"My life never had any meaning, I never did shit and only went where the wind led me. I starved and almost died like a pathetic worm dozens of times... But it wasn't for naught, my life now has meaning!" Budas declared, tears welling in his eyes. It was as though the suffering he endured had a profound, divine purpose.

Did he just try to rationalize his decades of having a shitty life as some kind of trial for him to meet me? People in these times believe in things way too easily. It's no wonder ancient times saw the rise of countless new religions and gods.

…

During the rest of our walk through the damp grounds, which resembled more of a marsh than a swamp, Budas kindly assisted me by carrying my belongings. He even offered to hold Billy, but I knew better than to accept. Billy the goat wasn't exactly the friendliest creature, and I couldn't afford to waste my limited healing potions on any potential mishaps.

Then, as if by some stroke of luck, on the third day of our journey, we arrived at a settlement. It was a bustling city protected by a towering wall, guarded by a dozen sentinels who inspected both people and goods entering through a grand gate.

Individuals entered and exited the city, some with only their luggage, while others were accompanied by carriages pulled by animals. There was an entry fee, and we patiently waited in line.

"Shouldn't we just cut in line? You're not exactly an ordinary person like everyone else here," Budas whispered.

"No," I replied firmly.

Budas seemed intent on acting arrogantly on my behalf. As we inched closer to the front of the line, the distinct odor of the city reached my nostrils, a pungent smell of sheep droppings. It was a far cry from the fresh countryside air I had grown accustomed to.

Finally, it was our turn to be scrutinized by the guards. They cast a quick glance at us, their gaze lingering on the sack slung over my shoulder. One of them let out a derisive snort.

"Ten copper for each of you," demanded one of the guards, his spear held tightly in his grip. His narrowed eyes betrayed a hint of suspicion.

I couldn't fault them for their caution. After all, Budas did look like a stereotypical bandit. Nevertheless, I paid the entry fee for both of us, and the guards made no effort to search us.

However, ten copper per person just to enter the city was quite steep. It seemed like expenses would be higher here compared to the village.

The city proved underwhelming for someone accustomed to skyscrapers and towering structures. Nonetheless, there were a few well-constructed buildings that exuded a timeless charm. Most structures were made of stone, some even reaching two or three stories high. The streets were crowded, although not as densely packed as rush hour subway stations.

We inquired around and eventually found a tavern-like establishment where we could have a meal and rent a room for the night. The place was called Tegea’s Drink, bearing the same name as the city itself.

Upon entering, a stout woman behind the bar warmly greeted us. "Welcome to our humble establishment. Are you here for a meal? We have some delicious lamb."

Since it was midday, the tavern was devoid of other patrons, likely to remain empty until everyone finished their work for the day.

"Do you offer rooms?" I inquired. The scent of cheap, sour alcohol permeated the air, but beggars couldn't be choosers. I doubted we would find anything better.

She nodded. "Yes, for five copper a night per room, you will also receive breakfast. If you find that too expensive, you can pay one copper a night and share the room with four or more other people."

"We'll take one room," I knew it would strain my finances a bit, but I should be fine for a while.

After securing our lodging, I ordered lamb soup, which cost each of us a copper.

"Uh, Idas... sir, you don't need to buy for me. I can find something to eat around town," Budas offered, his hungry gaze betraying his words.

"Don't worry about it. When I eat well, so do you," I reassured him, and his face brightened.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

It would spoil the taste of the food to know that Budas would be scavenging for scraps while I enjoyed a satisfying meal.

"You truly are kind," tears welled in his eyes.

Yeah, this was a reminder of how low the standards were in these times to be considered a good person.

I took a seat at a table, took a breath, and leaned back in the chair. The large woman behind the bar stared at us.

Was she planning something?

Her gaze lingered for a couple of minutes longer, and the eerie silence inside the tavern, contrasting with the bustling activity outside, made me uneasy.

"So, where are you guys from?" the woman finally asked.

Budas began to respond, but I decided to speak up before he could reveal anything I didn't want others to know just yet. "We're from a nearby village, Crane Village. It's a small place, unlikely that you've heard of it. It's about a two-day journey north of here."

