Atop the cliffs of Mount Caucasus.
A god was chained to the rock, his clothes tattered and worn.
He was a great one.
His name was Prometheus… the foreknowing god who, in Greek myth, created mankind and brought them divine fire!
Today, no eagle came to devour his liver.
Because Zeus, King of the Gods of Olympus, now stood beside him with a face flickering between gloom and storm.
Moments ago, Zeus had heard shocking news from Prometheus.
It was this:
"You are saying that the child born of the ocean goddess Thetis is fated to surpass his own father in power, correct?!"
As Zeus spoke, lightning flashed in his eyes while he glared fiercely at Prometheus.
Such news instantly extinguished the good mood he had gained from Jason's "gifts."
After all, those white-silk maid outfits and black-silk cheongsams were originally meant for Thetis to wear for him!
"Yes, most revered King of the Gods of Olympus, Zeus."
Prometheus smiled. Ignoring Zeus's fury, his voice, though hoarse from wind and sun, remained strong. "The child born of the ocean goddess Thetis is destined to be greater than his father!
Even you, exalted King Zeus, would be no exception."
At this, Zeus fell silent. He did not doubt the truth of Prometheus's words. There was no reason for Prometheus to lie about this.
"I do not understand."
Zeus stared deeply at Prometheus. "Why would you suddenly tell me this…
Could it be related to what happened several days ago?!"
The birth of the god-slaying sword Mistilteinn.
Even now, aside from a select few, no one knew the source of that inexplicable terror felt by all.
And Prometheus was clearly among that select few.
After all, he had buried his left eye within Jason's fate to suppress and conceal that singular destiny.
The future of god-slaying.
Yet ever since that day, Zeus had kept a close watch on Prometheus, frequently visiting to threaten and question him.
After all, he was the foreknowing god Prometheus!
Zeus had swallowed Metis, the first goddess of wisdom and mother of Athena, so even Prometheus's words could not deceive him.
Yet despite this, Zeus had obtained no satisfactory answer. Prometheus had not hidden anything; he had answered directly.
He claimed that he too could not see "it."
Indeed, Prometheus truly could not see it. The god-slaying sword had already been further processed by the Goddess of Night Nyx.
Moreover, its wielder was Jason, whose fate even Clotho, the Fate who spins the thread of life, could not control!
Zeus was naturally dissatisfied with such an answer, but once he confirmed it was true, no matter how unhappy he felt, there was nothing he could do.
"No, exalted King of the Gods Zeus. The two matters are unrelated."
Prometheus promptly answered.
This reply only made Zeus's expression darken further.
As for why Prometheus had suddenly revealed this today, the reason was simple.
He was diverting attention.
Zeus had swallowed Metis, the first goddess of wisdom. Even Prometheus found him extremely difficult to deal with.
Thus, Prometheus deliberately informed Zeus of this matter to distract him.
And, at the same time, to annoy him.
Watching Zeus's face turn black, a trace of vindictive pleasure appeared on Prometheus's sun-scorched, weary countenance.
Zeus naturally noticed. He gave a cold snort.
Then he turned and left.
"Exalted King Zeus, will you no longer send the eagle to devour my liver?"
Prometheus called after him. Zeus ignored him.
Soon, in a foul mood, Zeus returned to the sacred mountain of Olympus.
When he arrived at the great hall of the divine court, he discovered that the usually empty chamber was now filled with many gods.
Almost all the major Olympians were present.
"What are you all looking at?" Zeus asked in slight confusion.
"We are discussing the matter of the Argo."
Seated upon the golden throne, the beautiful woman with flowing curls spilling from beneath her crown, Hera, frowned slightly at Zeus's sudden return.
She continued, "As of today, the Argo led by that child, the great hero Jason, has perfectly completed every trial we gave them.
We are debating whether we should now send them straight home."
"Just for that?"
Zeus stared in disbelief. "You all gathered here just for that?!"
The gods who glanced at him offered no explanation.
