After they entered the room, the elderly woman said, "You have taught them well." Pagides smiled and replied, "I learned from you."
The elderly woman laughed heartily and said, "You always know what to say." Then, turning to the sisters, she said, "She is the chairwoman of the Hestia Temple committee, the highest authority here." The elderly woman chuckled warmly, "Thank you for your trouble, coming all this way."
The sisters simply bowed without speaking. The elderly woman smiled and said no more. At that moment, the younger sister, Pherodaro, noticed the elderly woman's eyes flash with a momentary golden light. The elderly woman observed this and nodded, "Talented. You two may go outside now, but *you* stay," she said, indicating Pagides.
Pagides nodded to the sisters, who then left for outside. Pagides stayed behind, looking resigned. "How did you discover it?" he asked.
The elderly woman chuckled, "With your abilities, you'd probably have figured it out yourself in about five years."
She thought for a moment and asked, "Why did you give up becoming a Pithos Hestia?"
"Even without me, there are others who can take the role," he replied with a smile. "Besides, Eirene isn't bad." The elderly woman looked at him intently, "You must have discovered something. Such a sudden, drastic change doesn't happen otherwise."
"Yes," Pagides confirmed, nodding. "I discovered that Forbidden Place. Besides, Their plan isn't wrong."
The elderly woman sighed, "Their idea is sound, but they fail to see the real problem."
Pagides thought for a moment, "With your wisdom, you should be able to persuade Them. Could it be you discovered something else?"
The elderly woman sat up straight. "You never passed the trial at the Primordial Sacred Fire Temple, did you?"
Pagides nodded. The elderly woman shook her head regretfully, "No wonder Hades Hierues and the others blacklisted you. Since that's the case, I have just one small request."
Pagides asked curiously, "Did Zeus send a gift?" The elderly woman laughed heartily, "Zeus! He has His own difficulties too. Respect Him properly."
Pagides nodded, "Alright." The elderly woman looked at him and spat dismissively, "Hmph! I can grant you permission to pass through any territory."
Pagides suddenly felt uneasy. "You saying that makes me suspicious of *you*."
The elderly woman stood up, startling Pagides. "*Those sisters must go to the Primordial Sacred Fire Temple*. Understand?"
Pagides asked, puzzled, "Just... go to the Primordial Sacred Fire Temple?" The elderly woman nodded and handed him a scroll from the table.
Pagides grasped it, but she didn't let go. He said resignedly, "Alright, I'll take them." But the elderly woman looked unsatisfied.
"Fine," Pagides said, displeased. "I, Pagides, will personally escort the sisters Pheropyr and Pherodaro to the Primordial Sacred Fire Temple, take them inside for a tour, *and* allow them to undertake the trial."
"Now that's more like it," the elderly woman said, releasing the scroll. Then she added, "If only I could see them coming from the Mortal Realm..."
Pagides said seriously, "You needn't worry about that; we have preparations in place." The elderly woman sat back down. "Pagides, you are the strongest of my students. But that doesn't mean you are immortal. Your companion, the Giant, should accompany you for safety."
Pagides sighed, "He's hard to convince, especially with that descendant of theirs." The elderly woman frowned deeply, "Still holding onto that grudge? After all this time?"
"It's Zeus's actions," Pagides stated flatly, standing up. "I'll find teammates, don't worry." The elderly woman smiled, "You'd better not give me a headache."
---
Pagides emerged with the scroll and took the sisters to get equipped. The place wasn't far.
After leaving the temple and walking a stretch, they saw groups of five people passing by – actually, a large, bustling crowd. The smell of hot metal filled the air.
Pagides raised his hand and beckoned. A shop attendant came out to greet them and ushered them inside.
Pagides told the sisters this district was predominantly human, but for their safety, they should stay put here. It was also a chance for them to learn about equipment. He needed to go find teammates, which might take some time. He assured them the shop was safe; the owner was a former champion and no one would cause trouble here. With that, he left.
A female attendant guided them further inside the shop, which was more suitable, especially for Hiereia. It contained the equipment they would need. The sisters had no choice but to follow her in.
---
Just then, a bell rang, signaling it was probably around 3 PM.
