When humans grow used to His meticulous, doting care, and suddenly one day lose that all-encompassing attention from a god,
the result is predictable.
And such a group of humans kept like pets—Hestia could say with certainty—would not be to her beloved Zeus's liking.
Nor did she like it herself.
Humans should not be gods' pets.
Hestia could not help thinking that, for humanity's truly independent, healthy development and survival,
perhaps it was time to have Prometheus step away from them for a while.
Humans, in the end, should walk a road of their own.
As for the gods, giving necessary protection and critical guidance is enough.
Her beloved Zeus bestowed on this new race "wisdom" that could grow freely.
His intent in itself was to let this race walk a unique path of their very own.
Hestia sighed lightly in her heart: her beloved Zeus had ordered Prometheus to teach humans how to treat the gods.
Now, how humans should treat gods was still uncertain.
But the attitude and approach Prometheus took toward humans, she could already say, were not quite right.
It was not only Hestia who thought this. Another goddess, though sparing with words yet clear as a mirror within, had a similar thought.
That was Hera.
Her pride would not allow her to be mortals' "nanny"; and her kindness likewise would not allow a sapient race to be treated as a "pet" in the palm of one's hand.
Thus, before the day of her delivery arrived, when the five goddesses were preparing to return to Olympus, she especially reminded Prometheus:
she told Him not to forget the God-King's order.
How humans should treat gods—
this is the most serious and most important matter.
If unknowing humans still do not understand,
then He, being one of humanity's creators, should think all the more seriously and deeply about this question.
She also gave Prometheus a tactful admonition: even though He was one of humanity's creators and their first teacher,
humanity's own destiny, best of all, should still be left for humanity themselves to choose.
Hestia watched silently at the side.
She was quite certain that Prometheus absolutely did not take Hera's earnest counsel to heart.
At this she could only let out another inaudible sigh within.
She felt Prometheus seemed to have had his head turned by the success and smoothness of being "creator."
The pride and self-satisfaction in His divinity were now plain to see.
If humans learned this "a little success breeds arrogance" character flaw as well, that would truly be troublesome.
Ignorance and weakness are not obstacles to survival; arrogance and conceit are.
When the five goddesses returned to Olympus together, Zeus and the holy goddess of Justice, who were snug and lovey-dovey, lifted their heads toward the hall's entrance almost at the same instant.
Feeling her beloved God-King's clear delight, Themis's eyes smiled; she gave her beloved a fond kiss
and said softly, "Aren't you going? If you don't go now, Hera really won't forgive you for ten thousand years."
Zeus chuckled, and took the chance to kiss his beloved goddess's bewitching just face again and again.
The eloquent God-King said at once, "My love, that surely won't happen. Hera, like you, has the deepest love for me. How could she bear not to forgive me for ten thousand years?"
"Just as you wouldn't—would you truly bear to ignore me for ten thousand years?"
The soft Themis lifted her eyes and gave Him a sultry, chiding side-eye.
She could not deny it.
Seeing this, Zeus smiled all the broader and nuzzled affectionately against that lustrous, jade-like face of Justice.
He said gently, "Then I'll go first, my love. When I come again next time, we should also conceive a dear son."
When the words fell, a flash of lightning—and the God-King's figure was already gone.
Left alone upon the throne, the holy Lady of Justice sat, lingering warmth upon her lips, mind adrift, her lovely face flushed bright.
Outside the hall, the six goddesses, seeing that bolt of lightning that stood for the God-King depart at last, slipped quietly back inside.
Atropos had not changed her naughty nature in the least.
She was the first to dash into the hall. At once she schooled her little face and put on an air of utmost sanctity and gravity, standing before Themis.
She cleared her throat and, in a voice both majestic and ringing, proclaimed:
"Oh—most holy and spotless goddess of Just Order! Who'd have thought that even one so great as you would still indulge in the God-King's sweet words!"
"That illustrious son of Kronos—He is willful and wanton, handing all tangled order and fate over to us!"
"He Himself wanders the cosmos at leisure! Ah—what an irresponsible God-King is this?!"
"How can you, so great, holy, and spotless, dote on Him and submit so?"
