"Beautiful goddess, Athena grants us guidance, allowing me to call upon your name in times of hardship."
Heracles lowered his head slightly, a hint of shyness in his gaze, avoiding Medusa's lovely face.
"Young men, stop here."
Medusa halted the crew members who were attempting to land. "This is the domain of Tyche, goddess of fortune. Intruders without an invitation will face unknown punishments."
The giggling Siren nymphs also fell silent, transforming into forms with sharp claws and wings, circling in the air.
Arke, the goddess of the rainbow, descended from the Bifrost. The colors on her butterfly wings were the opposite of her sister's. Despite their similar appearances, she possessed a completely different, steady demeanor from her sister Iris.
"Mortals who have strayed here, our mistress is aware of your intentions. The Golden Fleece you seek has been taken by a great dragon hidden in the north; it is one of the monsters left over from the battle with Typhon! This dragon can breathe fire, and its poisonous breath withers trees. With your strength alone, you cannot retrieve the Golden Fleece from the clutches of this fearsome monster."
"And you, Jason! Helmsman of the Argo! Fate will bear witness to your oath! If you break your vow, the altered destiny will eventually return to its original course!"
The heroes paid little heed to the goddess's words, their sole focus being the Golden Fleece. Upon learning its whereabouts, they cheered and eagerly prepared to set sail.
The nymphs provided them with ample food and wine. The domain of the Earth Mother was abundant in produce, and since Medusa's arrival, the nymphs had not needed to hunt for a long time.
With sufficient supplies, the great ship Argo set sail once more.
Schools of fish leaping from the water guided their way, and a path cleared through the mist, allowing the heroes to depart smoothly.
On the Invisible Island, Tyche stood atop the cliff, watching the Argo sail away. She did not pry into the heroes' destinies, but a subtle thread of fate seemed to be entwined with the departing vessel.
In the Underworld, the Furies cast their gazes towards the aura of retributive power. Jason, the leader of the heroes, remained oblivious to the subtle shifts in destiny. He celebrated the imminent retrieval of the Golden Fleece that would allow him to reclaim his throne, unaware of what awaited him.
The northern city-state of Colchis was shrouded in mystery. This kingdom worshipped Hecate, the goddess of crossroads. This goddess paid little mind to human faith, and her protection of Colchis was merely a means to spread her sorcery and magic.
The monstrous dragon that possessed the Golden Fleece hid in the desolate mountains of Colchis. It feared the power of the sorcery goddess, suppressing its innate nature of destruction and chaos, and lived peacefully with Hecate's followers.
The priestesses who studied sorcery and magic protected the kingdom from foreign invaders, earning the deep reverence of the populace. To reclaim power from these witches, King Aeëtes of Colchis sent his daughter, Medea, to Hecate's temple to study sorcery and curses.
The intelligent princess Medea did not disappoint her father's expectations. Her talent even earned Hecate's praise. To nurture Medea's gift, the sorcery goddess specifically sent down her consciousness in a dream to guide the princess.
Medea learned magic from Goddess Hecate that even deities marveled at. Curses that inflicted excruciating pain and various wondrous potions were particularly favored by the princess. In just three years, Medea became the most powerful sorceress in the entire kingdom. The priestesses bowed to her command, and King Aeëtes was willing to break with tradition and entrust the throne to his daughter.
However, to the dismay of both the priestesses and the king, Princess Medea showed no desire for power.
Scepters and crowns were mere constraints to Medea. The princess confined herself to a high tower, studying scrolls day and night, dismissing the divine and royal authority within her grasp with disdain. She often stated that such useless things only wasted her time, and she wished only to be accompanied by truth for the rest of her life.
As Medea grew older, her marriage became a paramount concern for the king and the priestesses.
Princes eager to marry Medea arrived in droves, but none could capture the princess's attention. Even catching a glimpse of Medea was a distant dream for her suitors.
Until one day, Medea, usually engrossed in her magical studies, emerged from her tower. The princess's beauty was as dazzling as a pearl, but her bloodshot eyes and the peculiar odor of her garments astonished her attendants.
After a hurried wash and bath, Medea, barefoot, went to her father's palace. "Father, I have foreseen the arrival of a group of men! Please instruct the soldiers at the port to watch for a large ship bearing the statue of Athena. I have finally waited for them."
Her daughter showing interest in men of her own accord! King Aeëtes, setting aside any pickiness, nearly wept. "My daughter, as long as you are willing, I will accept him regardless of his status."
After managing to calm her father, who was on the verge of tears of joy, Medea went to the temple and ordered the priestesses to prepare a grand ceremony.
"Our long-held wish will finally be fulfilled! Goddess Hecate has granted me revelation; the fated hero is about to arrive!"
The sorceresses praised Goddess Hecate with fervor and immediately acted according to Medea's instructions.
The priestesses stood in readiness, scattering spices and herbs around the bonfire, ceaselessly chanting incantations.
Meanwhile, the heroes aboard the Argo, having endured countless hardships, arrived in this kingdom. Their numbers had dwindled; Heracles had disembarked midway to find his friend, who had been abducted by water nymphs. Without Heracles, the heroes could no longer secure abundant fish and arrived in Colchis in a state of hunger.
The soldiers guarding the port busily informed the princess of their arrival. Medea, who had been waiting, immediately led the priestesses to the port.
The heroes, who were procuring supplies, were surrounded by the throng of approaching priestesses. Jason, upon seeing these women clad in black robes, immediately became wary. He approached Medea, who was at the forefront, and said, "We mean no harm. If our words or actions have unintentionally offended you, please accept my sincerest apologies."
Jason's attempt at diplomacy did not yield the expected response. A flicker of light flashed in Medea's eyes, and Jason suddenly felt dizzy, losing consciousness and collapsing to the ground.
When Jason awoke, he found himself in a magnificent palace. King Aeëtes of Colchis apologized on behalf of his daughter to the heroes. "Esteemed guests who have traveled from afar, please forgive my daughter's impetuous actions. As atonement, I am willing to provide you with ample food and water."
As he spoke, attendants immediately brought forth a lavish feast for the heroes to enjoy. With Aeëtes' mediation, the heroes lowered their guard and savored the long-awaited banquet.