A Mythical Journey To Remember - Chapter 40

Chapter 40 - Athens

Thankfully, the rest of the journey was relatively safe. After a while, the smell of salt and the brittle wind had become kind of annoying.

When the journey finally came to an end, I saw a city that seemed to be straight out of a storybook. Countless buildings sprawled around a small mountain, all surrounded by a thick, tall wall. Yet, what stood out most was a temple situated at the mountain's peak, with a statue of a warrior woman wielding a shield and a spear.

As we approached the bustling port, the air was filled with the mingling scents of fish and olives. Despite being a port, it had the atmosphere of a market, with sea shells and even something resembling a shrimp being sold. Other produce was also being loaded into the ships, and sailors yelled orders loudly between each other.

Despite being captivated by the new sights, my thoughts remained with my companions - Billy the Goat, Auto, and Budas. I was also relieved to finally set foot on land again, though it felt strange to have spent over two weeks on a ship and grown accustomed to the rocking of the deck.

"Ah! Finally, land!" Theria exclaimed, with a hint of drama. I could understand her sentiment, considering her experience on the boat. In Athens, I shared her relief, knowing we were safe from sea monsters that might suddenly destroy the whole place.

Theria's face lit up with smiles until her eyes fell upon a giant statue of Athena overlooking the city. She seemed a bit nervous, clearing her throat as if waiting for someone.

It took me a moment to grasp why she was acting this way. She believed herself to be the daughter of Athena, expecting immediate recognition from her divine parent.

However, I couldn't help but think she might be viewing this unrealistically. First, there was a chance she wasn't Athena's daughter at all, and even if she was, why would a goddess care about her existence?

While Athena might appear more benevolent compared to other Greek deities, she was still capable of vindictive actions, turning someone into a spider just for surpassing her in a skill. The whole debacle with Medusa was also a messy and tragic tale, depending on the version of the myth.

Nonetheless, those dark stories weren't relevant here, so I approached Theria and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you should visit the temple. After all, who said that your divine parent acknowledging your existence is a dramatic event where light shines down on you, or something? Maybe you already have been acknowledged."

Theria shifted nervously, her gaze fixed on the imposing statue of Athena.

"Well, maybe my friends are at the temple too, so I will go with you," I said.

The chances of Auto and Budas going to the temple were slim to none, as neither of them was particularly religious. Still, I decided to check it out at least once, ticking off one place from the countless others I had to explore.

Damn, I should have mentioned the meeting place. But at that moment, my primary concern had been getting them away from Camilla, and it completely slipped my mind.

What worried me even more was the possibility of them drowning in the sea. None of them had any sailing experience, and witnessing that battle of monsters at sea gave me a new perspective on the risks involved.

Walking through the streets of Athens felt surreal; the place exuded an air of sophistication, unlike any I had encountered before. Surprisingly, there were no unpleasant odors from the lack of proper sewers, showing that the place was quite well-engineered. Respectful citizens strolled by, and scholars carried their books with purpose.

While the city appeared ordinary in many respects, the temple of Athena and the grand Colosseum in the distance stood as testaments to its advanced civilization. The pristine cleanliness also indicated a higher level of development compared to the previous places we visited, where animals roamed freely and left their waste on the roads.

As we ascended the temple stairs, Theria began to breathe heavily. Her dark hair clung to her sweaty face, and her physical condition seemed similar to what I had experienced in my previous life—rather poor.

Strangely, the closer we approached the temple, the fewer men we encountered. It struck me as odd.

Could they have a custom of forbidding men from approaching the temple? I should have asked about the local practices, but to my knowledge, Athena was not a man-hating goddess like Artemis.

"So, do you want me to carry you?" I offered, noticing Theria's labored breaths with each step.

However, she stubbornly shook her head and replied, "No, thanks. If someone carried me to the temple, Athena wouldn't recognize me as her child."

...

By the time we reached the temple, the day had turned from mid-day when we landed to almost evening. From up here, I had a better view of Athens, with flickering lights made from candles and torches creating a mesmerizing sight.

