Apollo and Artemis sat amongst the ruins of the red light district, both of them looking satisfied at the chaos they had caused. After taking in the smoldering wreckage with a pleased sigh, Apollo rose to his feet and called out, "When I call your name, step forward. Lena Tally."
A young Amazon with long brown hair and warm brown eyes approached. She wore a white top, an orange vest, and an orange loincloth, along with a gold collar, gold earrings, and a gold sapphire necklace that shimmered even through the smoke. She stepped forward with a hopeful expression and said, "Yes, Lord?"
Apollo smiled at her. "I offer you a place in my familia."
Lena's eyes widened in joy. "Really?" she asked, voice trembling with excitement.
Apollo nodded, extending a welcoming hand. "Of course. Welcome aboard."
Lena let out a squeak of happiness and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you, my Lord!"
Apollo chuckled and patted her head gently. "Think nothing of it, kiddo. Next… Aisha Belka."
A more mature Amazon stepped out, posture stiff as if preparing for punishment. She had long black hair, sharp brown eyes, and wore a purple top with sheer purple pants trimmed in gold, matching wristbands, and a purple-and-gold collar. She bowed her head grimly and said, "Yes, Lord?"
Apollo met her gaze directly. "Will you join my familia?"
Aisha's head snapped up in shock, lips parting. "Wait… you want me?"
"I do," Apollo said calmly. "Do you accept?"
Aisha's expression softened into relief and disbelief. "Yes. Of course I do."
"Good," Apollo replied warmly. "Take your place next to Lena."
Aisha moved to stand beside the younger Amazon, still processing her change in fortune.
Apollo looked out over the crowd again. "Sanjouno Haruhime."
The timid fox girl he had noticed earlier stepped forward cautiously, her long ears drooping with nervousness. "Y-yes, my Lord?" she said softly.
"Will you join my familia?" Apollo asked, offering a gentle smile.
Haruhime's face brightened instantly. "Yes, my Lord. Thank you for the opportunity." She hurried to join the other two women, relief glowing in her eyes.
Apollo swept his hand toward the rest of the gathered Amazons. "The rest of you can get lost."
The reaction was immediate. Angry shouts rose from the crowd, echoing through the shattered street. A massive, barely human-looking Amazon stomped forward, glaring furiously.
"Now hold on a second! Why do these three sluts get a pass but the rest of us are getting told to scram?"
Apollo's expression shifted into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. A dangerous one. He let out just enough divine aura to make the entire crowd feel as if the sun itself had descended on their backs. Sweat instantly broke across foreheads as the intense heat washed over them.
"Your name is Phryne, right?" Apollo asked coldly. "I only remember that because you're on the list of people I'm definitely not letting in my familia."
He pointed to the three girls behind him.
"You see, these three standing next to me are the only ones I'm willing to accept. My sister and I already helped all the innocent people here escape, which means everyone left is nothing but garbage. All except these three. Lena and Haruhime are innocent, and Aisha, while not innocent, can still be redeemed. The rest of you, however, are very guilty."
The air grew even hotter as he continued, "Now, I'm gonna count to five. If you're still here when I'm done, you're getting an arrow."
Apollo began counting, voice calm but deadly. Before he even reached "two," the remaining people scrambled away in full panic, tripping over each other as they fled the ruins.
Artemis folded her arms and said dryly, "Brother dear, you forgot to mention that they had to leave the city to be safe."
Apollo blinked. "Oops."
"I'll hunt them down in a moment," Artemis muttered as she lifted her bow. "But first… don't think I didn't notice your familia so far is nothing but beautiful young ladies."
Apollo raised a brow. "You haven't read up on familias, have you? By accepting these girls into my familia, I'm adopting them as my children. Something I take very seriously. And last time I checked, I'm not Aphrodite, so…"
Artemis relaxed slightly. "I get it. You don't sleep with your children. That's a relief. For a moment I thought you were collecting girls for a harem."
Apollo shrugged. "Eh, I'm too busy trying to get something started between me, Yasaka, and Amy."
Artemis sighed heavily. "I shouldn't have asked." With that, she vanished into the shadows to hunt the fleeing remnants of the Ishtar Familia.
Apollo turned back to the three girls and clapped his hands once. "Come on, girls. Let's set up your falna, and then you can go play at the festival."
----
While Hestia and Vesta were out spending time together, Tet sat across from Syr at a small table inside the Hostess of Fertility. The place was closed, the lanterns low, and every waitress — along with Mia, the owner — watched from the sidelines with worried eyes. Syr, or rather the woman disguised as Syr, kept a pleasant, welcoming smile on her face.
Tet leaned forward slightly and said, "I already know who you are. Why are you still in that form?"
Syr's expression softened into something more honest as Freya revealed herself with a calm breath. "Because I actually like this form quite a bit," she admitted, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear. "And besides, my body double is currently walking around the festival in my place. Now… while I enjoyed the little vision of my future you gave me, and while I am disappointed that the first candidate I've found to be my Odr will reject me… there must be a reason you're doing this, yes?" Her voice carried both curiosity and a hint of frustration.
Tet rested his chin on his hand and replied, "Consider this a job interview."
Freya blinked, surprised. "A job interview?" she repeated, sitting up straighter.
"Yes," Tet said, tone calm but eyes bright with purpose. "I know you're bored here, and you want to broaden your search for your Odr. I can give you a more interesting life and access to the multiverse. In exchange, I want you to become the new god in charge of Camp Half-Blood."
