"No wait I..." I started to ask but it was too late, she was gone.

My shoulders slumped and my ears drooped, "I didn't get a chance to ask her about going home."

/I'm sure she already knows whatever you wanted to say, Chloe./

"Maybe," I sighed. "Except I'm not even sure myself what I want."

Melite's mood seemed to reflect the goddess's last mischievous smile as she asked, /You do know what all this means, don't you?/

I shook my head, "Not really. What's it mean?"

/The goddess herself looked into your soul and saw you for who you truly are. Then she addressed you as Chloe, and accepted you as one of her disciples, and as a nymph. It's what I've been saying all along. You really are a girl. You really are Chloe./

My eyes widened as my cheeks heated up again, but my immediate reaction was to come up with a few more arguments as to why that couldn't be true. Except this time I caught myself before I managed to say any of them. Instead I took a moment to think about what Melite was telling me, rather than listen to all my internalized doubts and insecurities. And I realized she was right.

An actual literal goddess just looked deep into my soul, where she saw all the details of my life played out. She saw my lanky guy body, she heard people addressing me by my guy name. And even after seeing all that, she continued to call me Chloe. And she continued to treat me as though I really was a girl.

I still had some nagging doubts though. Like even if I knew it was impossible to fool a goddess, part of me tried to latch onto the idea that she was just being polite. Or playing along with my stupid deception. Except based on what little I knew about ancient Greek mythology, I found it hard to believe Artemis of all people would go along with that. If she thought I was really just some guy pretending to be a girl, surely she'd have smote me on the spot rather than accept my pledge to her.

My eyes widened and my heart started racing as the truth finally began to sink in.

I always assumed I wasn't trans because I didn't really hate my original body. I didn't love it either though, and it certainly didn't make me happy the way being Chloe did. It was more like background noise, part of the dull drab grey that was my entire life. It blended in with all the other setbacks and disappointments that made up the bulk of my existence. But Melite was right, and so was Artemis.

"It's true," I finally mumbled to myself. There were some butterflies in my tummy as I added quietly, "I really am a girl. My name is Chloe."

That simple statement left me smiling, but the good feelings only lasted another few seconds. Then my ears drooped as I grimaced, "I probably owe an apology to a couple of my online friends. Turns out they were right about me after all. Assuming I ever get back home, that is..."

My voice trailed off as the thought of going home led to another realization, which brought my mood down even further.

The butterflies in my gut solidified into a cold weight while my ears and shoulders slumped as I sighed, "I'll also end up back in my original masc body again. That's really going to suck, especially after figuring all this stuff out now."

Melite's response was accompanied by strong feelings of compassion, /Perhaps. But you've just sworn an oath and pledged yourself to Artemis. Maybe you should have a little faith in our goddess? I'm confident whatever happens, she will look after us both./

"Yeah," I nodded slowly. "You're right. Thanks Melite."

My ears perked up a little as I added, "At least I know who I am now. And I know there's options back home, like hormones and surgery and stuff. My online friends can help me figure it out."

My emotions were still all over the place though, due to the recent revelations about my identity and everything. Not to mention the divine visit we'd just had. Melite was right though, so I tried not to let myself get too worked up about stuff that might not happen for another two thousand years. Instead I focused on our goddess, and the fact that we were about to become her newest disciples.

Which in turn left me thinking about the practical realities of our situation, "We're going to have to talk with Attis again about all this stuff, so he knows we want to stay here after all. And we need to find the other disciple Artemis mentioned, so she can start our training."

/In due time Chloe. We can't do anything right now, not while my father is still here. So let us hope he doesn't stay much longer, and doesn't cause any further trouble./

"Yeah," I nodded as I carefully moved back towards the doorway, to take a quick peak outside.

Sure enough Timoleon's soldiers were still standing around in front of the temple, along with Attis and Lais. As near as I could tell nobody else had any idea a goddess turned up for a chat, just a few dozen meters away from them.

