Today, atop Mount Olympus, there was a change—neither the solemnity of the past nor the depression caused by Zeus's moods, but filled with an almost pure festive atmosphere.
Although Zeus had ultimately and reluctantly granted Leto, who had already borne his heirs, the position of Queen of Heaven, it was somewhat of a compromise.
But the birth of new gods, especially healthy and powerful ones, always symbolized the prosperity of the gods and hope for the future, enough for the gods to temporarily set aside their intrigues and indulge in feasts and wine.
The goddess Leto, now Queen of Heaven, possessed a face full of maternal radiance and satisfaction, and her two children—the sister Artemis, in charge of hunting and the wild, displayed from birth an energetic and wild beauty;
the younger brother Apollo was a combination of prophecy, light, medicine, music, and many other powers, his golden eyes seeming to contain the wisdom and strength of the sun.
Their birth significantly stabilized Leto's position and even brought a rare smile to Zeus's face.
On the other side, Hera also gave birth to a son, Hephaestus.
This newborn male god held authority over flame, craftsmanship, sculpture, and architecture.
Compared to the dazzling radiance of the siblings Apollo and Artemis from birth, he seemed more reserved and introverted.
Catia, the Princess of Hades, as a representative of the Underworld, was invited to the event.
Hecate had to follow, mainly because she wanted to play herself.
She wore a simple black dress, and the moon ornament on her forehead radiated a cold glow, which seemed a little out of place in the golden and intertwined setting of Olympus, but it was unique.
Soon, Catia's gaze was drawn to the newly born goddess of the hunt.
Artemis's free, untamed, and indomitable life force contrasted with the eternal order and silence of Hades, making Catia feel novel.
And Artemis also seemed impressed by this princess from the mysterious Underworld.
The two young princesses almost naturally gravitated towards each other, sharing stories of each other's worlds, and soon became like friends who had known each other for a long time.
Catia watched with interest the interaction between Artemis and her brother Apollo.
The radiant god of light appeared unusually... submissive before his sister Artemis.
Artemis casually commented on a certain landscape, and Apollo meticulously noted it down;
if she wanted to try some fairy food from afar, Apollo immediately stood up and fetched it for her;
even when Artemis playfully ruffled his bright blonde hair, he just smiled helplessly and indulgently, without resisting.
"Apollo, he listens to you," Catia commented, with a slight hint of something she didn't even notice... envy?
Artemis smiled warmly and proudly patted her brother on the shoulder: "Of course! He's my brother! Although he's clumsy sometimes, he's still very reliable."
Apollo smiled softly on the side, fully accepting his sister's assessment, his golden eyes full of dependence and closeness.
Looking at this scene, Catia couldn't help but think of her nominal 'younger brothers' in the Underworld—Prometheus, the 'foreseer', who always had deep eyes and was full of 'forethought', and actually used all kinds of excuses like 'for your own good' and 'exercising your abilities' to trick her into helping with difficult tasks;
and Epimetheus, the 'afterthinker', who always reacted slowly and often needed her to clean up the mess afterwards.
Even Atlas, transformed from the Father God's finger, was more like a silent and powerful guardian tool than a younger brother.
Being tricked by Prometheus into mediating among shades who were fighting because of his 'guidance', or helping Epimetheus sort out the Underworld documents he had messed up with his 'hindsight'... These 'sister-brother interactions' were hardly carefree, let alone 'submissive'.
An extremely sharp contrast, one she hadn't felt before, caused a subtle emotion in Catia's heart.
She looked at Apollo's unconditional trust and obedience to Artemis, and the simple and warm bond between them...
A thought clearly appeared in her mind, like a bubble suddenly rising from the bottom of the Styx:
"It seems... I want a 'clueless' brother like Apollo."
She took a glass of Olympian fairy wine and took a sip.
Her gaze glided again over the lively feast and finally stopped on Artemis and Apollo, an imperceptible light flickering in her violet eyes.
Perhaps... Hades also needed a little 'life force'?
A younger brother who completely belonged to Hades, who wouldn't trick her, but would just obediently listen... Sounded like a good idea.
The excitement and light of Mount Olympus receded like a tide, and Catia returned to her Underworld.
The image of the bright siblings living in harmony, especially Apollo's unconditional obedience to Artemis, left a deep mark on her heart.
She first went to see the 'Mother Goddess' Metis.
On the banks of the Styx, the goddess of wisdom looked at the flowing river, her eyes empty.
"Mother Goddess." Catia stepped forward, her voice carrying a note of girlish delicacy, and she gently took Metis's slightly cold hand.
Metis trembled slightly, startled from her distant thoughts. She turned her head and looked at her daughter, who had grown up but rarely showed such affection, a flicker of softness in her eyes: "Catia, you're back from Olympus? Did you have a good time?"
"Mm," Catia nodded and leaned closer.
"Mother Goddess, I saw Artemis and Apollo... Their relationship as brother and sister is very good."
She raised her eyes, her violet eyes full of pure longing, and began to count how Apollo obeyed his sister, how he was like a sparkling, loyal, and beautiful pet.
Finally, with a little temptation and a little plea, she said softly:
"Mother Goddess... I really want a brother like that. A... obedient one who won't always trick me like Prometheus, and doesn't need me to clean up after him like Epimetheus. A younger brother who belongs to me."
She was completely immersed in her vision of an ideal 'good brother' and did not notice that the moment her words fell, the breath around Metis suddenly froze.
The hand held by Catia became extremely cold and even trembled slightly.
Brother...
That word was like a poisoned dagger, piercing the most sensitive, painful, and powerless area of Metis's heart.