Ancient Discovery

Alex stood frozen in shock and awe, his eyes fixed on the marble statue that loomed before him in the secluded back alley of Athens. The events he had just witnessed defied all logic and reason; the transformation of a man into solid marble, his sudden appearance from a crack of lightning, and the astonishing leap of a three-story building in a single bound. If not for seeing it with his own eyes, he would have dismissed the spectacle as sheer madness.

Yet, propelled by his innate curiosity as a museum authenticator, Alex found himself drawn closer to the enigmatic figure. With cautious steps, he ventured into the dimly lit alley, his senses alert and his mind racing with questions.

With a mixture of trepidation and fascination, Alex approached the statue, his steps slow and deliberate. As he drew nearer, the intricate details of the sculpture came into sharper focus, each line and curve a testament to the skill of its creator.

Reaching out tentatively, Alex's fingers brushed against the cold, unyielding surface of the marble. He traced the sculpted muscles of Drayvos' arms, marveling at the precision with which they had been rendered. The veins stood out in stark relief beneath his touch, lending an air of authenticity to the lifelike depiction.

As Alex moved his hands upward, he delved into the intricate details of the statue's abdomen, his fingertips tracing the chiseled lines of each finely sculpted ab. He found himself captivated by the lifelike realism of the carving, marveling at the meticulous craftsmanship that seemed almost miraculous.

Continuing his examination, Alex's attention was drawn to the broad expanse of Drayvos' chest. His hands reverently traced the contours of the sculpted pecs, feeling the smooth yet cold marble beneath his fingertips. Despite its lifeless appearance, there was a subtle warmth to the stone, as if it held a vitality of its own.

Lost in admiration, Alex's fingers danced over the marble musculature, his voice barely above a whisper as he pondered aloud, "Is this how the ancient artisans carved so well?" His hands lingered over the intricately carved veins in Drayvos' biceps and shoulders, a testament to the prowess of the one who had sculpted it, "Real men turned to marble."

Moving around to the back of the statue, Alex continued his exploration, his fingers tracing the stone-hardened contours of Drayvos' back. Trailing down the giant's spine, then circling back to the front, his hands moved with grace and reverence, exploring every detail with a keen eye.

He continued to the front as his fingers traced up the canyon of the marble abs and just as his hands rested firmly on the pecs, suddenly the human-like texture of Drayvos' skin returned and a sudden voice broke the silence, "It is a gift from nephew Dionysus and uncle Hephaestus, actually," Drayvos chuckled.

Startled, Alex let out an involuntary exclamation, stumbling backward until he landed unceremoniously on the cold ground. "Fuck! You scared me!" he blurted out, feeling a mixture of shock and embarrassment at being caught off guard.

Drayvos laughed proudly, "Never before have I frightened anyone like that. Is it always so effortless to scare humans?" His English now bore a distinct Greek accent, blending with the language fluidly. He bent down, extending an arm for Alex to grasp, effortlessly lifting him from the ground.

Brushing off the dirt from his backside, Alex regained his composure. "Alright, you keep referring to me as 'human'. Are you not human yourself? If you are, why do you keep calling me that? And if you're not, then what are you?" His questions came in rapid succession.

"Wait, wait, wait," Drayvos raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Slow down. English is not my first language. I only practice it, and it seems you do not even use the English I practice, so I am improvising. I have many questions too, no?"

Nodding in understanding, Alex surveyed their surroundings. He realized that this back alley wasn't the ideal setting for a thorough interrogation. "Let's head back to my hotel, and we can talk along the way, alright?" He pulled out his phone, navigating to his hotel on the GPS and charting a path back. "Well… we have quite the distance to walk, so let's go, shall We? Will give us plenty of time to get to know each other better!" Gesturing with his hands, the two agreed and set off down the dimly lit alleyways toward Alex's lodgings.

"So, I'll start," Alex panted, still catching his breath from the chase. "My name is Alexander Ward. I'm from Berkeley, California, and I work as an archaeologist and museum authenticator." He motioned towards the towering figure beside him. "And you?"

"I am Drayvos," he replied, striding confidently. "I am the son of Ares, god of war."

"Yeah, I gathered that," Alex nodded, a mixture of disbelief and intrigue dancing in his eyes.

"Champion of Pantheon? I guess," Drayvos shrugged, attempting to inject a touch more grandeur into his title.

"Wait... THE Pantheon?!" Alex's eyes sparkled with disbelief as he gazed up at Drayvos. "Like, Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Ares, THAT Pantheon?!"

Drayvos nodded casually. "Grandson of Zeus, Son of Ares, Uncle of Dionysus. Yes."

Shaking his head in disbelief, Alex gestured upwards to the sky. "Why are you here on Earth?! And... not with them?"

Drayvos glanced skyward, his expression casual. "The Pantheon was departing for the ethereal realm, and I could not remain. Nor could I bear to stay on Olympus alone. Besides, it likely is crashed into Sol by now," he added with a dismissive shrug. "And I did NOT want to stay on Phrygia!" he exclaimed, shaking his hands emphatically. "Those Phrygians! I am sick of Phrygians!"

Confused, Alex furrowed his brow. "What's wrong with the Phrygians?" he asked, recalling the ancient civilization that once populated modern-day Turkey.

"Beady eyes! Sharp claws! Prickly feathers! Coarse scales! And always squawking!" Drayvos ranted, his arms flailing in exaggerated gestures.

"Ok... Definitely not the same Phrygians I know," Alex muttered to himself. "So you came from Olympus, which apparently isn't a mountain like we all thought," he mused, ticking off the W' questions on his fingers. "You're related to the Pantheon. Aha! When were you born?"

"My birth actually occurred here on Earth," Drayvos replied, gazing up at the sky. "But as for when exactly, I stopped counting my age after I hit 1000..."

"Wow, you don't look a day over 30…" Alex gazed up at the towering figure before him, a mix of awe and confusion swirling in his eyes. "But seriously, Drayvos, you still haven't given me a straight answer. Why are you back on Earth?"

Drayvos halted in his tracks, his expression turning contemplative as he spoke. "I could no longer remain on Olympus. My once beloved home is now lost to me forever. I have no grand plans, no defined purpose. But like everyone else, I simply wish to live and breathe as a human." He turned to face Alex, a genuine smile gracing his features. "This is where I belong now."

Caught off guard by the sincerity and innocence radiating from the giant, Alex couldn't help but smile in return. Then his changed to shock after a sudden realization, "Oh man! I need to get you back home to…"

"Live with you in your home?!" Drayvos nearly exclaimed with childlike excitement. "That sounds perfect!" With a nod of approval, he resumed walking. "I could not possibly stay in father's temple, not in current state. Besides, I am a stranger in this world." Pausing, he pivoted to face Alex, who observed him with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "You shall be my companion and ally, Alexander!" With that declaration, the massive man threw his arm around Alex, enveloping him in a warm embrace of camaraderie as they strolled through the labyrinthine back alleys of Athens.