"Brace for impact!"
Everybody on the boat tensed and held onto the ship as they approached the shore with the speed of a missile. The wooden carrier groaned and shook as it ran aground upon the sandy beachside, their momentum causing a shower of sand to explode into the air as the boat forced its way through the earth. Eventually, the ship ground to a halt.
Slowly, everyone stood up and addressed their current state. Despite the violent ride, nobody appeared to be hurt aside from some minor bruises from being jostled around by the sea.
"Everyone alright?" The captain called out as he stood above deck. Receiving groans in response, he nodded. "Well, at least you dogs are still alive."
"We've run aground, captain!" One of the sailors called out as he peered down from the front of the boat. "Quite deep too. We'll need to spend some time digging it out before we can push it back into the tide!"
"Then we'll dig it out later. For now, let us give a moment of silence in thanks to Lord Poseidon for having mercy upon us!" The crew fell into a brief moment of worship before the captain clapped his hand. "Alright, now that that's over, let us get back to work! We seemed to have landed far from the main port so we'll have to rectify this situation as soon as possible!"
As the crew set about their work, Shirou and Asclepius opted to watch them silently. It wasn't as if they knew how to work a ship, after all.
"You boys," The captain called out as he walked up to them with a serious look. "We owe you a debt that we can't repay right now. I don't know what you two did, nor will I pry, but I can say for certain that we wouldn't have survived without you."
Shirou shook his head. "You're giving us far too much credit. Lord Poseidon showed up, didn't he? Even without us, you would still have been saved."
"What you say may be true, but I have always lived my life never expecting the help of a god. We may pray to them, but the chances of one answer our prayers are, well," He shrugged. "Let's just say that even when they do, their help isn't always... helpful."
Asclepius snorted. "They're too extraordinary so they aren't as inclined to help ordinary folks... pompous bastards."
"Hey," Macharon appeared next to him and pinched his cheek, her expression in a pout. "Should you be speaking so blasphemously towards the gods when one of them just saved your life?"
"Oi," Asclepius slapped her hand away, though it lacked any bite behind it. "Don't get it twisted. He probably only saved us because you were on board. If you weren't with us, he'd probably not give a damn whether the ship was safe or not."
"Give it a rest, Asclepius," Shirou sighed. "Like it or not, Poseidon saved our lives. At least acknowledge that."
Asclepius scowled, but eventually just resigned to crossing his shoulders and huffing. "Fine. Doesn't mean I have to like it."
The captain raised an eyebrow at his behavior before glancing at Macharon with a questioning look. "You told them? About, you know-"
"Yes," Macharon nodded, unbothered. "I trust them. You trust them too, don't you? They won't tell a soul."
"Seems to be that way," The man sighed. "Guess that cat is out of the bag, huh?"
"It was quite the shock," Shirou chuckled with a light smile. "What exactly is your relationship with her?"
"Well, I'm sort of like a caretaker of sorts. I found her washed up on the shores of Crete during one of my trading runs. She was in a terrible condition so I brought her to the city and helped nurse her back to health."
Macharon smiled. "I remember that day. It was after I had snuck away from my mother's watchful eye. I ran into some territorial Telechiens and ended up getting injured before washing up on Crete's shores."
"You smile, but I was panicking. To be honest, I wasn't sure you were going to make it. If you hadn't been a water spirit, I'm not sure what would have happened to you."
"But I didn't, and I joined your crew as a way to pay you back."
He chuckled. "Imagine my surprise. I hadn't expected a young girl to ask me to take her away and make her a member of my crew. Really, the other captains wouldn't believe me if I told them."
"Even so, I will always be thankful."
The pair chuckled and Shirou couldn't help but notice a similar dynamic between himself and Kiritsugu. The captain's face really reminded him of his old man whenever he recounted a happy memory. A hard, gruff exterior, but a big softie underneath.
He glanced at Asclepius, who had turned away slightly out of discomfort. For him who was born without a mother nor father and only a teacher, it was likely he was feeling a sense of longing for their relationship. Of course, he'd never voice it out loud to him.
"How many people know about this?" He asked, hoping to turn the conversation towards something else.
