Misty seas echoed with enchanting songs as sirens, transformed into mermaids, frolicked on reefs, grooming their soft, long hair.
A beam of light descended from the heavens, shattering the sirens' tranquil atmosphere. Startled, the maidens leaped into the sky, their fishtails morphing into sharp claws as wings sprouted from their backs. They cried out and flew back to the island where a rainbow arched high.
The tree nymphs soothed the scattering sirens, while two rainbow goddesses unfurled their brilliant wings to greet them.
"Welcome, beautiful Dawn Goddess," Iris and Arke greeted the visitor in unison. Eos, too, subdued her rosy hues and revealed her lovely form.
"I am here to visit Lady Tyche by appointment," the golden-haired goddess smiled gently. The rainbow goddesses exchanged glances and led Eos towards the island's pools.
Tyche sat by the shore as usual, holding lilies and gently sniffing their fragrant cores. Nothing that happened within her domain escaped her perception. The three goddesses flew over the fragrant lily fields and saw Tyche waving to them from afar. The goddesses descended from the sky, and the rainbow goddesses curtsied to their chief deity before silently retreating.
Tyche nodded, watching the departing goddesses, then took Eos's arm and walked towards the nearby temple.
The shy Eos offered a spray of fiery red blossoms, large hibiscus flowers shimmering with the sun's radiance.
"Please accept my gift, Lady Tyche."
Tyche joyfully accepted the flowers, picked out some of the sturdiest ones, and planted them by the pool. Under the influence of divine power, the branches quickly took root and grew, soon becoming a row of tall trees laden with blooming flowers.
"My friend Eos, thank you for your gift, I like it very much!" Tyche said, holding Eos's hand and entering the white temple.
Eos's unease was evident to all, but Tyche pretended not to notice, warmly inviting Eos to sit on the coral-adorned throne and seating herself beside her.
Eos tried to find a topic of conversation. "Lady Tyche, your abode is truly difficult to find. It was the beautiful singing that guided me."
Tyche naturally replied, "They are the Sirens, the maids I created. They are newly born and their wisdom is still developing. The tree nymphs have complained to me many times about them causing destruction on the island, so I let them live in the near sea."
"My father and the great Pontus bestowed this sea upon me. I concealed my island with mist, and the power of the fog protected my maids..."
Eos turned to look at the talkative Tyche, her eyes filled with unconcealed longing and admiration, until Tyche called her name, as she had not received a response.
"Eos?"
The Dawn Goddess, returning to herself, shyly lowered her head to avoid Tyche's questioning gaze. Tyche did not press, watching her with a smile.
After a while, Eos mustered the courage to look up, meeting Tyche's smiling eyes, and said softly, "Please forgive my rudeness, Lady Tyche."
Tyche gently shook her head. "You have done nothing that I find rude, no need to apologize."
Eos lowered her head again and murmured, "I envy you, Lady Tyche. I want to be a majestic goddess like you!"
The words, finally spoken, gave her enough courage. Eos continued, "My powerful mother, Theia, speaks highly of you and has always told my father that you should be the next mistress of the radiant lineage. Mother Earth Gaia praised your wisdom and craftsmanship at the divine banquet, and Phoebe, the prophetess, also favors you. As for me, I can only hide in the brilliance of my outstanding brothers and sisters, like a shadow."
Exhaling heavily, Eos smiled and said, "My brother Helios asked me to bring you these sacred hibiscus flowers. Your strategy and bravery attracted him. I have never seen my proud brother take the trouble to give a gift to a goddess."
Tyche listened quietly to Eos's words, which sounded like both a confession and an outburst, and only spoke leisurely after she stopped, "My parents gave birth to many deities, and I was just a sea nymph when I was born. Out of fear, I absorbed all the power I could obtain, because I knew that weakness was my original sin! I cannot be like a vine, relying on male gods for existence. I want to live my own name and make all the gods acknowledge my existence!"
Taking Eos's hands, Tyche said earnestly, "Your majestic mother and outstanding sister can do it, and so can you!"
"Return to Lady Theia and confide in her your inner thoughts. As a goddess and your mother, she will help you."
Watching the rosy clouds disappear into the sky, Tyche inwardly wished Eos fulfillment. The age of the Titans was about to pass. If she remained this weak and easily bullied, her fate would likely not be good. The best outcome would be to rely on her parents or brothers to survive, to live without dignity.
Returning to the pool, the moonlit water and the sunlit hibiscus trees shone in contrast, outshining even the rainbow and aurora hanging in the sky.
"Love, for me now, is too extravagant!" Throwing the blooming hibiscus flower in her hand, letting it drift away with the stream, Tyche said softly, "I still have promises to keep. I'm sorry."