38 Homage

Hera was uncertain who destroyed who in their passion, but it eventually ended—their limbs entwined, hearts pounding, breath panting—after what seemed like an eternity; time has truly an interesting interpretation of perfection.

Aside from her besotted feelings, the Goddess of the Stars was immediately swept by the realisation that she had become so engrossed in their passion that she had lost track of time; she wouldn't be surprised if weeks had passed on earth, and indeed they had.

It has been three weeks since we began, Hypnos had said, seeing her worries. But only one night on Earth. You see, I've been working on time as well, just to prepare for this night. I know we certainly lose ourselves to each other.

Hypnos, as always, was considerate and thoughtful—almost to the point where it has begun to bug her. She somewhat felt like she wasn't doing enough in their relationship.

The niggling thoughts passed through her mind as Hera was getting herself ready for the victory banquet today. She was standing in front of a large mirror, trying on various dresses from a cupboard nearby.

Did she mention how convenient her beloved's castle was? There were a lot of interesting and new things all around the huge palace, which made life a lot easier. But it was how self-sufficient they were that sealed the deal for her. She found herself appreciating all of them.

Hera waved her hand, willing the white-and-gold dress to fly into her hand. Given the significance of the banquet, she wanted to present herself in the best possible light.

A new era was going to begin, Hypnos had said before temporarily leaving the room all to herself. He'd gone to deal with the Titanomachy's aftermath, and as much as she understood his duty, she couldn't help but be dismayed by his departure.

Hera began to wear the gown, and when she touched the knots of her gown, Hypnos appeared behind her, kissing her on the neck. "You look lovely," he said, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"Is this dress good?" Hera asked, lying on his chest.

"Yes." Hypnos nodded briskly.

"Really?" Hera pressed, squinting at the white-and-gold gown—she, too, loved it, but there were plenty of other options. "There are many more dresses in the closet. I could—"

"White suits you best," Hypnos merely stated.

"Then help me with the knots," Hera hummed, pointing to her back.

Hypnos did as he was told, bending down and tying her knots.

"So everything went well..?" Hera inquired.

"Yes," Hypnos said serenely. "It did."

"Then why do I have the feeling you're hiding something?" Hera inquired quietly.

"Not hiding," Hypnos corrected, fastening her final knot. "I just don't want to ruin the mood for today."

"Is it really that bad?" Hera spun around to face him.

Instead of answering her question, Hypnos drew her to his closet. "Come on, help me pick one."

Hera chose not to press; his silence was an answer in and of itself. And they walked over to his closet, where they began to select a suitable dress for Hypnos.

After much thought, Hypnos and Hera settled on a black chiton glistening with nebulas, as if stars were born from within it.

"Now for the finishing touch," Hera circled around her beloved, raising her hand, and a burst of starlight manifested an argent crown, which she placed on his head.

Hera dragged him to the mirror and asked, "How is it?"

"Love it," Hypnos kissed her, "but we are still missing something."

"What?" Hera squinted thoughtfully at their reflection.

Hypnos snapped his fingers, and a starlight crown manifested on her head. "Now we are perfect, don't you say, my love?" He kissed her lips.

"Perfect," Hera said silently, savouring the taste of the word in her heart.

And so they were ready for the epochal banquet; together they teleported to the Gate of Horn, where Hecate and Mnesmosyne waited for them in silence. When they saw Hypnos appear in the distance, they immediately bowed their heads in dismay.

"What happened to them?" Hera whispered into his ears.

"They failed their mission," Hypnos stated.

"It was the thrones, right?" Hera asked lowly as they began to stride towards

Hypnos hummed.

"You addressed them?" Hera went on.

"In the morning," Hypnos affirmed. "And it's not their fault, but they're still blaming themselves. You know, it was their first task and all, so they were pretty disappointed with themselves."

Hera stared at them pensively.

"What's with the sudden interest in them?" Hypnos followed her gaze.

"I am just trying," Hera said. "to better integrate into Dreaming. After all, it is now my home."

"It is indeed, is it now?" Hypnos said with a bit of wonder, as if he couldn't believe all of this was really happening.

"It is," Hera said, pecking his cheeks. "And I am ever grateful for it."

Hypnos smiled brightly at her as they approached the Horn Gate, stopping in front of a bowing Hecate and Mnemosyne.

The Lord of the Dream turned to look at his subordinates. "Get up," he ordered, and they obeyed. "Listen, I am only going to say this once—do not be embarrassed about your failures, learn from them, and start again. I know you think you disappointed me, but I assure you that you did not. So, for Gaea's sake, gather yourself and rejoice in the victory we have achieved together."