"Just a few. A mere handful from my crew and nobody else," The captain scratched the back of his head. "The less who knew the better. No telling what someone would do if they got ahold of such information."
"Less than unsavory things, I suppose," Asclepius's eyes narrowed under his mask. "Then if I were willing to guess that you would go so far as to fake your gender, Macharon must not be your real name, correct?"
Her eyes twinkled. "My, you certainly are astute, physician. You are correct, Macharon isn't my real name."
She puffed out her chest and smiled with pride, though her small stature made the action cute rather than serious.
"The name my mother gave me is Epione, the soothing waves which promise safe travels."
As the crew went about their work, Shirou decided to do some investigation of his own as he trudged along the sandy beach. He wasn't of much use to them with his inexperience, so he opted to go on ahead and gather information from the city.
Asclepius had opted to stay behind in order to tend to any potential injuries that the crew may have sustained from running aground. Epione seemed to be pleased by his decision, so Shirou didn't try to change his mind. Besides, it'd be easier for him to gather information from civilians without having Asclepius scaring them away.
Still, it was nice to see Asclepius getting along with others. Epione really was a good influence on him. He didn't know what it was, but the cold physician was oddly more talkative and, dare he say, friendly when he was with her.
Perhaps Chiron would be able to divine the reason as to why.
He left the metal with Asclepius and began heading towards the city. After several minutes of walking, he stopped and squinted when he saw the walls of Lemnos off in the distance. He expected their defensive structures to be made of ordinary stones and rock, but they weren't ordinary by any means. While they did appear to be made of stone, there were strange inscriptions carved into them. They glowed faintly with blue light, giving off a futuristic vibe.
Just what was it made of...?
"Gh!"
He gripped the side of his head lightly with a grimace as a dull throb resounded in his skull. His attempt to structurally analyze the wall had given some incredible feedback, enough for him to realize that what stood in front of him wasn't built by human hands.
And if that was the case, then it was clear just who built it.
They were erected around 500 years ago by Hephaestus's hands. Its composition was mostly made up out of stone, but there also appeared to be a second element mixed in with it. A small deposit of metal similar to that of the metal in his chest seemed to reinforce the stone by several factors, strengthening it to a level where even an anti-army noble phantasm would be hard-pressed to punch a hole through it.
It was essentially a divine construct in terms of quality, but it held no special features besides being a nigh-unbreakable wall. Then again, that was enough to give the defenders a massive advantage against any attacker.
Oddly enough, it didn't appear to be well manned. He counted only two guards at the front gate and only three others watching from the top. While they were decked in extravagant looking armor of bronze and gold and carried spears of high-quality bronze, their equipment wasn't particularly special. They were just great products of skilled smiths.
Well at the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about them pulling out some special move if things got dicey.
Taking a moment to compose himself, he slowly approached the gate with a calm demeanor.
The two guards stilled upon seeing his approach. One raised his hand in a clear order to stop.
"Halt, traveler!" He called out. "Of what purpose do you have for approaching this side? All traders and foreigners must enter Lemnos through its port!"
"Please do not be afraid," Shirou responded calmly. "The ship on which I came here from was blown off course by a strong storm. We were forced to run aground on the beach and couldn't circle around to the ports." He gestured behind him with his head. "You're free to send someone to check whether my story is true or not."
The guard who spoke glanced at his compatriot, who merely gave a small shrug under his helmet.
"If that is the case, then forgive me for my suspicions. Only locals come through these gates to tend to our wheat and barley."
"It isn't a problem. I understand you are doing your job," Shirou glanced towards the gate. "If there aren't any problems may I enter the city now?"
"Of course. While our city isn't big, it is as prosperous as any other kingdom," The guard spoke with pride. "Please enjoy your stay."
He was surprised. Just like that? No security checks? Well, it wasn't as if he was planning on starting any trouble, but he would have thought that there would have been some form of precaution.
Then again, it was perhaps their faith in their patron god which contributed to their lack of security. Amongst all kingdoms within the Mediterranean, Lemnos enjoyed the physical presence of Hephaestus, who had a personal hand in the development of their civilization judging by its walls. Simply put, there was no need to fear invaders for any attack would risk the wrath of the god of fire.
