As they walked ahead, Aetherion lagged slightly behind, his sister, mother, and Themis moving a bit farther in front.
He couldn't help but think about the meeting to come.
Even though Themis had told him not to dwell on it, his mind was consumed.
He couldn't focus on anything else—and who could blame him? After all, this was war.
His first war.
Who even had experience with war?
Especially someone like him, who had once been a mortal.
A normal one, even.
He was nervous—just a bit—but the uncertainty gnawed at him.
He didn't really know what strategy they should use.
He thought he'd done well so far—rescuing his siblings, hunting down enemies—but it had all felt a little too easy.
He had a feeling that his luck was running out.
What they needed now was insight—different perspectives on how to act, how to strike back against Kronos.
Aetherion had thought about launching a direct attack on one of the Great Titans, but what if Kronos showed up?
What if he crushed them all before they could even react?
He had the power to do that.
Aetherion believed that completely.
They needed a distraction.
Something to divert Kronos' attention from their real objective.
But what?
That was what his thoughts kept circling back to—and why this meeting was so important.
He needed answers.
He hoped Metis would help guide the war council toward something solid.
What strategy should we use? he wondered.
"You're thinking again,"
came a voice that cut through his thoughts.
Aetherion blinked and looked up to see Hera staring at him, arms crossed, her expression annoyed.
"What's that stupid look on your face now?" she snapped. "We're about to have a war council, and your thoughts are off in the clouds. You can save your brooding for the evening."
Before he could respond, she grabbed his wrist and began pulling him faster toward the meeting chamber.
Their family had already gone ahead with Themis.
"Honestly, you're such a pain sometimes, Aetherion," she muttered. "Always lost in your own head…"
But despite her irritation, he could hear a trace of concern in her voice.
That made him smile just a little.
"You're right," he said gently. "That's why it's good you're here, Hera."
She looked back at him with a proud smirk.
"Of course. As the superior one, it's important to look after those below me."
Turning her head with her nose held high, she let out a huff of mock arrogance.
Aetherion chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah… you sure are."
It was comforting, in a way, to see that Hera hadn't changed much—even after gaining so many subordinates and so much influence.
She still acted like the same proud, stubborn sister he had always known.
"But really, Aetherion," she said, her voice softening. "You don't have to carry all this weight on your own. We're fighting together, remember? It's not just on you."
Aetherion nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Okay."
"But still," he added with a grin, "can't a man think for a moment without being dragged around?"
Hera rolled her eyes, but her expression relaxed.
The tension between them faded as they walked toward the council, side by side.
As they walked, they finally arrived at the doors of the meeting room.
Two lesser-ranked deities stood guard.
The moment they saw the approaching group, they bowed respectfully and greeted,
"Welcome, my lord and ladies!!"
Without needing to be asked, they opened the doors, revealing the grand meeting room inside.
The room was arranged around a vast, round table, with a glowing holographic map projected above it.
The map mirrored the divine concept of Gaia—her original body—the Earth in all its natural grandeur.
The group entered and began taking their seats, slowly filling out the empty chairs.
Aetherion noticed Hera heading toward his left side of the seats and called to her.
"Can you contact Iris?"
She nodded wordlessly and extended her divine power, sending a silent summons.
Moments later, radiant light filled the chamber.
A woman materialized in a shimmer of divine essence—slim and graceful, standing at about 5'7".
Two pair of pure white wings unfurled from her back.
Her light blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her eyes glowed with a warm pink hue.
She smiled radiantly as she spoke.
"My lady Hera, what is it you require?"
This was Iris, the goddess of rainbows and messengers.
"Send word to all war generals," Hera commanded. "Tell them to come to this meeting immediately."
"As you wish, my lady."
Iris gave a respectful bow.
She lifted her hand and released a surge of rainbow light, which formed into a luminous projection in the air.
The rainbow split into multiple streams, darting in different directions like arrows across the sky.
Within seconds, the first figure appeared.
A tall, muscular man stepped into the room, at least 6'6" in height.
His snowy white hair glinted under the divine light, and his piercing lightning-blue eyes gave him a striking, noble look.
He radiated power—and mischief.
But Aetherion immediately frowned.
He could see them clearly—multiple hickies covering the man's upper body, and the only thing he wore was a short, cheeky chiton that did little to hide his reckless lifestyle.
The man, noticing the attention, snapped his fingers, making the hickies vanish in an instant.
Then he cleared his throat.
"I have arrived,"
he said in a voice that rumbled like lightning.
Aetherion glared at him.
"You brat… do you want me to remove your lust again?"
he said sharply.
The man visibly paled.
His confident demeanor cracked as his eyes widened in panic.
"No, brother! Not that again, please!"
he pleaded, his voice trembling.
His expression now resembled that of a scolded puppy begging for forgiveness.
Rhea, watching the exchange, chuckled softly.
"Aetherion, stop being so mean to your brother. And Zeus ," she added, her voice stern but motherly, "next time, be presentable."
Zeus straightened immediately and flashed her a grateful smile.
"Of course, Mother! Thank you."
Zeus turned around and looked at Aetherion, giving him a nervous smile.
This was Zeus—the same baby born fifteen years ago, now grown and the supposed king of the gods, and ruler of the sky.
He had become strong, handsome, and proud… though still hopelessly lustful like the myth.
As Zeus found his seat, several radiant lights flashed again as more divine beings began to appear, summoned by Iris' magic, one by one entering the chamber.
——
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