Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

Clear eyes glanced at the clay jar in his hands, and Epimetheus answered respectfully.

Everything for today should come to an end, he approached the statue standing on the ground.

Slashing open his palm, Epimetheus let his blood stain the stone figure, visibly, the girl gradually gained vitality from an inanimate object.

Her skin turned rosy and full of color, the sound of a heartbeat began to ring, and finally, when her eyes sparkled to life, she was thoroughly imbued with life.

The newly born girl blinked her bright eyes, she looked at the deity standing before her, and spoke her first words:

“Who are you, who am I, and who are they?”

“You are Pandora, ‘the woman endowed with all gifts.’ I am Epimetheus, your creator, and your future husband; and they are the gods, masters of this world.”

The blessing of the Goddess of Beauty took full effect, looking at the girl before him, Epimetheus couldn’t help but be moved for a moment. Facing her questions, he patiently explained.

“Then why did you create me?”

Pandora continued to ask.

“Because my brother and I created men, and now there should also be women. You are the first woman, and you will be my wife.”

Caressing the clay jar in his hands, Epimetheus handed it to Pandora.

“The gods have given you all their blessings, only Hades’ part has turned into this clay jar. Now, I give it to you as well, as a testament to all this.”

Having said that, Epimetheus turned around. Having such a beautiful wife, he seemed somewhat eager.

“Do you have any further instructions, Your Majesty?”

“No, enjoy your wedding.”

If one overlooks the previously failed endowment of Wisdom, everything today pleases Zeus greatly. He waved his hand, indicating that Epimetheus could leave.

He wasn’t truly ‘grateful’ for the fool’s ‘achievements,’ naturally, he had no intention of saying more.

“Then we shall—”

“Wait—”

Just as he was about to leave, the next moment, a cold female voice came from outside Mount Olympus.

The gods turned their attention, for along with the voice came the unmistakable presence of a powerful force.

The gods exchanged looks, and eventually, they turned towards the Divine King on the throne, but by this time, Zeus had already stood up, looking solemnly towards the entrance of the hall.

“Welcome, esteemed Goddess of the Nether Moon, what brings you here today?”

The power of the Divine King was also released without concealment, Olympus was after all his domain. Zeus easily diffused the newcomer’s aura, yet he didn’t confront her, instead retracting it as soon as it connected.

“To honor the Lord’s will, I’ve come to present her with a gift.”

The voice arrived before the person. When Liana, wearing a purple dress, entered the hall, the gods present solemnly awaited.

Not just because of her power, but also because following the conflict with Hades earlier, Olympus had come to re-evaluate this goddess; she represented an existence comparable to Mother Earth herself.

Once, Moanda, a servant of Mother Earth and merely a Nymph fairy, had been received by the former Divine King and Heavenly Empress, let alone the present Goddess of the Nether Moon. Regardless of their thoughts, the gods had to welcome her arrival.

“Oh, to think such a trifle matter has troubled the Lord of the Spirit Realm.”

His right hand subconsciously gripped the armrest, Zeus felt tension inwardly, but his face bore a gratified smile.

“It is Pandora’s honor to receive the Spirit Realm’s favor, she will surely cherish it forever.”

…

Though Pandora was the main character of the event, in reality, no one truly took her into consideration. She was a tool, a delicate doll, but certainly not an equal among the gods, her future husband thought the same.

After a moment’s infatuation, Epimetheus quickly dismissed the influence. The Goddess of Beauty’s blessing was not the woman herself; with mindful vigilance, the effect could still be warded off.

By contrast, watching Liana stride into the hall, she was the real center of attention in the room. This being, whom he had met briefly, he had once speculated about her identity, yet he did not expect to meet again in such circumstances.

He remembered their conversation from last time but realized to his dismay that he had no memory whatsoever of the other person there with Liana.

He remembered the dialogue, but he couldn’t recall any other features about the other person.

“Your name is… Epimetheus, right? What is she doing here?”

Pandora asked quietly, noticing that Liana seemed to be looking at her.

But she wasn’t afraid, for the just-born Pandora did not know fear, and the blessings of the gods made her feel there was nothing in the world to be afraid of.

“…She is also a deity who has come to give you a gift, just wait and see.”

Epimetheus responded casually to the woman beside him, wondering about Liana’s intent.

The Divine King wanted to tarnish their image among humans, even using him to provide a reason to cleanse the Mortal Realm; the Afterthinker could understand that. But the purpose of this uninvited goddess was beyond his knowledge.

Just as Prometheus liked to confidently judge the future, what Epimetheus loathed the most was this sense of being utterly oblivious to what had transpired in the past.

“You are Pandora.”

A question in form, yet certain in tone, after clarifying her purpose with Zeus, Liana didn’t talk to any other deity but directly addressed her visit’s target.