"You can transform into a Magical Beast—are you a follower of the Orpheus Cult?"
The next day, while Samael was being fed by the assailant, he paused at the female hunter's question. After recalling some scattered knowledge, he nodded with feigned helplessness.
The Orpheus Cult was founded by Orpheus, son of Apollo, the god of light, and Calliope, the muse of poetry. Its followers advocated abstinence, believing that through faith and ritual discipline, they could gain divinity and purge their demonic nature.
In a way, Samael's situation mirrored one of their teachings: that by consuming a Magical Beast, one could absorb divine essence, enhance their own divinity, and attain a new form.
Upon realizing the truth, the huntress grew visibly embarrassed and apologized repeatedly. Samael, however, responded graciously. He even excused her actions, praising her courage in rescuing the weak.
Truthfully, the ancient serpent had simply been unlucky. At that moment, the witch Circe had just committed a transgression and was being punished by Samael, hung out in the cold wind to reflect. Unfortunately, the huntress happened to pass along the coast just then. From her perspective, a fearsome wyvern was flying overhead, clutching a trembling little girl in its claws.
Naturally, such a sight provoked the huntress's anger, and she acted without hesitation.
Even so, the huntress sincerely took responsibility for her mistake. She promised to ensure both the victim's and Samael's safety until recovery and offered compensation for her offense. Her emerald eyes, when glancing at the supposed victim, revealed admiration and gratitude as she introduced herself.
"I am Atalanta, a huntress devoted to the goddess Artemis, from Arcadia."
"I am Circe, the great witch of Aeaea, a follower of Hecate, goddess of the dark moon!"
The pink-haired young girl, barely 147 centimeters tall, leapt forward, waving her tin staff as she solemnly declared her faith.
The huntress smiled softly, nodding as she patted the girl's head with gentle affection. Watching from nearby, Samael doubted how much she actually believed it. Circe's eternally childlike figure did little to make her claim convincing.
"Arcadia? What a coincidence—my homeland is also on the Peloponnese Peninsula."
The ancient serpent sounded mildly surprised, his eyes brightening as he struck up a conversation with the huntress.
Out of guilt for having wounded him, Atalanta stayed by his bedside, playing the part of a patient listener.
Gradually, as Samael spoke with a touch of nostalgia, she began to piece together his story. He had once been a native of the Peloponnese, setting out to sea as a follower of the Orpheus Cult in search of life's meaning and the world's mysteries.
He had faced storms, sea monsters, Magical Beasts, and other strange trials before finally drifting to the island of Aeaea, where he met a young witch and stayed for a time. Eventually, homesickness stirred, and he decided to return to his homeland, bringing the curious young witch along on the perilous journey.
As time went on, Atalanta—who had at first only listened out of politeness—found herself unconsciously propping her chin and leaning closer. She became immersed in the traveler's vivid tales of wondrous lands and thrilling adventures, her heart stirring with longing.
Still, as a skilled huntress, she did not trust easily. Yet the wounded man's deep familiarity with the Peloponnese—the mountains, cities, and local customs—lent truth to his words. His memories carried the weight of years. His claim of being a fellow countryman felt genuine.
When dusk finally fell, Atalanta snapped out of the lingering spell of his stories. She licked her dry lips, set aside her lingering fascination, and spoke with sincere admiration.
"With so many remarkable experiences, you're bound to become a great bard like Homer and Orpheus."
The founder of Samael's sect, Orpheus, carried the bloodline of the Muse goddess. He was not only a hero but also an exceptional bard. Such praise was undoubtedly a very high compliment.
The ancient serpent expressed his gratitude with reserved grace, and the atmosphere between him and Atalanta grew increasingly warm.
Just then, the rich aroma of wheat wafted into the cave as the attentive little witch approached the sickbed, carrying two bowls of wheat gruel.
"Stay lying down, I'll handle this!"
Atalanta's gaze fell upon the bandages wrapped around the wounded man's shoulder. With an unquestionable tone, she pressed Samael back down as he tried to rise, took the porridge herself, and patiently spooned it into the ancient serpent's mouth.
Though guilt over the accidental injury played a part, the fact that this female hunter—who instinctively avoided male contact—was performing such a gentle act clearly showed that Atalanta had developed a certain fondness for the unfortunate victim.
The ancient serpent discreetly withdrew his hands and obediently leaned back against the headboard. Feeding time—a rare treat. And now, being fed by the famed Greek heroine herself? Best to just lie back and enjoy it.
Cat ears and a beast tail—both hit my cute spots perfectly. If only I could pet them...
Samael stole glances at the "caretaker's" head and back, his fingers itching slightly, though his eyes remained calm and focused.
Atalanta, daughter of King Iasus of Arcadia and the Oceanid Clymene.
However, King Iasus had desired a son. So when Atalanta was born, he abandoned her on a mountain. The hunting goddess Artemis took pity on the child and sent a she-bear to nurse and care for her.
Perhaps due to the blessings of the forest and divine mutation, Atalanta developed feline traits—cat ears and a long tail—along with extraordinary speed and strength. Later, she learned to hunt and fight alongside the she-bear and the hunters who ventured into the woods, eventually becoming the woman she was now.
Yet because of her father's abandonment and two centaurs who once tried to defile her, the huntress developed a deep hatred for men and a powerful sense of caution toward them.
Samael reasoned that if not for his current state as an injured man and the guilt she felt for harming him, he probably wouldn't have been able to get close to her at all.
Of course, the ancient serpent had his own legitimate purpose for approaching Atalanta—though, admittedly, some less proper motives as well.
After supper, perhaps because Samael and his companions had been open about their origins, Atalanta relaxed slightly and shared her purpose for traveling so far from Arcadia.
Samael listened intently, occasionally asking thoughtful questions or reacting in just the right way—an actor's natural gift on full display.
At the same time, the ancient serpent pondered. As more of her story unfolded, he grew increasingly certain of his conclusion.
Indeed, the Calydonian Boar Hunt.
Atalanta's journey was to fulfill this divine trial, ordained by an oracle. Years ago, Oeneus, King of Calydon, had neglected to offer a sacrifice to Artemis when honoring the gods. The goddess of the hunt, feeling insulted, summoned a monstrous boar to ravage the land, slaughter people and livestock, and destroy the harvests.
Mortals stood no chance against such a divine beast. Thus, Meleager, son of King Oeneus, called upon the heroes of Greece to join him in hunting the Demon Boar.
"The Calydonian Boar Hunt? Such a noble quest to vanquish a Magical Beast—we must not refuse this call!"
After hearing Atalanta's tale, Samael declared with righteous conviction, earnestly pleading to join the expedition.
Considering his past exploits, his ability to transform into Magical Beasts—a power far from common even among followers of the Orpheus Cult—and his divine heritage, the huntress judged that he was more than capable of protecting himself.
She thought for a moment, then finally agreed to travel with the two. However, for safety's sake, she insisted they wait until Samael's wounds had fully healed before setting out.
Samael smiled as he watched Atalanta make her plans, her expression taut with determination. He kept his gaze on her until the cold-faced, warm-hearted huntress flushed slightly under his attention, then tactfully looked away.
Watching the self-appointed night watchman leap a few times before vanishing into the forest, Samael absently tapped his wound, a faint smile curling his lips.
Historically, the heroes who took part in this hunt were legends in their own right: Jason, future captain of the Argo; the mighty Heracles; Theseus, King of Athens; Telamon, father of the great Ajax; and Peleus, father of Achilles, hero of Troy.
If Samael wished to begin weaving the next phase of his plans, this journey was the perfect starting point.
...
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