Myth: The Ruler of Spirituality

"King of Eryxis, perhaps I can take care of your son."

"I once had a child myself, so I am quite experienced in this."

After dinner, Demeter expressed her thoughts directly as she had done every time in the past.

And, as expected, Clytius suppressed his inner surprise and swiftly agreed to her proposal.

The King thought his investment was finally paying off. Even though it was not exactly what he had desired, the response from a seeming deity was not something he could control.

Thus, Clytius handed over the swaddled infant Demophon to the goddess; at that moment, he even decided that his second son would be the future King of Eryxis.

"Then, thank you, Moira."

"It's nothing. I quite like him, too."

As she took the prince and looked at the baby's smiling face, Demeter felt the void in her heart being filled.

Once, to protect her daughter from the poison of the other Deities, she and Persephone had often been apart. But now, looking at Demophon in her arms, she experienced a different kind of joy. And for a moment, the goddess entertained a thought.

This was a boy—he would not suffer the same Calamity as she and her daughter did. He would not be noticed by the gods, and his original parents were merely mortals after all.

Perhaps Demophon could stay by her side for a long time, just like her own child. And the prerequisite for this to happen was granting him eternal Life.

...

"Almost there..."

"Two brothers, one to reign as a mortal king, to become a Divine Practitioner of my worship. The other to be my foster son, and live eternally with me. Such a gift should suffice to repay their hospitality."

Her thoughts returning, Demeter put down the scroll she was holding and glanced at the sky outside. It was nearly midnight, and she couldn't help but stand and walk outside.

To grant a mortal eternal life was not difficult. By parting with a fragment of her own Divine Power, the goddess could easily achieve it.

But to additionally grant Demophon immortality was not so straightforward.

The previous God Wars made Demeter realize that Simply having life wasn't enough, like those Nymphs who served the deities, many of whom had perished unexpectedly in various disasters.

Therefore, if she did not want to witness her foster son die in front of her one day, the goddess had to find a way to give this mortal prince a body as difficult to harm as that of the gods.

It was not a simple task, but fortunately, Demeter was not only the goddess of fertility. She was also the sister of the goddess of fire and Guardianship.

The goddess knew that Hestia would not refuse her request to borrow her power, and with the help of the Goddess of Hearthfire, Demeter could bestow upon the child a divine body immune to harm.

So, just like every night recently, she left the room and took the swaddled prince back to her bedside.

She placed Demophon on the hearth, pressed her right hand on his heart, and then softly chanted the hymn of the Goddess of Hearthfire.

"Immortal of Olympus, Hestia oh!

Sacred Hestia!

I will praised your name aloud!

Mighty daughter of Cronus!

Holy deity!

Fruitful daughter of Rhea oh!

Guardian of the Sacred Fire!

You are the glory and the pure flame!

Guardian of peace!

Oh!

Glorious goddess!

Please, listen to my song!

Grant me your power!

Please, care for this child in my presence as you have cared for me!"

As the low chant ended, the flames in the hearth in front of Demeter suddenly flared.

The nature of the Fire was altered, and no ritual of mortals was needed, for a deity's 'prayer' itself was a sufficiently high ritual.

Within the blazing Sacrificial Fire, a mysterious power was being infused into Demophon's body. Every bit of flesh that was scorched by the flame was endowed with the concept of [Guardianship], and henceforth, it would be difficult for the forces of this world to harm him. This was a blessing from the goddess of protection.

The act was bound to be long and dangerous, however, for the protective power of the fire did not mean that it was without peril in itself.

The stronger the granted 'Guardianship,' the greater the harm it would cause to the recipient. It could even reduce the recipient to ashes before bestowing upon him the power, but the goddess had foreseen this.

Each day, she would anoint the infant with holy food imbued with her power. By night, she would personally guide the growth of that power against the flames. In this way, under the intersection of the powers of two mighty Divine realm, the dangers were avoided and only the benefits remained.

With a smile, Demeter watched the child in the fire, more and more satisfied. From this day forward, he was her child. And as a scion of the Lady of Plenty, he naturally deserved such glory.

"Do not hurry... soon, very soon, you shall enjoy immortality and eternal life... This is the light and glory you will receive as my foster son, as Demeter's child."

"Your father and brothers will eventually age, but you, you shall live as I do!"

The deep voice echoed in the room, as if a complex incantation. At this moment, the goddess was fully focused on guiding the power of the sacred food.

Only the perfect is worthy of her status... therefore, this child must also be made perfect.