The separated body and soul were becoming one.

Breath flowed through the slightly parted pink lips. The chest expanded greatly as life took root in the now-complete body.

It was a wonder beyond the dimension of a child emerging from its mother’s body. The sight of body, soul, and breath unifying represented a rare spectacle even for gods.

Triton’s blue divinity settled around the heart. This body was no longer human.

As long as Triton lived, Livia would not die. Since Triton had intended from the beginning to make Livia immortal, it wasn’t a bad bargain.

She could have become immortal through nectar or ambrosia, but those were now becoming scarce and couldn’t be quickly obtained. Moreover, gaining divinity through those means would inevitably make her a servant of Olympus, obliged to clean up after them. Not all divine beings were equal gods, after all.

So splitting my heart and giving it to you was undoubtedly the superior choice.

Well… rather than letting you become a servant to those dissolute gods, sharing a piece of myself is much better.

Triton gazed with enchanted eyes as Livia’s once-pale cheeks gradually turned rosy. The aftereffects of cutting open his chest rushed in like a tide, but he endured by gritting his teeth.

No matter how much the distant sleep tried to pull him down, he absolutely had to confirm that his companion would open her eyes.

“Livia…”

Responding to his desperate voice, Livia’s inhalation deepened. Even in this situation, how beautiful was her rapid breathing through parted lips…

What was once one had been split into two, making Livia and Triton inseparable beings.

Every time Triton felt his heart beating inside Livia’s body, a shiver ran through his entire being.

If only he could confirm those soft breath-exhaling lips, those tightly closed eyelids opening…

“Livia… open your eyes, quickly.”

Please stop tormenting me like this…

Perhaps she heard his plea.

Finally, the delicately closed eyelids began to tremble. He watched that soft, careful trembling resembling a butterfly’s wings with bated breath…

“……”

A dreamy gaze surveyed the empty space. The woman who had become the new mistress of the sea opened her brilliant eyes to face the world.

The green eyes that had made Triton beg and plead had returned to their color. Triton’s chest trembled with joy as those luminous green eyes gazed blankly at him.

“…Tri, ton?”

The voice he had desperately waited for called his name. Ecstasy washed over him as her sweet breath reached his ears.

Not only Triton but also Hecate and Zagreus, who had been waiting for this moment, let out sighs of amazement.

To think that a woman whose life had ended and whose soul had shattered had truly come back to life!

As his desperate wish was fulfilled, countless emotions struck Triton’s mind like lightning, awakening his soul.

“Yes, it’s me. Do you recognize me?”

Joy, ecstasy, relief… Both named emotions and suffocating feelings that couldn’t be named overwhelmed him.

“How did I…?”

Yes, this was enough.

You’ve awakened and recognized me… I’ve seen your green eyes filled with life…

Triton willingly closed his heavy eyelids amid overflowing joy. His strong hands desperately held the awakened woman, clinging to her.

“Until I wake up… please, don’t do anything rash… wait for me, Livia.”

“T-Triton…? Triton!”

Though he sank into a sleep he couldn’t fight for the first time in his life, Livia’s voice calling his name from a distant place comforted him.

Hoping only that Livia wouldn’t cause any trouble until he opened his eyes…

***

A sunset-colored wave came to the sea.

It was a phrase indicating the birth of a queen resembling the red sunset. The shocking news spread instantly to the distant seas on the sea breeze.

And not just the sea! The astonishing news spread across land and sky, islands and rivers. It was a rumor that couldn’t be stopped no matter how careful one was with words.

Thus, this birth of a new ruler was not received as entirely good news by those who served the sea.

The absolute power they had believed in and followed had split half his heart and given it to his companion. As a result, Triton had fallen into a deep sleep, and the sea forces were in turmoil.

The absence of Triton, an absolute power, caused tension among the sea dwellers.

Some blamed Livia, who had received Triton’s heart and become the new sea goddess, while others said she deserved to be his companion since she had given birth to Triton’s successor.

The whispers and confusion heightened the waves, and the rough waters struck the shores daily.

‘Livia.’

Everyone was wary of this suddenly appointed goddess who ‘had been human.’ No one could guess what impact the appearance of this new master would have on the sea.

Moreover, wasn’t she the one who had truly fulfilled the legend that said she would split the heart of the sea in half!

Without Triton to shield her, Livia was essentially thrown alone before the true trials of the ‘sea.’

