Griffith...
Meaning "griffin," a creature that symbolized courage, strength, freedom, wisdom, and mystery!
It had to be said, this was a name that fit Greek aesthetics perfectly.
The name was as handsome and radiant as the Son of Man standing before him.
And Night, now transformed into Griffith, put on the grey-black cloak Chryseis brought, concealing that stunning beauty that even gods admired, then followed Hector out of the city.
Under Hector's secret escort, he was taken to the port that sailed from Troy toward Greek territory.
He boarded a ship heading for the coast of Mysia alongside a merchant convoy of refugees.
This was one of the transit points for reaching Greece and the destination of this journey.
No one knew his identity.
Even Hector could not personally see him off, as his own identity was far too conspicuous.
The only one who came along was Chryseis, her own beauty hidden beneath a cloak.
"I wish you a safe journey, hero...
And please, do not push yourself too hard," Chryseis said with concern as her parting words.
In her heart, she prayed to Apollo to watch over the hero's journey ahead, all the way until those barbaric Greek invaders were driven off the soil of Troy.
Night,
No, he should be called Griffith now.
Griffith Lista's voice, made incomparably melodious and magnetic by Apollo's blessing, opened quietly. "Chryseis..."
He called the priestess by name.
Chryseis's heart gave a small jolt.
"Yes, my lord. Is there something else you wish?"
She was worried for him.
After all, this was an incredibly dangerous journey.
She was afraid this might be the last time she ever saw this hero.
The next news she heard might be that he had already fallen somewhere on the Greek side.
Chryseis had already prepared herself.
Whatever he asked of her, as long as it was within her power, she would do her best to fulfill it.
...
Yet Griffith did not ask for anything.
He simply said, "You once prayed to me, hoping a hero would save your sister." I gave you no answer then.
Afterward you prayed to a tilting scale for hope, yet the gods did not acknowledge your devotion."
...
No, it was probably not that they did not notice.
It was more likely that Apollo simply had no intention of getting involved.
At that moment he thought of many women in the Greek world and their tragic lives.
Whether human or goddess, they were always the ones that fate toyed with.
There were many heroes in Greece, but even in this hero-filled world, so many sorrowful stories were always left behind.
Even the heroes paid no attention to their miserable lives, as though beautiful women and goddesses alike,
The reason they suffered those wretched fates was simply the inevitable price of the unmatched beauty they were born with.
But Night looked at her and said with conviction.
"Now I can give you an answer.
Briseis will return to Troy safely.
That is a promise."
Chryseis froze for just a moment, then her eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Both hands flew up to cover her mouth.
To be honest, she had thought he might make some small request.
Even a slightly forward one would have been fine.
Something simple, like a farewell kiss for good luck before departing.
In Greece, heroes were quite fond of that kind of send-off.
More forward than that, some even asked for a night together before leaving, and if lucky, might leave behind an heir, so that even if they fell on the battlefield, they would have no regrets over leaving no bloodline to carry on.
Even without any feelings between the two parties, it was like an unspoken transaction.
The body offered to see a hero off was considered a sacred offering.
Yet what she received instead was a promise.
A deeply reassuring, utterly sincere promise.
Chryseis bowed deeply in a full salute, with genuine reverence for a true hero: "You are a true hero." I have never met anyone as brave and sincere as you.
If you are willing, Chryseis offers herself to you as a blessing.
But there is not a soul on all of Olympus who could accomplish such a feat.
Hero, please stay. You have already proven your courage through words and deeds. There is no need to go challenge a task that simply cannot be done."
...
His earlier sincerity had completely moved this priestess, whose heart was pure and always thought of others before herself.
She could not bear to watch a man like this, the man she very much admired, go to his death.
At that moment Chryseis was burning all over, her heart pounding violently.
She was even willing to do what she had once looked down on other women for doing, setting aside her pride to try and keep him here with bodily temptation.
Yet, when Night looked at Chryseis.
The beauty in her white priestess robes, her plump figure filling out the loose garment generously, her slender, narrow waist giving way to a lush, rounded shape behind her like the curve of a peach...
At that moment, as though deliberately trying to catch his eye, the fitted clothing suddenly traced every contour of her silhouette.
A pair of smooth, delicate jade feet, full and graceful in their curves, with slender toes.
Exposed in Greek sandals, a few adorable little toes curled slightly with unease.
Seeming to notice his gaze, her temperature rose even higher as she covered her slender yet shapely calves with bashful awkwardness.
But that gesture only drew more attention to what it tried to hide and stirred a stronger instinct in a man to conquer.
A hero who never turned away even common village girls, faced with an irresistible beauty like this, would absolutely not hold back.
He would have already said yes on the spot, then enjoyed warmth and comfort with a clear conscience, without needing to face any more danger.
Even if she ended up with a child, he would bear no responsibility.
It sounded kind of tempting, though it was precisely this kind of attitude in Greece that caused so many women to live tragic lives.
Men only cared about their own pleasure, spreading women's legs everywhere they went, then taking no responsibility once it was done.
They didn't even think, not even a thought to the pain and hardship of a woman left alone to raise a child.
Thinking on it further, many such examples exist, starting with his majesty, god-king Zeus himself, setting the example.
Although she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid his eyes on until now, and he was so very tempted to have her right there.
Thinking about it, the impending desire in Night's heart settled, and a quiet thread of pity surfaced instead.
Even though he had always denied being a hero and never felt he had anything resembling a heroic spirit, at this moment, facing a woman who was willing to sacrifice herself just to change his mind and keep him from going into danger again, he had only a few words to describe her.
Too good-natured, or just foolish...
"No one is worth you lowering yourself for. Not even me. You should be your own hero, Chryseis."
When he turned her down,
Chryseis's face went pale all at once.
She lowered her head with nowhere to look, feeling a mix of even deeper trust and admiration for his character in resisting temptation and an indescribable sense of loss, even beginning to doubt her own beauty.
Chryseis suddenly felt she had made a fool of herself.
She had worked up all her courage to do something, only to be refused.
Now that overwhelming shame was crashing down on her completely, ready to destroy her on the spot.
Fortunately,
His next words quickly saved her last shred of dignity, keeping her from being completely unable to face anyone, and giving her a way out.
.