Perseus and Chrysaor settle in their room while Pegasus is poking his head inside through the window.

He rests the head of Medusa on the dresser and writes an important note to not touch it. He lays his bag by the bed and covers it with his cloak.

"That was too close," he speaks with a hush.

"What do you mean?" the metallic man gestures with his hands.

"I know what I told you both before, but we can't openly say the truth. These two seem like our best chance at granting our wish and I don't want to throw that out."

"I know, but I hate it."

Pegasus snorts in agreement.

"I know. It hurts me too," he places a hand on Chrysaor's shoulder. "I will tell them the truth, but I need to completely trust them first."

Knock, knock.

He answers it to find Echo at the door holding a wrapped object in her hand.

"Sorry. Is this a bad time?"

Chrysaor smiles upon seeing her again.

"It's not. Echo, right?"

"That's me! Oh, I came with something to help Chrysaor." She unwraps the cloth and inside is a jar of healing ointment. "I know the wound is healed, but this can hide the claw marks if he doesn't want them."

Chrysaor walks towards her. Her heart thuds against her sternum. She is confused why her body is doing this. He gently takes the jar and signs something to her.

"I'm sorry. I don't know sign language. What did he say?"

"He said: Thank you, Echo. You're sweet."

Chrysaor frantically signs to Perseus. "I didn't say the last part!"

"Y-You're welcome. Do you need help putting it on?" she blurts while turning redder than wine. She wonders why she said this.

Chrysaor bashfully shakes his head no. He opens the jar and rubs a bit of it on his well-defined chest. The nymph averts her eyes from staring for too long.

His eyes open widely as the ointment on his chest glows. The marks vanish into nothingness. He shows Pegasus and he neighs in surprise.

Perseus smiles. "Wow! He's looking better now. At first, he wanted to keep them as a memory, but I guess things have changed."

Chrysaor signs to Echo while Perseus translated.

"Thank you. Where did you get this from?"

"I got it from Artemis. I'm glad it worked on you."

"Echo, he's not busy at the moment. Could you give him a tour around the temple? He will write down any questions he has for you."

"S-Sure."

The demigod gives the metallic man papyrus on wood with a quill and ink jar.

"Maybe you can also teach her some sign language along the way. Take your time and we will meet at lunch."

The brass giant takes the items before following Echo outside the room. Perseus walks back to the tote bag and covers up a pair of dark sunglasses that don't belong to this world.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

"I'm still new to this place, but I will give it my best from memory. You don't mind if I talk a lot? I know for some people it can be annoying so if I get too much then let me know before I go on and on. Oh, I just did that. Sorry," the nymph rambles to him.

She looks down. My fiancé thinks so sometimes.

The quill scratching against the paper gets her attention. He turns it around to her.

"You can read anything I write out loud if you want. I like hearing you talk."

Echo's blood warms up with a smile on her face. "Thanks. I will talk for the both of us then."

She mentions the bathhouse and reassures him that it's separated into gendered sections.

He writes down and she reads out loud. "I can't take a bath. Too much water will weaken my skin."

"Oh, because of the brass. How do you clean up then?"

"I have a scented polish that I rub onto my skin and wipe off. That's my bath."

"That makes sense. How do you clean your back? It must be difficult."

"I have a long brush to get to that area. I looked like a fool when I tried to reach behind with my hands."

Echo laughs from the imagery. "I can see that. I'm not laughing at you. It's just funny to imagine."

"It is funny. I hope that I'm not rude by mentioning it, but I have never seen skin like that before."

He points at the mountain skin that cover her hands, feet, and parts of her torso.

"You're not rude. I'm a mountain nymph and parts of my skin are rocky as a result."

"What's a mountain nymph?"

"I'm a minor deity. Not like a full god, but I represent a part of the mountains and it's part of my personality."

"That's amazing. Does that mean you're strong and unmovable?"

Echo smiles from the compliment. "Kind of. Not tall like a mountain though."

"So like a little boulder?"

Echo laughs at his joke. "Bigger than that, but not like you."

Her laugh sends his heart bouncing with joy.

She continues with the tour. He couldn't help but notice people kissing and entering different rooms.

"I guess this is your first time at a brothel."

"Not really."

Her footsteps stop in their tracks. "W-What?"

He then realized what he wrote down and quickly clarifies. "Sorry. I met a prostitute outside of one, but nothing happened."

