Chapter 7 Come with me

"Come with me, Brother Apollo."

Hermes hadn't expected Apollo to be so persistent; he was still thinking about his herd of cattle.

So this is the stubborn nature of the God of Light?

“…I’m sorry, Brother Apollo.” Hermes put on the winged sandals that Hera had given her after Zeus in front of him. “But I have more important things to do now. The cattle will go back to your barn on their own.”

As for how long it will be before we go back... haha, who knows, dear Apollo!

After finishing her speech, Hermes took a step forward, ready to fly back to Mount Kulenne like a whirlwind.

Then the back of her shirt was caught.

Turning my head, I saw, sure enough, it was my good brother, the God of Light's big hand again.

“Your mother is well now.” Perhaps it was because of the breeze, but Apollo’s voice still sounded slightly cool. “And, find my cattle. Don’t make me say it a third time.”

His expressionless face made it hard not to suspect that he was threatening her.

That's outrageous! Don't be so arrogant just because you're the older brother or one of the main gods!

Of course, despite her inner resentment, Hermes outwardly shrank back and offered a cautious, ingratiating smile. After all, even the God of Prophecy had declared her mother perfectly safe, so there was no need to worry further.

“No problem, dear brother Apollo.” Hermes said this as she reached out and carefully pulled Apollo’s big hand off her. “I’ll take you to find them now.”

Apollo looked at his hand that had been put down, still warm from the girl's touch. She was indeed very bold, and a cunning fellow indeed.

Because in private, where no one could see him, she started calling him "brother" again.

Why does this child like to get close to him so much? Does he seem so friendly that she can take advantage of him so recklessly time and time again?

Hermes didn't know what the God of Light was thinking, but she didn't want to waste time with him. Compared to these high and mighty gods living on Mount Olympus, she would rather be with her mother, even if the best way to ensure their safety was to return to Olympus.

Hermes then turned around and stretched out her hands to Apollo.

Apollo: "?"

Hermes puffed out her cheeks: "Lyra, give me that seven-stringed lyre!"

Apollo: "..."

Perhaps she remembered that she had just given him the lyre at the banquet?

What a brat who doesn't know what he's thinking.

As Apollo thought this to himself, he used his divine power to make the seven-stringed lyre float in mid-air, and then it flew into Hermes's hands on its own.

As expected, she was almost shorter than the harp in her little girl form.

This scene was strangely comical and endearing.

As Hermes stabilized the lyra and began to play music, Apollo stared blankly for a moment, then clenched his right fist and pretended to cough, trying to hide his amusement.

Before she gave him this instrument, he hadn't expected that she could make musical instruments. Moreover, listening to the beautiful and melodious music, she seemed to have quite a talent for it.

Apollo, who was not only the god of light but also the master of music, thought to himself.

However, Hermes may not have known that Apollo's title of god of music was at most a half-empty title, because he was only good at singing and did not create an instrument by his own hands like she did.

Therefore, when she gave him the lyre, whether intentionally or unintentionally, his feelings were quite complicated.

Hermes solidified Apollo's divine authority and expanded his influence.

His help to her was worthwhile—this cunning little imp, whom he foresaw would eventually return to Olympus and occupy a place among the gods.

Amidst the beautiful music, tall, plump cattle gradually emerged from all directions of the valley. They were all pure white, and their beautiful skin and eyes shone like precious gems in the sunlight.

Apollo lowered his pale blue eyes, which revealed no emotion whatsoever, and saw that the herd of cattle that had once belonged to him were now all gathered around Hermes and her lyre. They were so obedient and well-behaved, listening quietly to the music played by the girl who was clearly the goddess of deception.

This is incredible.

Suddenly, Hermes' fingers left the magical seven-stringed harp, as if she had cast some kind of spell on it, causing it to float in the air.

“Come with me, Brother Apollo,” she said earnestly, turning to him with a joyful smile on her round, golden apple-like face. “Let’s go herding the sheep together!”

Upon seeing that unexpected smile, Apollo still couldn't tell whether Hermes was being sincere or not.

But he still nodded, responding to her with what at least seemed like a happy expression: "Mm."

At that moment, two deities, one small and one large, stepped onto the grass, strolling leisurely one after the other. The music played automatically by the seven-stringed harp floating in the air resounded throughout the valley. A herd of off-white cattle followed them, and even the elves who lived there appeared.

“Actually, I wanted to hold your hand, maybe that would be better? Because Mother Goddess also gently holds my hand when she comforts me,” Hermes suddenly said, then casually changed the subject: “But it’s okay, as long as Brother Apollo believes in me!”

Despite her affectionate addressing him as "brother," he remained silent and made no move.

The girl hummed an unknown lullaby softly, like a mother's lullaby, or like a beautiful story she had made up herself.

The young man following behind her listened quietly, watching her lively figure.

It was as if invisible fingers were dancing freely, painting all of this into a beautiful and peaceful scene.

That happened before Hermes was born. When Apollo finally gained Zeus's trust and became one of the chief gods of Olympus, he entered Delphi, the domain of Gaia, the goddess of the earth, with his carefully equipped bow and arrows. There, he shot and killed the giant serpent Piton, who had persecuted his mother, and then built his own temple.

Gaia, the Earth Mother, was enraged, and Zeus then punished Apollo by making him graze sheep in Arcadia. Apollo assisted Helios, the Sun God, Selene, the Moon Goddess, and other Titans who governed the order of time in maintaining order. Apollo also helped Zeus protect Maia, the pregnant goddess of the forest, and witnessed the birth of Hermes.

Apollo did not regret his actions, just as he had not been unaware that he would become involved with Hermes.

When Hermes reached the edge of a lake, she plucked reeds and used her divine power to craft them into new musical instruments, under the curious gaze of the nymphs that surfaced.

"Dear little Olympian god, what are you doing?"

"Little Hermes, what is this?"

"It's so beautiful, just like you, Hermes!"

Amidst the elves' exclamations of praise, Apollo did not miss the strange music mingling with the sounds. He stroked the gentle cows and came to Hermes' side.

Just then, she saw him approaching, stopped playing her instrument, and presented the newly invented gadget to him with both hands as if it were a precious treasure.

"Here you go!" The newly reborn god of deception smiled as charmingly as ever. "Thank you, dear brother Apollo, for protecting me before Her Highness Hera!"

It was a flute, a golden flute, like a radiant ray of light.

Apollo was stunned when he received the gift from Hermes, which Hermes had reinvented.

After a while, perhaps because her expectant expression and eyes were too intense, he spoke softly, "Thank you, Hermes."

This child is indeed a surprise.

Later, Apollo returned Hermes to the cave of Courrenne, still followed by the herd of loyal cattle.

He stared at the girl who was eagerly embracing the unharmed Maya for a long time, and then finally made up his mind.

“Hermes.” Apollo met those clear, clean emerald green eyes. “Build a temple here.”

Build your own temple in Arcadia, your birthplace—a region full of mountains and plateaus.

From this day forward, it will become your exclusive domain, where you can sow and spread your faith.

[Author's Note]

Note that this article adopts the terminology from Hesiod's *Works and Days*, dividing human history into five ages, or five generations of humankind: the Golden Age (the time of Cronus), the Silver Age (the time of Zeus), the Bronze Age (the time of Zeus, and all subsequent ages being the time of Zeus), the Heroic Age, and the Iron Age. The Bronze Age is associated with events such as Prometheus stealing fire, Pandora's Box, and Deucalion's Flood.

The article's current timeline is the Silver Age.

Additionally, Arcadia is also translated as Arcadia or Arcadia.