I Was a Twenty-Something Demon Girl

Chapter 5

Stepping out of Thor's workshop, I had a new sense of confidence. Having a cool-looking sword helps on that front, I suppose. Regardless, time was of the essence, so I decided I wouldn't waste it and rushed back to the bus stop to hitch a ride to Olympus. I was admittedly quite giddy about going there, as I had heard it was an even more popular tourism destination than Greece itself. I happily made my way back to the bus stop, sword at my hip.

When the bus arrived, the driver was the same guy as before. He did a double take when he saw me with my new piece. "Nice sword. Who made it?"

"Thor."

"No shit. Whatcha gonna do with a weapon like that?"

"I'll never tell." I grinned at him.

He snorted. "As long as you don't use it on me, I don't care." He turned back to face the road as I sat down in the exact middle of the bus. This time, I was ready. He shot it into gear and the bus blasted off once again. I held on as tight as I could, this time managing to maintain my grip as the bus stopped now that my broken bones had properly healed. The driver seemed moderately impressed with my success.

I stumbled out of the bus, still reeling from the speed. It was nearly impossible to get used to. As I regained my footing, I looked up to see a mountain before me, reaching far above the clouds and beyond the horizon in either direction. It was insanely intimidating, to say the least. There was no clear way up, either. Instead, a stone path led from the bus stop to a tunnel that bore a few hundred feet inside the mountain, with several elevators at the end of it. I took a deep breath and stepped into the tunnel. My footsteps echoed all around me. When I made it to the end, I pushed the button to call the elevator. Then, I waited. I waited and waited. A minute, ten minutes, thirty. Eventually, one showed up and I stepped in. Then, I waited. I waited and waited. A minute, ten minutes, thirty. Eventually, I made it to the top and stepped out. It took a moment to get used to the cooler, thinner air. The city in front of me was absolutely magnificent. A totally flat plateau with its streets made of stone, as well as the buildings. The plateau expanded beyond my sightline, making it seem as though I was on flat land just the same, if not for the sheer drop behind me.

In front of me was a stand, loaded with travel brochures that advertised the various sights; A theater, a bath house, a fighting grounds, a few museums. It was all quite delightful looking, but I didn't have the time. Thankfully, the brochures contained a map that helped guide tourists around town, and at the northernmost point of the city, my destination awaited. I was going to the Parthenon.

Walking through the city was honestly not as exciting as it could have been, but I was on a mission. Nonetheless, the buildings were beautiful. All sorts of restaurants and cafes and miscellaneous shops. I made a mental note of the most eye-catching stores for later. I passed by loads of tourists, all of which were as fascinated with the city's beauty as I was. All in all, it was the most pleasant walk I had ever had.

It took me about an hour to reach the Parthenon. It was gigantic. It looked just like it did in the history textbooks, too. Each pillar lining the outer wall rose nearly fifty feet high, and the whole building looked to be made of pure marble. Two golden doors sat in the middle of the wall before me, the doors that led to the next step towards vengeance. I took a deep breath, and stepped through.

The building was almost entirely empty on the inside. Where a statue of Athena would normally be, there was instead an empty throne elevated slightly on a platform. The rest of the room was empty. Not a single soul occupied the building. The door slammed shut behind me, making an ear-piercing echo throughout the room. As if in response, a toilet flushed on the opposite end of the building. I heard another door shut, and frantic footsteps. From the back of the room, a tall woman in a white dress rushed over to me. Her dark skin sparkled thanks to the sweat beading from her face, and she looked exhausted, like she had just finished an intense workout. Despite being out of breath, her voice was smooth and sweet as honey when she spoke. "Sorry about that, dear. Tourists don't really come here that often anymore."