The [Argo] expedition had, ever since reclaiming the [Golden Fleece], sailed under nothing but fair winds as if by some trick. Normally, the greedy king of [Colchis] and his followers would have pursued us, but after [Iskios] snatched the fleece from the dragon and sabotaged the warships docked there—drilling holes through their hulls—they were left unable to give chase.
Moreover, because [Iskios] had quietly spirited the fleece away, they didn't even realize it was gone until morning. By then it was too late to追跡. Their only heirs, [Medea] and [Absyrtus], were gone as well, and the king's anguished cries echoed across his empty court.
With the wind at our backs and peaceful seas, the crew rowed merrily while singing along to the beautiful notes of [Orpheus]' lyre. During breaks at the oars, they cheerfully asked each other what they would do when the expedition finally ended.
"P-Please… have some… eek…!"
"—Kid, give it a rest."
All except one, that is. Even amidst what might have been his Twelfth Trial, [Heracles] wasn't in a bad mood. He too longed to finish this task and claim his freedom.
But no one had contributed more to this voyage than [Iskios]. Despite his pivotal role, he remained glum, and by simply drawing breath he terrified [Absyrtus]—the boy who had dared to court him—with equal parts severity and scorn.
Though [Absyrtus] was a powerless child, [Iskios] harbored a brutal hostility toward him because of that affection. No matter how long they'd known each other, nor how kind [Iskios]' human nature might be, his revulsion of pederasty was terrifyingly absolute.
"That fellow [Iskios], the one they call the greatest contributor to the [Argo] expedition, sure is the same as always. Forever distant, isn't he?"
"Well, [Iskios] has always been like that."
Watching [Iskios] alone at his meal, growling like a lion as he chased off the wine-bearing [Absyrtus], [Nestor] offered a wry smile while [Heracles] passed it off as just another day.
On the deck, [Jason], our leader, was drunk and entertaining the crew with a display of tricks, but [Heracles], [Nestor], [Peleus], and [Orpheus] gathered together and conversed quietly, eyes fixed on [Iskios].
True to form, [Iskios] removed his mask to eat in peace, then snapped it back on the instant he sensed someone approaching. [Peleus] winced at the memory of [Iskios] and [Absyrtus]'s confrontation before returning his attention to his meal.
"I thought he'd lost his wits back then…"
That "then" referred to the moment [Iskios] returned with the [Golden Fleece] and discovered [Absyrtus] stowed away on the ship. [Iskios] already knew the boy harbored feelings for him—before even a confession could cross [Absyrtus]' lips.
Both [Peleus] and most of the crew knew that [Iskios] never harmed the weak; he protected, taught, and aided them—even if they were women, children, or elders.
They also knew his teaching was stern. Some said his harshness had only grown sharper during his flight from [Apollo]. In any case, he showed no mercy to pederasts, friend or foe.
It might take time to calm his temper, but it always subsided eventually—so long as his guard never dropped. [Absyrtus], tears streaming, retired to his sister [Medea]'s side for comfort.
"Well… he must've done it for [Absyrtus]' sake."
"What are you talking about?"
As [Absyrtus] ran off at another man's request for wine, [Nestor] sighed. [Heracles] cocked an eyebrow in puzzled question.
"Forgot already? [Apollo] hasn't given up chasing [Iskios], and on the first island we landed at, the nymphs who set their sights on him were cursed by [Selene] into frogs."
"Ah… right! [Iskios]' mother is—"
[Orpheus] snapped his fingers as if struck by realization: that [Iskios] was the child of the radiant moon goddess [Selene].
Though he couldn't save [Iskios] from [Apollo]'s obsession, [Selene] freely intervened whenever the other Olympian gods left trouble untouched. Her turning of nymphs into frogs was proof.
At the time, [Iskios] had eventually talked the nymphs free of that curse—but had [Iskios] not established his boundary with [Absyrtus], the boy might have suffered the same fate, or worse.
"But that does make you wonder what [Iskios]' true face looks like. To charm even a boy like that…"
"Look, [Orpheus]. Best stop that. You won't live long if you press it."
[Orpheus]' innocent curiosity burned at the mystery behind the mask, but [Nestor] warned him dead serious.
[Nestor] had only heard rumors, but now he was certain: [Selene] adored [Iskios]' beauty, which was said to rival the very gods.
