Eutostea, the third princess of Thebes, is visited by the mysterious guest calling himself the God Apollo in bed. In pitch-black darkness, only an outline of him said, “I have come to share a one-night love with you. Once the night passes, you will not remember me, nor shall we meet ever again.” Soon, the three princesses band together to reveal his face while he is sleeping. But the candlewax melts off the tip of the candle in Eutostea’s hand and falls on the god’s shoulder. Apollo wakes, grabs the second princess, declaring, “Princess of Thebes, admire to your heart’s content. ‘Tis the face of the mere shell you sought so dearly.”

Apollo and Artemis tied up the strappy sandals again, which they got from Hephaestus. The rugged mountain terrain didn’t matter to them. The dense forest of trees, blocking the moonlight with its darkness, didn’t mean anything either. They were ready to run faster than anyone else. Waiting for the starting signal, their eyes were both filled with excitement and a desire to win.


Artemis removed the dogs’ collars. Following the smell, the hunting dogs drooled and sprang to the woods. 


Their barking sound, which sounded like an ear-splitting shriek, echoed around the dark forest. The silhouettes of the two gods faded. They ran forward with lightning speed as if wings grew from their bodies. Their golden sandals didn’t kick the ground, but like dividing the wind, they added speed. Even though the branches violently scraped against them and the tree leaves tried to slice them like blades, the gods’ skin remained unaffected. 


Chapter 17 - Chapter 17