"Yes, my lord," they repeatedly nodded; Mnemosyne was back to her cheerful self; Hecate astonishingly sported the slightest of smiles. They then turned to face Hera, who was watching them silently. "My lady," they said, bowing slightly.

Hera nodded approvingly, her head held high.

Seeing her like that made Hypnos unconsciously smile. "Let's go," he said, pulling a pocket watch from his robes and inspecting it. "It's time."

The Gate of Horn rumbled open, and they strode through it, Mnemosyne and Hecate in front,

Hypnos and Hera in back. Hera inquired after his subordinates had entered the gate. "Why were you smiling back there?"

"Nothing," said Hypnos.

"Come on, Hypnos," Hera said with a cocked brow, "what is it?"

"You asked for it," Hypnos chuckled. "The first meeting, remember?" He held his head high at her, doing his best Hera impression, "Not to be offensive, but, immortals—"

Hera instantly regretted it, cringing at his words. "Oh, Hypnos, stop!"

The laughter and grumbling of Hypnos and Hera resounded as they stepped into the Gate of Horn together and vanished from the Dreaming.

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The Great Titan War ended with the victory of the gods, bringing an end to the Age of Titans and opening a new chapter for the world.

However, one major issue remained unresolved: the division of the world, or more specifically, the major unclaimed parts of the world.

In light of this, Zeus called a private meeting with his brothers to hold a drawing for ownership of the major claimed parts on the night after the war ended.

The results were as follows:

Zeus received the highest roll—no surprise—and he chose the sky and ascended to become the God of the Sky.

Poseidon received the second-best roll. He chose the domain of the sea and ascended to become the God of the Sea.

Hades received the worst roll. Notwithstanding, he chose the underworld, being the God of the Underworld and all (Zeus insisted Hades be present in the draw so as to acknowledge and officiate his rulership of the Underworld for the world to witness).

Ultimately, Earth was chosen as the neutral territory between neutral territories. So the drawing came to an end, and the results were quickly announced to everyone.

The shocking announcements were far from over, however, as Zeus made a majestic declaration to all gods and titans present on Olympus not even an hour after the drawing announcement.

The God of the Sky crowned himself King of Gods rather than King of the Cosmos, as his original intention had been. He had matured from his previous folly under Hypnos' teachings, realising the true infinity that was the Cosmos and the insignificance of his own existence. But this does not mean he had given up on his dream; on the contrary, his deep understanding of the cosmos only served to fuel it.

And, as he had expected, his regal declaration was met with no challenge or resistance, and everyone recognised him as their king, as they should.

His first act as king was to command the hundred-handed ones to transform Olympus into a divine abode that outshines Mount Othrys in every way. His throne would be there, and he would rule over the world from it, aided by his siblings.

The Hundred-Handed Ones immediately went to work, separating Mount Olympus from the ground and placing it on the highest clouds of the infinite sky with their mighty hundred hands. Then they quickly began to just craft the divine palace of gods at the top of Olympus, right around the main hall of Olympus, considering the victory banquet tomorrow. Zeus didn't push them, but they were eager to repay the favour they owed to the King of Gods.

That endeavour put their abilities to the test, but by the first light of Helios, they were done, worn, and tried, but content with their creation. When Zeus finally saw the divine palace of the gods, his mood got all the merrier. He generously rewarded the hundred-handed ones with the duty of Titan Wardens, giving them a chance to air their grievances and making them even more indebted to the King of Gods. They even wanted to immediately continue with the renovation of the rest of the Olympus, despite their strained beings; however, Zeus keenly noticed this and gave them a well-needed break, sending them to the Earth for the day.

The King of Gods then consulted with his mother, who was organising the banquet, and they decided to move the victory banquet to the newly-built palace of gods. With that decided, they finally sent the messages and invitations to everyone through Iris, the Goddess of the Rainbow, who was also appointed temporarily as Messenger of Gods by him.

So, by the afternoon light of Helios, the banquet began jubilantly. The Gods, Titans, and other extraordinary beings flew to Olympus as the gates were opened to all, for this was the day of celebration, the day of dawn, and...

The day of beginnings.

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In the infinite sky, among the highest clouds, Olympus floated, glistening in the sun like a jewel of the world, and indeed, it was a jewel that would glisten brilliantly throughout the rest of the long history of the world.

The victory banquet had begun in full swing in the main hall of the divine palace, where six divine thrones were majestically erected, honouring the children of Rhea, who had started the rebellion against Kronos.

