No wonder Zeus was silently drawn to this sister of mine, even to the point of conceiving the first child with her.
With such allure, it's only natural.
I don't know what law she bears, but she even makes me feel an inexplicable urge to draw near, a deep pull.
And also—
Metis's fine brows knit slightly. Though this was their first meeting, there was something on Dione that felt intensely familiar.
It was a feeling intensely familiar and intensely pleasing, even a wish to rely upon her, to be close—something rising from the depths of her divinity.
This feeling—
Metis simply stared quietly at Dione, without speaking at once.
All around her, the oceanic gods stood in uneasy silence; in this temple that should have been full of laughter and joy, not a sound dared be made.
Wisdom's return to Ocean was certainly a good thing, but at so delicate a moment as today, it might not be good at all.
She had returned with such pomp and shock—who could know whether she had come to make trouble for a rival?
Even if that rival was her own sister, and even if none thought Metis a harsh goddess by nature, when it came to "rivals," who could say what a goddess might do?
Even Oceanus and his consort were secretly prepared—if anything went awry, they would step in to mediate at once.
Metis stared for quite a while, then suddenly discovered something that shocked her so much that even her wise heart was full of astonishment and doubt.
This new sister of hers…
It seemed…
She still kept her maidenhood!
How could that be?
Hadn't she and Zeus already had a child?!
Did she somehow regain her maidenhood after conceiving?
But that didn't seem right either.
Her aura was far too purely yin and soft, with no trace of admixture—not even the mature warmth of motherhood!
Even if maidenhood were restored, there could not be not the slightest imprint of "yang" in her divine aura.
Bear in mind, Zeus is the God-King of thunder, ultimate yang, Lord of the Sky; after union with him, it's impossible not to carry his scent.
If gods have joined and borne a child of law, it must have been a deep fusion at the level of law and divinity.
If so, Zeus's aura could not be absent. As for Metis herself, inside and out, she bore an indelible imprint of Zeus.
Thus seeing Dione so pristine, the goddess of wisdom truly felt suspicion.
She did not know the inner cause, but at once she understood: whatever lay between Zeus and this sister of hers was certainly not as it seemed.
There had to be secrets hidden at deeper levels.
No—her name… Dione…
And in the depths of her divinity, that inexplicable…
Metis set aside her thousand doubts for the moment. She showed the mysterious goddess before her a very gentle, kindly smile, and said softly, "Hello, my dear sister, Dione."
At her words, Dione also stepped forward with graceful steps.
In those few paces she displayed boundless softness and sanctity to the utmost.
She answered with a gentle smile, in a voice that seemed able to soothe every tangled thought: "Hello, my dear Metis."
Though Dione did not call her "elder sister," but addressed her by name, Metis felt not the slightest displeasure.
Quite the opposite—she felt an uncanny familiarity, as if this name had been spoken by the other countless times.
Such a sense of ease and closeness was so natural, it was nothing like a first meeting.
Still less like facing a "rival" who had just stolen her husband's favor.
The two goddesses, equally beautiful and equally wise, looked at each other and smiled. The tacit, harmonious mood instantly dissolved all tension around them.
The oceanic gods secretly breathed out in relief. Seeing this, the Ocean God hurried to summon the gods to the grand feast long prepared; the atmosphere within the temple turned lively at once.
Metis stepped forward and took Dione's flawless hand, asking in a tone of utmost intimacy, "My dear Dione, where is your adorable child? I've heard that you and the great Zeus have together conceived the most beautiful, most adorable child in the universe."
Dione smiled slightly, then called softly, summoning Aphrodite—who had been surrounded at the center like stars encircling the moon.
This goddess of love and beauty, conceived by the sources of "ultimate yang" and "ultimate yin," in herself represented the most perfect manifestation of "union" in the universe.
Thus both male and female gods would, from the heart and involuntarily, adore her.
At first sight of Aphrodite, Metis was likewise filled with fondness.
There was no helping it, for all beings share an irresistible longing for supreme "beauty" and "love."
She marveled. She had thought Dione alone was the most flawless goddess in all three realms.
But to her surprise, the daughter was no less beautiful.
Moreover, the two goddesses' temperaments were entirely different.
Dione, though beautiful, carried more a sacred noblesse and dignity.
Though she was so lovely, no god could ignore the inborn dignity and nobility she bore.
She was, in the truest sense, sacred and inviolable.
Aphrodite, however, was exquisitely gentle. Her temperament was mild and pure, full of charm and vitality, the very one whom all would wish to draw close and hold in their hands.
Aphrodite showed no hint of alienation or unease.
With an open, generous smile that could dim all things, she came forward and embraced Metis with utmost warmth, saying sweetly, "Honored goddess of wisdom, it is my privilege to meet you."
At that smile, even Metis felt a moment of daze.
Holding this goddess brimming with love and beauty, Metis praised from the heart, "What a good child. Dear Aphrodite, I'm equally delighted to know you."
"You are just as beautiful as the tales say. This entire universe is more beautiful for your presence and your mother's."
At this, the goddess of beauty smiled again. With no formality at all, she happily kissed Metis's cheek and said, "Dear embodiment of wisdom, thank you for your praise. Your beauty and wisdom are the universe's truly indispensable, eternal radiance."
Soon Aphrodite, full of enthusiasm, was frolicking again with the gods present.
She was forever carefree, forever full of the purest vitality and joy.
Watching her child, Dione said softly to Metis, "Dear Metis, my love, I am not your enemy."
"Nor do I need that so-called title 'wife of Zeus.' Of course, I know you may not care about such things, but I still wanted to tell you beforehand."
With that, Dione winked playfully at Metis, her eyes full of unhidden mischief.
Metis only nodded lightly, then returned a smile equally full of meaning.
She stepped forward and gently embraced Dione, saying nothing more.
The goddess of wisdom was, in the end, the goddess of wisdom.
At the oceanic feast, Metis publicly announced before all the oceanic gods that she would bring Dione and Aphrodite to settle on Mount Olympus.
To the oceanic gods, this was unexpected yet within reason.
After all, if Dione were to remain long in Ocean, that would truly slight His Majesty the God-King's honor.
What they hadn't expected was that Metis would come personally to receive her—and with such overwhelming pomp.
It was plainly a proclamation to all the gods of the universe that this goddess of wisdom did not mind the great God-King having other wives.
The Ocean God and his consort felt exceedingly complicated.
Though the outcome was within their expectations, they could well imagine the grievance their beloved daughter would bear and the pain she would endure in the depths of her heart.
Yet there was nothing they could do.
For all this was their daughter's willing choice.
And as for that great God-King—who could restrain him?
Besides, it was not only one daughter whose heart was set on the God-King. Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh—what could they do?
They could only pretend to know nothing.
Let all follow its course.
After the grand feast, Metis once again, with vast ceremony, led Dione and her daughter back to Mount Olympus. The sweeping spectacle was known to every god.
When Dione and Aphrodite—these two newborn goddesses—descended upon Mount Olympus, every god upon the mountain was thrown into an uproar.
Even the experienced Olympians, vast and resilient in divinity, were deeply captivated by the unmatched beauty of the two.
One by one they were thrown into distraction and intoxication.
If Zeus hadn't just severely punished those who neglected their duties, surely many gods would have rather set aside their posts for a time to remain on Olympus.
(End of Chapter)
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