
He knew it of course. After all, in the career of the Queen Hera as a villain, the persecution of Heracles was the most typical story.
"You actually knew that? Chiron told you? No, Chiron wouldn't talk about these things. How did you know that?"
Theo did not answer, but asked Athena curiously: "Why not now?"
"Well, not now." Athena smiled. Seeing that Theo had no intention of explaining, she didn't care.
After all, this is ancient Greece in the Age of Gods. There are so many people, whether gods or prophets, who can see the future.
Although if you dare to spy on the gods, you will die a miserable death if caught.
"Although Hera has a good impression of you, even with the oath of the goddess of fate, you cannot interfere in Heracles' affairs now, not to mention that there is someone who is also paying attention to him." A
thena did not say who that person was.
But Theo understood instantly.
God King Zeus!
Zeus has been paying attention to the future Hercules since his birth.
"As for the others..."
Athena looked at the list of vengeance with amusement, put it down, and said to Theo: "Except for Heracles, they are not a big problem but let's put them all aside for now."
"Because I happen to have a trial here that is more suitable for you."
"It doesn't require great strength. It only requires the wisdom and courage you had when you sacrificed to Hera on that day, and most importantly, the one thing..."
Athena smiled slightly when she said this.
...
Legend has it that in ancient Greek mythology, there was a kingdom called Aegina.
Their kingdom worshipped a river goddess named Aegina.
In fact, rather than saying it is a belief, it is better to say that Aegina actually lives in the kingdom and is the real king of the kingdom.
The king of the kingdom is her child.
She was the daughter of the old river god Asopus. Her overly beautiful appearance and innocent character brought her the most terrible disaster in ancient Greece.
She was spotted by Zeus.
So when the old river god Asopus was out one day, Zeus turned into an eagle and captured Aegina. Finally, the old river god Asopus, who had been chasing her relentlessly, was discovered by Zeus and struck by a lightning bolt, breaking one of his legs.
Eventually he brought Aegina to Attica, established a kingdom there, and named the kingdom Aegina to show his love.
At the same time, Aeacus, one of the three judges of the underworld in ancient Greece, was the son of Aegina and Zeus.
Later, thanks to the god-king Zeus, the country quickly prospered.
Even if the king of gods Zeus gets tired of it, or finds his next prey and goes chasing after it, forgetting about this place and the river goddess, the river goddess Aegina, who already regards this place as her second home, is still trying her best to protect it.
Thanks to the efforts of the river goddess Aegina, this kingdom became the most famous kingdom in the Attica region. Many people came to visit, and the kind river goddess accepted them all and treated all her people as her own children.
But who would have thought that such prosperity would attract the attention of Queen Hera.
By chance, he learned about the affair between the river goddess Aegina and Zeus from the king.
Therefore, in order to take revenge on the river goddess Aegina, the angry Hera gave her the most severe punishment.
Hera cast a curse, causing all kinds of disasters and suffocating plagues to befall the kingdom at the same time.
In just a few days, the once prosperous and vibrant kingdom was filled with the smell of death and became like hell on earth.
Only the river goddess Aegina was left at a loss, looking at everything in despair!
...
"What's the most important thing...?"
Looking at Athena in front of him, who was smiling, suddenly stopped talking, and kept looking at him, Theo couldn't help but feel confused.
"That is the most important point, and it is also the oracle I gave you."
Athena smiled and replied, "Then it is the love of the most noble goddess, Queen Hera!"
...