When Chief Archon could no longer feel Zemyna's presence in the nine heaven's, he knew the Rite of Ascension had begun. And this was all still too much for him to process. So he went to see the only one besides his wife who he could turn to at such a time, his father. Thoth.
Thoth lives in a pyramid much like the ones he helped the mortals build during his time on Earth. When Zariah made his way to it, he felt a little ashamed when he realized how long it had been since he last visited his father. Now he stood outside Thoth's pyramid made of celestial stone, gold, and light feeling a bit hesitant. But Chief Archon Zariah knew he had to see him. Not just because he needed his father, but because Thoth was also the only one in the nine heavens who knew the secret histories of the old gods. After all, Thoth is actually the only old god who still lives in the divine heavens. The whereabouts of the others are a mystery and most presume them to have reunited with the Creator in death. So Thoth alone could help shed light on Zemyna and Elijah's situation and how it might affect the nine heavens as a whole.
Chief Archon Zariah made his way into his father's pyramid with a heavy heart. He could feel his father was in the lower part of the structure.
"So he's working in the Halls of Amenti." Zariah thought to himself as he used his spiritual sense to locate his father.
When he arrived, Thoth was hovering over a body that looked much like his own. Except it looked younger and stronger. Zariah noticed that his father had begun to show signs of aging some time ago and was wondering if it was time for his father to take a new body again.
While gods and goddesses seem immortal from a human stand-point, their light does die out eventually. However, Thoth had the technology and spiritual mastery to transfer his consciousness into a new body every few hundred millenia when he felt his body getting weary. This was only allowed by the Greater Heavens because Thoth's heavenly mandate on his life was not yet complete. Yet he would never speak about what exactly that was no matter who asked him or how many times they begged.
"Abba Tehuti..."
*Abba means father. And Tehuti is one of Thoth's older names that few know.*
Thoth stopped what he was doing when he heard his son call him by his ancient name.
"If you're here calling me that, you're taking all of this worse than I thought you would, my son." Thoth could feel how disheartened his son was and decided the Halls of Amenti was no place for this kind of talk.
"Let us go to the antechamber. I have some spirit wine aging there for just such an occasion. You still remeber what it looks like right? I haven't changed much since you're last visit."
Zariah nodded. Then he and Thoth closed their eyes, imagined the antechamber with their mind's eye and were immediately teleported there.
Once they were in the antechamber of the pyramid, Thoth summoned his favorite creation.
"Hermes, come here."
Hermes instantly appeared before them and bowed with reverence to the two beings in front of him.
"I am here, my Maker. How may I be of service to you two?"
"Bring us a bottle of spirit wine and two glasses. You know the ones I mean. My son and I need to have a talk about the state of things."
"As you command, Maker."
Hermes disappeared and then reappeared almost instantaneously. He was holding a green bottle full of golden liquid and two glasses when he returned. He set the items on the table in front of Thoth and Zariah, and bowed again.
"Thank you, Hermes. You may go." Thoth said.
"My pleasure, Maker." Hermes disappeared again.
Thoth grabbed the bottle of spirit wine and uncorked it. The room immediately filled with the divine aroma of this heavenly drink. After basking in its pleasant fragrance for a moment, Thoth poured a glass for Zariah and himself.
Zariah took hold of the glass, raised it, and said, "You honor me, Abba."
Thoth simply smiled and raised his glass as well before they each took a sip.
"Ahhhh. My heart feels lighter already." Zariah said as he felt a sensation of warmth begin to spread throughout his body from his core.
Thoth laughed a bit and said, "One of the benefits of my years that I'm happy to share with you, son. Now tell me, what is it about Zemyna's relationship with Elijah that has you most vexed?"
Zariah's face frowned a little as he closed his eyes to search his heart.
"I feel like I failed her as a father. What kind of example of a god's love must I have set for her to seek out love not from her own people or realm, but from a mortal?"
Thoth took another sip before responding. "You say that you failed her, but in truth you feel betrayed don't you? Like all the love you've given her was spat back in your face." Thoth was not one to mince words or hold back. A trait no one in the nine heavens missed when he chose to step down from the throne and let his son take over.
Zariah's face winced from emotional pain when he heard his father's words. But he had to admit they rang true. So he took another sip of spirit win, let out a deep sigh, and admitted as much.
"I can't hide anything from you, Abba. It is as you say. Meera and I specifically warned her not to get to close to humans or grow too attached to their world. We are forbidden from interfering too much, much less making romantic partners out of them!"
Zariah's blood was beginning to boil as the emotional pain he felt from this ordeal was still too fresh in his heart. But Thoth knew this was exactly why he came here. To let it all out. If he didn't, it could poison his soul and he could become a fallen god. And that must be avoided at all cost.
Thoth thought he did the right thing by giving his son the Sun-Throne during such an unprecedented era of peace. But now he realized how unprepared his son was for what lay ahead.
"Your anger is understandable my son. Let yourself feel it. It is proof of your love for Zemyna. But it is also the result of you having expectations of her that she is not going to fulfill. Feel the anger, release it, and then find a way to forgive her. After all there is nothing to forgive. This is her nature. She has always been fascinated with mortals and now she finds herself in love with one. It was only a matter of time. Did she ever show interest in the attempts other young gods made to court her? No. And now we know why. So find a way to accept her for who she is and not what you want her to be. I know you don't want to lose to Elijah in terms of loving your own daughter unconditionally."
Zariah's eyes went wide as the truth of his father's words resonated with him. He knew what he had to do. He had to let the part of himself that saw Zemyna as his perfect daughter die and learn to accept her for who she is and support her decisions no matter how much they don't make sense to him. He realized that he was being challenged as a father and that to show his love for Zemyna, he must rise to this challenge and overcome it. Such a thing would not be easy, but it must be done.
Zariah took his last sip and emptied his glass. "Thank you, Abba. Your council has never failed to point me in the right direction. I have much to meditate on." Zariah then bowed his head to his father out of respect. He could see that he still had a long way to go as both a ruler and a father. And he was grateful that he still had his father to help guide him. Something that was rare for gods his age.
Thoth smiled and emptied his glass as well.
"I'm grateful to have this chance to be of some help to you, my son. But it seems before you can go meditate, your family needs you. I sense them beginning to gather at the palace. Your wise wife is about to advise your young ones on how the Archons must move forward in Zemyna's absence and you must be there. Go to them. You need to take this opportunity to show them you're there for ALL of them. Not just Zemyna."
Zariah let out another sigh as his father's words stung his heart once again.
"My wife often told me the same thing." Zariah said with an embarrassed expression on his face.
"Wisdom confirms wisdom." Thoth said.
There was nothing else to be said. So Zariah bowed to his father once more, closed his eyes, and disappeared from his pyramid.
Hermes appeared a moment later to collect the bottle and glasses. "I thought I was going to see a grown god cry today. My Maker is truly merciless." He thought to himself.