A Mythical Journey To Remember - Chapter 37

Chapter 37 - The Captivating Stranger

After leaving Herakles' farm and approaching Tiryns City, the first thing I did was run in a low position, attempting to avoid the patrolling guards. There were several of them around, but I utilized transmutation to create a grass armor, allowing me to approach a blind spot in the wall unnoticed. With another use of transmutation, I fashioned an opening and entered the area without much difficulty.

Relieved, I held my breath as I found myself in some kind of green backyard filled with chickens. The chicks clucked and panicked at the sight of me. Swiftly, I closed the wall behind me to prevent any of them from escaping through the opening I had created.

Jumping the fence, I entered a dark alley filled with trash and filth. Once again, I employed transmutation to restore my clothes to their normal state.

As I walked through the city, I kept my head down whenever a guard passed by. Nevertheless, I also tried not to appear overly suspicious, occasionally pretending to drop something to blend in with the other civilians. It was debatable whether such tactics were necessary, as the guards seemed more concerned with handling bar fights or thefts.

Finally, I reached the docks without much trouble. I scanned the area for a ship bound for Athens, contemplating whether to inquire directly or gather information through rumors and wanted posters. Camilla could have easily labeled me a traitor to her soldiers before pursuing me. Although it seemed unlikely, I didn't want to take any chances, especially since she was in rags during our first encounter and wouldn't have wanted to draw attention to herself.

As I strolled around the docks, my attention was drawn to two sailors engaging in laughter with a local, seemingly sharing a friendly bond. Their appearances didn't stand out, appearing quite ordinary. The sailors boasted a tan, which was typical for people in their profession.

I approached them while pretending to admire the sea. When I was close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation, I halted.

"Yeah, you wouldn't believe it. Someone gains the power to turn everything they touch into gold, only to realize they can't even eat regular food," one of the sailors shared.

"Some say he even turned his own daughter into a statue of gold with just a hug," added the other sailor, shaking his head.

"Damn, that's some crazy shit," the local chimed in, shaking his head in disbelief. "Are you sure this guy is even real? Why would a King want even more gold?"

"Everyone wants more gold," replied one of the sailors, with his co-worker laughing in agreement. "They call him King Midas of the Golden Touch. I bet you'll hear about him soon enough from other merchants."

“That will be a while before those greedy bastards come around again after one of them was killed by the monster.”

What they were discussing sounded oddly familiar, possibly a tale from mythology. However, I couldn't see how it related to me, Camilla the monster, or anything else concerning me. So that was relieving.

Thankfully, the sailors never mentioned anything about stories. It had been nearly a month since that incident, and aside from the grieving families of the victims, most people had moved on with their lives.

I continued on my way, dismissing such tales as irrelevant. I had no intention of involving myself in dangerous affairs involving gods or any mythical beings.

If my memory served me right, King Midas of the Golden Touch could rid himself of his ability by washing his hands in a particular river. I couldn't recall the exact name of the river, but it must have been close to his kingdom, as mythology didn't mention any grand journey to reach it.

After inquiring around, I discovered the only ship departing for Athens that very day. I didn't want to tempt fate by lingering in this place any longer than necessary.

My time in Tiryns had taught me a valuable lesson: not to meddle in matters I knew nothing about. If my luck hadn't been on my side, I might not have survived. I couldn't afford to trust my luck when there were far more dangerous things than Camilla out there.

The ship bound for Athens was surprisingly large, almost seeming ahead of its time. Yet, this was the mythological version of Greece, and incredible feats were not unheard of. Perhaps some Demi-God had devised the plans, or maybe it was a gift from the gods to the captain. But at the same time, I was no historian and knew little about the accurate technology level of these times.

Regardless, I paid no attention to its origins. I made my way close to the ship, taking my place in line just behind an anxious-looking girl, who appeared to be counting her coins carefully.

After a considerable wait, I was almost at the front of the line, and it was the girl's turn to pay the captain. He looked the part of a pirate, with his eyepatch, cloth hat, and ragged clothes exposing his hairy chest. Surprisingly, he looked like an actual legitimate pirate.

"You don't have enough money," the captain stated firmly to the young girl.

"B-But, I need to get to Athens!" She pleaded.

Her captivating blue eyes sparkled like sapphires, hinting at a wisdom beyond her years. Silky dark hair cascaded in waves around her alluring yet youthful face, creating an intriguing contrast. Her aura exuded both innocence and maturity.

Her beauty seemed almost otherworldly, as if it were a masterpiece crafted by a brilliant artist, not something meant to exist in reality.

"I'm sorry, but if I start giving you a discount, everyone else will demand one too. I'm just trying to feed my family, not play games with youngsters," the captain stated firmly, gesturing for her to move aside. Unlike the others, he wasn't captivated by her appearance.

"Fine, I didn't want to resort to this," the girl's eyes hardened with determination.

The captain furrowed his brow, resting his hand on the handle of his weapon while the surrounding sailors drew their weapons. Though she was a girl, they knew better than to underestimate a woman in these times, especially someone like the monster Camilla in disguise.

Shit! They’re going to attract guards!

I quickly intervened and handed the captain a couple of silver coins. "I'll pay for her entrance."

He looked at me skeptically but before suspicion could escalate, I put my arm around the girl’s shoulders. "She's someone I used to know from the village back home. We may not be on good terms now, but she was... special to me."

The captain sighed, waving us aside. "Get on the ship, but no funny business."

Once we were at a safe distance, the girl pushed me away. "Get the hell away from me! I don't know you! Creep!"

I needed her to cooperate and avoid drawing attention, so I feigned hurt and said, "Come on, Samida, I know it's been a few months since we last saw each other, but there's no need to treat me like this."

If guards showed up, that would be the end of this!

Before she could respond, I hugged her and whispered in her ear, "Play along. I don't want any attention right now. Consider it repayment for covering your entrance fee."

Her tense posture softened, but she still pushed me away. "As far as I'm concerned, we don't know each other."

Samida walked up the ramp and boarded the ship before me. Suddenly, a sailor placed his hand on my shoulder, and my heart nearly skipped a beat.

Was he going to call me out on this? Maybe I went too far? Did they realize I was faking it?

"Don't worry, young lad. I know it's hard to let go of your first love. But there are plenty of women out there, especially for someone your age with that kind of money," said the sailor. He was taller and more robust than his coworkers, attempting to offer comfort with a smile, which only revealed his blackened gums and missing teeth.

I was now too deep into this act, so I had to play along, "Deep down in my heart, I know she's the one for me. Even though my father always used to say, 'There are plenty of fish in the sea.'"

The sailor nodded sagely, "Ah, that's a good saying. Your father must be a wise man, young lad. Just like there are countless fish in the sea, there are plenty of women out there too. He must have been a sailor himself to come up with such wisdom."

I agreed with a nod, "Yes, though he discouraged me from following in his footsteps. He believed the life of a sailor was tough, and I needed twice the muscle just to have a fighting chance."

My indirect compliment seemed to work like a charm, as the sailor smiled in response.

"Alright then, we'll talk more later, and you can share some of the stories your father told you as a kid," the sailor said, giving me a friendly slap on the back as I walked up the ramp.

It appeared that sailors had a sense of camaraderie, knowing my father had shared their occupation.

In reality, my father was a farmer who had never even seen the sea.

Damn, I'd have to come up with a lot of bullshit stories now. Maybe I could draw from some tales I remembered from my past life? I just had to make sure they were impressive yet believable enough not to raise suspicion.

Finally, on the ship, the girl I had assisted narrowed her eyes at me and started walking towards me.