Blacksmith God -Part 2-
Of course, ancient Greece didn't have a wedding ring tradition yet. Just a few years earlier, Prometheus had made the first ring from a scrap of iron chain right in front of Heracles, so the very concept was still novel.
But not to Heracles. The moment he became the god of blacksmithing, he was buzzing about making wedding rings.
"By the way, Heracles."
"Yeah?"
"So, what's a wedding ring, anyway?"
"It's originally something you give when proposing, but it's a gift from the one proposing to the one accepting."
"Why a ring, of all things?"
"Who knows? Maybe because fingers are precious?"
Rings had only been around for less than three years in this era—ever since Prometheus crafted the first one from his chain fragment when Heracles went to slay Ladon. It was hard for word to even spread about such a thing. Adamantia had only learned about them from Heracles himself.
She peppered him with questions, but her face was all smiles, beaming softly. It was joy enough that her first husband treated her so well, but a wedding gift? Adamantia's grin stretched ear to ear.
"Normally, wedding gifts go to the parents-in-law, not the wife."
"Should I just give it to Gaia, then?"
"Absolutely not. No discrimination allowed!"
"You just said wedding gifts are for the in-laws."
"...I meant that's how it usually is. It's basically the price for buying the daughter."
The concept of wedding gifts did exist in society. But they were usually prepared discreetly by the wife's family or close friends—or if the husband's side handled it, it wasn't really for the wife herself. More accurately, it was a gift to the parents-in-law, and if they liked it, they'd "sell" their daughter.
But wedding rings were different. To Heracles, they were like seals.
There had been eras where rings served as seals, but he'd forgotten that detail.
"Makes sense. But this isn't the price of buying you."
"Then what is it?"
"Like a name tag."
"A name tag?"
"It's marking you as mine. You're all beautiful, powerful goddesses, so to keep you from leaving me."
"..."
Adamantia couldn't get used to how casually Heracles said things like that. Being around him left her cheeks burning every single day. She wondered where he even learned to talk like this.
But for all the joy that made her grin like a fool, a sliver of unease gnawed at her too.
"Don't you trust us?"
"Who said I don't? I just want proof that you're my wives."
"...Wow, you really say stuff like that to your wife?"
"...Lady Thalassa."
Thalassa had overheard Heracles trying to reassure his wife and looked stunned. A husband sweet-talking his wife like that? If word got out that Zeus's son was like this, everyone would be shocked. Hell, they might not even believe such a husband existed. But Thalassa was seeing it with her own eyes.
Even after days of trailing her mother like a duckling blinking and waddling after her, she still couldn't get used to it.
Heracles found this lofty sister-in-law a bit uncomfortable too.
"Aw, cut it out, Heracles. You're the elder now—drop the formalities. We've been casual with Mom forever."
"Still, I can't just—"
"You're a god now too. Act like one. With your divinity, you could climb Olympus and not bow to anyone."
"..."
Thalassa was right. At first, when he'd gained the divinities of male strength, trials, adversity, and overcoming, he'd been Zeus's proxy. But by forging the hammer and mastering iron smelting, he'd become Adamantia's equal—master of this forge. As the god of blacksmithing who hammered iron, plus those four prior divinities, he could march into Olympus right now without issue.
Of course, since Zeus hadn't summoned him, it was a moot point.
"Hone your powers well, Heracles. Zeus won't share his throne with you. Without authority, all you'll have is your divinity."
"You don't trust Father either, Thalassa?"
"...Do you trust yours?"
"More than most others, I guess. He's helped me a lot."
"Hmph."
Thalassa's voice was almost a sigh. This brother-in-law, still believing Zeus would keep helping him? He seemed utterly mad. Stepdad? The family titles were a mess with this new relative, but he clearly wasn't right in the head. Giving his wife a wedding gift was weird enough, but naively trusting Zeus to call him to Olympus? Unfathomable.
Heracles had future knowledge, so it felt obvious to him. But he didn't realize his mental gears were broken from the start.
"Listen up, Heracles. Zeus is the king."
"Yeah?"
"...Aigoo, my head. Sis, is your hubby really okay?"
"Our Heracles is a bit unique, but he's not dumb."
"Feels pretty dumb to me."
"Thalassa, don't say that."
"Tch, fine. Fixing that delusion won't be easy, huh."
Thalassa grumbled to her sister, but Adamantia was firm. No matter that Thalassa was a sea Protogenos, she wouldn't let anyone look down on her elder and now-godly husband.
Thalassa was baffled, but with her stubborn sister like this, there was no counter. She'd just have to teach this naive fool with words.
"Lemme flip it—why do you think Zeus will keep helping you?"
"Gigantomachia is coming soon. Without me, Olympus loses, and Father loses his throne, right?"
"Sure, yeah. You basing your faith on that alone? That's worse than I thought."
"Father owes me a huge debt. If he doesn't pay it properly, the other gods won't stand for it."
"...Okay, that's fair. Plenty of gods are watching Zeus. Botch the rewards after barely winning that war, and he's done. Smart thinking."
Thalassa hadn't trusted this naive brother-in-law at all, but hearing him out, he wasn't entirely thoughtless. Actually, pretty shrewd.
She was honestly impressed, but his naivety lingered.
"Ah, got your problem now, bro-in-law. Good thing I'm here, sis."
"What're you on about?"
"You don't get it either, huh. Sis, power is terrifying. That's why I've been nagging you to grab some."
"?"
"Aigoo, it's not just him. Mom's got it covered, though. Don't worry—I'll help."
"...Thanks."
Adamantia had no clue what her sister meant but accepted the offer graciously.
Thalassa, the Mediterranean itself, and Tyrrhenus, lord of the rough Tyrrhenian Sea, were among the world's second-most powerful. As the oldest sea monarchs, they'd seen how ruthlessly power crushed even gods and priests.
Her own sons, Nereus and Tyrrhenus, were the odd ones out. Nereus's womanizing aside, they lacked ambition—Thalassa was grateful for that.
Back to the point.
"Listen well, Heracles. Power is endlessly ruthless. It can't be shared between parents and children, brothers and sisters. Now that you're lord of iron, Zeus will see you as a threat."
"But what about the war and the aftermath?"
"Good point. Normally, yeah—the war and cleanup come first. You'd be right. But reality's different."
"..."
"Call it a hunch, but Zeus is the worst kind of power-hungry. In some ways, worse than Cronus. He'd swallow more than a few drinks extra."
Even mighty Cronus had swallowed his children to keep power—but never his beloved, powerful wife Rhea. At least he avoided scorn among fellow Titans.
Zeus, though, devoured his legitimate wife and advisor, the Titan of wisdom Metis, to safeguard his rule. All because of Gaia's prophecy.
Two gods, same prophecy, worlds apart in response. It said everything about Zeus's ruthlessness.
"Heracles, you'll be a good god. A great blacksmith, saving many with your skill. But don't take a sea goddess's advice lightly."
"...Thanks, Thalassa."
"Thanks to you too, bro-in-law. For listening. I like you—as family."
After all, family harmony was best. Thalassa hated headaches.