Pessimism

The morning light filtered through the fluttering curtains as Hecate awoke, getting up and looking to the side.

It was empty. Her heart jumped into her throat.

"I am here." An indolent voice sounded.

Through the glare of the sunlight, Hecate saw Apollo sitting on a chair, looking inquisitively at parchments.

She sighed in relief inaudibly as she walked towards him, tightening her loose robes over the bare parts of her body.

"What are you doing..." She paused, her words caught in her throat, her gaze fixed on Apollo. The glares of the sunlight had receded, allowing her full sight of Apollo, who was naked as the day he was born.

Apollo finally looked up at her, feeling her hot glare on his bare body. His lips also rose slightly, indicating to Hecate that he was clearly aware of everything.

Hecate averted her gaze, though with reluctance. She conjured magic in her hand, transforming it into a white chiton robe.

She handed it to him without looking at him. "Put it on."

"Why?" Apollo's voice was thick and deep, stirring her heart. "Don't you like what you see?"

He gently caught her chin, forcing her to look at him as his hands moved into her robes.

Aware of the intentions, Hecate hastily said. "More than anything, I do." She grunted, recalling the previous night and days. "However, I am not a God of Endurance like you."

Apollo grunted at that, and she knew all too well that while he always asked her before doing it again, he could also be overbearing, coaxing her with silky words. But he never forced her, even though his displeasure was always palpable to her rejection.

Hecate didn't know whether he was like this only with her in bed or also the same with the world.

Apollo snatched the white chiton from her grasp and draped it loosely over himself. He purposefully didn't bother fastening it properly, allowing her to see his body through the revealing edges of his robes.

And the glare of sunlight in the room just happened to increase brightly, seeping through his chiton robe, turning it translucent.

Hecate now regretted creating the white chiton. She knew white was his favourite colour. Looking around his stark white room, it was all too obvious.

But she regretted it, as she could see him completely through the transparent robes. Her eyes darted down on his hips. However, images from the previous night flashed through her mind. Ironically, that managed to extinguish all of her desire.

"What exactly is this?" She inquired, pointing at the parchments, attempting to break the atmosphere between them.

Apollo just sighed, seemingly seeing through her attempt. The glare from the sun in the room dimmed away.

He approached her and explained, pointing to the parchment.

"The Dyson Sphere and the Hypothesis on Dimensional Reduction." His voice returned to its usual languidness. "It is a structure constructed around a star in order to harvest its solar power and the dimensional reduction..."

"You invented it?" Hecate interrupted, her excitement palpable. This was a fantastic idea. The possibilities that can be unlocked by fully harnessing the power of an entire star are nearly limitless. Can she use this method to transform solar energy into magic, thereby powering her future magical civilization?

Ah, the possibilities. It made her smile.

"Yes." Apollo blinked. He then smiled proudly. "I'm almost done with my calculations. If I worked on it for another hour, it should be finished." His tone abruptly changed to solemn. "However, this cannot be used on a large scale, such as to power our civilization. It is still in its early stages. Introducing something as advanced as this to a burgeoning civilization will ruin everything."

"How do you know what I had in mind?" Hecate inquired, surprised.

Apollo simply chuckled, saying . "I just know. You are, after all, my love. Are you not?"

However, Hecate only stared. She was well aware that it was a lie. They don't know each other all that well.

Apollo stated, "I designed the Dyson sphere with the goal of powering civilization. So, many may get the same thought if they see my design. And you wanted to create a completely new magical race, which means you, surly, would also want them to build their own civilization."

He shrugged. "See, it wasn't that hard to put the pieces together. But I was still sceptical until you confirmed it yourself."

Hecate pouted, looking away. She mentally made a mental note to stop being so obvious. Her heart, though, wavered, looking at Apollo. Then, she decided. At least in front of others.

She focused on the Dyson Sphere parchment, giving it a thorough read while Apollo just intently watched her throughout it.

"It's incredible." Hecate breathed out, passing it back to him.

"You didn't understand anything, did you?" Apollo laughed, taking the parchment.

Hecate rolled her eyes, but she admitted it. "I got the gist of it. But, yes, I can't understand it completely, as I don't even have a basic grasp of the subject. "

"I could teach you," Apollo said after a brief pause.

"You would?" Hecate snapped her eyes at him.

"Yes." Apollo smiled. Then he inquired, as if perplexed as to why she had even asked the question. "And what was the surprise?"

"It's not-thing…" Hecate said, looking away.

However, Apollo's eyes bore into her. "Tell me."

Hecate took his hands in hers, gathered her courage, and finally looked him in the eyes. Then she asked. "What exactly are we, Apollo?"

After everything that had happened, she expected him to laugh, joke, or even get angry and yell at her for asking that question.

Apollo, on the other hand, gripped her hands tightly, as if he could see right through her. "Hecate, we're in a relationship." He gently kissed her cheek while whispering in her ear. "We may be different, so different. But it makes no difference. We'll see it all through, together."

Hecate smiled, a smile that expressed volumes of joy and relief. Her heavy heart finally settled down.

For a brief moment, they gazed into each other's radiant eyes as the sunlight thickened and swept over them like veils.

Hecate abruptly waved her hand. And their dresses vanished.

"Whoa." Apollo blinked. "Are you sure?"

Hecate cocked her head, grasping his hard member. "What? Don't you like what you see?"

Apollo smiled brightly at her as she knelt in front of him. "I am going to make you scream for days."

"I expect nothing less." Hecate said vehemently. Her lips enveloped the head of his member. She didn't hesitate to entrap it with her mouth. As she lowered her head, her tongue twirled around it, taking in all of his manhood down her throat.

Apollo let out a deep groan of pleasure, as his hands went for the sides of her face...

Light suddenly brightened around them, consuming and concealing everything.

