"That should do it," Aurelian said as he panted, struggling to steady his breathing.
Then, with a flick of his arm, he materialized his system.
[Daily Quest:
• 60 Sit-ups (60/60)
• 60 Pull-ups (60/60)
• 60 Press-ups (60/60)
• Sprint 5 kilometers (5/5)]
After running his five-kilometer lap, Aurelian checked his system and confirmed that he had completed his daily quest for the day.
[Ding! Daily quest completed!]
[Reincantor gained 150 EXP!]
[Ding! New daily quest available.]
[Daily Quest:
• 100 Press-ups (0/100)
• 100 Pull-ups (0/100)
• 100 Sword Thrusts (0/100)]
Rewards: +250 EXP
[Note:
Failure to complete this quest will not result in punishment. However, it is in the reincarnator's best interest to level up as quickly as possible in order to complete the reincarnation quest before death in this world.]
[Quest Locked – Available Tomorrow]
"Another quest tomorrow," Aurelian muttered, excitement forming within him as he imagined his steady growth continuing.
Not long after, the air in his surroundings shifted.
It was subtle at first, like the pressure before a storm, then the space itself rippled. Two familiar presences stepped through reality as though it were nothing more than a curtain.
Athena stood first, clad in her usual armor that fit her perfectly. Bronze plates covered her torso, etched with multiple symbols and motifs. A spear rested easily in her hand, and her calm, sharp eyes seemed to take in everything at once.
Beside her appeared Hera, as she wore flowing regal garments, rich with gold embroidery and red fabric. Her figure was full, commanding, and attractive, with her beauty overwhelming without effort. Even standing still, she carried the authority of a queen.
Aurelian immediately straightened.
"In three months," Athena said, her voice firm and clear, "Agamemnon, King of Mycenae and commander of the Achaeans, will send men across Mycenae to recruit more soldiers for the war."
Hera continued smoothly, "You must go to Mycenae before the recruitment begins and register yourself as a resident. That will place you directly in the path of fate."
Aurelian lowered his head into a respectful bow. "I will do as you say."
Then he hesitated, lifting his gaze again, curiosity slipping into his expression. "But… why haven't you been visiting me more often?"
Hera sighed softly, her lips curving with a hint of displeasure. "Zeus has forbidden the gods from interfering directly in this war. He wishes Olympus to observe and allow the weave of fate to take its course."
Athena crossed her arms. "Even our appearances here are pushing the limits of his decree."
Aurelian smiled faintly, unfazed. "Sounds like he's scared I'll tip the balance too fast."
Hera laughed, amused, and stepped closer, resting a hand lightly against his chest. "Confident already. I suppose that comes naturally to someone chosen by fate."
Athena shook her head, though there was the slightest hint of approval in her eyes. "Do not mistake attention for affection. You still have much to prove."
"Then I'll just have to impress you both," Aurelian replied easily.
Even standing before two goddesses, Aurelian spoke to them without fear, without reverence turning into submission. Not as worshippers did, but as someone who already saw them as companions bound to his path.
Hera's smile deepened, and with that, the two goddesses faded, leaving behind only their divine warmth and the quiet certainty that his path had truly begun.
.....
Now inside the house, Aurelian saw Thaleia waiting for him with a towel in her hands.
"Thanks so much," Aurelian said as he took the towel and wiped the sweat from his face. "I could have gotten one myself, though."
"No need to say things like that, Aurey. I love helping you as much as I can," she replied.
Then, heading for the dining area, she pulled out a chair and continued, "Come, have a seat. I prepared one of your favorites."
Smiling warmly, Aurelian couldn't help but feel grateful for meeting Thaleia. Without her, he wondered what his life in this new world would have been like.
As Aurelian took his seat, the air grew heavy with a rich, savory scent—something far more complex and hearty than yesterday's honey cakes.
Thaleia approached the table carrying a heavy ceramic pot, the steam billowing from beneath its lid. With a gentle clatter, she set it down and lifted the cover, revealing the Stifado.
It was a dish of deep, rustic beauty. Chunks of beef, slow-cooked until they were tender enough to fall apart at the touch of a wooden spoon, bathed in a thick, red sauce. The aroma of red wine, cinnamon, and cloves rose up, mingling with the sweet, pungent scent of whole shallots that had been caramelized into various pearls of flavor. In this era, such a dish was a labor of love and a sign of significant effort, requiring hours over a steady hearth fire.
"Stifado," Aurelian whispered, his eyes widening. "Thaleia, the ingredients for this... the beef alone must have cost a fortune."
Thaleia huffed, though a playful glint lingered in her eyes as she began to ladle a generous portion into his bowl. "Don't remind me of that old fox, Myron," she said, her voice rising. "The man at the meat stalls has grown bold. Because he sees me coming alone, he thinks he can hike the prices of the prime cuts. He tried to charge me three extra obols for this shoulder piece!"
Aurelian chuckled, "And I assume you didn't just pay it?"
"Certainly not!" she declared, setting a piece of crusty barley bread beside his bowl to soak up the rich gravy. She sat down across from him, resting her chin in her hands. "I told him that if the cattle were so swift, perhaps they could run right back to his farm, because I wasn't paying for the privilege of their exercise. I made him throw in a handful of bay leaves and the onions for free just to compensate for his insults."
Aurelian then took his first bite. The meat practically dissolved on his tongue, the richness of the fat balanced by the wine and the warmth of the spices. It was a soul-warming meal, the kind that made the hardships of a five-kilometer sprint and serval pull-ups feel like worth while.
