The soft smile on Skaja’s face dropped in a moment. "What are you talking about?" She asked before her facial expression changed. Her hair suddenly turned amber red and her eyes began Psionic green.

The aura around Skaja changed also as she looked me up and down. "Nymphs... Such chatterboxes. Don’t worry I know about the whole Woad thing. Glad they cured you. That toxin they drink gets them all hopped up, I am sure they didn’t mean to spill the secret. Now then. ’Apollo.’ What do you intend to do with this information?"

Artemis then proceeded to flare out with power, my eyes went wide. She was seriously strong. Not Jewel Strong, but I think she could give the other god I knew a run for her money.

Artemis then hummed as she looked me up and down before retracting her power. "Still on your feet? I will admit that is impressive. All seriousness now though, as I do not have long controlling Skaja’s body after that display. What do you intend to do with the information you have learnt?"

I scratched the back of my head. "Oh, um. Nothing? I told you I came to apologise for the Nymph’s actions. I don’t really care that you are a god. I mean, you seem pretty cool and- OOOHHH! Is that why holding the spear seriously hurt my soul? You are Artemis. Artemis hates dudes! OH! That makes so much more sense now! That whole ’how is a man holding that spear’ Oh that is a weight lifted off my brain."

I said getting side-tracked, seemingly stumping Artemis.

"That is it? You don’t wish to gain leverage over a god who is keeping her identity a secret? You just wanted to apologise? Forgive my nature, but I find that hard to believe."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don’t like people knowing my secrets. And I don’t like being told my friends secrets without their consent... I am considering you and Skaja as one entity in the friend category by the way. Trust me, your secret is safe with me."

"..." Artemis opened her mouth to speak, but seemingly failed, she then tried again and succeeded.

"Very well. I thank you for your attitude. I understand why Skaja holds you in such high esteem. For keeping my secret I will also forgive the incident of you... Kissing me. But do not dare try it again. Next time I will not hold back my divinity."

I chuckled and raised my hand into the air. "I promise, I already had the threat of turning into a tree man, I don’t want you turning me into a deer anytime soon."

Artemis’ eyes suddenly went wide. "What! How-" She exclaimed before all of a sudden her hair transformed back into gold and her eyes turned blue.

"Uugghhh." Skaja groaned, holding her head. "I thought you were supposed to warn me when that happens?" She spoke aloud, presumably to Artemis

"Are you ok Skaja?" I asked, rushing to her side to support her wobbling body. She crashed into me, leaning her weight against my own before nodding her head.

"Y-Yeah... Having someone that powerful residing in your Mindspace... It takes its toll when she takes over my body. I’ll be fine. But thanks. Not just for being a brick wall right now, but for Artemis. We are basically family and her secret is closely guarded. If word got out... Just thanks."

I rubbed Skaja’s back as she recovered and my mind wandered for a moment. ’So Athena, Ares and Artemis are all alive in some regard of the word... Athena can reincarnate though her blood line, Ares is a robot and Artemis is a spear who can possess Skaja? So aside from Ares, who is an exile. Artemis and Athena gave up their bodies to survive whatever this ’incident’ was? Interesting...’

That thought left me hopeful for my friend. I hoped my namesake was still somehow alive, it would make her so happy. I also now knew someone that was at this elusive incident. I would ask her about it when we built up a rapport.

For now though. I lifted Skaja up onto the table. My action must have startled her as she let out a gasp as she looked up at me. I then patted her on the leg and smiled at her.

"Wait here a moment and recover, I am going to do the greeting outside so I don’t break anything."

...

Artemis watched as Apollo turned around and left. Ignoring the elevated heartrate of Skaja as she did so. Apollo just said something to her so casually, She didn’t even think he knew he said it.

This was a serious dilemma. Only a handful of her old friends knew about her turning that lecherous man who spied on her bathing into a deer before she sicced her dogs on him.

She knew for a fact not even the Nymphs know about that story. None were there...

’But there is no spark?!?’ He can’t be!’ She thought before shaking her head. Artemis wasn’t whole enough. Parts of her memories were still missing. Could there be a way for a god to have no spark? Sure, she didn’t have one till she was given it to her by her father, but even now in this state, she still has it. It didn’t just disappear. Or perhaps Apollo had lost his and could gain it back? Maybe? but for now, her logic dictated it was impossible.

The only thing she could say for certain is that Apollo knew of her status. Could face the full weight of her concentrated domain against his psyche without breaking a sweat and knew things he had no possible notion of knowing.

With all that in mind the solution to her current dilemma was simple. She needed more information. There was nothing to be done and she was an immortal being. Time was on her side. If he died, she would be proved right. If he stayed alive for hundreds, thousands of years. She would have time to collect data. As she would admit to herself, Apollo is strong. Strength is prominence. He will make a name for himself. That she knew. All she had to do was watch the unfurling.

She would have more shards of herself soon anyway thanks to the Nymphs. She would become more of herself, perhaps see things differently? But she wasn’t desperate for answers like they were.

They existed to serve. She was a god. She didn’t have the need to seek confirmation, validation. To her, Apollo was just her... Friend. Time would tell everything else.

...

Stepping outside of the tent I took two steps before turning to my left and bracing for impact.

A large blue behemoth crashed into my being, hurling me backwards several meters before jumping atop me and proceeding to lick me with her gigantic tongue over and over.

"Heya big girl, did you miss me? I missed you. I- Oww! Sapphire, you are going to lick the meat of my bones! Stop ha! Hahaha!"

I just lay there as Sapphire pinned me down and had her way with me for several minutes...

I of course proceeded to give her many scritches in return, but once she was satisfied, I suddenly felt her back inside my Mindspace. She was already asleep under my Origin, letting out cute little noises.

I then stood up and dusted myself off, only to see Onyx standing nearby, a pout on her face.

"What’s that look for, love?" I asked, prompting her to mutter.

"If I attempted to pin you down and lick you like that in public, I’d get hit with the stick..."

Her fake pouting was doing it for me so I pulled her in close, even though she feigned evasion and whispered in her ear. "Then how about I let you do that to me in private? Perhaps I’ll even return the favour... Lick you clean from head to toe. Stopping along the way at some of your favourite places..."

"Apollo..." Onyx whispered sultrily into my ear before suddenly changing her tone. "You have said that now. That is a fixed point. That is happening. I’ve seen it. Thank you~ Hehe~"

I wasn’t even mad. It sounded like quite a fun night to be fair... Plus the fact her lips then planted themselves against mine made it all the better. It’s where they belonged.

After pulling back after only a few moments, Onyx then leaned up and whispered in my ear. "Oh, by the way. Just to remind you. We won’t count what you did with the Nymphs. We don’t consider a tree to be offspring... But if you ever find out where that tree is going to be planted. We need to know... We need it."

Onyx then pecked my lips one more time before looking behind her shoulder. I followed her direction as I saw the others that I summoned begin to arrive. I smiled at them before looking back at Onyx, but she disappeared.

Looking in my Mindspace, there she was. In her chains. She had reverted back to her stalker form and a comfortable look sprouted across her face as she let her mandibles hang freely. The sight of her and Sapphire sitting next to one another under my Origin made me smile.

The war could resume with everything where it should be.