The chariot pulled by the golden-antlered deer raced across the sea surface as Artemis hurriedly jumped down, rushing straight to her lover.
She grabbed his arm and anxiously looked him over from head to toe.
"Lorne, are you alright?!"
The latter instinctively shook his head, signaling that he was fine.
Only after confirming again and again that her lover truly hadn't been injured did the goddess of the hunt finally relax, letting out a breath of relief as guilt spread across her face.
"I didn't expect that arrow to accidentally fly toward you. I'm sorry, this was my fault."
Despite her words, the corner of Artemis's eye darkened as she glanced toward Athena, who was driving her chariot closer from behind.
On guard, she pulled Lorne behind her protectively.
"It's fine. On the battlefield, mistakes are inevitable. It was just an accident."
Lorne smiled, clearly unconcerned about the incident.
He stepped forward, reached out, and pulled the Victory Spear from Phorcys's skull, along with the pierced divine core, then handed them back to Athena, the newly crowned champion of the hunt.
At the same time, standing between them to ease the subtle tension, he pointed at the sunset on the sea, which was about to sink below the horizon, and offered a kind reminder.
"It's getting late. Looks like we should head back. Otherwise, Lady Hestia won't be willing to wait any longer."
"Alright, I'll take you back."
The moment Lorne finished speaking, Athena smoothly followed up.
Using the opening created when the Victory Spear was returned, she directly grabbed him and pulled him onto her chariot.
At the same time, without needing further instruction from the goddess of wisdom, the three Gorgon sisters decisively flicked the reins.
Pegasus spread his wings, and the chariot turned and charged straight toward Sicily.
Seeing that in the blink of an eye Athena had already cut through the waves and taken two "spoils" with her, Artemis snapped back to her senses a beat too late and angrily waved her hand.
"Go! We're chasing them!"
Sensing its mistress's emotions, the golden-antlered deer lifted their heads and let out a low cry as they broke into a gallop, pulling the golden chariot in hot pursuit.
The twenty nymph attendants who had arrived late turned and followed behind, forming a vast procession surging toward distant Sicily.
"Wait for me!"
Seeing Artemis disappear into the distance, Apollo shouted and summoned the nine Muses at his side.
He turned his chariot and followed closely behind, his expression solemn as he provided cover for his sister.
However, as he cast a glance back, the god of light's eyes passed over Phorcys's gradually disintegrating remains, a trace of gloom flickering across his handsome face.
At the same time, aboard the chariot racing forward under the goddess of wisdom—
"It wasn't me…"
"I know."
With a calm voice, Lorne raised his hand and tossed the cracked divine core of Phorcys backward, which landed neatly in little Medusa's arms.
Feeling the resonance of shared divinity, the three Gorgon sisters immediately let go of the reins and crouched together in a corner, jointly absorbing the oceanic divine power leaking from the core.
Their blissful expressions looked as if they were completely high.
Even the sharp-tongued Stheno and Euryale softened their gazes toward Lorne under such a generous gift, their expressions tinged with satisfaction.
At this moment, hearing Lorne's casual reply, Athena, who had been preparing her next explanation, turned her head, with surprise flashing in her eyes.
"Such crude methods don't match your style," Lorne said with a smile, stating what he felt was the obvious conclusion. "If you were the one who did it, I probably wouldn't even know how I died."
"While I appreciate the high opinion…" Athena paused, her gaze on Lorne growing deeper. "I somehow feel like you're insulting me."
But then the tension on her face eased, and a faint smile bloomed as she waved her hand magnanimously.
"Forget it. I'll forgive you this time."
Hearing the goddess of wisdom act so generous and tolerant, Lorne couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated.
And you still say you're not petty?
Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the victim here.
As Lorne complained in his heart, Athena calmed herself, her brows knitted together, and a cold edge slowly surfaced on her face.
"This was my oversight. I didn't expect him to be bold enough to use his own sister."
"Not surprising…"
Lorne shook his head, his gaze steady and composed.
Perhaps it was incompatibility, or perhaps it was because he had dissected this god of light through myth and knew the darkness hidden behind that radiant exterior.
From the very first meeting, Lorne had already sensed that his future brother-in-law would eventually make a move against him.
In one version of Greek myth, Orion, who won Artemis's affection through the power of the god of love, believed everything was settled, however, in the end, he was plotted against by Apollo and personally shot dead by an Artemis who had been kept in the dark.
Now, Lorne had taken Orion's place, and naturally, he would face that same brother-in-law's hostility.
What's more, compared to Orion, Lorne carried an additional reason that Apollo simply could not tolerate.
The goddess Hestia, whom the god of light had pursued but never obtained, also shared an intimate relationship with Lorne.
Whether it was jealousy over Hestia's exclusive favor or resentment toward Artemis's closeness to him, this god of light, who was graceful on the surface yet arrogant and conceited at heart, had more than enough reason to want him dead.
He just hadn't expected Apollo to lose patience so quickly.
Using the sea hunt and the clash between two goddesses as cover, he tried to stir trouble and secretly eliminate an eyesore.
It's just ....the bright god thought his plan was flawless, but he didn't know that playing such schemes in front of two far more devious gods was nothing more than showing off before experts.
At the scene, probably only Artemis truly believed that her helpful little brother had merely made an "accident," instead suspecting that Athena, the rival, was the culprit.
Of course, Lorne and Athena weren't unaware of the option to expose the matter outright.
But blood ties trump reason.
Without concrete evidence, doing so would only be futile and might alert the snake.
Athena recalled the perilous moment at sea earlier and pressed her lips together, speaking in a low voice.
"When we reach the island, I'll find an excuse to send them away…"
"No need!"
Unexpectedly, Lorne, the true victim, shook his head and refused.
"If we let him get away that easily, wouldn't the arrow I took be for nothing?"
Moreover, this was a crucial stage in their joint scheme against Poseidon.
Letting Apollo jump ship so easily would be a net loss.
At the very least, they should finish using him before settling accounts.
Seeing the faintly malicious gleam in Lorne's eyes, Athena clearly understood his true intention.
After only a moment's hesitation, the goddess of wisdom made up her mind and turned to ask,
"What about Artemis? After something like this, what really matters is what she thinks…"
"Don't worry. Tonight, I'll explain it to her on your behalf."
Faced with such a heavy task, Lorne naturally stepped forward, patting his chest with confidence.
"Alright. I'll help you keep Apollo and Aunt Hestia occupied…"
Athena responded with complete trust, making a solemn promise.
The way she looked at Lorne softened visibly, and even her voice carried more warmth than usual.
"Once this is over, I'll prepare a gift for your ascension."
Hearing there was an unexpected bonus, Lorne's anticipation instantly soared.
As expected, whether taking credit or taking the blame, Sister Athena never shortchanged him.
Yet, as Lorne began imagining the reward awaiting him, he failed to notice that the light in Athena's eyes had grown deeper, while the hand hidden behind her back clenched with a faint creak.
A reward?
Of course. Once this is over, I'll reward you properly…
The smile on the goddess of wisdom's face grew ever more gentle and radiant, silver teeth silently grinding behind her cherry-red lips.
(End of Chapter)