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Hecate let out a weary sigh as she sank deeper into the hot spring. Today she had added far more medicinal herbs than usual, because her arm and cheek had been aching far too much since last night. Her arm, especially—even despite the tightening glove—was trembling.
The warm bath was screened off by a folding partition that Melinoë had made specifically for her mentor, so Hecate could safely remove her mask and glove without risking the exposure of her secret. Before that, she had had to create shadow veils or send the shades far away from the spring, but thanks to her student, everything had become much simpler.
Suddenly, quiet footsteps were heard, and Angustias slipped through the screen. Her witch’s hat was absent, and her tight black dress was free of any ornaments or amulets.
“I didn’t expect to find you here,”
she said as she stepped forward.
Hecate tilted her head back and closed her eyes. The Guardian of the Crossroads was glad to see her.
“I need to relax, at least a little.”
Angustias settled down beside the hot spring. She scooped up some water, sniffed it, and frowned.
“You added too many medicinal herbs. At this rate, you’ll burn what healthy skin you have left,”
she muttered disapprovingly.
The Titaness waved it off with a heavy sigh.
“The scars have been hurting too much this past week. I even cast a flawed spell because of the pain. I had to postpone it.”
Angustias listened and nodded, making herself more comfortable on the edge of the warm pool.
“Too much madness has happened lately. First the change to the main plan for dealing with Chronos. Then his unexpected release by Melinoë and Zagreus—and the reassignment of his duties. Then your student risked herself again and nearly lost her second arm because of Arachne. I think you’re simply exhausted, mentally.”
Hecate nodded and tiredly closed her eyes.
“Sometimes it feels like the world has gone mad, and I’m the only one who can’t afford to.”
She sighed again and began massaging her temples with her uninjured hand.
“And ever since that conversation, Melinoë has been treating me like… like a glass vase. Constantly asking how I feel. Calling me here more often so I can rest. Bringing me more nectar and ambrosia.”
She frowned deeply and looked at her arm, where black-and-gold scars were visible.
“I’ve lived with this mistake for thousands of years! And she seriously thinks that now I might shatter from a single sneeze?! Who does she think I am?!”
Angustias snorted and narrowed her eyes in amusement.
“And weren’t you the one who, upon learning that Melinoë injured her arm because of a spell, started hovering over her like a brooding hen?”
Hecate shot her an annoyed look while Angustias theatrically turned away, pretending to think.
“You practically took over all of her serious work so she wouldn’t strain the injured limb too much. And how many nights did you lose trying to come up with a solution?”
The Titaness clicked her tongue at the witch’s words—words that seemed to delight in provoking the Guardian of the Crossroads.
“So you decided to remind me of all my shameful moments?”
Angustias shrugged, still smiling.
“No. I’m just realizing that the student didn’t stray far from the teacher.”
Hecate sighed heavily and shook her head. Her gaze returned to the herb-filled water.
“That’s the problem, Angustias… I taught Melinoë the wrong thoughts. The wrong desires. I planted dangerous ideas in her, hoping nothing terrible would happen.”
She grabbed her hair with her healthy hand, her face twisting.
“If Zagreus hadn’t tried to reason with her. If the Moirai hadn’t decided to give her fragments of the past. If not for so many other factors, then…”
She winced harder, clutching her head.
“My foolish desire for revenge. To make him feel the pain I endured. That selfishness could have led the world to catastrophe…”
Hecate closed her eyes, trying to calm herself, while Angustias listened attentively.
“I am thousands of years old. I witnessed the Golden Age and the fall of the Titans—and even after all that time, I couldn’t quiet my anger.”
Angustias gently placed a hand on Hecate’s shoulder.
“This isn’t your fault. You carried this mistake alone for countless years, without being able to tell anyone. You only truly began treating your scars from that battle recently. And Chronos’ return simply tore open old wounds.”
Hecate exhaled shakily and looked at her companion with a battered gaze.
“But if not for—”
“If not for countless circumstances, the Moirai would have intervened,”
the witch interrupted, stopping the Titaness from blaming herself again.
“Their paths are inscrutable, but they know exactly when events must be halted—especially when reality itself is at stake.”
She gestured toward the screen, beyond which the crossroads lay, struggling to recover after so many strange events in the world. Nemesis had, as usual, rushed off to deal with Chronos’ army. Odysseus was reviewing reports and searching for flaws in the Underworld’s defenses. Moros was studying new scrolls Melinoë had brought from the ruined Aether.
“They sent their brother and a list that allowed them to influence the flow of history even while trapped. If anything had gone wrong, Moros or the list would have warned us. And in the worst case, Selene would have intervened. She doesn’t like doing that—but for you, I think she would have made an exception.”
Hecate let out a sad huff at that and also glanced toward the screen.
“That just makes me realize how foolish I truly am.”
Angustias shrugged.
“Everyone makes mistakes—even the stupidest ones. What matters is that you understood them, and that nothing happened. Everything else is just meaningless detail.”
The Titaness gently laid her ugly, trembling hand atop Angustias’.
“Hm. Then why don’t you join me?”
she asked, tilting her head.
“Is the scent of the herbs really that unpleasant?”
The witch sighed heavily and looked at the hot spring.
“I’d love to, but considering how many herbs are floating in there, I think this water is closer to poison than medicine. I wouldn’t survive it.”
Hecate nodded and closed her eyes, settling deeper into the bath.
“In that case… will you stay with me a little longer? I need to calm down.”
Angustias smiled and made herself comfortable on the stones beside her, not entering the water.
“Of course. That’s why I came. Who else but your temporary healer would listen to you?”
Hecate smiled and gently squeezed Angustias’ hand.
It wouldn’t be long before Melinoë returned from the House of Hades to the Crossroads. She should savor the quiet and peace for as long as possible before that. Later, there would be tasks to assign, tests of botanical knowledge, questions about her meeting with Persephone—and much more.
But for now, there was only calm in the hot spring, and the witch softly stroking Hecate’s head.