At these words, the Mother of All shuddered.
She slightly parted her red lips, as if to say something.
But in the end, she only opened and then slowly closed those flower-like lips.
On her exquisitely beautiful face appeared a deep helplessness, and ultimately she remained silent.
Metis sighed inwardly, yet also let out a long breath of relief.
This was already the best outcome. A hundred thousand years is long, but for gods with endless immortal life, it does not really amount to much.
At this moment, all the gods of the universe bowed their noble heads together and answered in unison: "By your command, Your Majesty the God-King!"
Zeus said no more, then turned his gaze to that low-key ancient great god who had sat quietly on his throne without a word—Pontus.
He pondered a moment and said slowly: "Honored Deep Sea,"
Pontus, who appeared calm and composed upon his throne, was in fact shaking inside.
At the God-King's summons, he jolted in fright at once!
He didn't even wait for Zeus to finish speaking before he "sprang" from his throne.
He didn't even make it to the front of the hall, but stopped far off before his seat and bent deeply, replying: "Great God-King! Pontus awaits your command!"
Before Zeus could speak again, he didn't even dare straighten his divine body.
There were far too many unclean matters upon the Inner Sea pantheon!
His granddaughter, the peaceful river goddess Erynia, and Erynia's daughter, Hesperis—Atlas's beloved—along with Hesperis's three daughters, the goddesses Sunset, Afterglow, and Twilight—
These women of the Menoetius line were still dwelling in his Inner Sea!
They had never had the chance to gain Zeus's pardon; now they would have even less.
And there was Campe, who under Kronos had guarded the six giants. After the war, her divinity was also sent back.
Only thanks to the Mother Gaia fashioning her a new body—now renamed Echidna—did she remain in the Inner Sea, not daring to go anywhere else, for fear the God-King would seek further reckoning (in truth Echidna mainly feared running into Poseidon).
He, Pontus, had contributed nothing in the new sacred order, and before the God-King, he truly had no standing to ask favors. With things as they were now, Pontus was truly afraid!
Faced with Pontus's nearly unconcealed terror, Zeus's expression did not change in the slightest, and he said mildly as ever: "Deep Sea, be at ease."
"Your son—Thaumas—guided me in the old war and rendered merit."
"Today, I shall grant him the honor he deserves."
Hearing these words, Pontus's wildly beating heart finally settled a little.
So it wasn't an accounting! Thank goodness he had steadfastly refused to let his children gather with Menoetius!
Keep company with such a fool and the whole family is bound to be ruined sooner or later!
Now that he was not implicated, Pontus was already greatly satisfied, and felt ten thousandfold loyalty and gratitude toward Zeus.
The God-King is truly great and merciful!
Thaumas, who had been standing behind him, stepped out at once when he heard this, came to the front of the hall, and respectfully dropped to one knee, lowering his head and saying with utmost reverence: "Great God-King! Thaumas is here! Thank you for your grace!"
Zeus said with majesty: "Sea and Ocean, rich and vast, beautiful and boundless. Within them lies infinite vitality and splendor, and also endless mystery and wonder."
"From this day forth, you shall be the manifestation of all 'sea' and 'ocean' miracles! In the ocean, all wonders, omens, and mysterious phenomena shall be under your control!"
Hearing this, Thaumas was overjoyed beyond restraint!
That a god of the Inner Sea could receive such grand honor! He had never dared dream it!
He at once cried out: "Great God-King! Thaumas thanks you for your sacred grace! From this moment, your will is the direction of Thaumas's steps!"
"Supreme God-King! Eternal and undying!"
Beside him, Pontus—still bowing—sighed softly in his heart.
This time, His Majesty the God-King was truly angry.
He had actually allowed the Inner Sea—always marginalized—to begin touching the authorities of both "sea" and "ocean," even blurring inside and out.
Granted, this bestowed supreme honor upon the Inner Sea and was an excellent opportunity to integrate beneath the God-King's banner.
But it would inevitably also offend the two great powers of "Sea" and "Ocean."
And neither of those sides was one his little Inner Sea could afford to offend!
Now, the God-King still seemed angry.
