บท 3: Parting

Beneath the dark veil woven by Nyx over the world, Apollo and Aura strolled, their presence invoking an atmosphere of mystical tranquility. The whispered rustle of leaves overhead orchestrated a soothing symphony that resonated through the stillness of the night. The silvery moonlight pierced the verdant canopy, casting enchanting patterns on the forest floor. With each step, Apollo's movements exuded grace, mirroring Aura's mixture of nervous anticipation and eager enthusiasm.

"I have caught wind of your recent hunt," Apollo began in a soft tone, his eyes of shimmering gold stealing a brief sideways glance at his maternal cousin.

"What does the wind say?" Aura said, capturing his gaze.

"It was fun," Apollo said, bringing his hands together at the back of his head and clasping his lush golden hair.

"Fun, indeed, but thrilling too," Aura replied, a radiant smile gracing her lips as her initial jitters gave way to a newfound briskness. "We delved deep into the depths of the Aegean Sea, engaging in a valiant pursuit of mythical monsters, particularly the elusive sea serpents. Lo and behold, we encountered the nest of those formidable creatures..."

Aura's voice trailed off, her excitement palpable as she recounted the thrilling tale of her adventure alongside Artemis.

Apollo listened attentively, his gaze unwavering as it remained fixed upon Aura in her animated narration, nodding his head from time to time in enthusiastic response. She was beautiful, not in an ordinary way, but with the ethereality of a breeze—subtle, enchanting, and gently caressing the senses.

Aura ended her story, looking at Apollo with an expectant smile as if she were waiting for him to shower her with praise. Her previous trepidation was gone, replaced by a burning affection that he knew all too well, and it made him feel even worse about saying those infamous words. "Aura, we need to talk."

Aura's expression faltered, a hint of fear crossing her features. "What is it, Apollo? Is something wrong?"

Apollo's shoulders slumped slightly as he reached out to gently grasp her hands. "I... I need to be honest with you, Aura. Our time together was beautiful, but I don't want you to have false hopes. I can't give you what you're looking for."

Aura's eyes widened, her voice trembling with vulnerability, and then suddenly she settled into haunting stillness. "I thought so... I knew I shouldn't have... but I just couldn't help it in the end... you were like the sun, so bright and warm..." Her voice cracked, her grey eyes glistening with tears. "But what am I?... A breeze, light and fleeting like us..."

"Aura," Apollo squeezed her hands ever so gently, his countenance now sombre. "To me, you are much more than a breeze. You are a gentle caress that brings solace to weary hearts, a whispered melody that lingers in the depths of the soul."

"You always had a way with words." Aura chuckled with a touch of melancholy, her sadness slowly melting away under his reassuring hold. "It's something that made me gravitate towards you," she paused, then added with a forlorn smile, "along with your looks; don't worry, I haven't forgotten about that."

"There is the Aura I knew." Apollo smiled with her, his hands letting go of her to wipe away the tears from her cheeks.

Aura clasped his hand midway. "I cherish the moments we shared, Apollo. The stolen glances, the whispered conversations, the fiery passion under the moonlit sky." She ended with emphasis, looking into his golden eyes.

"I never wanted to hurt you," Apollo whispered, leaning forward towards her.

Aura managed a fragile smile through her tears, her voice filled with quiet resolve as she raised her hand to caress his cheek. "You couldn't have known. Love is a complicated dance, and sometimes our steps falter. All that matters in the end is that you finish the performance, isn't it?"

"I hope one day you will find someone who can keep up with your steps, someone who can finish the performance to the fullest," Apollo said, his voice thick with emotion.

Aura nodded, her grey eyes half-closed. "I hope so too, Apollo. I truly do." She opened her eyes, her gaze regaining some of its serenity. "And I appreciate your honesty, but I think I need some time, Apollo, away... you know."

"I understand," Apollo said. "Take all the time you need. And if there's anything I can do to support you, please don't hesitate to ask."

Aura spoke up, her voice fragile but grateful. "Thank you, Apollo. Thank you for everything."

Apollo hummed in silent support.

