The Coral Crown
[What, a dance performance...?] Oites seemed at a loss for words, as if suddenly recalling his own boast. With the very real possibility of putting on a show in front of mere mortals, he began to break out in a cold sweat.
"The ancient warriors were said to be as skilled in dance as they were in battle. As one seated among the divine, your performance must be something extraordinary. I sincerely hope you'll broaden this humble one's horizons today."
Oites feels goodwill toward your skills.
[Hahaha...] Even the god let out an awkward laugh. He glanced around at the onlookers, then sidled closer and whispered, [Just let it slide this once.]
"How could I refuse the request of one so exalted? But if you could offer even a small token of consideration, we could both part on good terms, no?"
[You're demanding payment after all!]
"Such harsh words. Think of it as a simple exchange of courtesies."
[Urk! Extorting a god...] Oites pressed a hand to his forehead, as if he couldn't believe it. Normally, one would flip the table and deny any bets or deals, but this time was different. My sudden status as Thetis's betrothed, combined with his awe at my bullet-making skills, had changed the game.
Hey, secretary—what's this about?
Beats me. Guess this guy's only good as kindling after all.
Oites, clutching his head in thought, finally came to a decision. [Fine. Since it's come to this, name your price.]
Such a concession would have been impossible without his budding goodwill toward me. So I kept my request reasonable—no sense risking a drop in affinity with an outrageous demand. I'd prepared something fitting anyway.
"In the future, grant me their aid."
I pointed to the sea army looming behind Oites. Their overwhelming might stirred envy in me. With cyclopes or sirens at my call, any trouble on the waves would be child's play.
Oites readily nodded at the feasible request. [That much I can manage. Very well—in admiration of your superb spearwork, I bestow this upon you.]
He removed the coral crown from his head and offered it. [This crown will summon the sea army. The numbers depend on whom you call—for instance, three to five sea cyclopes, or ten to fifteen sirens.]
[I had it made for emergencies when parted from my troops. Use it only three times before the coral shatters. Any costs for their service, I'll cover.]
The sea army was a vast mercenary force loyal to Oites—a demigod who had rallied sea monsters as their captain.
"I am deeply grateful for this grace."
I snatched the coral crown without hesitation, and Oites couldn't hide his dismay. His face screamed I got played. Yet a sly smile crept in too.
Oites deems you the perfect mark to offload his cunning sister.
'I smell his little sister's scent on this stranger...'
This feels like he's trying to dump a hot potato on me. Better say something before trouble brews.
But Oites quickly clapped a hand on my shoulder. [Anyway, you might become family soon. I'd guessed Thetis would end up with a mortal husband after that prophecy. Never imagined it'd be like this today. Heh heh heh.]
Why the creepy grin? You're freaking me out. I'm not even planning to marry Thetis—'brother-in-law' sits heavy. But denying it outright was impossible. I'd survived the bet only thanks to her.
"Your excessive kindness leaves me humbled."
Still, I couldn't just accept it meekly. [No, no—finding a human match for my sister has always been a headache. She swore she'd never marry one, even if it killed her. But a mortal like you? She might reconsider. Green sticks to green, eh? Hahaha!]
"To become the husband of Thetis, the supreme beauty of the great ocean—it's an honor beyond mortals. However..."
[However?] Oites's face hardened slightly.
Oites is inwardly flustered.
'No way! I just found the perfect sucker to take my sister—can't let him slip!'
What's Thetis's deal? Rumors paint her as the perfect goddess—peerless beauty, renowned wisdom across the seas. Without the prophecy, gods would have warred for her hand. Yet her brother squirms to pawn her off.
[Do you find our Thetis lacking?]
"Perish the thought!"
[She's my sister, but I've never seen a more beautiful goddess.] Oites's eyes blazed with fury. Insult him here, and my life was forfeit.
Gulp. An unexpected brush with death. This felt like the real contest—more perilous than the spear throw. The true crisis starts now.
Oites steels his resolve.
'I'll dump her no matter what! It's my only way to survive!'
Flames licked his eyes; one wrong word, and he'd erupt. Every syllable demanded care—not out of courtesy, but self-preservation.
