Back from the Dream World
I'd returned from the dream world, not just having acquired Selene but also striking a deal with the Interstellar Lord for future transactions. His conditions were too tempting to pass up.
Afterward, I shoved Endymion into the maw of the Secret Book and made my way back to the village. Three days passed.
"Your Majesty, I deeply regret not paying my respects sooner, having secluded myself away."
I'd heard that Amazon Queen Penthesilea had been eager to meet me. But after returning from the dream world, I'd been hit with extreme mental fatigue and spent several days flat out.
"No harm done. But now, I wish to proceed with designating Lord Iris as the patron deity of our people."
"Have you given this sufficient thought? This decision concerns the future of all Amazons."
"Ganeia is already under house arrest. The situation is beyond reversal."
Ganeia was a priestess of Artemis, so the queen's resolve was firm. Satisfied, I nodded and said I'd summon the god Iris.
"With Artemis preoccupied battling the war goddess Enyo, the timing couldn't be better."
"I agree."
Strike while the iron is hot, as they say. With our opinions aligned, we decided to summon Iris immediately.
"It might be best to go outside the village. Any miracle could cause quite a stir."
"Understood."
The queen led the Amazon elders out with me to an open field beyond the village. Upon reaching a suitable spot, we began the ritual to call Iris. Thanks to my rapport with him, no elaborate ceremony was needed.
"Stronger and more handsome than any man. More beautiful and elegant than any woman. Owner of an eternal beauty that shines like the ignorance of a dog."
The incantation to summon him was just plain nauseating. It had been awkward before, and it still didn't sit right.
"A world without you is like a dark night, so descend upon us and unfurl the season of flowers."
As I recited the prescribed words, a vivid, beautiful rainbow suddenly arched across the clear blue sky. A boisterous man's laughter echoed from the heavens.
"Hahaha! Hahahahat! Hahahahahaahat!"
Why did he always laugh like that upon appearing? If life was that enjoyable, maybe being a god wasn't such a bad gig.
As I mused inwardly, a massive man dropped straight down from the sky.
BOOM!
The impact shook the earth like a quake, kicking up a thick cloud of dust. But a gust swept it away, revealing a shirtless, muscular man standing tall with arms crossed. Square jaw, every muscle fiber rippling with exquisite definition.
The moment he spotted me, his face lit up. "Boy, have you finally decided to run off to our private honey paradise?"
"Uh... Lord Iris. Have you ever heard anything hurtful from someone in your life?"
"Why do you ask, boy?"
"Figured it might come in handy for times like this."
"You're as ruthless as ever, boy. Haha! That's your charm. But what's with all these women here?"
True to his tastes that rejected the ordinary, Iris showed zero reaction to the stunning Amazon beauties.
"The queen of the Amazons and her followers. The entire tribe wishes to serve you, Lord Iris."
"Oh? Quite the tale."
"Your face looks much improved, by the way."
"Thanks to you, boy. With my cult gaining ground in Sparta, my divine status has naturally risen."
"Then you'll have to help me out this time."
I explained Artemis's situation and asked him to protect the Amazon tribe.
"Gaining new worshippers would boost my status, but crossing one of the Twelve Olympians like Artemis isn't trivial."
"I'd brace for anything at your request, boy, but it's no easy task."
Iris had grown stronger lately, but he still fell short of Artemis. She might be unlucky, but she ranked at the top of the Olympian pantheon. Still, at this rate, Iris could catch up to her soon enough.
"I'm not asking without a plan."
This would benefit Iris long-term but burden him short-term. So I'd prepared countermeasures—for his sake and mine. After crushing the Amazons on Naxos Island, Artemis wouldn't let this slide easily.
"As expected, you're sharp, boy. What's your scheme?"
I asked him to block the queen and Amazons from hearing. His power manifested, enveloping us.
"A secret space just for you and me. They can't hear a thing."
"...Thanks. Anyway, from now on, naturally leak what I say to Lord Hermes. Can you manage that?"
"Hermes? Easy enough. He's a cheerful, friendly sort—we've been on good terms for ages."
"Perfect. Listen closely to what I tell you next. Make it something Hermes can blab about at the gods' banquet."
Hermes would gladly play the fool once he grasped his role. He hated Artemis, after all.
* * *
The Olympian gods' banquets were held regularly. Nectar and ambrosia flowed freely, the three Graces danced adorably, and the Muses sang. The gods reveled in their places, with the best seats reserved for the so-called Twelve Olympians.
"Ahahaha, the mood is truly electric tonight."
Zeus forced an awkward laugh while commenting on the feast, but he was sneaking glances at his wife, sweat beading on his brow.
Meanwhile, Queen Hera, wife of the supreme god, glared daggers. The onlookers just assumed Zeus had stirred up another woman trouble.
"Caused another mess, has he?"
Hermes smirked and murmured to Hephaestus.
"Hardly the first time."
Hephaestus replied indifferently, watching his wife Aphrodite flirt shamelessly with other gods while ignoring him. He snorted.
"Hmph, that's hardly new either."
Hermes had to agree. Olympus had stagnated lately; everything followed the same old patterns. Stability, sure—but excruciatingly boring for Hermes, who thrived on juicy gossip.
Recently, though, he'd heard a delightful rumor from the rainbow god Iris. He'd been biding his time to drop it.
