Chapter 9 - Leaving Delos

(Apollo POV)

The sun shone in the sky.

The serpent slides along the floor.

And like a snake, it shed its skin.

And God flew across the sky.

The earth burned.

And from the cracks in the earth vapors came out.

Like the snake that shed its skin, Delphi will never be the same.

•••

I get up from the bed I was in, breathing heavily.

My right hand went straight to my chest, where my heart was, which was beating wildly.

"I'm already getting used to this sort of thing." I said, with a slight smile as my breathing returned to normal.

Prophecy! A prediction of the future.

As the God of Oracle and Prophecy, I would obviously have these predictions of the future.

But I had no control over the prophecies, as they came spontaneously, usually when I was asleep.

Over these two years, I have had some Prophecies, some of them useful, like about strong forest animals and creatures and the weaknesses of these creatures. Other parts of the Prophecies were trite, but not useless.

I crossed my legs on the not-very-comfortable bed and placed my fingers under my chin, thinking about the meaning of my newest Prophecy.

The sun shone in the sky.

It could be referring to me... no, maybe it's about my authority over the sun.

The serpent slides along the floor.

Without a doubt, this part is about Python, and I can't think of much meaning in this part. Perhaps interpreting the word slide as crawling along the floor would be something similar to Python's inferiority.

Even if I had to interpret a word and change its meaning, it doesn't seem too wrong considering the next parts of the prophecy.

And like a snake, it shed its skin.

Certain types of snakes shed their skin naturally, this could be literally referring to this ability or perhaps just being a meaning for change or the transformation of something old into new.

And God flew across the sky.

God must be "I" and flying in the sky may be in the literal sense of the word, but also together with my other interpretation of Python being inferior because he glides along the earth, it may be that in battle I am superior to Python who is on the ground.

The earth burned.

Probably referring to my authority over the sun.

And from the cracks in the earth vapors came out.

I honestly can't think of an interpretation for this. Maybe it is in the literal sense of the word?

Like the snake that shed its skin, Delphi will never be the same.

Hmm! A little worrying, as it is directly referring to Python again, but soon after comes the words "will never be the same", probably referring to a change in Delphi, like changing a snake's old skin to the new one.

Although this prophecy leans more in my favor, it doesn't necessarily mean I will win.

This is the downside of Prophecies, as most of them are nebulous, and the vast majority of prophecies are the biggest shit-makers in Greek mythology.

But I prefer this nebulous prophecy rather than self-fulfilling prophecies.

A self-fulfilling prophecy is basically a prediction of a situation that unconsciously changes a person's behavior and attitude, causing the "prediction" to come true.

That's why I'm not a big fan of prophecy, even though I'm God Of Prophecy.

It's kind of ironic, considering I'm the god of the oracle and prophecy.

I thought, scratching my head until I missed something, or rather, someone.

Artemis!

My sister wasn't by my side and that was strange, as she had a habit of always sleeping with me.

She's always been clingy to me, not that I'm complaining.

But for me, it was a little difficult because, in these two years, nature was very favorable to my sister when it came to her body.

Returning to my missing sister, I wasn't too worried, because just as she was a little lazy, she was also the type of person who woke up at dawn just to hunt or stay in the Delos forest.

The forest was almost like a second habitat for my sister.

I think it's normal considering that she is the goddess of the hunt.

Just as I thought about it, the door opens and Leto enters our simple house.

Leto walked in with a smile on her face.

"Good morning, my son." Leto, still smiling, walks toward me.

Upon seeing my mother, a natural smile formed on my lips.

"Morning, Mother." I get up from the bed, fixing my messy hair.

"It's a bit rare for you to wake up this late." My mother said pointing to the window where the sunlight was coming in.

By the sun it was still morning, but the sun had already risen at least a few hours ago.

Judging by the sunlight, it must have been around 8 or 9 am.

"I just had a good… dream."

I guess the prophecy could be considered some kind of dream?

But it's a good excuse, so I'll use it.

"Mnn! Good." She said, standing in front of me, running her hand through my hair, smoothing the flyaways on my head.