Well, that was simply the idea. Whether or not that was actually true was uncertain. However, none foolish enough to tempt the idea had come along yet.
After passing through the gate, Shirou found himself in disbelief.
Forget the gaudy stone ruins documented in modern times. Forget anything like that at all. What he bore witness to now was something straight out of the realm of mythical fiction.
The buildings and roads weren't crafted out of the same material which made up the surrounding walls but they were aesthetically beautiful. Each building was crafted without a single defection, near-perfect in design that he could almost see sparkles radiating from them. The average size was equal to that of a two-story building.
Not only that, but the whole structure of the city was incredibly organized. The buildings were structured perfectly even from each other. Not far enough for wide spaces and not close enough to be clustered and suffocating. He could see a plaza with a large, intricately designed fountain with patterns of the gods spewing water at its center alongside a multitude of other bronze statues depicting men and women in various poses.
People milled about in peace with happy smiles on their faces. Aside from the guards at the gates, there were apparently few soldiers to speak of within the city walls itself. Perhaps there was little need to, seeing how it appears that the people were well provided for and thus little incentive for crime.
In terms of quality and design, Lemnos was far superior to Iolkus. While the arrangement of the cities shares the same base, Lemnos' craftsmanship and design outstrip Iolkus.
Well, it wasn't as if he should be surprised. He didn't need his tracing to understand that Hephaestus was most likely behind the creation of a majority of this city.
He carefully scanned the people wandering around, contemplating on who to approach in order to acquire the information he needed. As he was doing so, his ears caught a panicked sound from behind him.
"Watch out!"
Shirou turned in surprise before something slammed into him. He fell to the ground with a groan as the strange sound of creaking joints filled the air.
"Oh, Hephaestus! So sorry!"
A young man that could have been no older than twelve appeared before him with a worried look on his face. His toga was covered with small splotches of soot and ashes, and his hair was disheveled and messy.
"It's fine," Shirou waved the kid off as he stood back up. He smiled in an attempt to calm him down. "You're quite strong to have knocked me down like that."
The kid blushed. "Ah, well, that wasn't me."
Shirou followed his gaze and blinked in surprise. Standing before him was what appeared to be a small cauldron with three skinny legs that supported its weight, a small blue orb at its center. It wobbled uneasily and teetered like a drunkard, obviously rattled by its fall.
It was a tripod. A walking tripod.
Chiron had briefly explained to him the concept of such a creation. It was often used as a ritualistic tool but could also be modified for other things. It was one of the most basic forms of automata and thus the most common.
Still, it was rare to find one walking about in public. They were often controlled by the priests and priestesses of the gods so they would normally only be found at places of worship.
"I was just doing some repairs on this tripod when it got loose," The kid muttered as the machine righted itself and let out a small boop. "It bolted as soon as I was done and just ran through the streets. I've been chasing it for a while now..."
Shirou eyed the three skinny legs, noticing how they skittered across the ground as the machine moved back and forth like an excited crab.
"It's quite nimble for being metal," He noted as he scratched the back of his neck. "So why did it run off?"
The boy shrugged and pointed to the mountain. "It was most likely trying to get back to Lord Hephaestus' forge."
His ears perked up at the mention of the god. "Lord Hephaestus' forge?"
At the mention of the god's name, the tripod let out a series of whirs and beeps as it danced around. The boy sighed and bent down to place a hand on the automaton's body, effectively holding it in place before it could take off once more.
"Yeah, this tripod is one of the personal creation of Lord Hephaestus. As such, they help him with his work in the forge."
"So why were you fixing it up?"
"Oh, Lord Hephaestus does this all the time. Whenever something minor like this tripod is broken he sends it to us for practice," The boy said as he gestured around him. "A majority of the city was built by Lord Hephaestus himself as payment for what our ancestors did a long time ago. He even taught them the secrets of metalworking. As their descendants, believes it is important for us to keep this tradition alive."
"You speak as if you know him personally," Shirou noted with a curious gaze. "Have you seen him?"
