💸💸 Chapter 2: Peace Was Never An Option 💸💸 💸 ~ Part 2: Welcome to Athens ~ 💸 Vita’s eyes were chips of cold, green flint. She stared directly into the face of the Athenian hoplite, her patience worn thinner than a threadbare cloak. The guard, a man built like a young bull, shifted his weight, his grip tightening on his spear. He was trying for assertive, but the slight tremble in his voice betrayed him. He was intimidated by the sheer animosity radiating from the woman before him. “Your reason for visiting Athens?” he asked again, the official words sounding hollow. “What is your business here?” Vita’s voice was a low, dangerous growl. “I have told you,” she said, clipping each word with annoyance. “And I will tell you again. I am here to return your citizens, who would now be food for a monster if not for us. And I wish to speak with whoever is in charge of this city. It is of the utmost importance.” The guard glanced at her companions—the legendary warrior princess whose reputation preceded her, and the bright-eyed bard who looked far too innocent for such company. He swallowed hard. “Stay here,” he commanded, trying to salvage his authority. “Let me consult my captain.” A Few Days Before… The voyage from Crete was swift, aided by fair winds and a profound sense of relief. Among the dozen Athenians they had rescued from the labyrinth’s cells was a young aristocratic girl named Astera. Her gratitude was boundless. "My father is on the council," she had promised, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "He will see you are rewarded. Anything you need in Athens, you shall have." With her guidance, they set sail for the heart of Attica. One afternoon, as Vita stared at the endless blue horizon, Xena joined her at the ship's rail. "You did well in the labyrinth," she said, a rare and potent compliment. "You are not the same woman I found in the woods. You have come far." Vita gave a small, appreciative nod. "But this changes nothing," Xena continued, her tone hardening. "Athens is not some backwater village. It is a city of eyes and ears. Your power… it must remain hidden. People here see a woman perform miracles, they won't call her a hero. They'll call her a god, and that brings the kind of attention that gets people killed." "I understand," Vita promised. "I will not use them." Gabrielle, who had been mending a tear in her tunic nearby, looked up with her characteristic curiosity. "But have you discovered any others? Besides the… divine smite?" she asked, her voice alight with wonder. Vita paused, searching the blank expanse of her memory and the feel of the power that hummed beneath her skin. She shook her head. "No. Nothing new has surfaced." Gabrielle sighed, a little disappointed. "I just wonder what else you can do. What other powers might be waiting to come out." After three more days at sea, they arrived. The gates of Athens were a testament to the city’s growing power, a massive stone edifice flanked by towers and guarded by hoplites whose bronze armor and crested helmets gleamed in the sun. Astera and the other freed Athenians were welcomed with shocked cries and joyous reunions, hailed as heroes returned from the dead. But when Vita, Xena, and Gabrielle approached, a spear barred their path. A suspicious guard, noting their foreign travel gear and formidable weaponry, had pulled them aside. Which brought them to the present, waiting as the guard returned with his captain, a stern, scar-faced man whose gaze missed nothing. The captain repeated the question, his voice devoid of any intimidation. “What is your business in Athens?” Vita took a deep, calming breath, throttling her annoyance. “As I told your man, we rescued these people from the Minotaur on Crete. I wish to speak with your city’s leaders.” The captain’s eyes flickered over her golden sword, then to Xena. He remained silent for a long moment before nodding curtly. “Escort them to the Pnyx,” he ordered two of his men. “The Archons are in assembly. They will be met there.” Vita’s eyes snapped open. The room was dark, but the dream felt terrifyingly real. And then, a whisper, seeming to come from the very shadows in the corner of the room, slithered into her ear. “Come Child… Find Me.” 💸 ~ End of Part 2 ~ 💸 To Be Continued... 💸💸💸💸 __________________________________ Enjoyed the Story? 💸 Follow Us! 💸 1. Become Part of $VIT: https://arena.social/community/0xde34C06de75FB446b5e7b8dd272D014F2A19009D 2. Join Our Official $VIT Telegram Group: https://t.me/+pPsonXsQ38IwNjQ0 3. Official $VIT Website: https://vitreneonavax.com/