Her mind calms down with some relief that she questions. "Oh. It's not my first time being in one. My friends took me to one, but nothing else happened either. Do you have a girlfriend?"

Why did I ask him that?!

Chrysaor shakes his head no. "Why?"

"Well, you are uhm hand- I thought you might have one already. You're very kind."

"Thanks. I never had one before. Some people think I'm dumb because I can't speak like they can."

"I'm sorry you have to deal with such ignorant people. They are missing out on a good person."

The beaming smile on his face gives her peace that doesn't help with the stress.

"I can teach you some of what I know. Oh, I didn't ask. Do you have a lover?"

"I do. I'm engaged to him and will get married someday," her chipper tone has some unexpected sadness to her surprise.

His heart skipped a beat and tumbled downwards. The smile on his face disappears. He shakes off the feeling and raises a thumb for her.

"Thank you. He's just not here because he's training for the tournament. Don't worry. I'm rooting for our team to win. I just don't want him to get hurt. Not that I'm concerned since he's strong in his own right. Oh, I'm ready to learn some sign language."

Chrysaor teaches her a bit like how to say hi and bye, how are you? And some emotional responses. She practices the hand motions with him.

"Facial expressions play a big role as well to convey your point."

He demonstrates anger and Echo puts on an angry face. This makes Chrysaor "laugh" as he clutches his belly.

"Oh, was I not angry enough for you? Very rude," she jests.

"It doesn't suit you to be angry. You're a joyful person. One of your best qualities."

Echo's crown of flowers bloom larger from his genuine compliment.

"Are you okay?"

Echo turns her head and signs back. "I'm fine."

I wish Narcissus would say more stuff like that. Wait. Why am I comparing him to Chrysaor?

"E-Even though you can't speak, you know the right thing to "say". How did you learn that?"

Chrysaor thinks before writing. "I had good teachers. They taught me mostly everything. Even a little about love."

"Aww. What do you know about love?"

"Well, erotica isn't the best way to learn it." 

Echo giggles from reading that sentence. 

"But I want a loving relationship of what my mother and father had."

Echo tilts her head. "How did you know about that? They say that after Medusa died that you and Pegasus were born afterwards. Also, that Poseidon wasn't around. But......why are you with Perseus after what he did to your mother?"

"He will tell you all when the time is right."

Echo drops the subject as she sees the metallic man is getting uncomfortable from "talking" about it.

She touches his arm. "I'm sorry that you didn't know much about your mother. Based on what you said, she wasn't a monster like people said."

He feels a little better from hearing that and signs "thank you."

"You're welcome."

"You're getting really good at this."

"I have a good teacher after all."

As they walk, they see several servants hanging up decorative pink tulips, roses, and white carnations in large jars unto hooks.

"Excuse me? What's going on?" Echo asks a female servant with braided brown hair.

"It's for the tests that Aphrodite will administer to your friend. She wanted to set the romantic mood for that night."

"It looks great so far."

"She also wanted me to let you know that you are all welcome to dance that evening. Do you have someone in mind?"

"I do."

"Is it this strapping young man?" she points to Chrysaor.

Chrysaor waved his hands saying no.

"I wish," Echo says that makes his jaw drop. "I mean, I will ask my fiancé to see if he could come."

"Congratulations on that."

"Thanks."

"Chrysaor, right?"

He nods.

"I know several women who would love to be your dance partner that night. Maybe more than that," she states with a wink that made him blink multiple times.

Echo's heart rattles in a way she never felt before. She keeps herself quiet to calm down.

"Oh, wait. How old are you?"

"Based on a test I took, I'm 24 years old."

"That's a relief because you look young for your age. You probably got that from your dad."

He nods.

"Do you know how to dance?"

"A little. I stepped on a few toes, so I have to be extra careful."

"Hmm. How about I stand on your feet and you can move me around?"

"Sure."

"Splendid. I have to go and put this up there. I wish there was another ladder to use."

Chrysaor offers his hand out to help. The woman trusts him and gives him the ornament. He looks around first and grows quickly to the correct height. The servant and those around him are dumbfounded. He finds the hook and places it on there. He then shrinks down to his normal size.

"W-Wow. I didn't know you could do that. Thanks. Could you help me with finishing the rest?"

He nods and they follow her. He repeats the same process. As he does so, the servant talks to Echo.

