Chapter 31: The Twelve Olympian Gods (5)
As Poseidon arrived at the palace atop Mount Olympus, he was greeted first by the Horae, the goddesses of the seasons.
“Oh, Lord Poseidon, it’s been ages!”
“Ages? I haven’t been here since Hera’s wedding.”
“Exactly! You should visit more often. Lady Demeter and Lady Hestia miss you.”
“Hmph. I know, but Hera’s hysterics remind me of being stuck in Kronos’ stomach.”
Boom!
No sooner had Poseidon spoken than a purple bolt of lightning struck above him.
“Gah! Hera, quit that twitchy lightning habit!”
“You’re the same as ever, Poseidon. All this time, and you’re still asking for trouble,” Hera retorted.
The purple bolt came from Hera herself, though it was a small one, not intended to cause real harm.
“Haha, they say a man only grows up when he’s about to die,” Poseidon quipped.
“That nonsense of yours hasn’t changed either. Stop babbling to the Horae and get inside.”
“And you’re still the same, Hera—hysterical and quick to throw punches.”
Crack!
This time, a slightly stronger bolt struck.
“Shut up and come in, or I’ll give you a real beating like old times.”
Seeing Hera’s scowl and her foot tapping impatiently, Poseidon quickly bowed with a playful grin and followed her.
“Dear me, is that any way to speak, my queen?”
Hera, though exasperated, couldn’t help but smirk at the memories, grabbing Poseidon by the collar as they walked.
“You’re unbelievable… My children and Zeus’ bastards are terrified of you. They should see this side of you.”
With a sigh, Hera released Poseidon’s collar as they reached the entrance to the Olympus Divine Committee chamber, where Demeter and Hestia awaited.
“Why’d you make me go fetch him?” Hera complained.
“Hera, you’re the only one who can get all our siblings together,” Demeter said.
“Exactly. Every goddess here listens to you. If it’s just us, it feels…” Hestia trailed off.
Hera grumbled but softened slightly at her sisters’ flattery, her expression easing.
“I’d love to meet a god who’d dare defy that temper,” Poseidon teased.
That is, until a dark presence emerged.
“Greetings, my brothers and sisters,” said a voice dripping with gloom.
Neither Poseidon nor the siblings flinched at the sudden dark aura.
With that sardonic tone and brooding energy, it could only be Hades.
“Hades, long time no see. Starting trouble already?” Poseidon asked.
“Poseidon, that glib tongue of yours hasn’t changed. Word is you’ve become quite the fearsome god.”
“Pfft, that’s just what the kids say. You’re still as much of a jerk as ever, huh?”
“Tch. I’d advise you, as one of the three chief gods, to avoid such crass language. It undermines your authority,” Hades retorted.
Poseidon shook his head at Hades’ unchanged demeanor.
His brothers were the same as ever—except Hades had grown even gloomier, exuding a darker, more melancholic aura.
Still, at least he wasn’t stirring up chaos or chasing women like Zeus.
As Poseidon and Hades bantered, Hera, her face souring again, snapped at Hades.
“Hades, show some manners now that you’re here. This is Olympus.”
Hades smirked, his tone growing sharper.
“Since when did your Olympus become the ruler of the world or my superior? What, you think you and Zeus are the true king and queen of the gods?”
Hades, who had tried to disrupt Hera and Zeus’ wedding rather than celebrate it, was predictably sensitive to her words.
As Hera and Hades’ argument escalated, the Committee chamber doors swung open, and Zeus emerged, wreathed in yellow lightning.
“Hades, I’m glad you came, but lower your voice. It’s unbecoming for a guest,”
Zeus said, his tone that of a king admonishing a subject.
This, naturally, struck a nerve with Hades.
“You… Zeus, you think you’re something special just because you’re up here in the sky?”
“Hmm, maybe not, but I’m doing better than my brother stuck underground.”
The auras of Hades and Zeus clashed, growing stronger.
Hera’s purple energy joined the mix, casting a twilight-like glow over the world.
“Here they go again,” Demeter sighed.
“It’s so familiar it’s almost boring now,” Hestia added.
“Demeter, shouldn’t we protect the younger ones?”
“Hestia, let them be. They’re the children of the king and queen of the gods—they need to grow strong. Let’s just look out for the workers.”
“It’s starting,”
Poseidon said, his words marking the beginning of a 2:1 showdown.
Hades’ bident clashed with Zeus’ lightning, creating a thunderous roar, while Hera’s magic was countered by the sound of Hades’ horn.
“Whoa, is that the Cornucopia Hades got his hands on?” Poseidon remarked.
“What’s that, Poseidon?” Demeter asked.
“Oh, Hades asked me for a favor. He wanted to make a new weapon and needed the tusk of a sea walrus from Oceanus’ domain.”
