Afterward, I spoke at length with Nyx and Erebus, who had unexpectedly become my foster parents.
[We must return soon. Therefore... I shall grant you a gift.]
[Now hold on. I was clearly the one assigned to give our youngest his first gift, was I not?]
[Ahem.]
Before they departed, Erebus stepped forward.
[Take this.]
"This is..."
[It is a token containing a portion of our power. It is yours.]
He handed me a small object, resembling a shimmering bead.
[Simply swallow the orb. Once you do, our power will naturally flow through your body.]
"I see."
Following his instructions, I swallowed the bead containing the essence of the two deities right then and there.
"Kh—!"
The moment I swallowed it, I felt my entire body ignite with a searing heat, leaving me gasping for air.
[It will take some time to adjust.]
[To think he would actually swallow it immediately...]
Erebus and Nyx watched my struggle with contrasting reactions.
[We shall meet again. When we do, I will teach you how to properly wield that power.]
[I'll come see you again soon, my son! Until then, be a good boy! You must!!]
"...Yes..."
As I fought to calm the surging power within me, I slowly processed everything that had occurred.
"...I look forward to seeing you again."
[Yes, yes! Ah, and if possible, next time I would love to meet our youngest son's wives. Would that make them my daughters-in-law?]
"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"
[If circumstances do not allow it, then it cannot be helped, but I truly wish to meet my daughters-in-law next time, my son. Now, farewell for real!]
With that shocking parting remark, Nyx gave me a beaming smile and withdrew alongside Erebus.
Long after they had vanished, I remained frozen in place, replaying Nyx's final words in my mind.
"...How on earth am I supposed to explain this?"
***
After descending from the forest, I returned to the castle.
"Where have you been?"
"Hecate..."
Waiting for me at the castle gates was Hecate, gently stroking her increasingly swollen belly.
"Explain."
"...Right. I should tell the truth. Well... even I can hardly believe it, despite having just experienced it..."
"Hm? What is that supposed to mean?"
"Ah... well. Somehow, I've ended up in the divine family tree."
"....?"
"I was adopted by gods."
"..??"
"Specifically, as the son of Nyx and Erebus."
"????"
I recounted everything that had happened without a single lie, but...
"...Stop joking. I am being completely serious right now..."
Hecate spoke with a look of bewilderment I had never seen on her face before.
"I haven't told a single lie."
"....Why is this actually true?"
She eventually resorted to a lie-detection spell, and when my words were proven true, she stared at me in utter disbelief.
"...That alone isn't enough. Come inside and tell me every single detail."
"Will do."
Hecate and I retreated to a private room, where I explained the entirety of the encounter.
Even after I finished, Hecate remained silent, her expression grave as she pondered the implications.
"Sigh... my husband really has a knack for doing the most unimaginable things..."
"W-well, it just sort of happened..."
"Still... looking at the situation, it's not a bad thing. To be the foster son of the primordial gods..."
"I don't plan on making this public."
"That would be much more convenient."
"Yes. Though I should probably tell those closest to me. Atalanta, Medea, Thetis, Hippolyta... and the subordinates I trust completely. And, of course, my biological parents in their old age."
"Hehe. They'll probably foam at the mouth and collapse if they hear this. They nearly fainted just when you announced you were marrying us goddesses."
"...My mother probably would."
Gradually, the heavy topic of Nyx and Erebus faded, and the atmosphere became more relaxed.
"Come here, my husband."
That night, I fell asleep beside Hecate, breaking my original promise to be with Medea.
***
"How could you do this to me! You promised, and yet you spent the night with Master instead of me!"
"I said I was sorry, Medea."
As soon as the sun rose, I found myself kneeling before a thoroughly sulking Medea, forced to endure her wrath.
"I intend to collect proper compensation for this later."
"Ah... is that really necessary?"
"Yes. Don't think for a second that you can just let this slide."
Medea cast a predatory glance my way before turning and heading toward her workshop in the royal palace.