It was pouring hard over the borders of Thebes and the pathway has turned to mush. Wingo and Orio, hid under a pine tree and rested while waiting for the rain to stop and move on. They covered their horses in dry leaves and branches, letting them rest beside them. They were also burning some firewood they had found along the way to keep them from getting chilly. It was mid-noon but the clouds of Zeus covered the shine of the sun god, Helios.

“Before we enter to Delphi, we must have an offering to Apollo” Orio reminded

“We will be able to find one as we venture this path” Wingo replied

The storm had come to stop as night came, they packed up right after and continued their travel. Passing through the forest that cover the border of Thebes, they encountered different kinds of dwellers around the town such as the hippalectyron and some were onocentaurs, they slew the dwellers and ran from them because they were outnumbered by the dwellers of the forest. Two days later, they have reached the base of Mount Parnassus. They rested by the mountain and night came.

“We are finally near our destination, brother” Orio stretched his back and laid down beside his horse, he was relieved knowing they were finally going to be able to take a break from the travel they planned on

“Not near enough, we have about fifteen miles to travel” he replied

“Well that is closest rather than Spartacus to Kyprus, isn’t it?” Wingo gave a smirk at Orio, he knew how long it took for him to reach Kyprus and how it was an experience that only few could have; with merchants giving gifts to a caretaker and befriending a guild of merchants.

A loud snarl was heard nearby the two, they stood from their positions and prepared for a fight against another creature. They took a piece of firewood and burnt it to create a torch for them to see what created that gnarly sound, as Wingo was swaying the torch facing towards the darkness he sees a silhouette of a deer-like creature that was as tall as a horse and had a horn that was longer than its’ torso. Orio withdrew his bow and arrow and aimed it at the creature, Wingo raises his hand holding Orio from firing the arrow at it.

“This is a rare sight” Wingo said as he raised the torch higher; above his head

“What is it brother?” Orio asked, “is it some kind of offspring of Typhon?”

“No, this creature is hardly even common” he grinned and faced Orio, “it is the legendary monocerata that was told to us by Leon”

“If it is, then it would be a great offering to the temple of Apollo in Delphi” Orio seemed uninterested with it being the legend, for he knew that beside him is greater than the legend of the monocerata

“Take a shot when it stops moving” he replied

The creature stopped moving after a while, Orio took the opportunity to hit it at its’ leg so that it will not escape. The creature was hit by his arrow but it only made things worse, it was a passive creature that would only attack its’ predators, even if the creature was hit on one of its’ hind legs it was able to spring into action. It jumped upwards and somehow disappeared in the darkness, but they knew what it was doing so they prepared to dodge the attack of the creature, they heard the snarling once again this time it grew even louder. They saw the creature falling from the sky with its’ horn facing towards where Orio stood by. It landed on the ground with its’ horn first; however, it was one of its’ way of getting out of the situation it was in.

“Wingo that is the cue” Wingo nodded to Orio’s command and ran towards the stuck monocerata, he was barely able to stab it because of the thickness of the creature’s skin. The monocerata tried to shake itself out of its’ misery but Wingo saw through its’ struggle and immediately cut the head of the monocerata immediately.

“We will take the horn and its’ skin” Wingo said

“What is the skin for?” Orio asked in reply

“Maybe it can become a clothing that can defend against the attack of the gods” Orio pitied Wingo’s behavior by that time, “be very careful with the horn, it carries a precious mineral that is valuable to the gods”

They dismembered the monocerata and collected all of its’ blood to be offered as well in the temple of Apollo. Morning came and they finally ventured out to Delphi, they did not fray from their path so that they could reach the town by noon. As they were near the town, there was a temple that outstood the homes and buildings below it. They were only a mile away from the town but they could already hear the music and the loud praises of the people in Delphi, it seemed there was a celebration.

“A town wide celebration?” Wingo was questionable about the situation “is it not fall today?”

“Might be that Dionysus has visited their town today” Orio somehow doubted his reply, he thought that satyrs were not allowed to enter Delphi

“We will learn what the big occasion is if we enter” Orio agreed to Wingo’s statement, so they entered the town and saw in the center of the town.

A giant stone figure of Apollo was placed in the center and the people were celebrating around it, all the different instruments used by the people, they also saw a crowd of physicians conducting a symposium near the great statue. The statue of Apollo was as tall as the cyclops they fought before, he was holding a bow on his right hand and his left hand was lifted, while there was a hanging lyre on his hand. The people were also visited by the nine muses; Clio, Thalia, Euterpe, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope, but Wingo and Orio did not mind them and continued to venture towards the tower where the oracle resided.

