Chapter 9: Timoría

Zeus and Phanes had been looking for Kronos for days.

On their way to Olympus, they find a lifeless body on the ground.

Zeus kneels down amidst the shattered remnants of Kronos, his fallen father.

Thunder growls in the heavens,

lightning rippling through the clouds as if mourning the end of a once powerful King.

Zeus, realizing what this event means, turns to Phanes:

It is done. Kronos has fallen, and his reign is over.

Now, Olympus will rise anew under my rule.
Phanes, summon the gods. Their time on Earth is at an end.

Phanes (bowing slightly): As you command, King of the Heavens.
And what of the others? Not all have served the light.

Zeus (his voice sharpens like thunder):
Khaos and the deities of darkness have no place in this new world.
Banish them to the depths of Tartarus. Let them rule over the void they love so dearly.

Phanes: And the neutral ones??

Zeus: They shall dwell in the Asphodel Meadows,
where neither punishment nor glory awaits them.
(pauses, his gaze softening)
As for the worthy… they shall follow me to Elysium.
There, they will know only pleasure and freedom, their burdens lifted.

Phanes nods and leaves, carrying out Zeus’ will.

Later, Phanes approaches the forge of Hephaestos.

Phanes: Kronos has fallen, and your father Zeus now reigns as the new King.
You are being summoned to Olympus to paint your father and mother's portrait.

Hephaestos: I am in the midst of something... important.

I will come once it is complete.

Phanes bows and leaves.

Meanwhile, deep within the forest...
Eros is alone, haunted and hollow.
He had fled after witnessing Khaos — the one he loved — cast into Tartarus by Phanes' hand.

He turns a dagger over in his grasp, eyes fixed on its gleaming edge.

The weight of grief presses down on him. He could not bear a world without her.
The curse of the Morae had snatched him off his immortality,
and Khaos' death had depleted his will to carry on.