Harmonia stops the session after seeing Takashi hunch over while clutching himself. Past regret and guilt escape from his eyes. The goddess latches onto him, joining him with his tears.

"Why couldn't it be me?", he asks her.

"You did what was best for your family. None of you deserved that."

"I didn't know it happened for so long. Why did I miss-"

She stokes through his black hair. "You were just a child. Both of you were. I hate that man and the other who broke up your family. None of it was right."

The two sit in silence as Taki's eyes release all the tears available.....the emotional exhaustion leads him to fall asleep in her arms.

She rests him on her lap. It isn't long before his body squirms from the nightmares. Her glowing hand revealed glimpses of horrible sights he had witnessed.

Deaths of a crew by Poseidon's hands. Witnessing a water nymph burning while he was immobilized by fear from saving her.

Hestia turned to ashes from a lightning bolt. Apollo dropping dead on the temple floor. Artemis' head rolling off from Zeus' attack. The death of Mina the Oracle. The deaths of her parents that she had never seen before until now. Her heart breaks again for them and Takashi who wanted to save them.

Another glimpse of Artemis' death along with Heracles, Perseus, and Orpheus. Finally having Hypnos as a formidable ally only to be casted away. The horrible truth that he was a random nobody picked by Kronos. That he shared no familial connections to the people he cared about.

His wife and family crying out for his return. Him trying to reach out until Zeus dragged him down into the darkness.

One word summarized it all: hopeless. The origin of his trauma continued through the multiple timelines. Reminding him of what he couldn't do. That he could only watch.

Her sympathy leads her to draw out more of her aura to pass coherent messages into his nightmares. "You deserve rest for all that you have witnessed. None of that was your fault. It will take time, but you are not a burden to anyone."

Her aura dives deeper. Aphrodite's pink aura resonates with her energy. Glimpses of light poke through the darkness. 

Happiest moments spent with those he had met on Gaia. The heroic acts he accomplished that saved more lives. The small moments where he connected deeply with some of the Olympian deities. His warm heart comforting those who needed it. Even after getting knocked down, his entire being urged him to stand back up.

The fire of resolve is now a spark. Stopping the nightmares is temporary, but she will save that spark. Anything to keep him going.

----

The twin dragons hiss as they finally land. The breath of the witch hitches from the sight. Medea stands back from the heat leftover from Hephaestus' destruction. Her heart falls down to her stomach, but she catches it. 

She had to find out what happened to Takashi. Upon telling her great-grandfather what had happened, he only gave a look of disappointment. His wish to see her children had gone away.....

Her hands clench. If her great-grandfather wouldn't help her, she would do it herself.

After setting a mortar on the unburned grass, she dumps out an ounce of sage into it. Upon her command, one of her dragons blows a gentle stream of fire to ignite it. The smell of it penetrates her nostrils. Hoping to confer the wisdom needed to find him. 

The smoke of it travels around the temple before entering her body. She clutches her throat while being careful not to cough up a lung. Her dragons lend their necks to support her back.

Upon a collection of breaths, a smile creeps on her face. He's still alive. They moved him with love dust. But where to? And what happened here?

She keeps her body still to keep the sage inside her. Her lips speak unintelligible syllables to find a trace of her friend.

Her ears perk up from a gentle note playing through the autumn breeze. Her dragons hiss, but she keeps them still by pulling on the reins. 

Two pairs of feet softly land twelve feet from the witch. A familiar prior ally along with someone that made her want to gag upon his presence. Thinking back, she doesn't remember Takashi mentioning him. Despite that, she stops herself from baring her teeth against the so-called stranger.

The two people in question have red bracelets formed around the wrists of their right hands.

Orpheus keeps his distance while clutching his lyre. "Medea, what are you doing here?"

She pushes back a strand of her brunette hair. "Looking for Takashi Watanabe. You?"

Narcissus lets out a laugh. "My name is Narcissus, the greatest archer in Gaia. What makes you think you will find who you already lost?"

The infamous witch pieces together that word traveled to Thrace quickly since Dardanus was just a stone's throw away.

She scoffs. "At least I had him compared to you."

The proud demigod's fingers tremble from his anger. A feeling of familiarity drops like a blanket on the trio. Although the musical demigod had met Medea on his journey with the Argonauts, there was a bond stronger than glue that connected them to the foreigner they're searching for.

Narcissus, however, feels anger rising in his throat. This isn't the first time we talked. I want her dead already.

"Listen, witch of Colchis, get out of my way. Don't lower your reputation any further."

His venom-laced words illicit a response. "My poisons speak volumes compared to your worthless words."

White wisps of aura travel around the unblemished hands of the demigod. Orpheus' quick fingers on the lyre form a wall of musical notes to separate the two of them. 

"That's enough from the both of you!", before exhaling. "Queen Medea of Athens, I propose we trade information and maybe we can form an all-"

Narcissus scoffs. "An alliance with a child murderer? If you actually care about Apollo-"

The proud demigod feels the sharp edge of something pressed against his throat. His eyes waver from the missing string of Orpheus' lyre.

Sky-blue eyes pierce through the windows of his arrogant soul. "Don't you ever say his name like that again. You know what I'm willing to risk, Narcissus."

Medea already knew what he would wish for. Bringing Apollo and his family back along with Eurydice. She stops the tears from forming in her eyes. One loss after another. 

"Let's talk then", she interjects.

