Having achieved her goal so directly, Metis found the arsenal of lines she'd prepared suddenly useless, leaving her a bit stifled.
She lightly pressed her lips together and, in the end, offered an elegant thanks: "Dear guardian of civilization, thank you for your broad-minded support."
She paused, then added with sincere honesty, "And may you also get your wish soon."
Mnemosyne, unhappy at sending her children off with Metis, silently ground her teeth, thinking that when Zeus came again, she must make him give her a clear declaration on the spot! If she couldn't be the eternal first, then being an undisputed second would do!
Meanwhile, Metis, looking upon the nine Muse goddesses with their radiant golden coronets and distinct temperaments, was full of irrepressible envy.
These children were so lovely and beautiful; though their personalities differed, each was so admirable.
They still seemed young, yet already possessed vast and profound divine authority.
Gazing at such excellent children, she felt both envy and grievance.
She was the first wife, and yet her child wouldn't even rank among the first ten born!
She resolved silently that next time she must make Zeus give her a child at once!
Luckily, all the children born so far were goddesses.
Then the great Zeus's first holy son must be borne by her, Metis!
The nine young and lively Muses behaved very demurely before the goddess of wisdom, Metis.
As goddesses jointly conceived by the goddess of civilization and memory and the great God-King, their birth was noble, and they were born knowing. Moreover, the authorities they held were inseparable from the nourishment and irrigation of "wisdom" itself.
Thus, whether out of respect for her status or awe of her authority, they were very respectful toward Metis.
As for disputes between their Mothers…
Oh, what did that have to do with children like them?
They were but fragile, insignificant youngsters.
Besides, since there was no irreconcilable conflict between their Mother and the goddess of wisdom, it was not their place to comment, much less to interfere.
And it was precisely on this journey together that they first saw with their own eyes the power Metis possessed.
The power of their God-King father's currently only publicly proclaimed wife.
Or rather, all the gods of the universe—for the first time—truly witnessed the genuinely transcendent standing of the ever-modest goddess of wisdom.
At the goddess of wisdom's command, the wind gods who govern every kind of gale across the four quarters of the cosmos, five beautiful rain nymphs, and the Victory Goddess and her four divine siblings who represent His Majesty the God-King's glory to the four directions all gathered at her side, along with over a hundred flower nymphs.
Then the goddess of wisdom, leading this vast procession composed of many mighty deities, set out in supremely high style, sweeping grandly toward the boundless Ocean to receive the mysterious goddess Dione.
Along the way, mountains bowed and rivers parted; everywhere they passed, gods came from afar to pay respects, all bowing in reverence without a trace of slight.
When the procession reached the sea's boundary, even Poseidon, lord of the sea—no matter how displeased he felt—had to emerge personally from his deep-sea palace to nod politely to the goddess of wisdom.
Though he departed for the deep at once after the greeting,
He still had to show himself to signify respect for the God-King's wife.
When the God-King's wife goes out formally, no god dares pretend not to see.
This, of course, was not because of Metis's authority and strength.
It was because of Metis's identity.
Because she was the God-King's wife.
Therefore, the gods had to show her due reverence.
Though the God-King had not publicly announced that the goddess of wisdom held any transcendent power,
And in principle the gods were not required to obey any command she might give—she had no authority to issue them—
If she truly did give an order… there would likewise be no god who would deny her that face.
Only, Metis had always been extremely restrained, never abusing prestige or power, but rather the more humble and gentle; thus the gods had never felt it so keenly.
Today, however, this goddess of wisdom suddenly revealed the supreme majesty she possessed as the God-King's wife—and the gods were truly stunned.
The wind gods of the four quarters raised gales to clear her path, and endless clouds rolled aside like docile flocks of sheep.
The lovely rain nymphs sprinkled holy dew ceaselessly into the sky, making the boundless firmament above as pure as the finest sapphire, crystal clear as if washed.
