Demi-God

Lucian trudged back to Thais' house, his body aching and his nostrils assaulted by the pungent odor clinging to him. He stripped off his filthy clothes and began scrubbing himself vigorously in a washbasin, muttering curses under his breath.

The cat, now surprisingly docile, sat just outside the door, meticulously grooming itself. Lucian glared at it through the doorway. "Oh sure, now you behave," he grumbled.

A knock on the door frame made him look up. Stephanos stood there, his arms crossed and an expression of exasperation on his face. "Explain to me again why half the town is after you?"

Lucian sighed, dunking his head in the water to rinse off before responding. "It's a long story," he said, reaching for a cloth to dry himself.

"I've got time."

He hesitated, trying to formulate a response that wouldn't reveal his true intentions. "I was... chasing that cat," he said, gesturing to the feline outside.

"A cat?" Stephanos raised an eyebrow. "You caused all this over a cat?"

"Look, I know it sounds ridiculous," Lucian pulled on a clean tunic. "But I had my reasons."

"Which were?"

He couldn't tell Stephanos about his plan to possess the animal. "I... thought it might be a good scout. You know, for reconnaissance."

Stephanos stared at him for a few seconds, then shook his head. "Lucian, I've known you long enough to know when you're not telling me everything. But right now, we have bigger problems. The town guard is looking for you, and we need to figure out how to smooth this over before it jeopardizes our mission."

Lucian nodded, guilt gnawing at him. He hated lying to Stephanos, but he wasn't ready to reveal the full extent of his abilities. Not yet.

"You're right," he said. "I'm sorry for causing trouble. What do you think we should do?"

Stephanos ran a hand through his hair. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. I'll need to talk to all those people you've managed to upset today. We'll have to pay for the damages you caused, and I'll need to... persuade the guards to keep quiet about this incident."

"That's a good idea," Lucian said. "I promise I'll pay you back for everything. Every last drachma."

"And how exactly do you plan to do that? Last I checked, you weren't exactly swimming in gold."

"I'll think of something," Lucian moved past him towards the door. "Maybe I can pick up some work at the docks or something."

Stephanos sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Just... try to stay out of trouble for the rest of the day, will you? We can't afford any more setbacks."

"I will, I promise," Lucian was already halfway out of the bathroom.

As Stephanos turned to leave, muttering under his breath about the impossibility of his task, Lucian made his way back to his room and closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment as he collected his thoughts.

The events of the day played through his mind like a fever dream. How had a simple plan to possess a cat turned into such a disaster? And how was he going to explain all this to Thais?

Shaking off his doubts, he moved to the small trunk that held his meager belongings and pulled out a fresh tunic and began to dress.

As he fastened his belt, his gaze fell on the window, where the cat sat perched on the sill, watching him with those inscrutable yellow eyes.

Lucian stared back. "This isn't over," he muttered to the feline. "One way or another, I'm going to complete this mission. And you, my furry friend, are going to help me whether you like it or not."

The cat blinked slowly, then turned its back on him, tail swishing as it began to groom itself once more.

Lucian sat on the edge of his bed, his brow furrowed in concentration. How was he going to pay back Stephanos? The man had already done so much for him, and now this...

Suddenly, an idea struck him like a bolt from Zeus himself. The Arena. Of course! With all the money changing hands down there, surely he could earn enough drachmas to cover his debts quickly. Maybe he could even participate in a fight himself.

Energized by this new plan, he sprang to his feet and made his way to Thais' room. He knocked on the door, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he waited.

"Enter," a voice called from within.

Lucian stepped inside, finding Thais seated at a desk, various scrolls spread out before her. She looked up at him, one eyebrow raised in question.

"Yes? How may I help you?"

"I need to ask you for a favor."

"Oh?" Thais leaned back in her chair. "And what might that be?"

"I... well, I kind of caused a lot of damage in town today. Stephanos is going to pay for it all, but I need to pay him back. I was thinking about the arena. If I were to fight there, how much could I potentially earn?"

Thais' eyes narrowed. "I see. And you think fighting in the arena is the solution to your problems?"

"It could be. I'm a skilled fighter, and I need the money quickly. So, how does it work? What would I need to do?"

Thais sighed, standing up from her desk. "It's not quite that simple. The arena isn't just a place where anyone can walk in and start fighting. There are rules, procedures."

"Rules? Procedures?"

She began to pace the room as she explained. "First, you'd need a sponsor – someone to vouch for you and put up an initial stake. Then, you'd have to prove yourself in a qualifying match. If you win that, you'd be eligible for the main events."

"Ok, I think I can do that."

"As for earnings," she continued, "it depends on the fight, the stakes, and how well you perform. A novice fighter might earn anywhere from 50 to 200 drachmas for a win. More established fighters can earn much more, especially if they develop a following."

Lucian's mind raced with the possibilities. Even 50 drachmas would be a good start towards repaying Stephanos.

"But," Thais said, her tone growing serious, "the arena is dangerous. Men die in there regularly. Are you sure this is a risk you're willing to take?"