"Look, Hephaestus. Artemis is awfully smug tonight."
The clash between Moon Goddess Artemis and War Goddess Enyo was tilting in Artemis's favor. Enyo had picked the fight in a huff, but she couldn't match one of the Twelve Olympians. With victory assured, Artemis's ego was sky-high—especially since Ares had skipped the banquet to clean up her mess.
Hermes ached to shatter that smugness.
Opportunity knocked: Zeus, worn down by Hera's glare, sought rescue.
"Hermes! My diligent son, always flitting about. Share any fresh news."
Zeus's cue drew eyes from the assembled gods. Hermes's tales were always the highlight. He rose smoothly, seizing the moment—no one interrupted the messenger god's stories; it was an ancient taboo.
"Since you ask, I'll share a few. Something quite peculiar happened lately."
"What is it?"
Zeus tossed in a prompt to hook Hera.
"The brave Amazon warriors have switched gods. They once served Artemis but now embrace Iris."
"What?"
Zeus perked up; the ploy had snagged real interest. Artemis's face twisted instantly.
"What the...?"
As she opened her mouth to complain, Hephaestus cut in. "Why would that happen?"
"Good question. The Amazons bore a heavy burden and failed. Fearing their mistress's wrath, they fled to Iris's embrace."
Zeus frowned. "Insolent wretches—shirking duty and changing allegiance."
Artemis brightened a bit at the supreme god's support, despite the embarrassment.
But Hermes wasn't done. "Hahaha, hardly worth condemning. Their task was impossible: finding the sleeping shepherd Endymion."
Artemis's face froze solid. Zeus looked intrigued. "Endymion? Who's that?"
"The human shepherd loved by the now-vanished Moon Goddess Selene."
"Ah, right. The mad bitch who put her lover to eternal sleep to preserve his beauty."
Zeus spat curses at the former moon goddess while gnawing ribs, gesturing for more.
"Father."
Artemis tried to intervene, uncomfortable, but Zeus brushed her off. "Quiet. Hermes is speaking. Don't interrupt."
Rebuked, Artemis fell silent, hoping Hermes didn't know Endymion's true secret.
But his next words drained the color from her face. "Here's the fun part: Selene's greedy love was a smokescreen for the truth. She didn't just lull him—she left a fragment of her power in Endymion for the future."
"What?"
Zeus's expression darkened. Titan remnants were his ultimate sore spot. Purging them to establish the Olympian myth was his crowning glory—a flawless triumph befitting the king of gods.
No blemishes allowed. That's why he'd always persecuted Ares for his dire warnings.
And now, a piece of Titan moon goddess Selene's power lingered? Zeus flushed crimson, nostrils flaring. He glared at Artemis.
"Father, that's..."
"Silence! Artemis, no excuses!"
Seeing her usually indulgent father enraged, Artemis quailed. Even as one of the Twelve, she was a child before the supreme god.
"Hermes, continue. If you're lying, you'll regret it."
"Why would I fabricate before you, Father Supreme?"
Zeus, who trusted Hermes enough to make him his herald, nodded slightly. "Proceed."
"Understood. Because of Selene's lingering power, the current moon goddess couldn't fully absorb her essence. Artemis's power is incomplete. That's why she's kept it secret and hunted the sleeping Endymion."
Artemis's face contorted in horror. She glared murderously at Hermes, but he didn't flinch—instead, he smirked just for her eyes.
Hermes was in ecstasy. Peleus, oh Peleus! How did you uncover all this? This Hermes shall reward you greatly!
He'd heard it from Iris but knew it originated with Peleus—he'd watched the Amazon clashes.
"The Amazons were deployed for it but failed. Endymion vanished. Facing their mistress's fury, they sought shelter elsewhere."
"Vanished?"
"Yes. The ancient dragon Cataphractus snatched him to a place even gods can't find."
Peleus's fabrication, but true enough—Cataphractus had vanished into the First Scribe's gullet.
"Preposterous!"
Zeus slammed the table, splintering it and chaos-ing the banquet. His furious aura lashed Artemis.
"Hiding your failure to absorb Selene's power fully! Unforgivable, you fool! To think you're not a complete moon goddess."
"Father, forgive me! It was just a tiny bit!"
Her desperate plea only fueled his rage. "Shut up! Still yapping!"
Artemis eyed her brother Apollo for aid, but the sly god coughed and looked away. Even Hera stayed out. She realized no one would help.
"Anything left to say?"
Zeus's face promised no mercy. Despair gripped Artemis—even favored children faced his cold wrath. Ares, his legitimate heir, got the cold shoulder.
She played her last card. "Father, give me a little time. I know where Selene's soul is. It was too dangerous, so I hesitated. But now, I'll go without delay."
"Where is Selene's soul?"
"In the dream world. I'll fetch it myself."
Artemis had known Selene was there but balked at the vast, nightmarish expanse and risks. No more stalling now.
"What? You knew and didn't report it? Infuriating!"
"Father, please, one last chance."
She groveled shamelessly before the gods. Pathetic, but survival trumped pride.
Zeus seethed but considered sparing his darling daughter once more.
Then Hermes struck like a hammer on her coffin nail. "One more thing I know: even in the dream world, Selene's soul is gone now."