Chapter 8 Staying Overnight

"Thank you for believing me, Brother Apollo."

Should I build a temple in Arcadia? Or one that belongs to me?

Hermes stared in disbelief at Apollo, who seemed to be serious.

She was merely a deity less than three days old, without any extraordinary divine authority. Even if she was Zeus's child, it didn't make much sense.

But if, as Apollo said, a temple of her own were to be built here, the benefits would indeed be considerable. Elves and humans would worship and believe in her, making her existence even more important, thus making her a truly powerful deity.

This might also benefit her in her ability to successfully bring her mother back to Olympus, right?

Hermes considered it carefully and felt that it was a good idea with more advantages than disadvantages, since only by becoming strong could she protect everything she cherished.

But why would Apollo tell her this? Did it make sense to him?

A hint of gloom flashed in Hermes' eyes.

Apollo stood at the cave entrance, blocking out the golden-red glow of the setting sun. He saw the girl with braided hair inside the cave seemingly deep in thought, so he turned around to prepare to lead the cattle away.

Once he had herded the cattle into the shed and locked them up, his task for the day would be complete. He needed to go back to Delphi to rest properly, as being punished by Zeus to herd cattle had disrupted many of his plans—even though it had brought him a pleasant surprise.

However, a voice stopped him from leaving.

"Wait a minute! Brother Apollo!"

Apollo paused, glancing sideways, presumably because Hermes, that precocious little devil, had already finished thinking.

He stood still, waiting for her to continue, but the little one turned around and hugged Maya's waist.

“Mother Goddess, dear Mother Goddess! You don’t know, but at the banquet in Olympus today, my brother Apollo spoke up for me in front of all the gods. He was worried that I would be punished by Princess Hera, so he stood up righteously to protect my and your dignity!” The child even managed to squeeze out a few tears. “You don’t know how dangerous the situation was. He himself was almost punished, but he still resolutely pulled me behind him to protect me…”

Is this describing him, Phoebus Apollo?

Was his help to her at that banquet really that enthusiastic?

The God of Light watched with mixed feelings as Hermes whined and cried to Maya. This childlike behavior was much better than when she was plotting and scheming.

At least when she exaggerated and made him sound like a reckless fool, Apollo didn't interrupt her; instead, he condoned her lying once again.

"...Although Brother Apollo is petty, domineering, and arrogant, and even dragged me out of my cradle without a word before, and looks particularly terrifying when he's angry...he really is a good brother, Mother Goddess!"

Apollo: "..."

He started complaining right after I praised him.

Tsk, what a fickle brat.

Apollo narrowed his eyes, wanting to see what other nonsense she would come up with next.

"Anyway! Can Brother Apollo stay at our house tonight, dear Mother Goddess?" Hermes rubbed against her mother's arm, deliberately wrinkling her nose and speaking in a sweet, honey-like voice to soften her heart. "I want to treat him well. Without his help, I wouldn't be able to fulfill my wish."

"Please, please, the kindest, gentlest, and most beautiful goddess Maya in the world, just say yes! Please~"

This was indeed genuine, because she used him to open a channel to meet the gods, and he unexpectedly helped her share the pressure from Hera, the queen of the gods.

Not to mention, he had just suggested that she build a temple.

Perhaps... winning over Apollo might be a good idea?

He had a similar background to her and was also an independent and powerful god. Having an ally was always better than being isolated and helpless.

Oh no, she also has her beloved Mother Goddess by her side forever.

Hermes hugged Maia tightly, burying her head and face in his embrace, and thus did not notice that Apollo stiffened for a moment when he heard what she said.

She was trying to persuade him to stay; she wanted him to stay at her house that night.

Why does the god of fraud always manage to do such unbelievable things?

Apollo was completely baffled.

It was the mountain goddess Maya who broke the increasingly eerie atmosphere.

"..." Maia looked up at the tall, handsome man still standing at the cave entrance, his expression even more complicated than his current feelings. "Of course, dear Hermes, Apollo has been kind to us, and we should thank him properly."

When Maya saw that it was Apollo who brought Hermes back unharmed, she guessed that there was more to the story than met the eye.

Especially when she discovered the pair of winged sandals she had buried underground—they were perfectly on her daughter's feet.

"Thank you, Mother Goddess!"

After receiving permission, Hermes jumped out of her mother's arms and ran excitedly towards Apollo.

"So, Brother Apollo, will you come to our house tonight?" She stopped in front of him, her hands behind her back, looking at the god of light who was looking down at her with a face full of innocent charm. "My mother goddess is a wonderful cook. There are countless figs, honey, roasted pork chops, and spring water here, as well as a warm and comfortable wooden bed covered with a soft and thick tiger skin... Would you like to stay, dear Brother Apollo?"

Hermes was right; the cave did indeed contain these things.

