After receiving his gift from Eurynome—thanks entirely to Athena's request, and after that unexpected and slightly unsettling encounter with Aphrodite—Nathan continued his journey at the goddess's side.
Before they departed, he had taken the time to bow his head and once more thank Eurynome for the shield. It wasn't in Nathan's nature to use one; his entire fighting style leaned toward offense, speed, and overwhelming pressure. Athena, however, knew this better than anyone else—she had personally watched him fight in the gladiatorial tournament, had seen the way his blade moved like an extension of his will, reckless yet precise. That was why Nathan couldn't help but wonder if she had chosen a shield deliberately, not because it matched him, but because it was the one gift she felt he did not yet possess.