"How could I claim to be a fitting match for her now? I have no intention of refusing, but might you grant a slight delay?"
[A delay? I have no desire to share the same ocean with her another day...]
"Pardon?"
[Ahem! N-no, nothing.]
No silver tongue could void the betrothal now—my neck would follow. Best play: stall. Drag it out until it fizzled. Thetis loathed marrying a mortal, after all.
[Too modest. Among mortals I've seen, you're top-tier. Stronger ones exist, sure. But your command of divinity? Even I, a demigod, was stunned. You're likely the only human in the world so adept.]
Oites offers lip service praise.
This bastard... A god buttering up a human? No pride at all.
We dueled on—honeyed words masking daggers. No blades drawn, but tension peaked.
"I'm not delaying without cause. I wish to meet the minimum qualifications to wed a goddess."
[And what might those be?]
"To become a king of a nation. You and Thetis are children of Nereus, the old man of the sea—true sea royalty. Thus, I too must ascend a throne."
[Hmm...] It rang plausible; Oites pondered. Marrying into royalty preserved face. Sensing his hesitation, I pressed.
"It won't take long for me. A mere blink to the divine."
Oites nodded at last—not fooled, but because gods viewed such waits as trivial. [A future brother-in-law's request deserves as much. Very well. When you claim a 'future' throne, we'll 'revisit' this today.]
Why emphasize future and revisit? The swamp I'd waded into for survival ran deeper than expected. But I'd dodged the crisis—for now.
And I wasn't the only one relieved.
The virgin goddess Hestia breathes a sigh of relief.
Our goddess doesn't fancy me tying the knot, it seems.
[As promised, I'll withdraw the sea army.] At his word, the colossal sea beasts vanished beneath foaming waves. The raging storm calmed, clouds parting to reveal radiant sunlight.
[Peleus, today's duel left a deep impression. I'll keep an ear out for your name. Fare well.]
"Your kind regard for this unworthy one moves me deeply."
[Until we meet again. Bro—er, Peleus.] Oites mounted his seahorse and plunged into the sea. Like a typhoon, his forces had come and gone.
They'd been mere reinforcements at first, but the Amazons' surrender complicated things. Still, resolved.
"Peleus."
Penthesilea approached, her face a storm of emotions. Artemis, once their patron, had discarded them like trash; I, their foe, had saved them. Complex didn't cover it.
"Your Majesty."
"We Amazons offer you our utmost respect."
Her eyes brimmed with emotion. She gripped my hand—rougher than expected, testament to her hard life.
"Peleus, accept our loyalty from this day."
She unclasped her necklace and handed it over. Crude like a tribal relic, strung with stone beads etched in unfamiliar runes.
"What is this, Your Majesty?"
"A sacred heirloom passed down through our queens. Its true purpose lost to time—even the gods know not. Legend says only that it's the key to finding our first ancestor."
"The key to the first ancestor?"
I tilted my head; nothing like it in the forbidden texts.
"Mere legend. Now, it simply symbolizes the queen's authority."
"And that authority is?"
"The right to summon all warriors. I entrust it to you, Peleus. No finer token of our tribe's oath."
Her ultimate gesture of sincerity. Now, the Amazons were mine—a sturdy army indeed.
I stepped before the villagers with the necklace in hand. They'd frozen in divine awe at the docks, still prostrate and dazed.
"Hear me!"
My shout straightened backs and cleared faces. Terror-struck, they'd been mute; now murmurs rose.
"Is it over?"
"Watching a mortal duel a god. Live long enough, see it all."
"What a day—like a lie."
They fell silent as I neared, awaiting my words in tense quiet.
"Peleus, Basileus of Sparta, declares to you: All battles end. No more deaths, no more plunder. I proclaim your peace fully restored!"
Cheers erupted at the news.
"Woooaaah! Hooray!"
"Basileus! Hooray!"
They chanted my name in joy. In this quiet rural village, peaceful days were paramount.
I raised a hand amid the adulation. Good—Endymion is mine now.
Savoring victory, my mind raced to Selene's lover. What secrets did the bearer of the vanished moon goddess's power hold?