Chương 66: Apollo, Will You Give Promise a Painting?

"Goddess Daphne, we're back. Are you happy? You must be very happy, right?" Promise ran under the silver-leaved laurel tree that was the goddess Daphne and spoke with a beaming smile.

A gentleman doesn't seek revenge overnight.

His meticulous grudge book perfectly exemplified his character.

Moreover, reciprocation is a virtue.

'When God Apollo left with me, you were so happy. Now it's my turn to be happy!'

Although they hadn't met many times, possibly due to both being 'persecuted' by Apollo, and Promise having been 'persecuted' by Artemis as well, the two got along very well, like old friends.

So, Daphne wasn't angry at Promise's teasing; she just waved her branches in mock annoyance and lightly tapped the boy's on the head.

"You two seem to have a good relationship," Apollo observed with a smile from the side, feeling satisfied. After all, one was his lover, and the other was a child he liked.

"Yes, thanks to you, the god of light Apollo," Promise said with emotion.

Indeed, in every sense, it was thanks to him.

"Oh, by the way, Lord Apollo, I haven't had the chance to thank you yet. Thank you for protecting me and accompanying me on this journey. Without you, I wouldn't have completed this divine mission so smoothly," Promise said gratefully.

But the underlying message was actually: It's over. Now that it's over, please don't follow me anymore!

"No, child, I can't accept your thanks, because I didn't do anything on this journey. I just watched as you rewrote what was supposed to be your fate," Apollo said, recalling the events of the previous night with some emotion.

This naturally piqued Daphne's curiosity.

She swayed her body, expressing her confusion to Apollo, and the latter actually understood her...

'So you do understand, but you automatically ignored her aversion and even replaced it with affection?'

Apollo then recounted the events of the previous night and what he saw in the future to Daphne, while observing Promise's reaction.

To his surprise, the boy remained calm, as if he had known all along, and even started playing with Pegasus... specifically trying to stop Pegasus from sneaking away to graze.

"Child, this isn't the first time you've changed fate, is it?" Apollo asked, having realized the truth.

Promise paused for a moment, then thought of Goddess Athena, Artemis, and many other gods who knew, and since the gentle goddess of fate hadn't told him to keep it a secret, he tactfully told Apollo about his bet with Clotho.

Hearing that Promise was both favored and abandoned by the goddess of fate, and had embarked on a path of changing fate, Apollo was surprised.

However, looking at the silver thread tied around Promise's hair, he finally understood.

It was a strand of hair taken by Athena, containing her divine power, making it impossible for the gods to spy on Promise—except for Athena herself.

Then Apollo seemed to think of something.

He hesitated for a moment before saying to Promise, "Child, do you know Orpheus? He is also a student of the centaur Chiron, just like you."

"Orpheus? Of course, I know him. When I was with teacher Chiron, he taught me how to play the lyre beautifully," Promise replied, nodding. "In fact, I'm planning to find him because I need to complete the trial of finding the Golden Fleece under Queen Hera's witness, and he is one of my chosen crew members."

"And I also need to seek revenge on him!"

Hearing him say this, knowing that he had a good relationship with Orpheus, Apollo felt relieved. But hearing the word "revenge," he naturally froze.

However, before he could ask, Promise quickly explained the content of his revenge.

When Apollo and the goddess Daphne learned that the boy's revenge referred to the time they left the mountain without him and even tied him up in Chiron's cave, both Apollo and Daphne burst into laughter.

The laurel tree shook continuously, showing just how much Daphne was laughing.

"Do you want to see him now?" Apollo asked.

"Yes, of course," Promise nodded, already guessing that Apollo had something to discuss with him.

And as he expected, Apollo took out the golden lyre, the divine instrument that could make everything in the world stop and listen, and handed it to Promise.

Apollo hoped that Promise could deliver it to Orpheus on his behalf.

Promise accepted the golden lyre, not surprised by this request.

After all, in the original myth, Apollo did indeed give it to Orpheus.

Promise's musical skills were good, but compared to Orpheus, he was still lacking.

Orpheus could make wood and stone weep or rejoice with his music.

"I understand, god of light Apollo. I'll go find him right away!" Promise said, turning to run towards Pegasus.

Seeing this, Apollo quickly called out to him, "Wait, child... I'm sorry. I wanted to help, but it seems I didn't help at all and only caused you trouble."

He said, taking out two golden apples he had prepared and handing them to Promise.

Now, Promise had five golden apples again.

The goddess Daphne, seeing this, although she didn't have golden apples, shook her body gently, causing some silver leaves to fall into Promise's hands.

This was quite a fortune.

"No, no, it's no trouble at all. I'll go find him right away!" Promise, already quite adept at handling such situations, shook his head as he took the golden apples.

Of course, it was no trouble.

Being with you is the biggest trouble!

