Metis's voice held more urgency than before. Nairmis turned back and saw the goddess of wisdom with long, deep-blue hair standing where she was, looking at him with eyes full of pleading.
"Your divine power of prophecy astounds me," she said solemnly. "You have traveled far along the path of prophecy, so may I beseech you to make a prophecy for my father and mother?"
Her fingertips lightly clasped together before her, her bearing still elegant.
"They are still inside Mother Gaia's belly. I cannot sense whether their minds remain conscious, nor do I know when they will regain their freedom. I..."
She took a deep breath and swallowed back the words "I'm so afraid," replacing them with something steadier. "I only want to know whether they can return safely."
Nairmis lowered his eyes, his mind racing through the possibilities. Oceanus and Tethys, the embodiments of the great ocean and the sea, had always been top-tier Titan gods in Greek mythology and had never been utterly destroyed.
Moreover, not only had these two Titans returned safely, but they had continued to occupy their thrones as lord of the great ocean and goddess of the sea in the future divine genealogy, serving as the foundation of the entire oceanic lineage.
Their escape from Gaia's belly was inevitable; it was merely a matter of time. He could trade a known event for a favor from the Sea Faction.
A guaranteed profit.
Nairmis stood in the night, looking at the goddess of wisdom with long, deep-blue hair before him, a plan already taking shape in his mind.
Of course he could not reveal the prophecy so easily. People did not value things obtained too easily. Getting something simply by asking, without giving anything in return-where could anyone find such a bargain?
Besides, Metis's current state had exposed her true feelings. She was anxious, anxious enough to ask a third-class god she had only just met for help.
With a little thought, Nairmis understood the crux of the matter. The Sea Faction's situation was probably quite precarious now.
Oceanus, god of the great ocean, and Tethys, goddess of the sea, had been stuffed back into Gaia's belly, leaving the entire oceanic order without its highest pillars.
The Deep Sea Faction had already been at odds with them. Now that those powerful pillars were gone, they were surely watching from the shadows, itching to act. The pressure on Metis, as the foremost goddess of the Sea Faction, was easy to imagine.
Although Uranus was brutal, his very presence kept the Deep Sea Faction from daring to launch an all-out attack. Ironically, this had become a protective umbrella that allowed the Sea Faction to cling to life for the time being.
Yet Uranus was also the very reason Oceanus and Tethys were trapped. Creating a crisis through the God-King's wrath, then maintaining a superficial peace through the God-King's oppressive might-His Majesty really was a superb shit-stirrer.
Nairmis rolled his eyes inwardly, suppressed his assessment of Uranus, and brought his attention back to the conversation before him.
He adjusted his expression, adding a touch of exhaustion and weakness.
"Your Highness Metis, I would gladly make a prophecy for you. But you should understand that the subjects you are asking me to divine are Their Highnesses Oceanus and Tethys, ocean Titans who command the world's fundamental essence."
"The higher the level of the prophecy and the weightier the laws involved, the greater the burden on this paltry third-class divinity of mine. Besides, I have already used my divine power of prophecy once just now. My reserves of divine power truly are running low."
Metis froze slightly, the urgency in her eyes quickly cooling somewhat. Only then did she take a careful look at Nairmis before her. He really did look tired.
Her anxiety had clouded her judgment. She had thought only of seizing this possible hope before her, forgetting the most basic fact: he was only a third-class god.
In rank, he was not even equal to her, a second-class goddess. And he had just prophesied about those top-tier beings. She really was asking too much of him.
Metis unclasped her fingers and let her hands fall to her sides again. A trace of apology showed on her face as she placed her right hand over her chest and bowed slightly, her bearing elegant and sincere, a note of self-reproach in her voice.
"Your Highness Nairmis, I was inconsiderate. The Sea Faction has been gripped by unease lately, and I was indeed a little too anxious. I will visit again once your divine power has recovered."
With that, she turned and left without lingering.
Watching her retreating figure, Nairmis's mouth twitched slightly. He sensed that she had not lied; she really did feel guilty.
Wait, she believed that just like that? Aren't you the goddess of wisdom? Are you really this straightforward?
He had intended to draw things out a little longer, waiting for Metis to offer something before reluctantly agreeing. Yet she had actually just said goodbye?
But on second thought, he understood. At this point in the world of Greek mythology, the gods had yet to develop so many convoluted schemes and power plays. Everyone meant what they said.
Was Uranus not the same? When he wanted to kill you, he never hid it; he simply acted.
Thinking of it that way, he instead felt that his little maneuvers just now seemed somewhat insincere in this world.
Bah! Nairmis promptly stopped that thought in its tracks.
What he was doing was called strategy, the wisdom to survive by adapting to his circumstances. He lived in a world where the God-King could crush him at any moment. Without keeping a few tricks in reserve, he would not even have a chance of living until tomorrow.
"Your Highness."
He called her back after all. Metis stopped and turned to look at him.
Nairmis took half a step forward, adjusted his expression, and put on a gentle, understanding smile. "Your Highness, I have seen something of your predicament in the future."
He paused, as though making a difficult decision. "But Your Highness, although I truly have very little divine power left, I can take the risk and make a prophecy for you."
Metis's eyes brightened slightly. Deeply moved, she felt that Nairmis was truly beautiful and kind, willing to take a risk for a goddess he had only just met.
"However, I have one small request," Nairmis continued, his tone still gentle. "If I ever need help in the future, I hope the Sea Faction will lend me a hand."
He said it quite openly. He knew that in this straightforward world, asking for something in return outright would reassure her more than concealing it would.
Metis nodded and took a deep breath. She placed her hand over her chest again, bowing more solemnly this time than before.
"Your Highness Nairmis, I swear in the name of Metis that from tonight onward, you will be the Sea Faction's most welcome friend. The moment you extended your hand to me, this friendship was already sealed."
"Whenever you are in need, so long as the ocean can reach you, Metis will spare no effort."
Nairmis hummed in satisfaction inwardly. Although the assurance still sounded somewhat vague, the rate at which the gods of Greek mythology honored their promises fluctuated wildly.
But at least at this very moment, Metis's assurance was genuine. He could sense that pure gratitude in her emotions.
That was enough. He gathered his thoughts and began putting on an act.