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The following is a fan-based
FICTION
Lore Olympus is owned by Rachael Smythe.
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Chapter 7: The Hunting Maiden
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"Soooo- you and Hecate."
"Yep."
I was already regretting telling him that something did happen between us. Why did I think Hermes would just drop it after I told him just that?
"Like, really into it."
"We did the thing, yes."
"The sex, the debauchery," He listed out, almost 'correcting' me using the word 'thing' as replacement for that.
We were sitting by the edge of Demeter's domain, taking a moment to rest as Kore was busy chatting with some Nymphs while we were in the middle of hide and seek. One of the kids had bruised their knees, thus leaving the pink girl to help as much as she could with the 'first aid kit' at her disposal.
"Still, I am surprised. Never thought Hecate would be like that- you know, open for that sort of interactions."
"I think it's more selective than being 'open' to it. We are close and we enjoy each other's company," I argued. "But I hope you understand I will know and will act accordingly if the news get out."
"My lips are shut. Plus, I doubt my mother would forgive me if I just snitched on a friend," The Messenger of the Gods remarked. "You know, she is that sort of good woman- never once I saw a point in going against her will."
"Possibly because she put rules where are needed. Good moms do that."
The red guy nodded. "Yeah but... wait, how would your mother react to that? You mentioned that you would care of her perspective in important decision?"
"All of my family actually- but yes, I would... take note of that. About Hecate? She would be pleased as she isn't exactly the sort of individual that would push me into a bad path or anything and she is well-off in life," I replied as truthfully as I could. "But then there's the fact she would hold back a proper judgment to after a serious commitment is made like being boyfriend and girlfriend or being married."
"Yikes, that sounds something my mom would do too," Hermess agreed, smiling as he saw Kore walking up to us. "And you didn't tell her."
I scoffed. "She is busy with her own chores, let's not burden her with my own stuff."
"What 'own stuff'?" Kore inquired, picking up the last bit of my words and I sighed. "Something important?"
"Yes," Hermes replied but I held a hand on his mouth, shutting it myself.
"And private," I added calmly. "Let's just say that there's a 'I will tell your mom for snitching' kind of deal between us."
Kore's eyes widened and pouted at being put out of what sounded to be interesing for her to hear about.
"So, do we get back to the game?" Hermes hummed, pulling my hand away from his lips.
"Actually, there's something I have to tell you and the game has to end for the time being," Kore answered slightly nervously, knowing how sad Hermes would get at the news, but growing giddy for the reason why the game was over. "But that's because we are receiving a visitor. Mom said she's nice so she could join us for another round of hide n' seek!"
"Oh, who is it?" I asked, surprised that Demeter made no point to announce it to the rest of her domain. A bit odd, but perhaps there was a reason to it.
"She said her name is Artemis-"
"YES!" Hermes exploded in glee. "Arty is here! Yes, Arty is here!"
Kore and I were staring quietly at the super-excited fast-guy.
"You are friends with her?" I assumed, knowing that they knew each other but... I also had reasons to hope that was the case.
Artemis was a very complex individual in many media, even in the OG Greek Mythology lore. There are two elements that define her personality, with one of those having yet to happen from what I was aware of: 1) She was a Virgin Goddess by personal Oath as she helped her mother with delivering Apollo and she was made witness of what happens when someone gave birth without the Goddess of Birth's permission. Lots of pain, lots of screaming, lots of childhood's traumas; 2) Orion may or may not have yet to be a thing for her. Orion was the man that got the closest to Artemis but his death at the hand of Apollo's jealousy led Artemis to just reject all men and confine herself away from them.
With that in mind, I was wary of the chance that Option 2 could have happened and that would be quite perplexing considering that Hermes nodded at the question I gave him- was he telling the truth or overstating the truth of their relationship?
Turns out that he wasn't lying as we finally went to meet Artemis. She was sitting by the staircase to the main building's entrance, standing out from the rest as a sore thumb due to her purple complex. Dark straight hair and eyes, she was wearing a white tunic and a white Laurea Insignis, a white triumphal crown made of Laurel.
She spotted us approaching and her reaction for us was split individually: She smiled at Kore, she looked more irked at Hermes and... she frowned at me. Like, it wasn't even a negative frown but more of 'who is that?' kind of frown. I took it as positively as one would at the notion that she could have been murderous towards guys.
"Lady Artemis, mother told me much about you," Kore greeted, smiling a bit forcefully to not mess up this first meeting.
"Artemis will be fine for you, Kore. Your mother told me much about you too and... I hope it was all compliments as it was in your case."
"O-Of course," The pink girl blurted out.