His loveliness had been a curse in itself, and [Apollo] had still appeared before [Iskios] on the eve of our departure to claim him.
"You all so curious about what lies beneath that mask?"
"Oh, if it isn't [Atalanta]."
At that, [Atalanta] approached, expression unreadable as she chewed on a piece of meat.
Seeing her, [Peleus] flushed in surprise, but [Atalanta] ignored him and answered [Nestor] as if it were no big deal.
"I have seen it. He does deserve a face to captivate even the gods."
"What…!? You've actually seen [Iskios]' face…!?"
"Yes. Once. On Lemnos."
[Atalanta] had glimpsed [Iskios] unmasked exactly once, on the island of Lemnos. Intrigued, [Orpheus] leaned close and whispered questions.
[Atalanta] briefly recounted the incident. She'd stumbled upon [Iskios] drawing water from a spring while passing through the forest.
"Everyone who trained under [Chiron]—me, [Jason], [Peleus]—has seen his face, but it's been years since then."
[Heracles], a look of mild surprise on his face, affirmed [Atalanta]'s tale with his own memory alongside [Peleus].
[Iskios] had studied under [Chiron], too, and from birth had been fostered by [Selene] while the rest of us came into the world before being granted her care.
From childhood, his beauty enchanted all around him, forcing him to guard his own body against boys of his age or older—sometimes fleeing, sometimes hiding, sometimes using [Heracles] as a shield to escape danger.
"…He's endured more hardship than I could have imagined…"
Hearing of [Iskios]' childhood struggles, [Orpheus], [Nestor], and [Atalanta] all pitied him in silent sympathy. And so the [Argo] expedition drew to a close.
- After being hunted by a giant, facing a wyrm feels like nothing at all. -
At last, the [Argo] made landfall on the coast of Iolcos. After a year and a half, she had returned. As the heroes disembarked, cheers erupted from the gathered crowd as if they had been waiting for this moment all along.
Once every hero had set foot ashore, the name of [Jason] rang out above the din. He accepted the cheers with a bright smile, dedicated the [Argo] to [Zeus], and then each hero went their separate way.
Some returned home to fulfill royal duties, some departed on their own whims, some remained as spear and shield to defend their lands, and some would wield their strength to atone for past sins. Of course, not all left.
"Well then… [Jason], a promise is a promise."
"Ha! Of course! A future king must keep his word!!!"
He was [Iskios] himself. [Heracles] departed for Mycenae to complete his labors, and the others followed their own paths. But [Iskios] had vowed to send the children he'd raised to a safe city.
Only [Jason] holding the [Golden Fleece], [Iskios] facing him, and the siblings [Medea] and [Absyrtus] remained on the beach. Though [Jason] was a screw-up, [Iskios] intended to push him into danger to secure his throne.
First and foremost, he needed to assess the state of [Jason]'s homeland, Iolcos. Returning to his own forest would have to wait, but with [Jason] as his guide, [Iskios] felt he was almost home as they approached Iolcos.
"Oh… my…"
The sight before [Iskios] exceeded even his darkest imaginings. He muttered a curse under his breath even as he marveled inwardly, "End-times Greece never disappoints."
[Jason]'s uncle Pelias proved to be a far more tyrannical ruler than his own father. The moment they entered Iolcos, [Iskios] saw a kingdom in utter ruin.
The weak starved, and the wealthy preyed on them unchecked. How mismanaged must a realm be to fall into such chaos? [Iskios] sighed at the thought.
Could he really entrust these children to a place like this? Fearful of worse dangers on the road to another city—bandits, beasts, centaurs—he refused to risk even one death.
In contrast, he chose Iolcos because it lay close to his forest home, minimizing exposure to ambush. And with [Jason]'s connection, the children would enjoy a measure of safety.
"So… how do I begin…?"
[Iskios] already knew that no matter how swiftly he delivered the [Golden Fleece], Pelias had not the slightest intention of ceding the throne to [Jason].
He foresaw that in the unfolding chain of events, [Medea] would kill Pelias in a gruesome manner, and [Jason] and [Medea] would be driven from the kingdom together. He was determined to prevent that outcome.
Having witnessed the decay here, [Iskios] resolved to summon more resolve than he ever had on the [Argo]—not only for the children's future, but for the sake of his begrudging affection for [Jason].
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