20 years have passed since Cronus and Rhea's departure from Mount Orthrys. And Ophion was still unable to track them down. Everyone wondered, where could have they been now?
"Dad!"
Oceanus's face turned towards the person walking towards him. That person was Metis, one of the Oceanids.
"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Oceanus asked.
"Tomorrow is mom's birthday! Do you want to give her a present?" Metis cheerly asked.
"Tomorrow is her birthday?" Oceanus' eyebrows raised in curiousity.
"Dad! You forgot it again, right?" Metis frowned.
"Sorry, Metis. I have too much work to do" Oceanus apologized.
"Whatever" Metis sulked, her arms crossed on her chest.
"I promise I never forgot your mother's birthday date again, okay?" Oceanus said.
"Fine" Metis replied slowly.
"Come on, I give you a hug" Oceanus said again as he pulled Metis gently into a hug.
Their 'father-and-daughter' moment was interrupted out of sudden when Iapetus rushed into the room.
"Oceanus! I got some good news for ya!" Iapetus said in joy.
"Iapetus, can you knock the door first!?" Oceanus scolded his brother.
"Hehehe, sorry brother" Iapetus sheepishly apologized.
"Now what's that so-called good news?" Oceanus rolled his eyes.
"I know where's Cronus and Rhea now!" Iapetus said.
"What? Are you serious?" Oceanus narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
"Are you serious, uncle?" Metis asked in skeptical manner.
"Of course yes! I swear it!" Iapetus said.
"Then where are they?" Oceanus asked.
"In Jotunheim!" Iapetus answered.
Oceanus suddenly threw a huge scroll towards Iapetus. Iapetus however managed to dodged it.
"Stop telling me silly lies, Iapetus! I don't have time for pranks!" Oceanus growled in anger, clenched his fist.
"Calm down, Oceanus! I'm telling the truth!" Iapetus cowered in fear.
"How can I trust you, you freaking liar!?" Oceanus death glared at his brother.
"At least hear what am I want to say!" Iapetus pleaded.
"Fine! Say it now before I throw you into Mount Etna!" Oceanus said in half-anger, feeling annoyed.
"I was talking with my friend at that time, and when he saw the Titanic Symbol on my palm, he said he also saw the same symbol before!" Iapetus told.
Oceanus was puzzled by his brother's words. Did Iapetus was telling him the truth?
Meanwhile, in the semi-blessed homeworld of jotunns...
The fall season had just arrived in Jotunheim a few days ago. So what are the jotunns do during fall? It's the tradition of jotunns during the fall season when they visited their friends and relatives, giving presents to each other and partying together. And for this certain jotunn scholar, it's a perfect time to visit his friend.
Vafthrudnir, the jotunn scholar and oracle standing in front of the door, carrying a long wooden wand with a basket of breads. A brown squirrel was sitting on his right shoulder, carrying an acorn. Together with him was Wobben, his young assistant. He always bring a paper bag full of variant types of nuts with him whenever he goes, which explains why he always seen eating nuts all the time.
As Vafthrudnir knock the door three times, a young male person quickly opened the door from inside.
"Yes?" he said "Oh, it's you!"
"Long time no see, Hades" Vafthrudnir chuckled "Where is your father?"
Hades then glanced inside for a few seconds before turned his face.
"Yes, he is. He's sleeping on the couch" Hades answered.
"Hades, who's that?" his mother asked from inside.
"It's Vafthrudnir" Hades replied.
"Vafthrudnir?"
Rhea then appeared behind Hades.
"Vafthrudnir! Please come in" Rhea invited them to enter the house.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Muspelheim...
King Ophion have decided to pay a visit to Surtr, the burning lord of of fire jotunns. Together with his advisor, Thiran, they reached the entrance of Surtr's palace. Two guards were seen guarding the entrance, fiercefully prevented everyone from going inside
"What're your business here?" one of the guards asked in meanacing tone. "If you have no reason tresspassing here, you'll leave this place without your head" another guard threatened.
"We're here to meet your king, fierce one" Thiran answered politely.
The guards looked at each other before responded.
"Yes, you may go inside" the guard replied.
At the same time, Surtr was sitting on his burning throne. One of the guards then entered the throne room before kneeling in front of him.
"Your Malevolance, someone wants to meet you" the guard said.
"Let them in" Surtr replied.
"Yes, Your Malevolance" the guard nodded before walked away.
Soon, Ophion and Thiran were seen entering the throne room, accompanied by two guards.