"He is amazing. I have never seen that before."

"It's still a surprise to me."

"I wonder if he can make other parts of his body grow," she jokingly suggests.

Echo's mind takes it to a dirty place. She shakes her head.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she lies. Stop it, Echo. I'm in love with Narcissus. Why do I have feelings for him too? I can't do this to myself.

Chrysaor finishes up and rejoins them. The servant hugs Chrysaor in appreciation for his help.

"Thank you so much."

He hugs her carefully to avoid scratching her.

Echo now understands the feeling in her chest. Anger that she wished it was her being embraced instead of that woman.

"Chrysaor, I have to go, but I will see you later for lunch, okay?"

He nods and she walks away. As her mind is distracted, a servant mismeasures the distance to hooking up the large ornament that it starts to fall. Chrysaor sees it's going to land on Echo and rushes in. He makes himself a little bigger and covers her. The ornament breaks into several pieces after hitting his body.

Gasps fill the air. "Are you alright?!"

Chrysaor nods. Echo looks up to her rescuer. He looks down at her and their hearts pound loudly. He lets go of his embrace around her body, careful not to cut her with his brass arms.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I should be sorry. I normally pay attention. Are you okay?"

He raises a thumbs up and he shows his back. No mark or scratch on his body.

"That's good," she sighs. "I will be fine to go back to my room, Chrysaor."

"Okay."

They leave and go their separate ways as the servants clean up the area. He returns to his room to find Perseus feeding a few sugar cubes to Pegasus.

"How did it go?"

"So so."

Perseus sees some debris on his body. "What happened?"

Chrysaor signs what had happened.

"That was good what you did. I bet she loves you even more for that."

He somberly shakes his head and writes out his feelings.

"She's in love with someone else. I don't know what this feeling is called. I want to be her friend, but it hurts that I can't be more than that. She makes me happy like how you described it."

"Oh. That's called heartbreak. That can happen sometimes. But that's okay. It's a life lesson and it will make you stronger. You will find someone else that will be ready to love you the same way," the son of Zeus embraces him.

Chrysaor starts crying as he hugs back. Perseus pats him on the back and doesn't let go. After giving him a napkin to dry his face...

"At least you made a good friend. Don't give up on the friendship part."

"I won't."

Echo gets back to her room and falls on the bed. Her mind and heart wrestle with each other as she tosses and turns.

"I wish he held onto me a little longer. He was so warm," her inner voice slips out. She covers her mouth in shock. "J-Just write to Narcissus and invite him to the dance. Maybe my feelings for him will be reinforced. It's just been a while since we've seen each other."

She writes the invitation and sends it off with a bird.

Knocking.

"Who is it?"

"It's me and Taki. We heard what happened," Heracles answers.

Echo opens the door to be embraced by both of them.

"We're glad you're safe."

"Thanks to Chrysaor. I could have protected myself if I wasn't distracted."

"Artemis would have killed me," Heracles lightly jokes.

"What distracted you?"

"Uhh. I can't say," her face betrays her words.

He and Heracles sense an emotional connection. They like each other, but the timing is unfortunate for both of them.

"Did you find the answer from your wife's notes? What was bothering you?" Echo changes the topic.

Taki thinks and he doesn't know how to explain why Perseus and Heracles are in the same period. Nor their family tree with their spouses. Andromeda was supposed to be Heracles' great grandmother and yet it didn't happen.

"I'm still trying to figure it out. But that's okay. It's not important."

"Will you be inviting Narcissus to the dance?" Heracles asks her.

"I am. Do you have someone to dance with, Heracles?"

"I will go, but I won't dance. I'm saving that for Megara after we win."

"Awww. That's so sweet. She would love that."

Plus the extra motivation, he keeps to himself.

Taki taps his right foot. "I wish I knew who my dance partner would be. Aphrodite said she will pick for me, but I need to account for height when I do the test. If I'm too tall, it would be awkward. If she's taller than me, it would still be awkward."

"That's why I'm here to help. I'm shorter than you so that would be good practice. Chloe is the same height as you so that would help. We just need to find a tall woman for you."

Their ears pick up the approaching footsteps of a male servant. "Everyone, lunch will be served shortly. Follow me."

The trio follow the servant down to the banquet area. They join up with Perseus and Chrysaor along the way. Chrysaor waves at Echo and she waves back.

