In The Wisdom Saga, Apollo is summoned by Zeus to serve as Level 1 of Athena’s trials in the God Games. He greets Athena amidst a grand, golden light and plays a brief passage on his lyre, testing her composure and respect for the art of music. Apollo reveals his grievance with Odysseus: the hero slew several sirens—creatures whose song he cherished. This opening encounter establishes Apollo as both arbiter and artist, blending his dominion over music with his role as judge.

During the trial, Apollo challenges Athena’s reasoning. He argues that Odysseus’s actions against the sirens were a crime against beauty and knowledge. Athena counters that the Sirens intended to drown Odysseus and his men, and that their destruction ensures the safety of all sailors—an argument that resonates with Apollo’s own dedication to prophecy and foresight. Satisfied by her eloquence and insight, Apollo casts his vote in Athena’s favor, concluding his trial by offering her a healing balm from his quiver of medicinal arrows—a token of his dual mastery of archery and healing.

Apollo’s divine abilities feature prominently in his test. His Archery is unmatched: he can strike precise targets at impossible distances and, in this setting, uses a single arrow to open the trial’s curtains of light, symbolizing enlightenment. His Lyre Mastery allows him to weave complex harmonies that test a listener’s mental acuity. His Healing Touch, drawn from the god’s role as a physician, appears when he anoints Athena’s brow after the trial, restoring any fatigue she’s accumulated. Finally, his Prophetic Sight gives him awareness of outcomes before they occur—an attribute he modestly uses to anticipate Athena’s arguments and guide her toward victory. Through these divine gifts, Apollo’s trial underscores the balance of art, intellect, and compassion that Athena must uphold.