Chapter 24.1 Birth
High atop the ancient Mount Olympus resided the third generation of Greek gods, ruled by Zeus, the King of the Gods.
Zeus had two elder brothers: Hades, the eldest, and Poseidon, the second. When the three brothers first divided their domains, they did so by drawing lots. Hades drew the underworld and became the King of the Dead; Poseidon drew the seas and claimed the title of the King of the Sea; Zeus drew the skies and ascended as the King of the Gods. From then on, Zeus remained on Mount Olympus holding the supreme power, while Hades and Poseidon returned to the underworld and the sea.
From mighty seas to the smallest streams, Poseidon governed all the waters surrounding Greece and it’s surrounding areas. All gods of the waters revered him as their supreme ruler. He spent most of his time in a magnificent palace deep beneath the Aegean Sea, seated upon a throne adorned with pearls and diamonds, wielding his mighty trident, and presiding over the boundless treasures of the seabed.
But the King of the Sea was a moody god. When he was at peace, the seas lay calm and tranquil, white gulls frolicked upon the waves, and passing ships sailed smoothly across the waters. Yet when displeased, the waters roared with fury, with violent storms and huge waves mercilessly capsizing ships and sending sailors to their deaths at the bottom of the sea.
And Poseidon had not been pleased for a long time. In the past few hundred years, the seas had been in constant turmoil, waves crashing and winds howling without end.
It was all because the King of the Sea had yet to find a beauty to his liking.
After amassing endless treasures, Poseidon had lost interest in wealth. He sought something new. The seabed was cold and lonely, and he longed for a beauty to keep him company.
The idea had been sparked by Zeus. His younger brother had taken seven wives in succession, yet he remained unsatisfied. Even now, Zeus continued his endless conquests, taking lovers from far and wide and siring countless illegitimate children. He lived a busy and fulfilling life every day.
Poseidon, however, had no interest in marriage or fatherhood. He was simply too bored. He needed something to occupy his time.
Unlike Zeus, who fell for every beauty he saw, bedding them without hesitation and fathering countless children, Poseidon had nothing but disdain for such womanizing behavior. He was a perfectionist with impossibly high standards. If he were to seek a companion, she would have to be the most breathtaking woman in existence.
But such a woman was nearly impossible to find.
Poseidon was obsessive by nature. Day by day, his mood deteriorated as he failed to find his perfect lover. He had long forgotten that his original intention was merely to stave off boredom. Now, it had become an unshakable fixation. He would not rest until he found the one.
Thus, he issued a decree — whoever could bring him joy and calm the raging seas would become the Queen of the Sea.
But the waves only grew more violent. The water gods trembled in fear, and mortals were equally terrified. In desperation, they scoured the lands for the most exquisite beauties, hoping to appease the King of the Sea and put an end to his wrath.
The position of Queen of the Sea was highly esteemed, granting the title holder the privilege of sharing power and wealth with the King of the Sea. Countless women eagerly came forward, vying for the honor. Among them were even a few handsome men — the King of the Sea had set no restrictions on gender.
However, the water gods tasked with selecting candidates dared not test Poseidon’s patience. They swiftly dismissed the men as nuisances and rejected any woman whose beauty was merely ordinary or even above average, leaving only the most stunning women to be presented to the King of the Sea.
Among those chosen were Medusa, Amymone, Aethra, Melanippe, Mesthles, and Thyro, etc. Each was an exceptionally beautiful woman, capable of toppling kingdoms with a single glance. They gathered in one grand palace, their radiance dazzling, their charms incomparable. Although all were breathtaking, Medusa stood out above the rest.
For fifty years, they resided within the Sea Palace, regarded by the outside world as Poseidon’s beloved consorts. Yet only they knew that none of them had ever laid eyes on the King of the Sea.
New arrivals came regularly, each one an offering to the King of the Sea, yet Poseidon never once appeared to meet them.
Still, life in the palace was far from miserable. They were surrounded by fine food, luxurious silks and exquisite jewels, their days filled with splendor beyond anything they had known in the outside world. Although the women were anxious and eager, they could only accept their situation and dared not disturb the King of the Sea.
One day, a sea nymph named Amphitrite arrived at the palace, possessing a beauty that surpassed all other women.
At that moment, Medusa’s heart filled with alarm.
