As the goddess of wisdom, Metis knew one truth very well: mere ignorance will not kill; mere rashness will not kill; mere recklessness will not kill either.
But the moment any one of those three is joined by "conceit" and "arrogance," once it turns into hubris, the end will surely be very tragic.
So the question was this.
This god who had always been rather proud of his cleverness had suddenly lowered his stance and come to beg her with such humility.
What did that mean?
It meant there was definitely a big problem here!
And one he absolutely could not shoulder himself!
Her beloved had already ordered "all gods to assist with all their might."
If the brothers needed help to create life, even if they truly required it, they could handle it as official business, follow procedure, file a request. Would she, of all goddesses, refuse to help?
What need was there for such abject deference?
When something is out of the ordinary, there must be a scheme.
Metis pondered inwardly, raising her vigilance to the utmost.
It wasn't that she feared Prometheus meant her harm.
A joke—who in all the cosmos would dare so much as touch a hair of Metis's head?
Menoetius-like fools are rare in the universe, and Prometheus is nothing like Menoetius.
And how could Amalthea's standing compare to that of the God-King's first wife?
She could now be nearly certain that Prometheus meant to use her to do something out of the ordinary.
She just didn't yet know whether he meant to use her status, or her authority,
or both.
At the moment, Prometheus's posture was already so humble, and his words had gone this far.
If she refused outright, it would not look very fitting.
And, in truth, his words had their reason.
For her beloved God-King's grand vision, she ought indeed to lend a hand.
At least first see what medicine he was selling in that gourd.
Though it takes time to tell, all these thoughts flashed through Metis's vast, wise divinity in the span of a few breaths, whirling through her mind a hundred million times.
Metis had made up her mind.
She smiled slightly, a smile like a spring breeze and gentle rain, her voice soft and clear: "Prometheus, my honored friend, there is no need for such formality."
"We are friends. If you have met with difficulty, so long as it does not violate His Majesty the God-King's sacred order, I will do all I can to lend you a hand."
"Besides, you have come for His Majesty's commission; all the more am I duty-bound."
"Tell me, what specific help do you need from me?"
Prometheus rejoiced inwardly and at once straightened up; the perfectly measured sorrow on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by the sincerest gratitude.
Overflowing with thanks, he said, "Your Excellency the great Goddess of Wisdom, you are so merciful and kind! Thank you for your generosity. We brothers are endlessly grateful."
No sooner had he finished his thanks than Prometheus put on that heavy sorrow again.
He sighed deeply. "To tell the truth, Your Excellency, my thoughts are a complete tangle. As to how to create intelligent life that will satisfy His Majesty, I truly have not the least clue."
"I even—I even don't know what, specifically, to ask you to help me do."
Prometheus let out a wry laugh with a hint of self-mockery, then sighed again: "Great Goddess of Wisdom, would you be willing, in your mercy, to descend and accompany me to the earth?"
"Please first see with your own eyes what my brother and I have achieved in these recent days."
"Then, I beg you to give us your most precious counsel and guide us as to what we should do. Would that be acceptable?"
Metis cast an unobtrusive glance toward the temple.
Within that deep hall, her beloved all-knowing God-King showed no reaction.
Whether he was truly occupied, or whether he had already seen through everything and tacitly approved Prometheus's design, she could not say.
She pondered but a moment, nodded lightly, and said warmly, "Prometheus, my honored friend, to be able to help you and contribute a small part to His Majesty's great work of flourishing the cosmos is indeed my duty. Lead the way."
Prometheus was wild with joy, feeling his heart drum in his chest!
He felt his plan was truly flawless!
Everything was going smoothly. With the wisdom goddess willing to descend, the matter was already half done!
He also feared delay breeding trouble and dreaded His Majesty suddenly appearing, so he agreed again and again, dared not linger an instant, and respectfully led Metis down to the world without delay.
Deep within the temple, the God-King, busy as ever, slowly lifted his head and, across endless time and space, gazed at the two divine lights receding beyond the hall.
His golden eyes were calm, and within their deep pupils there flickered a trace of amused smile.
