Chapter 20: Harsh Truth

Chapter 20: Harsh Truth



Dare to dream, then decide to do.

-Annette White.

"Will you marry me?"

Those four words. Those. Four. Words. They slashed into his mind like cosmic lightning, rattling his actual being for a split second.

"No," Hypnos immediately replied. He didn't even bother to consider it. To him, the answer to her question was as clear as a dream.

Hera appeared shaken, her hands resting heavily on the armrest for support as his answer weighed heavily on her. "Why?" she exclaimed, her gaze fixed on him, desperately searching for an answer.

"What why?!" Hypnos felt the outrageousness of this situation. "This is marriage we are taking out!" he reclined in his seat, placing his hands over his face in exasperation. "Do we love each other?" he continued, reconsidering everything.

"First and foremost, what are we?"

He should have anticipated this. The logic of his previous life could no longer be applied to these past times, much less to the gods. And given that Hera was the Goddess of Marriage, it was not strange that she pulled something like this on him.

Nevertheless, this was unacceptable to him. It was also fast-far too fast for a relationship that had only begun the day before.

'First and foremost, what are we?'

That question hung in the air, making both of them fall into a heavy silence, gazing at each other heavily.

"Love..." Hera ruminated forlornly, breaking it. "I like you," she admitted truthfully, her tone quaking with a myriad of emotions.

"That's the issue, Hera." Hypnos was not surprised since he expected it; after all, love was love-it is not something that can happen so easily. Then he slowly began to explain his point of view to her. "Marriage is an eternal bond between partners. Something sacred like that cannot be built solely on affection..."

"I know. I know." Hera muttered coarsely. "I know what a marriage means, what it entails, and what it holds better than anyone else."

"For Gaea's sake, I am the Goddess of Marriage!"

"Then why are you doing this?" Hypnos frowned.

Hera remained silent, her figure shrouded in hesitation and indecision.

"It's fine, Hera," Hypnos sighed, gently holding her hand. "You can tell me." he reassured her firmly.

Hera squeezed his hand tightly. "I was just afraid, you know," she whispered lowly, "that everything was just a dream... you would turn out to be just like those... men who saw me as nothing but just another trophy for them to collect....and not the man who only held me in his silver eyes... it began to haunt me, and I felt fear... because whatever this is between us... I've never felt anything like it before.... I don't want to lose it..."

"Hypnos, I don't want to lose you."

"I understand," Hypnos peered solely into her eyes. "I like you too, Hera," he said, imbuing all of his emotions for her into his voice and conveying them all to her. "We are in a relationship."

Hera finally smiled, a smile that spoke volumes about her happiness and relief.

Hypnos smiled, infected by her. He put his hand on her cheeks. "I should not have left you right after the banquet..."

"It's fine," Hera placed her hand over his, composing herself back together.

"It's not fine," Hypnos said, shaking his head. "Look at what happened."

"Hypnos," sighed Hera. "Leave it be. All that matters is that we are here together now."

Hypnos nodded heavily, and they just sat there, gazing into each other's eyes, enjoying the brief, comfortable silence before the elephant in the room was addressed.

"So," Hera finally said, twirling her black hair. "How are we going to proceed now?"

"Well," Hypnos immediately suggested. "Dating."

clearly saw the apprehension and wariness hidden deep within his eyes.

The power of the mind always comes in handy. Hypnos mused as Zeus took the seat at the end

of the table. He should really focus on them more.

"Do you know why I summoned you?" Hypnos inquired, his chin resting on his hand.

"No," Zeus said, clearing his throat. "But I suppose it has something to do with the war..."

It seems Gaea really had not gone behind his back to inform Zeus of their decision. Well, this makes things a lot easier for him.

Hypnos leaned back in his seat. "Do you think you're strong, Zeus?"

Zeus was slightly taken aback by his sudden question. "Yes," he still replied, his confidence radiating from every fibre of his being.

Hypnos curtly nodded. "Do you understand the extent of your power?" he narrowed his eyes at the God of Lightning.

Zeus shifted in his seat under his steely gaze. "Um..." he said. "Yes.."

Hypnos continued. "Do you want to overthrow your father and become King of the Cosmos?"

he asked facetiously.

"What-"Zeus' blue eyes widened, but he was cut off by Hypnos, who teleported directly next to Zeus, picking him up by the shoulder at a speed Zeus couldn't even comprehend, and

then slamming his palm into his chest.

Zeus looked dazedly at his own body falling in slow motion, followed by a thunderous boom,

as he floated above it in illusory form.

Hypnos went around the body Zeus towards spectral Zeus. "You know, Zeus, your dream is actually admirable. There's nothing wrong with setting a goal for yourself, but," he smiled gently, but in Zeus' eyes, that smile was as chilling as his father's. "It's crucial that you comprehend what you're getting yourself into for your goal," he paused. "So, do you really understand the Cosmos that you want to rule over?"

Zeus looked down at the spectral form. "What did you do to me?" he demanded, ignoring his previous words altogether.

"As expected," Hypnos shook his head with faux disappointment. "Your dreams are built on

mere delusions and fallacies. And your mind is so clogged with hubris that you can't even comprehend the simple truth." he waved his hand, drawing Zeus back to his body.

Zeus wanted to summon his master blot right away, but he found himself completely frozen.

All he could do was stare at Hypnos, unable to move a single muscle or fibre of his divine

body. For a split second, Zeus seemed to be transferred back in time to the moment he first faced his father-he'd never felt more helpless in his life. All of his might was useless in the face of Kronos, who froze him in time with a simple gesture as if he were nothing more than a fuss to

him and then swung his scythe at his sister, Demeter.

The same helpless sensation that he so despised flooded every ounce of his divine being as he gazed at the terrifying primordial being standing in front of him with a kind smile. Hypnos continued gently, starting down at Zeus, frozen within the confines of reality. "You are literally nothing in the face of the infinite cosmos, Zeus," he paused. "Harsh, isn't it? But, more often than not, truths are like that. What is more important is that you learn to accept and live with it," he wagged his fingers. "I don't mean you should give up on your goal; on the contrary, with the truth now in your mind, you're all set for your cosmic path. And who knows, you might even be able to realise your dream?..." he concluded, waving his hand at Zeus once

more.

Zeus felt the restraints on him slip away. "Why are you doing this to me?!" he immediately growled at Hypnos. His form flashed with hundreds of streaks of lightning, illuminating the

room in an electrifying glow.

"To show you how much you don't know," Hypnos placed his thumb on the glabella of Zeus.

"Open your eye."

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