Freya's brows pinched in confusion. "What is Camp Half-Blood?"
"A camp whose entire purpose is to shelter and raise the children of the gods," Tet explained gently. "Not only to help them survive, but to help them become heroes."
Freya's expression twisted into a deep frown. "Gods can't have children."
Tet shrugged lightly. "Not here they can't. But in the world I come from, gods have children all the time."
Freya shot to her feet so quickly her chair scraped loudly across the floor. "That's completely unfair!" she shouted. "Do you have any idea how many of us have wanted that privilege for eons? And yet other versions of us in other worlds get to—"
Tet held up a hand. "I can make it possible for you, and for any other god who wants it. But that's for later."
Freya exhaled slowly, shoulders lowering, and sank back into her chair. "Yes… we're getting off subject." She folded her hands neatly on the table. "So tell me: why do you want a goddess of love and beauty to take on such a precious responsibility?"
Tet smiled knowingly. "Because you're also a goddess of war. In the past, you fought on the battlefield, slaying villains and monsters that frightened even the bravest warriors."
Freya's cheeks turned a soft rosy color. "Well… I was very young. And a bit reckless," she murmured.
"And," Tet continued, "while I'm not sure if it's true here, in many worlds you trained the Valkyries — the warrior maidens of legend."
Freya's eyes softened with nostalgia. "I do wonder where those girls ran off to. I hope they're doing well."
"Most importantly," Tet said, his voice low and sincere, "I know you can be trusted with their well-being. The last god who held this position was… far less than kind to them, to put it mildly."
Freya's gaze sharpened. "I see. Would I be alone?"
"No," Tet reassured her. "Chiron will be there. And I've already hired experienced staff. One of them is Rossweisse, a former Valkyrie."
Freya's lips curled upward. "Little Rose? I'm assuming she's not the one I know."
"No," Tet said with a small laugh. "She's a bit different. She just got her first boyfriend, something she's very self-conscious about, and she has a weird obsession with saving money even though I'm paying her a lot of money."
Freya tapped her chin thoughtfully. "May I bring a few people with me?"
"Not your familia," Tet said Firmly.
Freya waved that idea away with a look of disgust. "Oh, please. I wouldn't bring those brutes anywhere near children. Do you know the reason they're so strong? It's because they spend every day trying to kill one another, thinking the last one standing will get to bed me." She sighed heavily. "They should know by now that for us gods, going after our own children is a taboo almost none of us will break. Which is why I look down on Loki so much — always lusting after her own daughters."
Freya exhaled and added, "Anyway. No, I meant the girls here, provided Mia is willing to lose a waitress or two."
From behind the counter, Mia grumbled, "That's fine, my lady, but you'll owe me one."
Freya nodded once. "I'll also be dissolving my familia. Now, Lord Tet… is there anything else you'd like to drop on me?"
Tet grinned. "Yes. I'd like you to also take up the position as my pantheon's love goddess."
Freya raised her chin proudly. "I accept. Give me a few days to get my affairs in order, and I'll be along."
"You got it," Tet said, and with a soft shimmer of light,he teleported away.
-------
Tet opened a portal into the town square, and out stepped Dean, Yang, Ruby, Bobby, and Natalia. Dean looked around with raised brows and said, "So you're telling me all the food, drinks, and attractions are free for a week?"
Tet gave a casual nod and said, "Yep." He opened another portal, and out came Rias and Sona and their peerages, along with Weiss, Blake, and Bianca. After that, he opened one more portal, and Team STRQ stepped out.
Immediately, Ruby and Yang went wide-eyed, both freezing in place as they stared at Summer and Raven. Tet let out a short breath and said, "Yeah, I am not staying for what's about to happen. Anyone who doesn't want to watch a family reunion, follow me."
Everyone except the four people involved hurried after him.
As they walked away, Dean shoved his hands in his pockets and said, "So you're telling me that while I've been gone, Sammy got himself a job at a camp training demigods… and a girlfriend?"
Tet gave a light shrug and said, "Yep." He held up a picture and added, "Here she is."
Dean grinned wide and said, "God damn, I'm so proud of that kid… but I'm also very jealous."
Qrow let out a dry laugh and said, "I hear you. This asshole got my sister and our team leader. Some guys have all the luck."
Tai blinked and said, "Wait, why are you jealous that I got Raven?"
Qrow rolled his eyes and said, "I'm not, you idiot. I'm jealous that you got not one but two wives while I'm sitting here with zero." He turned to Dean again and said, "Anyway, Dean, you wanna grab a drink? Tai over here is probably about to take off to be with his family, so I need a wingman."
Dean smirked and said, "Sure, let's do it." The two took off toward the nearest bar.
Tet turned toward Bobby. "What about you, Bobby?"
Bobby adjusted his cap and said, "I'm taking Natalia to the amusement park." Natalia brightened at that, and the two headed off.
Tet shifted his attention to Weiss and Blake. The two girls exchanged a look before Weiss said, "We'll probably walk around for a bit and wait for Ruby and Yang to find us."
Tet nodded and then turned to Rias and Sona. "You two will be very tempted to try recruiting. Don't do it. Ninety percent of the people you'll see in this town are part of some god's familia, making them off-limits."
The two girls let out identical sighs and said, "We'll be good."
Tet pointed and said, "Yeah, Sona I trust. But Rias, you're getting chaperones."
He opened another portal, and out stepped Sirzechs, Grayfia, Venelana, Zeoticus, and Milicas.
Tet gave a cheerful wave and said, "Have fun," before walking off.