A Mythical Journey To Remember - Chapter 41

Chapter 41 - Temple

As we entered the main building of the temple, a pleasant aroma filled the air, and vases on stands adorned the hall. The marble floors were so immaculate that I caught a glimpse of my own reflection.

Yet, what truly commanded our attention was the awe-inspiring sight of a giant statue at the far end. It depicted Athena, seated gracefully on a stone throne, with a stoic owl perched upon her shoulder.

"I will leave you here on your own," the priestess said, taking a step back.

I couldn't help but wonder if she had sensed Theria's hidden secret. And why did she leave us alone so easily? The costly vases scattered around the hall seemed vulnerable. Wasn’t she worried someone would steal that? Maybe there was some kind of protection charm around here.

Breaking the silence, Theria declared, "Lady Athena, I am your daughter Theria!"

She humbly knelt before the statue.

Seconds passed, awkward and tense, and then her face flushed with embarrassment. I decided to intervene, suggesting, "Maybe this is a more private affair. I will be waiting outside for you."

Stepping outside the temple, I found the golden-eyed priestess waiting for me. Had she overheard what Theria had said?

Regardless, she showed no reaction and greeted me with a smile. "I hope your prayers went well."

"I didn't have any requests for Lady Athena. I was only here to support my friend," I replied, returning her smile.

Although we were just outside the main temple building, an unusual silence enveloped us. It seemed like a special enchantment prevented others from eavesdropping on the prayers inside.

Trying to make conversation, I asked, "So, are you not worried about someone stealing something from the temple?"

The priestess looked at me as if I'd asked something absurd. "And then do what? Risk facing the most devoted followers of Lady Athena as they descend these stairs? Even if they somehow avoid the stairs, the dense forest surrounding the temple has treacherous terrain. If someone managed to steal a vase, they'd likely slip and break it."

Her logical explanation surprised me. I had anticipated a more mystical answer involving protective enchantments or Athena's wrath upon thieves.

Suddenly, Theria emerged from the temple, her eyes bloodshot and tear-streaked. It was evident that her meeting with Athena hadn't gone as she'd hoped.

"Are you okay?" I inquired. She let out a sigh and buried her head against my chest.

The priestess attempted to offer comfort, saying, "Sometimes even the Gods cannot intervene in certain problems."

"Don't be disheartened; the Gods might be preoccupied. You can help me until you're recognized," I reassured Theria, feeling a dampness spreading on my chest from her tears.

Theria had placed all her hopes on gaining Athena's acknowledgment. Though it was important to be prepared for the possibility of failure, she seemed to have overlooked it. Determined to distract her from her disappointments, I decided to give her another purpose and asked for her assistance. “You could help me find my friends. Someone smart like you would be nice to have by my side.”

The golden-eyed priestess looked at us strangely, and I realized that it was night time. I asked, "Do you know a good place where we can spend the night in Athens? Preferably a safe place."

She glanced at me awkwardly and replied, "She can stay here, but men aren't allowed to sleep in the temple... sorry. But those are the rules that Lady Athena made."

I wasn't overly concerned about myself, as I could manage to walk down the stairs alone. However, Theria was exhausted and disappointed, and the thought of carrying her down the stairs sounded like a chore.

What if we encountered trouble along the way?

Well, it was unlikely, but recent events had made me cautious, just to be safe. I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, "Well, I guess I'll have to go take a walk then."

The golden-eyed priestess politely chuckled in response.

As I made my way through the temple grounds toward the exit, the once vibrant and beautiful gardens, tended by graceful women during the day, now appeared lonely and incomplete.

The shadows of the trees on the stairway had an eerie effect as I walked down the stairs. The swaying leaves cast mesmerizing patterns in the dim light, almost hypnotic.

Thankfully, I reached the bottom of the staircase without any trouble.

Finding a tavern wasn't difficult, but the only ones with vacant rooms were close to the dock. As I opened the door to my room after the payment. The smell of cheap alcohol and damp wood permeated the place, but given the circumstances, it was the best option available. There was a simple bed and a small dusty window.

I took the sheets off the bed, suspicious of their cleanliness, and placed them neatly on the ground. After lying down on the bed, I noticed an odd smell, but sleeping on the floor seemed worse, so I opted to stay put.

Fortunately, there was little noise, as the tired sailors from their long journeys sought a good night's rest. Meanwhile, the pub next door buzzed with activity as sailors laughed and danced.

Despite the festive atmosphere, I was too weary to join in their merriment. My head sank into the rough wool mattress, making my skin feel scratchy, as my thoughts drifted, wondering about the whereabouts of Auto, Budas, and the goat.

There was a good chance that they could be in one of the taverns in Athens. But also they weren't the kind of people who would only stick to one specific place.

…

The next day arrived quickly, as I had dozed off almost immediately the night before. There's nothing like climbing up and down a mountain of stairs to leave you tired and sleepy.

