Chapter 9: Chapter 8: Hecate, the Goddess of Opportunity
"Aunt Asteria, we should be arriving soon, right?"
As Apollo enjoyed the refreshing sea breeze, he gazed ahead from the sky.
Asteria looked around and nodded. "We're only a few hundred miles away. At our current speed, we'll be there soon."
Suddenly, a look of hesitation crossed the face of the goddess of falling stars. After a moment, she said, "Little Apollo, when we arrive at Levia Island, if Hecate behaves strangely, you mustn't pay any attention to her."
"Aunt Asteria, why do you say that?" Apollo asked, puzzled.
Asteria's expression grew more complicated. "Sister Leto must have told you that my daughter is a very exceptional goddess, but she has a tendency to delve into strange things. Even as her mother, I can't fully understand her actions."
"Especially after gaining Nyx's favor, she has become uncontrollable. She lives alone on the island, and with my husband imprisoned by Zeus in Tartarus, no one can manage her."
Apollo's curiosity about his cousin grew even more.
In the Greek myths he knew, Hecate was indeed a uniquely positioned deity. She didn't fall under the jurisdiction of the sky, earth, sea, or underworld but held a high status in all these realms. Zeus in the sky held her in high regard, and Hades in the underworld revered her as a co-ruler.
Though she hadn't achieved her later status yet, she was undoubtedly exceptional.
As they spoke, they soon arrived at Levia Island.
From the outside, it appeared to be a very ordinary island, bare and lacking any buildings.
However, as soon as they stepped in, Apollo felt the environment around them suddenly change, and he found himself in a dimly lit palace.
Asteria smiled faintly. "This place is enchanted by Hecate. She doesn't like to be disturbed. If you weren't with me, you'd be facing a realm of hellfire right now."
Apollo looked ahead.
In the empty palace, there was a small stone sculpture of an owl. In the dim light, it looked vividly lifelike.
Suddenly, candles ignited throughout the space, illuminating the once-dark environment.
Under the warm candlelight, the owl sculpture's dull eyes seemed to come alive, and it spoke in a clear voice:
"Goddess Asteria, welcome. Lady Hecate is currently engaged in research. Please, you and your young guest can wait in the side chamber."
Apollo curiously observed the owl statue, while Asteria gently guided him into the side chamber.
Inside, there was a long table with several high-backed chairs around it.
"Please, take a seat," Asteria said, indicating the chairs.
Apollo and Asteria sat down, and then the sound of footsteps echoed from within the palace. Apollo looked toward the noise and saw several tall figures approaching.
Upon closer inspection, they were puppet-like beings dressed in aprons, holding tea trays, and moving towards them with stiff, mechanical movements.
"Please, have some tea—"
The puppet servants placed cups filled with tea in front of Apollo and Asteria, their voices respectfully intoning the greeting.
Apollo studied them with curiosity.
Asteria blinked and explained, "These are puppets created using puppet magic, one of Hecate's achievements."
"Puppet magic?" Apollo asked.
"Yes, puppet magic is a form of magic I've researched, which mainly deals with the essence of the connection between the soul and the body," Asteria replied.
Suddenly, a voice emerged from the darkness.
Apollo turned to see a young woman, about sixteen or seventeen years old, stepping into view. She wore a brown gown and had black hair and eyes. Her figure was graceful and her demeanor serene, making her a very attractive sight.
However, her hair was unkempt, her pristine white features were smeared with dirt, and her clothes were similarly soiled.
She approached Asteria, rubbing her nose, and asked, "Mother, is this the son of Aunt Leto? He looks quite promising, with substantial divine power. He would make a good subject for research."
Apollo was momentarily stunned.
Asteria jumped up and gave the young woman's head a couple of sharp taps. "What are you thinking? I brought little Apollo here hoping you'd take care of him for a while, not just use him for your research."
The young woman rubbed her head and complained, "You hit me again. Don't you understand the value of my 'magic'? It has the potential to change the divine order, and even Nyx supports my research."
Hearing the word 'magic,' Apollo's interest was piqued.
In Greek mythology, Hecate was known as the Queen of the Underworld, the Goddess of Ghosts, and the deity of crossroads. She was also the Queen of Magic, the goddess of witches, and the deity of spells.
Over the years, Apollo had learned about the gods from his mother. According to Leto, the gods typically focused on developing their divine powers derived from their bloodlines, and practiced skills like archery and swordsmanship. He had never heard of gods having abilities in other areas.
But now, it seemed Hecate had developed magic?
Sensing Apollo's curiosity, Hecate looked at him with her large eyes and said, "I have pondered a question since I was young: Why do we gods possess such extraordinary powers while mortals do not? They say our power comes from our bloodlines, but why does the bloodline endow us with divine power?"
"So, I began to explore how to perform extraordinary feats without relying on divine power. This led to the development of 'magic,' a form of sorcery that allows one to wield special abilities without needing divine power or authority."
As she spoke, a brilliant glow emerged on her otherwise dirty face.
For a moment, her beauty was so striking that Apollo couldn't help but look away.
...
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