The Greece Antagonist

Early morning, in the City of Paphos on Cyprus Island.

Brilliant sunlight pierced through the carved windows, illuminating the inside of the room, scattering across torn garments and disarray sprawled all the way to the big bed made of fragrant wood.

With the shifting light and shadow, a graceful figure beneath the gauzy canopy yawned lazily, awakening leisurely as she stretched her jade arms and lifted the silk velvet quilt that barely concealed the glow of spring, revealing an ivory, flawless, perfect form.

The remaining traces of red marks on her snow-white skin did not detract from the beauty of her stunning body; instead, they highlighted the mature charm of a figure nourished by love's aftermath.

Aphrodite, on the bed, let out a long yawn, her descending arm covering the abundance of her body as she rubbed a few tooth marks etched into her skin, with her enchanting eyes casting a reproachful glance outside the canopy.

This adversary...

However, as she caught sight of her little lover in front of the dressing mirror already dressed in a brand-new hunting outfit, the Goddess of Love immediately cast aside her morning laziness, quickly got out of bed, and took the handsome prince by the hand with a soft plea.

"Adonis, my beloved, listen to me, please don't go challenging those fierce beasts in the forest, okay? I'm really worried that the lion's claws and the wolf's sharp teeth will hurt you..."

The handsome prince turned around upon hearing this, grasped his lover's hand, and flashed a confident smile.

"Don't worry, they can't hurt me. What game would you like? I'll hunt it for you today!"

"I don't want anything, just that you stop risking yourself on adventures. Do you know I get nervous every time you leave? Please promise me, no more dangerous feats, okay?"

Aphrodite shook her head, holding her chest, pouring out her worries to her lover with eyes brimming with heartfelt sorrow.

Yet, Adonis simply smiled noncommittally with a laugh, released his lover's hand, slung his war bow across his shoulder, and stood up to walk toward the door.

"This time I'll definitely hunt a big one for you, wait for me to come back!"

Watching her lover's figure fade into the distance, Aphrodite sighed heavily with a troubled expression on her stunning face, her persuasion in vain.

She truly didn't understand why these men always reveled in fighting and killing, challenging dangers, and conquering the impossible...

Didn't they know that someone was worrying for them day and night, eagerly awaiting their return home, longing for a comfortable and safe life...

In truth, as the ancient Goddess of Love, she was all too familiar with the strife and slaughter among the gods and the cycle of life and death of mortals; she didn't expect her beloved to become a hero.

Just to stay quietly by her side was more than enough.

Yet even such a small wish seemed beyond what fate would permit.

The man she loved still yearned to prove himself in the characteristic manner of males, to his father, the king of Cyprus, and to her, the Goddess of Love.

—To prove his bravery, to prove he was worthy of her trust.

Of course, it was not that she couldn't use her authority to keep him at her side.

But that would never be true love...

Aphrodite sat alone in front of her dressing mirror, caressing her beautiful face that no one admired, and couldn't help feeling a touch of sadness.

Oh well, who made her fall for such a person.

Quietly lamenting for a moment, Aphrodite glanced back at the muddy bedsheet and the striking patch of crimson at its center, her face immediately flushing with a hint of satisfaction and intoxication.

Although unsure of what her young lover thought, there was no doubt that the love she gave him surpassed that given to anyone else.

The Goddess of Love, with her refined makeup, smiled contentedly at her own reflection in the mirror, then as always, draped herself in light gossamer and stepped out of her room, summoning her chariot and her three Lesser Deities to prepare for tonight's madness at her Sacred Pool.

Upon their mistress's call, a pair of pure white swans descended, pulling the golden chariot.

Aglaea, the Radiant Goddess of The Three Graces, with Euphrosyne and Thalia, the spirits of encouragement and mirth respectively, in their elegant and flowing gowns and translucent wings woven with Divine Power at their back, took the chariot's reins while the other two attended on either side, driving towards the shallow bay on the outskirts of the City of Paphos, like a beautiful comet streaking across the sky.

In the bustling streets of the city, a figure blending in with the crowd glanced up at the comet, then, seeing as usual the handsome young man riding his warhorse at the head of a team rushing towards the hunting grounds outside the city, immediately pulled up their hood and stealthily followed.

Meanwhile, in the wilderness far beyond the city, a blue-eyed female hunter with silver hair felt a faint resonance from the Hermes Script on the back of her hand, immediately spread out the topographical map, and comparing it with the swan chariot's trajectory, she strode forward.

Soon after, a stream of light touched the ground.

Aphrodite stepped down from her swan chariot, crossed the forest path, and arrived in front of a white marble pool, beckoning the pure sea waters from the shallow bay outside Paphos, to fill the pool.

Paphos in Cyprus was her Origin, for she was born from the foam of its nearby sea.

Thus, this place was not only her sanctuary but also contained her Authority.

The blessed sea water would wash away all her past anxieties, weariness, and signs of aging, allowing her to return to the youthful and radiant purity of her maidenhood.

In Knossos, Nafplion, there was a similar sacred spring with like effects, although it could only be used for a short period in spring.

That was a gift from Aphrodite to her mother-in-law, Hera, and it contained the Divinity of the Goddess of Love that could captivate men.