Spring, New Era 2022, Akhet.

As one of Solancia’s most developed modern metropolises, Akhet was always bustling and prosperous.

Traffic flowed endlessly, people came and went on the streets, and skyscrapers stood in great numbers. The city’s architecture, a testament to human technology and design aesthetics, stretched to the horizon, its glass curtain walls glittering in the sunlight.

On the street, a dynamic advertising screen displayed a short film. The images changed rapidly, finally settling on an ancient, yellowed aerial view of a city—a reconstruction of Akhet during the First Empire, created by historians.

Two lines of small text appeared beside it—

Akhet Museum of Humanities and History

Opening Today: “Day of Myth” Themed Exhibition

The tourism industry had always been one of the pillars of Akhet’s economy. The ancient temple complex, the ruins of the First Empire’s imperial palace, and the Museum of Humanities and History were all precious world cultural heritage sites, drawing an endless stream of visitors from all over the world every day.

Today, however, an unusually large number of tourists had flocked to the museum.

“It’s the ‘Day of Myth’ theme, after all. Unlike the temple complex, where you can go to pray anytime. This is only for three days, and then it’s gone.”

“According to the official social media post, they’re exhibiting several artifacts from the First Empire.”

“Really? Is there anything of Emperor Alyuin’s?”

“Of course. How could you have a ‘Day of Myth’ without the War Goddess?”

“I’m more excited for the River Goddess section…”

“I bet their sections will be right next to each other. Two wishes granted at once.”

“Haha, a mythology-themed exhibition. Finding new sweet moments between them everywhere you look.”

“I’m different. Did you see the mural of the Goddess of Love the officials posted? Repost this bunny-eared Adia for good luck in love, and getting a partner this year won’t be just a dream!”

The group of girls visiting the museum together paused their discussion, silently bowed their heads, and took out their phones to repost.

The “Day of Myth” exhibition was divided into sections by major deity. Following the officially recommended route, they found that, as expected, the sections for the River Goddess and the War Goddess were together—or rather, they were in the same section.

As expected of the officials!

But it was only logical. In Solancian mythology and history, the two goddesses often appeared together. The related artifacts—murals, reliefs, statues, steles, and various written records—featured them together far more frequently than even the Sun and Moon twin gods.

Rather than agonizing over which section to place an artifact featuring both goddesses, it was better to exhibit them together. It was, in a way, a restoration of the myth itself.

The girls walked among the crowd, looking at one display case after another, their faces filled with expressions of admiration or amazement.

For people of this era, mythology was not unfamiliar. They knew and acknowledged the existence of gods, but they also understood that deities generally did not interfere in human life. The wishes made before statues ultimately had to be realized through one’s own efforts.

The gods of today were linked to the nation itself, more of a spiritual symbol, a collective spiritual anchor that was revered but not blindly believed in. Occasionally, they also represented luck or fate, playing a role in various forms of online mysticism.

“Wow, you guys, come look at this!”

One of the girls, having discovered something, quickly called her companions over.

It was an exquisite painting on a large sheet of parchment.

Before a temple altar, a silver-haired goddess and a queen wearing a crown held hands. A circle was empty around them, rendered in special tones and soft light, creating a tranquil and timeless scene, undisturbed by anyone.

Further out were the lavishly dressed spectators, and just looking at them made the scene seem lively and joyous.

A tranquility amidst the clamor, an unparalleled solemnity, splendor, warmth, and beauty.

According to the plaque below, the painting was titled The Divine Marriage. It was created in the early days of the First Empire by an unknown artist, speculated by experts to be a court painter of that time.

Judging from records of the same period, this painting was a work of realism.

“A national treasure-level ancient painting! I knew they’d exhibit The Divine Marriage,” one girl said, her excitement palpable. “This is the earliest material for shippers outside of the myths themselves!”

Suddenly, a glint of silver flashed in her peripheral vision.

The girl subconsciously looked in that direction. It was an empty area in the museum, with no exhibits, nothing at all, and certainly nothing that could reflect that kind of lustrous silver light.

“What’s wrong?” A companion beside her patted her on the shoulder.

“I thought I saw something over there…” The girl turned back. “No, it’s nothing. My eyes must have been playing tricks on me.”

The visitors continued onward.

Not far away, Lotus gazed at the exhibition area.

“This painting has been preserved well.”

Alyuin twirled a strand of silver hair around her finger and nodded with a smile.

“That painter did many more later on. Do you remember that golden eagle—”

“I remember. He captured the spirit perfectly. I still have it,” Lotus said.

They chatted about the past, their low laughter drifting between the display cases, unheard by any human.

Not long ago, the two goddesses had ended a slumber of more than a decade. Lotus calculated the time and realized that the current level of development in the mortal realm was roughly equivalent to another world she had once lived in. So, she and Alyuin came to wander the mortal world, revisiting the long-missed scenery of modern society.

In this world where gods existed, the path of human development was still the same, as deities rarely interfered in worldly affairs.

The same was true for the progression of social systems. The highly productive Solancia no longer needed an emperor. After the First Empire established by Alyuin, the Second Empire that replaced it seven hundred years later, and the three dynasties that followed, the imperial system collapsed, and Solancia entered a new era.

Of course, whether it was the change of dynasties or the transformation of the social system, it was all carried out by the Solancian people. From ancient times to the present, Solancia had always been the nation of the Solancians.

Civilization continued, and it also reformed itself. The Solancian pantheon, which coexisted with it, had also always existed.

Lotus and Alyuin leisurely finished their tour of the exhibition.

The artifacts that were ancient and precious in the eyes of the visitors held past memories for them, most of which were worth savoring.

For example, the last item in the section was a black and white photograph. Besides the background, there were only two blurry halos of light. The exhibition label explained that it was a photograph taken shortly after the invention of the camera, said to be a picture of deities taken by the photographer, but their images could not be developed.

There was no concrete evidence for the photograph, and the label’s description was rather humorous. The exhibitors had likely placed it there for a touch of humor.

But Lotus knew this photograph was very likely real. During one of their previous visits to the mortal world, someone with quick eyes and hands had indeed taken a picture. Whether their forms could be captured was another matter entirely.

For the goddesses, the time between their two visits to the mortal world was not long, yet everything in the human world was changing with each passing day. Who knew what it would be like in another ten years.

“Let’s stay in the mortal world for a while longer.”

Lotus suggested, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

Alyuin had no objection. “Alright.”

After spending the afternoon touring the exhibition hall, the two goddesses, dressed in modern attire, materialized their physical forms. They expertly concealed their unusual features and walked down the street like an ordinary young couple.

Night fell quietly, and Akhet was as bright as day with its lights.

Everywhere in this city, there were traces of mythology and ancient culture—the landmark statues of gods in the city center, a passerby’s casual utterance of “may the gods protect you”… Compared to the world she had once lived in, where ancient Solancia was completely forgotten, this situation was certainly gratifying for a god, but for some reason, it carried a subtle, long-lost feeling.

Passing by a movie theater, Lotus glanced sideways and saw a promotional poster for a sci-fi movie at the entrance. This was normal, except that on the starship in the background, the words “Alyuin III” were painted.

Lotus let out a soft laugh.

Such a scene might actually happen in the future.

Alyuin seemed to understand what she was laughing about. She just shook her head and chuckled. “Want to go in and see it?”

“Yes, let’s go see the Alyuin.”

The two figures disappeared behind the cinema doors.

Behind them, the city lights blazed brilliantly.