Hecate looked at the little Medea in front of her, who was asking about Jason, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Do you really want to meet him that much?"
"Hm? Isn't he also your student, Teacher Hecate?" The ten-year-old Medea tilted her little head cutely, as if puzzled why Hecate would ask such a question.
Medea had learned about Jason and that she had a junior brother almost a month ago, on the very day Jason left the indestructible river of the Underworld and began his journey.
From that day onward, Medea had actually been looking forward to meeting Jason.
She had originally thought she would see him very soon and that the temple would gain another junior brother to talk and play with her.
But she never expected that even until today, there was still no sign of Jason arriving.
Instead, her extremely reclusive teacher had been running outside every few days because of Jason's matters.
Hecate gazed at Medea, who was looking at her with eyes full of expectation, and remained silent for a while.
"Soon," Hecate said lightly. "It won't be much longer."
With that, Hecate walked away.
Medea watched the beautiful retreating figure of Hecate until she disappeared from sight, then turned back to continue the homework Hecate had assigned her.
Clearly, Medea's mood was visibly much better now.
Her junior brother would arrive soon, so she wouldn't feel so lonely in this temple anymore!
"I'm really looking forward to it… I can't wait to meet my junior brother." Medea murmured softly, a particularly cute and innocent smile blooming on her face.
...
...
That very night,
Not far from a clear forest stream, Jason set up a simple tent.
Because the excellent huntress Atalanta had already left, Jason, who had been traveling all day, had no way to hunt, so he was currently gnawing on hard rations.
Seeing the golden-horned deer beside him staring fixedly at the food in his mouth, Jason very tactfully offered some and said, "Sister Deer, would you like some?"
The golden-horned deer came closer, took a bite of the hard-to-swallow ration Jason offered, chewed for a moment, and immediately spat it out.
Disgusting!
It then let out a few calls, gently nudged Jason to make him throw away the rations in his hand, raised its head toward the moon in the sky, and began to cry out loudly.
As it called, the golden antlers on its head slowly grew larger, and under the moonlight, they emitted a strange radiance.
While Jason watched this scene with curiosity, rustling sounds soon came from all around, the sound of grass being brushed aside.
One animal after another emerged from the shadows, drawn by the golden-horned deer's call, and surrounded Jason and the deer.
Just as Jason was stunned by this, the golden-horned deer stopped its cries, tilted its head toward the arriving animals, nodded to them, gave a few more soft calls as though giving instructions, and the animals scattered.
But soon the little birds, squirrels, bees, and other small creatures that had left quickly returned, bringing wild fruits, wild grapes, honey, and other foods. Wolves, foxes, and other creatures swiftly brought back hunted rabbits and other meat.
Jason watched dumbfounded as they placed all these things in front of him, piling them into a small mountain before gathering again and leaving.
The moon goddess Artemis, among the many authorities granted to her by Zeus, is also the goddess of nature.
The golden-horned deer then gently nudged Jason again, urging him to quickly enjoy these delicacies and stop eating the hard rations.
"This… is a bit much, Sister Deer." Jason hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not refuse the golden-horned deer's kindness. Looking at the pile of food before him, he said to the deer, "I'll take some for now. I can't eat this much."
Hearing this, the golden-horned deer sized Jason up.
Skinny arms and legs…
"Sister Deer, I really can't eat this much. I'm just a mortal," Jason said helplessly. "I'm not a demigod like Senior Brother Heracles and the others!"
Seeing Jason insist, the golden-horned deer finally said nothing more and crouched beside him, closing its eyes to rest.
Just as Jason set aside some fruit and packed the rest into the bag Athena had given him, preparing to eat a simple meal and then sleep,
"You're only eating this little?" Hecate's voice suddenly rang in his ear.
Jason instinctively turned his head and saw the beautiful goddess Hecate, dressed in a long black gown, stepping out from the moonlight.
The golden-horned deer half-opened its eyes, glanced at Hecate, recognized her as the goddess whose aura lingered on Jason, and closed its eyes again.
"Teacher Hecate!" Seeing Hecate appear so suddenly, Jason was naturally shocked and quickly stood up. "Why are you here!"
