In the flower sea of the Underworld, fertile black mud had brought unprecedented vitality to this land of deathly silence.
Looking down from the hilltop into the valley, countless colors spread beneath them. Flowers bloomed in dazzling competition, releasing waves of faint fragrance that drew bees and butterflies to dance among them.
Among the flowers, Ere held Mother Goddess Tiamat's hand and introduced each precious plant she had cultivated as proudly as though she were naming family treasures.
"Mother Goddess, look. This is Variety 1, the red rose. It's an upright shrub that can grow up to two meters tall. The stems are sturdy and grow in clusters. The young branches are densely covered in fine hairs, with prickles and glandular hairs. The thorns may be straight or curved, pale yellow, and also covered in fine hairs..."
"Over there are irises, No. 7. Their flowers come in white, yellow, green, blue, and all sorts of colors. They're very varied..."
"And on the left is No. 21, camel thorn. The calyx is bell-shaped, with triangular or awl-shaped triangular teeth. The corolla is deep purplish-red, the standard petal is oblong and ovate, the wing petals are oblong, and the ovary is linear..."
"Mother Goddess, listen. When he first came to the Underworld, he was only this small. He looked so obedient, but he was actually incredibly good at tricking people!"
As they admired the flowers, Ere did not forget to complain about a certain long worm who had been harboring bad intentions from the very beginning.
The Mother of Origins listened quietly. While her cross-shaped star pupils silently studied Ere, she clearly saw that when Ere spoke of these things, her face was suffused with something called happiness.
"Do you like Samael?"
The sudden question made Ere's breath catch. A blush spread across her pretty face. She hurriedly clutched her long golden hair, shook her head, turned away, and stammered in denial.
"N-n-no... no way. I... I-I..."
"I like him too!"
But before Ere could finish answering, Tiamat had already turned toward the figure walking toward them from the distant valley, and a smile from the heart bloomed across her face.
"What are you two talking about? You look so happy."
Samael leaped onto the hilltop, his gaze sweeping over the two radiant goddesses with a trace of curiosity.
"We were talking about you..."
"Ahem... Nothing. Why are you here?"
The embarrassed Ere quickly cut off the innocent Mother Goddess's blunt confession and threw the question back at him.
"Same as you. I came to take a look, and to add a few new varieties to our flower sea."
Samael smiled faintly, bent a finger, took out a pouch of seeds from a Magecraft array, and tossed it to Ere.
"I know you like growing flowers. During my years in Scandinavia, I collected quite a few distinctive plants and flower seeds from the Nine Realms. I never had time to give them to you before, but now I do. Take them. I prepared all of these for you."
The Goddess of the Underworld instinctively hugged the bulging little pouch to her chest. Its heavy weight, and the strange variety of seeds inside, made warmth quietly well up in her heart.
She still blushes so easily. She's just too cute.
Samael raised a hand and rubbed his chin, his eyes studying the goddess with interest as her flushed face revealed a charm all its own.
Unable to withstand his gaze, Ere clutched the seeds and turned her head aside, almost ready to flee on the spot.
Samael smiled teasingly, then naturally reached out, took the Mother Goddess's fingertips, and led her toward the embassy. Ere's eyes showed envy and a hint of disappointment as she followed unhurriedly behind them.
Along the way, sensing how tightly his hand was being held, Tiamat turned and looked gently at her divine child. Her cross-shaped star pupils overflowed with intense satisfaction and joy, and her shimmering eyes seemed to hold only the figure before her.
The Mother of Origins clasped her fingers around his hand and held it tightly, very tightly.
Once, she had been banished by this world, rejected by all life, fallen from god to beast, and reduced to an ugly, ignorant shell.
Only this child, only Samael, had stood beside her without hesitation. Not only had he fulfilled her longing to be needed, he had also spared no effort to build the path for her return.
At last, this world had opened its doors to her again. All living things in Mesopotamia yearned for their Mother Goddess.
Yet not everything could go as one wished. Rejected by heaven and earth, she had chosen to exile herself once more, parting from Samael again and wasting all the effort he had put in for her.
But Samael still did not give up. Through the journey to Greece, through a thousand years of groundwork and planning, she had finally taken root again in the Greek Age of Gods.
Yet when she looked back, the figure that had always stayed by her side had drifted somewhere else because of it.
