(Greek Mythology) The Abyss
Chapter Seventy-Eight
"It's been quite lively outside lately." Hemera spoke while eating fruit, remarkably clear-headed, clearly experienced.
"Are they ever not lively?" Eris quipped.
"…Uh…that's true," Hemera thought for a moment, realizing it had indeed been quite lively. "Zeus seems to be having a rough time lately."
"It's all because Prometheus's prophecy came at such a perfect time."
"Absolutely insane (and brilliant)." Hemera laughed gleefully, her schadenfreude obvious.
Prometheus's prophecy was perfectly timed, successfully frightening Zeus, who had recently considered marrying the wind goddess Maia, and creating a lasting and persistent threat to him. Even Prometheus's imprisonment on Mount Caucasus couldn't save Zeus's terrified heart.
Silently, they lit candles for Maia, the goddess of wind and rain, and Hermes, the messenger of Zeus. Maia was merely Zeus's lover, but Hermes, with his charm and wit, had won Zeus's favor and trust. Zeus had already considered marrying Maia; after all, he had seven wives, so one more or less wouldn't make a difference.
However, the prophecy shattered all his hopes. Maia was left to continue her miserable life as a lover, and Hermes was left to continue his miserable life as an illegitimate child, while also trying to dispel Zeus's suspicions.
Maia and Hermes: Prometheus, what have we ever done to deserve this? Where is the basic trust between gods? Would it have killed you to wait a little longer? I'm fed up! Therefore, from this perspective, Hera should thank Prometheus. Although there was no precedent for the queen of the gods being replaced as the principal wife, this didn't prevent Zeus from taking more wives on top of his existing seven. Now, this problem was solved by prophecy, which Hera should be quite happy about.
Moreover, although the prophecy foretold the fall and destruction of the ruler of the gods through new marriages, Zeus, out of caution, rarely pursued other goddesses. He gradually shifted his focus from gods to humans. After all, even the most gifted children born to gods and humans would only be demigods, unable to become kings of the gods, posing no threat to his position or Hera's.
Human beauty was nowhere near that of the gods. Lacking in quality, he compensated with quantity. Zeus's reputation as a philandering womanizer grew increasingly prominent, and Hera's recently improved mood began to sour again; she was currently in a state of extreme anger.
However, human lovers have one significant advantage over divine lovers: they can't go too far with gods. Even Hera, as queen of the gods, can only turn a blind eye to the affairs of some high-ranking goddesses with powerful backers, pretending not to know.
Humans are different. The gods hold humans in utter contempt. Whatever Hera does to humans is perfectly justified in their eyes, and even Zeus wouldn't care. Therefore, Hera's anger flares up quickly and subsides just as fast. After tormenting her rivals in various ways, her anger usually dissipates, only to discover a new rival and begin a new cycle of anger and calming down. This cycle will likely continue for a long time.
To this, I can only say, you city folk really know how to play games. Is all this really fun? ╮(╯_╰)╭
"Hera is about to go crazy," Eris said, turning the conversation to Hera.
"Grumbling? Why? I think she should be in a better mood than before," Hermes said, puzzled.
Although Zeus continued his philandering, humans didn't threaten Hera's position, and she could vent her anger on them freely. It was certainly better than having to worry about various things.
"Hermes, don't you keep up with current events at all?" Eris asked, speechless.
"Of course I do," Hermes replied, sounding aggrieved.
"Do you know who Zeus's new lover is?"
"I think it's the princess of Argos, her name is... Da... Da something."
Generally, gods wouldn't be so bored as to pay attention to Zeus's countless lovers, and Hermes was no exception. She only knew about the Argos princess because she'd heard about her from another god a few days ago, and today she was exceptionally quick to recall.
"Danaia," Eris replied.
"Yes, that's the name, it's her." Hermes was impressed by her memory; she even remembered such a small detail.
"Princess Argos was the last one; Zeus's latest lover is Semele, the princess of Thebes." Eris spoke at just the right moment, delivering a fatal blow to Hemera's smugness.
Σ(っ°Д °;)っ So fast!!!
What does it mean to change lovers faster than clothes? What does it mean to be a scoundrel? This explanation simply doesn't do it justice.
"And then?" Hemera asked, oblivious to her mistake, like a curious child.
"Then Semele, the princess of Thebes, gave birth to a son named Dionysus."
"So what? He's just an illegitimate child." Hemera completely failed to understand Hera's anger.
Zeus had sons and illegitimate children with his other wives—it's understandable that Hera was angry, but to be driven mad like this is a bit much.
Wait… the name Dionysus… sounds familiar.
"The illegitimate child isn't the key point. The key point is that Zeus, while Semele was pregnant, allowed Zeure's soul to be reborn into Semele's body, making Zeure's reincarnation as Dionysus."
"Oh, I see, I understand," Hemera nodded, feigning understanding.
After a pause, before Eris could continue, Hemera asked, "But who is Zeure's? I've never heard of him."
Eris: -_-# She doesn't even know Zeure's name, so what does she understand? Suddenly, she really wants to kill Hemera.
With a smile, she snapped the fork in her hand. Eris told herself to stay calm and not get angry with an idiot; otherwise, she'd be on the same level as the idiot.
Thinking this through, Eris calmed down immediately. "Zagreus, the Horned God, son of Zeus and Persephone. Do you need me to explain who Persephone is?"
"No need, I know that." Hermes shook her head. She knew Persephone; she was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of agriculture.
Speaking of which, to even harm his own daughter, his morals are completely shattered. Zeus is a beast, case closed.
However…
*Sobbing*, Eris, your aura is getting stronger and stronger. I'm inexplicably a little scared, what should I do? You monster, give me back my soft, cute, and affectionate little sister!
#You don't understand the pain of only being able to see my obedient and adorable little sister in front of Tartarus# Chapter 78