The warmth of her hand was extremely comfortable, but it was something I unfortunately had to cut short.

"Mother, today is the day." With that simple word of mine, the smile on my mother's lips disappears.

No more words were needed, just with these words, my mother was able to understand what I wanted to say.

Her hand remained in my hair, stroking it, with a slight sad smile.

I don't know how long she was silent, it felt like seconds, but at the same time, it felt like hours.

But the silence was broken by her beautiful voice the next moment.

"My dear son, being sincere like your mother, I feel reluctant to let you go, but at the same time, I feel proud. I'm not going to lie, I would much rather you stay with me and forget about Python, but I know my light, I know it's impossible for you, right?" My mother's eyes looked at me tenderly, but there was a hint of sadness in them.

I could see that this revenge of mine was not entirely to my mother's liking.

You could even say I'm being selfish, doing something my mother didn't want.

But…

"I'm sorry, Mother, I can't do this at all, I can't leave it alone. I may be selfishly trampling on your kindness, but I cannot and do not want to forgive Python for the humiliation and pain she caused her." I said, Honestly.

Leto laughed lightly at my answer.

"Kind!? Me? My son, I am a vengeful woman who never forgave Python, if I weren't weaker than her I would kill that serpent myself, what I didn't want is for my light to suffer because of me. But if facing Python is what you desire, I will give you my blessing." I could feel the sincerity and love in my mother's words.

"Thank you, mother." I said, hugging her.

"It's me who thanks you, my son." My mother's arms went around me, hugging me tightly, almost possessively.

After feeling each other's warmth, our embrace is reluctantly broken. And my mother's smile was replaced by a serious expression.

"But I want you to promise me something before you go."

"What?" I tilted my head to the side.

"May you not seek vengeance against Hera."

I frown, and before I can respond, my mother says.

"I'm already getting revenge on her." My mother smiles, placing her hand on her hip.

"As?" I asked with a doubtful expression.

My doubt was due to the simple fact that my mother had never left this island since she gave birth to us.

"Fufufu! My revenge against her has been going on for some time, my revenge only consists of being happy. Hera is a woman who is not happy, she is in a marriage that has not brought her happiness for many years, in addition to having children that she does not care about and the same children do not care about her. In short, Hera is an unhappy and bitter woman, while I have the sun and moon always by my side.

Not to mention that my sun is always unconditionally by my side protecting me and making me happy and taking care of me, while my moon with its innocence makes me feel better.

This is my best revenge against her because, while my days are filled with happiness, love, and joy, hers are filled with sadness, anger, and frustration. What I feel for Hera is no longer hatred, but only the purest pity." She smiled, it was a beautiful smile containing a bit of malice, sadism, and even pity.

"Then, my son, leave this resentful woman alone." Leto went back to stroking my hair.

"Yes, mother." I said, shaking my head, convinced that women are a little dangerous even in the way they forgive, but even so, I will still give back to Hera, even if it's a little of what she did to my Mother.

My Mother knew me well enough to know that I would not completely set aside all the evil that Hera did against her, but even so, in the next moment, she brought her lips closer and kissed my forehead.

"I give you my blessing, now go and kill that damned serpent." In my mother's eyes, there was no doubt that I would win.

"Of course, mother." I said, giving a confident smile.

•••

After the conversation with my mother, I walked along the road toward the meeting point I had agreed with Hecate.

The sounds of my footsteps sounded through the forest as my eyes looked around, searching for a certain moon goddess, until I felt her divine power. The moment I felt her divine power, I heard her voice.

"Stand there, stranger." Along with the innocent voice I look at a big tree.

Sitting on the thick branch of the tree, swinging her feet, was a beautiful young girl who looked to be 16 years old, with her long white hair contrasting with the green leaves.

And with her blue eyes, she looked at me with a mischievous smile on her lips.

On her curvaceous body, she wore a long white dress with a red tip at the bottom, and on her left arm, she wore a golden bracelet.

"What are you doing up there, Artemis?" I asked with a smile.

"Waiting for a certain Sun God, who is heading to meet the little woman of magic." Artemis said cutely as she slid her body off the branch falling towards me.