"And I recognize Hermes- I hope he didn't cause you any issues, Kore," Artemis added, with Kore shooking her head and- "But this one I don't know. Mortal, but... why are you here?"
I bowed my head. "Lady Artemis, Lady Demeter took me in after I got lost from my... home."
She raised an eyebrow at that. "Lost from home? Then why were you not brought back there."
"It's... more complicated than a few words can be explained. But I will leave it to just 'my home has yet to be build... for a long time'."
That didn't exactly answer much, but it did good in making her confused and perplexed. So, I was a bit surprised when Kore tried to divert the situation by bringing up Hide n' Seek. Artemis accepted the idea too fast, and the fact she was looking at me with that perplexed gaze just didn't sit well with me.
So, I wasn't that surprised when, as we started to hide out and Artemis decided to be the 'seeker', that she found me in less than two minutes and had me caught with a sharpened wooden stick.
"You and I are going to have a proper chit-chat. Now."
The threat was quite real and... I had a feeling she wasn't going to let me go if I didn't come out as clean as possible about what she was confused about.
I just didn't expect her to ease down the way she did.
"Demeter did mention that she was taking care of a difficult case, I didn't expect that she was talking about of a mortal that comes from a different future," Artemis mumbled as she sat beside me and we shared the shade of the tree we were sitting by. "Like, you know a lot about us- lot of things that can be true and not."
"Yes-"
"And this Orion guy, do I... Do I end up really love him or was it just, you know, me being sad for a friend going?"
I looked up, knowing I could have held back on the tale of Orion, but I decided to give her a bit of heads-up. I already changed a few things, I guess I could add some spins to the timeline and hope this goes for the best. Artemis sounded like a reasonable individual and I was glad she took the whole 'your brother killed your love interest out of jealousy' that well. In fact, she mentioned that 'this sounded like something Apollo would do'.
"You made a star constellation for him. To remember him. You either held him quite highly as a close friend, or you actually felt a romantic emotion for him. Nothing sexual, of course but-"
"Enough to want to remember him and... hate my brother for some time," The Goddess of the Hunt remarked quietly before nodding. "And you are sure that... the rest is doable? This idea that Kore and Hades- you know who Hades is, right?"
"Hecate said that he is not really that bad. It's just that people have a tendency to... let's just say that people don't like people that are related to Death in general."
"Thanatos is an example," Artemis admitted, "But he is a jerk all around."
I leaned back, nodding at this and picking this point of view for further pondering while also remembering we were in the middle of a game.
"So, are you going to... catch the others."
"The conversation is more interesting," Artemis admitted with a truthful tone. "I normally don't say that about guys since I am part of that group with Hestia and Athena but... you are not bad."
"And you have yet to catch the others," I hummed back, causing her to scoff. "What?"
"I already found them," The purple girl lamented. "Hermes is sitting behind that tree and Kore is in that pink bush."
Said pink bush shuddered as she was called out. Yep, the game was over alright.
"Well..." I remarked in embarrassed at being called out like that. "Do you have any game that could even out all odds from both you being a masterful hunter and Hermes being a speedster?"
"...You already played tag?"
"We will never play that again with Hermes," I confirmed flatly and she snorted.
"How did you even think it was a good idea? Hermes could literally hide on the other side of Sicily," Artemis pointed out and I bowed my head. "You thought of that didn't you?"
"Kore said he wouldn't go as far-"
Artemis broke into laughing at that admission and I felt purely embarrassed by this.
Well, the good news is that Artemis isn't bad she is a female bro in terms of personality and she is legit chill. That's enough of a win for me at the expense of my pride.
We win some, we lose some, I guess.
AN
Artemis get! She is wary of guys due to some awkward experiences, but she is totally fine with friends that are guys and are chill (or Hermes). Still, expect some BigSister!Artemis action to come up very soon as... 'canon start' is around the corner. We going for a bit of a timeskip to get the story properly started.
Also, quick reminder that there is a wikia for this series. So, if you have any particular curiosity or question inherent to the series, you can browse it for info.
Important AN! I released a new story on Pxtreon called Unsung Otome Villainess which features a Villainess from a Standard Otome game getting advised by a SI!Soul. First step? Befriend your main rival and enemy, ignoring the fact she may fall in love for you! You may be able to read it a month in advance (it will be published in the archive thread a month after its release on Pxtreon) by applying for even the lowest tier, which is literally a 1$ or so each month.
REVIEW Q&A!
Coldblue2015:
1) Yes;
2) It's actually a simpler and less-binding situation than how some takes on the Greek Myth is. In fact, Kore is expected to join that group;
3) Not really. The Gods in this particular verse are... less omnipotent and more individualistic in that perception;
4) Morpheus is a girl in this series so, dunno;
5) Sorta-ish;
