Morpheus didn't want to meddle too much in the affairs of the Dioscuri twins. His earlier input was merely a small suggestion, born from his studies of mythology and magecraft, prompted by their rather immature story.
He advised adding constraints to avoid future embellishments by overly creative humans. After all, who could guarantee that some wild imagination wouldn't spin a bizarre tale... like Castor falling for another woman, sparking Pollux's jealousy, leading to a tragic clash where a yandere Pollux kills him, and they ascend as the Gemini constellation?
Rubbing his chin, Morpheus watched the siblings eagerly spread their story, muttering, "That wouldn't be a bad tale to write."
He shook his head. "Too bad it'd affect Castor and Pollux's essence. Better not."
The twins narrowly escaped a narrative disaster.
Night fell quietly, and Lemnos erupted in song and dance once more.
The women here were exceptionally hospitable... so much so that if Morpheus lingered, he might find himself dragged back by the ears by the two women on the ship.
As a devout follower of the Moon Goddess, Atalanta knelt on the deck, praying to the moon above.
She shared Morpheus's and Diana's words with her goddess, Artemis, then softly asked, "Great Lady Artemis, what should I do?"
A faint figure appeared, its features indistinct but radiating familiar lunar power. Artemis's voice echoed in her ears.
"Atalanta, learning more is never bad. Just beware of deception. I see a future filled with peril for you, but I cannot speak it plainly.
"You can study with this Morpheus. He's trustworthy. His power eludes even the gods' understanding. To grasp it, they'd need to start from scratch.
"Learning his magic will give you more ways to face crises. Even if that dreadful danger comes, you should endure."
A terrible crisis awaits me? Artemis can't reveal it, but she says Morpheus's magic can help, and he's trustworthy…
The real shock is that even the gods don't understand his magic! Yet, after his explanation yesterday, I'm not surprised... just thinking, 'Of course.'
Did I already believe him yesterday? When did I start trusting a man so easily?!
Atalanta's mind raced, but Artemis continued, "Though he'll teach you magic, be cautious. Don't use it carelessly... it's too unique and may draw unwanted attention."
"I understand, great Lady Artemis. Your words will stay in my heart!"
"Good. Start learning from him tomorrow. You may not master much, but what he teaches will fill your gaps.
"He can glimpse the future, so trust his choices in this."
"Yes, Lady Artemis!" Atalanta replied, her heart jolting again.
Foresight, like Apollo's oracles? But they're blind, and his eyes are fine!
Revealing the future often brings punishment, yet Morpheus seemed unscathed... living freely, even flamboyantly!
As Artemis's figure vanished, Atalanta exhaled, relaxing. Lying on the deck, she gazed at the stars and moon. Bathed in moonlight, her alertness faded into drowsiness, and she fell asleep.
…
"How's that? I told you she'd come to learn tomorrow. Teach her well!" Artemis said to Morpheus.
"You told her not to use the magic casually?" he asked.
"Your magic's too distinct. I worry it'll attract trouble. She's not as strong as you... crises could overwhelm her."
Artemis sighed. "She's skilled, with Clymene's blood, but still mortal…"
Clymene, the goddess of fame, was of Zeus's generation, daughter of Oceanus. As Oceanus's granddaughter, Atalanta indeed carried divine blood.
Yet, that heritage never manifested, as if she had no divine lineage at all.
Hearing Artemis, Morpheus sparked new ideas.
"Maybe I can boost her strength…"
"Not just to counter her future crisis?"
"Solving one crisis might not stop others. A bit more power wouldn't hurt," Morpheus said, smiling. "Don't worry. I'll use her bloodline for a simple enhancement. She'll pick it up quickly."
Artemis blinked, struggling to follow his plan.
Morpheus grinned mischievously. "This is extra work. You'll need to pay a price!"
With a yelp, the scene turned a bit too intimate for young eyes.
…
The next day, Atalanta found Morpheus, who seemed to expect her. He pointed opposite him. "Sit."
Vines sprouted from the ground, twisting into a cushioned chair with a backrest.
Atalanta sat cautiously, finding it surprisingly comfortable. "This is your magic?"
"Of course. The world's made of five elements. I combine them to create what I want... simple objects, though. I can't craft souls."
"Craft souls?" Atalanta asked, unfamiliar with the concept.
"That's the gods' domain. I'm not there yet. Maybe I'll study alchemy someday... it explores soul creation."
"Alchemy?"
"Potions and such, but it's not developed here yet."
Morpheus sighed. If this world's Hermes was the Hermes Trismegistus, he could pursue alchemical secrets. Alas, this Hermes wasn't, just as this Zeus differed from the original myths, making it hard to draw on divine knowledge.
Atalanta watched the young-looking man sigh, sensing an old soul's weariness, as if he'd long sought truth without success.
Yet, this "old man" quickly shed that gloom, flashing a sunny smile. "I'll teach you two magics: one for mental defenses and curses, another for broader water element control."
"Water element magic? But yesterday, didn't we agree I'd pay something extra?"
Morpheus shook his head. "Someone covered it."
"Someone paid for me?" Atalanta grew more puzzled. He smiled. "Who'd you tell? They paid the price."
Atalanta froze. She'd only told two people: Diana and Artemis. Diana only vaguely knew, not even that Morpheus was the teacher…
Did Lady Artemis descend to pay my price?!
That's… impossible, isn't it?
Recalling Artemis's words, Atalanta began to believe it possible.
If so, what had Artemis paid? A treasure, perhaps?
Atalanta's resolve hardened. "This is Lady Artemis's sacrifice. I must work hard!"
Like a child studying to honor her parents, she grew earnest.
Seeing her intensity, Morpheus chuckled inwardly and began teaching simplified modern magic, rooted in the Golden Dawn system.
He didn't want her tackling original magecraft... it might fry her brain!
***
If you enjoyed this story, don't forget to drop 5 stars and your power stone. And if you want to read more than 70 chapters in advance, feel free to visit: pat reon . com / KangTL