The Goddess of Forgetfulness, Lethe (2)
Today is the second day of the Olympia Festival dedicated to Zeus. Events like running, javelin throwing, and chariot racing are held on this day. Just like yesterday, I plan to sit in the stands with Lady Lethe and watch the games.
As I climb the stone steps searching for seats, voices from nearby humans reach my ears.
"The first event is running, right? The previous winner was..."
"But won't someone with divine blood win anyway?"
"After all, even heroes can't succeed without Olympian lineage..."
"Hey! Still, with our human strength..."
The Olympia Festival dedicated to Zeus allows participation from both demigods and humans alike. However, the gap between those who inherit even a portion of divine blood and ordinary mortals is not easily bridged. Simply possessing divine blood grants tremendous strength, stamina, and sometimes abilities.
Lady Lethe, who had been listening to the passersby, spoke up.
"The humans seem to feel a sense of deprivation..."
"If one lacks divine blood, it's only natural. Their very origins differ..."
"Then won't the winners of these games always be demigods descended from the Twelve Olympians?"
"Well..."
Even among demigods, ability varies greatly depending on direct lineage from higher-ranking gods. That said, the winners of these games are not predetermined.
"The sixteenth contestant is a devout follower of the moon goddess Artemis...!"
From a reasonably high seat, I listened to the announcer. The athletes were taking their starting positions, and the crowd fell silent in anticipation.
Dong—
Tat-tak. Da-da-da.
"Whistle—"
"Go, Moroclas!"
"How much did I bet on this drachma?!"
"Run faster!"
At the single beat of the drum, all the athletes surged forward. The bare feet of young Greek men kicked powerfully against the earth as they raced ahead.
"Bloodline certainly plays a large part, but there are cases where individual effort overturns it."
"I know cases where innate differences are overcome are extremely rare..."
The world is inherently unfair. Differences in bloodline, talent, innate abilities, and status are not easy for anyone to overcome.
"The winner is Deitos! The victor's laurel wreath shall be given to you!"
"Woahhh!!!"
"A demigod... lost to a human?"
"I've known that guy was special ever since he started running outside the walls every day!"
"There really was someone faster than Hermes' descendant..."
But occasionally, there are humans who overcome such differences. The man who defeated numerous demigods to claim victory in the race must be one of them.
"Wow... he's really amazing. He seems to have the qualities of a hero..."
"If that man comes to Thebes, he would be worth raising in the Underworld."
An amphora decorated with scenes of the running race is filled with olive oil. The laurel wreath, woven from laurel and olive branches, is placed upon the winner's brow. Watching the victor lift the amphora with a bright smile, Lady Lethe spoke.
"A hero... Come to think of it, what happened to the brother Bellerophon accidentally killed?"
"It seems his resentment has diluted considerably. He expressed a desire to meet Bellerophon."
After Bellerophon arrived in the Underworld, he accepted the mediation I proposed. If his brother wished it, he would meet him in person to apologize. When Bellerophon finally met his brother in the Underworld, he knelt and offered his apology, and fortunately, the victim of fate accepted it.
While we were reflecting on Bellerophon's situation, a middle-aged man seated nearby addressed us.
"Hey... wait a moment! Look here. Are you two married by any chance?"
"Are you referring to us?"
"That's right. You seem close, but a married woman..."
He was regarding Lady Lethe with a suspicious gaze. The Olympia Festival is a men's festival where married women are forbidden from attending or watching. Virgins, however, are permitted to observe in order to understand the men's world.
It would have been simple enough to say that the goddess and I were not yet married. Yet...
From Lady Lethe's lips, bearing a shy expression, came bold words.
"Yes. We are indeed married..."
* * *
"What, what did you say?! Hey! Guards! There's a married woman here..."
The man, flustered by Lady Lethe's bold declaration, tried to summon the guards. But soon he lost his brief memory, his eyes growing vacant.
Lady Lethe glanced at me as if seeking my reaction. Was it because she had just told that human we were married...
"Lady Lethe."
"Why... why? Are you... not going to marry me? Hades?"
I swallowed the words that had been about to leave my mouth—that we were not married, nor even courting. However... I am not a fool who cannot discern what the goddess wishes to hear.
Perhaps now I can give the answer she desires.
"No..."
"Huh? Speak louder... please...."
The cheers for athletes entering the next event, the humans laughing and chatting, the thunder proving Zeus watches the games with satisfaction from above... Through all of it, the only sound reaching my ears is the goddess's question.
She must have mustered considerable courage to speak this single phrase; I could see her small fingers fidgeting.
Her slightly parted red lips, her trembling eyes.