"Ah Ophion, King of Greek Gods" Surtr greeted. "What're your business here?"
"I come here with a glorious idea, trust me" Ophion boasted.
"A glorious idea? Don't tell me you're recycling your old ideas again" Surtr mocked in sarcastic manner. "No wonder Odin address you as fool"
"What? No, no, I'm not coming here for that, I just want to form an alliance with you" Ophion said.
"An alliance?"
"Yes!" Ophion grinned. "We have known each other for ages, and I think it's time for us to band together! What do you say?"
"But why i must form an alliance with you? You already have a battalion of giants under your command" Surtr said skeptically. "And you even have a powerful giant who is very strong as me"
"But you managed to wound Typhon, right?" Thiran asked. Surtr silenced for a few seconds.
"Yes, yes, yes. I admit it" Surtr sighed.
"And the strength of my giants is still not enough to defend my realm" Ophion said.
"Did my ears are too clogged? Did you know, one of my servants told me they destroyed ten cities, fifty towns and hundreds of villages in Occitania region in a single day without any injuries and you said they're not strong enough? Nonsense!" Surtr replied. "
"But the problem is my realm is in danger!" Ophion said.
"Do you think our nation is a mercenary that you can call anytime you want!? You're not a weakling! You just paranoid! always thinking someone will overthrow you in a coup, everyday!" Surtr yelled.
"Calm down, great one. He's speaking the truth" Thiran said.
"You know, I suggest that you should form an alliance with with our brethrens in Jotunheim instead" Surtr suggested.
"But King Thrymr is far too weak to be my ally" Ophion shrugged off his opinion.
"Losing countless battles against the Aesir doesn't mean that he's a weak ruler. Even until today the Aesir are still unable to conquer Jotunheim" Surtr said.
"Oh boy" Thiran sighed slowly. Suddenly, an idea just popped in his mind. Thiran believed both Ophion and Surtr will agreed with his suggestions.
"O Great One, I have a suggestion" Thiran said. Everyone was looking at him in shock.
Now back in Jotunheim...
Cronus was sleeping peacefully on the couch. He doesn't know what to do today, so he just going back to sleep after breakfast.
"Hey Cronus, someone just kidnap your pet golden ram"
Out of sudden, Cronus was awake from his sleep in shock. Luckily, his golden ram was sleeping on the floor in front of him, with his youngest son, Zeus resting his head on the ram's wool, sleeping too. He then noticed someone was standing in front of him.
"Looks like you awake, Cronus" Vafthrudnir chuckled. Cronus quickly turned his face towards the old jotunn.
"Vaf, it's not funny to wake me up like that" Cronus frowned. "And what in the name of my mother are you doing in my house?"
"It is wrong for me to visit my own friend?" Vafthrudnir said.
"At least you should tell me first" Cronus crossed his arms on his chest.
"Where are you last night? I'm searching for you for almost three hours at King Thrymr's party, but i couldn't find you where" Vafthrudnir asked.
"I came home early" Cronus answered.
"Why?" Vafthrudnir took a seat next to him.
"It's a long story" Cronus said. "What time is now?
"It's almost afternoon" Vafthrudnir answered.
"Meow!"
A rainbow-colored cat stood not far from Vafthrudnir.
"Come on you big boy, time to eat" a fat goblin quickly walked near Vafthrudnir before carried the cat away.
"Hahahahahahaha!" another goblin followed from behind.
"Well, I need to get a glass of water first" Cronus raised himself from the couch before walked away. Wobben then appeared next to Vafthrudnir, munching the nuts as usual.
"Cronus..."
As Cronus walked towards the kitchen, he heard someone whispered his name. He then stopped walking for a while.
"Cronus...Cronus..."
"Who're you? Why did you call my name?" Cronus asked in suspicion.
"Cronus..."
"Hey, answer my question please!" Cronust almost yelled.
"Dad?"
Cronus startled, quickly turned behind.
"Yes? Yes?"
"Are you okay?" Demeter, one of Cronus' daughters glanced at him in curiousity. "This is 142nd time you talking to yourself again"
"No, I'm just...a bit stressed, that's all" Cronus lied.
Demeter frowned at his father.
"Oh sweetie, smile a bit" Cronus gently grabbed her cheeks.
"Dad, I'mm just worry about you" Demeter said worrily.
"Don't worry, I'm fine, okay?" Cronus assured her daughter.
"Fine" Demeter sighed, rolled her eyes.
From the other side of the wall, a hooded figure was leaning on the wall. What was her real motives were unknown for now.
To be continued...