As living beings in the world grew day by day, the deepest, most primordial law-divinity of the kindly, beautiful Hera began, with unprecedented force, to urge her at every moment to fulfill her supreme, holy charge.
A silent, formless calling, like a tide without shape, surged toward her again and again, from the stars, from the sea wind, from the faint breaths of all newborn things, unending and without cease.
The whole universe whispered, urged, even begged her to join with the great, vast Great Father God as soon as possible, and become, in the truest sense, the consummate, supreme "Great Mother Goddess."
Only thus could the universe's sacred chariot of development be fitted with its other indispensable, resplendent wheel, find balance and stability, and truly roll into the brilliant track of the starry firmament, speeding straight into a broad avenue of prosperity, racing on without obstacle.
The universe's current development was like a family with a father but no mother. There was the Great Father God Zeus's right teaching and order-building, but lacking the Great Mother Goddess Hera's gentle nurturing and the moistening of life.
Thus, naturally, it was undernourished and slow to grow.
Before, when the universe's basic laws were still imperfect, and there were not many intelligent beings in need of "nurturing," it had been tolerable.
But now intelligent beings had greatly increased, and the newborn humans had already set foot upon civilization's first path.
Yet the chariot that would bear the universe's future still lacked one indispensable wheel. The universe's latent will, naturally, was anxious in the extreme, impatient to the point of pain.
In the most instinctive depths of spirit of all existence in the cosmos, they were nearly kneeling to plead for Hera's answer.
Indeed, even Zeus's identity as "Great Father God," its ultimate completion of authority, was based upon Hera's authority as "Great Mother Goddess."
Now, he had not truly joined with Hera, and so Zeus's station as "Great Father God" could not be accounted to have reached the absolute, supreme summit.
As a matter of principle, the greatest "Great Father God" in the universe now was still the lofty first God-King, Uranus.
This was why Zeus was so urgent.
Delay was truly impossible.
If he delayed, those frail, intelligent mortals who had only just been born would suffer terribly…
His beloved Hera, for the sake of a love for him deep and vast as the cosmos, and for the sake of the high, noble integrity of her "Great Mother Goddess" godhead, was unwilling to yield.
She would neither share her beloved with other goddesses, nor rob other goddesses of their beloved.
Especially when that other was the beloved of her friend.
But this did not mean she did not love him, nor that she was unwilling to join with him.
Quite the opposite: precisely because her love was extreme and exclusive.
In truth, her endurance had already been grueling in the utmost.
One could say her hardship was countless times greater than that of any other mother goddess.
Other mother goddesses—even the exalted Great Mother Goddesses—their law-essences were, after all, not purely "reproduction" and "birth."
Thus, though they might instinctively yearn for the Great Father God, in the end they could restrain themselves.
But Hera was different.
She was the purest "Great Mother Goddess of Procreation." Her yearning for the Great Father God was naturally the strongest, swiftest, and most urgent.
None surpassed it.
To this day, that she did not take the initiative to throw herself into his arms was only because she held fast to the fidelity that belonged to her love.
She regarded fidelity as the gentlest promise to the universe.
In principle, the Great Father God may be consort to all mother goddesses; indeed, Zeus did just that.
Conversely, the Great Mother Goddess could naturally engender all life with any male being; she could even procreate alone.
If one takes "development" as the sole measure, then a Great Father God faithful to only one goddess would be exceedingly foolish and wholly unfavorable to the progress of "existence."
Conversely, the same held true for a Great Mother Goddess.
But!
Hera would forever hold to her one true love!
She would forever love only Zeus, and be faithful only to Zeus!
Thus what she restrained was the deepest, most primordial, and strongest divine instinct of herself.
This was the greatest suppression of her godly essence—indeed it could be called the cruelest self-inflicted ravaging of her own primordial divine nature!
Forcing Zeus to hold as she did was utterly impossible; Zeus could not do it.
He could not change his nature as "Lord of the Sky," just as the wind scatters, thunder strikes in many directions, and clouds drift.
Yet Zeus's inability did not mean he did not know Hera's most noble, most faithful love for him.
Nor was he unaware of how great a sacrifice Hera had made for him.
It was the sacrifice of repressing her own primordial essence.
It was a cruel ravaging at the deepest level of her divinity!