It turned out my timing was perfect, as the soldiers all suddenly came to attention. Then a moment later their boss emerged from the temple, and the magistrate's mood seemed very different from his earlier bluster. Instead the man had a distant, almost troubled look on his face.

Attis was the first to react, "Did you receive an answer to your prayers, Lord Timoleon?"

"Yes," Melite's father nodded slowly. "I was told through a vision that my child insulted Lord Apollo, and the god took offence at her foolish words."

Timoleon sighed, "According to the vision my daughter was cursed. And I was advised to leave her to her fate, lest I also incur Apollo's wrath."

The high priest gave the magistrate a compassionate look, "I am truly sorry for your loss. It seems the gods have spoken though, and a wise man would heed their words."

"Indeed," Timoleon agreed with another sigh.

He seemed to regain some of his former attitude at that point, and gave Attis a hard look. "Don't let this go to your head, priest. If the rumours I've heard are true the Achaemenids are massing another great fleet, which means there's more conflict coming our way. The emperor isn't likely to have forgotten the roles Attica and Laconia played in the revolt, I'm confident both will soon feel his wrath. So you'd do well to keep any future comments about the King's mortality to yourself."

Attis bowed slightly as if accepting the magistrate's advice. Then he and Lais quietly watched as the local ruler turned and walked away, with his servant and his soldiers following along behind him.

I kept watching too, and let out a quiet sigh of relief when it was clear that Melite's father was definitely leaving. I could feel her anxiety fading as well, and I knew she was probably even more relieved at the sight than me.

Eventually Timoleon's procession disappeared back into the woods the way they came. I waited another minute or two just to be sure, then finally emerged from the hallway and headed over to the front of the temple. Attis was obviously waiting for me there, although he was alone once again. Lais had already gone back into the temple to finish her chores.

"Ah there you are," the priest commented as I joined him. "I assume you saw what happened?"

His eyes flicked up to my big fuzzy ears for a moment then he added, "For that matter I expect you also heard everything too?"

"Yes sir," I replied nervously. I was about to bring up our decision to join the temple as a disciple of Artemis, but before I could get another word out we were all surprised by a small commotion in the temple.

"Attis!" Lais exclaimed as she dashed back out to join us. She was carrying two of the little donation bowls, one in each hand, and she seemed very excited.

We all found out why a moment later as she held the bowls out and announced, "Look what the magistrate left! Gold darics! Six of them!"

Sure enough there were three chunky gold coins in one dish and three more in the other, and my eyes widened in amazement as I stared at them. They were a lot like the silver coins I'd left earlier, each had that kingly archer guy on the front and they were roughly the same size too. Except these ones looked like they were made of solid gold, and I was positive they had to be worth a small fortune.

"I assume three were gifts to Apollo," the priest responded calmly, like that much gold was no big deal to him. "For whom did he leave the other three?"

Lais replied, "Cybele of course."

"Very good," Attis nodded. Then he sighed, "The temple will likely need the resources, assuming the magistrate's right about another war brewing. We shall all have to work a little harder over the coming months, to ensure we're able to weather any coming storms."

The temple maiden looked worried as she asked, "Surely the gods will protect us? You said so yourself to Lord Timoleon."

Attis grimaced, "And he wasn't wrong when he said the gods can be fickle. More to the point though, if war returns to our shores we'll likely have another great influx of people looking for sanctuary. Or turning to us for help. Hence we must all prepare for the worst, even while praying for the best."

"And in the mean time," he added with a glance my way, "Let us hope we won't have to worry about any more surprise visits from our local tyrant."

My ears drooped down and I sighed, "I'm sorry sir. Actually I guess I need to talk to you about -"

The priest cut me off with a gesture, "I do not require any sort of explanation. If you're keeping any secrets regarding your past or your origins it's likely best you continue to hold them close. I'm sure you heard that the gods sent Lord Timoleon a vision, they granted him the information he required. Even if it wasn't exactly the knowledge he sought."

I nodded slowly, "Yes sir. Still, thank you for protecting me. I appreciate it."

He shrugged, "It's not my place to judge who does or does not deserve sanctuary. I merely welcome all who ask, while the gods themselves decide who is worthy."

