Chapter 135: A Step Back In Time(6) (1/2)

-House of Hades, Underworld-

In the spacious throne room of the home of the Underworld monarchs, three people stood opposite each other.

The atmosphere between them was tense and rather melancholic.

”I took him to Madeira, as far from Olympus as one could possibly go...” Hermes proclaimed with droopy eyes.

He was speaking to Persephone.

The latter was unlike her usual lively and joyful self, and her red eyes and dry face hinted at her sadness.

Hades stood by their side, and his face looked down at the ground.

If they could see his face, they'd have perceived a single tear forming on his right eye.

”I think I need to go, Apollo and Artemis are waiting for me,” Hermes stated, and unfolded his wings.

Suddenly, Persephone grabbed his arm.

”Hermes, come by to the Underworld more often, will you?”

Hades also slightly nodded.

Hermes forced a smile, and replied with resolve, ”I will.”

Then, he went back out from the front entrance and found Charon waiting for him.

When the monarchs of the Underworld were melancholic, the rest of the realm followed, and the lively kingdom of the dead was 'deadly' silent.

”Charon, take me back to the mortal domain, please.”

Charon's skull-like face nodded and he hinted at his boat.

Hermes got into the boat, and the boatman paddled away from the house.

His consciousness drifted away, and when he woke back up, he was in front of his mansion.

Hermes immediately entered his home and found that Apollo and Artemis were much more agitated than usual.

”You two, what's wrong?” Hermes proudly smiled at the children who grew up so quickly.

Five years ago, they were little babies in his arm, yet, now they were already fully grown and both had found their passions.

However, their next words almost broke his morale.

”We're leaving Olympus,” Apollo calmly stated.

Hermes' heart beat rapidly, but he calmed down and awkwardly said, ”This place is no longer safe, is it?”

Unexpectedly, Artemis ran up to him, and she whispered.

”Hermes, we're not leaving because we dislike you, we just can't risk Hera targeting you too, especially now...”

These words tugged at his heartstrings.

Truthfully, even though he promised he would protect the two from their Stepmother, he knew he didn't have the strength to do so.

He was willing to make great sacrifices for them, but if she ended up hurting them anyways, what was the point of it all?

”You two, both of you, come here.”

Artemis was already next to him, and Apollo also obliged.

He took the two in a hug, and murmured, ”What are you going to do from now on?”

Artemis exclaimed, ”I found a really nice forest, I think I'll move there.”

Apollo replied, ”The mortals and the nymphs have far advanced us in musicality, I will roam the mortal world for more instruments.”

Hermes laughed, ”Of course, I know the pan-pipes wouldn't be enough to satisfy you.”

A rare smile crept up on Apollo's face.

”No matter what, you two should take care of yourselves, and remember, power is everything, if you want to protect yourselves, and your loved ones, you need strength!”

'Unlike me, who couldn't protect Sophus, who couldn't protect your mother, who couldn't protect you two...' Hermes kept this remark in his head.

The two nodded.

'They don't show it, but they're both very sentimental,” Hermes noticed that Artemis' eyes were getting moist.

When she saw his stare, she immediately ran out of the mansion.

He was now left with Apollo.

Surprisingly, Apollo held out something to Hermes.

It was the serpentine staff of the twins.