It was like forcing a lion to live on grass, or compelling a fish of the sea to swim in the desert.
Its pain was even greater.
What Hera bore was the deepest primordial reflux pressure of the entire universe, like endless tsunamis.
She could only block the tide with endurance, and hold off the storm with fidelity.
Zeus could not change his nature, but he still carried the deepest guilt and tenderness toward Hera.
Leaving the Temple of Wisdom, the God-King hung high above the firmament, and his gaze fell to look upon the human world's newborn peoples.
Tiny, fragile, like ants in dust.
To him, they were not even as much as ants.
Under the careful instruction of eleven deities, humans were struggling to learn how to survive.
A little over a million little ones were gathered on a small swath of the earth, wandering in ignorance and confusion—one could say they were negligible.
This world was far too vast—and too dangerous—for humans now. To put it bluntly, it was full of crises at every step.
The development of civilization required time; it absolutely could not be forced.
A civilization ripened by force was but a rootless duckweed, meaningless in its existence, and unable to bring the universe true progress.
After the nine Muses taught humans basic skills of survival, they would return to Olympus.
Humankind, in the end, must rely on its own strength to walk the true road.
Perhaps it would not be the easiest, but it would be the most enduring.
As for the brothers Prometheus, Zeus was willing to grant humankind a bit more mercy.
He was in no hurry to recall the two brothers, and allowed them to watch over humanity a while longer.
The God-King watched in silence for a long time, and, confirming that all was on the right track, turned and flew toward Hera's temple.
At this moment the God-King's heart was heavy.
In the current situation, he had to employ a bit of means!
Wishing for Hera to take the initiative was absolutely impossible.
Her divine integrity and her pride would not permit it—at least not now.
So—
he could only trick, and launch a surprise!
He had to give his beloved Hera a step to descend; once that step existed, the rest the universe would jointly attest!
This time, Zeus did not descend in an instant as thunder into Hera's temple, but rode an auspicious cloud, unhurried, flying toward her sacred mountain.
Within the temple, the goddess Leto, who was keeping watch for the time being—how meticulous and astute was her mind?
From afar she had already noticed the God-King's unique auspicious cloud slowly drifting near.
Her heart had been heavy with worry, not knowing the fates of Father and Mother. Now she was instantly gladdened.
With a light wave of her delicate hand, she had already changed into a most gorgeous gauze gown woven of star- and moonlight, and carefully tightened the sash at her waist.
Her soft, slender waist—slim as a handful—was bound even more finely and movingly, while she deliberately set off her most prominent and ample "baby's canteen," and those very round, peachy curves that promised fine childbearing.
With just a waist-binding, that tempting posture of "nursing" was traced to perfection, holding nothing back.
She hesitated a little, but only for less than a breath; then she quietly tugged the already quite taut front of her bodice a little looser to either side.
Thus ensuring that if His Majesty the God-King so much as spared a little attention, he would certainly see many, many lovely sights. Those peaks were elegant and fair, snow-white and grand, tender-pink and charming.
Zeus had only just alighted from his cloud when he saw the silver-haired, golden-eyed goddess of softness hurrying forward with swaying steps to receive him.
Her naturally bewitching, blossom-shaped eyes brimmed with autumn water, effortlessly overflowing with a thousand charms.
The incorrigible God-King brightened at once.
The heaviness of his thoughts scattered by more than half; for a moment, all the heavens felt clear.
As the saying goes, fair beauty is food to the eyes.
Faced with a goddess so enchantingly tender and peerlessly lovely, those unpleasant matters could be put aside for now.
To behold a marvel and not admire it, but let heavy matters press one down—that would be truly unwise.
As a steadfast aestheticist of a God-King, he, Zeus, had never been a god who lacked a sense of delight!
I, Zeus, am never the enemy of pleasure and beauty!
"Leto greets the great His Majesty the God-King, and wishes His Majesty holy well-being." Before the words had even fallen, the voluptuous, alluring Leto had reached him.
She bowed with a graceful sway; curves surged, and even the thunder paused in place.
With just that bow, at just the right angle, the sharp-eyed God-King nearly had his gaze dazzled.
Zeus smiled gently and praised with a soft laugh, "Long time no see, beautiful Leto—you are ever more radiant and moving."
