Fortunately, the voyage passed without any major disasters.
No colossal sea monsters, no devastating storms.
They did encounter a few minor threats, but none that truly challenged them. In fact, Eros didn't even need to lift a finger, Kekropis handled the pirates and demi-human raiders all on her own.
With a few more demigods like her, it was no wonder the demi-humans were on the brink of extinction.
After sailing northward for more than ten days, they finally arrived at Eros's destination.
As Lemnos Island emerged on the horizon, it just so happened that Mount Vulcan was erupting in full force.
Volcanic ash engulfed half the sky, clouds fused with the peak, and from that darkness burst thunderbolts that lit up the heavens and earth.
Scarlet magma, the blood of the earth, flowed down its slopes, rumbling with a voice like fury itself.
The thunder roared in harmony, as though the Goddess of Flame herself was hammering her forge with divine fury.
"Noble and mighty Hephaestus, tireless flame!"
"Brilliant spirit in the fire, lighting the way for mortals."
"Calm your endless wrath, your flames wild and untamed!"
Witnessing this cataclysmic scene, the crew immediately dropped to their knees, praying toward Mount Vulcan.
To mortals, such awesome power could only belong to a god.
Even Kekropis, a demigod who had braved sea storms, was stunned. She had never stood in direct view of a deity's domain.
There was no doubt, Hephaestus, the legendary Goddess of Fire, First Forge of the Gods, child of Zeus and Hera, lived atop that furious peak.
She resided within that raging inferno, amidst the crackling bolts and molten rivers.
Her divine presence even stirred the ocean itself. Kekropis gritted her teeth, gripping the rudder tightly as she steered them toward the shore.
Eros, sensing the divine energy pouring from the island, couldn't help but click his tongue.
Olympus's Twelve… not a single one of them is normal.
With this kind of forging presence, who'd believe she was just some poor, cuckolded blacksmith?
Most people only remembered Hephaestus as the forge goddess.
But they always forgot, she was also the Goddess of Fire, and the living embodiment of volcanoes.
In certain Old Testament fragments, Azazel, the one who "cleanses the wilderness and seas", was a fire spirit likened to the lake of fire in Revelations.
And judging by this display, Eros figured Hephaestus could beat ten Areses blindfolded.
First, it was "don't underestimate farmers." Now it's "don't underestimate smiths."
"Captain! We've made landfall safely!"
Through the efforts of Kekropis and the rest of the crew, they finally docked.
The eruption had subsided. The ground was no longer shaking.
"Excellent. Just like before, handle resupply and reinforce the ship."
Prometheus issued her orders casually.
After such a long voyage, replenishing supplies was essential. Fortunately, Lemnos was inhabited, thriving, in fact.
In fact, the locals seemed entirely unfazed by the appearance of Prometheus's large ship.
"This is Lemnos? I didn't expect it to be so populous."
Eros blinked, surprised to see a busier port than Delos.
He had assumed that after what he'd seen from afar, the mountain's fury, the island would be a lifeless wasteland.
Yet the opposite was true.
Thanks to the volcanic ash, the island's vegetation had flourished. With fertile soil came prosperity.
The only oddity was that most of the locals had darker, bronzed skin, like people who worked beside the forge their entire lives.
Prometheus's ever-squinted eyes scanned the people quickly. She was already evaluating the state of human life here.
"Are you really going to visit the Fire Goddess?"
Kekropis turned to Eros, still somewhat shaken.
"You saw what she did. That divine fury could level mountains. If you're not careful… meeting a god can get you killed."
Mortals who dared approach gods sometimes received blessings… or sometimes, they were burned to ash.
Kekropis knew by now that Eros's true aim was to meet Hephaestus.
She trusted Prometheus, but still… this felt dangerously reckless.
Especially after witnessing that explosion. She had a strong sense that the goddess's temper was less than gentle.
What unsettled her even more was that, despite the mask, Eros's charm was absolutely disarming.
For humans, he carried a legendary aura, making him naturally adored and revered.
For non-humans? It was sheer charisma critical hit.
He was an unstoppable force, captivating all.