I fabricated the name of the village and gave false directions. I couldn't risk exposing my family's whereabouts. If I were to be labeled a blasphemous bastard or anger a Noble, I didn't want them to harm my parents and baby brother.

"I've never heard of it," she smiled kindly. "So you've come from a rural area to make a name for yourself?"

"Something like that," I shrugged. "By the way, have you ever heard of Heracles or Hercules?"

"Who?" she seemed confused.

"Forget it, he's just a friend we're searching for," I dismissed her curiosity. It seemed like Hercules hadn't embarked on his journey yet, or maybe he truly didn't exist. Being the most famous Greek hero, he would be widely known if he had even begun his initial exploits.

The lamb soup tasted only slightly bitter, but the generous amount of salt used in seasoning made it much better than my mother's cooking back in the village. At least it had some seasoning, though it didn’t have that homey feeling.

My mother, bless her heart, was a good parent, but by modern standards, her cooking was somewhat bland. I couldn't blame her, though, as she didn't have a wide variety of spices to work with.

I finished my meal quickly, but Budas seemed to relish the taste more. With tears welling up, he muttered, “This tastes so good!”

While he ate, I decided to inquire further with the tavern woman. “Do you know of any quick routes to Athens?”

She raised a questioning brow, seemingly expecting an explanation for my intended destination. However, since I didn't provide one, she pondered the question silently.

Athens, renowned as the center of knowledge during this era, held the potential to validate the existence of gods, monsters, and heroes. Moreover, I hoped to learn from the greatest minds of the time. The modern era had only theories about this period, and if mythological creatures and heroes truly existed, many modern findings would be dismissed.

"South of here lies Tiryns," she began, "a port city known for its reasonable king. Athens, too, is a port city, so you should be able to sail there. However, it will likely require a substantial amount of coin to reach your destination," she added with a smile and a wink. "That must be quite the friend you're searching for, to journey so far."

Once Budas finished his meal, we headed towards the market. The tavern woman kindly gave us directions to the road leading there and mentioned where I might find the stuff I was looking for.

Billy remained on a leash to prevent anyone from stealing him, although it wasn't uncommon to see people with animals in tow. He didn't stand out too much in that regard.

The market bustled with activity, far livelier than the other streets in town. Maneuvering through the crowded streets was challenging, as the roads were narrow due to the numerous market stalls lining each side. Also, the smell was much worse here as the sun was still out and people were walking around, sweating and sometimes with animals in tow. Sometimes a cow would just start defecating in the middle of the road, and no one seemed surprised by it.

As we walked along, a raggedly dressed child brushed against me, tugging at the tightly secured coin pouch tied around my waist. With one more determined pull, he stumbled on a bulging pavement rock. He lost his balance and fell to the ground, inadvertently spilling his own pouch of coins.

The sound of clattering coins caught the attention of passersby, who swiftly bent down to collect them without hesitation or thought.

"Wait! Those are my coins! Please return them!" The child pleaded, but his pleas fell on deaf ears, and he began to sob in despair.

Luck, in all its mysterious ways, seemed to be at play here, although its influence appeared limited to critical shots and games of chance. Even in the latter, such as dice games against my father, my luck yielded only a 70% success rate. Though if someone was cheating, luck had no effect whatsoever.

Whether this situation was a mere coincidence or a stroke of luck, it was difficult to discern. I knelt down beside the distressed child, gently patting his head to offer solace. "There, there, don't cry."

He appeared frail and vulnerable, and at his age, engaging in pickpocketing seemed implausible. In these times, such a crime could result in severe consequences, like losing a hand. So I doubted he did this for fun, poor kid.

"I can't give you the coin you lost, but I can buy you a good meal. Put some meat on those bones," I assured the child, attempting to calm his tears.

He looked at me, his eyes welling with tears, and that's when I noticed that despite his scrawny appearance and tomboyish, he was actually a she. My skills as an alchemist had given me a keener eye for small details and discerning the value of something, and there was something remarkable about her. Although I couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.