The boy blushed. "Ah, well, only once. Apparently, he comes down once in a while in accordance with certain religious rites at the temple. I was lucky enough to be there that day to see him."
Well, that must have been an interesting experience. He couldn't imagine how that must have been like. The greek gods were known for being active in the mortal world, but not to the extent of going out of their way to deliberately interact with individuals.
"What was he like?" He asked. "Would you think someone like me could meet him?"
The boy stared at him as if bewildered by such a question.
"W-well, Lord Hephaestus is quite large. Bigger than any man in the world!" The boy quieted for a moment thoughtfully. "But I also kinda get the sense that he wasn't really showing us the whole thing, you know? I mean, he was certainly as the priests described him but it felt... limited."
That made sense. Perhaps what the kid saw wasn't exactly the god's true body, but a mere stand-in developed for interacting with individuals while the main terminal resided in the forge.
"As for meeting him," The boy continued. "I guess? I mean, his forge is in the mountain. None of us go there, though."
The boy's tone conveyed his message perfectly. They feared angering the god so they didn't bother pushing their limits. Their protector he may be, but he is still a god, and gods never appreciated mortals traversing where they didn't belong.
"If you really intend to go there, I suggest getting a mule. The roads up the mountain are treacherous, but a mule should be able to make the trip bearable."
"I see," Shirou nodded. "Any idea on where to get one?"
"Well, we have a lot of them roaming the island. More than any other livestock, really. You can try taming one for yourself. If you don't want to bother, we do have some herders who are always willing to lend out their own mules for a price."
"Much appreciated," Shirou thanked with appreciation. He dug into his pocket and withdrew a drachma before tossing it to the kid. "Here. As payment for your time."
"A-ah, well, you didn't really have to," The boy mumbled as he caught the coin in his hands. He held it back out to him. "It's just some info you could have gotten anywhere. Hardly worth paying me for it."
"Hm," Shirou took the coin back and placed it back in his pocket before turning his gaze towards the tripod. "Then how about I take this tripod back up to Hephaestus? It'll be no trouble."
"Well... if you're sure about that," The boy conceded as the automaton let out a happy boop once again at the mention of its master's name. "It's a lot stronger than it looks, but don't treat it too roughly."
"I won't," Shirou promised. "You have my word."
The boy glanced down at the automaton and crouched down until he was eye level with it.
"I'm commanding you as an extension of Hephaestus' will with the following order: follow this man back to your master."
Its metal legs stopped twitching before the orb began flashing. After several seconds, it stopped flashing and resumed moving, this time over to Shirou's side. The boy, satisfied, stood back up and nodded.
"The little guy will follow you wherever you go. Just make sure you keep it safe. There are some small monster nests on the road to Hephaestus' forge, but they're pretty out of the way and shouldn't bother you unless you go looking."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Well, knowing his track record, they'd bother him anyway.
When Shirou returned back to the ship, the crew had managed to make some quick repairs and were in the process of pushing the vessel back into the water. When Asclepius had seen him with the tripod, he merely rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Please tell me that's not one of Lord Hephaestus' creations... If that thing gets damaged by some monster we'll have another damn god breathing down our necks."
To which Epione responded with. "Oh hush, Asclepius. Lemnos is a small, peaceful island. The only thing you'll have to worry about is some curious goat nibbling on it or something like that."
Epione had decided to tag along with them for some reason. Perhaps she was drawn by the mystery as to why they were visiting Hephaestus and simply wanted to see an interesting sight. Asclepius had been quite reluctant to let her follow them, but she quickly silenced him with a look that said nothing would stop her.
Shirou didn't bother trying to dissuade her. He knew just how stubborn some women could get. Even the captain seemed to understand this fact as he allowed her to join them.
Of course, Epione had been quickly proven wrong of just how peaceful Lemnos was shortly after they began their little hike. "Damn harpy!"
Asclepius muttered curse after curse as he planted his sword deep into the monster's chest after Shirou shot it out of the air, causing the monster to shriek before going silent. Alongside it, several more harpies lay filled with arrows.