"Tell Aunt that I am sorry..." Aura said, her voice becoming low with each word, echoing outward, carried away in the wind as a whisper. "That I can't stay for nectar and ambrosia."

"The best part, isn't it?" Apollo asked.

"Yes," the breeze spoke in a wistful whisper. "The best part."

Then she was gone with the rustle of leaves and the swaying of flowers, leaving nothing but a gentle caress on his senses.

Apollo placed his hand on his cheek, feeling the fading warmth with a heavy and emotional sigh. From now on, he should probably exclude family members from his relationships to avoid situations like this and all the emotional baggage that came with it. There was a reason he wasn't looking for a serious relationship at the moment. He still hadn't even figured out the mysteries of his existence. A long path lay ahead of him.

Anyway, at least he parted with Aura on good terms. He wondered when he would see her again—maybe not for a long while—and how much they would both have changed by then. Though there was still something bugging him in his thoughts about Aura.

'She didn't mention Artemis in the end...' Apollo frowned in consideration, but something suddenly caught his attention. From his robes, he took the bronze insignia depicting a smith's hammer, an anvil, and a pair of tongs.

Seeing the insignia brighten and shimmer in copper light, a storm of gravity swept over his mind immediately, purging away all thoughts of Aura.

'It's time,' Apollo gripped the insignia in grim anticipation. 'to take the first step on my path.'

——————

Apollo walked out from behind the trees into a flowery clearing with a burning hearth in the middle. It crackled with bright sparks, illuminating his mother, sister, and a few wooden cups of divine nectar in warm light. Artemis was showing her worn bow to Leto with a conflicted face. But as soon as he emerged, they turned to him.

"Son," Leto said, looking behind him. "Aura..."

Apollo merely shook his head.

Leto sighed in realisation, standing up from the hearth and walking towards him along with his sister. "I am sorry," she said, embracing him.

"Don't be." Apollo shook his head, leaving his mother's embrace. "It is for the best, mother. At least we parted on good terms."

"Well," Leto sighed again, leading her children back to the hearth. "that's good." She said as she sat down around the hearth with her children, then took and passed glasses of nectar to her children while holding one for herself.

The warm glow of the hearth enveloped them as they settled down. Apollo took the offered cup of nectar and held it in his hands, the sweet aroma wafting to his senses.

"Look at the bright side, brother," Artemis said lightheartedly. "Now you have all the time to bask in your radiance."

"Daughter!" Leto chided.

"What, mother?" Artemis retorted. "Am I wrong?"

"That was a clever pun; I will give you that, sister." Apollo smiled, raising his glass for a momentary toast. "To new beginnings!"

"To new beginnings!" Leto and Artemis immediately toasted, clinking their glasses with him, and then they together drank it under the shimmer of stars.

The hearth burned brighter, emitting a comforting warmth that filled the air around them. It enveloped them like a blanket of cosiness, prompting them to exhale in unison.

"By the way, what is a pun?" Leto asked curiously.

Apollo merely chuckled mirthfully, shaking his head, and then he met the eyes of his family. "I have something to tell you."

"I knew it." Artemis patted her thigh with a triumphant smile. "I knew something was up with you when you let me off the hook."

"Listen," Apollo said, his words carrying gravity. "I am venturing into Delphi."

Artemis lost her smile, and as for Leto, she wasn't surprised at all, but concern was written all over her face.

The Titaness of Motherhood said, "You want to slay the python."

It wasn't a question; it was just a statement, a fact.

"Yes," Apollo nodded somberly. "That beast needs to die for what it put you through, mother."

"But, son…" Leto began with hesitation.

"No more 'buts,' mother," Apollo interrupted. "I need to do this, not only for you but for myself as well."

"What do you mean?" Artemis asked silently, standing up and reaching for her bow.

"The Delphi Oracle," Apollo declared. "I am going to claim it. Prophecy aligns perfectly with my innate domain. Light illuminates the paths of all, guiding them forward, so I think I am the best suited—" he furrowed his brows at his sister, who looked no longer like a twelve-year-old but had changed herself to match him in her pre-teens—Artemis only does that when she's about to get serious or pissed. "Artemis, you don't plan on…?" He ventured.

