The next day, radiant sunshine streamed through the gaps in the vines and spilled into the bedroom.
Luo En opened his heavy eyelids to find a lovely face, capable of delight and displeasure alike, up close within his field of vision.
The glistening, pert nose, the long eyelashes fluttering gently, the pointy ears stretching softly... A collection of features, mixed with both childishness and spirituality, came together to form the exquisite visage before him, involuntarily invoking desires to peep and protect.
It must be said, as the future Enchantress of Seduction and Corruption in Greek mythology, this demigod of Aiaia certainly had some substantial assets.
But even the most beautiful landscapes, subject to the relentless assault of repetition, could become monotonously uninspiring.
In common parlance, worn out.
Moreover...
Luo En glanced at his own left ear, which felt disgustingly sticky, and found a pair of pink lips cheerfully nibbling on it, the silver teeth causing a slight stinging sensation.
At the same time, two delicate, pink arms were entwined around his neck like snakes, nearly suffocating him.
In the midst of it all, he could just make out the distressed creak of his neck bones under the skin.
With an expressionless face, Luo En sat up and peeled off the human-shaped koala hanging from his body and flung it aside.
Luckily, the bed was spacious enough.
Circe, who was displaced from her territory, immediately mounted the quilt, rolling smoothly from the head of the bed to the foot, her fair skin shining alluringly bright in the dim room.
The wild enchantress had a habit of sleeping in the nude.
The unintentionally revealed charm made Luo En involuntarily lift his eyelids.
At that moment, the Great Witch, who was now clinging to a pillow again, habitually rubbed her half-visible face against the quilt. Sparkling drool slid from the corner of her mouth as she muttered vague dream talk intermittently.
"Hee hee, my cute little piggy, resistance is useless! Just let me hug and kiss you!"
Hearing that self-satisfied and bewitching laughter, Luo En's mouth twitched fiercely.
She still loved pigs just as much.
He had seen his share of people doting on cats and dogs, but a pig lover with such unique taste was a first for him.
However, Luo En couldn't understand why such a powerful Great Witch had such a deep fixation on little piglets.
As he mulled over it, his gaze caught sight of a pair of soft, sprawling eagle wings under the quilt.
Suddenly, a spark of realization flared in his mind, and the question that had troubled him for so long seemed to find a vague answer.
—An eagle, of course, would fancy a piglet.
Especially the newborn ones, plump and delicious.
Damn, so that's what it was!
As Luo En thought of Circe's lineage and alias as the Witch of the Eagle, his facial muscles twitched violently.
This woman's affection for piglets was probably a twisted pleasure of a predator licking and toying with its prey under its claws.
—Somewhat like a cat's evil delight in catching mice.
"That's not up to you!"
Luo En responded with a cold laugh, rolled up the blanket with Circe altogether, and carried them out the door without further ado.
The nascent morning sun cast streaks of fine golden light, splitting the central spine of Aiaia Island into two halves defined by light and dark.
One side teemed with life, the other was gloomy and deathly still.
Carrying the "sandwich cookie" on his shoulder, Luo En stepped on thick layers of dead leaves, making his way through the dense forest, his gaze twinkling.
Aiaia Island was located in the Sea of Okeanos, to the east, not far, legend has it, from the entrance to the Netherworld.
Luo En figured that this was probably the reason he was sent to this island after completing the resurrection match in Hades.
And this location endowed the island's mistress Circe with a kind of Divinity characteristic of the Netherworld, making her quite familiar with ghosts and departed souls, somewhat of a peculiar living neighbor to Hades.
Of course, this might also be related to her faith.
Luo En looked up at the end of the stone-paved path, towards that quaint ancient temple entwined with vines.
This place, unlike the lively other side of the island, was crowded with dead trees, withered grass, and strange rocks, depicting a desolate scene. The sky, inexplicably overcast and dim, exuded an indescribable sense of oppression and mystique.
Upon reaching the entrance, Luo En stood still and gazed at the statue standing at the center of the great hall.
It was a Goddess with three heads, three bodies, and six arms, holding torches, herbs, and talismans, her gazes directed toward three different directions.
The Witchcraft Goddess Hecate, the deity worshipped by Circe.
Also in Greek mythology, she is the Triple Goddess representative of opportunity, the Goddess of Magic, the Queen of Ghosts, and the Goddess of the Underworld, a very mysterious and unique entity.
And in a way, she is now also considered Luo En's current mentor.
Lowering his gaze slightly to convey some basic respect, Luo En then tossed Circe, wrapped up in blanket and all, straight into the temple.
The shouting and protesting Circe, upon hitting the ground, hastily wriggled her body, hurriedly dressing herself with clothes tangled in the blanket, and then sat up with dignity, scowling at her rebellious student she'd raised from a young age, grinding her teeth in frustration.
"Disrespectful! This is a great disrespect!"
As she was tidying her attire, Circe couldn't help but sneak a few glances at the deity statue behind her, eyes revealing a hint of guilt.
One should know, the deities of Greece are notoriously petty, and being naked in their temples is hardly respectful or decorous.
Therefore, to attract the attention and retribution of such small-minded deities, there are a dozen precedents.
"Teacher, I think Lady Goddess is magnanimous, and she surely wouldn't blame one for a minor offense committed in the pursuit of knowledge," Luo En spread his hands sincerely and innocently.
"I just want to improve too much."
"..."
Circe, looking at her student's face "devoutly" expressing himself to the statue, felt her teeth itch, longing to bite down and tear off a chunk of flesh.
But in the end, under the somber gaze of the deity, the Enchantress shrank her neck and flipped through a few ancient magic books made of sheepskin from the altar, then lifted her hand weakly in summons.
"Come in, let's start the class."
Luo En entered the temple with a faint smile on his face, sat down on his knees opposite teacher Circe, and began the routine magical studies.