Year 1994
"It's day 15, significant changes with the praying mantis' genes are being recorded as we speak. It now shows signs of development such as being able to sprout small wings on its back. Although slow, progress is still progress."
The young girl's raven hair went along with the strong gust of wind that had passed by her. She tapped the stop button on her recorder and placed it onto the table. She gazed upon the open doors of the greenhouse.
"Daddy, I know you're there"
She called but no one answered her. She called for the second time but only the soft breeze answered her. She stood up from the stool she was sitting at and decided to just close the door. Thinking maybe she just forgot to close it earlier when she came in. However, before she can even get close to the door, a pair of big hands grabbed on her shoulders which sent her into alert mode.
She readied her stance and was ready to land a blow at the holder's stomach but was stopped short when a branch almost hit her throat.
"You're being too lax Artemis"
The man softly chuckle when Artemis begun pouting.
"It's not being lax, we're not in training anyway, Daddy that's cheating"
"Danger always come when it is least unexpected, you should always be prepared whether it is training or not"
"Gahh, there's no danger right now, it's too peaceful here and anyway I was immersed in my research"
She slapped the branch away from her throat and stomped back to her stool. Phoebus laughed at his youngest' tantrum and watched Artemis sit back down on her stool and continue her research.
"My Luna, are you mad?"
Artemis looked back at her father with an obvious grumpy look. She knew what he was doing, her father always called her Luna, when he was apologetic or if there was something he wanted her to do.
And Phoebus knows that she knew exactly what he was doing. He smiled at her before going near her table. He saw that inside the glass jar was a praying mantis with small moth wings on its back. His gaze flew back to Artemis who was also eyeing the creature.
"Did you mix it with a moth?"
"Only the wings had manifested, the other features are still unknown. I'll have to monitor it for half a month more"
"What if it dies before that?"
"Then I'll have to recreate the engineering of the genes with another praying mantis"
Phoebus let out a sigh.
"What if it was a human Artemis?"
Artemis' gaze turned to her father. His father's expression was stern, like the question he had just asked held the balance of the world. She almost chuckled.
"Daddy, I'm only 15, how could I imagine carelessly playing with a human's genes."
"So you'll do it when you're older?"
"Well, if I pursue being a scientist then I'm sure there will be instances when I'll have to handle some. Isn't that right?"
Phoebus stared at his daughter's unwavering brown eyes. He knew that his daughter was different and that he should support her at what she loves doing but he couldn't deny the fact that there were times when he was scared of her.
At first, he laughed at the thought of it, a grown man being scared of his own daughter, it was ridiculous. But as time goes by, he finally became aware why he felt that way. His daughter had little empathy for everything around her. Up to the point where he knew that if he had died in front of her, she wouldn't be sad at all.
He let out a sigh and caressed Artemis' hair. He stared at how dark his daughter's hair was and couldn't help but be mesmerized. The soft ringing of the church bells made him look at the windows.
"Come now Luna, it's worship time"
Artemis looked at him and smiled before organizing everything on the table and putting the mantis away.
If there was one more thing that excites Artemis it was worship time. She believed she was a scientist at heart but she couldn't deny how the existence of Gods fascinated her, especially theirs.
"Ahhh Artemis, were you at the greenhouse again"
Artemis only smiled and made a peace sign when she saw her older sister, Eos, hands on her hips while impatiently waiting for her.
"I swear, I could never really get why you enjoy there"
"Because there's many creatures there."
Artemis replied briefly while smiling widely. She knew that her sister would never understand her but that doesn't mean she hated her. She had accepted that they have different hobbies but that wouldn't make her less of her sister.
"Humans are creatures too, but if Luna is happy there then you should just let her be"
Artemis looked back and saw her older brother, Helios, behind her. His shoulder length hair was tied back making his features more defined. She smiled at him but immediately drew it back when she saw who was with him.
"Everyone get inside the church, we wouldn't want to be late"
Her mother, Sol strictly said while glancing at her for a short moment. Artemis bowed her head and followed them. She looked up front and saw that her father and mother were chatting, following them behind were her brother and sister.
Artemis knew even from before, while her eldest brother resembled their mother and Eos looked like the splitting image of their father, she who was the youngest looked neither.
Not even one feature of both was passed down to her. That was why she could easily believe that she was adopted especially when she shared neither the qualities of both of her parents.
Her mother is a soldier, a general and one of the few women to be called one. Her brother had the same physical strength and strategic mind. While Eos inherited all the good and attractive qualities of their father, she would often be called by the people of their city as the greatest muse to ever live.
While Artemis? Well, she knew what people call her. She's aware even from the very beginning that people would call her a freak, the adopted weirdo of their family. But, she never cared or at least she stopped caring.
But, she had vowed that one day she would show them. Show all the people who doubted her including her mother that she was the greatest gift this world would have ever known.
As she kneel in front of the seven statues in front of her, she silently muttered.
"Here me oh great Gods, I would create this world into a better place, help me and I would dedicate everything to you. Everything I have, I offer them to you.
Even myself."