"Noble Goddess Hestia should now, barring any mishaps, have been brought before that child Jason by Pegasus."
In the Arcadia region,
Within a pavilion in the wise centaur Chiron's cave on Mount Chiron.
Chiron respectfully placed freshly brewed fine tea before Goddess Hecate.
When did these two teachers become acquainted,
And how did they know of events unfolding for Jason, far across the sea?
"Yes, she should have arrived." Hecate said flatly: "I deliberately let Pegasus leave the Underworld to meet Hestia. Upon hearing the news, she would not stand idly by."
Hearing Hecate's reply, Chiron looked at her and could not help but smile.
"What are you smiling at?" Hecate raised her brows slightly.
"Nothing." Chiron smiled without speaking.
Smiling at how you claim to be at odds with Athena, yet still aid her in secret.
"I did not help her... I was merely teaching my student."
With Chiron silent, how could Hecate not know the source of his amusement.
"Indeed... when I saw you appear before Hera and inform her of that child Jason's original fate, I had already guessed as much... but is this not somewhat hasty?"
"Since you are his teacher, you should understand: a teacher cannot shelter him indefinitely. Sometimes, he must learn to bear things alone."
Hearing this, Chiron could not help but laugh again. He said: "Though that is true, on that Argo, you surely left behind considerable things as well..."
As his words fell, Chiron saw Hecate fall silent, but sensed the air grow a few degrees colder. Realizing he had misspoken, he hastily changed the subject: "Ahem... but speaking of which, this journey is truly perilous.
And with your decision not to venture forth, leaving all to him to resolve... I wonder if he can manage smoothly..."
As Chiron spoke, deep worry emerged in his eyes.
"Precisely because there are too many like you, spoiling him excessively, I made this choice!" Hecate glared at Chiron.
Chiron's mouth twitched; he had words to say but ultimately gave up.
On spoiling, you have no right to judge others...
"Moreover, rest assured. As one of his teachers, you should know well what sort of person he is... in truth, from beginning to end, he has never needed our protection. Our excessive affection has, for him, become a fetter instead."
"But..."
As she spoke, Hecate's lips suddenly curved up. She said: "I am quite curious: when that child tells Athena he actually dislikes her, what expression will that one show!"
...
...
Jason's unwillingness to become a hero was not known to all the world, but those who had interacted with him for a time generally knew it.
His senior fellow disciples like Heracles, Atalanta, including the Goddess Hestia before him.
On this point, Jason had never concealed a whit.
"Goddess Hestia, please allow me to correct my earlier statement..."
Thus, with Hestia's arrival causing brief chaos, Jason gradually regained composure and said to Hestia: "I do not hate Athena, nor am I truly angry with her, but at the same time, I am angry... angry with myself."
"You are angry with yourself?... Why?"
This was the truth, so Hestia looked at Jason with greater puzzlement.
Jason did not reply. After a brief silence, he slowly exhaled and said to Hestia with sincere gratitude: "Thank you, Goddess Hestia. I now know what I must do."
???
Hestia looked at Jason in bewilderment.
Was the topic not jumping a bit too quickly?
But before Hestia could press further.
"Goddess Hestia, may I ask a favor of you?"
Jason looked earnestly at Hestia and said softly: "Could you tell the great Goddess Athena that I... wish to see her?"
Faced with Jason's request, though Hestia knew not the full story, after gazing quietly into Jason's eyes for a time, she ultimately... nodded.
Though somewhat unclear, in this moment, Hestia chose to trust Jason.
After all, under her gaze, Jason's eyes remained as clear and unblemished as ever.
Then, after Goddess Hestia and Pegasus departed, Atalanta silently followed beside Jason. The two walked through the woods for a stretch.
"In truth, I sensed something amiss long ago."
Atalanta suddenly said: "Your state has been off... but since you seemed unwilling to speak, I refrained from asking."
"...That obvious?"
"Your path ahead is not unclear, yet you... have not acted upon it." Atalanta said calmly to Jason: "That is not like you at all.
Just like that stormy day before: the former you would never have halted the Argo, letting the gale carry us blindly... even knowing it was the gods' doing!"
Jason fell silent for a while upon hearing this, then said: "I was merely lost in thought... truth be told, only now do I profoundly realize how fortunate I have always been.
I have always been under Teacher Hecate's protection."
"You are Hecate's child; is her protection not natural?" Atalanta looked at Jason in doubt.
