(Greek Mythology) The Abyss
Chapter 117
"Are you sure you're doing this?" Hypnos asked uncertainly, watching Hermera run off in a huff.
"Is it really okay to trick a goddess into going to the abyss like this? That's your mother goddess, my dear niece."
"Is this something I can decide?" Silently apologizing to her mother, Tarasa's usually indifferent face showed a hint of helplessness. Could she disobey her grandmother?
Turning her head to look at the River Styx in the distance, the water-based deity's unique perception of water revealed a chilling depth that seemed capable of freezing even the soul.
Wait… what's that reflective layer on the water? When did the River Styx freeze?
Staring at the ice for a few seconds, Tarasa had to admit that although she felt quite sorry for her mother goddess, she felt she could understand her grandmother.
Hypnos stared at the fine frost beneath his feet, instinctively pulling his clothes tighter. Although gods were immune to heat and cold, he still felt incredibly cold… a chilling cold that seeped into his heart.
Well, he could really understand his mother.
If they didn't find a solution soon, even the Underworld would freeze over. And this was only the uppermost level of Hell, the furthest from the Abyss; the rest would be even worse. One Frozen Hell was enough; if they all turned into those grotesque places, how could they possibly live happily in Hell?
Even if the gods of the Underworld didn't crave light and warmth like the gods of the heavens, their preferences couldn't be that bizarre.
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"Your Majesty Tartarus, I've come to see you in the Abyss again." Having lived through countless years, Hemera retained the simple, youthful spirit that matched her appearance. Her cheerful voice rang out even before she arrived.
As expected, there was no response. Hemera, as usual, entered the temple.
Given His Majesty Tartarus's personality, it's perfectly normal for him to ignore people; it would be surprising if he ever responded.
Hermera finally found Tartarus in the garden pavilion. Dark green vines hung from the top, intertwining to form a graceful curtain, concealing a figure. Tartarus was always as beautiful as a painting.
This is probably a matter of looks and temperament, Hermera thought. If it weren't for that face so beautiful that even a bad attitude seemed perfectly acceptable, given Tartarus's aloofness and his blunt way of speaking, aside from Eris, who would dare approach him to invite trouble?
Beauty is justice; beautiful people are always forgiven. If not, it must be because they aren't beautiful enough.
Therefore, apart from a few female first-generation gods who could elicit even a slightly warmer attitude from Tartarus, there were still some beauty-obsessed people like Hermera who dared to approach him. She found a stool and sat down to begin her speech. Hemera was already used to this dynamic, where she talked and Tartarus responded according to his mood.
She could just pretend she was talking to herself. ╮(╯▽╰)╭
She rambled on, recounting recent events and her thoughts: her initial surprise and current curiosity upon learning of the Holy War, her complaints about not being able to participate, her rants about the divine realm, especially the King of Gods, how unlucky Athena was to have such a father god, how her mother, Nyx, and father, Erebus, were showing off their affection, how her aunt, Amy, was always missing, and how her sisters had become even more gossipy lately, seemingly only talking about their aunt—she always felt they would suffer because of it…
"Also, I don't know why, but I've been feeling a bit cold lately, Your Majesty. Do you feel the same way?" Hemera asked hesitantly, her voice tinged with conflict.
Was it just her imagination that the climate of Hell hadn't changed in millennia?
"Hmm." Tartarus uttered a single syllable, continuing to gaze at the scenery outside the pavilion without even lifting his eyelids.
"..." So what exactly are you trying to say?
"Excuse me, Your Majesty Tartarus, I don't possess mind-reading abilities, nor am I as perceptive and understanding as Eris. What do you mean by that single syllable? I really have no idea."
Hermera thought, "Comprehension questions are just so annoying."
"Talassa is going against me again today, refusing to acknowledge that I am the God of the Underworld. What's the use of having such a daughter? She only makes me angry." Speechless for a moment after being choked by the single syllable, Hermera, after a string of rambling, suddenly remembered why she had come to see Tartarus in the first place.
"You said time-traveling girls' children are all well-behaved, obedient, and filial? How come this one is so rebellious? I want a refund! Terrible review, absolutely terrible review!" Selectively ignoring how worry-free her daughter was, Hemera complained.
Fusheng: Heh, who said that? Besides, she gets protagonist treatment, do you?
Hermera: ...You'll lose me if you keep this up, I'm telling you. ←_←
Talassa: Mother Goddess, you'll easily lose me too. [Indifferent.jpg]
Hermera: ...Oh my god, why is she here too? Σ( ° △°|||)︴
Talassa: Smiling, smiling, smiling *^_^*
Although absent-minded, Tartarus, who was indeed listening to Hemera, finally deigned to look at her.
"Do you think gods also have a rebellious phase?" Tartarus asked seriously.
"Your Majesty, are you saying that Tarasa has entered her rebellious phase, which is why she's always opposing me?" After thinking it over carefully, Hemera nodded, finding it reasonable.
Hmm, the explanation is reasonable, no problem.
The only problem is that Hemera forgot to answer Tartarus's question.
"Now you can leave." A useless god doesn't need to get in his way, and Tartarus also felt his understanding was correct.
Sure enough, Hemera's only purpose is to be funny; there's no point in expecting anything else from her, because she's not only stupid, but her focus is always off.
Being silly and cute is also a kind of cuteness, that's true, but at the same time, being silly and cute is also a kind of stupidity, that's even more true.
"Okay, then I'll go back." Hemera blinked blankly, paused for a moment, then naturally said goodbye and prepared to go back, without thinking about why.
Chapter 117