The sky, sea, and land existed as separate domains, yet remained closely connected. During calm periods, this connection felt faint, but when one domain grew angry, everything changed.

When the sky raged, pouring rain and snow, rivers and seas rose to submerge the land. When the earth erupted in fury causing earthquakes, even the seabed shook, resulting in volcanic eruptions or tsunamis.

Everything connected in this intricate way.

What happened when the sea became angry? Fierce currents swirled in the depths, creating vortices that repeatedly swallowed and spat out everything in their path. Storms raged everywhere, making coastal areas inaccessible due to violent waves.

Mountain-sized waves crashed against cliffs, seemingly intent on destroying them. The sea transformed into a realm inaccessible to anyone, its fury so intense that not even a seagull dared fly over it.

Even elderly nymphs experienced this unprecedented anger spreading throughout the sea for the first time in their lives. Despite the efforts of sea fairies and regional Tritones to calm the waters, their attempts proved useless. The sea grew increasingly desolate, affecting both land and sky.

“God of the sea, please cease your anger!”

Sacrificial ceremonies occurred everywhere to appease the sea god. Poseidon’s temple became unusually crowded with people offering various sacrifices, praying for his anger to subside. This placed Poseidon in quite an awkward position.

This anger belonged not to him but to his son, yet people kept approaching Poseidon. To correct this misunderstanding, Poseidon appeared in his temple and informed the priests.

“The current anger is not mine but Triton’s. Praying to me is of no use.”

The priests reacted with great surprise at Poseidon’s words. This revelation came completely unexpected. They had naturally assumed Poseidon caused such fierce rage, but Triton…

Until now, Poseidon had not properly responded to questions about whether the ruler of the sea had changed, but with that one statement, everything became clear.

However, the priests could do nothing. The murmuring priests prostrated themselves again and began to plead earnestly.

“Then, Father of the Sea! Please calm his anger on our behalf. He is your son, is he not?”

Poseidon stood bewildered, but this situation did not affect him alone.

The earth goddess Demeter, her daughter and spring goddess Persephone, and the sky god Zeus all experienced the same predicament.

Thus, all manner of gods sought out Triton, but he remained buried in the deepest part of the Golden Palace, refusing to budge.

“If you do not wish to see this world become entirely sea… someone must return my companion to me.”

The gods murmured at his declaration. Did Triton have a wife? A few who knew the circumstances whispered among themselves, glancing at the underworld where Hades resided and at his wife Persephone.

They maintained silence, pretending ignorance. They had nothing to offer either.

Meanwhile, the world steadily turned to ruins, and Poseidon, unable to bear the public outcry, finally went to the Golden Palace but found himself blocked at the entrance.

The one who stopped him appeared most unexpected to Poseidon.

“Go back, Poseidon.”

“…Amphitrite. The world faces chaos right now. All because of that Triton!”

“I know. However, this matter lies beyond your or my interference.”

“Triton fights against fate. Against the ancient curse of the sea…”

How could the sea remain calm when her son, who knowingly plunged into a foolish love, battled against fate to protect that love?

Amphitrite believed in Triton. He would not turn the sea into complete ruins. After all, he inherited her blood most strongly among all her children.

Unlike other gods who tried to pressure Triton without understanding, she wanted to protect his struggle, if only momentarily.

Yes, the time had come for that curse, that ancient nonsense, to disappear. Amphitrite raised her trident before Poseidon. Her deep blue eyes, identical to Triton’s, shone with clarity.

“If you cannot trust him, just leave, Poseidon. Olympus awaits you.”

“Amphitrite!”

“Don’t make me say it twice, dear.”

At his wife’s rebuke, Poseidon finally retreated with a hardened expression. Once he had commanded the entire sea, but now circumstances differed.

His dominion over the sea had already declined. That was the price he paid for abandoning his mermaid tail and entering Olympus.

***

Hecate also numbered among the gods who sought Triton’s palace.

The seven days she had proposed had long passed, and the ritual to dismantle Echidna’s spell had been postponed.

Missing the timing meant more effort would be required than before, but that hardly mattered in the current situation.

She needed to quickly find that ill-tempered sea god’s wife to calm him down.

The repercussions of the sea god’s anger had reached Hecate’s island as well.

Massive waves had invaded and devoured her island multiple times. Her small island lay completely flooded, and her followers, swept away by the waves, were helplessly carried off.

No matter how excellent her magic, she could do nothing about an island more than half-submerged in seawater.

Hecate had no choice but to act to protect her island and followers.

‘He needs to find that human woman quickly.’

With Livia missing and Triton in this state, if that human woman were to die…

‘The mere thought is horrifying.’

Hecate entered Triton’s palace with disgust. Fortunately, her alliance with Triton granted her free access to the Golden Palace.

Triton.

Outwardly, he sparkled like a jewel, but his temperament proved truly remarkable. Normally calm, once provoked, he would overturn everything without restraint, his nature truly resembling a storm.

The center of that terrifying storm must be that human woman. If she wasn’t found quickly, Hecate sensed that simple waves could transform into an even greater calamity. Unfortunately, the intuitions of Hecate, goddess of magic, had never been wrong.

Hecate stepped into the depths of the Golden Palace. Finding his presence wasn’t difficult. She could see Triton just a few steps away.

The sea god sat askew on a magnificent throne made of coral, shells, and massive rocks. Despite causing the world’s chaos, he sat casually with one leg crossed over his knee, his fist propped against his temple, looking utterly careless.

With his eyes tightly closed, he momentarily appeared peaceful, seemingly asleep. But judging by his deeply furrowed brow, he appeared trapped in a nightmare.

‘He must still be searching for that human woman.’

Hecate quietly observed him, not wanting to disturb. Focusing her attention, she could see the currents swirling around Triton. Those extensions, spreading like nerve fibers, must be searching throughout the sea.

She could see Triton’s power, fragmenting and dispersing from him as its center.

Though he appeared calm, he clearly undertook a difficult task. Perhaps because of this, Triton’s complexion looked unusually haggard.

After remaining quietly with his eyes closed for some time, Triton’s brow began to twitch.

Had he discovered something?

He opened his eyes abruptly.

“…Livia.”

Triton had clearly sensed Livia’s presence. From a deep place that was neither land nor sea.