As night fell, Themis and Samael shared a gentle embrace before bidding each other farewell.
Before turning away, the goddess of justice tilted her head, lifting a corner of her black veil. Her eyes—deep and radiant like the stars—lingered on the dimly glowing cave entrance.
As a wisp of mist drifted up from the cave vents, Themis covered her lips with a soft chuckle. A rare trace of playful teasing lit her usually composed and elegant face.
The little girl who had beaten her at chess earlier had been strutting proudly outside, eager to fling herself into her foster father's arms for a triumphant, demonstrative hug—a show of possession.
But Athena had reeked of wine, her clothes smeared with jam and cream. Samael, face darkened, had shoved her into Tina's arms instead.
By now, the child was probably still pinned inside a wooden tub, scrubbed thoroughly, learning firsthand the "love of a mother."
Themis couldn't help but feel amused at the thought of that haughty Athena, spurned and then dragged into the bath, stewing in indignation.
Unlike the reserved Metis, who buried everything deep in her heart, Athena was excessively stubborn. Though she prided herself on her cleverness, time and again her pride was shattered by some uncontrollable factor, her self-esteem trampled underfoot.
That proud little look of hers—bully her, and the reactions were so entertaining. She was too cute, and tormenting her felt oddly satisfying.
Just thinking about it, Themis felt an impulse to join the "dark side" in persecuting the little Goddess of Wisdom.
But then, as the goddess of justice, she realized that indulging in such petty schadenfreude as an elder was unbecoming. She restrained the thought and solemnly checked herself.
She paused in her steps, then turned back and handed Samael a delicate crystal vial filled with amber liquid.
"This is floral dew the Nymphs collected and brewed. A few drops in the water cleanse odors and nourish the skin."
The ancient serpent accepted the vial and cracked it open slightly. A rich floral fragrance drifted out, instantly easing his heart.
Divine perfume? A fine thing indeed...
Themis once again lifted her veil slightly, glancing toward the cave where the sound of water trickled. She hesitated, then allowed a smile to form.
"But it takes at least an hour for the essence to fully seep into the body..."
"So let Tina keep her in the bath a while longer."
Samael nodded unconsciously, his smile broadening.
"Alright. I'll hold on to it for them and bring it over later."
Athena, foolish child. This world has not only "a mother's love without blood," but also "a mother's love born of motherhood." Savor it well.
Murmuring softly, the goddess of justice pulled down her veil and drifted into the night.
...
Dozens of breaths later, Athena's skin was flushed red from steam and scrubbing. She stared at the gleaming vial in her foster mother's hand and the cheerful reminder from outside to "soak another hour." Her lips twitched violently.
Why is every adult more troublesome than the last?
Pinned by the Goddess of Beginning's monstrous strength, even Athena couldn't escape.
So the Goddess of Wisdom, marinating in the bathwater, could only sprawl on the stone edge in resignation, rolling her eyes skyward.
Meanwhile, Tina, thrilled by the chance to spend more time with her, was having the time of her life, enthusiastically smoothing floral dew over Athena's still-developing body.
Honestly, when would they stop treating her like a child?
As she grumbled, Athena caught a glimpse through the steamy haze—two towering peaks swaying into view, impossibly far above. Her mood instantly soured.
Then her gaze fell on Tina's baby-like, innocent face. Worse.
And when she finally looked down at the faint line of a curve on her own chest, she released her hands from pressing at her ribs and forced a small smile.
No fear. At least I'm better than...
Better than the Mother of Serpents... uh...
Better than Themis... cough...
Medusa... tch...
As names and faces flashed through her mind, Athena's expression darkened further. Her teeth sank into her lips.
Forget it. At least compared to flatboards like Euryale, Stheno, or Daphne, I still look more like an adult!
Even so, an inexplicable melancholy welled in her chest.
Was her confidence in growing up really only to be measured against those two stunted freaks and the underdeveloped Nymphs?
Tch. Useless flab only hinders movement! None of that matters!
Growth means height and athleticism. If I'm to grow, let it be in muscle!
Athena squeezed her arm, admiring the sleek, feminine lines packed with explosive power. Remembering the divine strength within her that could overwhelm her peers, she nodded in satisfaction, slightly comforted.
But then, a massive shadow loomed over her.
Tina crouched down, cupping Athena's small head in her arms in a playful embrace.
Buzz!
Pressed from both sides, Athena could hardly breathe. Her fragile mental defenses shattered instantly.
Shame. Utter shame!
Struggling free, the Goddess of Wisdom ground her teeth, her chest heavy with grief and humiliation.
The goddess's eyes gleamed with mischief as her hands flailed wildly in a barrage of grabs.
"Aa… aa…"
Tina, harassed by her foster daughter, let out broken little cries. Too ticklish to endure it, she hugged her arms to her chest and wriggled free from Athena's grasp.
"Don't run! Let me touch! Just one more time! I don't believe it's real!"
The Goddess of Wisdom vaulted out of the bath, her strong, shapely legs striding across the bathroom floor as she chased after the fugitive who had slipped from her clutches.
Out in the hall, Samael, busy clearing away dishes, heard the racket inside—the clatter of chaos and faint giggles—and shook his head.
Even in the bath, Tina could still find so much fun with that girl. Who knew how long this would drag on?
Half an hour past the agreed time, the Magecraft array outside the bathroom dimmed. Two figures stepped out, wrapped in towels, their skin flushed with a rosy sheen.
What Samael didn't know was the key difference between them.
One had been kneaded. The other had been soaked.
After wearing down her well-endowed foster mother for so long, Athena wasn't all that enthusiastic about receiving bedtime pampering from the other one tonight.
Burrowing under the covers, the Goddess of Wisdom yawned and urged someone to hurry up and sit on the bed to tell the night's story.
She had won, after all, and the spoils of victory had to be claimed. Principles were principles.
Samael climbed into bed still dressed, seating himself between Tina and Athena. He made a show of plucking a clay tablet from the bookshelf, then asked casually,
"What do you want to hear? Little Red Riding Hood: Werewolf Hunt?"
"Boring!"
"Princess Belle pummels the Beast Prince?"
"Cliché!"
"Frozen?"
"Heard it already. No fun!"
"Fine, then you tell it yourself."
Faced with the same impossible-to-please girl as always, Samael rubbed his temples and yielded the floor to Athena.
"I want to hear Saint Seiya Saori…"
"Ahem, I think it's called Saint Seiya Seiya…"
The ancient serpent hacked out a cough, his temples throbbing with a dull ache.
"Pfft! The Goddess of Wisdom and War needs a pack of brats to protect her? Just standing in the back bawling her eyes out? Hilarious!"
"I, cough cough—Saori alone could smash through the Sacred Mountain!"
You might as well just say you want to hear "Saint Athena."
Yep, knew it. Another round of plot rewriting.
Samael rolled his eyes at Athena, who was speaking with absolute conviction, her face glowing with confidence that she could handle it all herself. He let out a long, helpless sigh.