Naxos Island. A place filled with significance.
It was here that Poseidon first encountered Amphitrite, and where Eros once washed ashore, marking the beginning of his grand tour across the Oceanic Throne, leaving behind the seductive legend of the Aegean Sea's incubi.
Now, returning to this place, the once jubilant gatherings of the ocean goddesses were nowhere to be found.
Eros stepped onto the beach alongside Eurynome, who had transformed her fish tail into a pair of long legs.
Gone was the suggestive seashell outfit. Now she wore an elegant white gown with a flowing cloak, her loose sea-blue hair pinned high into a graceful knot.
In this form, she truly looked the part of a goddess.
"Wouldn't traveling by sea be faster? Why bother with humans?" Eurynome asked curiously, glancing toward the crowd in the distance.
"Honored goddess, I am but an ordinary human," Eros replied with a straight face. "Naturally, I must rely on ships for long journeys."
He couldn't exactly fly across the world, what if he accidentally flew right past Hera's line of sight?
Better to stay low profile.
Mingling among mortals guaranteed he wouldn't be noticed. Plus, it gave him a chance to leave a few more traces across the world.
Eurynome stared blankly.
Ordinary human... Yeah, right. That's about as believable as "I'm just a weak little seagrass goddess."
Still, she followed him forward. A veil now covered her face, leaving only her dazzling eyes visible.
In front of mortals, goddesses always maintained their mystery and dignity.
At that moment, Prometheus was overseeing the crew as they disembarked, gathering supplies from the island.
When Eros returned, Prometheus didn't look surprised. Her gaze met Eurynome's for a brief second.
So it's really her, huh...
They had no particular relationship. After a simple glance, they both looked away.
"Endymion! You're back!"
Compared to Prometheus's indifference, Cercrops(Kekropis) rushed over excitedly. Her gaze kept flicking toward Eurynome, full of curiosity.
After all, Eros had jumped off the ship to chase some Sirens, and now he returned with a woman who clearly didn't belong among the crew.
It didn't take much thought to guess, she was likely a sea nymph, one of the legendary maidens who danced upon the waves.
Though nymphs weren't technically full deities, that didn't stop Cercrops from getting excited.
She had journeyed far and wide in search of the divine, but always came up empty.
Born a half-god with unknown parentage, her prayers had long been ignored by the divine.
And now, Eros had brought a goddess-like being directly before her.
Overwhelmed with emotion, yet afraid to speak to Eurynome directly, she hesitated, until Eros gently patted her head and smiled.
"There's a first time for everything. And once the first time happens, the next will surely follow, won't it?"
Cercrops' eyes widened in realization. Then she nodded firmly.
"I understand now."
As Eros said, once the gods had revealed themselves, there was no need to be anxious anymore. Others would surely appear again in the future.
"Now that you're back," Cercrops asked, "should we resume our voyage?"
"No rush," Eros said, glancing up at the sky. He thought for a moment, then continued, "Let's wait a bit. If we sail now, we might hit a current or storm. Better to hold off."
"Pull the ship onto shore. If a real storm hits, being out at sea would be dangerous."
"Oh, and have someone gather some berries and spring water from the island. We need proper hospitality for our guests."
His instructions seemed odd, but Cercrops looked at the cloudless sky and followed them seriously.
After she left, Prometheus opened her eyes. Within her pale irises, the future shimmered, waves crashing, storms swirling, and a figure within the tempest.
"You're waiting for Poseidon?!" she asked in surprise.
Having seen what was to come, even she was caught off guard.
Eurynome, on the other hand, was shocked.
She instinctively stepped back, her expression stiff.
Is he... handing me over to Poseidon? Or something worse?
This was the downside of wearing a mask, Eros's face was hidden, and with it, any trust.
Upon hearing Prometheus's remark, Eurynome immediately assumed the worst: that Eros intended to offer her up to Poseidon.
After all, rumor had it the two had some "complicated" history.
Some said Eros once punched Poseidon. Others claimed he'd sold him out. Either way, it was known they'd met at least twice.
