Greece: I am Zeus!

Chapter 255 Warm Fireworks

In each tribe, there is not just one leader. Instead, there are one or more leaders, depending on the division of labor for survival. They are all people who are recognized and elected by the tribe.

However, they are only responsible for teaching and leading in their own area; matters of the tribe are still discussed and decided by all the tribe members together.

In this era, being a leader is truly a tough job.

We eat the same amount as everyone else, but we don't enjoy anything. We have to do the most work, worry the most, exert the most effort, and do the most tasks.

In this stage, "leader" means "one who takes the lead and guides everyone in their work."
Demeter looked at the busiest figure reflected in the fire mirror.

He was a strong man who gave the best pieces of roasted meat to the children of the tribe, while he himself only took the worst piece.

He ate the fastest because after he finished eating, he had to inspect the campfire, organize the tools for the next day, and teach the children and tribesmen hunting skills.

The concept of “unfairness” appeared for the first time.

However, this initial "injustice" originated from these selfless leaders.

It must be said that many things may be completely different from what they will become in the future.

As for those who are not leaders, their lives are actually simpler and more comfortable; they only need to do what they are supposed to do.

Those who know how to hunt go to chase the wind and pursue beasts; those who know how to weave nets guard the water and listen to the tides; those who know how to gather gathers talk with the forest.

Everyone does what they are capable of, and as for the children, everyone raises them together.

of course
Because the concepts of "marriage" and "family" had not yet been established, even the gods who taught them were single.

Currently, the survival and continuation of all tribes, or rather, all of humanity, are in a relatively free and unrestrained primitive state.
The children only know their mother, but not who their father is.
But this is not important, it's not a big problem.

It doesn't matter, at least not until the second generation of humans grows up.
Overall, humans, still living in their "infancy," lead a simple and unpretentious life under the careful care of the gods.

Aside from leaders who have to shoulder more responsibility, ordinary people don't have many daily troubles.

Apart from the troubles of survival itself, nothing else has yet come into being.

Those who have the most troubles are those who always like to look up at the sky.

Besides the anxieties of survival, their small, nascent minds are always filled with too many unanswerable questions.

Why does night fall? Why do the stars twinkle? Where does the wind come from? For whom does the rain fall?

And what exactly is God?
When they look up at the sky, the endless, deep starry sky always fills them with both curiosity and fear.

The boundless starry sky is both captivating and awe-inspiring.

The sun and moonlight generously and lovingly showered the earth, filling their hearts with the most primal reverence.

Yet they are like two eyes that never sleep, watching over all things and inspiring awe in people naturally.

Not to mention the "thunder" and "fire" engraved in the deepest part of their souls.

Every time a storm arises, every time lightning flashes and thunder roars, the busy work among the tribes suddenly comes to a halt.

The thunder sounded like a notice, and people hurriedly gathered their loved ones, stopped all activities, and rushed back to the cave, kneeling inside.

With trembling, stuttering voices, they offered their prayers with utmost devotion to Zeus, the supreme ruler of thunder, the king of all gods, the lord of everything, as described by the deities, pleading with Him to cease His "wrath," which was capable of tearing the heavens apart.

Thunder is the unfathomable wrath of the Father, hanging overhead.

It is an absolute majesty that mortals can never comprehend, but can only revere!
At times like these, only the ever-burning, warm flame of ash tree branches burning inside the cave can bring them a little comfort.

Flame is a warm and unchanging "motherly love" that is within reach; it is a gentle source from which mortals can always rely and draw strength.

Thus, without any instruction, without any formal rituals, in their most ignorant state, relying solely on the simplest names they had heard from the gods, they instinctively whispered the name of the master of the warm fire.

They were not yet fluent in speech, but were extremely devout: Hestia.

They begged the warmest fire to take away the violent thunder from their horizon.

The name of God should not be spoken lightly; whatever you think of, you will surely receive.

Zeus did hear it.

However, His Majesty the Supreme God-King had long ago set up a "whitelist" and restrictions on receiving "event triggers and sensitive words".

Apart from that, He will not listen to simple chanting of His name.

Because there are just too many of them; if He were to listen to them all, He would be driven crazy on the spot.

He's already incredibly busy with the development and perfection of the laws of the entire universe.
Where is there time to listen to these rambling prayers?
Moreover, He does not wish to interfere too much with humanity's autonomous development.

Unless facing a crisis of annihilation, humanity should explore and solve the problems it encounters on its own path.

However, the warmest sacred flame is never shielded.

Facing the earliest humans in the universe, numbering only a few million, she, with the warmest and most compassionate nature, never blocked any prayer from the mortal world, not even the faintest one.

As humans chanted her name in fear and trepidation, she would make the fires in the cave burn even more intensely and warmly.

She lets the flames leap higher and hotter to drive away the dampness and cold, dry clothes and tear stains, illuminate the caves and people's hearts, purify them of danger and terror, and bring them light and peace.

With warmth and light, gently comfort these poor little children.

Of course, fear is not the only thing that humans gain from thunderstorms.

They also encountered another kind of "celestial change" several times, with golden clouds covering the sky and colorful clouds flowing, followed by fine and gentle "golden rain" that could nourish all things.

Bathed in this sacred golden rain, all fatigue will be carried away, all pain will disappear without a trace, stubborn illnesses will be instantly dispelled, and even unknown mutations will be guided to develop in a positive direction.

Their bodies will become stronger and their spirits will become more vibrant.

At this time, all of humanity gathers around the largest ash tree bonfire and dances and sings to their hearts' content amidst the golden rain.

With their still somewhat vague but fervent language, they praised the supreme blessings of heaven with utmost devotion.

