Chapter 25: The Dream Awakens, Goddess Aegina
Chapter 25: The Dream Awakens, Goddess Aegina
As the pure white courtroom dispersed,
The original night was replaced by dawn.
The light that dispelled the darkness shone upon the scarred kingdom, and also on the
goddess of justice, Themis, who was dressed in white and had her eyes covered with a white cloth.
And she held the young boy in her arms.
At this moment, the boy had already shed the white robe representing judgment in the courtroom, changed into the ceremonial attire he had worn the previous night, and was unconscious in the goddess's embrace.
Athena, who was watching from the side, was not surprised.
After all, even though Themis was by his side, neither the power of the judgment scales nor the authority of the 'verdict' was something a child could bear.
Not to mention this child, who was so fragile that every time Athena saw him, she couldn't help but want to shove a golden apple into his mouth, fearing that one day a gust of wind would blow him into the underworld.
And at the moment they left the courtroom, all the jury members who had witnessed this special trial had already fallen into a deep sleep.
The power of the judgment had enveloped this kingdom, sealing everything within it, including time itself.
The birds flying in the sky were frozen mid-flight like statues, the dew falling from the trees and the leaves drifting in the air were similarly suspended.
This kingdom had become a special space of stillness.
And under its seal, only a few individuals could move within this kingdom at this moment... more precisely, only the four goddesses.
And this situation would continue until the verdict in the courtroom was fully executed... this was the power of the goddess of justice, Themis!
Themis,
She was the daughter of Uranus, the primordial god of the sky, in Greek mythology, and one of the twelve Titan gods of the second divine court.
She was born of noble lineage, possessing immense power, and was one of the oldest deities on this continent.
When she covered her eyes with the white cloth, she became the creator and guardian of order, respected by all the gods.
And because she was the creator and guardian of order, the verdicts in her pure white courtroom were absolute!
When Themis wielded the sword of judgment in the pure white courtroom constructed by the scales of judgment, the entire world would respond and execute the results of Themis's judgment!
Thus, at that very moment, Hades, the lord of the underworld, raised his head in his temple in the underworld, aware of what had transpired.
Although he understood what was happening, Athena couldn't help but snort softly as she watched Themis gently cradling Promise in her arms.
With her golden eyes that had witnessed everything, she had already realized.
The goddess of justice before her was the third figure prophesied by the goddess of fate, Clotho... the third person whom Promise would bring glory to!
In simpler terms, the goddess of justice was essentially here to steal him away!
And Athena hadn't even managed to take Promise from Hera yet!
Ignoring Athena's gaze, Themis, once her eyes were covered with the white cloth, was almost impervious to any external influence.
She turned around and, with two steps, carried Promise to the high tower within the kingdom, gently placing the unconscious boy on the bed of the river goddess Aegina.
She also placed the now-still scales of judgment beside Promise.
Then she turned her head and said to the hastily following river goddess Aegina, "Take good care of him for now. I will be back shortly... Let's go, Athena, Hera."
With that, she turned to head to the underworld with Athena and Hera to execute the judgment.
"What happened to him?"
Seeing Promise unconscious, Hera, who had finally recovered from the trial, immediately panicked and instinctively asked Athena.
"That was Themis's judgment. How could a child possibly bear it?" Athena explained to Hera, "But Themis gave him the scales of judgment from the start, so he was protected by its power. As long as the judgment is completed, he will wake up... Why should I go with you?"
Athena crossed her arms and looked at Themis, "You initiated the judgment, so it should be you and Hera who complete it.
I am merely a spectator, and I didn't participate in your judgment... Besides, leaving the child here like this, aren't you worried? Remember, this river goddess initially wanted to kill him, so it would be better if I stayed to guard him!"
Themis did not respond to Athena's words and stood quietly in front of her.
However, the river goddess Aegina quickly became anxious and hastily said, "I won't, I absolutely won't think of harming this child again. I swear by my name, Aegina!"
Athena glanced at Aegina and was about to say something when...
"Aren't you curious, Hera?" Themis suddenly spoke, her cold voice devoid of emotion, "Why
this wise goddess is here, and... why this child is here as well?"