“Wow, no wonder! It’s almost perfectly blocking Hera’s magic!”
The materials used in Hades’ Cornucopia were exceptional, rivaling the weapons of the gods.
Its components included a sea walrus tusk I provided, a tear from an underworld spirit, a tooth from the great dragon Ladon, a tail from a seven-tailed cat, the heart of a harpy queen, and other mystical ingredients.
As a result, the battle between Hades, Zeus, and Hera dragged on longer than usual.
“Hmm, should we head inside? This is taking too long,” Poseidon suggested.
“Yeah, it’s not like this is their first squabble. They’ll sort it out,” Demeter replied.
“I need to light the hearth in the Committee chamber,” Hestia added.
Since these clashes were practically a ritual greeting, Poseidon, Demeter, and Hestia paid them little mind and entered the chamber.
Besides, they needed to protect the workers who might be overwhelmed by the divine auras outside.
‘They’re getting more childish by the day,’ Poseidon thought.
***
Upon entering the Committee chamber, the first thing they noticed was twelve unfamiliar chairs.
Normally, only Zeus and Hera’s thrones would be present.
‘Looks like they’re finally ushering in the era of the Twelve Olympian Gods.’ Poseidon mused.
Unlike Poseidon, Demeter and Hestia were visibly surprised.
They’d heard Zeus and Hera were planning something like this, but they hadn’t expected it to actually happen, especially given Zeus’ obsession with his throne.
“Zeus must be serious,” Demeter said.
“Imagine him willingly sharing his power,” Hestia added.
‘This system does solidify Olympus’ authority and centralize power. Should I try it in the sea?’
Poseidon wondered briefly before shaking his head.
The sea was too chaotic for such a structure.
The gods and nymphs of the sea were mischievous and free-spirited, much like himself.
Forcing responsibility on them would likely backfire in ways even he couldn’t predict.
‘The sea’s better off with centralized rule.’
***
Hestia busied herself lighting the central hearth of Olympus.
As the flames and torches flickered to life, they shielded the palace from the lingering effects of the battle outside.
Soon after, Zeus and Hera’s children, along with other invited gods, entered the chamber.
Most were Zeus’ offspring from his affairs, naturally.
“Lord Poseidon,” a voice called.
“Hm? Who’s that? Oh, Aphrodite! It’s been a while,” Poseidon greeted warmly.
“Hasn’t it? This is my first time seeing you since I ascended to Olympus.”
Poseidon recalled how Aphrodite, noticed by Hera after a Committee meeting, had been invited to join Olympus alongside Hera’s wedding.
Her divine lineage and potent domain made it inevitable that Hera would take an interest.
Aphrodite’s ascension was partly Poseidon’s doing, and she felt grateful for it.
“How’s life on Olympus?” he asked.
“Not bad. I enjoy the passionate pursuits from Zeus’ sons and other gods.”
“Haha, that’s good to hear. You always complained that the sea gods didn’t court you enough.”
“Hmph, they’re too carefree. Can you believe some lack any sense of love?”
Aphrodite, born from the blood of Uranus’ severed genitals falling into the sea, was a goddess tied to the ocean.
She once drifted with the sea’s currents, but her beauty, along with the presence of Eros and Himeros, caught Poseidon’s eye, earning her a formal place among the sea gods.
Now, thanks to Poseidon’s introduction, she was an Olympian goddess.
“That’s why you turned Nereus’ son, Nerites, into a seashell,” Poseidon teased.
“I’m still grateful for that. If it weren’t for you, I’d have been in big trouble,” Aphrodite replied.
Before ascending to Olympus, Aphrodite had been in a relationship with Nerites.
Their love grew until Hera formally invited Aphrodite to Olympus.
However, Nerites chose the sea over joining her, wounding Aphrodite’s pride as the goddess of love and beauty.
In a fit of rage, she transformed him into a seashell.
“Thanks to that, rumors spread across the sea that I had you curse him as punishment for my war with Pontus,” Poseidon said.
“Ugh, I said I was sorry! I even offered to date you to make up for it,” Aphrodite huffed.
“Hahaha, even the goddess of love and beauty can’t tame the flowing sea,” Poseidon laughed.
As Poseidon and Aphrodite chatted warmly about old times, an uncomfortable gaze fell upon them.
It was Ares, who believed himself Zeus’ rightful heir.
Ares, inheriting the worst traits of both Zeus and Hera, was notorious for his reckless, thoughtless nature.
Though young, his divine lineage made him powerful, and his followers grew steadily, his strength surpassing most gods.
As a result, few in Olympus could restrain him.
“Poseidon! Get away from Aphrodite now!”
Ares summoned his sword and boldly stepped between Poseidon and Aphrodite.
“How dare you speak so familiarly to her! Aphrodite is my woman!”
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