On the azure sea, Nereus stepped forward, looking at his daughter whose clothes were in disarray.
"Thetis, you've suffered."
The old man of the sea was full of heartache and regret. "This is all my fault. I shouldn't have let you come along…"
"Father, what are you saying?" The golden-haired, beautiful nymph maintained a calm and gentle expression, as serene as the ocean itself.
However, at this moment, a faint trace of reproach flashed in her azure eyes. "Should I have just watched you go take risks alone?"
Hearing his daughter's earnest concern, Nereus could not help but smile and waved his hand indifferently.
"It was just passing on a message, and persuading those kids not to cause trouble. What danger could there be?"
However, looking at her father who was still smiling so cheerfully,
Thetis shook her head and reminded him meaningfully.
"Father, if it were really that simple, why didn't the Sea God come in person?"
"This was your sister's request. What does it have to do with Poseidon…"
"That's exactly why I say Amphitrite is becoming more and more outrageous!"
Seeing her kind-hearted father still covering for that family, a faint trace of anger appeared on Thetis's face.
"Olympus's own family affairs and conflicts....Poseidon, the party involved, hides himself, yet uses Amphitrite to relay the message and has you, an outsider, come forward to mediate and guarantee things.
Don't you think that's going too far?"
Nereus fell silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly.
"After all, they are your sister and brother-in-law. The Sea of Oceanus is also our home."
Facing her father who was still immersed in the fantasy of family harmony,
Thetis could not help but speak more firmly. "If it were only guarding the home, that would be fine.
But you even made promises on his behalf. Once there's a breach or broken oath, the trouble will fall on you!"
Then she raised her head, gazing through the vast sea fog toward the hazy island ahead, and spoke gravely.
"And as far as I know, the God King's family has never had a habit of honoring contracts…"
"That's something for the future."
Nereus waved his hand, cutting off his daughter's rational analysis.
Clearly, he was unwilling to continue discussing this topic.
He then looked at her damaged skirt hem and turned his attention toward a certain disrespectful brat, voicing his doubt.
"Strange. How did that little bastard discover you?"
Having lived so long, Nereus naturally didn't believe that his daughter nearly being taken away was just a simple coincidence.
It was obvious that someone had noticed something about the seabird on his shoulder.
"It wasn't him…"
Thetis shook her head, her calm gaze resting on the hazy island as she sighed helplessly.
"That girl Athena is just like her mother, she really won't suffer any losses at all…"
Hearing this, Nereus froze for a moment, then his face darkened.
At this point, he finally understood that his grandniece, who had greeted him with a warm smile from the very start, had already guessed his intentions and was deliberately playing tricks.
Seeing the gloom on her father's face, Thetis spoke softly to explain.
"We were at fault first. We really shouldn't have interfered in the affairs of Crete and Atlantis, or stood up for Poseidon. It's only natural that she'd be angry."
But even so, did she really have to tease her like this?
—Little brat!
This gentle sage among the ocean nymphs first cursed her turned-face friend inwardly, then looked back at the torn corner of her skirt and the faint reddish finger marks on the skin beneath and couldn't help but add another thought.
—Both of them!
In the end, Thetis still shook her head, a trace of helplessness showing in her bright eyes.
'Forget it. I'd better avoid her for a while…'
Unlike Metis and Athena, that sharp-edged mother-and-daughter pair of close friends,
Thetis also bore the title of "Wisdom," but her personality was entirely different.
—She inherited her father Nereus's gentle temperament, like the sea in its calm moments: deep, tranquil, and all-embracing.
Thus, when faced with difficult matters, she was accustomed to avoiding danger and seeking fortune, rather than confronting problems head-on.
On the sea surface, the morning sun slowly rose, and the thin mist gradually dispersed.
It was another brand-new day, bright with sunshine, clouds scattered.
"Father, since everything's fine now, let's go back."
As she spoke, Thetis transformed into a white seabird and once again landed on her father's shoulder, then leaned close to whisper in his ear.
"But for the time being, it's better to seal off Naxos Island and try not to go out…"
Hearing his daughter's quiet warning, Nereus, who had been feeling pleased at having resolved a major problem for the Oceanic divine lineage, couldn't help but look surprised.
"Why?"