"...Hades?"
Yes, just like with Lady Styx...
I abandoned what I had been about to say and moved closer to where she sat. The goddess of forgetfulness flinched as our faces drew nearer but did not avoid my gaze. I wrapped our appearances in an illusion so surrounding eyes would not be drawn to us—so that even most Olympian gods could not see.
This was something I had done once before. Skillfully moving my hand, I gently grasped the back of the goddess's head and pulled her toward me. Hoping this would convey my answer to her.
Kiss.
This was the second time.
* * *
As Helios drove his sun chariot onward, time passed and darkness descended upon the city of Olympia. On the quiet night streets, Lady Lethe and I walked slowly arm in arm.
Thud, thud.
Was it because of that brief kiss earlier? I remained conscious of the soft sensation against my arm.
"Hee..."
The beautiful goddess, not content with merely linking arms, leaned her head against me. This ticklish feeling in my chest is not unpleasant.
As we wandered the streets for a while, something caught my transcendent divine senses.
"Ugh... the sword... blood on my body..."
From inside a brick house came a groaning sound. An old man, seemingly a war veteran, was trapped in a terrible nightmare. The poor soul, eyes closed and sweating coldly, still could not escape the battlefield.
Usually such matters fall under Morpheus's jurisdiction, but to ease his suffering, the goddess beside me is also well-suited.
As if reaching the same thought, Lady Lethe stopped walking and looked at me.
"...I'll be back in a moment."
When I nodded while meeting her eyes, the goddess disappeared. Soon the power of forgetfulness enveloped the house, leaving only the small, steady sound of breathing. The one who had experienced the horrors of war would gradually see those dreadful moments fade.
When the goddess of forgetfulness returned in an instant, a very small smile graced her lips. To think the goddess who once grieved over possessing a domain not welcomed by others had changed so...
"You've delivered a small peace."
"Hmm... I don't like seeing humans suffer, bound by memories of the past."
That is what forgetfulness is. It hesitates to touch precious and important memories, yet one hopes for the goddess's blessing upon horrific and painful ones. It feels similar to the Underworld. The closer mortals draw to death as they age, the higher the likelihood they become my followers. Conversely, young people far from death cheer for Ares, Apollo, Zeus, and the like.
"Coming out with Hades after so long, and getting to see good sights too..."
We have seen enough of the Olympia Festival, humanity's offering to Zeus. Since I cannot leave the Underworld empty for too long, I should return to the underworld. Finally, I raised my hand and pointed to a tall hill.
"Would you like to climb up there one last time?"
Thus we climbed the hill with the goddess of forgetfulness. The chirping of insects filled the air from all around, and beautiful fireflies flitted about.
Chirp, chirp, chirp—
In a place filled with black darkness, we looked down from the hill's highest point. The night streets of Olympia, a great city and sanctuary, spread before us. And...
The goddess with silver hair fluttering in the strong wind opened her mouth. Her gaze remained fixed on the city rather than turning toward me, yet somehow it felt as though she was looking straight at me.
"Hades."
"Why do you call me?"
"Will the day come when the numerous mortals living in that city also fully accept my blessing?"
Even gods with unyielding spirits are not exempt from receiving the blessing of forgetfulness. Distant past memories gradually fade and sometimes slip behind other recollections. Mortals forget even more easily. Humans partially forget even yesterday's memories.
"As the goddess of forgetfulness, I must bestow a little blessing upon everyone."
"I believe there were no exceptions for Zeus or myself. Even for Lady Lethe herself."
Just as the goddess of love falls in love, the goddess Lethe also falls into the swamp of forgetfulness. Smiling faintly again, Lady Lethe looked my way.
"But the memories of today... I don't want them to disappear."
"...I feel the same."
"Would you help me once more so that I won't forget today?"
Longing rose in the goddess's eyes as she finished speaking, then disappeared behind her eyelids. I approached her and slowly closed my eyes. Tilting my head slightly to the side... and at the same time, embracing her soft body as our lips met.
"Gladly."
I slightly parted my lips and tapped hers with my tongue. A small gap formed, creating a passage where the two beings became one. The first thought that came to me was that it was sweet and warm. At the same time, what flashed through my mind was the desire to continue this softness.
The intimate parts inside intertwined and tangled but were not unpleasant at all. Rather, this desire to continue a little more... My hands, having lost their way, fumbled somewhere before finally regaining reason and separating. A long silver thread formed between me and her and then disappeared. A sweet peach taste lingered in my mouth.
"Haa..."
Even if forgetfulness should cover me due to the flow of time, I will never forget this moment.