The goddess was in my city - Stamford
She walked the street quietly, soaking in the beauty and simplicity. As she reached the corner of Heart Street, she spotted an old man across the road, begging with a bowl in hand. She waited for the traffic to clear, then crossed - slow, graceful, powerful. Among the crowd, she stood out not for what she wore, but for what she radiated. Even mortals could feel her presence
The moment the old man saw her, his bowl slipped from his hands. He dropped to his knees in reverence
Why is an honored priest begging for alms? Athena asked
"Oh Great Goddess," he whispered "Can we speak somewhere private? This is a public place"
They moved behind a trash enclosure nearby, not the most sacred of places but private enough.
"You didn't answer my question," She said, her tone firm
"I may be a high priest" he said humbly "but here in the modern world, belief is scarce, I beg to eat"
"If you help me and I recover my powers I'll make sure you never beg again," She replied without hesitation.
"Thank you, O Wise One"
So what's the next step? Athena asked, revealing a business card with a strange symbol.
The priest has been ordained to guide Athena - to aid her in recovering relics and restoring her godhood. That symbol was their sign.
"There is a warrior destined to help you " he said
"Where will I find him?" She asked
"Here in this city" he said with excitement, I'll show the way "
"And his name?"
"Donald Larson." He smiled "Also known as… DonGold.
Athena raised an eyebrow
Stamford may be a metro city but its outskirts tell a different story - rough roads, decaying buildings, Police Sirens have become music to the ears of residents here. As she walked to his address, she wondered what kind of warrior this "Donald Larson" would be. She imagined a tall, muscular man - rugged, disciplined, maybe carrying a sword or relic of his own
Instead, She arrived at a two storey house that looked like it had seen better decades, she knocked once calmly. A voice from inside yelled, "I'm coming"
The door opened. And there he was.
Disheveled hair, a scraggly beard, wearing a worn-out blue sweater and sweat pants that had definitely been through too much - and not in a fashionable way
This? She thought. "This is the warrior?
How may I help you? He asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"We need to talk. Inside," She replied.
"I don't like talking to strangers indoors"
But she had already stepped in.
She was still a goddess - rules didn't apply
The living room was a disaster: the sour odor of Stale Pizza, the glare of a broken lamp, the sticky residue on the coffee table. A faint wrinkle formed between her brows as she surveyed the Chaos.
"You live in a pigsty," She said without filter
Donald raised an eyebrow, I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"And you, "he snapped, "don't look like someone with manners."
"You look like someone on the verge of insanity,"
"That's it you need to leave," he said trying to usher her towards the door
Don't touch me with those filthy hands, I don't know where they've been, she added coldly.
Athena sighed. This wasn't going well
"I need your help, " she said. "If you're the one I was told to find, then -"
"I'm not interested," he cut in coldly.
I am Athena, goddess of -"
SLAM
The door shut in her face
She returned to the priest, furious, "He is not the one, she declared
But the priest only chuckled. "That is him but there is a reason for why he is like that, let me tell you why."