Without giving Apollo a chance to speak further, he climbed onto Pegasus, and the winged horse, understanding perfectly, immediately spread its silver wings and flew into the blue afternoon sky with Promise.

"This child is truly adorable!" Apollo said to Daphne, deeply moved by Promise's willingness to go through fire and water for him. "Right, my beloved?"

Daphne didn't want to speak; she was just marveling at how quickly Promise ran away.

And if she could, she would have run too!

She could actually change back from being a laurel tree since it was her father who turned her into one.

But she didn't dare to do it.

With Apollo in his current state, if she changed back, she would definitely be captured and taken away for marriage.

Thinking of this, Daphne couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow, and her body trembled once again.

Apollo, however, thought she was agreeing with him and smiled happily.

At that moment...

"By the way, Apollo, do you have any more golden apples?"

A silver-haired, golden-eyed goddess suddenly emerged from the sunlight, approaching the two.

Apollo wasn't surprised by her appearance at all.

After all, he had sensed her watching them all along the way.

"No, I just gave them to that adorable child. Why?" He replied.

"Nothing," Athena shook her head, visibly frustrated.

Hera would never give her a golden apple...and in her words..

'She was already scheming against my follower, and now she wants a golden apple? Dream on!'

But Athena had already associated golden apples with Promise.

After Hermes spread the word, everyone knew that to see Promise, they had to bring a golden apple.

So now, this wise goddess couldn't even appear in front of the boy because she didn't have a golden apple.

Hera, you stingy...

Athena clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction and then said to Apollo, "You asked Promise to find your and Calliope's child because of that matter in the Underworld, right?"

Hearing this, Apollo looked into her golden eyes, which seemed to see through everything in the world, and nodded, "Yes, after all, my child Orpheus, like me, is a passionate person willing to give everything for his beloved.

The death of his wife has left him in deep sorrow, and now he is preparing to go to the Underworld, hoping to move Hades with his music.

His musical skills are on par with mine, and may even surpass me. Therefore, I can see him achieving that, and it makes me proud, but... he is too much like me."

At this point, he sighed and said, "He loves his wife too deeply, so he is destined not to pass the trial in the Underworld. Unable to sense his wife's breath or hear her voice, he will surely turn back and lose her forever."

Speaking, he revealed a look of immense sadness and once again gazed at the laurel tree goddess Daphne with deep affection.

Daphne, now transformed into a laurel tree, didn't move.

She was exhausted.

She even thought the world might as well be destroyed!

"But you didn't tell little Promise everything," Athena said with a sly smile, her eyes slightly narrowed.

Apollo fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "Yes, I know he is a very good child, so I actually didn't want him to get involved in this matter. After all, he is as delicate as a flower, evoking people's affection."

Hearing this, Athena suddenly understood why Promise looked at Apollo with the same apprehension he had for Artemis... no, perhaps even more fearfully.

Just listening to this for a while was already unbearable!

"But you might not know, little Promise will certainly try to change Orpheus's fate once he's involved," Athena continued. "Because that's his agreement with the goddess of fate, Clotho. No matter what destiny is set, he will strive to create a more beautiful future for her, who cannot see it."

Hearing Athena's words, Daphne gently shook her body, the silver leaves rubbing against each other, making a rustling sound.

After all, there was a hint of jealousy in the wisdom goddess's words...

Apollo was stunned for a moment, then his expression became serious, "No, I have to stop him now!"

Saying this, he prepared to chase after Promise, but Athena stopped him.

"There's no need. You've already intertwined Orpheus's fate thread with Promise's. The Temple of Fate is probably already busy, and it cannot be changed now... besides, don't you want to see your son Orpheus change his fate and live happily ever after?"

Hearing this, Apollo couldn't help but say, "Of course I want that, but Athena, that's the Underworld! Even a slight breeze could cause that child to stay there forever!"

"But he can still change Orpheus's fate," Athena said with a smile. "And he is the only one in this world who can do it."

"Moreover, rest assured, he won't be in danger because we have an oath. I won't let anything happen to him before that, and besides..."

At this point, the goddess raised her head proudly and said, "He is a child who can bring me glory and create miracles that even I marvel at!"

"Bring you glory?" Apollo was stunned once again and instinctively replied, "Isn't it Hera?"

Daphne nodded in agreement from the side,

she smelled something fishy here!.

Athena didn't explain, as she couldn't possibly reveal that it wasn't just her and Hera, but also the goddess of justice Themis, and now the goddess of fate Clotho too!

"That's not the point. The point is, Apollo, have you prepared the reward for that child... when he truly changes everything?"

Hearing her words, Apollo replied without hesitation, "Whatever blessing he desires at that time, I will not refuse!"

"For example... a painting?" Athena asked with a smile.

"A painting?" Apollo looked at her a bit puzzled.

"Yes," The goddess nodded, smiling. "And it's the same painting as the moon goddess Artemis!"