Those were the very stone stairs I had been waiting for Theria to come down from.

I hoped she hadn't passed out halfway through her journey. Compared to other people in this time period, she would be considered out of shape. In these dangerous times, having enough stamina to flee from potential threats was crucial for survival, considering whatever dangers the world might throw at you.

I waited for a couple of hours before Theria finally made her way down, breathing heavily. She looked at me with a wavering smile and said, "Sorry, did you have to wait long?"

"No, I just arrived," I answered.

***

Theria smiled at his answer, despite knowing instantly that he had been waiting for quite a bit.

Though she didn't know much about his personal life, Theria had observed Idas ever since they were on the boat. Perhaps she hadn't done it consciously, but she never forgot something once she saw it; it was like a very realistic painting in her mind. So when combining all those moments she remembered, she got a good read on him.

Idas was a punctual guy and was likely here since morning. It would be too much of a coincidence if they both arrived at around the same time.

However, she decided not to call him out on it as it would make things weird, and instead, she smiled at him politely. "Which places should we visit first to look for your team?"

Walking by his side, she tried to even her breath, though her lungs felt like they were burning. Maybe rushing down the stairs so fast wasn't such a good idea; she even felt a bit lightheaded.

Instead of telling her their next destination, Idas looked her up and down. If she didn't know any better, she would assume that he was checking her out, but Idas wasn't that kind of man.

"You're in terrible shape," he stated suddenly.

"That was a mountain full of stairs, jackass," Theria retorted. By shape, she knew he didn't mean her figure. She knew she was attractive.

"The crybaby really learned how to talk back," he added.

She frowned. "I think I'm just starting to realize that you have a horrible personality."

"You're only noticing that now?" He chuckled. "You're not the sharpest tool in the shed, are you?"

In an instant, Theria's mind worked at speeds that others couldn't compare to, and she understood what he meant. However, she wanted to make sure; she didn't want to jump to conclusions. "Did you just call me stupid?"

The only sign of an answer she got in return was his lip twitching, looking like he was holding back a chuckle.

Other men would have drowned her in compliments and even tried to court her. They would have taken advantage when she was emotionally distraught, but despite her pleading yesterday, Lady Athena never answered her calls.

However, Idas was different. He had a weird sense of humor, and for some reason, it was hard to hate him despite his 'insults.' As someone who had known him for over two weeks, it was clear that he didn't mean them.

"You're acting big for some guy who had to fake me into acting like his lover," she said. "You should be glad a loser like you even entertained the thought of being with me. Honestly, the sailors were kind of dumb, or they would have noticed that someone like you stood no chance at getting someone like me-"

Theria stopped, realizing that she might have gone too far.

‘Damn it! Why do I have this habit of going on long tangents.’ Theria thought.

"I will have you know that I have had lovers in the past," Idas replied with a playful grin.

Theria's curiosity got the best of her, and she bombarded him with teasing questions. "Oh really? What's her name? Where does she live? Wait, don't tell me... she lives in another city, right? And that I wouldn't know her. Yeah, that’s what everyone "

His lips twitched with amusement, but he quickly suppressed his smile by biting his lip. The banter between them continued as they strolled around the city.

Theria felt surprisingly at ease with Idas, more so than with her friends back in her hometown of Sparta. Though that might be that her friends were kind of horrible. One of her friends, Helen, was particularly self-centered, and it made spending time with her less enjoyable than smelling trash.

As they exchanged jokes and playful remarks, they eventually arrived at the docks, the first place Idas wanted to investigate. The boats brought back unpleasant memories for Theria. Recalling her horrible experience on a ship, she couldn't help but feel queasy and shivered at the thought of it. The memory of being sick and leaning over the ship's railing while looking at the waves beneath her was vivid.

Idas approached the harbor master, a tall and lanky man with a thin mustache, who oversaw ship registrations and reported to the King. Polite as ever, Idas slipped a silver coin into the man's hand and praised his work before asking his question. "You have been doing some wonderful work around here, harbor master. Would it trouble you if I asked something?"

The harbor master nodded with a thin smile, giving Idas the go-ahead to continue.

"Have you seen a man with a goat around here?" Idas asked with anticipation.

"Of course," the harbor master nodded. Idas' eyes brightened up at that, as the lanky man continued. "There are many people who come here with goats, pigs, sheep, and cows."

Idas' excitement dwindled as he pressed the man further, “Have you seen a young girl and a bandit-like guy, along with a goat?”

Theria couldn’t help but wonder just what kinds of weird people Idas hung out with and called his friends. Wait… Was she now one of those weirdos? No, she was a perfectly normal girl!

Whatever Theria’s thoughts were, Idas didn’t pay attention as his eyes were on the harbor master who shrugged. "I do not remember every person that comes through here. Now if you will excuse me, I have to do my job."

Idas sighed in disappointment and found a place to sit on some nearby crates. Theria stayed by his side, feeling somewhat clueless as he pondered their next move.