Zara had confided her torment to Mü Thanatos, hoping to find advice or relief. The atmosphere was heavy with seriousness, as if every word spoken could alter fate.
Zara, her voice trembling with hope:
"I want you to advise me, or find words to dissuade me forever..."
Mü Thanatos, thoughtful, asked:
"By my powers, or by the wisdom of my words?"
Zara shook her head humbly:
"No... I only want words, words strong enough to convince me whenever this feeling overwhelms me."
Mü Thanatos placed a hand under her chin, pondering deeply.
Zara, softly:
"Don't feel obliged; if it burdens you, I will understand if you refuse."
Mü Thanatos replied with compassion:
"I can only offer you my opinion, Zara. Perhaps it will help you see more clearly and forge your own resolution."
Zara nodded, eager to listen.
Mü Thanatos took a deep breath and solemnly declared:
"What you feel is indeed extraordinary, but the very fact that you are capable of it proves that nothing is impossible, even for us gods. Yet it is forbidden for a god to stoop to desire a mortal, much less to love one. We are creators; they are our works; it is inconceivable to become so attached to what we have shaped. Do you understand, Zara?"
Zara, her gaze lost, murmured:
"Yes, I understand. But how can I free myself from this hold? How can I uproot this feeling from my heart?"
Mü Thanatos answered firmly:
"You are a goddess, Zara. You only need to repress this feeling, banish it from your being. You let it arise by becoming attached to your creations, by watching them too closely. It is but a passing weakness, typical of mortals, which you can easily erase."
Zara, resolute:
"You are right. I will chase this feeling from my soul."
But Mü Thanatos remained skeptical, reading deep hesitation in Zara's eyes.
Zara, stung:
"Do you doubt me?"
Suddenly, Wamy appeared in Zara's inner space, interrupting the exchange.
Wamy, respectful but hurried:
"Forgive this interruption, but the goddess Mü Thanatos is required at a meeting of the primordial gods. It would be unwise to arrive late."
Zara, surprised, asked:
"How did you get here?"
Wamy simply replied:
"I am bound to my goddess. Wherever she is, I follow."
Zara nodded, then bowed to Mü Thanatos:
"Thank you, Mü Thanatos, for your presence and words."
Mü Thanatos squeezed her hands kindly:
"Fear not, it is natural to help a divine sister."
Wamy extended his hand to Mü Thanatos, inviting her to follow. A reddish energy enveloped them, forming a magic circle ready to transport them.
Before leaving, Mü Thanatos issued a final warning:
"Zara... Know that if you yield to this feeling, Zeus will never forgive you. He will condemn you to suffer. I beg you, renounce it."
Then they vanished, leaving Zara alone in the quiet of her sanctuary.
Zara, whispering to herself:
"Yes, Mü Thanatos, you are right..."
She returned to her sanctuary, took Schiba's Universal Sphere, and gazed at it long.
"This human dazzles me, yet he is nothing compared to me... I should rid myself of this feeling, and quickly."
She materialized energy on her arm, ready to use it to erase her turmoil, but hesitated.
"Why can I not uproot this feeling? Perhaps because deep down, I do not hate it... I even love it. So be it, I refuse to destroy it."
The energy vanished from her hand, and a smile formed on her lips as she resumed watching Schiba.
"I will let myself be guided by this feeling, whatever happens."
She incarnated again into the sphere, appearing this time in a human market. In this form, she mingled easily with mortals, savoring their daily life.
"Strangely, I feel so good..."
She moved to a forest corner, climbed a branch overlooking a majestic waterfall, and lay down, enjoying the breeze and birdsong. Cradled by the world's beauty, she still could not find sleep.
"This feeling is happiness... How could I part with it? Never have I felt such ecstasy. It is no longer affection, it is love... Yes, Schiba, I am crazy about you, and I am delighted!"
Suddenly, overwhelmed by the intensity of her emotion, Zara left the planet, growing until she could hold it in her hands. She gazed at Earth, brought it to her face, and declared:
"Aren't we all creations, in the end? All I want is never to part from this love."
She released the planet, returned to human size, plunged into the atmosphere, and floated among the clouds. Eyes closed, she let herself be carried by the bliss of this feeling, then, regaining control, returned to the branch where she had lain.
"What to do when love possesses you like this? I know... I will find Schiba, but this time, everything will be softer, more romantic..."