"I am not going to send my little brother to face a spawn of the Earth Mother alone," Artemis said, placing her bow over her shoulder. "That beast—it is about time we settle what is due with it."

"No," Apollo denied in a tone that left no room for arguments, standing up to meet her silver eyes. "This is something I should face alone. This is the first step on my path; please understand, Artemis."

"Apollo…" Artemis looked at her brother in surprise.

"Daughter," Leto, who had been silent, spoke up, placing her hand on Artemis's shoulder. "Let him go; he is more than strong enough to face the Python alone."

Artemis was silent for a moment before nodding resignedly. "If you say so, mother."

"Son," Leto said, standing up and walking towards Apollo. "Go and take the first step on your path," she said with unnatural understanding, as though she had glimpsed into Apollo's unspoken intention for venturing to Delphi. "I wish you victory," she kissed his forehead.

Apollo looked at his mother in a whole new light. "Victory is in my veins, mother; you needn't worry," he finally said, flashing a brilliant smile.

Leto chuckled, patting his shoulder.

"Brother," Artemis stepped forward and joined them gravely. "Bear my vengeance as well when you strike down that beast."

"I will," Apollo acknowledged.

"Enough of this," Leto shook her head. "Off you go now, son, before I change my mind."

"Yes, yes, mother," Apollo nodded briskly. "I will see you on Olympus."

"Olympus?" Artemis raised her brow in question.

"It truly is time, isn't it, mother?" Apollo asked.

"Yes." Leto nodded with a touch of heaviness. "We'll see you on Olympus, and if anything goes wrong, don't hesitate to call your father. There are forces beyond Gods at play in Delphi."

Apollo nodded sombrely, thoroughly understanding what his mother meant. Just look at Python guarding Delphi—it was a spawn of Earth Mother, so slaying it would surely draw the ire of the Primordial of Earth, since it was well known that Earth Mother loved all her children, no matter who and what they were, though her way of expressing love differed greatly from one child to another.

Fret not; he had already devised a plan to appease the Earth Mother and come out with no consequences for slaying Python. He didn't want to be on the bad side of a Primordial right at the beginning of his path.

But do you know what the ironic thing was? The Earth Mother was not even the worst thing awaiting him in Delphi.

"Speaking of Father," Artemis spoke up, breaking the heaviness around them. "I am going to meet him first, huh?" She groaned.

"It may not be as bad as you think," Apollo said, surprising Leto and Artemis. "He may even grant gifts if he is in a good mood."

"Really?" Artemis looked dubious.

"Our father is…" Apollo trailed off into a listless sigh, then pointed to her worn bow. "You know what? Get yourself a new bow, Artemis; you deserve it."

"You aren't really making sense, you know?" Artemis crossed her arms.

"You will understand eventually," Apollo simply said. "Anyway, I will be off now." He added, nodding to his mother, whose eyes almost looked hopeful in the end.

'Maybe mother also carried some doubts about father…' Apollo thought, 'But we really shouldn't hope for much…'

"Come back with victory!" Artemis exclaimed loudly as Apollo teleported away from Delos in a flash of brilliant light.

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Artemis stood at the precipice alone, taking in the sight of her birthplace and home one last time emotionally. They were going to Olympus now, after Mother finished packing up things. Even though that sacred mountain was going to become their new home, it could never replace Delos in her heart.

'I wonder how Apollo is doing…?' The Goddess of Hunt thought, turning towards the Aegean Sea and looking in the direction of Delphi. 'Has he faced that beast?'

Probably not since she hadn't yet sensed any disturbance in the tapestry of nature. The confrontation between Apollo and that beast was sure going to be monumental; she could tell as much despite not possessing the prophetic instincts of her brother.

'Prophecy, huh?' Artemis sighed, running down the mountain in the direction of her home. 'It truly does befit him.'

But suddenly, something—no, someone—appeared in her path, forcing her to stop in the midway of the mountain. Fierce gales swirled in existence around her like miniature cyclones, and Artemis felt a familiar presence within them.

It was none other than Aura.