Not much time had passed since he last left. Stepping onto this land again, Rovi felt no particular stirring in his heart.
Though, to be fair, he had done quite a lot during that period.
Yet heroes were probably like this: coming and going, never settling anywhere.
Rovi's feet parted from the wooden plank of his boat, stepping firmly onto solid ground as he stopped and gazed at the rolling forested hills ahead.
"First things first—I'll find Chiron. He should know exactly where the Paradise is."
Find Enkidu first.
Then continue my plans for reckless troublemaking.
That was Rovi's intention.
With this thought in mind, he headed towards the cave of Mount Pelion.
Without the centaurs to block him this time, Rovi reached his destination smoothly.
At the same time, deep inside the Pelion cave, Chiron had spent an entire day and night observing the starry skies of fate after that previous violent tremor, trying to glimpse future destinies.
Chiron, the Centaur, had possessed the power of prophecy since birth.
He could gaze from the present into future possibilities, pinpointing the most probable outcomes amidst countless futures.
This was his authority—a divine right, inherited as the child of Cronus, former Titan King, and Philyra, goddess of water—a complete Divine Spirit.
He was a god with a complete physical existence in the present world.
The centaur form was merely his outward appearance. He considered those centaurs his kin solely because he'd grown up among them.
Precisely because of this, even if the arrival of the Sage was personally beneficial, as part of the world's fabric and a divine existence himself, Chiron needed to remain wary of any change.
Past or future, any shift mattered.
"Sage Rovi—"
"How did you know I was here?" a voice from outside interrupted Chiron's prophecy, and he abruptly opened his eyes.
Sunlight poured into the cave, illuminating the spacious area carpeted with soft hay. Tiny motes of dust floated within the golden shafts of light. A figure stepped inside, robes swaying gently.
"Oh, were you prophesying just now?" With a glance at the lingering starlight still fading from Chiron's eyes, Rovi instantly understood. "The future branches infinitely. Prophecy and all—it's basically useless."
"But one must still try." Chiron rapidly dispelled the lights from his gaze, responding quietly, "People must strive."
"Do none of you Greek gods actually consider yourselves gods?" Rovi finally couldn't help complaining. Hermes had said something similar before.
"Eh? Oh, right—I am a god!" Chiron scratched his head, belatedly realizing his slip.
Greek gods casually mingled with humans. Such confusion was common enough.
"Anyway, Mr. Rovi, is there something you came back here for?" Chiron asked cautiously. "And why exactly did you get into a fight with Ares, the God of War?"
"It's a long story, so I'll keep it short." Rovi sat down upon the dry hay of Chiron's cave. "Because he deserved a beating."
"…"
Well, that certainly was short.
Strangely enough, Chiron didn't doubt it further.
Perhaps, in his heart, this was simply what the Sage was like?
"But I still need to say this. Even though you once stood against the gods, Mesopotamian gods and Greek gods aren't the same. If something unexpected happens to you..." Chiron still couldn't help himself.
Rovi remained expressionless.
Is this guy really a teacher?
He's more like an overly worried mother!
"Ahem. Speaking of which, what about Heracles?" Rovi decisively interrupted Chiron.
"I've already sent him off," Chiron paused, then continued, "He spent three years studying under me. I taught him everything I could."
"What a shame. I wanted to properly instruct him too." Rovi pretended regret. "Wonder if he managed to say those three words clearly yet—"
Hopefully not.
This time, it was Chiron's turn to be expressionless.
"Oh right, by the way, do you know where Paradise in Arcadia is?"
Paradise in Arcadia?
"If you mean the dwelling of Artemis, the Moon Goddess, I can lead you there—but just to be sure, you're not planning to beat her up too, right?"
First Heracles, then Ares. After beating Ares, now Artemis? Is Rovi seriously planning to beat up all of Zeus's children?
Chiron couldn't stop such speculations from forming.
Fortunately, it was a misunderstanding.
"I'm just meeting an old friend," Rovi briefly clarified.
Since Rovi had put it that way, Chiron could only trust him and take him there.
...
Paradise in Arcadia lay in the heart of the entire region.
Greeks considered this place the center of the world. A realm of breathtaking beauty, filled with nature and tranquility, free from oppression—thus dubbed a true utopia.
With Chiron's guidance, Rovi quickly arrived at this place.
"It's just up ahead." Chiron stopped at the boundary, pointing deeper in, looking back at Rovi.
Rovi gazed along Chiron's gesture.
The thick, lush forests ahead were bathed in strong yet gentle sunlight, seemingly not much different from elsewhere, yet Rovi keenly felt an atmosphere of perfect harmony and peace emanating from within.
Simply stepping inside would cleanse one's soul.
Human, bird, beast, or fish—it was the same for all.
"I'll stop here," Chiron said. "Paradise is Artemis's earthly dwelling, and as a descendant of the Titans, I'm not suited to enter uninvited."
Rovi nodded in understanding.
"But… you're really not going to beat up the Moon Goddess, right?" Chiron's anxiety resurfaced.
Rovi sighed helplessly. "Do I seem that violent to you?"
"Yes."
"…"
After considerable persuasion, Rovi finally managed to reassure Chiron, whose personality was basically that of an overprotective mother.
The process included, but wasn't limited to, promises and even turning the tables to lecture Chiron about his own shortcomings, leaving Chiron's departing figure looking exactly like a field mouse fleeing a hunting hound.
Rovi withdrew his gaze.
Turning his head back toward Paradise, toward utopia.
"En's presence really is here." He briefly closed his eyes, carefully feeling the surroundings.
The harmony indeed held Enkidu's distinct aura.
Enkidu, a doll crafted by Mesopotamian gods to restrain the Wedge of Heaven—yet the concept imbued in her creation was simply 'nature'.
Natural harmony.
Perhaps this entire forest was shaped by En's existence.
No wonder they called her a 'Saint.'
Rovi opened his eyes, stepping forward along the mysterious sense guiding him deeper inside…
"Stop right there!"
A crisp shout rang from the trees ahead, followed by a nimble figure instantly appearing.
It was a girl armed with a bow, standing tall upon a branch. Her wild, messy green hair fluttered gently, clearly never once combed. It framed a delicate face with sharp, piercing eyes. Draped loosely over her shoulders was fluffy fabric, leaving her fair skin slightly exposed at the chest, barely hinting at soft curves. Her slender waist was tightly cinched, but the open hem below outlined the perfectly rounded arcs of her hips. Her legs, covered in black leggings, were strong and beautifully toned as she stood poised, proud and steady.
A beautiful yet fierce huntress.
"My name is Atalanta, guardian of Paradise."
"Who are you? Without the permission of Lady Artemis—"
"Who allowed you to trespass here?!"
---
T/N: in the myth chiron is the son of cronus (kronos) so calling him a god or someone related to gods isnt wrong (LMAOOO in the future idk when i started calling cronus/kronos cronos because of the yugioh professor :sob:
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