"Because I have a feeling things won't be resolved so easily…"
As the white seabird murmured, it lifted its head slightly, its clear eyes piercing the vast blue sky, gazing toward the distant thunderclouds that were rapidly gathering.
~~
At the same time, in Knossos City, within the Hearth Goddess's residence, the returning Hestia asked the same question.
"Is it settled?"
"Otherwise? Should we keep dragging it out and wait for those old gods of the Sea of Oceanus to march up Olympus?"
Athena twirled the wine cup in her hand, sprawled weakly over the table.
As she looked at the two empty seats beside her, her expression grew even gloomier.
With Nereus's mediation, both sides had agreed to cease hostilities.
Apollo and Artemis also had no reason to stay any longer, and had already parted ways back on Sicily Island, returning to their respective temples and territories.
However, whether intentionally or not, Artemis left behind her crazed hunting nymph Aura on Crete before departing, entrusting her to Lorne's care and stating that she would come by often to check in.
The reason was sound and perfectly aboveboard.
Yet the more proper it seemed, the more the keen-natured Goddess of Wisdom sensed something unusual beneath the surface.
—There's definitely something going on between him and Artemis!
Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future, someone probably wouldn't be in the mood to flirt with that huntress goddess.
Athena lifted her head and smiled as she looked at Lorne beside her, who was staring blankly at a pure white tail feather.
Ever since returning from Sicily Island, someone had clearly been distracted and absent-minded.
As if sensing the gaze on him,
Lorne snapped out of his daze and looked toward Athena's smiling face across from him, grinding his teeth unconsciously.
Although he had accidentally touched all over Thetis's body, that was completely, entirely unintentional.
If Thetis wanted revenge, he would definitely push Athena out front as a shield without hesitation.
After all, it was she, who had tricked him into plucking Thetis's feathers, and afterward refused to admit her instigation.
—This woman definitely did it on purpose.
Dragging both him and Thetis down together, what a vicious heart!
Just as Lorne was grumbling inwardly, Athena propped her chin on her hand and asked with a smile.
"Lorne, what do you think about the ceasefire?"
"As long as the core conflict isn't resolved, any ceasefire agreement is just a piece of scrap paper!"
Lorne replied in a muffled tone, his face lacking its usual smile.
Mm, that's fine.
Just a bit angry.
After this simple probe, Athena finally relaxed, the smile on her face brightening noticeably.
"You mean Poseidon will break the agreement?"
Hestia, who had thought everything was settled, couldn't help but look startled.
"Didn't he get scared and hide away?"
A certain external brain rolled its eyes at its normally functioning symbiotic partner and made a meaningful gesture with her fist.
"Sometimes drawing back a punch isn't because you're afraid. It can also be to build up strength for a much heavier blow."
Athena set down her wine cup and looked across at him.
"So you think Poseidon won't just let this go?"
Lorne, ever skilled at deflecting responsibility, didn't answer directly. Instead, he calmly uttered a single term.
"Sunk cost…"
Athena carefully pondered its meaning and after a moment, her expression gradually turned solemn.
That's right. After investing so much effort and gaining nothing, expecting that proud Sea God to simply give up—no matter how you looked at it, it sounded like a fantasy.
But understanding the trend of events was one thing; seizing the initiative was another.
"He refuses to come out, and we can't find the entrance to Atlantis. What can we do?"
Athena rubbed her temples, deeply troubled.
You can't guard against thieves forever.
She couldn't stay on Crete indefinitely, watching over this small plot of land day and night.
"Of course, we make peace."
Lorne smiled, his expression utterly sincere.
"You've been away from Olympus for so long. It's about time you went back and got some proper rest."
Seeing the meaningful glint in his eyes, Athena suddenly understood.
A pleased smile spread across her face as she lazily stretched.
"That's right. I really should take a good rest."
The two at the table exchanged smiles, raised their cups, clinked them together, and drank heartily.
The Gorgon sisters and Hestia inside the room were utterly bewildered.
~~
The next day, the winged horse Pegasus pulled the golden war chariot out of Knossos City, charging straight toward Olympus, the sacred mountain among the stars.
At the same time, within the Sea God's temple, the figure gripping the trident trembled slightly.
Deep blue eyes slowly opened, dark and sinister light spilling forth.
(End of chapter)