"Ah, did I interrupt you in the middle of something?" Apollo asked in his full glory from his chariot.
"No, my Lord. Let me know how I can serve you in this visit." Phemonoe said, bowing a little. This action prompted Tobias to do the same, but Julius only looked at them – just simply acknowledging the god's presence.
"Julius of Boboston" Here it goes again, the lame moniker. Julius was just about to finally correct his place of origin when the god continued, "We must hurry back to Olympia. Herakles is about to go back in your starting point. If you won't be back before him, he might claim your victory."
Normally, Julius wouldn't care. So what if Herakles claims to be the winner, right? But he won the race fair and square, and it doesn't sit right with his pride.
The god spoke once more. "Besides, my crows from Olympia are sensing something peculiar there. They are telling me that it has to do with you." He wasn't facing them, he was communicating with a crow resting by his arm.
Now that's completely something else. Seriously, he's just jumping from one problem to another. Can't a guy just get enough of all these Greek stuff? What's going on there now? However, that did the trick of strengthening his resolve to return there immediately and figure out what that 'peculiar' happening in Olympia is.
Julius turned to Tobias. "Hey Tobias, this is your last chance to back out. Are you sure you wanna come with me or not?" He looked at the boy sharply with his olive eyes. Tobias looked startled at that sudden question.
"Y-Yes! Take me with you!" He really doesn't look so sure but whatever, he needs company.
"Lord Apollo, is it fine for me to take him with us to Olympia?" Julius asked the god.
"Ah, is he part of your prophecy? If so, there's no harm in bringing him with us, perhaps." The god also looked unsure but was good at masking his doubts with his feigned disinterest. "Hop on, then."
"Right, come here Tobias." Julius got into the cart first and helped Tobias up. When they were settled, he bid goodbye to Phemonoe. "Thanks, old lady! I'm never coming back!"
Phemonoe wasn't expecting that, but that also made her laugh a little. "Good luck, Julius! And take care of my Tobias!" She waved her hand just as the chariot was about to zoom out from the shrine of Delphi.
"Take care of yourself while I'm gone, Phemonoe! I'll be back soon!" Tobias also said, and then, they already picked up their speed. The high priestess still waved to them from the surface, until she was finally out of sight.
They were now flying all over the Gulf of Corinth at an incredibly uncomfortable ride. Julius tried to imagine Apollo in his real-life setting, and concluded that the guy will never pass the driver's license practical exam. He really has no regard for turbulence and air resistance. Tobias was holding on for dear life at the sides of the cart and Julius himself was sure he'll be doing the same if not for the supercharge he got from Zeus.
Not later on, Julius was seeing the familiar outline of the place where he landed in Ancient Greece – Olympia. The rough road looked like the ones where he made a run before in participation of the first Olympic event. He can't help but wonder how many hours it had been since then.
"Lord Apollo, how long has it been since I left here?" He asked the god.
"Time is relative once you reach Olympus – what you think as a few minutes will probably be a few hours in normal human time. I don't know how that's possible. But I believe, it has already been two days since your departure."
Julius' jaw dropped. Now he wonders how long it had been since he left the Modern Era. He really needs to get back there. He looked to the sides and Tobias' eyes met his. "Hey boyo, you really should explain to me my prophecy once we get a smooth landing." Tobias just nodded, looking sick.
And of course, they never got a smooth landing. Their chariot bumped a few times to the ground, sending them jumping from their seats, before they came to a sudden halt that sent their bodies forward.
"Ah, it's because of the rough road." Apollo commented, also thrown forward.
'No, it's because you suck at piloting this thing.' Julius wanted to say but decided not to. Tobias was first to go out and puked immediately when he got a few feet away from them.
"Now, we walk forward to inform the spectators who won in this race. I believe my father also left you something to tell to the people of Olympia?" Apollo turned to him for answers.
"He said something about doing this every Olympiad….and the motto too – Citius, Altius, Fortius." He replied.
"Then inform them you shall."
"Will they believe me, though?"
"Ah, I will personally appear before them in this form and confirm your legitimacy. They won't dare to doubt a god's word. And besides, you got that golden laurel from my father. That should do."
"Wait up, wait!" Tobias caught up with them and they made their way back to the starting point of the race, where Epimetheus was still scowling. He didn't announce the results of the race despite knowing it already.
--
A beat-looking Sayo and an unscathed Athena came out from the room where they had their 'practice'. They met the eyes of Rexis and Hephaestus who were still sitting by the forge of the workshop. Suddenly, Athena said, "I sense a presence of another Olympian."
"Hrrmm…True, it's near the city-state's center. He's bringing with him some mortals. Hrmmm."
Rexis noticed that although Sayo looked fine, she definitely has another thing going on with her mind. She seems shaken about something. He too, is also confused by the recent conversation he had with the burly man who calls himself Hephaestus. He felt like the name is somehow familiar but he really can't recall where he heard it – it's just at the tip of his tongue.
"Probably it's about the race the mortals here have been talking about. You two, bring the news here!" The woman with gray eyes ordered them to go to where the fuss was happening. It's the best they can ever hope for.
Finally, they can leave this hot place! Rexis stood up from his seat and moved to the exit but Sayo went somewhere else.
"Hey Sayo, where –" That's when he realized that she went to their hiding place from earlier. Behind the crate of metals, where they left the sportsbag containing Kairo's things and the book which somehow transported them here. She put the book inside the bag and then returned to his side. There was a wild glint in her eyes.
"Come back here and you will be rewarded!" Hephaestus said from his forge. Athena only eyed them intensely.
--
Now it was Sayo's turn to drag him outside. "Do you have any idea where we're supposed to go?" Rexis asked.
"For once, shut up Rex, and listen to me. You're right, we got transported to Ancient Greece, and the ones we talked to earlier? In that workshop? That was Athena.…and Hephaestus, I believe. I also got the feeling that Kairo is here and we need to find him, not follow some orders from those divine beings." She said this while walking absentmindedly, with utter conviction.
Her words finally made Rexis realize the absurdity of the thing. He now remembered where he heard the name Hephaestus – from their History class, when they discussed about Greek civilization. He was never really fond of that subject.
Hephaestus….. is the Greek God of Fire, the Patron of the Smiths and Master Forger of Olympus. Apparently, the myths were accurate in saying that he looked ugly. He was a son of Zeus and Hera. And Hera, being the loving mother that she is, threw him from a cliff because of how horrid he looks. The poor dude picked up himself from that motherly rejection though, and proved his worth as one of the Guardians of Olympus.
Athena….is the fierce and wise Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War. The gray-eyed Athena, Patroness of the Crafts, another Guardian of Olympus. And she's just as cool as what the myths say. She was also rather scary.
"Hey, you listening to me? We gotta find…." Sayo suddenly stopped on her tracks and looked ahead. "KAIRO?!"
There in the center of the mob, was the familiar face of their friend. He was with a very tall, handsome man who was glowing faintly, and another boy who seemed to be normal except for his strange clothes. The regal-looking man was telling something to the people around them. They were cheering in their presence.
Sayo's voice was loud enough to be heard by Julius. He looked towards the voice's direction and then he spotted a pair he never expected to see in this setting. His eyes widened when he shouted, "REXIS?! SAYO?!"