They were now entering the temple when they saw the different figures of Apollo around the hall and below them were the different offerings of the worshipers to him; some of the offerings were hymns, artworks, different parts of rare creatures that plagued Greece and baskets of different vegetation. They placed the horn of the monocerata and a flask full of its’ blood beside one of the figures near the entrance, then they feel the temple shaking as if it were trying to move.

“What did we do now?” Orio said wearily as he held one of the foot of Apollo’s figure

“I do not know, but we might have triggered something” Wingo replied

The tremors stopped as one of the side of the wall opened, leading into a smoky chamber that was illuminated by a cauldron that was lit with green fire and the limestone around them reflected the color. They entered the hole without question and there they see the oracle who sat on a chasm while she was surrounded by other priestess of the temple.

“It seems the boy of the prophecies have arrived” the oracle spoke as if she were not surprised that Wingo would visit her

“Are you really Pythia, the oracle of Delphi?” Orio asked

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“Yes, I am, child of Myeutus” Pythia replied as she gazed at Orio, “I am quite sure why you have come for me mortal”

“Then you know about my origin great priestess?” Wingo asked as he knelt before her and Orio did the same

“I have told Zeus about your origin and have told him about your resolve” she replied “I will not dare to speak of your origin with the man beside you, it seems it is only yours to keep”

“What origin Wingo?” Orio was baffled by their conversation that he tried to slip in to their affair, but he was silenced by Wingo as he raised his hand

“I have come here, great priestess, to know about what had happened fifteen days ago when I battled the cyclops” his request to learn about the event surprised Pythia, she had thought that he would know about what it was “I know you doubt my request because of my origin, but this I do not know of”

“Wingo of Kyprus, you are gifted because within you is the flame that the titan Prometheus stole from Zeus” Orio was flabbergasted by the words that the oracle spoke, he laughed titteringly looking around the people in the chamber searching for someone to disagree with her statement, but all of them had the stern expression as they faced Wingo.

“How is that possible?” Orio broke from his laughter and questioned the oracle in curiosity, he remembered that the flame was given to the mortals but was taken back by Zeus

“Gaia took a part of the flame and hid it until the battle of the titans ended” she explained “she gave it to twelve mortals whom she trusted and secured their presence until today, the gods do not know where you are Wingo, that is why none of them rescued your family of that time”

“So, even Selas and Haidee has the flame?” Wingo asked

“They do not, but it was because of Leon who hid all of your presence” she replied “and before his death, he passed on the flame to you and to Orio”

“But why only the two of us?” Orio interrupted

“It is somehow unclear, but from how I saw it, he knew what was going to happen” she answered his question, but Orio did not still believe her answer because if he knew he could have told them earlier about it

“Orio, he actually knew all along” Wingo said as if he read his mind “remember the daemons that haunted him every night, one of them must have told him what would happen if he does not give up”

“You are right Wingo” the oracle faced at Orio “Leon’s fate was conjoined with Juno and Kyra; it was inevitable”

Orio was either frustrated or unhappy by the news, he went silent for the time being with the oracle. Wingo pitied Orio, he understood his silence and did not bother to ask more about Leon so he continued his talk with the oracle.

“Then what about the nightmares I regularly get?” he asked trying to change the topic

“Might have been Epiales trying to trick you” she was unsure for she did not know the answer

“They were voices that kept on reminding me about being the chosen one” he recalled the nightmares he had “everyday had a different and familiar voice”

“That I do not know of anymore” she stood up from her chasm and approached Wingo “but all I know you are going to free all of us here from this temple that Apollo has chained us in”

Wingo and Orio stood from her presence and she sees the anger in Orio, she knew the flame will soon burn.

“Thank you for answering our questions, great priestess Pythia” Wingo and Orio left the temple, they were somehow satisfied with her answer but they still had questions left unanswered.

Orio and Wingo left Delphi immediately, eager to return to Athens before their journey to Mount Olympus began. Orio had many questions for the oracle, but he knew her limitations. He hoped the gods themselves might hold the answers, particularly regarding Wingo's true origins. Despite saving Wingo as children, Orio harbored suspicions about Wingo's past. However, their shared experience of being saved by Wingo in their teens fostered a sense of trust.