However, the lesser gods who had dared to show resistance soon had to close their mouths.

The reason was…

***

“You’ve never handled water before, so you’re not familiar with the power. It should feel as natural as using your hands and feet. Try again with the feeling that your separated limbs have been reattached.”

Amphitrite spoke in a gentle voice, almost whispering, as she placed her hand over Livia’s and personally taught her how to control her power.

Her voice, strict but not particularly frightening, coaxed Livia and gave her detailed instructions on how to handle the ‘water currents.’

Beads of sweat formed on Livia’s forehead as she controlled the swirling seawater according to that guiding voice. Despite repeated failures due to her inexperienced power, Livia continued to try.

‘Not giving up’ was what Livia did best.

“That’s right. Like that… That’s how you handle it, child. Easy, isn’t it?”

…It couldn’t be called easy, but she succeeded nonetheless. Something that had been difficult despite dozens of days of practice was easily accomplished with just one gesture from Amphitrite. Livia wiped the sweat from her forehead and her eyes shone with joy.

“I was able to succeed by following your instructions. Thank you, Lady Amphitrite.”

The whirlpool that had seemed ready to tear everything apart now rippled gently at Livia’s command. The sight was so wondrous and marvelous that Livia felt a tightness in her chest.

Livia now gradually began to realize the immense power that had come to her, who had been nothing.

‘Triton…’

The source of this power was Triton’s heart implanted within her. She felt her heart grow hot each time she used his power, seemingly reminding her of its origin.

Because she could feel him each time, Livia didn’t slack off and learned how to handle the power day by day.

Her one-year-old son handled seawater much better than his mother, but that child had been divine from birth, so there was no comparison with her.

Rather, she could intuitively learn how to handle power from the baby, making the child another teacher to her.

“How have you been lately? Is anyone bothering you?”

Amphitrite asked as she placed a small pufferfish on her palm and admired it. Livia smiled as brightly as possible and freely shared the story of how Selene had come to cause trouble just a few days ago.

“Oh? That child is still like that?”

“But I didn’t just sit back and take it. She was an uninvited guest who entered someone else’s palace without permission, so I gave her the treatment an uninvited guest deserves. No matter how clear the moonlight might be on a given day, this is still underwater, after all.”

“Well done. No matter how inexperienced you may be, never show weakness anywhere. Even I cannot tolerate that.”

Amphitrite had entered the golden palace naturally from the moment Triton fell asleep and had been protecting this place. She had been Livia’s patron knowingly or unknowingly, and sometimes even took on the role of a strict guide.

Although she might dislike the being who had put her son into a deep sleep, she didn’t seem to mind at all.

Livia found this very curious, and also found it difficult to understand, wondering if this was the mind of a god that she couldn’t yet comprehend.

‘A god…’

They said she had become such a being, but it still didn’t feel real. She only slightly felt that something had changed when she sensed Triton’s power in her heart, but otherwise, she still felt hazy, trapped in fog.

Still, it was less confusing than when she first opened her eyes…

Livia moved her hands and feet with a fresh perspective. The memory of her body shattering into sea foam remained vivid, yet it was truly amazing that she had been reborn like this.

The body created by Zagreus and the heart given by Triton…

Livia had come to live a new life carefully crafted by no less than two gods.

Perhaps because of this, unlike when she had been blinded by revenge, life had become more precious now that she was living a semi-eternal existence.

‘Triton, if only you would open your eyes soon…’

Livia turned her wandering eyes toward the direction where Triton lay sleeping. Seemingly paying the price for betraying him, she was experiencing a very long waiting period.

Protecting this sea in his place was also something she had to do willingly if she considered it the price for her betrayal.

But… still, she thought every day without exception that she wished he would return just a little faster.

Every day, she thirsted for Triton’s presence.

Did you feel the same when I ran away?

She recalled Triton’s eyes as he grabbed her hand when she emerged from Zagreus’s embrace. He, who didn’t even get angry, but gripped her hand tightly with trembling hands.

Somehow, it was hard to believe that someone with such a magnificent heart had been nervous because of a mere being like her.

Well, how could I dare to guess and measure the love of one who split his heart in half for me…

Thinking about it that way, this waiting period did seem like the price for betraying him. Was this what they called karma?

As she let out a self-deprecating laugh, Amphitrite, who had been observing Livia with interest as always, suddenly asked.

“Child, do you perhaps have any idea why I’m helping you?”