For Jason, though he'd prepared to depart the next day, a small incident unfolded.
Perhaps fed up with the crew's endless revelry on the island, forgetting their mission, Heracles stormed into their gathering, bellowing with unfiltered fury.
"Pathetic!" His roar was deafening, shaking everyone present. "I'm ashamed to share a ship with you!"
Some wanted to retort, but none dared stand. They knew Heracles's might. Undeterred, he pressed on.
"Is this the noble goal you risked your lives for? The reason you left homes and families? Where's the fire in your hearts? What will people say when they hear we shirked danger for pleasure?"
His words thundered, and he began naming names.
"Jason, what will they say if you abandon your vow to achieve the impossible?
"Theseus, you slew the Minotaur, saved Athens' children. Why have you fallen?
"Idas, you once defied gods single-handedly. What are you now?"
His accusations silenced the renowned heroes. Heracles scoffed.
"Fine, I'll tell you. They'll say you've tarnished the name of hero! That you cower like dogs before danger! Your true colors are showing!"
The crowd couldn't bear it, but Hypsipyle stood. "Great hero Heracles, don't insult my man Jason. He hasn't truly lost himself. Today's feast is our last... he told me yesterday he'd leave today!"
Jason took her hand, standing with a sheepish look at Heracles, then smiled as if the tirade meant nothing.
"Heracles, I keep my word. What I promised you, I'll fulfill. Before your words shame us to death, we'll all set out together!"
He glanced at the crowd, shouting, "Right?"
His lighthearted words gave the embarrassed heroes a way to save face, and they chimed in.
"Yeah, keep talking, Heracles, and I'll want to end it all!"
"After this meal, we're off!"
Satisfied, Heracles nodded, then bowed slightly to Hypsipyle, impressed by her boldness.
He left for the ship, trusting they'd follow after eating.
Morpheus, watching from the shadows, remarked, "Heracles doesn't mince words. He's right, but so blunt... it's bound to ruffle feathers."
Artemis nodded, unconcerned. "Doesn't matter. He's too strong for them to challenge, so they'll just take it."
Medea agreed. "Exactly. Heracles is that powerful... they have to endure it. They're in the wrong here."
"You two should mind social graces!" Morpheus sighed.
Atalanta, curious, asked, "How would you handle it?"
Since graduating, she'd stopped calling him teacher, which Morpheus appreciated... less distance, except in certain playful moments.
"I'd tell them I wrote their antics into a story, set to be published in Athens, unembellished. I'd split ninety percent of the profits with them."
He added, "Profit, not revenue. Costs deducted, of course."
The three women stared, speechless. Morpheus's approach was more infuriating than Heracles's, enough to make them flee in fear.
Heracles mocked; Morpheus would expose and profit from their shame!
"You'd do that, and they'd want to kill you," Atalanta muttered.
Morpheus shrugged. "They can't beat me."
Atalanta scoffed. "What happened to the 'weak' magus? Done pretending?"
"No one else is here. I'm weak until a fight starts, then my strength spikes. Perfectly normal."
Atalanta knew his power. Studying his magic revealed how terrifying he was.
The group returned to the ship, ate with Heracles, and waited. Soon, Jason led the crew aboard.
Though reluctant to leave Hypsipyle, Jason saw her supportive gaze, gritted his teeth, and shouted, "Set sail!"
Morpheus sat at the bow, sea breeze in his hair. Medea wove fine mana threads, crafting clothes that dissipated into ether upon completion.
She was practicing mana control, but it felt like play.
Artemis, a goddess needing no practice, sat by Morpheus. "What're you thinking?"
"Why is Theseus here?"
She tilted her head. "He was invited. Fetching the Golden Fleece is a grand task. As a hero, he'd join."
"I know," Morpheus sighed. "It just feels… chaotic."
"Chaotic?"
"The timeline's off." He shook his head. "Maybe I'm overthinking. Forget it."
Artemis pouted. "Another secret?"
"Yup. You're sharp."
"Heehee."
Her easy joy relaxed Morpheus. He rested his head on her lap, savoring the softness, pondering his earlier thoughts.
Per Heracles, Theseus had completed his adventures. But from Morpheus's knowledge... cross-referenced myths and records... Theseus should be a child now.
Only after Medea and Jason's fallout did Theseus head to Athens, slaying the Minotaur.
He shouldn't be on the Argo…
But Morpheus let it go. Nasuverse's mythology had its own logic, often baffling.
Better to enjoy Artemis's lap than dwell on it!
…
Another world, another timeline.
Fuyuki City, Japan.
A weary man faced a woman he loved deeply, now married as Tohsaka Aoi.
Kariya Matou thought she'd chosen Tohsaka Tokiomi for happiness, but he was wrong... or perhaps not.
Aoi loved the obsessive Tokiomi, who'd sacrifice all for his family, not the man who loved her back.
Her love for him surpassed her love for her children!
Such twisted love likely spelled tragedy…
Kariya wanted to do something for her, but his options were few.
"Sakura's no longer my daughter or Rin's sister… She's gone to the Matou family…"
"Don't you know why the Matou wanted a child with magus blood?"
"The Tohsaka head agreed to an old ally's request. I had no say."
"When I married into the Tohsaka, becoming a magus' wife, I was prepared for this."
"A family with magus blood shouldn't chase ordinary happiness."
"This is a Tohsaka-Matou matter, irrelevant to you, who fled the magus world."
"If you see Sakura, treat her kindly. She always liked you."
Her words echoed in his mind. Despite her resolve, she clung to a shred of hope for her child.
Kariya pushed open a door he hadn't touched in years, returning to the twisted Matou family.
There, the loathsome old man awaited.
***
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