Zeus did not particularly care. After scanning the assembled deities, he asked, "By the way, where is Athena? Why is she not here?"
Seeing no one answer, he fixed his gaze upon Hermes.
Hermes could only rise helplessly, adjust the green feathered cap on his head, and say to Zeus, "Great Father, Athena has not returned…
For some time now, Athena has often been absent. We do not know where she goes."
"Is that so?" Zeus frowned.
"It seems related to Jason."
Before Zeus could think further, Hestia, goddess of the hearth, spoke up. "She appears to be preparing some trial for that child Jason. She has been busy with it lately."
"Oh, I see."
At this, Zeus's brow relaxed.
After a moment of thought, he said to Hermes, "Hermes, come here. I have something to ask you… Tell me, do you know Thetis?"
"Huh?" Hermes, now beside Zeus, blinked.
After a brief hesitation, Hermes cautiously asked, "Great Father, why are you looking for her?"
"Go find her for me…"
Zeus had not finished speaking when,
"What do you want with her?"
A voice cold enough to freeze the air came from beside him.
It startled both Hermes and Zeus.
Zeus turned his head and saw Hera staring at him icily. He swallowed hard and hurriedly explained, "Hera, do not misunderstand! I have no such intentions!
I just came from Prometheus and learned something from him…"
With that, Zeus recounted the matter of Thetis to the assembled gods.
Once finished, he looked again at Hermes. "That is the situation… Hermes, how do you think this should be handled?"
"This…"
Hermes fell silent.
He understood Zeus's meaning and instantly grasped his concern.
Prometheus had said the child born of Thetis would inevitably surpass his father, but he had not specified by how much.
What if that child surpassed Zeus himself?
Hermes knew that Zeus, who coveted divine authority above all else, would never allow such a thing!
And Hermes, creator of the art of deception and cunning though not equal to Athena, was still wiser than most gods present.
Thus, his eyes quickly lit up with an idea.
"Great Father, I have a suggestion. Why not have Lady Thetis marry a mortal or a hero?"
"Marry her to a mortal?"
Zeus blinked.
"Exactly." Zeus fell silent as he quickly grasped Hermes's intent.
Even if a mortal's child were a hundred times stronger, he would still be mortal. How could he threaten Zeus's throne?
It was undoubtedly an excellent solution.
Yet Zeus felt intensely unwilling. Recalling Thetis's beauty, thick reluctance surged in his heart.
Still, Zeus was decisive.
Gritting his teeth, he said to Hermes, "Then who do you think would be best to marry Thetis?"
Before Hermes could answer,
"Thetis… The goddess you speak of, is she not the most beautiful and virtuous daughter of the kind sea god Nereus and the great Oceanid Doris?"
Hestia suddenly interjected. "Many years ago I met her once. She truly is an exceptional goddess…
You plan to marry a child to her?"
As Hestia spoke, her eyes suddenly brightened with realization.
"Hm…? What is it?"
Zeus looked at her in puzzlement.
Hermes, watching Hestia smile, instantly understood what she was thinking. The corner of his mouth twitched.
At the same time, he inwardly rejoiced.
Because…
"I know a child who would absolutely catch Lady Thetis's eye. With just a little matchmaking from us, she would surely fall in love with him!
Because that child is the most excellent and lovable child in the entire world!"
Hestia declared confidently.
Hera, beside her, clearly realized as well. She frowned and said, "The child you speak of, could it be…"
"Exactly!" Hestia stood up proudly. "The very captain of the Argo we were just discussing, the good child I watched grow up.
And the most radiant hero in the world today: Jason!"
…
Almost the instant Hestia's words fell,
Far away, upon the boundless sea.
Aboard the sacred Argo,
Inside Jason's room.
"Jason, explain yourself!"
Athena, clad in a white ancient-style dress with silver hair cascading behind her, pointed at the ocean goddess Thetis sitting on Jason's bed. She addressed Jason, who had just returned from the underworld and was still dazed.
"Why is she in your room?!"