"Having said that," he added with a little glint in his eyes, "The magistrate's visit did shake an old memory loose. It seems to me that the last time I spoke with young Melite she had a particular fondness for bunnies. I'm sure she would have been very eager to meet you, Chloe."

My cheeks warmed up at that comment, and I was positive he was telling us that he knew who we really were. Or at least he suspected. Fortunately I knew better than to say anything about that subject.

Instead I responded, "Actually sir what I wanted to talk about was the possibility of making my stay here a permanent thing? I um, Artemis came to see me while I was hiding. She told me I could become one of her disciples."

"You had a divine vision?" Attis asked as his eyebrows crept up. "The Lady of the Hunt appeared to you while Lord Timoleon was here?"

I nodded, "Yes sir, while he was in the temple praying to her brother. Artemis said I needed to seek out her other disciple here, so she could train me as her apprentice?"

A thoughtful frown settled on the priest's face as he seemed to consider that. He finally replied, "I didn't know the Lady of the Hunt had any disciples here. Lais has dedicated herself to Cybele, as have I, but everyone here honours all five of the gods venerated in our temple."

"I think she's talking about Elpis," the temple maiden suggested. "Remember she pledged herself to the Lady of the Hunt, back when she first joined us?"

Attis hesitated a moment as he thought back, then nodded. "Ah yes, you may be right."

"Why don't you go and fetch her for us please Lais?" he added as he reached out to take the two donation bowls. "I will return these to their rightful places."

I ended up following him into the temple while he put the donations back on their respective altars.

Then as the two of us waited the priest commented, "Elpis volunteered to work on the farm this season, but if Lady Artemis wishes her to be your tutor I may need to reconsider her duties. Unless you want to begin your time with us helping her pull weeds and clean animal pens?"

My ears drooped but I tried not to sound too reluctant as I replied, "As long as someone shows me what to do and how to do it, I'll try and do my best sir."

"I'm sure you will Chloe," he smiled.

Fortunately we didn't have to wait much longer before the temple maiden returned with a vaguely familiar farm worker trailing along after her. My ears perked up while my eyes widened as I recognized him as the farm boy who overheard Melite and I talking earlier. Except from this angle it was clear he wasn't a boy at all.

There was no mistaking her tall slim figure, bare feet, or the simple light brown tunic. The clothing partially obscured her figure, but there was only so much it could do to hide her curvy hips and narrow waist. I also noticed she was wearing some kind of band under the tunic, to keep her chest under control.

That and the fact that her brown hair was cut short in what I took to be a boy's style suddenly had me wondering if Elpis was actually a trans boy. Or maybe they were non-binary. On the other hand if they were a disciple of Artemis then maybe they were a girl after all? Either way I wasn't sure if it was ok to ask about pronouns right off the bat, so I decided to put that off until we were alone.

For now I continued looking them up and down, while they did the same for me. I figured they were about eighteen or nineteen years old, roughly the same age as me. It was hard to guess what they were thinking though, as their expression shifted through a few different emotions before ending up on a sort of thoughtful frown. Meanwhile I found myself thinking they were attractive enough, they could have been a model or an actor back home.

Despite some dirt smudged on their hands and face they were undeniably gorgeous. They had full wide lips, deep beautiful hazel eyes, and their skin had a healthy tan that almost glowed, even here in the gloomy temple. I was positive they'd have an amazing smile, and I couldn't help hoping I'd get to see it at some point.

"Thank you for joining us Elpis," Attis broke the silence by greeting the beautiful brunette. "This is Chloe, she's our newest arrival. And Chloe, this young woman is Elpis."

The farm girl didn't seem to mind being referred to as a young woman, although I still planned to ask about pronouns and stuff at some point. For now she seemed a little amused as she looked me up and down once more then asked, "So it's Chloe is it? Nice to meet you."

Something about the way she seemed to be sizing me up left me feeling like a bun who'd just been introduced to a fox. I found myself blushing as I mumbled, "Nice to meet you too."

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