"Do I know this girl?"
Jason spoke in slight surprise as he looked down at the ten-year-old Helen in his arms, then tilted his head in puzzlement toward Pegasus.
Pegasus shook its head at Jason. Clearly, it did not know her either.
Jason thought for a moment, then studied the unfamiliar little girl for a while longer.
Finding no answers, he finally shook his head and had Pegasus circle the area to check for other survivors.
Pegasus flew over the moonlit sea for some time. After confirming that Helen was the only survivor among the wrecked ship, it left the area.
Carrying Jason and Helen, it finally landed on a nearby island.
Once on the island, Jason did not immediately take out the divine fruit to feed the girl. Instead, he first pulled several pieces of purple clothing from the silver pouch at his waist. They were dresses that a young Medea had left with him long ago.
He placed the dresses over the girl. Jason closed his eyes, recited an incantation, and summoned fluttering underworld butterflies.
The faintly glowing butterflies, familiars of Hecate, Goddess of Roads, circled Jason twice. Understanding his intent, they swarmed toward Helen.
The butterflies enveloped Helen completely for a moment. When they dispersed, she was already dressed in Medea's purple gown.
"Huh, it fits pretty well... Well, maybe not perfectly."
Seeing how the upper part of the dress was filled out, perfectly outlining curves that no child should have, Jason could only marvel that the fabric was truly remarkable. It had not torn.
Only then, under the watchful eyes of the many butterflies, did Jason step forward. He lifted Helen's head as she lay on the grass and placed the divine fruit the little bird had brought into her mouth.
The fruit melted the moment it touched her lips.
Confirming it had been administered, Jason was about to lay Helen back down when, in the next second, her eyelashes fluttered. She slowly opened her slightly dazed purple eyes.
Their gazes naturally met.
Jason froze.
Helen froze.
As Jason recovered and considered how to explain, Helen looked around. She saw the beautiful little bird on Jason's shoulder, the holy Pegasus with folded wings, and the faintly glowing butterflies dancing nearby.
Finally, her eyes settled on the golden-haired, green-eyed Jason before her, handsome as the god of light Apollo himself.
"May I ask... are you a great god, my lord?"
Her voice was soft, weak, and melodiously captivating.
It made even Jason briefly lose himself as he looked at the girl in his arms... a girl who was only about ten years old.
Good thing she is still a child.
Jason could not help thinking this.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face. He shook his head at Helen. "No, I am not a great god. I am merely an ordinary person who appeared before you on the orders of Goddess Hestia. That is all."
"You are not a god, my lord?" Helen asked in mild surprise. "But..."
Before Helen could continue, Jason set her down on the grass.
When Helen stood up on her own, Jason looked at her and felt a strong impulse to turn and leave.
In the world of ancient Greek mythology, beautiful women were nearly synonymous with danger.
Dazzling, beautiful roses always had thorns.
Even without thorns, they would attract countless bees seeking their nectar.
But Helen was, after all, only ten years old. She was a little girl.
Moreover, there was Hestia's mission. Jason could not possibly abandon her alone on this deserted island.
Still, Jason felt some surprise as he observed how calmly she rose, showing little panic.
From the scene, it was clear the girl had suffered a shipwreck. Her vessel had been destroyed, and she had nearly drowned in the deep sea.
"What is your name?"
Naturally, Jason could not resist asking.
"My name is Helen."
Helen answered obediently.
Her purple eyes stared directly at Jason.
Her small head was lost in thought.
"Helen?"
Hearing this, Jason froze again. "That name... it does sound familiar. I feel like I've heard it somewhere."
"Where...
Oh, I remember.
Master Theseus!"
Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, had grown up in the palace of her foster father, King Tyndareus of Sparta.
Her life had been carefree until two years earlier, when Theseus and his friend Pirithous happened to pass by and saw her.
Their longing for beauty naturally led them to do one thing.
They abducted her and took her straight to Athens.
Pirithous?
Yes, the very man Jason had killed in the underworld.
Theseus and Pirithous had originally gone to the underworld for Queen Persephone, but Helen had indirectly played a part.
Because Theseus had taken Helen, Pirithous, unwilling to be outdone, wanted a woman who could rival her beauty.
At that time, Persephone, who had just experienced her underworld wedding, was considered the most beautiful goddess.
The rest of the story was known to all.
Theseus, feeling guilt, had joined Jason on the quest for the Golden Fleece.
And along the way, Theseus had indeed changed.
Jason knew the name Helen because Theseus had told him, and they had even discussed it.
Jason's advice at the time had naturally been to return Helen.
And in fact, when Theseus returned, he had immediately done so.
Yet Helen's beauty, even at a young age, had already stirred the mortal world and reached the ears of the gods.
The shipwreck had not been an accident. It was the work of certain sea gods coveting Helen.
That Helen survived was thanks to Hestia's intervention.
Helen's originally innocent and pure nature had also changed because of this abduction and separation from home.
At only ten years old, she had lost some of her childishness and gained a maturity she should not yet have.
Jason's soft exclamation of "Master Theseus" naturally reached Helen's ears.
Hearing the name, and looking at Jason in his white robes, Helen could not help blinking.
She... recognized him!
"By the way, Helen, how old are you now?"
"Eleven, Lord Jason."
"Only eleven? Wait, that means when Master Theseus abducted you, you were only eight or nine?!"
Jason was stunned. He even felt an urge to turn around right now, drag Theseus out, and give him a beating.
He really dared!
But Jason soon thought it over and realized Theseus was not entirely to blame.
After all, this was the age of gods in ancient Greece.
While Jason was speechless, Helen quietly studied him.
