The Falor of Khaleus: Blade of the Empress

Chapter 13

The ship glided gently into the bustling Port of Piraeus, from what I had read it was the largest and oldest harbor in Athens. The clanking of chains echoed as the anchor dropped, ending our long journey across the Mediterranean. I took a deep breath as the salty breeze of Greece filled my lungs, filling my body in this cool sensation.

Letting out a deep sigh I turned, just as Elowen emerged from below deck. My jaw nearly dropped in surprise. She wore a simple yet elegant outfit more fitting for our trip: a light blue blouse tucked into dark trousers, boots that looked both sturdy and practical, and a hooded cloak draped loosely over her shoulders. She looked... ordinary.

Shaking off my surprise, I strapped Draeca—my blade—to its sheath, making sure it was secure before wrapping the whole thing in my cloak. The blade might draw too much attention here, and the less attention we attracted, the better. With a leather cord, I tied it securely to my back, adjusting it so it wouldn't jostle too much when we moved.

Once I was satisfied, I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out my phone. Turning on the device, the familiar glow of the screen greeted me like an old friend. As the phone booted up, the signal bar at the top flickered, and I nearly jumped when I saw it—two bars of signal! Finally!

"What's that?" Elowen asked, peering curiously over my shoulder. Her silver eyes narrowed as if trying to decipher what she was looking at.

"Oh this is a cell phone" I exclaimed. "I couldn't use it on Ogygia because there were no cell towers, but here—look!" I showed her the screen, where a map of our current location began to load. "This drive is one of the best inventions of the Velnir, you can use it to talk to people from anywhere in the world, look up information, listen to music, take pictures, navigate... It's like having a thousand tools in one small device."

Elowen's mouth dropped open slightly. "All of that... in that tiny box?"

"Yep," I said proudly, holding it out for her to see.

"This is..." She trailed off, eyes widening as I zoomed in and out on the map of Athens. "This is incredible. And you couldn't use it on Ogygia because there were no—cell towers, did you say? When we return you have to show this device to Hephestus, I wonder what he could make with this knowledge."

"Well from what I've seen so far." I nodded. "He would definitely use mana crystals to power it. Probably use the technology so great that it would advance the world by thousands of years, Take Vael'theryn or Xethra for example. Both were obviously made by him and they are quite advanced for this time of age."

Elowen leaned in closer, her fascination clear. For someone used to magic and ancient artifacts, she looked absolutely enchanted by this piece of modern technology. I could almost see her trying to piece together how such a thing was even possible. I smiled, imagining how baffled she'd be if I showed her video games or social media.

"Come on," I said, pocketing the phone and adjusting Draeca one more time. "Let's head out. I'll use this to get us to the Parthenon. Should be just a short trip."

We descended the gangplank and stepped onto solid ground, the atmosphere of the port instantly swallowing us in its chaotic embrace. Dockworkers moved with purpose, unloading crates and shouting to one another in Greek. Merchants called out in rapid-fire exchanges, their stalls bursting with spices, jewelry, and all manner of goods. I could feel the curious stares as we made our way through the bustling crowd.

We definitely stood out. Elowen, with her ethereal beauty and silver eyes, drew more than a few appreciative glances. Even dressed down, she had an aura that screamed 'royalty.' I, on the other hand, looked like some foreigner straight out of a different world altogether. The whispers and hushed murmurs followed us as we passed, but I ignored them, focusing on my phone instead.