Jason shook his head lightly, then said: "This time's tribute is for Goddess Athena. I know she hopes I seize this chance to become a true great hero. I also understand the true meaning behind her drawing Goddess Hera's attention to me.
She wants me to show myself to Goddess Hera, to make her like me once more... the me who is Jason."
"Since you know all that, why no action?"
Atalanta furrowed her brows at Jason.
This was too strange, not like Jason at all.
No matter the circumstance, he never sat idle; that was the true Jason!
"Because I am not a hero... a hero fears nothing, charges ever forward, but I am not."
Jason chuckled lightly. "I kept thinking: what if I err? How to ensure Goddess Hera likes me again? How to offer tribute to Goddess Athena...
For this, from boarding until now, I have not slept once.
Even when the storm struck, part of me felt a strange relief, letting the Argo drift at sea.
Because this time, my teacher Goddess Hecate told me she would not accompany me, and Goddess Athena, due to the tribute, offered no further oracle."
"...Coward!"
Atalanta, now understanding, said bluntly to Jason without mercy.
Jason shrugged and smiled at Atalanta: "What, disillusioned with me?"
"Hardly... because I never idealized you to begin with." Atalanta rolled her eyes at Jason. "I always knew you were a coward; back then, you lacked even the courage to approach me!"
"But..."
"You are an utter coward, yet you are indeed a hero—the handsomest, most formidable hero I know!"
Atalanta tucked a lock of azure hair behind her ear, averting her gaze slightly as she said to the momentarily stunned Jason: "Whether Jason or white-clothed Heracles, it matters not; understand you have long been a hero.
For it was you who slew the Calydonian Boar, you who felled the wasteland-bringing monster Chimera, you who defeated the Sphinx of lion's body and woman's face, you who killed the hundred-eyed giant Argus!
And that is merely what I know; in places unknown to me, I am certain you have done more.
Thus..."
As she spoke, Atalanta came to Jason's side and clapped his back firmly.
"What are you doing? I've waited long enough!"
"...Atalanta."
"What."
"Thank you for coming."
...
...
A quiet night,
Was fitting for a rendezvous.
The beautiful goddess in white, Athena, quietly arrived on the Argo.
A lovely smile graced her face, her mood evidently excellent.
After all, this was a rare proactive invitation from little Jason!
Though she knew not why Hestia had come to her... it mattered not!
She entered Jason's room.
Seeing Jason seated at the table, pen in hand, frowning in thought, she quietly approached from behind, covered his eyes, and said with a beaming smile: "Little Jason, guess who I am."
Jason's body stiffened slightly, then he replied helplessly: "I believe it must be the great, beautiful, and supremely wise Goddess Athena!"
As his words fell, the chime of silver bells echoed in Jason's ears from her laughter.
At the same time, with her hands freed, Athena lightly pinched his cheek.
"Little Jason is so good; still such a sweet talker... what did you call me for? Could it be... you want to sleep with me tonight?"
As usual, Athena teased Jason.
Hearing this, Jason turned to look at Athena, who sat beaming on the bed's edge, his expression one of helplessness.
He did not answer her question but said to Athena: "Goddess Athena, may I borrow something from you?... That lyre I once offered you—could I use it now?"
Hearing this, Athena looked at Jason in some surprise for a moment, then smiled: "Of course!"
As she spoke, Athena produced the silver lyre.
"Eh, Goddess Athena, this lyre..."
Jason took the lyre, seeing it covered in cracks, and paused.
The next second, Athena swiftly reclaimed it, infused it with divine power, then feigned nothing amiss as she returned it to Jason.
And continued beaming radiantly at him.
Jason blinked, obediently closing his mouth on the intended question.
"Goddess Athena, could we go outside?"
"Of course... rest assured, Hera will not know. I had Hestia help! ...Though Hestia today was unusually agreeable."
As Athena spoke, she could not help but mutter.
Thus, Jason and Athena came to the deck.
The night sea breeze brushed the two.
At this moment, the ship held but one man, one goddess, and one ship spirit.
Atalanta and Hephaestus had long departed.
On the pristine white Argo, Jason—who had donned white garb from the start—held the silver lyre and played a pleasing melody for Athena.
The melody's intent was gratitude.
Thanks for all Athena had done for him thus far.
This made Athena, hearing the lyre's notes, soften her gaze after a brief daze.
The piece was not long.
Jason ceased playing and looked at Athena, then bowed deeply to her. He said: "Thank you, great Goddess Athena... until now, I have not properly thanked you, but in my heart, I have always been grateful for your aid and kept it ever in mind!"