Helen knew him, and she remembered Jason deeply.
The reason was simple. When Theseus released her, he had said it was because of Jason's influence.
He had also said that in the future, he would come to Sparta to properly marry her, not abduct her.
Recognizing Jason was truly not difficult. The holy Pegasus, the snow-white robes, and that handsome face like the god of light Apollo.
Jason naturally knew this as well.
So when Helen called his name, he was not surprised.
He then asked Helen a few more questions, and she answered each one.
Learning that Theseus had already returned her, Jason nodded, knowing his efforts on the Golden Fleece quest had not been in vain.
At the same time, Jason understood Hestia's intent. She clearly wanted him to take Helen home.
Realizing this, Jason gave a wry smile and asked Helen if she would allow him to escort her home.
"Is this the oracle of the great Goddess Hestia?"
Helen curtsied gracefully, lifting her skirt. "It would be my supreme honor, Lord Jason."
Helen naturally would not refuse. Moreover... she did not dare refuse.
After all, there was no one else around. Only she and Jason.
Helen was afraid. Afraid that if she refused, an angered Jason might do something improper to her.
Even though she saw not a trace of lust in Jason.
But after more than two years away from home, without her parents' protection, and growing ever more beautiful, she had already experienced far too much.
If not for Theseus's status and the strict orders he gave before leaving for the Golden Fleece, who could guarantee what fate Helen would have suffered?
Thus, even though she felt a faint fondness toward Jason, most of what Helen felt now was fear and wariness.
In a way, she was probably the first girl to face Jason with such negative emotions.
Yet an eleven-year-old child, no matter how mature, could only be so mature.
Jason soon noticed Helen's fear of him. Far from being angry, he could not help smiling.
He found it oddly amusing.
As for any improper thoughts...
How could he have any?
After all, she was only an eleven-year-old girl!
No matter how beautiful, she was still a child!
And even if she was beautiful, could she compare to Goddess Hecate or Goddess Athena?
So Jason could only smile at it.
That night,
Jason had Pegasus stay close to Helen. Toward the holy and beautiful Pegasus, Helen lowered most of her guard.
Thus, though she had planned to stay awake all night, Helen eventually fell asleep leaning against Pegasus without realizing it.
Only the next morning, when sunlight touched her face, did she rub her eyes and wake.
It had been a long time since Helen had slept so comfortably.
She had even dreamed of her homeland, of her mother and family. A rare, deeply happy smile appeared on her face.
But upon waking, opening her eyes, and looking around in confusion, Helen's expression turned to a sorrow that even Pegasus found heartbreaking.
"You're awake."
At that moment, Jason's voice suddenly sounded beside her.
Helen instinctively turned her head and saw Jason stepping out from the shade of trees, as though walking from the sunlight itself.
While she was still dazed, Jason had already reached her.
Smiling lightly, he placed several fresh fruits onto the little bird.
The beautiful bird took them in its beak and delivered them to Helen's hands.
"Thank you, Lord Jason." Helen accepted the fruits and looked at Jason before her. She spoke softly.
"Mm."
As Jason responded, he looked at Helen and hesitated for a moment.
Then he took out a silver comb.
He stepped forward and placed it beside her.
"Very beautiful hair." Smiling, Jason said to Helen, "If you don't take good care of it, it will cry, you know."
Before Helen could react, Jason turned and left.
Walking to a spot nearby, Jason extinguished the campfire and glanced at Helen, who was hesitating before picking up the comb.
After thinking for a while, he drew a golden seven-stringed lyre from the light.
Though Jason felt keeping distance from Helen was fine, seeing her so young and moving so cautiously and fearfully stirred compassion in him.
Then Jason began to play beautiful music.
Hearing the lovely melody, Helen naturally turned toward Jason.
The beautiful music quietly soothed the fear and dread in Helen's heart.
Helen felt Jason's kindness. She sat at a distance, quietly watching him for some time.
Finally, gathering her courage, she picked up the comb and quietly combed her golden hair to the music.
When the music ended, her hair was neatly combed.
She came before Jason and respectfully offered the comb back. Jason did not take it.
"Let's go. It's time to set out."
Saying this, taking advantage of his height, Jason reached out and gently patted Helen's hair.
He even smiled and lightly pinched the surprised Helen's cheek.
Without waiting for her to speak, he left her side and went to Pegasus.
At the same time...
This feeling really is amazing!
No wonder when I was little, Teacher and Sister Persephone and the others pinched my cheeks all day.
Then Pegasus spread its wings. The beautiful little bird, Hestia's messenger, landed on Helen's shoulder.
Helen looked up at Jason, who stood before her smiling and extending his hand.
After hesitating for some time, she cautiously reached out.
She placed her small hand in Jason's.
With a soft whinny, Pegasus began to run, carrying Jason and Helen seated in his arms, soaring into the blue sky.
At first, Helen in Jason's arms was very uncomfortable.
Her face held some blush, her body stiff.
But soon she put those feelings aside.
After all, she was still young.
After a brief exclamation of surprise, soaring high in the sky and gazing at the beautiful world below, she was naturally captivated by everything before her.
Just like Atalanta the first time she rode Pegasus.
Jason watched her like this and smiled. He held her small hand, guiding her to grip Pegasus's reins tightly.
Then he nodded lightly to Pegasus. A shooting star streaked across the sunrise sky, vanishing at the horizon with incredible speed.
Only a dazzling white trail remained in the blue sky.
Soon after...
"...Lucky little one."
From among the white clouds in the blue sky came a goddess's soft murmur tinged with envy.
It was unknown which goddess had spoken.