Some tales even claimed the rift in the Oceanic Throne was caused by Eros, because both Poseidon and Amphitrite fell for the same man.
Then came Typhon's rampage and Zeus's thunderous fury. Achelous's divine domain was destroyed. The truth? Lost in the wreckage.
In Eurynome's eyes, Eros and Poseidon were entangled in a web of drama, messy and unresolved.
She didn't know the specifics. But she did know one thing: she couldn't trust him.
"Tch, what are you imagining?" Eros sighed helplessly.
If I just took off this mask, you'd instantly believe I'm a good guy, because I'm handsome!
"In the open sea, our ship can't possibly outrun Poseidon."
"Instead of getting caught in her storm out there, we settle things here, on land."
"Settle... her?" Eurynome gasped.
Did she hear that right?
A human, claiming he's going to settle things with Poseidon, the Sea King and goddess of storms?
She had always known Eros was unusual, but wasn't this... excessive?
Even Prometheus was caught off guard. She instinctively wanted to recheck the future, to see if Eros really could win.
But before she could, she realized what he actually meant.
"You mean... resolve the issue of Poseidon chasing us endlessly?"
Bingo.
She turned to Eurynome, now realizing it was her who had drawn Poseidon's attention again.
Eurynome, embarrassed, bowed her head slightly.
"Forgive me. I was too quick to doubt you."
"It's fine. Totally understandable," Eros waved it off.
He had, after all, suspected her of being a seductive monster luring him to his doom.
Call it even.
"But can you really deal with Poseidon?" she asked hesitantly.
Everyone on Olympus knew Poseidon's temperament.
Even before she became Sea Queen, she was already infamously arrogant. Once crowned, she grew even bolder, brazen enough to curse Gaia herself.
"Relax. Didn't I tell you? I have experience with this sort of thing."
Eros sounded supremely confident.
Eurynome didn't quite believe him... but then again, maybe they did have some kind of twisted old flame thing going on?
Worse comes to worst, she could step in and knock a few teeth out of Poseidon herself. Let's see if she still wants to chase after that.
Confidence changes everything.
With that thought, Eurynome gave Eros a sweet smile and nodded.
"Mhm."
Cercrops soon returned with sweet berries and fresh spring water, gathered from the heart of the island.
Once the sacred gathering spot of Oceanids, the island's springs still ran pure and cold.
"Very good. Now, have everyone move deeper inland. No one should stay near the shore."
Eros nodded in approval.
"There's a big storm coming. This place won't be safe soon."
Cercrops didn't doubt him. In fact, the wind was already picking up.
She'd spent enough time at sea to recognize the signs: a storm was brewing.
Even her serpentine senses picked up the humidity in the air, that faint scent of approaching rain.
"One more thing..." Cercrops hesitated, then shyly asked.
Eros immediately understood what she meant and nodded.
"Once the others are safely settled, come find me."
She had likely guessed what was coming, and just wanted to stay close, observe, and maybe get a little closer.
He wouldn't refuse.
"Okay! I'll go right away!"
Cercrops darted off to finish her task. Meanwhile, Eros remained by the beach, quietly waiting for Poseidon.
The sky grew dark. Seabirds cried frantically and dipped low, wings drawn tight.
It was clear now, a massive sea storm was building, barreling toward the island.
Waves rose. In the distance, a black wall of water surged across the horizon.
Just like when Eros had once faced Pit... the same overwhelming pressure returned.
Luckily, all the sailors were now safe in the caves deep within the island.
If they had seen this with their own eyes, they'd likely fall to their knees, begging Poseidon to spare them.
For those who sail the sea must bow to her fury.
Amid the rising tide, a monstrous creature with six heads and twelve limbs emerged, Scylla, the terror of sailors.
And atop Scylla's heads stood a familiar figure, armored in shimmering scales.
Poseidon.
She had arrived. And just as expected, she had rushed over the moment she caught wind of Eros's presence.
Now then... how feasible would it be to turn this "Second Poseidon" into a certain purple-haired planet ruler...