Acades retreated to one side of the altar and lowered his head slightly. Lytos rushed to the altar in three strides and looked toward his father.
"Pray," Theseus said.
"Yes."
As Lytos spoke, he lowered his head slightly and recited the prayers from Athena's scriptures.
He recited one prayer after another without stopping.
Neither Theseus nor Acades moved.
Suye remained motionless as well, occasionally glancing around.
Only after an hour did the altar suddenly emit a faint glow.
Lytos quietly breathed a sigh of relief and took an object about three feet long from his spatial ring. It was wrapped in white cloth, its edges yellowed.
Lytos continued praying.
After a full half-hour, a flash of light passed, and the object vanished.
Only then did Lytos say, "Great Goddess of Wisdom Athena, we offer you abundant treasures and devout faith. May you bestow your blessing and cleanse the filth from our father."
The altar did not move.
Lytos repeated, "Great Goddess of Wisdom Athena..."
The altar still showed no change.
Lytos continued repeating himself.
None of the three showed the slightest impatience or strange expression. Their attitudes remained calm.
Suye was puzzled. Divine responses were always slow, but was even the Pandion Family's offering this troublesome?
After another full half-hour, a pale white holy light descended from the heavens and enveloped Theseus.
Strange crackling sounds rang out from Theseus, like burning firewood.
Before long, the white light wrapped around a mass of golden radiance and vanished.
The wounds on Theseus's exposed legs began to heal rapidly. Flesh interwove, and bones lengthened.
Only a few seconds later, Theseus's legs had completely recovered.
"Praise the great Goddess of Wisdom!"
Theseus, Acades, and Lytos praised her in unison.
Suye hurriedly followed, "Praise the great... and also the most beautiful Goddess of Wisdom."
It