The Temple of Apollo

There was nothing more majestic in the city than the temple of Apollo. Erithea could see people flocking to the temple carrying fragrances, the bodies of eagles and There were even humans pushing carts carrying wolf carcasses. It would all be offered to the altar of the temple of Apollo. The priests had taught them to dry the blood of each sacrificial animal so as not to pollute the temple.

Not only that, the temple of Apollo was also filled with a strong fragrance that comes from burning frankincense resin, essential oils and beeswax. There were also bay leaves strung together and food like milk and honey placed around. It was enough to deter those who wanted to worship at the temple.

"Why do they still do that? All those offerings are of no use to me," Apollo mumbled as he walked past them. He took Erithea by the hand. They were both human-like in appearance with hooded robes covering their heads. Even so, their beauty wasn't easy to hide.

They were definitely more attractive than the humans there. Humans who worshiped at Delphi, consisted of various Social classes. There were officials who wore the best cotton clothes and woven shoes with the latest designs. There were also peasants and manual laborers present bare-chested with a piece of cloth covering their lower bodies. There were also the mercenaries, who wore warrior-style clothing, complete with swords at their waists and leather vests.

Not many mercenaries there, because usually those who like to engage in war worship in the temple of Ares, the god of war. Delphi was dominated by worshipers of Apollo. Although every god's temple had an Oracle, none had more power and influence than the Delphi Oracles.

All the offerings would be collected by the priests and were quite valuable and would be controlled by the oracles and priests. It was a common practice, and most of the gods ignored it. They didn't really care what humans do. As long as their follower count didn't decrease.

Erithea, rode the pegasus once again earlier. But not the atlas, she was invited by Apollo to ride Aldebaran— his pegasus— which he now puts in one of the houses of his Titan followers, which was around Delphi. They flew from Olympus to Delphi. There were other, less conspicuous methods of transportation, but Apollo didn't like it. He love to be stand out.

As Erithea walked hand in hand with Apollo, people looked at them. Of course, Erithea had beautiful legs and was wearing a bright orange overalls dress with red ink dyed in some parts. There was also gold thread embroidery there. Her footwear was also plaited from papyrus. Even if the two of them covered part of their faces, one would think they were nobles or royalty who wanted to worship.

The main temple of Apollo seemed bustling. Apollo smiled, maybe his traitorous titan followers were lying. The humans who worshiped him did not seem to diminish. Even so, his smile turned a bit grim when he realized that the faces the humans were displaying weren't very happy.

"What's going on here?" Apollo asked, to a middle-aged woman holding a small child. Their clothes are quite shabby.

"Oracles, won't give their predictions," said the human angrily.

They blamed the Oracles for the delay in reading the prophecy. They didn't hate Apollo. There seems to be a lot of opinion that the Oracles were trying to oppose Apollo. Or they were afraid to deliver the latest predictions because of the potential for rioting. But whatever it was, the prophecy must still be read out.

"Apollo hasn't given the prophecy yet!"

"Let's wait! Persuade the god with more offerings! Your gold necklaces! Your cattle! We have to make Apollo happy!" One of the priests stood before the worshipers to give a lecture.

"They're using your name for their own benefit," Erithea whispered softly to Apollo.

"That's how humans are, sometimes their ability to do evil amaze me. They are able to sacrifice their conscience for the temporary pleasures of their short life," Apollo said again.

"Ah, I have nothing left to offer," muttered a dark skinny youth, he rose from the queue and walked weakly away from the main shrine.

"What are you doing?" Someone asked.

"Work of course, Apollo won't answer my prayers, my sister won't get well..it doesn't matter even if I have offered my last gold coin from selling my horse," said the young man weakly.

"Ah, but, I also can't plant anything, because there are no horses to help me plow the fields," he complained again.

Erithea heard that and immediately felt pity.

"You have to help him, he was tricked by your priests," said Erithea.

"I can't save all of them. All of them who are here must have prayers and hopes. As a god, I can't help them one by one,"

"Did anyone stop you? Is that the rules of Olympus?"

"No, but when one person receives a miracle, then a thousand more will expect the same. Those priests will take advantage of them and enrich themselves from the weaknesses of the worshipers..It's been more than two years I haven't been to Delphi, I didn't think the situation would be this bad," Apollo shook his head.

"You have to find a way, these humans are hoping for you. We're Titans, we can definitely help them without causing bigger problems," Erithea urged.

"I brought you here for a walk. I wanted to introduce you to the human world. Well, I'm sorry if this bothers you," Apollo smiled apologetically at her.

"No, sorry to sound meddlesome, but—"

"Apollo has killed my wife!" Someone shouted through the crowd. He was a man with curly brown hair with a fat build. His stomach was shaking and he seemed to have difficulty walking. He gasped.

"Don't talk nonsense! Do you want to be cursed by Apollo?!"

"I don't care! My life has no meaning anymore! I will sue the god Apollo!" The fat man wept and knelt on the dry ground in the temple grounds of Apollo.

"Hey! Explain first! What happened?"

The man sobbed.

"I was here last Sunday, bringing my last gold for an offering to Apollo. Then earlier when I was caring for my sick wife—a light came and spoke to me, he said his name was Apollo," the man said.

The devotees looked stunned and immediately kneeled down. They consider the spiritual experience to be extraordinary.

"You saw the god Apollo?"

"It's Apollo! His face glows like the sun! And he touched my wife's forehead," the fat man continued.

"Then—" the man sobbed again.

"Somehow my wife died...and Apollo said it was payback because he thought I didn't make enough offerings to the temple. Apollo, killed my wife," said the man again.

The real Apollo, who was standing not far from him, listened with the anger he was trying to contain. Who would dare to slander Apollo like that? The archery god clenched his fists and took Erithea's hand. He was going to meet the Oracles.