She had come here for the esteemed position of Queen of the Sea and was determined to win. For fifty years, while the other women fretted over their inability to meet the King of the Sea, Medusa had remained patient. She knew she was the most beautiful among them. The moment Poseidon laid eyes on them, he would undoubtedly notice her first.
But now, this newcomer threatened everything. Amphitrite was even more stunning than she was, and for the first time, Medusa felt the sharp sting of crisis.
I need to find a way to ruin her face, Medusa thought viciously.
Medusa didn’t have a chance to act immediately, because soon after, good news came. The King of the Sea was summoning them.
No matter how their hearts pounded with excitement, the women maintained an air of composure. With the utmost grace, they lifted the hems of their gowns and curtsied, each hoping to leave an impression of elegance and dignity befitting a queen.
Poseidon told them to rise. His voice was young and deep, carrying a melody that lingered in their ears.
Medusa’s heart skipped a beat. Summoning her courage, she stole a glance at the god upon his throne.
He was breathtakingly handsome. His deep blue eyes outshone even the sapphire ring on her finger. Reclining lazily against his throne, he rested his long, slender fingers upon the pearl-encrusted armrest. Even his casual gestures were far more elegant than the aristocratic demeanor they had deliberately cultivated.
His expression remained indifferent, as if utterly unmoved by the dazzling beauties before him. He looks indifferent, as if he didn’t care about the beautiful women trying hard to catch his attention.
So high and mighty.
So extraordinarily handsome and dignified.
Medusa felt her heart race. If, before today, her only goal in coming to the sea had been to claim the title of Queen of the Sea, then after laying eyes on the King of the Sea, what she desired was the favor of this noble god.
She wanted him.
And she was not alone. Many of the women in the room harbored the same longing. Who could possibly resist such a noble and elegant god?
With just a single glance, Poseidon had stolen the hearts of every woman present. Yet as his cold, ice-blue eyes swept over them, his interest quickly faded, and his mood darkened even further.
Common. Mediocre. Not even worth a second look.
The women assembled before him were all stunning in their own right, each possessing a unique charm. But the fact that none stood out above the rest only confirmed that none of them embodied the singular beauty he sought.
Only two were barely acceptable.
Medusa’s palms grew clammy with sweat as she realized Poseidon’s gaze had lingered between her and Amphitrite.
Was he about to make a choice?
Time stretched into agonizing eternity. Then, at last, that deep, melodious voice broke the silence.
“You stay. The rest may leave.”
Medusa’s head snapped up, only to see that Poseidon was looking at Amphitrite, who was bowing excitedly.
Medusa’s nails dug into her palm. A jealous and resentful light flashed in her eyes.
Although the other women felt their own bitter disappointment, none dared to defy the King of the Sea. Each harbored her own thoughts as they quietly withdrew from the hall.
Soon, only Poseidon and Amphitrite remained.
Amphitrite could not hide her excitement. It was as if she had been hit by a huge pie. Was she going to become the Queen of the Sea? She didn’t covet the title, but she was truly captivated by the God of Sea’s charm.
Poseidon, however, sat unmoving, his fingers tapping idly against the armrest of his throne, lost in thought.
Amphitrite was undeniably beautiful. In the eyes of both mortals and gods alike, she was a rare and breathtaking beauty. Among the sea of dazzling women who had stood before him moments ago, she had been the brightest bloom.
But something was still missing.
Whatever it was, it meant she still fell short of perfection.
And Poseidon refused to settle for anything less.
Resting his chin against his hand, he drawled lazily, “Are you willing to be my queen?”
Amphitrite’s heart soared, her eyes shining with delight. “Your Majesty, I—” I am! I am very willing!
Before the words could leave her lips, a sudden tremor shook the sea, sending ripples through the very foundations of the palace. Amphitrite’s head snapped up, only to find that the throne before her was now empty.
The sea raged violently, and the sky crackled with lightning.
The sea gods were long accustomed to such tempests. As long as their king remained without a consort, the sea would never know peace. They could only hope that, among the countless beauties sent to him over the years, at least one might finally capture his heart.
But today was different.
Amid the churning waves, a great cluster of white foam gathered. From within it, golden light burst forth, piercing through the thick storm clouds, bathing the sky in an almost divine purity.
Poseidon, sensing the disturbance, ascended to the surface. Seeing the strange divine power brewing in the golden light on the sea, he slowly lowered his trident, his gaze deep.
A new god had been born.
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