"Orio," Wingo declared sternly, "we must attack Olympus soon."

"How can mere mortals with the flames defeat the gods?" Orio doubted the power of the flames. He sensed there was more to it.

"We'll learn during the battle," Wingo replied. Orio wasn't convinced the gods would answer their questions, but he understood their ostracized status. Without presenting themselves as warriors, they'd likely be thrown into Tartarus.

Weeks passed, and they finally reached home. Selas and Haidee were absent, so they waited. After fifteen days, the two arrived, Selas finally sober from their wild experience. That night, gathered around the fire, they recounted their adventures. Wingo and Orio omitted their encounter with the oracle, knowing Selas yearned for such a meeting herself. Revealing the Flame of Olympus seemed a bigger shock than encountering the oracle.

After sharing their stories, they retired. Sleep, however, evaded Orio and Wingo. They grappled with the oracle's words and strategized how to confront the gods.

Haidee rose first the next morning. An unsettling feeling prompted her to ride to the nearby river. There, she bathed, hoping to wash away the disquiet. The cry of an eagle pierced the air. She looked up to see it circling overhead. It landed nearby, watching her intently. Though the bird's presence didn't bother her, a deeper unease settled in. It felt more than an ordinary eagle. Once she finished bathing, it soared towards Mount Olympus, a rumbling thunder echoing across Athens in its wake. Returning home with a newfound sense of calm, a sliver of unease lingered regarding the watchful eagle.

"Haidee," Wingo said, snapping her from her thoughts, "listen, we have something to tell you."

"Sorry, I was lost in thought," she replied, returning to her dried deer meat.

"Orio and I are leaving soon to seek answers from our previous journey," Wingo explained.

"But didn't you go to Delphi?" Selas interrupted. "Didn't you consult the oracle?"

"We did, but time constraints…" Orio stammered, avoiding further questions.

"Where are you headed, then?" Haidee inquired.

"It's uncertain," Wingo chuckled. "Our return might be delayed, so we just wanted to let you know our plans."

Haidee and Selas exchanged a silent, knowing glance that ended in giggles. Wingo, though skeptical of their unspoken plan, didn't object.

"That's all," he concluded.

They finished eating and prepared for their venture to Mount Olympus. However, the women had a different plan.

Another day passed. Haidee still felt the unsettling feeling from the previous day. She returned to the river, but this time she saw a young, naked man bathing. She tried to leave, but the crackle of thunder stopped her.

"Where are you going?" the young man asked. "Come in, I won't touch you."

"I apologize for interrupting you, but I have to leave," she replied, afraid of his promise despite his words.

Another crack of thunder boomed after she finished her sentence.

"I won't touch you, I swear on it," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"Thank you, but I must go." As she turned to leave, a hand grabbed her leg, followed by a loud crack of lightning nearby.

"Trust me," he said. Haidee's expression seemed vacant as she dismounted from her horse. The young man stood before her, with white hair and beard, a divine physique, eyes the color of the sky, and a height that surpassed even Wingo, who himself towered over a horse.

"Undress yourself," he commanded. She complied, revealing her bare body. The young man pulled her by the hand to the river, and they bathed together. After their bath, he led her to a stone bed and pushed her down. As they became intimate, a deafening roar of thunder echoed throughout Greece.

The sound startled Wingo awake. He ventured outside and saw dark clouds swirling nearby. Worried by Haidee's expression from the previous day, he went to check on her. He found neither her nor her horse. Then, another thunderous roar resonated, drawing his gaze towards the dark, swirling clouds. Without hesitation, he mounted his horse and galloped towards them. Reaching the river, he spotted Haidee's horse tethered to a tree. Wingo dismounted and searched for Haidee, only to find her engaged in a sexual act with a man.

"Haidee!" Wingo roared, his voice brimming with anger. He charged towards her, but a bolt of lightning struck him directly, paralyzing him. He tried to rise, but his body couldn't withstand the overwhelming power of the lightning.

"How dare you touch her!" Wingo croaked, using the last of his strength to yell and lunge at the man. The young man turned, a malicious grin spreading across his face as he continued with Haidee. Wingo could hear her cries of pleasure, which extinguished the flames of rage within him. Another bolt of lightning struck him directly.

Wingo fell unconscious, but he fought to open his eyes, suspecting the man to be Zeus, judging by the storm brewing around him. Even in his unconscious state, his mind was filled with chaos.