Putting on a look of grief and indignation, the arbiter of Fate cried: "As the universe's Vice-Regent, how can you not restrain this?"
"Oh—heavens! How rough and rocky will the universe's destiny become because of this!"
The holy Themis only watched her perform, quietly.
Those long, sharp, golden brows lifted slightly; deep in her gaze was a calm, unruffled smile.
Smiling, she opened her lips: "Atropos, that 'heavens' you just lamented—those 'heavens' are your Father God."
"The God-King's power is unlimited. Therefore He may do as He pleases."
"And a little goddess like you has no standing to pronounce upon what the God-King does."
As she spoke, the goddess of Order's bright eyes narrowed; her sword-brows knit slightly; she gave a cold little laugh. "And it seems your Father was right. How can a god like you be changed?"
"Your Father spoils you too much, and now you even dare to make sport of me."
"I'll report you to your Father forthwith and ask Him to cast you into the Underworld River at once. You truly ought to go have a good bath in those icy waters!"
Atropos gave a "hee-hee," not only unafraid, but instead pounced into Themis's arms,
and began, with practiced ease, to act spoiled and cute. "Mother— Mother—great gods don't hold little gods' faults! I was wrong—"
As she watched her daughter act spoiled in her arms like a kitten, Themis kept up a show of coldness and laughed. "Don't say it to me—save it to explain to your Father."
The other five goddesses, off to the side, arched their brows and traded looks, faces all bright with relish at the drama.
"Teasing Father was one thing—but to tease Mother, too? She's doomed this time!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
Atropos buried her little head deep in her Mother's lofty, soft bosom and nuzzled and coaxed without cease.
"Mother— your child was wrong! Please—just forgive me this once! You are the most generous, most kind, most lenient, and most merciful Lady of Justice!"
Themis smiled with a hint of reproof. "If a god like you isn't properly disciplined, that would be a true offense against my canon of 'Justice.'"
Atropos's little face fell; clinging to her Mother she kept acting spoiled and begging.
In a soft, syrupy tone she said, "Mother— I was only happy for you—only wanted to make you happier!"
She cocked a playful brow with a trace of impish grin. "These days you've been inseparable from Father—able to pour out your hearts and handle the universe's business together, public and private both—surely that's worth being happy about?"
As she spoke she cocked her brow again, mischievously.
Themis's face remained serene, but within she was mortified.
She smiled faintly and stroked her daughter's smooth hair.
Then said softly, "Well said."
Atropos's cute face had only just broken into a smile when the spotless goddess of Order meted out her just penalty!
"Before your Father comes again, go stand in the corner. As for whether you need to have a soak in the Underworld River—that will depend on your Father's pleasure when He arrives."
"Ah—" With a cry, Atropos tried to act spoiled again—but Themis lifted a hand and, with a flick, sent her flying straight to the corner of the temple.
Her dear sisters nearly burst out laughing on the spot.
But they rejoiced too soon.
Themis only cast them a light glance and said, "You all go keep her company and stand punishment together. As for the cause—you know it well enough."
"When you manage to rescue this silly sister's temperament, then you can come sit again."
At once the whole Temple of Order rang with lament.
The goddesses each hung their heads, but tacitly shuffled together to form a joint "stand-in-the-corner" group.
They had no thought of "rescuing" Atropos at all.
It was only standing in the corner—what was that, compared to the joy of watching a good sister act the fool?
Peaceful Olympus was altogether too short on excitement!
Watching her dear children, Themis's eyes held a trace of indulgence mixed with helplessness.
She shook her head lightly. They were all spoiled by their Father.
Day to day, laughing and romping with the children—when it came to "household discipline," this great Father God was perhaps not as stern as this Mother.
Mm… though she said so,
in truth Themis only loved Zeus more for it.
She liked this warm family air.
The God-King's awe ought not be brought home, ought it?
As for Zeus, He went straight to the Temple of Procreation.
Though setting out later, the God-King arrived ahead of them. Now He had drawn in all thunder and radiance and was quietly waiting for His beloved Hera to return.
Leto and Asteria, knowing the reason and that today was special,
had long since set aside their usual bright charm and stood properly behind Zeus—demure and plain.
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