Hecate's gentle, clear voice finally called Hemera's mind back.
In that long wait, her heart truly was a tangled mess, tied at one end to Mother, and at the other to "that matter," until even she no longer knew what she was thinking about.
Her thoughts had flown beyond the sky, nearly scattered by the gale.
Hemera looked at her elegant, radiant new sister and smiled with a hint of apology: "Dear Hecate, I'm very sorry. I was a bit lost just now and didn't catch what you said."
Hecate gave a slight smile, unconcerned, and repeated: "Dear sister Hemera, I meant that you seem a little uneasy, and perhaps a bit haggard. If you're too tired, why not go and rest first?"
Hemera shook her head lightly and said with a smile: "Thank you, Hecate. I'm fine. I was just thinking about some things and got carried away."
Hecate nodded gently, her smile warmer: "That's good, then. Still, if you have anything on your mind, we're family. Please, just say the word."
"Compared with you, my power is shallow, but our domains differ. There may be things I can help with."
"Even if I'm limited and can't help, we still have Mother. In all the cosmos, there aren't many things that can truly stump her."
"Ah, right." Hecate seemed suddenly to remember something.
"Just now I saw Mother's curtain had been withdrawn. It seems her mood has stabilized."
"A moment ago, I think I even saw her divine light flash by. I don't know where she had gone before; she only just returned to her temple."
"But in any case, it's a good thing that Mother's mood has settled. Her changeable temper really was frightening."
As Hecate said this, her gaze did not leave Hemera for an instant, watching every subtle change in her expression.
Her small hand gripped a divine cup, fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim's pattern, her eyes carrying a careful, searching light.
Sure enough, she noticed Hemera clearly start at those last two remarks.
In eyes that should have been bright as daylight, a distinct flicker of confusion appeared.
Then an unhideable surge of urgency and fluster welled up from their depths.
In Hecate's heart, her bold guess grew even firmer.
'It seems something unexpected happened in the middle. Hmm… let me confirm it once more.'
Hemera, pale and bright as daylight, was no longer quite able to control her emotions. She asked urgently, "Mother… returned to the temple from elsewhere?"
Her voice still held the Daylight Goddess's unique softness and delicacy, but now with obvious haste.
Hecate nodded lightly and added, casual in tone: "Yes. I don't know where she went."
Hemera then pressed on: "Dear sister, did you… see anything else?"
At that, Hecate lowered her head as if pondering, as though struggling to recall.
After a few breaths, she replied softly in a not-very-certain tone: "I think… I saw a flash of lightning, but it really was just a blink. I might have been mistaken."
"Huh—" She seemed to realize something and covered her small mouth in feigned surprise. "Could it be… the great Father came? But if he did, why didn't he stop by to see me?"
At these words, Hemera's expression grew noticeably heavier.
The light in the bright goddess's eyes dimmed by a few degrees, as if veiled by fine mist.
Forcing a smile, she said gently to Hecate: "Dear Hecate, I… I just remembered something very important. I need to go to Mother at once."
"Thank you for hosting me. You and our brothers and sisters keep playing. I'll step out for a bit."
Hecate nodded lightly, her smile bright as the newly risen silver moon: "Alright. Sister's matters are of course more important. Go ahead. After you're done, please do come back and keep me company."
Hemera smiled and nodded, then, no longer able to mind anything else, turned into a formless, cool white light and sped toward the Temple of Night.
Hecate stood where she was, watching that receding white gleam from afar, and the smile at the corner of her lips grew more and more meaningful.
She very much hoped for a good outcome.
Because, if Sister Hemera had a chance… then she…
Just then, a goddess's call—sultry and lilting with joy—floated over from not far away:
"Hecate! Come quick, come quick! That little trickster Tyche is cheating again! Hurry, shine her with your moonlight so she can't squirm around!"
The voice, sweet as silver bells, drifted above the underworld moon, brimming with irrepressible delight.
From the sound alone you could tell she was a most bewitching goddess.