But the Ocean god was, after all, the family of the God-King's first wife; and the Sea King was the God-King's own brother! They shared the same Mother to mediate their relations.
And what was the Inner Sea family by comparison?
If their relations should ease in the future, what then was the Inner Sea to do?
Furthermore, from now on, the inside and outside of the "sea" would no longer be distinct.
For the Inner Sea, that might not necessarily be a boon.
Alas…
Pontus sighed inwardly, yet he knew equally well that the Inner Sea had no right to refuse.
The Inner Sea had been a marginalized pantheon; now the God-King plainly meant to use and support them.
If at such a time they did not firmly cluster at His Majesty's side, they truly had no intention to go on living in the universe.
Pontus sighed in his heart: Very well. Only once we return, I must counsel Thaumas to act with restraint and to maintain the balance among the three parties at all costs.
Fortunately, our relations with the Ocean have never been bad, and Thaumas's wife is an Ocean daughter. So long as we handle the measure, nothing irreversible should occur.
Oceanus's eyes were dim at this moment, his heart full of sorrow.
But honest as he was, he had no objection whatsoever.
Having done wrong, one must accept punishment. This he understood well.
The Ocean god resolved privately that henceforth he would, with flawless deeds, regain the God-King's forgiveness and trust!
Still, he could not help a trace of confusion: why had His Majesty also punished the Sea together with the Ocean?
And that Sea King, so often hot-tempered and quick to anger, was surprisingly well-behaved today.
From beginning to end, he had raised no objection or complaint?
This doubt arose at once in the hearts of both Oceanus and Pontus.
Could the Sea King be entangled in this as well?
Oceanus's thoughts raced. He had been away from the Ocean too long and did not know how close Menoetius and Poseidon had grown in recent years.
But he had already resolved to investigate thoroughly upon his return!
As for Poseidon, fearful and guilty, he dared not utter the slightest opinion. He only wished no god would notice him now.
Loss of a bit of authority—compared with dreadful Tartarus—what was that?
He was even quietly rejoicing: since Zeus had only punished him in this veiled way, that must mean he would be fine… right?
Zeus took in every expression among the gods without showing any change.
Poseidon's matter would be addressed after the assembly.
To think it would pass so easily—too optimistic!
He then turned his gaze to Thaumas's two daughters behind him and continued his bestowals: "Thaumas, I have long heard you have two lovely daughters. Now that they are grown, it is time for them to leave their parents' side and forge honors of their own."
He beckoned lightly toward the Inner Sea host.
Iris and Arke, who had been obediently waiting there, were both immensely nervous and immensely excited.
They trotted into the hall and knelt respectfully and dutifully on one knee: "Iris (Arke), pay homage to the great God-King."
Zeus smiled slightly: "Truly delightful children."
Iris was a sunny maiden with white feathered wings.
She wore bright white gauze that, in sunlight, shimmered in seven colors—splendid and radiant—her bearing pure and unworldly, fresh as a balmy breeze. To see her smile was enough to gladden the heart of a god.
Her sister Arke was a cool, reserved maiden with wings as black and deep as the night sky.
She wore a water-blue dress. Not as sunny and cheerful as Iris, she was nonetheless strikingly beautiful for her youth.
Her temperament, however, was a touch shadowed and bewitching, somewhat taciturn—she seemed a bit introverted.
"Iris, Arke. From this moment, you are my special envoys, the 'divine messengers' who link the three realms and three domains on my behalf—bearing my commands and oracles, and delivering my will accurately to gods and all beings."
"In addition, Iris, from this moment, you are the Rainbow of the heavens of miracle—the goddess who brings beauty and hope to the world after wind and rain."
"Arke, from this moment, you are the goddess of Tornado and Drifting Mist of miracle—the goddess who displays the might of cloud and rain to the world amid storm."
The joy in Thaumas's heart could no longer be described in words!
Even Pontus, at his side, felt his long-suspended heart settle completely at last.
His Majesty the God-King truly intended to accept the Inner Sea line—not merely use them as pawns!
"Sea" and "Ocean"—offended are offended!
They committed their own mistakes and must bear the consequences themselves!
As His Majesty's most loyal vassals, how could they refuse the God-King's grace?!
That would be the gravest disrespect!
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