Praised face to face by the God-King, Leto slowly lifted her naturally affectionate, water-bright eyes, and replied softly, "Many thanks for Your Majesty's high praise."
"Only under your protection has Leto been able to live happily and safely in this holy Olympus. The goddess of fertility has treated Leto with heavy grace and love. All of this is Your Majesty's supreme favor."
Yet upon hearing this, and noting upon Leto the newly added law of "Nurture,"
the tender thought that had just stirred in Zeus's heart quietly faded.
Leto and Asteria were the only two precious daughters of the primordial Titans Coeus and Phoebe.
This pair of doting parents naturally gave their daughters everything best.
Leto's original law-essences were "Discernment," "Inference," "Penetration," "Serenity," "Depth," and the "Inner Light" that comes from a mind of divinity.
Asteria's law-essences were "Brilliance," "Splendor," "Dazzle," and "Radiance."
The law of "Nurture" was not one she was born with; it was bestowed upon her by Hera.
Though the sisters were implicated by their parents and now served before Hera, with no particular honor in title,
this did not mean they were goddesses of little account.
In their essence flowed the purest blood of two primordial Titans; they were bona fide, noble-born second-generation Titans—top-rank great goddesses beyond question!
Only before the great God-King Zeus did they appear as modest as little daughters.
Before any other god, they would by no means be so humble.
Look across the universe—there were truly not many with birth higher than the sisters.
For the sake of family ties, no god would go so far as to bully these two goddesses.
As for those gods and nymphs who currently enjoyed status higher than theirs but not nobler birth—they likewise dared not make light of them.
These two goddesses seemed delicate and gentle, but their fists were just as hard!
They were by no means the sort whom common gods and nymphs could be wanton with.
All the more since they were close attendants deeply trusted by the goddess Hera—no one would easily offend them.
The fact that Leto had received the law of "Nurture" personally bestowed by Hera alone was proof enough of Hera's regard and trust.
Know this: any law is inestimably precious.
All the more so "Nurture," a law indispensable to the reproduction of all life.
It was precisely upon seeing this law—which should have belonged to Hera alone—that the little spark in Zeus's heart was snuffed out completely.
Hera—
her procreative desire, that most powerful maternal impulse springing from the universe's essence, was now wholly beyond suppression.
Originally, this law of "Nurture," had Hera wished it, would have been enough, whether she joined with other beings or procreated alone, to beget an independent, true god.
A mighty True God under Hera's authority.
But Hera had not done so.
She had even forcibly suppressed the thought of procreating alone.
Even when she could no longer refuse the cosmos's plea, could no longer forcibly restrain that volcano-like reproductive urge, she only first derived this one law.
And when this law had only just been derived—before any divinity had been born of it—she immediately separated it from her own essence.
Then she generously bestowed it upon Leto, merging it into Leto's divinity.
Why his beloved Hera had done this, Zeus of course knew.
Hera—she—she wanted only to bring forth, with him, a child that belonged to them.
Aside from him, she would consider no other being. She had even excluded the option of procreating alone.
In silence, the Great Mother Goddess cut off a piece of her own gentleness and placed it in his divine arms; she fulfilled the universe's urgency and guarded the one and only in her heart.
Faced with such deep and resolute love, a sweet and heavy warmth flowed through the God-King's heart.
Zeus's gaze lowered slightly; once more his thoughts sank into that deep sea of love named Hera.
The wind still blew gently; the clouds still shone bright; the beautiful goddess still stood respectfully at his side.
But the God-King had recalled anew the one and only purpose of this visit.
However wanton Zeus might be, at this moment he truly could not summon the least thought for any other goddess.
Faced with Leto's respectful flattery, Zeus only smiled lightly and said no more on it, but asked warmly, "Is my beloved Hera in the hall now?"
Not getting the follow-up she desired, Leto felt a slight loss, but showed no ripple on her face—composed and at ease.
Still wearing her gentlest, softest smile, she said softly, "Your Majesty, Her Excellency's mood has been rather low of late and she is not in the hall at present."
"Her Excellency often goes to roam the broad earth recently, to ease her heart."
"If Your Majesty has urgent business with Her Excellency, please first rest within the hall; I will go at once to invite the Lady back."
Zeus was silent for a moment, saying nothing.
