Athens

8 months go by, and Percy's business started to pick up after he turned in the sculpture of the rich man, turns out that it was for a member of the senate. Due to the unique materials used, many came to look for him for such work. After seeing my work, Percy taught me everything he knew about sculpting enthusiastically.

A first I thought he was being nice, but no it turns out that the man didn't like the amount of work he has, and yet still wanted the money it would bring him. Therefore, most of the work was pawned off to me. I didn't like that at first but I used the opportunity to perfect my craft and train my dexterity.

"Percy, I would be leaving Thebes for Athens once I am done with this sculpture," I said to him as we closed the store for the day.

"O, you think you are great now, because of a few compliments. If not for me you would still be sleeping outside the city with nowhere to lay your head, and this is how you repay me?" he said to me

"What do you want from me, I have help enough and this is but one step in my journey, I never said I was going to be here forever did I?"

"Why would you behave like this, we are making coin every day, why would you spoil that? You even have a share in the coin is it more, that you want? You know you cannot be too greedy." He said trying to guilt-trip me.

"What! I competed at least 2 works each month while you did but 1, and you ask me that? I earned that coin and more. Do you want us to split the coin according to the works sold?" I said in protest of his accusation.

"Calm down, I said that in jest, why do you take things so seriously. *sigh* young people these days, are always quick to contradict someone."

It took me half a month to finish the sculpture, I left it for Percy to deliver it to the client and earn his last bit of coin from me. After that was done, I plan to leave without saying any goodbyes, only to find Percy at the gates leading out of Thebes waiting for me. No words are said, no hugs are given, just a look that spoke for itself 'Thank you, we both said to each other.

Athens is not far from Thebes, so 1 day on the road and I can already see the gates of the city. The city is lively, with people running around carrying out business deals. The women, children, and even some men are of free spirit, sometimes you pass by an alley to see couples f**cking, art in the form of metal caste statues, sculptures and music are everywhere in the city. They are also heavily influenced by their god, Athena, after whom their city is named after.

With a coin in hand, I head to an inn to stay for the night and plan for the future. Passing by the bar in the inn, I overhear a conversation between 2 soldiers.

"It would seem the Spartans are laughing over their victory, they killed so many of us and we withdrew just like that dammit … if they knew they could not win why did they send us there in the first place … were we just there to die, so that the senate can simply say they tried." Said one of them to his friends

"Hey be quiet, you know that those spineless swine will have your head if they hear you talking like this," commented one of his friends

"I know, but now those fools will continue to look down on us, they think us not strong. Yet they continue to hide in their city and turn their noses up at us." The first man grew more agitated as he spoke.

"Enough of this, we are soldiers and free men, you chose to join the army so you have to listen to orders, do what you are told, or retire," finally one of the men who looked like their leader spoke quelling the argument.

Although they didn't speak about it anymore you could see that it was still weighing on them as they drank more and more. Settling down in my room, I thought of the conversation those men had, though they are right to be angry, I am also happy that their senate is as spineless as it is else the war that year would have been far more devastating to us.

Sitting on my bed, I feel naked, I had to enter the city without my glaive which made me feel uncomfortable. The next thing I have to do is master different weapons, carrying my glaive around invites suspicion and challenge which I don't want. I already know how to use a sword, shield, spear, and glaive, next I would focus on long-range weapons.

The only 2 weapons I can think of at the moment are the bow and arrow and throwing knives. I can also use them when I go to my next job, which would be a fisherman. Athens is close to the sea making fishing both convenient and lucrative for its people.

After a good night's sleep, I go straight to the harbor to find a fishing crew I could join. This time was not as hard as the last, getting a job was quite easy. The reason is that a lot of their men participated in the war and now they have fewer hands to work with.

Securing a job at mid-day, I went back into the city to find where I can buy a bow with some arrows and throwing knives. I got a cheap bow with about 50 arrows, but I could not find anyone selling throwing knives, with no other option I went to a blacksmith who gave me a 2 weeks timeline to forge the 10 throwing knives I asked for.

Early the next day hours before the sun rose, the crew I joined is already shipping out to get their catch for the day. Standing on a boat out at sea is something I have never done in the 2 lifetimes of my existence. The experience although exhilarating is daunting, the shaking of the boat by the sea constantly made me a little sick, causing me to throw up, and the 4 guys on the boat to laugh at me.

It is going to take some getting used to, but I am up to the task. Hopefully, we can hunt a great white if the opportunity presents itself.