"His Highness Nairmis and I," Hemera raised her voice a little, "are in love with each other, and we will become partners."
Nairmis froze. He turned to Hemera, his face full of confusion.
When had that happened? He knew nothing about it. Hadn't they only formally met for the first time today?
But he did not immediately object. His Divinity of Wisdom flashed in his mind, making him hold back the objection about to escape his lips.
Hemera, Goddess of Day, was the daughter of Nyx and Erebus. Two Primordial Gods stood behind her. Though she herself was only a second-class god, her parents were ancient beings whom all gods had to be wary of.
Perhaps she had said this not out of love, but to protect him.
Uranus would always hesitate a little longer before acting against someone who had the indirect attention of two Primordial Gods.
Nairmis glanced at Hemera, suddenly feeling rather moved. This goddess he had met by chance was bearing the pressure for him.
He did not directly undermine her. He nodded slightly, neither confirming nor denying it, merely responding to her words with that ambiguous gesture.
Once this was over, he would have to thank her properly. This favor was worth remembering.
Nairmis could not help thinking of Hypnos, the God of Sleep. His Highness had also treated him gently, without any of a high-ranking god's airs.
Now this Goddess of Day was doing the same. Despite being a second-class god, she was willing to step forward and take the heat for a third-class one.
The gods of Night's lineage were all very good gods. In his mind, Nairmis silently added a plus sign to his favorability toward Nyx's family, and the score shot upward.
Uranus turned to glance at them, then the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. A trick like this could not fool his eyes.
If he wished, he could expose this clumsy lie on the spot, but he did not.
He had already dealt with everyone who needed dealing with today, and his authority had received unprecedented affirmation across the world. He was in a good mood now, good enough not to care about a second-class goddess's little trick.
He was merely wary of Nyx and Erebus and did not want to make enemies of two Primordial Gods over such a small matter. That did not mean he feared them.
If Hemera crossed his bottom line, he would still act.
But she had not. She was merely telling a childish lie in an attempt to protect a little third-class god. An offense of this degree was not worth his attention.
Uranus withdrew his gaze and looked at Nairmis again.
He had not come here to expose a little girl's lie. He raised his hand and waved it casually. A force swept past Nairmis's hands, and the two sheets of parchment floated away, landing precisely in Uranus's palm.
Uranus looked down at them, his gaze lingering for a moment. The two drawings accurately reproduced what he had just done today.
Then he raised his head and looked at Nairmis, scrutiny appearing in his eyes.
"So this is the prophecy you made? Then make another prophecy: who else will defy me?"
Nairmis felt a chill run down his back. The question sounded casual, but every word was dangerous. If he answered poorly, his fate would be miserable.
Hemera sensed the danger too. She stepped forward, intending to speak up for him, but just as she opened her mouth, Uranus turned and glanced at her.
Hemera felt boundless pressure crushing her from every direction. Her knees buckled, and she dropped straight to the ground, bracing her hands on the grass with her head lowered. Even her breathing grew rapid.
Nairmis hurried a step forward and immediately spoke. "Great God King, Nairmis, God of Prophecy, offers you this prophecy: for as long as you remain God King, no god will be able to defy you. Your rule will be as eternal as time."
There was a loophole in this prophecy. "For as long as you remain God King" meant, what if one day he no longer was?
This was a gap in language. This was the usefulness of wisdom.
But Uranus could not hear it, nor did he need to. In the Lord of the Sky's understanding, he would always be God King. The premise of this statement was a fact that needed no verification.
Uranus narrowed his eyes, then smiled in satisfaction. Though he had sensed no fluctuations of prophecy, he was pleased that Nairmis knew what was good for him.
He tossed the two sheets of parchment back. Nairmis caught them and rolled them up again.
Uranus was in no hurry to leave. He sat down on a flat rock, propping his chin on one hand, his deep eyes turning languid again.
"Is that what you told my cowardly youngest son too?"
He asked casually. Holding the parchment scrolls, Nairmis stood quietly for a moment. His heartbeat quickened by half a beat. Uranus did indeed know that Cronus had been in contact with him.
"His Highness Cronus," Nairmis began to explain, "merely felt Your Majesty's overwhelming presence deeply and came to his senses on his own."
He answered neither yes nor no. He merely attributed Cronus's behavior to having felt the God King's majesty. This was both part of the truth and a way to remove himself from that conversation.
Uranus looked into his eyes. Nairmis did not evade his gaze, his expression gentle and sincere.
Then Uranus looked away, turning toward the darkening colors on the horizon. The boundary of day was blurring.
Hemera's body suddenly went taut. She struggled to rise from the ground. Most of the pressure had already faded, and her legs were still weak, but she stood.
She bowed deeply to Uranus. "Your Majesty, day is drawing to an end. Hemera takes her leave."
Uranus did not look at her. He gave a slight nod in permission.
Hemera turned. As she passed Nairmis, her steps slowed. She tilted her head, her loving gaze falling on his face, giving Nairmis a slight start. There was genuine love in that gaze.
Hemera turned and left. Nairmis remained where he was, his pupils contracting slightly. His Emotion Divinity had caught an unusual signal.
It was an aura distinct from ordinary emotions. Nairmis had never felt such an aura before. It belonged to none of the common emotions of anger, fear, sorrow, or joy. What was it?
"No need to be surprised."
His thoughts were interrupted by a languid voice.
Uranus was still sitting on that rock, his cheek resting on one hand. His gaze had already left the horizon and settled on Nairmis's face with interest.
"Your beauty is enough to plunge her into love and desire. Just enjoy it."
Nairmis turned to Uranus in surprise. This brutal God King had just made a teasing remark in that casual, conversational tone. It did not sound like something he would say.