"Is there a problem with a teacher coming to check on her student?" Hecate walked over and winked at Jason, then continued, "Though that doesn't really sound like something I'd say… Naturally, I came to find you because I have business."
With that, Hecate sat down beside Jason.
She picked up a wild fruit from in front of him, wiped it, and began eating as she said, "Sit down. I have something to tell you."
"...Yes." Although still surprised by Hecate's sudden appearance, Jason sat back down.
"I just met with Artemis… You've done very well. Next, you only need to find Persephone, and your task will be complete."
"So that means… I won't encounter any more gods?" Jason asked with some pleasant surprise.
"Yes." After Hecate answered, she looked at Jason and said, "You really do dislike gods, don't you?"
Hearing this, just as Jason felt a jolt in his heart and was about to explain,
"It's fine. I dislike them too."
Hecate said this while biting into the fruit under Jason's astonished gaze. "They're a pain. That's why I never went to Mount Olympus and hid in the Underworld instead… You've done very well this time."
As she spoke, Hecate reached out and patted Jason's head as if rewarding him.
"After this matter is over, I will teach you magic. When the time comes, you can study with me in peace… The reason I came to see you today is also to casually ask: have you ever thought about becoming an immortal being?"
"...Huh?" Caught off guard by the sudden question, Jason froze.
"The waters of the River Styx have cleansed your body. Once the undying flames of the Underworld temper your soul, even though you have a mortal body, you will possess the qualifications to become an immortal existence.
All that remains is for the sacred fire of Mount Olympus to further refine you."
Hecate paused here, then continued to the stunned Jason, "This time, Athena has taken an interest in you… Well, Artemis already let it slip anyway, but she asked me to help cover for her, so when you meet Athena later, just pretend you don't know who she is."
Besides Athena, both Apollo and Artemis are on very good terms with me, and after this matter, the God-King will also view you favorably to some extent."
The God-King…? Zeus?
Jason blinked, still confused.
Wait… The God-King Zeus will have a favorable impression of me…? Holy crap, when did I catch his attention!
Realizing this, Jason's eyes instantly widened!
"There is his shadow behind the matter with Persephone."
Probably seeing Jason's confusion, Hecate replied calmly, "Otherwise Athena would not have intervened, and your journey would not have gone this smoothly… No one truly accepts the result of drawing lots willingly. The God-King was simply giving the King of the Underworld face.
Thus, after you finish this, both the King of the Underworld and the God-King will have some goodwill toward you."
After Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon defeated the previous generation of gods, their domains were decided by drawing lots.
Zeus received the sky and became the God-King, Poseidon received the oceans and became the Sea-King, and Hades received the Underworld and became the King of the Underworld.
Clearly, neither Poseidon nor Hades could be completely indifferent to their positions, especially Hades, who rules over the sunless Underworld forever.
Zeus naturally understood his two brothers' dissatisfaction with him, so behind the matter of Persephone becoming Queen of the Underworld, Zeus had actually been secretly pushing things along!
Hecate only touched on it briefly and did not tell Jason too much; knowing too much was not necessarily a good thing.
"Therefore, if you wish to become an immortal being, there will still be a chance after this matter ends… I know the reason you became my disciple, and becoming immortal is also one path."
After listening to Hecate's words, Jason fell silent.
He knew she was right. Hiding away in some secluded paradise offered a chance to live a safe and peaceful life, escaping the fate that awaited Jason.
But becoming an immortal existence could equally change all of that!
Seeing Jason fall silent, Hecate continued, "You don't need to think too much about it right now. First, learn magic properly from me… Since you've become my disciple, I won't let you graduate until I'm satisfied. After all, you still have to help me with experiments.
Oh, right, speaking of which, do you still remember that I asked you to do one thing for me?"
"Yes, I remember." Jason, who was deep in thought, nodded.
"Hm… It seems you don't actually know what it is. Well, that makes sense. If you really knew, you might not have come to me at all." Hecate stared at Jason for a while, saw something in his expression, opened her mouth as if to say something, but then thought of Medea's expectant gaze and… ultimately gave up.
"Whatever. I'm too lazy to bother with you kids. Figure out your own futures yourselves!"