Then he returned his attention to the goddess in his arms and went on with his business.
Who would have thought—gracious Eurynome was actually a Great Mother Goddess as well!
Though, to be fair, that was within expectations…
Say what you will—Eurynome truly was obedient.
Shy to the very extreme, the whole goddess like an overripe honey peach, ready to drip at a touch; and yet obedient beyond compare.
However forward this hot-blooded God-King might be, however nervous and bashful the delicate goddess, she only blushed, shut her eyes, bit her lip, and quietly yielded to his every whim.
This was a full demonstration of what it means to "take one's husband as heaven"!
Though, Zeus truly is "Heaven."
—
Led by Prometheus, Metis soon came to the vast earth.
She knew full well that Prometheus surely had his hidden calculations.
To avoid an awkward situation she could not step down from, she kept this journey extraordinarily low-key.
Other than her two personal-attendant nymphs, she put on none of the grand pomp that befit the "God-King's first wife."
Prometheus was pleased by that; he thought the wisdom goddess was eager to share the God-King's burdens and thus had hastened down to help without any retinue at all!
Haste is good—when one is in a hurry, one thinks less.
At that moment, in a forest clearing, Epimetheus, bored and idly scheming what new flourish to attempt next,
caught sight from afar of Metis's noble figure descending from the clouds and instantly cast aside all stray thoughts.
His face bloomed with his warmest smile, and he came forward at once.
Wearing the most earnest and sincere smile, he halved three steps into two and briskly came before Metis.
With the utmost respect he bowed: "First and most beloved wife of the great God-King Zeus! Honored noble daughter of Oceanus! Your Excellency the radiant Goddess of Wisdom who illumines the cosmos! Epimetheus offers his most sincere respects to Your Supreme Excellency!"
"Thank you for your mercy in descending in person, despite the toil, to aid us brothers. We are a thousand times grateful for your generosity!"
"May Your Supreme Excellency be forever happy and forever radiant! May you forever revel in our great His Majesty's endless sea of love!"
Epimetheus delivered his words swiftly and eagerly, brimming with warmth; the graceful compliment truly delighted Metis.
She could not help but smile broadly and nodded in return.
She inclined her head. "Son of Iapetus, illustrious Epimetheus, thank you for your beautiful blessing."
"We are all close friends at His Majesty's side. To help you and contribute to the God-King's great cause is my duty."
Just then a clear, ringing eagle cry split the sky; a jet-black streak of light, wings keen as blades, slanted down from the horizon.
It was Kelaunia.
She folded her wings and landed not far before Metis, keeping a precise, respectful distance.
Then she drew in her wings, and her whole form bowed gracefully, proud head deeply lowered, prostrating herself to Metis: "Kelaunia pays homage to the supreme first wife of our great His Majesty the God-King, the honored noble daughter of Oceanus, Your Excellency the exalted, radiant Goddess of Wisdom!"
"Lady Mother, Kelaunia, His Majesty's most loyal creation, pays her respects to Your Supreme Excellency! May His Majesty's and your shining splendor ever illumine the cosmos!"
The instant Metis's gaze fell upon Kelaunia, she had already, within the Heavenly Dao system, with her near-supreme authority of search and inquiry, examined Kelaunia's particulars with perfect clarity.
Since she was her beloved God-King's handiwork, she was her own.
Metis smiled, her voice still more gentle. "Kelaunia, I know you—rise."
"By His Majesty's command you stay at the side of the sons of Iapetus and aid them in completing His Majesty's task. You have been diligent always. You have labored hard."
At that, Kelaunia beamed. Her joy from the heart was plain even without taking a god-body—her long black wings trembled with delight.
She answered quickly, "Honored Lady Mother, His Majesty's will is my absolute compass!"
"To follow His Majesty's orders is my duty and my supreme honor! I have never felt it the least hardship!"
At this, Epimetheus added with a guileless smile, "Honored Goddess of Wisdom, thank you for descending in person despite the toil and generously aiding us."
"I have prepared a small gift for Your Supreme Excellency. Please allow me to present it; I hope you will not disdain it."