"Cursed creatures," Asclepius plucked out a couple strands of feathers that were stuck in his robes. "Chiron didn't mention they could shoot feathers like that."
"I'm pretty sure he did. You just didn't file it away as important enough to remember," Shirou ignored the look Asclepius shot him before turning to Epione who stood behind him. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, thanks to you two. You both did a splendid job," She smiled in thanks as she gently petted the tripod next to her. "This little one is safe as well. Not a single scratch."
"That's good to hear," Shirou breathed a sigh of relief. "It wouldn't do to ruin that boy's hard work."
That and royally piss of Hephaestus.
"What was that about being a small, peaceful island?" Asclepius grumbled, earning him a glare from Epione.
"I've been here before, Asclepius. It's usually peaceful. The citizens rarely ever have to worry about a monster attack because of Hephaestus' divine protection. We were just unfortunate."
Asclepius rolled his eyes but chose not to comment further on the matter. "Are the donkeys alright? Ugly animals they may be, the farmer we borrowed them from would be greatly inconvenienced if anything happened to them."
The trio glanced behind them towards three donkeys which stared at them with tongues lolling out. Their eyes were glazed over and half-lidded as if they would topple over and fall asleep then and there.
These animals were procured from a willing farmer who was kind enough to lend them out for a small price. He even gave them additional info on what trail to take in order to reach Hephaestus for a small price.
Shirou initially didn't have a lot of faith in the creatures. They were smaller than the average horse and didn't look bright at all. However, he soon found out that they were rather comfortable enough to ride at a slow pace and they were practically unbothered by the steep slopes and sharp rocks they encountered on the trail.
"Well, they appear to be fine," Shirou noted as he walked over and gently touched one on its snout where a small nick was found due to a stray feather. "At the very least, there aren't any fatal injuries."
"Hmph. I doubt even a direct hit from those harpies would have taken them down. They'd be too stupid to recognize that they were hit in the first place," Asclepius commented, though his voice oddly held some form of affection. "At least they don't react negatively to treatment. They make fine patients."
"Please don't talk to the donkeys that way. They may be slightly dumb... but they're still sacred animals of Hephaestus. Plus, they're kind of cute in a way," Epione smiled as she scratched one behind its ears, earning a soft bray in response. "And hard workers as well. They did carry us all this way."
"Then let us finish the rest of this journey," Shirou declared as he saddled back upon his own donkey, who barely buckled against his weight even with the bag containing Demeter's ore saddled along with him. "The entrance is supposed to be at the end of the trail so let us hurry before night."
The three quickly resumed their journey once again. Asclepius and Epione road side by side, discussing something out of earshot while Shirou road ahead of them with the tripod. He watched it walk forward at a brisk pace, clearly excited with where they were headed.
He couldn't really lie, he was a little excited as well.
If there was any god he could truly resonate with, it could only be one who was deeply connected with the concept of smithing weaponry. Nearly all great weapons of renown that came from Greece were created by Hephaestus himself before making their way into the hands of great heroes.
To him, whose origin was tried deeply to the concept of a sword, a god who created weapons must surely be something to be revered.
Then again, his entire mode of operations would surely go against anything a master smith stood for. He created hollow weapons only to shatter them at his convenience in intense situations. Weapons were meant to be used efficiently, yes, but they are also supposed to be treated with respect and reverence. To many heroes, their weapons were extensions of themselves like an arm or leg. Unique to them and no one else.
For him who just replicates faulty replicas through sight alone, it would surely be seen as the greatest of insults.
He could understand why the king of heroes, a pompous asshole he may be, was so furious over his unique form of magecraft.
Still, it couldn't be helped. It was the only thing he was good at. The only thing that made him efficient in taking down nearly any kind of threat due to his adaptability and versatility.
The irony wasn't lost on him. For a sword, he couldn't really cut anything without stealing the blade of another. Perhaps that was why, deep down, he had always been slightly envious of other heroic spirits.
But that's why he was here now. So he could have something that could truly be called his own. Something that would set him apart from others and allow him to stand tall with pride.
He was brought out of his silent musings when the tripod in front of him stopped and let out a shrill beep which made everyone present flinch a little. It then took off at a fast pace down road before stopping at the edge of two large gates.