The hall was humming with immortals, and more were constantly arriving in pairs, eager to witness the beginning of a new era.

Hypnos sat in the seat of honour, surrounded by Helios, Demeter, and Themis, vaguely answering their questions and doubts about the true nature of divinity. It was up to them to decipher the clues hidden between his riddles. There was a limit to even his generosity.

Hera eventually came back to him. She had been dragged away from him by her mother right after they arrived at Olympus with the swarm of questions. It was clear to him that the Mother of Gods was still apprehensive about his existence, given how she avoided meeting him directly.

Anyway, returning to the banquet, Helios, Themis, and Demeter noticed Hera's arrival and quickly dispersed away from him, though Themis hesitated as if she wanted to say something but decided against it in the end, and Demeter, who exchanged a few heated words about their brothers with her before having the table all to themselves.

Finally, Hera sat next to him, her countenance marred with exasperation.

"A sweet for your thoughts," Hypnos raised a sweet to her tensed lips while concealing their voices from everyone, which Hera noticed, and she opened her mouth to take a bit of sweat from his hand, and then she huffed and puffed. "How dare they?!" she ranted. "How dare they leave me and my sisters out of their meeting? I can't believe them! It's as if they didn't think we deserved anything for our efforts during the war." To calm herself down, she took a big breath. "To be honest, I should have known better. They always look down on us, believing they are superior to us simply because we are women. I thought Hades was better than this, but I guess not now.."

Hypnos took her hand in his, his calmness soothing her raging emotions. "Well, what are you going to do about it?"

"I, I.." Hera was at a loss for words; she had been so enraged since hearing the news that she hadn't given much thought to how to respond to her wreathed brothers.

Hypnos decided to change his question slightly, but the intention remained the same. "Do you want to claim their realms for yourself?"

Hera snapped her eyes at him; her beloved was as languid as ever, but she clearly knew he wasn't one to joke around in matters like this. "No, Hypnos," she shook her head after a brief moment of reflection. "Let them have their realms," she scoffed.

"It's unlike you," Hypnos observed.

"Indeed," Hera said, nodding. "As much as I want to confront my brothers about this, it would just break my family apart," she said as she swung her hands around the hall. "I don't want to undo everything we've accomplished together after all of these trials and tribulations. You know, I'd like some peace. And it's not like their earthly domain can compete with mine. So let them have it…" she paused "just this once…"

Hypnos nodded and squeezed her hands reassuringly.

Hera took a sweet from the table and placed it on his pale lips. "A sweet for your thoughts,"

Hypnos took a bite. "I believe you should make it very clear to them. Tell them they can't push you around anymore so that something like this doesn't happen again."

"Oh," Hera said firmly, "I am going to make it clear to them after all of this." she added, "Anyway, what are our plans for the rest of the day?"

"Plans, ah?" Hypnos said, "After the banquet, we are going to meet my family, together, and for the night, you know.." He drawled, his unspoken intent visible in the air.

Hera ignored his flying intentions and concentrated on his first words, "Your family..." she said quietly, taking a glass of nectar and sipping it.

"Hera," Hypnos soothed his beloved, who was engulfed in nervous energy. "Everything will be fine,"

"Will it be?" Hera cast a sidelong glance at him.

"It will be," Hypnos assured.

Hera nodded. She chose the nectar, gulping it down, rather than voicing her worries to him. And

Hypnos simply sighed, grabbing a glass of nectar for himself and drinking it quietly.

The tumultuous air between them was broken in an instant by Zeus, the King of Gods, who rose from his table, not far from them, and looked around. After ensuring that everyone had arrived, he began with a thunderous voice.

"My family, friends, and subjects, we have triumphed against all odds, we have cast down the Tyrant Kronos," The King of Gods declared, "he and his brethren are eternally banished to the dark pits of Tartarus. I am honoured to announce the end of the Golden Age; this is now our era!" He raised his glass to all, "For our era!"

"For our era!"

The Immortals responded with zeal, cheers, and shouts, filling the hall until Zeus silently raised his hand. "This is our victory, but it would not be possible without someone, someone who has been with us throughout the final stage of our journey. Even when times were tough, he never gave up on us, guiding and assisting us. We won't be here without him, and I think everyone can agree with me on that."

"For everything he had done for us, I, Zeus, King of Gods, decree that a share of sky, sea, underworld, and even the heavens themselves shall be immolated in his honour," The God of Lightning declared, turning towards the Lord of Dream, along with everyone else, coming together in homage.

"Lord Hypnos!"

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