Hecate was supremely confident in her mastery of magic, as befitting the goddess of magic herself. Her understanding of the arcane was unparalleled.
Yet, when the man from another world proposed his idea, she couldn't hide her puzzlement.
"What do you mean? Are you saying you'll use the history I've shared to create new magic? Is that even feasible?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, her tone laced with disbelief.
"Even if you could create something from this history, wouldn't it just be some sort of tool to recreate past events?"
Hecate spoke from her own perspective, firmly believing her assumption.
This wasn't arrogance. As a goddess, her approach to magic differed fundamentally from mortals. She could directly access the Root, giving her insight far beyond human comprehension.
However, the man before her was a traveler from another world, his unique status demanding her serious consideration of his every word.
Moreover, his air of mystery piqued her curiosity, making Morpheus endlessly fascinating.
"You've caught my interest, Morpheus," she said, her lips curving into a warm, radiant smile.
That sounds like something a domineering CEO would say, Morpheus thought, chuckling inwardly before responding with a light laugh. "It's an honor to have the anticipation of a civilization's King of the Godsdess. If my dad knew, he'd probably think I was daydreaming."
Hecate tilted her head curiously. "Why daydreaming?"
"Because it's hard to prove. He'd probably think I've lost my mind. After all, for Magus, it's not uncommon to have mental issues... like waterlogged logic or something," Morpheus explained, his words hinting at a subtle disdain for the magus community.
Hecate caught it immediately. "You have a prejudice against Magus? But aren't you a magus yourself? Oh, I see... you're distinguishing between magecraft and magic. You're saying you're not a magus, but a magician."
"Exactly. In my world, what we wielded in the past and present is called magic, while the future calls it magecraft. As humanity progresses, many things once exclusive to magic can now be achieved through tools and techniques."
Morpheus's brief explanation clicked instantly for Hecate.
As the goddess of magic, she grasped everything with minimal clarification, gaining a clearer picture of the future from his words.
She mused thoughtfully, "So, the future is a world where mystery fades, and the gods withdraw?"
"I'll keep silent on that one," Morpheus said with a shrug, his demeanor speaking volumes.
Hecate didn't press for an answer, merely sighing as she gazed at the sky beyond the temple. "Since Sefar's arrival, mystery has been waning. The era of gods retreating is inevitable."
Shifting topics, she returned to his view on Magus. "But your prejudice? Magus who pursue the Root might act recklessly as mystery fades, but surely not all are like that."
"Magus chasing the Root, in a world where mystery is dwindling, tend to do despicable things. While losing their foundation, they cling to arrogance toward other disciplines.
"I'd say at least twenty to thirty percent of them are like that. And the higher-ups managing Magus? They're mostly that type."
Morpheus grinned, clearly amused.
"Not to hide it, I wasn't exactly a model son to my father. He wanted me to study magecraft, but I bailed and went to a regular human school instead. He nearly cut off my allowance for it.
"If he knew I skipped magecraft because of this prejudice, he'd probably kick me out of the house."
It was mundane family drama, but Hecate found it oddly heartwarming, picturing an enviable father-son bond.
Yet, as a former machine turned goddess, she caught the deeper implications in his words.
"A magus, yet you call yourself a magician. Why is that?"
"It's a secret. But perhaps I'll reveal it in the near future," Morpheus said with a cryptic smile, his confidence unshaken even before a goddess.
Hecate didn't push further. "You're very self-assured. Is it because of this secret?"
"Exactly," Morpheus replied with a mysterious grin.
Hecate shifted gears. "Is your secret tied to that remarkable equipment you wear?"
"It is," Morpheus nodded.
Hecate fell silent.
The seemingly ordinary yet oddly styled clothing exuded a protective power that stunned even her. It transcended mortal limits, rivaling the divine.
Its defenses matched the mechanical bodies of the Titans in their prime... far surpassing the capabilities of Earth's current gods!
This was no ordinary person to be trifled with or coerced. Hecate understood this and chose cooperation, opting to wait.
More than that, she found the idea of working with him genuinely exciting.
Hecate smiled brightly, her expression like sunlight. "I look forward to the day you unveil your secret. In these long years, you've given me something new to anticipate."
The act of waiting itself brought her joy.
She raised her hand, and a faint glow appeared, drifting toward Morpheus. He caught it, and as the light faded, a ring remained.
It was a dark, almost black crystalline ring, evoking the essence of night.
"A small gift. It should spare you some trouble. But be cautious... this land has different city-states worshipping different gods."
