In the entire Greek pantheon, for any god, an invitation from Olympus was an irresistible temptation, especially when that invitation came with the seat of the chief god.
In the Greek divine realm, Olympus meant legitimacy, it meant the orthodox pantheon that governed this domain.
And the position of chief god stood at the pinnacle of this pantheon. Whoever became chief god could command all other deities beneath them, making them serve at will.
Thus, when Zeus extended this offer directly to Pandora, no, to Hecate, countless gods turned their eyes upon her with burning envy.
In truth, even the Olympian gods themselves were convinced that Hecate would immediately accept such terms.
In their view, wasn't the pursuit of divine authority and status the very reason mortals longed to become gods in the first place?
Zeus, in fact, had already begun indulging in fantasies of how he might seduce this beautiful goddess once she joined Olympus.
Back when Hecate had still been a mortal, Zeus had already coveted her.
He had never imagined that the combined power of the gods could create such a flawless woman.
Yet bound by his schemes at the time, he had been unable to act on that desire.
Later, after Hecate carried out the plan to destroy the world, Zeus could act even less, for in his machinations the blame for that destruction had been heaped entirely upon her shoulders.
Zeus was the wise and mighty king of the gods, how could he allow himself to consort with the sinner who destroyed the world?
After humanity was recreated, whenever he recalled Hecate's visage, his heart would itch with longing. That, in turn, drove him from merely dallying among goddesses to preying even upon mortals.
Never had he thought he would see Hecate again. Now that fate offered him the chance to fulfill his long-held desire, Zeus was unwilling to let it slip away.
He had even envisioned how he might father a child with her.
With such a powerful goddess of magic as the mother, surely that child might even surpass Athena herself.
But just as the other gods were lost in envy and Zeus was lost in fantasy, Hecate gave her reply.
"The position of chief god, what a fine condition indeed. It seems the great King of the Gods is sparing no cost. But I wonder, which of the current chief gods is to yield this seat?"
Hecate's words, laced with a half-smile, made Zeus's face instantly stiffen with embarrassment.
For the Twelve Olympians' seats were already filled. If Hecate were to ascend, it would mean one of the current chief gods would have to be displaced.
Dionysus, the god of wine, had only gained his position after Zeus's sister Hestia, the goddess of the hearth, yielded her own seat.
But Hestia, one of the three virgin goddesses, was a gentle spirit. Though powerful, she was indifferent to authority.
She had become one of the Twelve not out of ambition but to strengthen Olympus's foundations. With their dominion secure, she willingly stepped down to live among mortals.
But now, were there any gods on Olympus with such detachment?
Even Athena would never retreat so lightly.
Thus the faces of Zeus's fellow chief gods darkened, especially Hermes, the messenger, and Dionysus.
These two were among the weakest of the chief gods, and their domains, wine, thieves, merchants, were hardly as vital as agriculture and harvest.
Even though Demeter, goddess of the harvest, was not especially strong, her role was undeniably important.
As the gods fell into unease, on the verge of quarreling among themselves, Hecate, who had been watching their disgrace with cold amusement, suddenly laughed.
True to her nature, her smile bloomed like springtime itself, dazzling every god present.
Then, parting her lips, she uttered words that left them all stunned.
"To sacrifice your own just to hand me the seat of chief god, truly bold of you, Zeus," she said, her tone teasing before it sharpened. "But I refuse."
Her decision shocked them all, most of all the lesser deities who yearned desperately for such a position.
They could not comprehend why, with such an opportunity laid before her, this newly risen goddess would spurn it.
Did she not understand that to reject such an invitation was not merely to throw away immense power, but to openly set herself against Olympus itself?
Under the weight of countless confused, surprised, doubtful, and disapproving stares, Hecate continued.
"My beloved once spoke words I have always held true, and now I shall speak them to you," she said, glancing toward the ground, where her gaze met Alaric's.
A soft smile passed between them. "I, Hecate, find the greatest joy in saying no to those who think themselves above all others!"
Ignoring Zeus's livid expression, she went on without hesitation.
"Once, I became your tool for destroying humanity. For that, I opened the box, becoming the cursed bringer of disaster, hated by all.
Yet when you had used me, you cast me aside like filth. No matter how I pleaded, no matter how I begged for aid, none of you answered. It was then I saw your true faces!"
Her words struck the gods silent, their shame forcing them into uneasy quiet.
"Of course, the goddess Athena is an exception. Your power of hope, we have kept it safe all this time."
At this, Athena could only smile bitterly.
"No, in truth, I did nothing. Looking back, I am a cowardly goddess indeed. Wishing to aid you, I only dared to act in secret, merely to soothe my own conscience."
"That is enough," Hecate interrupted firmly, her voice resolute.
"That alone is enough. For among today's gods, who raise themselves high above by their power and treat humanity as their playthings, what they lack most, " her eyes flashed, ", is conscience."
Then she turned her gaze squarely upon Zeus.
"Especially you. A King of the Gods who dared not bear the blame for destroying the world and recreating humanity, who pushed it instead onto a single frail woman."
"Enough!"
Zeus roared, his shame igniting into fury as his darkest truth was exposed.
"Cease your lies, your slander! Or do you truly mean to set yourself against Olympus? Do not think we fear you for your paltry strength!"
"And what if I do?"
Hecate's voice rang out, fearless.
Indeed, she had the strength to stand by her words.
Though countless gods stood against her, she stood alone.
Yet the goddess of magic was no ordinary deity.
For magic itself was the essence of the world, the source of all mysteries.
Though wizards and the practice of magic were new, magic as a force had existed since time immemorial.
As the goddess who commanded it, Hecate's potential far outstripped that of common gods.
This was not true only in the Nasuverse. Even in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, Mystra, goddess of magic on Toril, surpassed even the elder gods born at creation, as well as the great deities of sun, earth, nature, war, and justice, reigning as the mightiest beneath the Overgod himself.
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