Seeing the God-King pause and his expression inscrutable, Leto took a half-step closer and said in an even softer tone, "Your Majesty, forgive my presumption—there are words I do not know whether I should speak."
Zeus raised his eyes and looked at this goddess who seemed gentle and demure, her brows often bearing a trace of melancholy.
Her true temperament, perhaps, did not wholly match the air she showed.
Daughter of the god of intellect; future mother of the dazzling Apollo and the untamed Artemis—how could she truly be a simple, weak goddess?
This was the goddess who, with a single sentence, could have a whole family slain!
With a smile at the corner of his mouth, Zeus said softly, "Before me, what is there that cannot be spoken plainly? O wise daughter of Coeus—if you would say it, it must be right to say."
Leto held her head slightly bowed, maintaining a posture of perfect deference. Hearing Zeus thus, she finally replied softly:
"Honored Majesty, the Lady Hera is the most gentle and loving goddess. Her love for all beings in the universe is in no way less than your love for all beings. You and she alike are the most merciful of great deities."
"But without doubt, the one Her Excellency loves most will forever be your most radiant, towering self. It is precisely because of your love that the Lady Hera likewise cherishes all beings."
"Her Excellency is a goddess who keeps true love; she holds fast to the precious principle of 'fidelity.' Thus she has long been tormented in love's trial."
"I am a foolish little goddess, but even I can see that Her Excellency is not unwilling to receive your radiant, great love. She—she is simply too gentle."
"The goddess of procreation—she and you are both noble children of Kronos, both children of the great eternal goddess Rhea. She possesses the noblest divine integrity; she is the gentlest and most benevolent, yet she never lacks resilience and tenacity."
"However," here Leto's voice paused, with a subtle sigh of empathetic feeling, "as a goddess, I can understand that no matter how strong a goddess may be, when she meets the love of her life, her heart will be fragile."
Having said this much, Leto, bolding herself, slowly lifted her fine-browed head and looked straight at Zeus.
In those golden, naturally affectionate eyes of hers there welled a restrained yet ineffable deep feeling, as she gazed quietly at the God-King.
Light rippled in her eyes, brimming with tenderness, as if her very divinity had melted into them, ready at any instant to be offered to His Majesty the God-King.
But in just an instant, she lowered her lids quickly again, resumed that deference, and said softly, "Great Majesty, you are the most radiant sovereign. We all wish to draw near to you, yet fear being hurt by your too-blazing splendor."
"For we are, in the end, merely small, sensitive, fragile goddesses. Oftentimes we lack the courage to act first, yet in truth we are ever, at every moment, longing to be conquered."
"To put myself in her place, I believe there is no goddess who would not wish to be gathered by your strong arms into the firmest embrace."
"Great Majesty," her voice lowered further, carrying a hint of bewitchment, "the Lady Hera is wandering the human world; no being attends her now. It is when she is most lonely and fragile."
"Perhaps you might go and gently soothe Her Excellency's wounded heart."
"She—she at this moment must long for none but you."
Zeus looked quietly at the bold-spoken, unflinching goddess before him, and felt keenly that letting her serve only as Hera's attendant was somewhat a waste of talent.
Her view of things was indeed lucid, and her nerve considerable. The timing for a bold advance—she had chosen it exactly right.
Zeus neither affirmed nor denied Leto's suggestion; he had come already determined.
He only looked deeply at Leto and suddenly took a step forward.
In her slightly startled gaze, he lifted his hand and, with a rather rakish and presumptuous gesture, tipped up the spotless chin of the goddess before him, forcing her to raise her head.
The serene goddess Leto felt a chill in her heart, but no hint of panic or surprise showed on her face.
Following His Majesty's motion, she gently lifted her face; those naturally affectionate blossom eyes shimmered with watery light, not hiding in the least that charming flavor of a beauty willing to be conquered by the God-King.
Zeus chuckled lightly. "Then, beautiful Leto—serene and gentle Leto—do you also long to be conquered by me?"
Without the least hesitation, gentle Leto answered in a voice so soft it nearly dripped, "Your Majesty, yes—I long for it as well. And I have long since been conquered by you."
"Whether I or my sister—we are the same. You will forever be our one and only conqueror."
As she spoke, the smile on Zeus's face never diminished.
Yet the instant her words ended, that smile vanished—sudden as if it had never been.
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