After a thousand years of waiting, their parting had finally become a reunion.
Unfortunately, the days of true peace would last only three short days.
Three days. Far too short...
"We're here."
Before she realized it, the soft whisper by her ear pulled the distracted Mother of Origins out of her melancholy over time's fleeting passage. Her eyes turned to the building decorated with lanterns and festive colors.
The embassy?
Holding Samael's hand, Tiamat walked back into the courtyard.
Inside the refreshed building, the messy plates had already been cleared away. Sumerian decorations symbolizing celebration hung across the walls, and the path was laid with a red carpet.
Everyone, clearly having just finished their preparations, stood on both sides of the path and watched the two approach hand in hand with smiling eyes.
What was this...
Just as Tiamat grew confused, Samael slowly lifted the Mother of Origins' hand, lowered his head, and kissed the back of it. His dark eyes looked solemnly at the goddess's beautiful face.
"Mother Goddess, let's get married!"
"Mm!"
The Mother of Origins froze only for a moment. Then her smile blossomed, and she nodded hard.
In wartime, everything had to be kept simple. Besides, time was short, and everyone had little free time to spare.
So this gathering of old friends in Uruk was not only to revisit the past, but also a secret wedding banquet.
Except for Mother Goddess Tiamat, everyone had already heard Samael's request in advance, and they had all given their support and blessings.
If Ishtar had not stolen the Golden Key Sword and tried to fish in troubled waters, delaying Samael for a while, the two of them should have already finished the ceremony, entered the bridal chamber, and been enjoying their time alone.
Fortunately, this Great Goddess of Uruk seemed to be doing it for the sake of that thirty percent of wealth. She stepped out on her own and, in her capacity as the goddess of love and marriage, stood in the center of the courtyard with a serious expression, taking charge of officiating the wedding.
With friends and family bearing witness and the goddess's blessing given in turn, Mother Goddess Tiamat, urged on by everyone, took the Sumerian love poem Ishtar handed her and recited it to the groom before her, stumbling slightly, yet full of feeling.
"O bridegroom, love has entered my heart.
How beautiful you are, how sweet you are.
O lion, you have entered my heart.
How beautiful you are, how sweet you are.
You have enchanted me and made me tremble before you.
O bridegroom, take me into the bedchamber.
You have captured me and made me tremble before you.
O lion, take me into the bedchamber."
The twin goddesses walked forward with bright smiles, took Mother Goddess Tiamat by both arms, and escorted the Mother of Origins into the prepared bridal chamber.
After that, Samael drove away everyone who still wanted to watch the fun. Once he entrusted the task of guarding the door and keeping outsiders away to the Jaguar and Big Sister Quetzalcoatl, he stood and walked into the room.
Inside the warm bridal chamber, the gentle and elegant Goddess of Beginning sat at the head of the bed. Eight eyes met, and the atmosphere turned intimate, yet awkward.
"Ahem. Well, today... you two..."
Samael looked at the two equally dazzling bridesmaids by the bed and could not help clearing his throat, reminding them that it was time to leave.
Ishtar and Ere's pretty faces flushed, steam rising from their heads. They instinctively stood and walked toward the door.
But just as they were about to step out, their ankles suddenly stopped. A pale blue tail dragged them back again and pressed them onto the bed. A graceful figure pounced on her two daughters.
The pulsing divine might made it impossible for Ere and Ishtar to escape those fair, delicate hands.
"Tonight, we stay together..."
Samael froze and looked at the Mother Goddess in astonishment.
"Wh-why?"
"Because whatever Samael likes, I like too."
The Mother of Origins showed unconditional fondness and intimacy, her pure eyes full of attachment.
Samael's lips moved slightly. His gaze fell on the two goddesses' shy, flustered faces. Their silent response was also a kind of consent and indulgence.
The serpent hidden in the darkness slithered forward with ill intent.
"O bridegroom, let me caress you.
My precious caress is sweeter than anything.
The bedchamber is filled with sweetness.
Let me admire your magnificent beauty.
O lion, let me caress you.
My precious caress is sweeter than anything.
O bridegroom, sleep in your house and rise at dawn.
Your heart, I know where to go to make it rejoice.
O lion, sleep in your house and rise at dawn."
Within the joyful love poem, all the lingering tenderness of the night was left unspoken.
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