I let out a sigh and held out my hand.

Without thinking twice, I catch her before she hits the ground.

Our eyes met, and my sister smiled.

"At least you have some muscles." She said, poking my nose.

Hearing her words, I roll my eyes as I gently place her on the ground.

"Hehehe!" Artemis laughed as she spun around on the floor with her bare feet, which, by the way, never got dirty.

She really is a happy person.

I thought, approaching her, with a somewhat serious expression.

"Artemis, we need to talk…"

Before I can say anything, she places her slender finger on my lip.

"You don't need to say anything, I already know, so today will be the day you go after that serpent." She said, with a mischievous look, as she removed her finger from my lip.

As I suspected she already knew this.

"When did you find out?" I crossed my arms, asking curiously.

"Since we were 2 months old, it was kind of obvious the questions you asked our mother about the serpent, and whenever you said Pyton's name you would frown in anger. Furthermore, we are twin brothers, meaning that no one in this world knows you better than me." Artemis said, puffing out her breasts with pride.

I must admit I'm surprised because I thought my sister was... shall we say, quite limited in terms of intelligence.

"I think you just thought of something rude."

She also has an insane sixth sense.

"Of course not."

"Mn! Well, you still haven't answered my question."

"Yes, today I'm going after Python."

"Hmmm! Okay." She said, crouching down, picking up a branch from the tree, and standing up, she began to swing it back and forth.

"Just a simple "ok"?"

"Yes, since although I don't like you keeping secrets and meeting a woman in secret…" The branch in her hand broke, and her eyes narrowed in my direction. "But I'm absolutely sure you'll win." Her expression returned to normal, and she smiled.

"Thanks." Even though I didn't expect it, I thanked her sincerely.

"Fumu! Do what? If I'm the best girl." Confidence emanated from her voice.

In the end, she will always be Artemis.

The moment I thought about it, I felt Artemis's arms wrap around me, and she hugged me, putting her arms around my neck, pressing her body with mine.

"Even though I have 100% trust in you, be careful."

"I go." I said, hugging her.

After a while, we separated from the hug, and Artemis with a cute smile said:

"Mn! I think you're missing something for this trip?" Artemis placed her hand on her chin as she looked at me.

"Something?!" I exclaimed a little confused.

"Yeah, something that makes you look more regal, you know?" Artemis looked me up and down as if he were studying me.

"I think I know what it is." Following my sister's strange words, I raised my hand using my divine power.

In my hair, a crown of golden laurels was formed, being built by the energy of the sun.

"Oh! That's what was missing, now you're ready to annihilate Python, my baby brother." Artemis shook her head confidently, and then she sent me away with a smile on her lips.

I walked without looking back towards the coast of the island.

A while later, I was already on the coast of the island, and Hecate was standing in front of a large magic circle on the ground.

"You took your time." Hecate, as always, had her stoic expression, but for a few seconds her eyes remained on the golden laurel wreath in my hair, but she didn't say anything about this slight change in my appearance.

"I was saying goodbye to my mother and sister." Saying that, I went towards her.

"Mn! Understandable. Now step into the middle of the circle." She said with her staff in her hand as she pointed to the circle.

"You get straight to the point." I said, teasingly, walking towards the circle.

"I call it being practical."

I stopped in the middle of the circle, and Hecate turned around, standing in front of me.

"This is a Teleportation circle, I will send you straight to Delphi. But remember, try to avoid damaging the Delphi temple, even though you are a descendant of Gaia, this would still be seen as a direct attack on Delphi and Mother Earth." There was a worried note in her voice.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Good. But one last thing, Python is known for having skin with very tough scales, as well as squirting acid from its mouth... that said, come back with victory, otherwise I'll turn you into a frog."

"As tempting as the offer is, I'm obviously going to win." I looked straight into her eyes.

"I hope so, otherwise I'm going to have a pet frog."

She raised her staff and slammed it on the ground, above the circular line that glowed purple.

And the last thing I hear before being teleported to Delphi is:

"Good luck, Apollo."

I smile at her and the next moment my body is covered in Hecate's magic and with a purple flash my body disappears from Delos.