The four of them didn't notice Circe's peculiar reaction.
Meleager, as if suddenly recalling something, turned to Alaric with a spark of enthusiasm.
"In fact, the invitation to join Brother Jason has sparked quite a response. It's not just about supporting Jason, everyone's also eager to try a grand sea voyage.
I heard that for this journey, the hundred-eyed giant Argus built a ship called the Argo, far grander than any fisherman's boat.
Sailing on this unprecedented vessel is a groundbreaking feat, and everyone's thrilled about it. So, what do you say, Mr. Alaric and Lady Circe? Why not join us?"
At Meleager's invitation, Alaric's eyes lit up.
Well, this Meleager sure knows how to read the room. Here I thought I'd need to drop some hints.
With such a direct invitation, joining the journey would feel natural, wouldn't it?
Of course, while that was his inner thought, Alaric kept up a facade of restraint.
"Oh… is that really alright?" Alaric put on an expression of interest tinged with hesitation.
"After all, I don't know many of the Greek heroes. Honestly, aside from that time on the 'Invisible Island,' I've spent most of my days immersed in studies.
For a stranger like me to join in, wouldn't it be a bit awkward?"
Meleager shook his head, his invitation growing even more enthusiastic.
"What's the issue? Both you and Circe are capable people, that's more than enough!
Sure, Brother Jason's call has drawn a crowd, but not everyone knows each other. Take me, for instance, most of these heroes are just names I've heard of.
Besides, Mr. Alaric, with your feats on the 'Invisible Island,' everyone will be eager to befriend you. So, what do you say? Don't miss out on this gathering of heroes!"
"Well, in that case…" Alaric glanced at Circe, feigning deliberation, then nodded decisively. "Then we'll impose on you all for the time being.
Truth be told, I'm quite intrigued by the idea of sailing on humanity's first great seafaring ship, the Argo."
"Fantastic!"
Alaric's agreement brought bright smiles to the four companions' faces.
With a sage and sorcerer like him on board, the journey was bound to go much smoother, wasn't it?
"Then let's take you to meet Brother Jason right away," they said. "He'll be thrilled to have you join us, Mr. Alaric."
And so, led by the four, Alaric and Circe made their way toward the coast.
As they traveled, Alaric sensed Circe casting a "Mind Link" spell.
In his consciousness, her voice echoed.
"Hey, Dean, this so-called journey to Colchis to seize the Golden Fleece, isn't it the real reason you came out this time?"
"You guessed it," Alaric confirmed.
"Hmph… mere mortals daring to venture to Colchis to steal a treasure, and catching your attention?
There's got to be some kind of conspiracy behind this, right?" Circe's suspicions deepened at his words.
"You're not wrong. After hearing about this, I strongly suspect this journey is tied to a scheme by the Olympian gods."
"What? The Olympian gods? How? Why?" The revelation threw Circe into a panic.
Though the young witch had her own doubts about the motives behind this hero-filled journey, she hadn't even considered the Olympians being involved.
Circe wasn't like Alaric or Pandora, powerhouses in their own right.
Even though she'd been taken as an apprentice by the Goddess of Magic herself after joining the Mystra Academy, and frequently spent time with the Goddess of Magic and the Goddess of Love and Beauty, surrounded by three "ideal women" goddesses, she still found the Olympian gods utterly terrifying.
Hearing Alaric suggest that the Olympians were targeting Colchis, and by extension her brother, sent her into a spiral of anxiety.
Though Circe often teased the husband of these goddesses, the Dean of Mystra Academy, she always trusted his words implicitly.
"What do we do? What do we do?"
The usually fearless witch was now frantic.
"We've been staying on our island, not bothering anyone. Why would they come after us? Is it because we didn't offer them tributes?"
Alaric mercilessly shattered her naive assumptions with the harsh truth.
"Why are they targeting us? Heh, the truth is, they've *always* been targeting us."
"How can that be?" Circe was bewildered.
"We, the remnants of the old Titan gods, have already withdrawn from the mainland and secluded ourselves on our little island. Why won't they leave us alone?"
Circe was referring to the faction she and her brother Aeëtes represented, their parents, the former Sun God Helios and the Oceanid Perse, and their lineage.
Helios, son of the second-generation Titans Hyperion, the High Sky Watcher, and Theia, the Mother of Light, had been promised by Zeus to become the Sun God of Olympus, alongside his sister Selene as the Moon Goddess, to secure Hyperion and Theia's support in overthrowing the second-generation Titan king, Cronus.
Yet, shortly after Apollo and Artemis were born, Helios and Selene were stripped of their divine roles, which were handed to Zeus's own children.
Perse, daughter of the ancient sea god Oceanus and Tethys, was one of the Oceanids, the earliest nymphs.
After Poseidon defeated the old sea gods to become the new God of the Sea, deities like Oceanus and Pontus retreated into obscurity, and their offspring, including the Oceanids, mostly joined the Olympians as subordinate deities or attendants.
Thus, Circe had long understood that, to the Olympians, her family were remnants of a fallen regime.
This was why they had aligned with the independent magical divine faction outside Olympus.
Though Circe harbored no fondness for the Olympians due to her family's history, she had no grand notions of rebellion or vengeance.
Yet now, the Olympians' relentless pursuit filled her with both fury and dread.
Alaric dismissed her assumptions.
"No, they're not targeting you and Aeëtes specifically… or rather, on the surface, it's you and your brother, but in reality, they're after our magical divine faction."
"But… but haven't we always coexisted peacefully with them under Lady Hecate's guidance? There's no conflict in our divine domains, is there?" Circe protested.
Alaric could only shake his head at her innocence.
"Heh, little girl, you're underestimating the greed of men, no, of gods."
.
.
.
Guys, do leave some power stones and reviews.
✌patreon.com/bobthewriter✌
If you guys enjoy this story, you can support me on Patreon and get access to Advance Chapters, it really helps me to work on new chapters.