This evening, Tike, with nothing to do, was carving a life-sized mirror for her mother. She carefully selected vibrant corals as decorations, then fashioned jewelry cabinets on both sides from gold, inlaying pearls as handles.
Covering it with a curtain made of darkness, Tike, satisfied, summoned Iris and instructed her to deliver this gift along with the newly made perfume to the underwater temple.
Iris accepted the order and transformed into a rainbow, flying towards the depths of the sea.
Returning to a state of idleness, Tike wandered to the underground water veins, using her divine power to accelerate the gestation of the underground water divinity.
The origin of water gently embraced this nascent divinity, and the purification divinity of water was born alongside it, waiting only for the underground water divinity to complete its gestation.
Tike seized this opportunity to connect with the power of the origin of water. The origin generously accepted this beloved goddess, and the continuous insights strengthened Tike's divinity, her ever-increasing power making her unable to stop.
After some time, Tike, having reaped a rich harvest, withdrew her connection to the origin. Prolonged contact with the origin could lead to transformation, but it also made the contactee prone to completely merging into the origin, losing their original will.
Tike was always cautious when actively connecting with the origin. Fortunately, the origin still favored this intelligent goddess and did not wish for her to become a puppet, thus granting Tike this precious opportunity.
Back in the temple, Tike voluntarily fell into slumber to accelerate the absorption of her recent gains. Ice covered the temple, and thick fog enveloped the sea surface, causing any uninvited visitors to become lost in the mist.
The water cycle divinity leaped joyfully, continuously perfecting her divinity. Tike poured all her energy into this, driving the process forward.
After an unknown period, Tike, having digested her gains, awoke and waved away the ice encasing the temple. Two rainbow goddesses descended, their beautiful figures gracing the scene. Alke said, "Your Highness Tike, the Moonlit Night Goddess visited while you were asleep. She brought news that the Starry Night Goddess is about to be promoted to intermediate divinity."
Tike joyfully replied, "I will travel to the starry sky to reply to her personally."
Iris said, "Grandmother of the Vast Sea greatly liked your gift and asked me to bring back the gift from the Tranquil Bay Goddess."
Tike was startled, "Sister Electra is your mother; there is no need for such formality."
Iris hesitated for a moment before nodding and replying, "As you wish." Alke, standing beside her, silently bowed, expressing her stance.
Tike sighed inwardly. The kinship of deities born with knowledge was shallow. Taumas's actions had left shadows in his daughters' hearts. Although the tranquil Electra protected her daughters out of maternal instinct, she could not alter her husband's intentions and could only try to avoid her daughters.
Iris led Tike to the beach and showed the main god the giant sea clams in the nearshore waters. "The pearls they produce emit a dazzling light in the darkness. Mother said you love pearls and specifically found these from deep-sea caves."
Looking at the luminous pearls presented by Iris, Tike couldn't help but marvel at the ocean's abundant resources, with countless rare treasures as common as pebbles. Tike, returning to herself, picked up a luminous pearl for a closer look. In the daylight, a soft glow was faintly visible on the pearl's surface; its magnificence at night could be imagined.
Taking out a golden box, Tike carefully selected a full box of luminous pearls. She then donned her aurora cloak, took the mirror and perfume, and flew towards the starry sky on the clouds.
The desolate starry sky held no trace of life. The brilliance emitted by the giant stars was obscured by Hemera, the goddess of day, and would only appear when Nyx, the goddess of night, emerged.
Soaring through the vast expanse of the starry sky, Tike followed the light of a meteor to a yellow star. The gentle Moonlit Night Goddess had been waiting for a long time. She took Tike's arm and led her to a temple where Phoebe, who presided over prophecy, sat on a golden throne, smiling as she welcomed Tike.
"Nimble Tike, welcome. You should have a temple in the starry sky, a place to display your might as the goddess of climate." As she spoke, she took out a small crystal ball. "Take this and choose a territory in the starry sky." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Tike took the crystal ball and discovered it was a star. Powerful divine energy had shrunk its body; it would return to its original size when the divine energy seal was released.
Tike was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor of the prophecy goddess. After bowing, she presented her gift: "Respected Highness Phoebe, thank you for your generosity. Please accept these insignificant gifts."
Phoebe's eyes immediately fell upon a golden mirror. The back of the mirror was carved with grapevine patterns, and the inlaid purple pearls looked like real grapes. Taking out the mirror, Phoebe did not spare her praise. "I am not surprised that Mother believes you are the perfect candidate for the divinity of handicrafts. Metis's wisdom truly favors you."
Tike humbly replied with polite words. Phoebe waved away her eldest daughter, Leto, and personally took Tike's arm. Her gentle tone, however, sent a shiver down Tike's spine. "Why have you escaped the net of fate? In the future I saw, you would become a goddess of abundance with minor divine power, yet now you are already of intermediate divinity."
Suppressing her trembling, Tike forced a smile. "Great goddess of prophecy, if even someone as powerful as you does not know the answer, how could I possibly know?"
Phoebe's expression remained unchanged as she led Tike to sit on the golden throne, smiling. "Do not be afraid, Tike. You are a variable in fate. Your appearance has altered the predetermined trajectory, bringing unknown opportunities to the river of destiny."
Tike calmed her mind and asked in a deep voice, "Observer of fate, what is it you wish to gain from me?"