"...You knew all along?"
When she sees Jason opening his arms to Medea, and Medea rushing into Jason's embrace, Athena's brows remain furrowed.
But compared to when Jason was struck by the golden arrow, she can naturally restrain herself.
And most importantly, Athena understands that Jason's acceptance of Medea's action does not include romantic love.
Facing Athena, whose thoughts are gradually clarifying and reason returning.
Hecate gazes at the pair of siblings inside the temple, her two students.
Hecate cannot help but smile and says: "No, I did not know... I only knew that Medea was preparing something, but I did not inquire further."
Hearing this, Athena is stunned for a moment, then says to Hecate: "You are letting her be so reckless? ...Are you not afraid she would go to any lengths to shoot that golden arrow into Jason?!"
"If so, that would be her choice."
Hecate withdraws her gaze, looks at Athena, and says to her: "Jason is my student, yes, but Medea... she is as well!
Whether Medea or Jason, they are both students I watched grow up and nurtured.
The last thing a teacher should do is interfere with their decisions.
Watching over them from the side and silently observing their choices is what a teacher should do.
Moreover...!"
Hecate raises her voice slightly, cutting off Athena who seems about to say more, and says: "I believe in my students.
I... trust them from the bottom of my heart.
Because they are all my beloved students."
Hecate truly did not know the specifics, unaware of Medea's long-standing scheme... Even if she did know, it was only a few days ago.
That day, she unintentionally overheard her conversation with the goddess of fate Clotho.
Thus, Hecate sighed lightly then.
And that is why she appears now, blocking Athena's path.
If she had not appeared, Medea would have been destroyed by the furious Athena three minutes ago!
So now, when Hecate looks at Athena again, she narrows her eyes and says: "By the way, Athena, do you not want that title of goddess of wisdom anymore? ...That jealous, furious face of yours.
It is truly... memorable."
"Um... Hecate, please forget..."
"Sorry, I cannot forget." Hecate huffs lightly and says: "That scene is firmly etched in my mind, and I have already recorded it, cut it from the river of fate. Do not think of asking the goddess of fate to erase it."
Hearing this, Athena's expression changes slightly.
"Control yourself... If you do not want me to show that footage to Jason."
As she speaks, Hecate's corners of her mouth lift slightly as she says to Athena: "Athena, suppose Jason learns that you nearly killed me... What do you think he would think?"
"Hecate, you did that on purpose!" Athena widens her eyes. "No wonder during the fight just now, you did not resist and even let yourself get hurt. You..."
"Do not call me; go call Jason if you must." Hecate rolls her eyes. "I learned this from him... This is called reasoning!"
Looking at Hecate before her, who speaks with upturned corners of her mouth and a smug expression.
Athena's current expression is as if she has eaten dirt...
"But believing in that child Medea, knowing she would not act recklessly... It is not entirely without reason."
Changing the subject, having gained the upper hand over Athena and vented the anger from being beaten earlier, Hecate looks at the scene below again, her expression softening as she says: "Because she actually stated her position very early on.
She said long ago..."
Dear brother, I hope there is a place for me in the brilliant story you write and depict!
Do you all remember? Just one year ago, when Jason arrived on the island of the witch Circe and took Medea away.
The words Medea said to Jason?
And at that time, through Jason, she learned that he had taken another teacher, the god of craftsmen Hephaestus.
She learned of the existence of that 'teacher's wife,' the goddess of beauty Aphrodite...
At that moment, a thoughtful expression flashed in Medea's eyes... This is also the true reason why the little love god Cupid's bow and arrows are in Medea's hands now!
The goddess of fate Clotho brought Medea to find the goddess of beauty Aphrodite, thereby locating the little love god Cupid.
And under the request of several goddesses, the little love god Cupid gave Medea these two golden arrows and golden bow.
One year ago, Medea said those words.
And to shoot this golden arrow at Jason, she prepared for a full three years.
Thus, the true meaning of those words is...
Dear brother, Medea does not wish to be your stumbling block.
At this moment, the golden arrow in destiny remains one in Medea's body.
One in Jason's hand.
Moreover, these two golden arrows have been enchanted with pairing magic and spells.