Chloe is there waiting for them. "Please, take your seat. My master couldn't come since she's taking a nap. I apologize."

"It's fine, Chloe. She deserves some rest."

The servants bring out lunch to them as they sit down. A large roasted chicken, fresh green salad and vegetables, oysters, and some shellfish from the nearby waters. Chloe prays over the meal as she sets a portion aside for someone.

"Hestia, we offer this portion to you so our meal may be blessed. Nourish our bodies and minds and let it be."

The portion disappears.

"Itadakimasu."

Echo says the same thing.

"What did you just say?" Perseus is intrigued by the new language.

"It's Japanese for "I give thanks for this meal," Taki explains.

"Japanese?"

"In my world, we have multiple languages that we can learn and speak. I can speak Japanese, English, and some Greek that my wife taught me."

Perseus and Chrysaor are puzzled by what he said as they ate. To them, he had been speaking fluent Greek.

"Long story short, I'm an outsider from a different world and I was forcibly taken to this world."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"You believe me?"

"You're not the kind of person to lie. Meeting you has shown me that."

"I could show you all some of my technology, at a later time?"

Chrysaor nods as he wonders what it could be. Some of the servants then bow to someone walking into the room. Chloe stands up as well. The group turns to see who was coming in.

The deity in question has short, wavy brown hair. His angel wings couldn't be missed along with a large bow on his back equipped with heart tipped arrows. 

"Master Eros, welcome back," Chloe greets him.

Taki's feet start tapping the floor. He grips the ends of the chair to prevent himself from lashing out.

"It's nice to be back," the god of love responds with a suave voice.

"You're just in time for lunch. How was your trip?"

"It was great. Setting up adorable couples is always fun. I also got to see my wife, Psyche, and our kid. They are doing well."

"That's wonderful. Oh, we have important guests with us."

She introduces everyone and they say hi. Takashi says hi, but it's stunted.

"Oh, yes. I heard about the games. Everyone is talking about that. How's the training going?"

"We haven't trained together yet since I just got in," Perseus answers.

"It's going well for Takashi. He has gotten stronger to elevate his abilities," Heracles informs.

"Abilities? What kind of powers do you have?"

"I have powers over time," he answers shortly to reign in his anger.

Echo taps her goblet repeatedly which Heracles picks up. A tilt of her head with eyes asking him to stop Takashi if things get heated. He questions why with a glance, but he accepts the task.

"Interesting. I never saw such powers. Could you do a demonstration?"

"He reached a new level that took a lot out of him. He's in recovery for the rest of the day," Heracles explains.

"Understandable. I wish you and your team victory."

"Thank you, Eros."

The group keeps eating, but the god of love feels resting hostility from anger from the foreign demigod.

"I'm sorry. Are you mad at me?"

"Depends. I have a question."

"Maybe after lunch. Please," Chloe tries to maintain the peace.

"It needs to be said. Eros, what do you know of the Cretan minotaur?"

Echo shivers because she knows where this is going.

"I know it was a monster that was killed by Theseus. Why?"

"It wasn't him who killed it. I did."

Eros and the others sense he was telling the truth.

"I believe you. But why are you angry?"

"Did you help create that monster?"

Chloe stands up to admonish him. "Taki, apologize! Eros wouldn-"

"I did."

Chloe's jaw drops in response.

Taki checks around before firing off a divine energy jab directly at Eros! Food, plates, and silverware scatter across the table. Eros spins his bow to dispel the energy.

Takashi jumps from his chair. "Zone. FF."

Before he can move another inch, Heracles locks him in a full nelson hold. Taki tries to fight his way out, but Heracles applies a little pressure to force him to his knees.

"Let me go!"

In his eyes, the flaring of raspberry pink aura streaks across his eyes.

Eros draws a charged heart arrow on his bow. "If you don't stand down, you will die."

Despite the rage from his convictions, he can't let it defeat his goal. "Play."

His body stops vibrating. Eros quiets his aura and puts away his bow. Heracles loosens the pressure but keeps hold to prevent Takashi from slipping out.

"You bastard! How could you do that?!" Taki yells at him.

"You don't understand the situation."

"What's there to understand?! I saw the victims in that labyrinth. Their blood and bones scattered around. They were innocent!"

"M-Master, why? There has to be a mistake," Chloe questions.

"I was the one who did it," Aphrodite's voice commands the room.