Hera was slightly stunned and tilted her head slightly but before she could turn around completely.
"I'll go, I'll go!" Athena glared fiercely at Themis, then turned and grabbed Hera. "Let's go, to the underworld!"
However, to go to the underworld, they needed a guide, as none of the three had ever been to that eternal dark place.
So they sought out the one god among the twelve Olympians familiar with the way-the messenger of the gods, Hermes.
When they arrived in the underworld and met its ruler, Hades...
.
.
In the temple, Hades had been waiting for them for quite some time.
Hades was not a god of many words, so before the arriving goddesses could speak.
"I can grant your request to return those who came to the underworld due to Hera's anger and curse," Hades said directly. "But I have one condition!"
As he spoke, his dark eyes fixed quietly on Hera.
Then he told the queen of the gods, the goddess of marriage, his condition.
Hera, though somewhat surprised by the condition, eventually agreed.
About half a month later...
In the high tower, in the room of the river goddess Aegina.
The scales of judgment beside Promise, which had remained still, suddenly began to sway
gently.
With this slight movement, Promise's eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Sitting up and looking around in confusion, he once again saw the goddess quietly sitting by
the window in the high tower.
She still wore a light blue dress, her soft blue curls falling over her shoulders, her gaze quietly watching her kingdom outside the window.
But this time, Aegina's face no longer showed sorrow or pain.
Instead, it was adorned with a genuine smile.
"Child, you're awake?"
As she noticed the movement, Aegina turned her head and focused her gaze on Promise.
Her eyes, now fixed on Promise, were filled with unprecedented gentleness, deep guilt, and indescribable gratitude.
"Um... Good morning, Goddess Aegina?" Promise, seeing the sunlight streaming in through the window onto her, was momentarily unsure of the time of day.
But that wasn't the important part.
As if recalling something, after greeting her, Promise immediately got out of bed and took
two steps to the window... although he had been lying down for more than half a month, thanks to the scales of judgment, he didn't feel any fatigue, as if he had just had a good
night's sleep and woke up refreshed.
When he reached the window, basking in the bright sunlight, he looked out. Promise saw a prosperous kingdom, teeming with people, and the sounds of their joyful laughter could be heard clearly even from the high tower.
"The dream... it seems it truly has ended."
He smiled and looked at Aegina beside him. "Isn't that right, Goddess Aegina?"
...
...
**[
Name: Promise
Age: 16
Era: Ancient Greek Age of Gods
Identity: Transmigrator Heroic Spirit Class: Unconfirmed
Heroic Spirit Legend Event:
Met the future King of Athens, Theseus, and together apprenticed under the centaur sage
Chiron.
Initially mistaken for Jason, but in a nearly desperate situation, single-handedly brought a nearly uncontrollable situation back under control, becoming the person prophesied by the goddess of fate, Clotho, to bring glory to Hera.
Now you have received an oracle from the goddess of wisdom, Athena, to come before the
river goddess Aegina, who had lost everything due to Hera's curse, and offered her a painting of what she had lost, in exchange for a sacrificial ritual to Queen Hera. Facing Queen Hera, you offered her everything you had, asking only for a blessing in return, and ultimately succeeded.
After all, this was the oracle given to you by the goddess of wisdom-Hera's indulgence. But at that moment, the goddess of justice, Themis, arrived, initiating a trial. She revealed all
the hidden secrets of the incident to you and invited you to sit in the judgment seat, granting you a special honor alongside Hera.
That is, in the pure white courtroom, you, as a mere mortal, judged the gods!
It turns out that this goddess of justice had weighed you on the scales of judgment from the
very first day she met you, and she saw that future in you.
'This is not an absolutely just verdict, but it is a judgment that even I, the goddess of justicen/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Themis, would praise!'
This was a trial that even the goddess of justice, Themis, praised.
It is also a trial destined to be etched in history!
Even though under your judgment, it all became a dream, and when the dream ends, everyone
will forget everything and embrace a better future.
But history will record everything!
Therefore...
Heroic Spirit Quality Enhancement: C- (Fame Soars)
]**