"You're incredible, Thaleia," he said between mouthfuls. "Not just for the cooking, but for handling men like Myron. I should probably start going with you to the market. My presence might keep the prices reasonable."
Thaleia's expression softened, "You do enough, Aurey. The wood you chopped this morning... I saw the pile. It's enough to last us through the month. And the repairs you made to the courtyard gate? Even the neighbors were asking who the 'master builder' staying in my house was."
Aurelian chuckled, remembering the time she took him to fix the courtyard gate. He wasn't a professional carpenter, but he was fairly handy with tools. In his previous life, he had helped his father with various handiwork, and his father always strived for perfection, which taught him to carry out tasks with the utmost diligence. Compared to his old world, repairs in ancient Greece were far less sophisticated, making the work even easier for him.
As they are comfortably, Aurelian found himself watching her. In the flickering light, her features seemed even more delicate, he couldn't help but appreciate her beauty.
Thaleia noticed his gaze almost immediately. She always did.
"You're staring again," she said lightly, though there was a faint hint of nervousness behind her smile. "Is something wrong with the food?"
"No," Aurelian replied quickly, shaking his head. "It's perfect. You always make it perfect."
That answer only made her pause. She tilted her head, studying him more carefully now. Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her bowl.
"You say that like it's a farewell," she murmured.
Aurelian let out a slow breath. He had planned to tell her after dinner. Maybe after tomorrow. Maybe after a few more days. But looking at her now, he realized delaying it would only make things worse.
"Thaleia," he began, setting his bowl aside, "there's something I need to tell you."
Her shoulders stiffened at once. She straightened, placing her hands neatly in her lap, bracing herself. "You're leaving, aren't you?"
The fact that she guessed so easily made his chest tighten.
"I'll be leaving Athens before the month ends," he said honestly. "I'm going to Mycenae."
The word seemed to echo in the room. Thaleia blinked once, then twice, as if she hadn't heard him correctly.
"Mycenae?" she repeated. "Why would you go there? That's not some trader's town or a quiet port. That's where soldiers gather."
"I know," Aurelian said softly. "That's exactly why I'm going."
Her brows drew together, confused. "Aurey… what are you saying?"
He met her gaze fully now. "I intend to stand ready for the War. If the call comes, I'll answer it."
For a moment, Thaleia simply stared at him. Then she laughed, a short, breathless sound that held no humor.
"You're joking," she said. "You have to be joking."
"I'm not."
The laughter died immediately. Color drained from her face as she stood up so suddenly her chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"Why?" she demanded, her voice rising despite herself. "Why would you do something so foolish? You're not even Greek! You don't owe them your life!"
Aurelian rose as well, instinctively reaching out, though he stopped himself just short of touching her.
"It's not about owing them," he said. "It's about choosing my path."
"Your path?" Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Your path leads you straight into Troy! Where many of my country men have been slain!"
She took a step closer, her voice dropping, trembling now. "Why would you throw yourself into that? Why would you leave here… leave me?"
"Is it because you're tired of me?" she asked suddenly. "Because if you are, just say it. Don't dress it up as destiny or glory."
"No," he said immediately, firmly. "Never say that."
He closed the distance between them then, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. She stiffened but didn't pull away.
"I'm glad I found you," he said, his voice low and sincere. "Meeting you wasn't by chance. Being with you feels like something that was always meant to happen."
Her breath hitched, tears threatening to spill, but she stubbornly blinked them back.
"Then why isn't that enough?" she whispered.
"Because," Aurelian said after a pause, "I've always been someone who moves forward towards the next challenge."
He exhaled slowly, "And Troy… that is a challenge that will shape me. If I stay here, comfortable and safe, I'll grow resentful. Not of you. Of myself."
Thaleia shook her head, pressing a hand to her temple as if trying to untangle too many thoughts at once.
"So you want to die young," she said weakly. "Is that it?"
Aurelian winced. "When you put it like that, it sounds terrible."
"Because it is terrible!" she snapped, then immediately softened. "Sorry… I didn't mean to shout."
He gave a faint smile. "Look at it another way. I'm not rushing to the battlefield tomorrow. I'm going to Mycenae first. To be recognized. To earn the king's favor."
He took her hands now, warm and steady. "If I gain his trust, if I gain honor and standing, it won't just be for me. It'll be for us. A future where we aren't scraping by. Where no merchant dares overcharge you. Where no man looks down on you because you stand alone."
She stared at him, clearly torn. "You really think that's possible?"
"I do," he said without hesitation. "And I won't pretend there's no danger. But I won't walk into it blindly either."
Thaleia then pulled her hands free and turned away, walking toward the doorway. She stood there for a long moment, staring out into the fading light, her shoulders rising and falling with uneven breaths.
Then, suddenly, she turned back.
"Then you have to marry me before you leave."
The words hit Aurelian like a thunderbolt.
"What?" he asked, genuinely stunned.
She marched back toward him, cheeks flushed, eyes wide with fierce determination mixed with unmistakable confusion.
"I love you," she blurted out. "And I don't want to wait around wondering if the next man I hear about dying in Troy is you. I want to be your wife. I want to bear your child."
She gestured wildly with her hands as if trying to organize her own thoughts mid-sentence. "That way, even if you go off chasing kings and wars and glory like an idiot, you'll have something real tying you back to this house."
Her voice wavered. "And I'll know you're not leaving me behind."
"So Aurey, wil you marry me and let me bear your children!"