CH 28

On a warm and sunny day, I was lying alone on the grass. Thanasios had some business to attend to with the high priests, so I was the only one rolling around on the blue grass around the temple. Panagiota, a familiar high priestess, advised me that as a priestess, it would be good to occasionally approach the temple, and it was fine to go inside with Thanasios.

Perhaps because the grass was closer to the sun than the ground, it was warm and comfortable. The sunlight was not too strong, just right. It was perfect for sunbathing, and I was starting to feel sleepy after taking a bath.

I dozed off. Just a little, my consciousness drifted away.

Somehow, I had felt this sensation before.

When I opened my eyes, (sea)anemones and daffodils were blooming together by a large river. The grass was receiving the morning sunlight and the trees were dyed red. This place, where the sense of season was ignored and the distinction between day and night was vague, was familiar to me.

This was the same as when I was called by the main god, Styx. I looked around, startled.

Then, behind me, stood a woman with a deep hood. She was petite, about the same height as me. Her hood and robe were deep blue, and her face was not clearly visible.

The woman timidly spoke to me.

“Eleni. You don’t remember me…do you? But I know who you are.”

“Yes? Have we met before?”

“Oh, yes, that’s right. We haven’t met in person. I’m sorry, I jumped to conclusions… ahem.”

The petite woman coughed and spoke with a slightly clearer voice.

“I’m Lethe, the Goddess of Forgetfulness, who you serve, or at least used to serve.”

She introduced herself lazily.

Lethe, the Goddess of Forgetfulness. I had forgotten that she was the goddess I served as a nun. Come to think of it, I had forgotten to even greet her. My forgetfulness in general was proof that she was the Goddess of Forgetfulness, Lethe.

I quickly knelt down. Lethe let out a sigh and dropped her shoulders.

“It’s okay. I’ve heard about you from Styx-Okaasama, and besides, you’re one of my few followers… well, it seems like you didn’t have much faith in me.”

“I’m sorry for my disrespectful behavior.”

“It’s fine. I know there were circumstances. Besides, all of my followers are selfish, so I’m used to it.”

Lethe seemed more resigned than sulky. It was true that those who believed in the Goddess of Forgetfulness, Lethe, and devoted themselves to their training, were generally living an austere life and only thinking about themselves. I used to be like that too. I was so focused on surviving day by day that I didn’t care about faith, and I even hated it.

“I was scolded by Styx-Okaasama. She said that you neglected such a poor girl without giving her any blessings, and that’s why there are no new followers and you’re being forgotten.”

Muttering to herself, Lethe complained. Both the followers and the goddess were forgetful. It seemed like they were a perfect match.

However, I was still serving the Goddess of Forgetfulness, Lethe, and I couldn’t ignore her. I apologized for my rudeness.

“Excuse me, Goddess Lethe. I’m sorry if I offended you. I’ve only been thinking about myself until now. I can only offer the bare minimum of offerings to you, and my faith has been lost in anger and despair.”

Then, Lethe shook her head.

“It’s okay. This time, I came to celebrate the honor of my follower becoming the head priestess of Styx-Okaasama. And… I’ve been forgetting to give blessings to humans lately.”

I thought to myself that she had forgotten after all, but I didn’t say it out loud. I had also forgotten about Lethe’s existence. Thanasios had taken care of me so much at the royal castle that I could only think about getting used to life there. It’s just an excuse, but Lethe seems to be aware of my recent situation through the main god Styx, so I felt relieved.

Suddenly, Lethe reached out her hand above my head. As if in revelation, her voice came down from above.

“Eleni, with my blessing, I will make you forget your unpleasant memories. You will be loved by that splendid prince and live a happy life from now on. Don’t worry, your revenge will be successful. You will eradicate the one who caused your unhappiness, even if it means involving the whole world. That’s the only thing you need to remember.”

My head was gently stroked.

Driven by impulse, I tried to remember something. I could remember my mother’s face. My father’s face?… Did I have such a thing?

A cold woman’s voice. Revenge will be achieved. The fly that brought unhappiness upon you will pay for it in the flames of hell. Forget about that unhappiness and live a happy life.

Upon hearing those words, my chest felt lighter. It felt like someone had lifted the burden I was carrying.

I woke up in the divine realm of Arche of Apeiron, where a refreshing breeze blew, and it seemed like I had even forgotten that I had forgotten something.