It was Philotes speaking.
This goddess who forever pursued "joyous harmony" was, at that moment, playing merrily with her sisters.
Hecate glanced at her deeply, thinking to herself: when the time comes, we'll have to put this sister's domain to use…
"Coming, coming—" she answered offhand, then went over with a smile.
Philotes merely gave Hecate a casual look, and at once divine light flashed in her eyes.
For she clearly saw some brand-new, bright, sparkling things—full of "desire" and "ambition"—quietly sprouting in this sister's divinity.
'Tsk, another one,' Philotes laughed to herself. 'The little sister is just like the elder now.'
Such are divine powers—very few can hide things from her.
But she was only glad to see it and had no interest in prying.
Her attitude toward things was always simple. To her, joy, love, and happiness were what mattered most.
As for what kind of love? Or why one was happy? Not important in the least.
She never cared for the fine points of relationships, only liked to blend everything into bustle and delight.
We're gods—happiness is what matters.
Elsewhere, the God of Death, Thanatos, and the God of Sleep, Hypnos, did not find the Underworld King in his temple.
They knew the reason well enough.
They had come early purely because they were considerate.
Only when the surging night curtain covering the Underworld slowly dispersed and the Underworld recovered its eternally still quiet did they at last see Hades return from outside the hall.
The God of Death and the God of Sleep were not in childish form.
Death's solemnity and Sleep's tranquility determined their appearance.
"Death" is the most serious matter in this world.
Thus Thanatos was a stalwart man-god in the prime of life, his face set and solemn.
His bearing was like a drawn sword—straight and keen—with black hair and eyes; his gaze was grim and cold, as though it held an eternal winter night.
Yet in that endless chill there was, just barely, a thread of gentleness belonging to "final release."
His younger brother, Hypnos, was his complete opposite.
Sleep was a handsome youth with a languid, relaxed face and a total aura of ease.
As if boneless, he always lounged askew, skin pale to near transparency, his handsome features forever graced by a faint, enigmatic smile.
There was a rakish charm about him that could sink countless goddesses—very much like their father.
Though he was always drowsy, carrying a haze as if never fully awake.
The moment they saw pure "darkness" swell into the hall, both faces turned solemn—even Hypnos, for once, gathered himself.
Hades returned again, the Lord of the Underworld's steps bearing a steady kingly gravity, and another deity followed behind him.
It was the goddess of violent death—Keres—the sister of Death and Sleep.
A cool, striking goddess, slender and tall, cloaked in a blood-red robe with black wings on her back.
The two brothers hurried forward and bowed deeply to that figure, calling out in ringing voices: "Thanatos (Hypnos) pay respects to the noble, illustrious, great Underworld Sovereign!"
They turned to their sister and nodded in salute: "Sister Keres, may you be well."
Seeing them, Hades smiled slightly, seeming very amiable, and the air softened at once.
Keres smiled and nodded too, obediently following behind Hades.
As Hades walked toward his throne, he waved a hand casually.
At his motion, two obsidian thrones appeared out of thin air.
He gestured for them to sit.
They bowed slightly again in utmost respect, then sat properly.
Looking at them, Hades felt deeply satisfied.
Now at last, by and large, the Underworld's laws had been mended with that most crucial link.
An Underworld without the law of "death"—even the thought of it was too comical.
He nodded and said: "I know all; there's no need to say more."
"Since you are Zeus's children, naturally you are my children too. The Underworld is your eternal home. There's no need to be so formal at home."
"Of course, thrones will be prepared for you on Olympus as well. If ever you tire of the Underworld and wish to admire Olympus's scenery, you may go at any time."
The two gods lit up, rose together, bowed again, and cried out: "Honored Sovereign, we thank you for your grace!"
Hades waved them to sit once more, then went on: "You haven't yet had a proper reunion with your mother. Though it shouldn't be so, I can only ask you to bear with it for now."
"Your mother… mm… is not very free at the moment. She has other matters to attend to."
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