As he spoke, he drew from his divine power space a cluster of radiant flowers woven of three colors and, holding them with both hands, respectfully offered them.
"Great Goddess of Wisdom, this is a new blossom I created especially for you. I have named it the 'Tricolor Pansy.'"
"Its three colors represent how, in the 'past,' 'present,' and 'future,' your wisdom will forever bring endless beauty to this world."
"It symbolizes your 'Concentration,' 'Insight,' and 'Charity,' the reflection of your merciful great love and supreme wisdom."
"I hope you like it!"
Metis was slightly taken aback, yet genuinely pleased.
She reached out and took the cleverly conceived bouquet. The petals felt warm and moist to the touch and gave off a strange fragrance that cleared body and mind.
She thought to herself: They say Epimetheus is not very clever; it seems the rumor is untrue today. His way of handling things is truly pleasing to a goddess.
"Honored son of Iapetus, my friend, thank you for your gift. I like it very much." Metis smiled warmly in thanks.
Epimetheus still chuckled simply, "It's merely a slight token unworthy of your station. Compared to the help you're about to give us, it's really nothing at all—so long as you don't mind."
Metis said gently, "How could I? This bouquet is truly lovely—I like it very much. It is a most precious gift, and I will cherish it. Thank you, Epimetheus."
By now Prometheus at the side was completely dumbfounded.
His divine eyes were round with shock as he stared at his "foolish" brother, as if truly seeing him for the first time.
This wasn't right!
This really wasn't right!
How had his usually taciturn brother, useful only for his hands-on skill and otherwise good for nothing, suddenly become so adept in dealing with gods?
Those words and deeds—he himself could not find a single fault!
And it wasn't over yet.
Kelaunia now spoke respectfully, "Honored Lady Mother, Kelaunia has long admired your holy radiance."
"After hearing you might personally descend, I was so excited I could hardly contain myself, and so I prepared a small gift for you with all my heart. Please allow me now to present it, and I beg you may like it."
As she spoke, a jet-black light flared around her; the splendid eagle-shape shifted into a tall, long-limbed, strikingly handsome young goddess.
Aside from the great and gorgeous black wings on her back, broad and striking like the veil of night, there was nothing particularly unusual about her god-form.
After all, she was Zeus's creation, not the handiwork of some nameless deity still lingering at the bottom of the Styx.
Kelaunia had a mane of hair like obsidian, thick and falling to her waist; her bearing was bold and martial, her features chiseled and strong—indeed full of heroic spirit.
Especially those wild, spear-sharp eagle eyes.
Her gaze was truly keen and defiant, and with those long brows slanting to her temples, she looked every inch a figure of daunting vigor and edge.
At this moment, however, facing Metis, all her vigor was gathered in, and even those sharp eyes held only absolute respect and eager devotion.
For she faced His Majesty the God-King's most beloved and most exalted first wife!
The noble Lady Mother to whom she, His Majesty's creation, must show utter reverence!
With both hands she held a garment of the utmost beauty—a himation (a draped outer garment, akin to a wrap or long shawl)—and said respectfully, "Lady Mother, this is a himation I wove for you with my own hands from the single most beautiful feather of each of the world's thousand loveliest birds."
"Kelaunia knows full well that all the world's mortal things cannot match one hundred-millionth of your beauty and nobility."
"Even the beauty of all the world's birds put together would only be a firefly's glow within your infinite splendor."
"I beg you to forgive Kelaunia's lowliness. Small as I am within the dust of the world, I can only present you this humble gift; I pray you will not despise it."
Metis gestured lightly for the deeply respectful Kelaunia to come closer.
The God-King's creation rejoiced and at once strode forward with a sure, lithe step, posture humble, not daring the least discourtesy.
Metis gently took the supremely beautiful himation from her upraised hands.
She examined closely this masterpiece woven from myriad lovely plumes, her slender fingers brushing its feathered surface as if touching flowing cloud-light.
Then she smiled and nodded her praise. "Kelaunia, you were thoughtful. This gift is exquisitely beautiful. I like it very much—thank you for your thought."