Lucian met her gaze. "I don't have much choice. I owe Stephanos, and I need to make this right. Besides, I can handle myself in a fight."

Thais studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. If you're certain about this, I may be able to arrange something. But remember, once you step into that arena, you're on your own. I can't protect you in there."

"I understand. Thank you. When can we start?"

"Give me a day to make the necessary arrangements," she replied. "And Lucian? Try not to cause any more chaos in the meantime, will you?"

He grinned. "I'll do my best. No more cat chases, I promise."

"See that it does."

Lucian returned to his room. The cat was still there, curled up on the windowsill, fast asleep. He eyed the feline, considering his options. With Thais occupied arranging his arena debut, this might be the perfect opportunity to attempt his possession and carry out his spying mission.

He approached the cat quietly, hand outstretched, ready to make contact and initiate the possession. Just as his fingers were about to brush against the cat's fur, a familiar voice made him freeze.

"I know what you're doing."

Lucian spun around to find Mira leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and a knowing smirk on her face. "What are you talking about?"

"I know about your powers. And I know you're the son of Artemis."

Lucian felt his stomach drop. "How... how did you find out?"

"I overheard you and my mother talking," she replied. "She's not as discreet as she thinks she is."

This could ruin everything.

"What do you intend to do with this information?" he asked.

"Nothing, actually. I'm not going to tell anyone."

"I don't understand. Why tell me you know if you're not going to use it against me?"

"Oh, I didn't say I wouldn't use it. Here's the deal, if you want me to keep quiet: I get half of your earnings in the arena."

"Half? That's outrageous! I need that money to pay back Stephanos."

"Then I guess you'd better win big."

Lucian took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Look, I can't give you half. But... maybe we can negotiate? How about a quarter of my earnings?"

Mira considered this for a moment, tapping her chin. "A quarter... plus a favor."

"A favor? What kind?"

"The kind that earns me lots of drachmas."

"You’re not going to let me kill someone are you?"

"No, it’s more like steal something for me."

"Steal?"

"Yep, with your powers, I can use that to steal something valuable."

He sighed. "Fine. A quarter of my earnings and one favor, that’s it. But this stays between us, understand?"

"Understood," Mira said, extending her hand. "We have an agreement."

They shook on it.

As Mira turned to leave, she paused at the door. "Oh, and Lucian? Good luck with your... cat business."

With a wink, she was gone, leaving him alone with the sleeping feline once more.

He turned back to the cat, his resolve strengthened by this new complication. He had to succeed now, more than ever. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and placed his hand on the cat's fur, focusing his mind and willing his consciousness to merge with the animal's.

As the world around him began to shift and blur, Lucian's last coherent thought was a prayer to the gods – or at least to his divine mother – that this possession would go more smoothly than his earlier escapades in the marketplace.

As Lucian's consciousness settled into the cat's body, he felt a rush of sensations wash over him. The world suddenly seemed larger, more vibrant, and filled with intriguing scents. He flexed his new feline muscles, marveling at the cat's agility.

Eager to test his newfound form, he set off to explore the house. He padded silently through the corridors, his whiskers twitching at every subtle change in the air currents. His keen ears picked up the faintest sounds - the scurrying of mice in the walls, the gentle snoring of servants in distant rooms.

As he rounded a corner into the dining hall, a familiar scent caught his attention. There, sprawled across a couch, lay Drakon in a drunken stupor. The old warrior's snores filled the room, punctuated by occasional incoherent mumbles.

But it was the scene around the old man that made Lucian pause. A group of slave girls huddled around the unconscious man, giggling quietly as they worked. One held a small pot of dark pigment, while another carefully applied intricate mustache designs to Drakon's face.

Lucian watched, his tail twitching in amusement. Part of him wanted to intervene, to save his mentor from this embarrassment. But another part - the part currently reveling in feline mischief - decided that Drakon had probably earned this comeuppance.

Moving on, he made his way towards the front of the house, where he'd last seen Stephanos heading. As he approached, he could hear the low murmur of voices. He crept closer, using his small size to hide behind a potted plant.

There stood Stephanos, surrounded by a group of locals and two town guards. The Spartan warrior's face was a mask of calm diplomacy, but Lucian could see the tension in his shoulders.

"I assure you," Stephanos was saying, "my companion meant no harm. He's... not quite right in the head, you see. Too much sun, I'm afraid. We'll of course compensate you for any damages."

One of the guards, a large man with a thick beard, grunted. "And what about the incident at the temple? That's not something we can just sweep under the rug."

"I understand completely. Perhaps we could discuss this further... in private?" As he spoke, Lucian saw him subtly pat a pouch at his waist, which clinked with the unmistakable sound of coins.

The guard's eyes narrowed, then nodded almost imperceptibly. "Very well. We'll hear you out."

As Stephanos led the group away for more private negotiations, Lucian felt a pang of guilt. His reckless actions had put his friend in this difficult position, forcing him to clean up the mess.

But there was no time for regret now. He had a mission to complete. With one last look, Lucian slipped out of the house and into the streets. It was time to find Aristos and Kyra, and uncover whatever secrets they might be hiding about the Persians.