Chapter 15 Strategy
Hera's weakness? Her newborn child, Hebe?
Apollo's words, spoken with an air of certainty, were unsettling. He was a born god of prophecy, a power rarely seen among immortal deities. Aside from a few reclusive creator gods, those who preceded him and possessed great power included only the Titans' prophets Prometheus and Phoebe, as well as several senior sea gods. Oh, and the Moirai sisters, children of Nyx, the goddess of night, who were already in control of destiny.
Among the Olympian gods, only Apollo, the son of Leto, possessed the ability to prophesy.
Those eyes, which always seemed to hold a dreamy gaze, were clearly looking directly at Hermes, yet it also seemed as if they were peering through her body to see other things, such as her soul and destiny.
For some reason, she felt her heart pounding faster. As she reached out and grasped Apollo's hand, leaping out of the triangular cauldron, besides the crackling of sparks, she seemed to faintly hear that ancient, motherly call again.
The vibrant life force of nature, the powerful yet gentle mother—no matter how you look at it, she seems to be the primordial god who dwells on Crete.
It was truly the goddess Gaia who was searching for her and responding to her prayers.
But...why?
“Hermes, I have identified the source of your divine power, and all those present will keep this a secret.” Apollo withdrew his hand from hers, speaking these words through his thin lips, his beautiful, jewel-like blue eyes flashing with an ambiguous depth. “Then tell me, what did you just see… or hear?”
He was quite certain that she also knew everything all along, otherwise she wouldn't have said those words with such certainty.
Hermes was always uneasy, just as she had felt when she was still in her mother's womb, crying in pain from pregnancy. Only unease and curiosity could drive her to grow quickly.
Apistoni and Tokei sensed Hermes' emotional change and immediately bypassed the priestess and Apollo, transforming back into snakes and coiling around her neck and arms, fiercely flicking their scarlet tongues at the embodiment of light.
Long, long ago, snakes were a symbol of matriarchal deities. They represented the glory and splendor of Gaia, the Earth Mother.
“I don’t know, Brother Apollo,” Hermes replied, her round, emerald-green eyes flickering. “They are too far away, from another dimension that I cannot reach, as if I were in another world.”
She was lying again, because her unease was always buried deep inside, and her heart was also soaked in the venom of curiosity.
"Therefore I saw nothing and heard nothing."
Whether it was divine power or Olympus, she was always using Apollo, and he was always using her.
I cannot fully trust others, and others will certainly not fully trust me either.
Moreover, this applies to the secrets concerning the origin of one's own power.
—Hermes, come to me.
But how can we sneak away to the abode of the goddess Gaia and worship this noble earth mother without anyone noticing in the future?
Hermes's face, as delicate and pretty as a rose, habitually broke into a sincere and earnest smile. It looked genuine and as sweet as a berry, captivating the eye and making one willing to be mesmerized.
The God of Light stared at her for a long time before finally looking away. His handsome face and the light in his blue eyes dimmed again, turning into a still, lifeless calm.
“Then let’s get down to business.” He turned around, his back to her. “Her Majesty the Queen is very close to her siblings. You only need to gain her approval and you will be fine. Her weakness is her newborn child, Hebe, who possesses the divine nature of youth.”
Upon hearing the name of Hera, Hermes recalled the memory of being humiliated by her at a banquet, and couldn't help but frown.
However, what truly changed her expression was the other half of Apollo's words.
Hera's weakness? Her newborn child, Hebe?
Hermes, naturally cunning and intelligent, raced through her mind, conjuring up numerous related guesses, the most likely of which was—
"I will take you to the holy mountain of Olympus, help you transform into the likeness of Hebe and suckle the mother's milk, so that your body may be filled with her essence."
After Apollo finished recounting the plan, he saw Hermes's dumbfounded face.
So soon they can fly to Olympus? And for this purpose... I never imagined Apollo was so audacious.
Hermes admitted that this method was indeed very effective. Hera was the goddess of marriage and childbirth, and the protector of mothers, women, families, and children. If she transformed into the form of Hera's child and drank the mother's milk, the mother would feel affection for her because her body bore her own mark, just like the nurturing love of a mother animal for her offspring in nature.
But she was somewhat afraid of Hera, for many reasons.
"This plan is fantastic! No wonder it's Apollo's idea!" Hermes wrinkled her nose, trying her best not to show her distress. "...When do we go?"
Upon hearing this, Apollo turned his head and glanced over, his beautifully curved eyes slightly upturned.
“Right now.” He seemed to be smiling.
[Author's Note]
At this point, Hera and Hebe were unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
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