The son of Calliope withdraws his wire and barrier. Narcissus doesn't let a breath of fear exit his lips.

To establish a bridge of trust, Medea tells the demigod duo some things while omitting the truth. In exchange, Orpheus tells her that Hephaestus destroyed this temple after "feeling" his presence that was long gone.

"......He hired us along with another third party to bring Takashi to him. He guaranteed our wishes would be granted along with his own if we take him in first before the others."

"Who's the third party?"

"We don't know."

"Does it even matter?", Narcissus involves himself. "Those wishes are as good as ours."

Medea smirks from the plan in her head. "In that case, I have more information on what Mr. Watanabe can do. In return, I want to help you find him and get my wish granted as well."

Before the proud demigod could object-

"We will take it", Orpheus appreciates. 

Narcissus bites his lip to stifle the numerous objections. If she gives it over, there won't be any need for her anymore. "So where do we go from here?"

"I was using sage to determine that."

"Hmph." He scans the surrounding area with eyes of a hawk. His eyes stop upon a woman whose head is peeking through the window of a home near the bottom of the hill. Her open clam pin glimmers from the daylight.

With a devilish smile, he conjures white aura to wrap around the house before running down. Medea and Orpheus run after him. With a kick, the door breaks open. 

Aphrodite's servant screams out. She goes to open a pouch, but Narcissus shoots it out of her hands with a bolt arrow. Pushing her away, he goes to the pouch......to find grain on the floor.

His left eye twitches while preparing another energy arrow.

"Whore of Aphrodite, tell me why you're still here."

The young woman backs against the wall with her heart racing. An arrow whistles before plunging a hole near her right ear. 

"That shot was a warning."

"Narcissus, stop! We need her alive", Orpheus objects with fingers ready to launch an attack.

The arrogant mortal lowers his crossbow and points it away. Orpheus summons musical notes to wrap around the woman's wrists before leading her to a chair.

"Please don't kill me!", she pleads with teary eyes.

He grips her shoulders. "We won't. Just answer our questions."

"She will lie to us. That's what whores are known for", the vain demigod points out.

The sky-blue eyes almost silence him, but he had to admit that the servants of Aphrodite are part of a large spy network. Medea steps forward and places her bag on the table. The servant notices several herbs being crushed before mixing with water. An indistinct spell makes it glow orange.

"Have her drink this."

Orpheus' eyes focus on Medea. "What will it do to her?"

"Make her tell the truth without any harm."

Ah, you are somewhat useful, Narcissus keeps that thought to himself.

The servant struggles to undo the musical handcuffs, but to no avail. The musical demigod convinces the woman they will let her go free when they are done.

"No! I can't let my goddess down. Even if she's gone."

His sky-blues become as calm as day. "We just want to know where he is. And I promise to bring her back."

"You promise?"

He nods while bringing the drink over. The servant hesitates before drinking it down. Her tense arms weigh down as Orpheus removes the handcuffs. Her posture slouches as if she's napping in her chair.

Orpheus asks her where Takashi Watanabe is.

The woman's lips slowly open and close from the effects. "He's with......Demeter in Eleusis."

The mention of the Olympian goddess' name sends shivers down the team's spines. Even Narcissus couldn't ignore it.

"Is he being held hostage?"

Her head lowers. "He's seeking her help."

The vain demigod scoffs. "I bet he convinced these stupid women."

"Are.....you helping him?", Medea asks her.

"We are."

Orpheus' hands clench. "Why?"

"He's.....innocent. He promised.....to try and.....bring them back."

A tidal wave of relief washes over Medea's heart. She kills the smile that he's where he's supposed to be.

Orpheus almost couldn't believe her and yet......

"Who are you aligned with?", Narcissus interjects.

She tells them with a pause between some of her words. After getting the necessary information, they leave to report to Hephaestus.

The effects of the truth potion wear off. The former servant of Aphrodite sobs from letting her colleagues down.......before a sly smile forms on her face.

I was only told that he was headed to Eleusis as a premeditated lie. Fortunately, the love potions also dispel other effects that go against our consent. Be safe, my sisters.

------------

Selene's feet storm to where the guards told her where her best friend will be. The surface of the navy-blue pool dazzles like diamonds from the sunlight of Hemera and Helios. Her eyes look around while pacing around the perimeter of the pool.

 "BELLEROPHON!"

The young son of Poseidon heard her footsteps coming and hid in the bottom corner of the dark pool. Her voice keeps calling out to him. Pain and regret remind his heart of what he did to her father. 

His claws dig into the walls. Please leave. Please leave.

Splash!

His turquoise eyes open in surprise. Selene had jumped into the middle of the pool. She spins around and their eyes meet. A warm smile on her face washes away the regret of his heart. Like it happened before.

She swims over while holding her breath. Extending a hand to rekindle their friendship. 

With a wave of his hand, he forms a pocket of air and catches her with care. Happy tears drip between them.

"You will always be my best friend, Bellero. I missed you so much."

His arms wrap tighter around her. "I missed you too!"

She rubs circles in the back of his shoulder. "I have so much to tell you."

"It feels like", he sniffles, "That we reunited before."

"Me too. I won't leave your side. I promise you that."

The servant of the fallen Hera keeps the involvement of Takashi Watanabe a secret. She wants to keep her friend out of the chaotic mess that might occur. Her heart thanks the stranger for bringing them back together again.