She vanished.
Near his cabin, Schiba had just finished his woodcutting task. He prepared to gather fruit and perhaps hunt for dinner. He took his hat, rifle, and bucket, then ventured into the forest.
There, he found a pile of fruit and a fallen elk, as if fate offered him what he needed.
"Just in time!" he thought. But as he was about to continue, he spotted Zara sitting on a rock.
Schiba, surprised:
"But... I know this woman! She is the beautiful lady who asked me for a drink the other day!"
He approached her.
"Madam Zara, how are you?"
Zara looked away, suppressing a smile.
"Mr. Schiba, what an honor to see you here!"
Schiba, a bit embarrassed:
"I thought you had a problem, but all seems well. I will continue my hunt then..."
Zara stood, took his hand.
"Why leave? Let us share this feast together. I cannot finish it alone."
Schiba, dazzled by Zara's grace, replied:
"It is too much honor... Are you sure you want to share all this with me?"
Zara, radiant:
"Of course! And stop calling me 'Madam Zara.' Just call me Zara."
Schiba, confused:
"Oh, sorry! I thought you were married... Well, if you wish, let's take all this to my place. I can make you taste my cooking."
Zara blushed and laughed softly. Captivated, Schiba lifted the animal while Zara took the fruits, and together they returned to the cabin.
Meanwhile, in the realm of the gods, Zeus's fury rumbled.
"How dare they? Defy me, Zeus? They will all be annihilated!"
Thirty primordial gods gathered, Mü Thanatos seated on a throne, Wamy at her right.
Zeus, thundering:
"What to do against these demons who dare provoke me? Apollo, what is your opinion?"
Apollo, shining with beauty, stood:
"Zeus, start by sitting down. Let us think together. No demon can shake us. We are the primordial gods, at the top of the hierarchy, invincible."
Zeus, irritated:
"You don't understand! How could I tolerate the insult of a demon?"
The Great Goddess intervened, soothing:
"Zeus, listen to Apollo. Calm down. Look at Mü Thanatos: she watches you, she who is more powerful than I. This behavior is not worthy of you."
Zeus approached Mü Thanatos, contrite:
"Forgive me, Mü Thanatos, for my outburst. I compose myself."
Mü Thanatos blushed, nodded timidly.
Zeus, reclaiming his authority:
"You, the ten primordial gods of command – Apollo, Zirix, Michel, Poseidon, Nout, Zarachie, Zocheth, Aeribathoth, Theecle, and Thanato – remain by my side. The others, withdraw."
The gods obeyed and vanished.
Zeus, solemn:
"You are my most powerful generals. I want one of you to go calm these demons and inform me of their situation."
Apollo, enthusiastic:
"I volunteer. It is time to reconnect with the glory of battles."
Zeus, satisfied:
"I know you will succeed, whoever is chosen. The session is adjourned. Resume your activities until our next summons."
The gods bowed and disappeared.
Mü Thanatos, back, seemed thoughtful. Wamy, worried, approached.
"My goddess, is all well?"
Mü Thanatos, evasive:
"Yes... Yes, don't worry about me."
Wamy, insistent:
"How can I not worry when you wear such a sad look? Tell me what troubles you; we will find a solution together."
Mü Thanatos, gentle but firm:
"Thank you, Wamy, but I prefer to remain silent for now. Please respect my choice."
Wamy, pained, nodded:
"I understand, my goddess. I will always respect your wishes."
They walked a while in heavy silence, avoiding each other's gaze.
Wamy, trying to lighten the mood:
"Goddess, have you ever thought of visiting the universes you created?"
Mü Thanatos, indifferent:
"No, I see no use."
Wamy, smiling:
"One day, you should try. I assure you it's worth it."
Their exchange was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Ares, with a cold gaze.
Ares, sarcastic:
"Well, who do I see here?"
Mü Thanatos, smiling:
"Hello, Ares, how are you?"
Ares, sharply:
"Shut up, Mü Thanatos. I still despise you."
Wamy's face grew serious, while Mü Thanatos, stunned, asked:
"Why so much hatred?"
Ares, relentless:
"Because you are the mistake of the Father of the gods!"
Mü Thanatos, hurt:
"The mistake, you say?"
Wamy suddenly burst into loud laughter, breaking the tension.
"Hahaha!"