Thea smiled with affection, and Selene and Eos also gathered around, the goddesses gazing tenderly at the deity swaddled in golden fleece.
The infant, with his rosy complexion, was adored by the goddesses. The Goddess of Radiance reluctantly returned the sleeping child to Tyche, asking softly, "What is his name?"
"He is Zeus," Tyche replied, her expression complex, after a moment's hesitation.
The Goddess of Radiance left behind many jewels as gifts to celebrate Zeus's birth.
The tree nymphs brought milk and honey to feed the newborn deity. The attendants, experienced in raising the wind god, busied themselves with organized efficiency.
Having just bid farewell to the radiant elder grandmother, Tyche welcomed the Sea Goddess. Tethys emerged from the waves lapping the shore, followed closely by the Oceanids, who walked out from the sea. The daughters of the Ocean God, rarely appearing together, each with her unique charm, presented gifts to their leader.
The serene sea goddess Electra brought Tyche various rare treasures from the ancient sea god Pontus. Tyche accepted them with a smile and had her attendants lead her sisters to be seated in the garden.
After another flurry of activity, the Invisible Island once again returned to silence.
Tyche conjured mist to conceal the island's location, silently refusing the visits of the gods. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
The attendants moved through the divine palace, carefully organizing the gods' gifts. Philyra approached the chief goddess and softly reported the quantity of each gift. Tyche listened with little interest. After dismissing the attendants, she rose and lifted the sleeping Zeus from his cradle.
Gazing at the infant's innocent face, Tyche felt a mixture of joy and astonishment. Who could have imagined that this sleeping child would, upon growing up, become the archetype for the lives of deities?
"Isn't Kyanos like those gods who indulge in drunken revelry? Have you grown up poorly?"
Tyche murmured, finding the thought amusing. Just as the dragon slayer eventually becomes the dragon, and the hero who overthrows tyranny becomes the new oppressor, the allure of power was truly intoxicating.
Zeus, who would have become the third king of the gods, would now, after this change of unknown consequence, perhaps not tread the same path. However, compared to his previous beginning with almost nothing, having the support of six powerful deities now could be considered both a blessing and a curse.
Having decided to intervene in the war between the new gods and the old, Tyche naturally chose the Olympian side, destined for victory. As the adoptive mother of the king of the gods, Zeus's respect would ensure her a comfortable life. For the sake of the Sun God's divine power nurturing her body, the glory of the radiant lineage would not be diminished. Even the Earth Mother would have to consider the king of the gods' reaction and reconsider the cost of hostility towards her.
"I am sorry, child! My feelings for you may not be pure, but I will bear the responsibility of protecting and guiding you."
The goddess gently stroked Zeus's soft golden hair, speaking to him with a heavy tone.
The innocent infant was unaware of his mother's inner turmoil. Woken by the goddess, he looked displeased, his small hands patting her arm as he cried out with hunger.
Tyche's suppressed emotions immediately vanished. With a wry smile, she placed Zeus back in his cradle and called for an attendant to feed him.
Outside the divine palace, Iris entered the hall with the attendants and cautiously approached the chief goddess, saying softly, "Your Highness, Kyanos has not returned for a long time."
Tyche's hand paused, and she replied with her usual composure, "I know."
Leaving the rainbow goddesses to watch over Zeus, the Furies brought Tyche her white falcon chariot. The birds followed the goddess's guidance to the forests on the earth. Tyche softly called out her eldest son's name. The awkward wind god peeked out from behind a tree and silently approached his mother.
Tyche did not scold Kyanos. Gently, she removed the leaves from the wind god's head and, as always, urged, "Kyanos, it is time to go home."
Kyanos's stubborn expression softened slightly. He lowered his head and returned to the Invisible Island with his mother.
The white falcons soared through the sky. The silent atmosphere was broken by the wind god, who mustered the courage to say, "I am sorry, Mother."
Tyche looked at Kyanos calmly, her tone as gentle as ever, "You don't need to apologize, my child. Since you forgot to give your brother a gift, the nymphs have already given your golden fleece swaddle to Zeus."
Kyanos couldn't help but smile. Tyche loosened the reins and gently kissed the wind god's forehead. "Kyanos, my love for you will not disappear as you grow."
The wind god bashfully turned his head, the stubbornness on his face completely gone.
Upon returning to the Invisible Island, Kyanos regained his former liveliness and excitedly pestered his mother to see his younger brother.
Tyche placed Zeus in her eldest son's arms. Kyanos looked down curiously at his displeased younger brother, only to be met with Zeus's slap.
The god of thunder disdainfully pushed away Kyanos's approaching face and struggled forcefully. Tyche helplessly took Zeus from Kyanos's embrace. The tiny infant sobbed a few times, nestled in his mother's arms, and fell into a deep sleep again.
Yesterday a baby lying in a cradle, today he could walk unsteadily. Zeus's growth rate far surpassed Kyanos's. Led by his brother, the now toddler Zeus could ride a wolf and help the nymphs herd sheep. The calls of the two brothers echoed across the silent island.
As time passed, Zeus began to display extraordinary talent. As a youth, Zeus possessed astonishing strength, easily shattering boulders many times his size. The boy, frolicking in the forest, nearly damaged the nymphs' companion trees several times.
The proud young deity was unconcerned and continued to act as he pleased. The exasperated nymphs had no choice but to seek help from the chief goddess. After a severe scolding from Tyche, Zeus tearfully apologized to the nymphs. Amidst the nymphs' suppressed laughter, the god of thunder spent a happy and brief childhood.
The island's tranquility was broken by the arrival of dolphins. These messengers brought news from Tethys, and Tyche hurried to the sea temple. The sea goddess, with a grave expression, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her daughter. Tethys grabbed her daughter's arm, "Dione has discovered unusual activity in the deep sea. A deity born from the lost power of the previous sky god is about to be born!"
A goddess with white pupils and white hair emerged from the temple. This never-before-seen sister had hair like ice shards. Tyche immediately knew she was Dione, the goddess of the ice sea.
The goddess of the ice sea's expression was indifferent, and she said coldly, "The unrest of the giant beasts in the trench led me to discover the anomaly. Pontus requires my divine power to quell this riot, and he is even willing to cede other sea areas around his territory to me."