Still, there was a difference. Humans viewed him with respect and admiration. Non-humans, on the other hand… with pure, uncontrollable desire.
And Kekropis… wasn't quite sure why, but she felt deep reverence for this mysterious mage called "Endymion."
"Don't worry,"
Prometheus said, smiling.
"You'll be fine. He's not exactly a normal person."
"Relax. This is just the first stop. I've got plenty of places left to go."
Eros waved dismissively and turned to walk toward Mount Vulcan, only for Prometheus to pull him back.
"You're not seriously just going to walk straight into the forge, are you?"
"If you're paying a visit, knock on the damn door first."
She turned to Kekropis.
"Watch the ship. I'll take him."
She led Eros in a different direction.
On islands with gods present, things worked differently. Kings might not exist yet, but divine authority ran deep.
Hephaestus was no exception.
"Don't just barge in. Let me do the talking."
Prometheus warned him, her tone serious.
"When you see her, do not compliment her. Do not insult her. Don't even joke with her."
"And if you notice something… off… pretend you didn't. Got it?"
She didn't elaborate, not wanting to give Eros anything that might focus his attention and provoke the goddess.
"First, we'll speak with her oracle. Let her make the introduction."
Hephaestus was notoriously reclusive. Only a few could enter her forge without advance notice, Zeus, Aphrodite, Athena.
Everyone else who tried… ended up on fire.
When they arrived at the Temple of Hephaestus, they were greeted by, chaos.
A man and a woman were furiously arguing before a gemstone-adorned oracle.
It seemed like a lovers' quarrel.
The woman was ranting about how her husband poured all his passion into other women and neglected his marital duties.
The man? He was fighting back, with divine precedent.
"Even the goddess Aphrodite cheated on her spouse! If she can do it, then surely I shouldn't be crucified for the same thing!"
The oracle was clearly caught in the crossfire.
As Hephaestus's priestess, she couldn't exactly criticize her goddess's choices.
Eros raised an eyebrow behind his mask.
Seriously? Hephaestus's drama is contagious now? That's… ridiculous.
After much effort, the oracle finally persuaded the couple to settle down and leave.
"Ugh…"
She sighed and turned toward Prometheus and Eros.
"Let me guess. Another couple here to argue in front of the goddess?"
Eros's expression twitched behind his mask.
What do you mean "another"?! Is this a communicable curse or something?
Without missing a beat, Prometheus stepped forward and offered a formal greeting:
"Priestess of Flame, honored Oracle, we are travelers from afar, and we humbly request an audience with the Lady of Fire."
"Oh? Not a couple? Not here to argue?"
The oracle seemed genuinely surprised.
And then, without prompting, she launched into a monologue.
"The couples around here are nonstop. Men keep running off to Thrace for women."
"If this continues, what hope is left? Was Aphrodite truly the one who cursed the women of Lemnos?"
Eros's lip twitched.
...This is really happening? The women of Lemnos caught a divine green-hat virus?
Before Prometheus could blurt out a polite response, Eros stepped forward.
"If you've got something to say, spit it out. No need to circle the point."
The oracle sighed, eyes narrowing.
"There's been… a problem. We suspect the Lady of Love has cursed us."
"Our men no longer desire the women of Lemnos. It's become a crisis."
"If you want an audience with our goddess, then help us. Either confirm whether this is truly a curse, or find a way to lift it."
Oh great. The classic 'fix my plumbing' sidequest.
Eros was already grimacing.
Before Prometheus could agree, he stepped ahead.
"Is that really necessary? I'm a little pressed for time."
"Of course, I wouldn't ask without offerin, "
The oracle's words froze in her throat.
Because in that moment, Eros lifted half his mask, just enough to reveal a single perfect eye and a flawless cheekbone.
"I… I'll go speak with the Lady of Fire… right now."
OG Author's Note:
Lemnos was the first island the Argonauts landed on.
Its women were said to be cursed by Aphrodite for not worshipping her, making them smell foul.
All the men fled to Thrace for women.
Eventually, the Lemnian women snapped and killed all the men, forming an Amazon-like society.
When the Argonauts arrived, well… things got very busy, and many children were born.