Although I wanted to savor the view, we had little time to spare as we finally arrived at the temple, where people were already leaving. Theria sat down on the last step, catching her breath. When she noticed my gaze, she winced and apologized, "Sorry for wasting your time; I was just nervous about this and-"

"Don't worry about it," I reassured her.

I couldn't just let a young girl wander around a new city all alone. Those brotherly instincts from my last life persisted even after crossing worlds. Besides, helping someone like her wouldn't cost me much, and there might even be a big reward for me if she truly was the daughter of Athena. That was honestly about 60% of the reason I decided to assist her.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" said a voice from behind us.

Turning around, I was taken aback by the beauty of the woman standing close to my face. Although she wore a white cloak that covered her body, her hourglass figure was still evident.

She had silky brown hair hidden behind a white scarf, and her golden eyes, soft pale features, and gentle smile made her look stunning. If she were in my last world, she could easily have won the Miss Universe title. This woman's beauty had my heart racing and made me feel like a teenager again, despite technically being one now.

What were they eating in these times that made these women so beautiful?

Theria seemed like she was about to say something, but I was afraid that she might say something dangerous. So I quickly intervened by smiling and answering, "Yes, we're here to pray. This is my childhood friend, Theria, and she has always admired Lady Athena."

Claiming that she was Athena's child might come off as too outlandish and could be seen as an insult to their virgin goddess.

Theria stood up and nodded her head. "You must be one of the virgin priestesses of Lady Athena. Can you please show us to the main temple?"

It seemed like she got the hint and refrained from mentioning her supposed background. The priestess nodded, not seeming weirded out at all that two strangers had come to the temple almost at nighttime.

As we walked deeper into the temple grounds, we encountered countless beautiful priestesses tending to the gardens and cleaning the stone roads. It felt unusual to find all these stunning women gathered in one place, and I couldn't help but notice the lack of guards in the vicinity.

The deeper we went, the more breathtaking the gardens became, everything looked like it was right out of a painting. We finally reached the grand temple with a road paved in beautiful marble. Towering pillars and the setting sun aligned perfectly with the temple's roof to create a strange light. Some of the priestesses even waved at us with smiles, showing they weren't afraid of me despite the spear and bow on my back.

Athena's protection might have shielded them from some of the more primitive practices of the era, but I couldn't be certain of the true extent of her divine safeguard. After all, Medusa, too, had been one of Athena's priestesses, and her unwavering loyalty had been met with absolute brutality.

As we ascended the dozens of marble steps, the temple seemed unusually quiet, with only the echo of our footsteps breaking the silence. It felt strange yet peaceful, as if this place were eternally untouched by the passage of time.

"Do you want to donate?" A sudden voice startled me, and I nearly jumped in surprise.

Someone had sneaked up on me so easily? Was I that distracted by the scenery?

Looking down, I saw a young girl whose bratty gaze reminded me of my sister in my first life. Her face held an air of disdain.

With her blonde hair, blue eyes, and dressed in a white gown, she held a shield repurposed into a begging cup, filled with bronze and silver coins. It struck me as somewhat risky to display such wealth openly, tempting fate for any potential thieves. Yet, the priestesses didn't seem to be afraid or cautious.

I patted the young girl's head and dropped two bronze coins into her cup. Instead of thanking me, she shamelessly remarked, "Is that all you’re donating, mister cheapskate?"

"Lana!" warned the priestess who had been leading us. She approached the young girl and took the round shield filled with coins. "What have I told you about acting like some street thug? We are the temple of Athena, and you should fear her wrath. You'll bring damnation upon us all!"

“Lady Athena isn’t that petty,” the young girl shrugged.

Theria and I decided to observe from the sidelines, not wanting to get involved in the situation. However, I added a silver coin to the shield, and the young girl smiled at me.

For all I knew, she could be Athena in disguise, appearing in her own temple. So, I decided not to meddle further. The young girl grinned upon seeing the additional coin, then ran off without a word, leaving the priestess sighing. “Sorry about that; it was a shameful display from someone who serves in Lady Athena’s grandest temple.”

“Don't worry about it," I smiled and nodded, trying to convey that it didn't bother me much.