Seeing that she couldn't scare the mortal into submission, instead of struggling further, Cassandra simply gave up.
Not because she was so weak that she couldn't defeat Rio, or that Rio was so strong that he could threaten her - simply because, - well Nyx.
With that pampering primordial protecting this calf, Cassandra really couldn't do anything even if she came in person. Let alone use the faith stored in this chapel and talk through this statue.
"Now let's talk." Rio said, bringing forth another chair and sitting in front of the goddess. One feet over another, hands brushing dust off his pants. Before placing them on his knees.
"What's your update about my curse? When can it be removed?" Cassandra asked, jumping directly onto the topic that most concerned her.
Rio shook his head helplessly at the gods' selfishness, before answering in a lazy tone. "Soon."
"That's not an answer." Cassandra said, "When you first came to me, you swore on Nyx that you know exactly the method to help me, and that you would do so _ if I followed your instructions."
"It's been years and I haven't even seen you making any effort to help me at all."
Rio clicked his tongue hearing her complaints.
"You know how much faith I've got you over the years." He started speaking, "Every time anyone on Arcadia takes a potion of Angel, they see your portrait on the packaging. Can you guess the number of gods' who'd kill to take your place?"
"You were like a candle, ready to burn out at the slightest of winds, before I met you. Barely surviving on a sliver of faith amongst few people. – And look at you now, - it's so abundant, that you're even possessing statues and posing fancily while farming aura."
"...My church was famous enough, it was Your family who ruined it's image by filthy means. Just so they can force me to make a deal with you." Cassandra replied, remembering how Artemis insulted her powers in public, while her minions murdered many of her followers.
Before Rio came forward to propose a meeting and in return stop everything.
"Potato - Potaato." Rio said, shrugging his shoulders without any shame.
"Ignoring our past, I can't understand, how you, who waited eons for Apollo to lift this curse without uttering a single complaint, is getting impatient with me taking a little bit more time? It's not fair, is it.."
"That's because Apollo's a God. A survivor, who I know will live long no matter what." Cassandra replied, "You, however is tethering on death's door every damned day."
"So much so that even if you have Nyx, Erebus, Hela, Loki, and all kinds of blessings and backups _ your survival isn't guaranteed."
"And if you do survive somehow like your dungeon crash, - I know what you'll become in the future, and I seriously don't want to bet on 'that' to help me with my curse."
Rio raised an eyebrow hearing the goddess freely talk about secrets not many are privy to. And share knowledge about stuff which hasn't happened yet. But considering how she can read prophecies from the book of destiny at will _ he wasn't surprised much.
After all, this was one of the reasons why they successfully made a deal without any tricks or tantrums hidden behind words.
Cassandra knew Rio's future journey and the fact that he could cure her curse , and Rio knew her weaknesses and that the book of destiny was of no threat to him.
After all, destiny is written at birth, and he wasn't born, he transferred.
Meaning what's written there is the destiny of OG Rio from the novel. Not him.
In a way they were both equally aware of each other's thoughts, personality, and powers. Because they both read it all in a book.
"So stop being vague, and give me a time?" Cassandra asked.
"Fine." Rio replied, "Just help me a few more times, and by the time phase 2 starts, your curse will be long gone." He explained, without hiding anything.
Cassandra looked at his face for some time and just humphed in response.
"That's good, because if you fail to do so, along with the Gods' arrival, an announcement will also be shared across Arcadia."
"Are you threatening me?" Rio questioned with a frown. The tone causing frost on the floor, as his magic flared up again..
"I'm just stating the truth." Cassandra replied arrogantly, without a hint of fear.
Anyway, now that Apollo's puppet is turned useless, and he's forced into a corner to search for allies, she can just raise her demands and see if he agrees.
Her curse is gone either way.
But though the goddess thought beautifully, she forgot that the one sitting in front of her wasn't a hero, who'd pity the maiden, but a villain.
Especially someone who's been having a few tough days, and was in no mood to play around.
Rio looked at the statue and started laughing. Starting off as funny, only to turn into something sinister and cold. A sound so maniacal that it could send chills to even the spine of the divine.
"Well, then listen to this." He said coldly, while standing up after kicking away his chair, "If you think you can ever betray me, and join hands with that Apollo bastard, behind my back. By the time his sun shines again, your existence will be reduced to dessert on the World Will's dinner menu. - And I swear that on myself."
The whole room remained silent as both their gazes locked in anger. Clearly no one took lightly to the threats they heard. Knowing the other was capable of fulfilling them.
In the end, it was only Cassandra, who took a step back. As she was the one with more to lose.
The mortal was a maniac, and if forced into a corner, might really just sell his soul to the demons, and ask for her head.
But she and her prophecies might not really work as well as destined, as Rio had the public's perception fooled by planting profits all over Arcadia.
And besides, she got what she wanted today. A definite answer.
Phase 2 of emergence will begin at most in about 2 years of time. To a divine being like her, that time will pass by in a flash.
"Tell me, what do you want?" She asked. Her voice lacking any arrogance or anger from earlier.
"That's better." Rio replied after hearing that change. Before looking back to sit, only to remember he's already broken his chair and just shook his head.
"You know Apollo's on the move, soon enough he'll also find you, and ask for your help to intervene and smoothen his puppet's journey…"
"You want me to agree on the surface and play the double game?" Cassandra said after interrupting him.
But her words and actions only made Rio frown in disappointment.
"I want you to refuse him outright." He said, correcting the goddess.
"Rub salt on his injuries, and poke insults at his insecurities. Make him miserable." Rio explained his request with a rare glint of gloating in his eyes.
Making Cassandra confused as to what your goal is? Because if you want to turn them against each other, this little trick really is too childish.
Because though Apollo is moody enough to curse someone he liked, for all eternity, just cause they refused to sleep with him. (Cassandra's case) – He's also shameless and patient enough to baby sit an ant for his goals. (Leon's case)
"I know what you're thinking, and that's exactly what I want." Rio replied after seeing her expression.
"It may be futile, but I'd just like to watch his joke." Rio explained.
"Plus if you can get a recording where Apollo confesses about taking in Leon, or something that can prove this for the world, I can even be generous and remove your curse right then and there." Rio said, staring at the system display which showed nearly a dozen ways to solve her curse and the cost associated with it.