Even though her and Maya's home wasn't as magnificent as the palaces atop Mount Olympus, it was small but complete, and warmly lit by torches burning along the cave walls.

Perhaps staying here for one night wouldn't be a bad thing; Delphi still has Pythia watching over things, and the cattle outside have become very well-behaved to the sound of the lyre.

For some reason, such a strange thought arose in Apollo's mind, prompting him to nod slightly and accept Hermes' invitation.

Perhaps it was a memory of living with her mother and sister on the island of Delos.

Apollo consoled himself with these thoughts.

Then, his right hand was touched by something warm. He looked up in surprise and saw that a girl who was only up to his waist had suddenly taken his hand.

Hermes is still in the form of a young girl. Her hands are small and can only hold half of his palm, but he can still feel his fingers being enveloped by her body heat.

During their afternoon walk, she told him that she wanted to hold his hand.

A ripple of emotion stirred within Apollo, like a hard pebble thrown into a still pond. He gazed silently at the smiling Hermes.

"That's great! You'll definitely love it here!"

The girl winked at him, then grabbed his red cloak with her other hand, making him bend down to listen to the words of the cunning little imp who was standing on tiptoe.

"Thank you for believing me, Brother Apollo."

Then, she led him into the house, into that small but incredibly warm world illuminated by the firelight.

Night had fallen, and inside the cave of Kulenne, three deities sat around a campfire. They shared a delicious meal, their atmosphere as harmonious as that of a family of three.

As Hermes munched on a chicken leg, she recounted to her mother the events of the day: how she confessed to the gods that she had stolen the cow, and how she cleverly resolved the crisis, earning everyone's forgiveness and affection.

She also inquired whether anyone had come here after the banquet she and Apollo had attended, and why the winged sandals given to her by Zeus had suddenly appeared in Hera's hands from the underworld, and then been taken back by her.

To this, Maia could only shake his head, unaware of the reason, and could only attribute it all to Her Majesty the Queen's omniscience and omnipotence.

So Hermes took a deep breath and confessed to her mother her plan to take her back to Mount Olympus—in front of Apollo.

Since the Lord of Light was willing to suggest that she build a temple, it means that he is interested in her.

Hermes was well aware of this, which was precisely why she was determined to win him over.

But Maya seemed very hesitant about it.

"Isn't this too ostentatious? They certainly won't accept us." The mountain goddess stroked her daughter's head and wiped the food crumbs from the corner of her mouth. "Hermes, my poor child, you shouldn't be worrying about these complicated things."

“Mother Goddess, I understand your concerns, for I have been just as worried.” Hermes finished her chicken leg and picked up a jar of honey. “But please rest assured, I will handle everything. I will protect you and myself.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the God of Light, who sat opposite her, quietly sipping his cup of spring water. This fellow truly lived up to his divine duty; he seemed to shine brightly in the dimly lit cave, like a precious treasure.

The music played by the violin outside gradually stopped, and the cows had already lay down on the grass and fallen into a deep sleep.

The chirping of cicadas on a summer night drifts on the wind.

"...I will protect you too, Brother Apollo."

These words, mingled with the wind and the chirping of cicadas, sound both real and unreal.

Hermes' eyelashes trembled slightly as she gazed into those pale blue eyes, so hazy and indistinct, yet with a faint halo of light emanating from them.

—His eyes are so beautiful that even the palaces and gardens of Olympus cannot compare.

Even after turning back into a baby and lying back in the cradle, Hermes was still vaguely thinking about it.

Will she go herding sheep with him tomorrow? Or will they really go to build a temple?

Let's do them all!

Hermes closed her eyes and drifted into a sweet dream.

At the same time, Maya arrived at the cave entrance.

The God of Light was sitting on a rock here, holding something in his arms.

Bathed in the light of the full moon, Apollo's body was bathed in a beautiful silver glow. His long, jade-like fingers gently plucked the strings, and the lyre, which he had shrunk, played melodious and beautiful music, like a mother's lullaby or a wonderfully woven story.

It comes from the lullaby that the girl hummed during the day.

In this situation, Maya sighed softly and finally uttered these words: "Please protect my poor daughter Hermes, please keep her safe, Your Majesty the High and Respected God of Light."

Maia was the child of the Titan Atlas and Pleone, one of the three thousand Oceanids.

After the Titans were defeated, Atlas was punished by having to support the heavens on his shoulders in order to redeem his wife and daughters for their safety.

Thinking of this, Apollo remained silent, simply lowering his eyes and playing the lyre until the starry night turned into day.

The next day, Hermes woke up and transformed back into a little girl, wearing winged sandals.

After finishing her breakfast, she said she was going out to play with the Nymph sisters, and that was how she said goodbye to Maya.

Amidst the chirping of birds, Hermes spotted Apollo herding livestock on the other side of the mountain and ran over with great joy.

Good morning, Brother Apollo!

Today she wants to go to Delphi to see what its temple looks like!