With a sense of urgency, Artemis scooped Orion up from the ground and called his name repeatedly, her voice filled with panic. As she grasped his wrist to check for a pulse, relief washed over her when she felt his steady heartbeat. "Please, Orion, open your eyes. Wake up," she pleaded desperately, giving him a gentle shake.

Finally, Orion's eyelids fluttered open, and he looked at her with confusion. "Artemis?" he asked, his gaze scanning the surroundings until it settled on her.

"I'm here, Orion. Thank the Fates you're alright," Artemis breathed out, her eyes shining with relief.

But Orion still seemed bewildered, his mind a complete blank as he tried to piece together what had caused him to faint. And that voice...

"I'm sorry if I worried you, but I'm fine now. I was just tired, that's all," Orion attempted to explain gently.

Shaking her head, Artemis ignored his words and helped him sit upright. "No matter what happened, you need to rest. Let's get you back to the cabin," she said, her concern evident.

Weakly nodding, Orion allowed her to support him as they made their way towards the cabin. Upon arriving, Artemis helped Orion settle onto the bed. She then descended the stairs to fetch blankets and hot cocoa. As she returned, she draped the blanket over him and propped up the pillows behind his head before taking a seat at the edge of the bed.

"Thanks for taking care of me like this. I feel bad for ruining our fun times," Orion chuckled lightly, earning a half-smile from Artemis.

Her smile widened as she gazed into his bright, dark blue eyes. "Don't worry. What matters to me is that you're feeling better now," Artemis sincerely assured him.

Grateful, Orion returned her smile, causing Artemis to stand up promptly and place the mug on the table in front of his bedside. This situation made everything more complicated. Artemis had intended to return home quickly, but with Orion unwell, she couldn't help but feel guilty for leaving him in this state.

Suddenly, Orion spoke up, his voice breaking the silence. "You know... the last thing I remembered before blacking out was... you and I kissed."

Artemis blushed furiously, the memory flooding back to her. Her cheeks burned as she stared directly at him, almost dropping the mug in shock when she noticed the slight smirk playing on his lips. Clearing her throat, she tried to regain control of her emotions.

"Must you bring that up?!" she asked, irritated.

He laughed softly, raising his hands in defense before speaking. "Sorry, I didn't mean to fluster you. And I have to admit, you're really cute when you make that face."

"Well," Artemis retorted dryly, "thanks, I suppose."

Orion smirked, as if expecting a sarcastic comeback. To his surprise, Artemis simply crossed her arms and glared at him, causing him to laugh once more.

His laughter only heightened Artemis's annoyance.

"But... if I'm being honest, when we kissed, it felt like I've known you for much longer than my whole life," Orion confessed sincerely. Artemis froze, completely taken aback by his sudden revelation. "I know it sounds crazy, but being with you felt like my entire bucket list had been completed."

A warm feeling washed over Artemis upon hearing his words. She never expected him to say something like that. She had been worried that the kiss held no significance to Orion and that she had made a mistake by acting on her impulse.

It felt as if her vow to be a maiden had been shattered completely when she kissed him. The nagging voice telling her not to do it had vanished just like that. And she had to admit, it was the most liberating feeling she had ever experienced.

"I, uh... well..." Artemis hesitated for a moment, her voice barely audible in the gentle breeze coming through the window. "I kind of felt the same way. Like I had known you forever," she responded quietly, her words hanging in the air. "Really?" he asked, surprise evident in his voice.

"Yeah," Artemis shrugged. "And it's not strange that you feel like you've known me your whole life," she added, unable to contain the wide smile that spread across her face.


They shared a tender moment, their smiles soft and their gazes locked. A calmness enveloped them, allowing them to savor the tranquility of the moment. And then, with his gentle smile still intact, he spoke up again.

"Oh, you have no idea how much that means to me," he confessed, his words filled with sincerity as he held her gaze.

Artemis couldn't help but bask in their growing closeness, but a nagging thought tugged at her mind. She couldn't forget that she had obligations back home, a brother eagerly awaiting her return. She had hoped to spend more time with Orion before bidding him farewell, but alas, duty called.

Orion, ever observant, noticed the hint of hesitation in her eyes. Concern etched his features as he cautiously inquired, "Is everything alright, Artemis? You seem troubled. Is something bothering you? You look as if you'd rather be somewhere else."

For a moment, Artemis hesitated, her voice barely a whisper as she found the courage to speak her truth. "Actually... I have to go back. There's something important I need to attend to. And..." she paused, her eyes meeting Orion's, her heart pounding.

A flicker of understanding crossed Orion's face as he questioned, his tone serious, "Let me guess—the reason you can't stay is because of my current situation, right?" Artemis nodded silently, the weight of her decision resting heavily upon her.

"Don't worry about me, Artemis. I'll be alright," Orion reassured her, his words filled with a sense of resilience. "I can always call my uncle to keep me company. You have nothing to fret over."

With an inexplicable surge of emotion, Artemis leaned forward, her lips brushing gently against Orion's cheek. He tensed slightly, surprised by the intimate gesture, but soon relaxed, closing his eyes and exhaling deeply.

"If you say so," Artemis murmured softly, concern lacing her words. "Promise me you'll take your pain medication and rest."

"Absolutely, Princess," Orion replied playfully, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "By the way, how will you get back home?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Artemis turned towards the door, a confident smile gracing her lips. "Don't worry about that. I have my own means of transportation," she assured him as she walked towards the door.

She paused for a moment, stealing a backward glance at him before mustering the courage to swing open the door. As she crossed the threshold, his mumbled words hung in the air, "I love you... Artemis..." Her heart skipped a beat, freezing her in place. Unable to resist, she turned to steal one last glimpse of him, his heartfelt confession echoing in her mind. Silently, she whispered, "Take care... Orion," before gently closing the door behind her.

Once Artemis was out of sight, Orion's ears perked up, catching that familiar voice again. A sense of nostalgia washed over him, tugging at his heartstrings. "Come with me, young one. The time has come to fulfill your promise," the voice beckoned. Orion couldn't shake the feeling that memories were flooding back to him. Suddenly, a blinding flash of light consumed him, and he found himself surrounded by an inky darkness. Unable to hear or sense anything, the light vanished as quickly as it had come.

Meanwhile, Artemis sprinted across the grassy field, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of emotions and questions. Orion loved her. Had she truly heard him correctly? Did he mean what he said? Was it all a figment of her imagination, or had he succumbed to madness after being unconscious for so long? She continued running until she reached the edge of a serene lake, where she finally slowed her pace and came to a stop. Standing at the water's edge, her feet now touching the shimmering surface, she couldn't help but replay his words over and over in her mind. It couldn't have been a trick or a joke. He genuinely loved her. She was utterly speechless.

"Perhaps I'll find some solace once I return home," Artemis thought, contemplating teleporting back to her apartment. However, upon her arrival, darkness enveloped the living room. It seemed Apollo had forgotten to switch on the lights or hadn't returned yet. "Was I too early?" she wondered to herself. Just as she took a step forward, a voice emanated from the kitchen, instantly grabbing her attention. Turning her gaze in its direction, she spotted Apollo, leaning against the refrigerator with his phone clutched tightly in his hand, lost in deep conversation. Artemis yearned to ask him about the nature of his call, but she knew her brother well enough to understand that it was probably a weighty secret.