From now on, even if other golden arrows strike Jason, they will be repelled and ineffective.
Until these two golden arrows produce a result.
"Hee hee."
In the empty temple of the goddess Hecate, Medea's light and pleasant laughter echoes.
Hugging Jason, Medea smiles brightly at him and says: "Dear brother, how did I do? ...Is it not just like you, dear brother?"
"Nonsense, it is nothing like me at all!"
Slightly pulling back to let Medea down from his embrace, Jason rolls his eyes at the giggling Medea and says: "I would never act so recklessly!"
"Yes... Dear brother, this is Teacher's temple, you know."
Medea blinks at Jason. "If Teacher hears you lying, she will strike you!"
"You rascal!" Jason ruffles her hair and says: "What do you mean lying? I am clearly telling the truth!"
As his words fall, a 'boom' sounds.
A bolt of lightning strikes beside Jason.
Startling both Jason and Medea.
Then Medea bursts out laughing, while Jason's expression turns somewhat embarrassed.
"What the... I was clearly telling the truth..."
Boom!
This time, the lightning strikes right on target.
Medea jumps away from Jason's side in fright.
Teacher, is eavesdropping like this not a bit unethical! ...Jason wants to shout, but after looking at the imposing statue of Hecate before him...
Fine, fine, respect your elders, honor your teacher.
Do not stoop to Teacher's level!
"Laugh, you are still laughing!"
Jason rolls his eyes at Medea.
"I am not laughing, I am not, dear brother... Hee hee, sorry dear brother, I cannot help it. Your hair is standing up, hee hee..."
Jason's mouth twitches slightly, then he smiles warmly at Medea and says: "My dear sister, have you forgotten how I have always taught you?
You must respect and revere your brother immensely.
Brothers are not to be bullied; have you forgotten?"
"I have not forgotten, I have not.
I was wrong, dear brother, I really was wrong. Sorry!"
Seeing Jason approach with a smile that does not reach his eyes, Medea hurriedly begs for mercy... The wise submit to circumstances,
This too, she learned from Jason!
The two play and bicker for a while in Hecate's temple, under the gaze of the goddess Hecate.
And both tacitly avoid mentioning the golden arrow just now.
They cover everything that happened with laughter.
They completely turn the page on today's events.
Moreover, Medea's smile holds no falsehood, and neither does Jason's.
Although the golden arrow did not pierce Jason's heart.
But such an outcome, in Medea's view, is actually not bad at all.
After all, this Jason is not that Jason.
Moreover, Medea has waited a very, very long time for this moment.
From the year she learned from Hecate that she had a little junior brother.
And from the moment she met Jason.
She has always anticipated, anticipated the day when Jason would truly welcome her from the heart.
Thus, that golden arrow was not only for Jason but truly also for herself.
Medea has always been a very smart child.
And influenced by Jason since childhood, the shadow of Jason is evidently behind her actions.
Thus, this time, it can end so perfectly.
Therefore, at this moment, as Athena watches this scene, as the goddess of wisdom, she naturally quickly pieces together the cause and effect. She realizes that this time, it was not Jason but Medea who took the initiative to shatter this destiny.
Blinking her eyes, Athena cannot help but say to Hecate: "Hecate, you... really have a good student."
"Yes, of course."
Hecate tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, smiles proudly, and says: "After all, they are all students of me, Hecate!"
Seeing Hecate like this, Athena's mouth twitches.
Look at how smug you are...
"They."
Did you not always call Jason a wayward disciple?!
Thinking of this, Athena's eyes turn, then she reveals a beautiful smile and says to Hecate: "Hey, Hecate, let us make a deal..."
Before she can finish.
"No deal, scram!"
Hecate replies without courtesy.
"I have not even said anything yet!"
Hecate looks at Athena speechlessly and says: "Your expression has already said it for you... Athena, are you really that insatiable?
Were you not just hating that child Medea? How do you want her now?"
"What can I do? It is not my fault!"
Athena widens her eyes. "The most outstanding children are either with you or others; I have none!
Hecate, give me this child. Rest assured, in no time I will train her into a great hero... Hey, hey, Hecate do not go! Listen to me, I promise you, do not go!"