Holding the compass Athena had given him, Jason quietly circled Persephone several tis. When he confird the needle always pointed unwaveringly at the breathtaking golden-haired, golden-eyed woman before him, he finally verified that she was indeed Persephone!
He glanced around the chamber once more and patiently waited for several dozen minutes, making certain the nymphs outside would not enter casually.
Even a blind person could see that Persephone was in low spirits.
Dressed in a pale yellow long gown, she gazed out the window at the scenery beyond the temple and would always let out a quiet sigh.
After observing for a while and feeling confident, Jason began softly calling to her.
"Lady Persephone… Lady Persephone, can you hear ?"
"Hm?" Suddenly hearing soone seemingly call her na, Persephone instinctively looked around. Just as confusion appeared on her face,
"Lady Persephone, I am Hecate's student. My teacher sent to help you. I am currently wearing the Helt of Invisibility that Lord Hades has lent . Could you please pretend you know nothing and go close the door?"
Upon hearing Jason's words and the nas of Hecate and Hades, a flash of excitent crossed Persephone's eyes. That excitent quickly turned to joy. She silently nodded, stood up, and went to shut the door.
"I wish to rest. Unless I give express permission, none of you are allowed to enter. Do you understand?"
"Yes, noble Lady Persephone."
The nymphs, spirits born of nature and minor goddesses themselves, naturally dared not disobey Persephone.
Although Deter had strictly ordered them to watch over Persephone when she left to attend the gathering hosted by Apollo, Artemis, and Athena, they had no way of knowing soone had already slipped inside!
The mont Persephone closed the door and released her divine power to envelop the area, Jason very tactfully removed Hades's Helt of Invisibility without needing to be told. Revealing his true appearance, he imdiately bowed to Persephone.
"Noble Lady Persephone, this unworthy student of Hecate, Jason, is deeply honored to et you!"
"…There is no need to be so formal, child."
Persephone looked at the extrely young boy before her, and surprise naturally flickered in her eyes.
"Your teacher and I are very close friends… Hm?"
While speaking, Persephone gave Jason a brief once-over and froze again. "Why do I sense the auras of Athena, Apollo, Artemis… and even Hers upon you, aside from Hecate?"
"In reply to Lady Persephone, this garnt I wear was personally bestowed upon by the great goddess of wisdom Athena, and it is she who has been guiding my path.
The golden sword at my side was lent to by the great god of light Apollo. It is only because of this blade that I have been able to cut through every obstacle along the way.
The great moon goddess Artemis lent the golden-horned deer. It is only because of it that I have been able to traverse mountains and rivers from Arcadia to reach this place.
And the great Lord Hers, at the very end, delivered Lord Hades's Helt of Invisibility to and lent his Talaria and caduceus, allowing to slip past the watchful eyes of your great mother, Lady Deter, cross the perilous terrain, and finally stand before you."
With every sentence Jason spoke, Persephone's eyes widened a little more.
"Right now, the great god of light Apollo has veiled the sun, the great moon goddess Artemis has concealed the moonlight, and the great goddess of wisdom Athena has ensured Lady Deter will not notice anything amiss here for the ti being.
Please, Lady Persephone, wear Hades's helt, don the Talaria, take the caduceus, and leave this mountain.
Lady Artemis's golden-horned deer and Lord Hers will be waiting outside to receive you."
After hearing everything and gradually regaining her composure, Persephone looked at the boy offering her the divine artifacts and could not help asking, "Once I leave, what about you?"
"Lady Persephone need not worry about . After all, I am Hecate's student." With that, Jason took out a feather glowing with underworld light from the bag Athena had given him.
It was the very item Hecate had handed him before he set out.
Only then did Persephone accept the three divine artifacts from Jason's hands.
Before departing, she looked at the extraordinarily young boy and asked, "Child, will we et again?"
"Of course, noble Lady Persephone." Jason nodded with a bright smile.
Of course we will. I'm still waiting for you to temper my soul with the flas of the Underworld!
"Jason… After this matter is concluded, I will surely reward you handsoly, brave child."
Persephone gazed deeply at Jason for a mont, expressed her gratitude, then went to the window. She donned Hades's helt of invisibility, put on the Talaria, and flew away.
Watching the now-invisible Persephone depart through the window, Jason stood stunned for a second.
Right… why did I choose to walk through the front door in the first place…? Also, Lady Persephone, why do you seem so practiced at this…?
Shaking his head to dispel those thoughts, Jason walked over to a lit torch that illuminated the night, and used it to ignite the underworld feather Hecate had given him.
Once the feather caught fire and burned away, it turned into specks of ghostly light.
Those specks grew larger, transforming into beautiful underworld butterflies. The butterflies gathered together, and the beautiful goddess Hecate, dressed in a long black gown with black hair reaching her waist, appeared before Jason.
"Where is Persephone?"
"Teacher Hecate, she has already left."
Jason recounted everything that had just happened, then added with a small complaint, "Teacher, don't you think Lord Hers was a little… an?
It only occurred to halfway that Hades's Helt of Invisibility can only conceal one person. If you weren't here, I would have been finished!"
"Hm, I don't think this has anything to do with Hers. Though he did use his power to cloud your thinking for a mont, that much is true."
Hecate pondered briefly and spoke thoughtfully. "If I'm not mistaken, Athena probably told him to do it."
"Lady Athena?" Jason blinked in confusion.
He was quite certain he had never offended Athena!
"Because the ga she was playing with you can no longer continue… She already knows Artemis accidentally revealed her involvent. I imagine she'll be giving Artemis so trouble for a while."
Hecate smiled as she spoke and patted Jason's head. "So as compensation, she gave you one last little puzzle at the end of this affair… She guessed you would be fine, since I'm here after all."
"But because of that, I have to deliver so very unfortunate news."
Knowing full well that Jason wanted nothing to do with gods and found them troubleso, Hecate could not help finding the situation amusing as she told him, "Originally, given Athena's personality, she might have played a few more gas with you and then let you go.
But after this whole incident… congratulations. You have now been completely targeted by one of the most troubleso gods on Olympus!"
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Full Recovery!
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