At that, irrepressible joy flared in Kelaunia's keen eyes. Excited, she said, "Honored Lady Mother, so long as you like it! If you do not disdain this lowly gift, that is the greatest honor and fulfillment of Kelaunia's life!"
Prometheus, meanwhile, was truly and thoroughly numb.
Utterly numb.
Well, well—you two are putting on a double act for me, are you?!
I took such pains and courted such risk to invite the wisdom goddess down, whatever the risk—
and here you are, currying favor one after the other!
A two-person play, is it?
You could at least have told me in advance!
I could have prepared a decent gift too!
But now, you've both made your offerings and shown your regard, and I, the "leading man," am empty-handed, with nothing prepared…
Prometheus now truly found his position hard to bear.
I don't mind if everyone brings gifts, or if no one does.
What I fear is that, at a critical, important moment like this, only I have nothing…
And in a moment I still have to speak and set up the wisdom goddess.
How—how am I supposed to open my mouth now?
Epimetheus, who knew Prometheus best, needed only to see his brother's face shifting blue and white by turns, colorful as a show, to know what was running through his mind.
He couldn't help a private, gleeful satisfaction: Foolish Prometheus, my slow brother—on matters like this, you truly don't know how things work.
Metis, for her part, cared little about Prometheus's present, petty embarrassment.
From the moment she met him this time until now, her wariness had remained at full.
But after this observation, she felt that Epimetheus and Kelaunia's intentions were likely rather simple.
Their flattery and respect had their purpose, but they were sincere.
They were simply too eager to improve.
At present it seemed that only Prometheus himself was hiding a little scheme unknown to gods.
Thinking thus, Metis casually stored both gifts within her personal divine power space.
This storage space was something Zeus created for the gods after finishing the order of Heaven.
Originally, the universe's spatial structure was far too solid.
Aside from the God-King, who could shatter space at will with supreme might, only a scant few supreme deities could briefly tear it.
All other gods were helpless before that incredible solidity.
Even gods, when they wished to store their belongings, either carried them or hid them somewhere secret—altogether too inconvenient.
So Zeus, within "Heaven," chose a unique spatial dimension and opened it as a storage space.
He also personally wove the corresponding laws of spatial control.
From then on, the gods each had their own storage space.
That alone made things far more convenient.
At present this convenience is available only to the gods, limited to those who follow the God-King's sacred, just order and are registered.
After putting away the gifts, Metis turned her gaze once more to Kelaunia, who stood respectfully by.
She pondered for a beat, her golden eyes tightening slightly. The gentle air around her naturally settled into a contained majesty.
Though a slight smile still touched her lips, her dignity was now full and unassailable.
In an unhurried yet unmistakably authoritative tone, she said softly, "Kelaunia, I am well pleased with your gift. I have also seen your loyalty and toil."
"You are His Majesty the God-King's creation. His Majesty named you 'Kelaunia,' meaning 'Messenger of Thunder.'"
"Now, in the name of the God-King's first wife, I additionally bestow upon you a second name—'Oernia' (meaning 'Queen of Birds, first among the flock'). From this day forward, you are also my messenger."
"Here I grant you extraordinary far-sight, keen insight, and pure wisdom. From now on you represent His Majesty and me, to link heaven and earth and god and mortal."
At these words, Kelaunia was first stunned, then her soul was drowned in boundless surprise and joy!
She dropped to one knee, bowed in fervor, and cried out: "Great Lady Mother! Supreme embodiment of wisdom! Kelaunia Oernia thanks you for your holy grace!"
"Your and His Majesty's will is the eternal, absolute will of Kelaunia Oernia!"
Metis gave a light wave of her hand, and a pure, holy radiance of wisdom, bearing the universe's endless mysteries, instantly enveloped her.
Under this light's baptism, her tier of life began to soar exponentially!
The growth and refinement of her divinity was now utterly beyond comparison with before.
Prometheus and Epimetheus, watching from the side, felt a quiet sigh in their hearts: What good fortune!
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.