Pagides and Pithos Automaton remembered the old guild hall had been destroyed in a brawl, but couldn't recall the new location right away. They asked a passerby for directions to the newly built guild.
The passerby, recognizing them, happily led the way. After a short walk, they arrived.
The guild was built by a lake, featuring gardens, large trees, and marble furnishings. It looked more like a high-end restaurant, standing three stories tall.
Pagides thanked the passerby and entered the guild.
Inside, the space was open without walls, filled with tables and chairs among numerous marble pillars. Voices could be heard coming from the third floor. Signs were nailed to each pillar, indicating directions.
Pagides found it odd. At this hour, the guild was usually packed, but today it was deserted. Even the reception desk was unmanned, and the counters behind it were empty. A faint foul odor hung in the air.
Pagides thought it impossible for all the staff to be absent. Pithos Automaton subtly pointed it out, and Pagides then noticed the employees were upstairs.
Pagides instructed Pithos Automaton to wait below while he went up.
Reaching the second floor, he saw a female employee wiping down a pillar. The foul smell was stronger here.
The female employee noticed Pagides and exclaimed excitedly, "Welcome back! Everyone misses you."
As Pagides started to approach, she held up a hand to stop him. "There was an... incident this morning. Everyone's cleaning up and will be heading home afterwards."
"I see, that explains the emptiness," Pagides said. The employee added quickly, "Don't ask what happened. You really don't want to know."
"Alright," Pagides conceded. "But can I still apply for a team quest?"
The employee smiled brightly, "Of course you can!" She hurried off to prepare. Pagides, still on the second floor, could smell the intense stench coming from above. He also heard the sounds of vigorous scrubbing and gagging from the floor above.
The employee returned carrying scrolls. "Please, come with me," she said, leading Pagides away from the building.
---
They went to a nearby garden. Quite a few people were gathered there: groups consisting of Centaurs, Harpies, Hemicynes, and humans in various combinations.
The employee introduced them one by one, detailing their task performance.
Pagides listened carefully, but none met the requirements for this specific mission. While strong, the terrain was complex and unsuitable for them.
A group of five, clad in fine gear, approached wanting to team up with Pagides.
The employee quickly intervened, explaining they were still new recruits needing certification. She pulled Pagides aside, whispering that these individuals were dangerous.
One of the five strode forward angrily. Suddenly, a thunderous *CRUNCH* shattered the stone floor. Everyone turned. It was Kostas. He had the upper body of a man and the lower body of a bull, crowned with massive horns. He was huge, powerfully built, with short black hair and a beard, wearing refined Greek armor. His left foreleg was a prosthetic. His eyes, however, were dark pools, deep as an abyss, inspiring fear.
The group of five stood to confront him. Without a word, Kostas struck each one, sending them flying. He then tossed a pouch of coins towards them.
They didn't pick it up. Instead, they glared back at him with pure, wolf-like hatred before leaving.
The employee thanked Kostas. He then approached Pagides, towering over him by half a body. "Kostas. Long time no see," he rumbled.
"I'm joining this mission," Kostas declared.
Pagides waved a dismissive hand. "No need. This task is beneath you." Kostas bent down slightly. "Your absence has seen too many Hestia Hierues and Hiereia injured. The guilds tasked me with assessing your fitness to continue."
"That's hardly your call, is it?" Pagides retorted, annoyed.
Kostas produced Hades's insignia. "Frankly, it's not my business either. But it's His decision. Even those two wouldn't dare disagree." He gestured vaguely upwards.
Pagides quickly changed his tune, "Well then, we are truly fortunate to have you join us." Kostas turned to the employee, "Please handle the formalities." She nodded eagerly, "Consider it done, sir."
Kostas looked back at Pagides. "Lead the way." With no other choice, Pagides led Kostas to meet the sisters.
---
"Apologies, Prince. We failed," said one of the five injured men to a cloaked figure.
"The plan isn't a failure, my brother," the figure replied. A wolfish grin appeared beneath the hood. "The Erebos Harpy affair? Let *him* take the blame. We just need to ensure the stories match." The cloaked werewolf looked at his men. "But those Hestia Hiereia who escaped... they must be dealt with."