Alex didn't want to hear anymore of it, as he stood up, thanked Kal and left the art studio.

He was feeling.....frustrated, walking in quick anxious steps and not minding any of the scenes of the city anymore, he just wanted this to get over with and go back to his world, where at the very least, inside his privilege bubble, he had never seen cruelty of this degree. Aphrodite is evil.....and strong, the most distasteful combination, she apparently controls much of the Hellenic world and exerts just slightly less power than Zeus, while being more involved in politics and ruling as a despot. Even in a city like Olep, who's patron deity was Zeus, the influence that a mere letter from Aphrodite held was incredible. historical

He just couldn't put this aside like he usually does with troublesome matters. It felt like a weight on his shoulders, and being affiliated to the same monster made him feel horrible. He had to get this mission over with. He didn't feel like doing anything anymore, his appetite was cut off and he was feeling empty but didn't have any motivation to do anything to fill that emptiness.

While walking with his head held down, Alex heard a scream and weakly raised his head. Two familiar figures were standing a few dozen meters in front of him, the infamous Aadityapal and the kind-looking monk Padmapani. The former, however, was roaring and charged at him at a very fast speed. Alex felt like he should have reacted more excitedly, maybe feel provoked, and battle him in a fast-paced battle.

But instead, he simply dodged the incoming attack and induced sleepiness in his 'opponent', making the young man look a bit drowsy and try to resist but proceed to collapse. Padmapani ran up to him in a few steps and checked Aadityapal's body, which upon seeing he was merely asleep, thanked Alex and went off with the young man on his back.

Alex shrugged and resumed his walking, making his way from the plebian quarter north to the King's quarter where he was supposed to end this mission and go back to Olympus.

The quarter's entrance was located on a path outside of the main city so he entered the forest outside of the city and went along the path he was given. After a few minutes of meaningless walking, he found himself in front of a tall fortress, one that couldn't conceal, however, the size of the King's castle. It was an autocrat-level caste.

There was a moat surrounding the castle and a gate that turns into a bridge when it was opened. Some soldiers and guards sprinted at him, and asked him about his intent and they looked ready to apprehend him. Alex showed them the letter, and they, of course bowed deeply. It felt disgusting to him.

The soldiers opened the gate and led him inside of the quarter, which held a large navigable garden with exotic varieties of flowers and plants. Despite the garden, the scenery was dominated by the large castle in the center.

One of the soldiers ran off and came back with a man next to him, who introduced himself as the King's councilor, and took the lead from the soldiers and started walking through the garden in the direction of the castle, spouting some nonsense about the plant's origins and the famous architects involved that Alex didn't have a care in the world for.

They entered the castle's interior and found themselves in a large corridor with gargantuan dyed windows with various scenes and giant chandeliers that felt small in the ceiling that was as high as a 5-story building.

Alex hated it, he felt small and insignificant in this place, he didn't want to feel this way anymore. He felt like he was choking.

The corridor was so big, yet it felt claustrophobic.

After walking through needlessly large doors that led god know where, they stopped in front of an even more needlessly large door, and the councilor knocked, immediately after which the door was opened by a dozen soldiers that looked like they were struggling. It was a very unpractical design.

Inside was a heavily ornamented hall and at the deep end of the hall one could find 2 thrones, lit by the coloured sunlight emitted from the stained glass.

On the two thrones were sitting a man and a woman respectively. The man had dirty blonde hair reaching to his shoulders and vibrant blue eyes, all the while wearing the most luxurious-looking layered silk robe he has seen. It looks like they make a lot from tax money.

The woman had similar features to the man, except her hazel eyes and extremely long dress that looked very uncomfortable to walk or sit in.

The councilor led him closer to the thrones and bowed deeply and left, and the 3 were left looking at each other, thinking unknown thoughts.

The man, presumed to be the king, stood up, and bowed lightly and the woman, probably the queen, did the same.

"Well met, sir. May I presume you've something for me and Queen Gina from Lady Aphrodite?" The king asked him politely.

Alex wanted to get this over with, hence he opened his pouch and took out the two cursed objects, the letter and the wooden box. The king and queen looked at the objects with shining eyes, making him sick that they would express such euphoria at the blessings of a witch.

He gave them the two objects and turned around, ready to leave.

He heard the King's voice "Sir, would you by chance wish for a banquet or a room to stay in?"

Alex shook his head without responding. He wanted to return to Olympus and he wouldn't want to sleep in a room with the architectural style of this castle, anyways, it would make him fall sick.

Leaving the throne room while being disgusted that all of the soldiers were kowtowing to him, he made his way back in the corridor, where the councilor from earlier tried to guide him but was ignored by the thoughtless Alex and left too.

Alex therefore left the underwhelming King's quarter and went back to the plebeian's quarter, located the inn where his carriage was 'anchored' and entered the inn, greeted by the smiles of the crew.

Alex also tried smiling lightly, although it looked weak due to his shaking facial muscles. The crew looked to have uncovered his melancholy and one of the crew members asked him if they were going to leave, to which Alex nodded.

He then went upstairs and despite the sun being high up in the clear sky, Alex pulled the curtains to his room and collapsed on the bed, feeling like sleep would be the only distracting way to pass time in this damned boring world.

Alex made his way to the dream world, while the carriage started its tracks to go back to the only place he felt like he could call 'home' in this world.