"Achoo!"
At the shimmering lakeside, a figure stoking the fire let out a heavy sneeze.
Who's gossiping about me now?
Samael rubbed his itchy nose, grumbling under his breath.
Come to think of it, dumping all those problem students on Teacher Horse was a bit underhanded.
He'd watched those troublemakers grow up and knew all too well what they were like.
To the ancient serpent, Chiron's temper was far too mild, his teaching methods far too gentle. It was no wonder he couldn't always keep those brats under control.
Euryale and Stheno were mischief-makers who thrived on chaos, Sphinx was a neurotic riddler, and the rest were hardly any easier to handle.
Turn your back for a moment, and they'd be stirring up some disaster.
Over their long years together, Samael had seen their talent for trouble more times than he cared to count.
That's why his rule for training these divine creatures was always the same: first subdue them with force, then reason with them after.
If you didn't give them a good beating first, they'd cause no end of problems.
Still, just because Teacher Horse had a good temper didn't mean he couldn't get angry.
The more you suppress, the harsher the backlash. Those fools in the Arima Caverns had better pray for luck.
The ancient serpent chuckled darkly, his mood inexplicably light.
"Aaaa… so hungry…"
Just as he was savoring his own schadenfreude, a soft, springy weight pressed against his left arm. Tina leaned close, murmuring as her cross-shaped pupils stayed fixed on the crackling fire.
"Hold on a little longer. Dinner's almost ready."
Samael gently stroked Tina's smooth, teal hair, his gaze full of fondness.
The appearance of the Goddess of Beginning here had been entirely unexpected.
For safety, he had only summoned Athena and Medusa to gather outside the marshes, never imagining Tina would trail him by following his presence.
But faced with the goddess's innocent, yearning eyes—and the loneliness and disappointment clouding her cheeks after he had tried to refuse her—Samael had given in and let Tina come along.
Still, while it was true they might run into the Olympian gods outside, Typhon's assaults were just as likely here in the Arima Caverns.
Then again, in the divine age of Greece, even drinking river water meant risking being dragged away by monsters. There was no such thing as a safe place.
As Samael pondered, ripples spread across the lake's surface, and the air filled with the harsh beating of wings.
Perfect. Dinner's here.
The ancient serpent lifted his head slightly, a grin tugging at his lips.
A flock of monstrous birds—bronze wings, claws, and beaks, feathers sharp as blades—swarmed overhead like a storm cloud.
As they closed within a hundred meters, their wings beat in unison. A deafening shriek rang out, and hundreds of bronze-feathered projectiles shot down like a rain of arrows.
What massive chickens!
Tina tipped her head back, her eyes sparkling. She wiped away the drool at her lips and started to rise, but Samael gently pressed her down.
Clang!
Just as the storm of bronze feathers neared fifty meters, a crisp clash of shields rang out from the dense forest behind them.
Hum!
Golden ripples spread outward. Lines of divine script surged through the air, ringing with metallic clangs as hundreds of bronze feathers were deflected.
Some even shot back, piercing the monstrous birds and killing them outright.
"Chirp!"
The flock panicked at the sight of their companions falling, wings flapping frantically as they shrieked. They bared saw-toothed maws, retreating in a mix of fear and defiance.
Clearly, they'd realized the intruders at their lakeside weren't easy prey.
But before they could retreat far, a sinister purple-red magic circle flared from the forest, thickening the air until it clung like mire.
Athena, shield in hand, and Medusa, her Mystic Eyes glowing, watched the fat, immobilized birds caught mid-flight.
Almost unconsciously, both licked their cherry-red lips.
"Pick the tastiest ones."
With her Aegis Shield put away, the Goddess of Wisdom drew her bow and aimed, letting out a sharp snort.
"I don't need you to tell me that. Just trust my eye for it."
"I don't trust your cooking skills—or your taste in food."
Medusa's cool reply was merciless, rubbing salt straight into her rival's wound.
"Tch!"
Athena rolled her eyes at the jab. After a quick glance at the flock of monstrous birds, her slender, jade-like fingers plucked the bowstring like a harp. A steady thrumming sound filled the air.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Arrows sliced through the sky, striking the fattest targets with flawless precision. They pierced through copper hides and iron bones as if they were nothing, ripping apart the creatures' hearts.
Athena seemed intent on showing off, striding gracefully out of the forest toward the lakeside fire as she loosed her arrows. Her pace was steady and elegant, not the slightest bit rushed.
By the time she reached Samael and Tina, her quiver was empty. Yet her rhythm and accuracy had remained perfect throughout.
Chiron had trained a fine student indeed.
Samael stroked his chin, chuckling softly as he nodded in approval.
Athena wore a calm expression, but the slight upward tilt of her chin betrayed her delight.
Then, concealing her small moment of pride, the Goddess of Wisdom reached forward with her right hand, tightened her grip, and pulled back. Twenty plump birds that had fallen into the lake were dragged ashore.
Bronze arrows bound with spider silk from the man-faced demon spider—perfect for hunting and retrieving prey.
With food secured, the eerie light faded from Medusa's eyes. The flock of monstrous birds suspended in the air felt their bonds break. In an instant, they shrieked and scattered in panic.
Some even collided midair, knocking themselves unconscious.
So these were Ares's pets, the Stymphalian birds?
They were just like their master—reckless and violent, with little else worth praising.
Medusa gave a faint shake of her head. But when she noticed Athena sneaking toward the prey with suspicious intent, her stomach turned. She rushed forward to block her.
"That's my spoils!"
"Forget it! I'd rather eat dirt than let you cook!"
"If you want some, I won't bother making it for you. This is for Samael alone!"
"Uh, no thanks. I really can't take that. Try someone else..."
The memory of those alchemical concoctions was more than enough for Samael. He wanted nothing to do with Athena's "exclusive."
As the two girls glared at each other, their cheeks almost touching, ready to brawl over a meal, two pale arms suddenly draped over their shoulders, pushing down as if to seat them.
Boom! Boom!
With the sound of battering rams slamming into city gates, Athena and Medusa found themselves half-buried in the dirt. They cast resentful looks at Tina, who wore an expression of perfect innocence.
Was this her way of keeping the peace, or just a two-on-one beatdown?
Still, Samael had to admit—bringing Tina along did have its advantages.
He shot a mocking glance at the two girls stuck in the ground, then whispered a few sly instructions to Tina, leaving her to keep Athena and Medusa busy while he rose to prepare the ingredients.
In a quiet moment, the ancient serpent lifted his head, his gaze sweeping past the endless sea toward the island veiled in mist.
Almost there... the birthplace of civilization—Crete...
...
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