So lost in his thoughts that he hadn't even realized that they had arrived. The gates were as huge as a castle wall and cast out of the same metal which surrounded the city of Lemnos. The letters for 'Hephaestus' were organized neatly in an arc surrounding a large flame. There were also scenes of nymphs, donkeys, and strange creatures with the head of a dog and the lower body of a fish dancing around it.
Epione seemed to scowl at the sight. "Telchines," She muttered with dislike. "Nasty creatures of the sea."
"What's a creature of the sea doing on a fire god's door?" Asclepius asked.
"They're exceptionally good at smithing just like LordHephaestus. As such, they sometimes work together occasionally," Epione shrugged. "Though even I don't understand how Lord Hephaestus can stand them. They're vicious and uncouth creatures with no regard for other races. Even sharks have more honor than them."
The uncharacteristic amount of venom in her tone made the hairs on both of Shirou's and Asclepius's arms stand up. What a scary girl...
Well... the only thing to do now would be to...
Shirou dismounted from his donkey and made his way over to the gargantuan doors. Raising a hand, he beat his fist against it. The soft sound that reverberated through the air made him feel soft and feeble in front of these gargantuan doors.
Nothing happened. Shirou faintly heard Asclepius snorting behind him and the sound of Epione hitting him while also telling him to be quiet.
Perhaps the god didn't hear him?
He raised his hand to knock again when the sound of a foreign voice rang through the air.
"Demeter, why have you come to visit me? The time you have with Persephone nears its end. There is little meaning in discussing subjects with me-"
The voice stopped for a second as if confused for a second.
"Scanning. Scanning. What is this anomaly? You-" The voice mumbled to itself in confusion. "You aren't Demeter. The composition is similar to that of a mortal, but I sense Demeter within you. Who are you?"
The voice didn't display much emotion, but Shirou instantly became nervous. He didn't know how to read the situation. Was Hephaestus curious? Upset? He didn't know. That voice was just too mechanical to get a read on.
"I am Shirou, a student of Chiron... and someone who is blessed by Lady Demeter," He announced with a level tone. "And I have come... in order to make a request of you."
"Hm... a request? How rare. I don't get many visitors. But I will consider your proposal as a courtesy for one favored by my aunt," The tripod let out a shrill beep. "...And for delivering this troublesome automaton back to me. I can see that it has retained its annoying defects."
The doors suddenly groaned and slowly began swinging open. The donkeys brayed in response to the noise, causing Epione to yelp and cling onto her mule tightly while Asclepius cursed as he was nearly thrown off.
The tripod immediately ran into the cave, its walls lined with numerous sculptures bearing torches to light their way. The interior was similar to that of an extravagant palace, but its quality was truly god-like.
So this was the domain of a god...
"Enter, child. I wish to see for myself... what Demeter saw in you to trust you so."
Λῆμνος (Lemnos)
The island of Lemnos is located within the northern parts of the Aegean sea and is famous for being connected with the god Hephaestus. It is said when the smithing god was born, he was born with defects so detestable that his mother, Lady Hera, chucked him from Mt. Olympus in disgust. He crashed onto Lemnos and was tended to by the Sintians/Thracian people.
Later, he would fall under the care of Thetis and grow close with a nymph named Cabiro, whom he would sire many children with. They and the old Sintians would be the ancestors of the people of Lemnos. Some were even revered as chthonic deities in some temples.
Lemnos itself isn't the focus of many legends in Greece due to the simple fact that few events of note ever took place there. Because of Hephaestus' blessings and personal intervention, Lemnos became an advanced city far ahead of its time, giving it an edge over the other kingdoms. As such, none dared to launch an attack for fear of being retaliated against by whatever unknown weapons Hephaestus may have created to defend the island.
However, Lemnos itself is a peaceful island and has a small standing army. Many of its citizens are content to keep up the smithing traditions passed onto them by Hephaestus or create valuable items to trade with other kingdoms. As such, it was often left alone since they were willing to trade with anyone.
In the end, it is the anger of a goddess that caused the fall of Lemnos. But that is a story for another time.