The ring bore Hecate's aura, her magical energy... a beacon of her authority.
Displaying it would signal Morpheus's connection to Hecate, akin to a badge of status, saving him considerable hassle.
Morpheus looked at the ring with gratitude. "This is quite a generous gift."
"It's not without conditions," Hecate said, her gaze shifting outside. Morpheus followed her eyes to Medea, who was idly kicking pebbles, waiting.
"Her future is fraught with hardship and tragedy," Hecate said, her eyes seeming to peer through time itself.
"You're a truly responsible teacher," Morpheus said, understanding her intent. He nodded gently. "I'll find a way to help."
Hecate nodded, satisfied, her form gradually dissolving into the air, returning to the underworld.
Morpheus didn't linger, stepping out of the temple and calling to the girl nearby.
"I'm here."
Medea immediately stopped kicking pebbles, spinning around excitedly. "Morpheus, you're out!"
"Yep, I've finished talking with the goddess Hecate. Time to go."
Medea hurried over, inspecting him from head to toe to ensure he was unharmed. Relieved, she puffed out her cheeks.
"You! If you're going to do something like that, warn me first! You scared me half to death!" she complained, her cheeks flushing, clearly shaken by his earlier actions.
"Even if the goddess Hecate is kind, she's still a goddess! You can't be so reckless!"
"Yes, yes, my mistake. I'll remember next time," Morpheus said, going along with her, though his tone lacked sincerity, making Medea doubt he'd taken her words to heart.
Then, she noticed the ring on his right hand and gasped. "That ring?! Did Teacher give it to you?"
"Yep, a small gift from the goddess Hecate," Morpheus said with a smile, holding out his hand to show the ring more clearly.
Medea stared, dumbfounded.
"This… this is a divine construct! As the ring of the goddess of magic, it lets you refine magical energy more easily and cast spells. It can even connect to Teacher, allowing you to wield a portion of her authority!"
"So, I could use this ring to pass myself off as Hecate's priest?"
Medea nodded eagerly. "When we cast magic, we rely on our connection to the gods, using the Root directly. This usually involves a contract with a god's power. Your ring is like such a contract... something most people could only dream of!"
"I see. So it's like a program, letting a mortal like me wield magic tied to a god's authority. I wonder if it'll work in the future," Morpheus mused, slipping the ring off.
Medea, still explaining, continued, "Since you're new here and unfamiliar with the land, this ring will help. Even in city-states with different gods, they'll show you respect seeing Teacher's gift!"
"Indeed, that must be the purpose," Morpheus said with a smile, tucking the ring away.
Medea froze at the action. "The ring only works if you wear it. Why take it off?"
"No need for it most of the time. I'll pull it out if I run into something I can't handle."
Medea stared, bewildered, before asking, "And until you face something you can't handle, how do you plan to deal with problems?"
"Simple... state the facts and reason. If that fails, I'll just beat them until they accept my reasoning."
In that moment, Medea gained a new perspective on the kind, handsome, and seemingly gentle young man before her.
Whether it was slashing his wrist for a blood offering in the temple or his current words, everything pointed to one truth: Morpheus's personality didn't match his appearance.
He was reckless!
"No way, I need to keep an eye on him. If he keeps being this reckless, who knows what trouble he'll stir up!" Medea thought, then said, "Morpheus, if you're going to other places, let me know, okay?"
"Sure."
"I know you have your own plans, like places you want to visit…" Medea started, intending to persuade him to take her along, but stopped mid-sentence, stunned.
She'd braced for rejection, even prepared arguments to convince him, but all that was unnecessary. He'd agreed so easily.
"Huh?!"
Morpheus noticed her shock and obvious disbelief. "What's wrong? Didn't you want me to take you along when I travel? I said sure. Don't you want to come?"
"No, no, no! I just didn't hear clearly. Of course I want to go! You're a newcomer, and as someone familiar with this region, it's my responsibility to guide you!"
Medea puffed out her chest... though it lacked the prominence of the Medea Morpheus knew from the future.
"As the princess of Colchis, I'll ensure you enjoy your travels here!"
"Then I'll be counting on you, dear Princess," Morpheus said with a smile, watching her scramble for excuses.
His gaze made Medea blush. She quickly turned, walking a few steps ahead to hide her flushed cheeks.
If she kept meeting his eyes, her heart would race faster, harder, uncontrollably.
This is so strange. Why is this happening? Could it be… she wondered, her steps quickening unconsciously.
Morpheus smiled at her back and followed.
***
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