Strangely, the golden rain did not extinguish this sacred fire; instead, it made the fire burn even brighter. The flames grew in the rain, like a flower being stretched open by golden light.

At such times, amidst the joyful crowd, there are always some people who secretly look up at the sky, their eyes revealing a deeper curiosity and bewilderment.

Just as they don't understand why the flames, which are also caused by lightning strikes, never go out for any reason, even though they were originally given by God as the source of the thousands of flames.
However, the flames produced by other trees being ignited by lightning will be extinguished by water, wind, rain, or even a lack of firewood.

Furthermore, why is it that the sacred flame can only burn eternally on the branches of the ash tree?
If other trees are used as firewood, the flame will also go out after they have burned out.

Human beings, through this endless curiosity, have continued to grow, albeit stumbling and bumping along the way.

This is what Hestia has been silently observing all along. The warm sovereign of fire, though she has a fiery side that can incinerate all things, her essence is eternal warmth and light.

She loved Zeus, and she loved all living beings that yearned for warmth and light.

Humans, this newly born race, are small in stature and short in life, yet they possess a form similar to that of gods, and most importantly, an ever-growing wisdom.

And then there are those incredibly rich emotions that originate from the gods.

The realm of gods is always so peaceful and serene.

Even if there are some minor disputes, they are not a big deal to the immortal gods.

The rules governing the entire universe are changing dramatically, almost daily.

But all of this was under the control of his beloved Zeus, destined for the most glorious and greatest future.

God is immortal and indestructible, with boundless power.

No matter what you do, there's no need to rush. Just do it slowly and peacefully enjoy this infinitely beautiful universe, and that's enough.

However, these newborn humans are completely different.

Their lifespan and power are so insignificant compared to those of the gods that they are almost negligible.

Time is God's friend.

But it is the most terrifying and ruthless enemy that follows mortals.

Therefore, humans are always in a hurry, always prone to anxiety, and always want to do more and more meaningful things in their limited lives.

They will take the initiative to find meaning in their lives and weave their short time into a lively and flavorful daily routine.

Their brief but always incredibly busy time was precisely what Hestia was most fascinated by.

The most genuine human emotions and laughter, the warmth of looking into each other's eyes and talking by the campfire, and the new little life and its first loud cry all warmed her heart.

She knew that Zeus had the most far-reaching plans for humanity.

Therefore, she did not directly contact humans before Zeus spoke.

However, she has always been the one among all the gods who cares most about humanity.

Every ray of fire in the human world is her gentle gaze upon the mortal realm.

It is also a great symbol of her silently protecting humanity.

Yes, yes, Olympus is certainly more beautiful.

This is the supreme center of the entire universe; this is the abode of many great gods; this is the symbolic place of Zeus, the greatest god-king, and her most beloved male god.

Here lies her glory, her beloved mother goddess, her cherished sisters, her dear friends, and her most beloved—Zeus, the king of the gods.

Here, you'll find the most beautiful scenery, boundless wonder and magnificence, endless delicacies and fine wines, and even the ether flowing in the air is completely different from that of the mortal world.

However, this place is too sacred and pure, and too lofty.

The gods are also too independent and self-centered; most of them are arrogant and isolated.

The gods are like brilliant stars, each shining brightly, yet rarely intersecting.

Olympus is like a flawless crystal made by the gods—sacred, magnificent, brilliant, eternal, and pure, yet also cold, hard, and unchanging over the years.

Humanity, on the other hand, is more like a piece of warm pottery, sculpted by the most unassuming artisans with love and hope, rough and unrefined yet constantly being shaped.

It is imperfect, but full of infinite possibilities.

In human settlements, there exists something entirely different from the realm of gods.

That was something more attractive to her, an atmosphere that made her yearn to go to the mortal world and experience it firsthand.

For a long time, she couldn't find a suitable word to describe that feeling, that sensation.

Later, in a tribe of ordinary people, she heard a mother teaching her child in a halting, yet still relatively simple, language:
"My child, remember this warmth, remember the aroma of this cooked food. We must thank the great goddess of fire, thank her for bestowing upon us 'fireworks.' Therefore, we are able to enjoy this warmth and deliciousness."

This statement is neither ornate nor complex, yet it is the clearest expression in human language today.

Humanity has not forgotten that warm fire.

Those were the most important and most precious treasures in their lives, treasures they were most grateful for.

From that moment on, Hestia finally knew what she had always loved and longed for.

Fireworks.

It is about relatives, family, and friends being able to be together and share that peaceful and warm feeling, full of the warmth and life of everyday life.

It is a symphony called "home" that is a blend of children's laughter, the aroma of food, the chatter of the tribe, and the crackling of the campfire.

The significance of fire lies not in how sacred the flame itself is, but in the warmth it brings to the family.

A flame without a "home" is just a pile of ashes destined to burn out.

She had been waiting, waiting for an opportunity to go to the mortal world.

She wanted to get closer to humans, to come among them, to get even closer, to feel their "human touch".

Through long-term observation, she has also discovered that humanity is currently facing a huge dilemma.

It is a predicament that, one might even say, has completely hindered their progress in civilization.

That is—stable food.

Under the tutelage of Prometheus and others, humankind had acquired language, simple symbols, and even learned how to use various stones and woods to make simple tools.

They also learned how to use fire, and how to select and simply modify suitable living caves.

For the most basic "clothing," they also learned to use leaves and animal skins to make rough clothes to cover their bodies and keep warm.

As for food, they also learned how to hunt, how to fish, and how to identify and gather wild fruits.

However, many things can be compromised, but food cannot.

(End of this chapter)