The nymphs gathered nearby all retreated several steps. The instant the flames flickered, they instinctively felt afraid and huddled together.
Nairmis could not help chuckling at their frightened appearance. He stretched out his hand, holding it palm up beside the flames so the firelight illuminated it. "Don't be afraid. This is called fire. It won't hurt you as long as you keep a suitable distance from it."
The instant he finished speaking, a familiar fluctuation of laws came from within him.
A brand-new spark of divinity slowly condensed within him: flame divinity.
The corners of his lips curved in satisfaction. It had finally come. He finally had the seed of a divinity capable of attacking within him. Although it was only a wisp of divine essence for now, once the flames grew, their destructive power would far exceed that of any divinity he currently possessed.
This was a genuine weapon he could use to defend himself.
A glimmer of light appeared upon the previously pitch-black land.
The firelight illuminated the clearing beside the pool, as well as the five nymphs' wary, uncertain faces. Their initial fear slowly faded, replaced by curiosity.
Acenoe was the first to inch a small step forward. She extended a pale blue finger and tentatively touched the air above the flames, felt their warmth, then withdrew her hand with widened eyes.
The other nymphs gradually gathered around as well. Dryope crouched beside the fire, her brown skin turning a warm gold in its light.
Anthea cautiously extended her fingertips, lightly swept them beside the flames, then pulled them back with a very soft "Ah!"
As they watched that flickering light, they slowly grew quiet.
The night was no longer pure darkness. They could see one another's outlines in the flames, and that beauty gradually captivated them, until even their initial fear was forgotten.
Above the sky, within the divine realm.
Hyperion's hand clenched abruptly. Within him, the divine power of the domain of light was surging. The concept of light had broadened, and the boundaries of the domain he governed were expanding outward. His divinity benefited as a result, and his divine power was growing slowly but surely.
Beside him, Theia looked equally troubled. Her authorities over radiance and sight were expanding in tandem, as the radiance of fire and the sight flames provided in the darkness fed divine power back to her.
The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously turned their gazes toward Uranus, whose eyes were closed upon his divine throne. The crown of the God King was still slowly radiating its oppressive might, while cold sweat had already begun sliding down their temples.
The other Titans began to grow restless. Yesterday it had been Iapetus and Mnemosyne; today it was these two. What about tomorrow?
Coeus pressed his lips tightly together, Crius's breathing had become noticeably uneven, and Phoebe's fingers clenched against the ground before relaxing again. Today it was the turn of the two who governed light. Tomorrow, that surge might fall upon one of them.
They did not know the cause, did not dare investigate, and did not know how to stop it. But once Uranus awoke and discovered that the divine power of all twelve of his children had inexplicably grown, what terrifying wrath would await them?
The long years of imprisonment had already bent their backs, but their fear had not been worn away. Instead, it had accumulated ever deeper. They did not dare resist at all.
Beneath that fear, resentment was also brewing. Just who was doing this to them?
Whatever that being lurking in the shadows had done to touch their domains, once they caught that deity, they would make them taste imprisonment and oppression too, until they did not even dare breathe loudly.
At the foot of the mountain, Nairmis suddenly raised his head.
His emotion divinity sensed two extremely intense emotions coming from above the vault of heaven, terror mingled with resentment. But the owners of those emotions were so powerful that his scalp tingled. He did not dare touch them at all.
He withdrew his perception and smacked his lips with some regret. Such intense emotions-if he could absorb them and convert them into divine power, perhaps his emotion divinity could rise another notch.
But there was nothing he could do. They were too powerful for him to touch right now. Once he grew stronger in the future, such a fine opportunity would not escape him. He soon put the matter out of his mind and crouched beside the fire.
As the flames swayed, he took out the chunks of lamb he had threaded earlier, skewered them on sharpened branches, and held them over the fire, slowly turning them.
After a while, fat dripped into the fire with a sizzling sound, and an aroma began to spread.
The five nymphs swallowed in unison. They did not need to eat, but as that scent entered their noses, it stirred a primal craving they had never experienced before.
Acenoe stared fixedly at the chunks of meat turning on the branch, her amber eyes shining in the firelight.
Nairmis handed the first cooked skewer to Acenoe. The water nymph accepted it, hesitated, then cautiously took a bite.
Then her eyes suddenly lit up, and excitement brought a pink flush to her pale blue face. "Master, this is so delicious!"
She had never imagined that sheep, such rather adorable creatures, would taste so wonderful when made into lamb skewers.
The other nymphs immediately crowded around. Nairmis gave each of them a skewer. After eating, the way they looked at him had changed completely, from their initial nervousness and uncertainty to trust, and now to adoration.
He sat cross-legged on the ground and tried a bite himself. The lamb was crisp and browned outside, tender within. With one bite, the fat melted between his teeth, carrying a fresh fragrance of plants and grass, without the slightest gamy taste.
This meat is far too good. As expected of sheep from a mythological world-even the most basic ingredients are naturally delicious. In my previous life, this would at least have met the standard of exclusive supplies from a top-tier ranch.
He had initially worried that it would be hard to stomach without salt or spices, but now he was completely reassured.
As he ate, another fluctuation of laws arose within him. Nairmis could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids. He was used to it. He leisurely swallowed the meat in his mouth and wiped his fingers clean before taking an unhurried look.
A lesser cooking divinity floated quietly beside tools, instruments, music, and crafting. Drawing on the information fed back by the divinity, he immediately began grilling a few more skewers.
He adjusted the heat and timed his turns more precisely. The crisp edges sealed in the juices just right, raising the flavor a notch above before.
The nymphs enjoyed the food even more, each eating until she was a little dazed.
Once they had eaten their fill, the nymphs sat in a circle around the fire. Wrapped in warmth, their eyelids began to droop uncontrollably. Nairmis picked up his lyre and rested his fingertips on the strings.
His healing divinity glowed softly, and his music divinity responded. Golden notes drifted out with the melody, floating and swirling through the air. A gentle melody of healing flowed forth, and the music fell upon the nymphs.
The divine power of the God of Sleep settled over them as well. Acenoe's breathing gradually deepened, Anthea's head tilted onto Dryope's shoulder, Silvana's knees relaxed slightly, and Petra's hand slipped from her knee. One after another, the five nymphs entered peaceful dreams.
Nairmis kept playing. The music was low and slow, passing through the valley and the shadows of trees, seeping deep into the cracks in the earth.
Underground, within the divine realm of the earth.
Gaia reclined upon her divine throne, her eyes closed as she felt the music. The healing divine power was weak, and indeed had very little effect on a primordial god like her, but the music could ease her grief.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes and looked toward the figure slowly approaching not far away. Nyx, whom she had not seen in a long time, was walking slowly toward her.