Mist hung over the forest, drifting through the bushes along the narrow path.
A moment later, two figures—one large, one small—emerged from the depths of the rocky cavern and stopped before a clear pool of water.
"So, this is your home?"
"Now, why exactly did you invite me here? You could at least explain yourself."
Samael curled his fingers, plucking Daphne, the nymph perched on his shoulder, and dangling her by her wings. She had shrunk to barely three inches tall.
Ahead stood a small dwelling built from trees, vines, and stone, decorated with flowers and plants. The interior gleamed with shells and gemstones, carrying both a naturalist and Rococo charm.
This girl had insisted on inviting him over today, yet all along the way she refused to say why. The ancient serpent could only feel baffled and unsettled.
"Oh, stop being so fussy! Just get inside already!"
Breaking free from Samael's grip, Daphne flickered with light and returned to her normal size. She slipped behind him, muttering as she shoved and tugged, forcing him toward the little house.
"Wait, let me go in myself! Your door is so small—I'll hit my head! I'll hit my head!"
Shoved forward, the ancient serpent hunched low, tucking his head in, speechless at the little nymph's rough handling.
If it weren't for the help you gave me, I'd hang you up and thrash you with a vine!
Samael's face darkened. Just before stepping through the doorway, he let out a sharp snort toward Daphne.
"Remember, this was the last condition. Don't come pestering me again."
"Yeah, yeah, cheapskate! Besides, your place isn't fun anyway!"
Like a rowdy child, Daphne threw her whole weight into pushing him from behind, finally shoving her guest into the house.
Inside, the magically expanded space was far larger and more open than expected. Strange plants, the bones of Magical Beasts, and the shells of aquatic creatures were arranged everywhere, part of Daphne's little collecting habit.
A fledgling eagle she had just acquired yesterday sat in a vine-woven cage by the window, sipping spring water and tearing at fresh meat, already looking much healthier.
Further in, a door stood slightly ajar, showing a small bed lined with soft plants and strewn with petals.
Overall, the design was exactly what one would expect of a nymph—fresh, natural, and graceful.
As soon as Daphne flopped onto a chair woven from vines, she chirped and darted toward the kitchen, where food was being prepared, calling out with pride.
"Cousin, cousin, I dragged him here!"
Cousin? There's someone else living here?
Just as Samael was puzzling over this, a goddess in a white gauze gown appeared, her eyes covered by a strip of cloth. She carried tea and wild fruits, moving with serene elegance.
After a polite nod of greeting, the three of them sat down. The goddess radiated a calm, solemn air.
Even the usually wild Daphne sat quietly at the blonde goddess's side, hands folded in her lap, suddenly the picture of a well-behaved child.
Her sparkling eyes never left the blonde goddess, filled with admiration and yearning, as if she already saw her as someone to look up to and follow.
The ancient serpent lifted a cup of tea and took a sip. A refreshing sweetness blossomed across his tongue, flowed down his throat, and spread warmly through his body.
Samael glanced down at the delicate cup in his hand, formed from the hardened petals of a trumpet-shaped flower. The liquid inside was likely a blend of nectar and dew.
It seemed that even in the primordial Age of Gods, there had been no lack of ways to savor life.
Collecting his thoughts, the ancient serpent looked up again, smiling as he asked his question.
"Excuse me..."
"Astraea. Just call me by my name."
The blonde goddess smiled gently as she spoke.
Astraea? That name rang a bell, though Samael couldn't place where he had heard it before.
He turned the flower-shaped teacup in his hand, confusion flickering in his eyes as his brows drew together.
But among both the old and new Twelve Olympians, there wasn't a single god with that name.
So then...
"Samael? Samael!"
The ancient serpent snapped out of his thoughts as a sharp voice rang repeatedly in his ear.
"Astraea is talking to you! Hmph, how rude!"
Hands on her hips, Daphne leaned close to his ear, her face full of dissatisfaction.
"Is something the matter?"
Astraea lightly tugged the indignant nymph back to her seat, then turned her gaze toward Samael with curiosity.
"No, nothing. It's just... a beautiful name. It means 'star,' doesn't it?"
Samael shook off his distractions, offered a faint apologetic smile, straightened his posture, and decided not to dwell on the name any further.
After all, even in an age of advanced technology, untangling the tangled genealogy of the Greek pantheon and memorizing every name of its mythic figures was nearly impossible. He wasn't a scholar of Greek theology, and with so much time having passed, it was natural for some details to slip.
If she wasn't one of the Olympians—old or new—and thus irrelevant to his plans, then it didn't matter.
Besides, being a relative recommended by Daphne, she likely bore no ill will.
Still, Samael remained cautious. After collecting his thoughts, he asked,
"So, you were looking for me? Is there something I can help with?"
It was clear now that it hadn't been Daphne who wanted him here, but Astraea.
The Star Goddess nodded slightly. She bent down and retrieved a wooden board divided into colored squares from beneath the table, along with two open boxes filled with carved pieces in different shapes.
"Forgive me. Daphne might have been impatient and failed to explain properly on the way."
"I just found this game fascinating and wanted to learn more about its rules."
Chess...
That little trinket he'd made casually, just to keep that brat occupied.
So this whole thing was just about chess.
Samael's lips twitched. He felt both speechless and relieved—there was nothing remotely dangerous about this.
Each piece had been modeled after existing Magical Beasts, their names and shapes matching accordingly. It was less like chess and more like beast chess, though it kept the basic rules.
Taking the black pieces, Samael began explaining as he set them up. While Astraea briefly rose to step inside and remove her eye covering, he cast a sidelong look at Daphne.
"Didn't I already teach you the basics?"
Daphne froze, her face instantly collapsing.
"Astraea is too good! After three games, I kept losing, and then she started asking me all these detailed questions about the rules. It wasn't fun at all."
"You're the one who made this game—how was I supposed to know?"
Samael let out a dry chuckle and rolled his eyes.
"So you just sold me out?"
"Well, you're the only one who's any good at it."
Looking embarrassed yet trying to act ingratiating, Daphne quickly scooped up the fledgling eagle from its cage and started sneaking toward the door.
"Hey! This is your house. Where are you going?"
Samael's hand froze midair, a chess piece still between his fingers.
"Chess is boring! I promised Crenaia I'd help her find food for the little ones!"
She darted out the door without looking back, vanishing into the forest.
So that was it. You dragged me here just to be a shield, leaving me to entertain your cousin while you ran off to play?
The ancient serpent stared at the wide-open door, at Daphne who had already disappeared, and fell silent.
Well, "entertainment" obviously meant eating, drinking, and playing along.
Inside, Samael sat rigidly upright, facing the goddess across from him, his expression solemn.
And... eyes forward.