At the goddess's side, the four close attendants who symbolize all the God-King's glory surrounded her with loyal solemnity.
Wherever they passed, wondrous lights and colors filled the heavens.
Besides Metis and the holy Queen Rhea, there was no god qualified to have the four attendants of glory at their side.
Not even Hera as she was now, nor Mnemosyne.
And the nine newborn Muses, clad in robes of cloud and crowned in gold, followed close behind in measured step.
Lingering celestial music, solemn hymns, and beautiful anthems resounded without cease through every realm Metis traversed.
Over a hundred lovely flower nymphs scattered petals and fragrance of every hue across the world.
The spectacle made far too many goddesses envious beyond endurance; "red-eyed" was no mere figure of speech.
Only now did the goddesses truly understand how inviolably majestic the God-King's wife also was—and how awe-striking her sacred presence.
Unless the God-King himself went out in formality, there was likely no god who could compare.
A certain unnamed Sea King declared: this procession was to die for!
Envious to the point of tears!
If the God-King's wife went out with such pomp, what earthshaking sight would it be when the God-King himself set out!
This unnamed Sea King secretly resolved to hasten the derivation of sea-born beings and build up his own royal pageantry!
He must not be outdone by Zeus!
That Metis was so ostentatious was naturally for the sake of making a statement.
She meant to tell all the gods of the universe—she could allow the God-King to have other wives.
But only because she loved the God-King.
And the God-King loved her in return.
She was the only "first wife" by the great God-King's side!
Her status as the principal consort was unshakable!
When Metis's procession finally arrived at the boundless Ocean, the Ocean God and his consort personally led all the oceanic deities to welcome her.
With such a grand commotion, they couldn't possibly have missed it.
The faces of this noble, ancient pair of primordial Titans were wreathed in joy.
With their daughter's display of might, they too held their heads high!
In Kronos's era, the oceanic gods didn't dare to enter the world in high profile—much less travel with such thunderous grandeur, with gods bowing along the way.
They would not go so far as to salute Metis to show deference, but with their daughter now the God-King's wife, they had to show enough respect.
The Ocean God and his consort leading all oceanic gods in welcome—this was respect for the God-King.
Smiling broadly, Metis embraced her dear parents, then, surrounded by hundreds of oceanic gods in deepest reverence, made her way to the grand Ocean Temple.
And it was in this Ocean Temple that Metis saw Dione for the first time.
Her younger sister.
And—
At first sight, Dione's very presence astonished even the goddess of wisdom.
In all three realms, she had never seen a goddess so pure and flawless, yet so softly, shadow-sweetly beautiful.
Not even among the many Ocean daughters—embodiments of pure water—was there any goddess who could surpass this newborn "sister" in softness and purity.
She seemed the most perfect incarnation of the universe's "yin" aspect.
There are no ugly goddesses; they are embodiments of cosmic law, suffused with the cosmic source. Each has a unique charm—the world's utmost essence made manifest.
Though some gods' divine bodies might seem unusual, they are beautiful all the same—perhaps only not aligned with certain mortal tastes.
Even so, among all the gods of this universe—no matter who, no matter male, female, or neither—none could compare with Dione's beauty.
All beings, whatever their preferences, race, or gender, would be deeply drawn to her.
It was an irresistible allure from the most primordial level of the cosmos.
Even the goddess of wisdom, confident none could outshine her, could only sigh in self-admission that she fell short.
Inwardly, she marveled. The oceanic goddesses were incarnations of ultimate yin and softness, ultimate purity and clarity.
Whether Styx, Clymene, Pleione, Eurynome, or herself, they were paragons among goddesses—yet before this younger sister, they still had to confess themselves inferior.
Not only they—likely all goddesses would feel unworthy before her.
She thought to herself: perhaps only her beloved God-King could match this new sister's equal power of attraction.
Indeed, even the Mother of All and the Lady of Night might be a shade lesser in their primordial allure.
(End of Chapter)
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