___________

Eight days later.

In the dark sky, the silver moon glinted brilliantly with millions of stars. Hecate snuggled up to Apollo, resting her head on his bare chest. They were lying on the cold ground on the balcony of the magnificent castle. Silence enveloped everything in peace and tranquillity.

"I wish..." Hecate said quietly, her eyes closed. "This moment could last forever. No Gods. No Responsibilities. No Worries. Just you and me. Alone and Content."

Apollo said, gazing at the stars. "Maybe. But isn't reality far from fair?"

Hecate opened her eyes, leaving his embrace rolling to the side. She, too, looked up at the stars.

She exhaled a sigh. "Don't be so pessimistic. Reality is what we make it out to be, Apollo."

"Pessimistic.." Apollo smiled weakly, his eyes heavy with emotion.

"What happened?" Hecate inquired, her brow furrowed in concern.

"You are right, you know?" Apollo said deeply, looking at her. "I often tend to be pessimistic. Believing in the worst of possibilities."

Hecate frowned, hearing his heavy words. What has Apollo been through to become this way? The words of Desire flashed through her mind at that precise moment.

'He is the most unique one. Great Darkness stirs and they want the head of your love.'

'Did they already...?' Her heart clenched as she thought.

Cosmos and the situation of Apollo. There were too many unknowns and secrets in it, so much so that she couldn't even wrap her head around to form some guesses.

And she didn't press for it. If Apollo truly wanted to, he would have told her already. He has secrets, just as she does. A feeling of powerlessness filled her heart again.

Hecate took a deep breath, saying. "Well, it doesn't always have to be like this. A wise man once said that as long as we dream hard enough, we can make anything a reality. So, Apollo, dream."

"A wise man?" Apollo smiled amusingly as the heaviness in his eyes faded slightly. "Is it Dream?"

That worked. Hecate inwardly sighed, noticing his amused smile. But her mind went over what he said again.

And she snapped her eyes at him. "You know, the Endless?"

"Yeah." Apollo laughed and nodded. "Why are you so surprised? I am also God of Prophecy, remember? I always receive my revelations through dreams."

He asked rhetorically. "So, how could I not know who rules the domain of dreams?"

Hecate calmed down. "Have you met him?"

"Dream?" Apollo shook his head. "No." Then he inquired, his brow furrowed. "Have you?"

"Yes." Hecate looked at the stars, whispering. "I didn't believe in tales and stories about them until I met Dream."

"You really met him?" Apollo looked genuinely surprised; all of his heaviness had faded away.

Hecate nodded briskly, noticing this. "It was just an encounter. I was once fascinated by dreams and nightmares. My curiosity attracted his attention. And he wasn't happy at all when he saw my research into nightmares and dreams. So he confiscated all of it and left me with a warning that one shouldn't dabble with things that they couldn't possibly fathom."

"He sounds so..." Apollo drawled, as if trying to find the right words to avoid sounding insular. "... proud and narcissistic..."

"He really is, isn't he?" Hecate laughed, amused.

Apollo suddenly sighed, standing up. "Anyway, thank you, Hecate. I really needed to hear that."

He extended his hand to her. And Hecate caught it, getting up and looking at him.

She still pressed. "What do you decide?"

Apollo's other hand ran back through his ruffled brown hair. Hecate knew Apollo was getting vexed. He always does this at that time. And she knew why. Apollo doesn't like to share his secrets.

But, surprisingly, he said, looking over the horizon.

"Being always pessimistic can indeed ruin lives. However, it is necessary, at least in my case. If I stopped considering the worst of possibilities, then everything would be ruined. You know, it is my way of survival, as excruciating as it may be. It is still necessary. But.."

Apollo tightened his grip on her hands, looking her in the eyes.

"But, you aren't wrong. Reality is what we make it out to be…" He drawled, his voice thick with heaviness. "You understand what I mean, right?"

"I will try, Hecate, try to focus more on the bright side."

Apollo suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly. "Oh, the irony. I am, after all, the God of Light."

Hecate hugged him tightly, her head pressed against his bare chest. She could hear his thumping heart.

She muttered. "You will be okay. I got you."

Apollo's smile faded as he looked at her. Then, he hugged her back silently, kissing her hair gently.

The sound of horses neighing suddenly echoed from the horizon. A ray of dawn erupted, splashing across the dark sky. The night and stars began to melt away.

A golden chariot graced the melting sky, rising from the horizon, pulled by four white and majestic horses. A blonde man in a silver chiton robe stood at the helm, holding the reins.

"Wake up everyone!" He said briskly, his voice booming across the northern hemisphere. "It's that time of the day again."

Apollo and Hecate turned and looked at him.

"Is that...?" She asked, amused.

"Yes," he said, smiling. "He is Castor, my Angel of Dawn. He can be quite avid when it comes to his duties."

"I figured." Hecate chuckled.

Apollo dragged her into his room. "Come on. We should put on some clothes. I am taking you to Delphi. And we are going to attend an important event there."

Hecate immediately nodded and walked in with him.

"Do you still have anything in the underworld?"

"No. Nothing. However, I do have something in Delphi. Remember, you still haven't given your approval for my race."

"Haha. Granted. Satisfied, now."

A pout was heard, as light and magic filled the wrecked room, fixing and cleansing everything.

_______________

I wanted to clarify a few things.

The sigil of Desire that Hecate accepted didn't contain any of their power. It is just a device to contact Desire. That's all. Nothing more. I am clarifying this as I felt I left it too vague in the previous chapter.

Moving on, I read a few comments. So in response to that, there will be no NTR or betrayal between Hecate and Apollo.

Yes, Hecate indeed accepted the sigil from Desire. But it happened under the thorough emotional manipulation of Desire, who wanted nothing but to make Hecate accept their sigil from the start.