"Mm."
Athena replied, having heard Jason's gratitude in the melody. As she smiled and moved to embrace him, to dote on him properly.
"...Thus, this time, I will exert my utmost to offer you my tribute, Goddess Athena."
"I will act as a hero, a fearless hero, completing every challenge on this journey without evasion, facing difficulties head-on, becoming the hero in your heart who fits you most perfectly!"
"Mm... mm..."
Athena's movement halted, and she looked at Jason in some doubt.
"I will no longer evade or hesitate regarding Queen Hera's matter; I will confront it directly and resolve it with all my effort!"
"My sister Medea's matter as well."
"My own fate too."
...Eh?
Athena looked at Jason before her, who vowed this with utmost seriousness.
"Goddess Athena, I will do all this, so rest assured... I will offer you tribute, with all my effort!"
...Something's wrong, something's wrong!
These were words Athena wished to hear, events she anticipated.
Thus, she should be glad; seeing Jason's resolve, she should rejoice.
But... at this moment, looking at Jason, Athena's brows furrowed slightly.
She keenly sensed she had overlooked something.
Yet even as the Goddess of Wisdom, though aware in this instant, she could not immediately fathom it!
This was no special circumstance; accurately, it was an inevitable outcome.
For as the world's wisest, who pierced all mortal sight, saw through all things, even glimpsed the future.
Athena was fated never to see one thing clearly:
The human heart.
Just as her mother, the original Goddess of Wisdom Metis.
As the primordial wisdom goddess, she comprehended the world entire, even using her intellect to aid God-King Zeus in defeating his father, the second-generation god-king.
Establishing the current Olympian divine court.
Her wisdom outshone Athena's without doubt.
But her ultimate end was devouring by Zeus, who feared the curse and her intellect...
Even the most erudite sage cannot fathom the heart.
As the goddess of wisdom, this was the one thing Athena could never pierce.
Even as the goddess of wisdom, the forbidden fruit Athena least should touch was love... loving another!
"Goddess Athena, I will do it; I know I must, I understand, but... in truth, I do not like it."
And as Athena began racking her mind for what felt so odd, Jason voiced it himself.
To the slightly stunned Athena.
"Goddess Athena, say... for one unwilling to be a hero like me, now compelled to strive as a great hero—is this not fate's jest?"
Jason chuckled lightly to Athena: "Does this count as stepping from one mud pit only to tread into another mire?"
"Goddess Athena, in truth, I considered... I originally planned to entrust everything to you, but now I understand: I cannot, for that is not a hero's deed; it is a coward's flight."
Jason continued earnestly to Athena: "Thus, I will strive; I will exert my utmost to become a hero, the hero you acknowledge, and offer my tribute to you, noble one.
Then... I will continue striving, to become that immortal divinity!"
"...Wait... wait, Jason, what did you just... what did you just say?!"
Athena finally reacted.
"I wish to become an immortal divinity, Goddess Athena."
"No, not that... you said... you originally planned to entrust everything to me... is... is that true?!"
Athena widened her eyes, looking at Jason before her.
"Yes."
Jason did not deny it and smiled at Athena: "But now I understand: I should not have. Apologies, Athena; I was too cowardly, only now resolving myself."
"No, it's not...!"
Athena panicked, wanting to say something.
But Jason interrupted her, saying earnestly to Athena: "Goddess Athena, I now know that was wrong, words of a craven coward, so I will not err so again.
My own fate should indeed be mine to grasp; a hero fears nothing... Goddess Athena, this is what you wished to see, is it not?"
"Wait, wait, hold on!"
Athena stepped forward, seizing Jason's arm and staring intently at him.
"You are angry!"
"No." Jason shook his head. "I am not, Goddess Athena."
"No, you must be angry."
"Truly not." Jason shook his head, looking earnestly at Athena.
"I am not lying... nor would I lie to you, Goddess Athena."
"No, no—you should be angry; you ought to be furious!"
For the first time... Athena panicked.
Because she finally understood, finally realized: in one careless moment, she had lost something...
"Goddess Athena, rest assured; I truly am not angry... and I have thought it all through."
Jason smiled at Athena: "Moreover, Goddess Athena, I wish to sincerely request your aid... I wish to become a great divinity, an immortal existence."
"Because I have once more profoundly realized: as one not divine, not immortal..."
Even the right to anger, to speak, is absent.
On Jason's face was a smile... the usual smile.
But seeing him thus, Athena's heart in this moment... plummeted to the depths.