The South Gate

 Asteria shrugged as Hester swanned off and jumped onto one of the empty workbenches, swinging her legs as they waited. A few minutes in, the door rang, and Alista strode in. She was wearing her uniform, with her shield slung over her shoulder with a vivid red cord.

“Asteria! I’m sorry I’m late! I planned to get here early, but Glafx called me aside. Turns out she just needed some lamp oil changed. Then there were some kids trying to get a kitten out of a ditch. After that, some fool tried to mug someone in front of me. All easy enough— but that’s when rush hour hit, and I couldn’t very well risk injuring civilians!” She laughed boisterously. “I see you made it here alright—oh, Rhei Lochagos.” Alista grew immediately more subdued. “I didn’t see you there. You’re scheduled to be on guard soon, are you not?”

“General,” Rhei greeted. “I am waiting on my equipment, then I’ll head right over.”

“No problem, no problem.” Alista waved it off. “I’m gonna take Asteria over to the Gate once she’s finished up here. You can come with. She’ll be your first cadet after all.”

Asteria glanced over curiously at the unassuming boy. She wouldn’t have expected him to rank any higher than a basic stratiotes. Rhei seemed hesitant, but agreed to accompany them.

Just then, Hester came out, a dagger in each hand, and gesticulated with them wildly.

“You know what, Missy, this was a great idea!” She slashed one blade, now finished with a smooth grip and round hilt, through the air, jabbing a couple of times. “These guys are light as air. I really outdid myself. They’re blades worthy of a god, I’d say! You know, the technique I used on the metal here was really genius because it's incredibly sharp and durable. Kid-me was definitely a prodigy! I’ve actually been working on getting the recipe trademarked! They just won’t approve of me naming it Adamantine, but I really think it's got to be close to the recipe the gods used—Oh my! General Alista! If it isn’t my favorite customer!” Hester beamed.

She tossed the daggers carelessly toward Asteria. Hester raised her hands and wiggled her fingers by Alista’s shield. “I don’t suppose your Aegis needs sharpening?” she drooled over the shield.

Alista rolled her eyes. “Not by you, Hester. Your father will handle that until you take over.” The blacksmith pouted and slunk off to the side.

“You ruin all my fun. Shoo. Shoo shoo.” Hester started to usher them out of the shop.

“How much must I pay you?” Asteria asked, holding up the newly minted daggers.

Hester shrugged. “You’re taking some old scrap off my hands. Take them for free. As for the sheath, I’ll send a bill to the Academy.”

“You said they were worthy of a god.” Asteria countered, disgruntled.

“Everything I make is,” Hester said earnestly.

“Hester, my glove,” Rhei started. She sighed.

“Alright, give it here. I was hoping you wouldn’t catch that. Just use your old glove for one more day, and I’ll fix these glyphs up. Now get out! I can’t bear to look at that Aegis and not touch it!” She shut the door behind them.

“That girl is quite a whirlwind,” Asteria commented.

“Truly.” Alista laughed. “But her skill is undeniable. Despite her age and being born an Ares-blessed in a historically Hephaestus-blessed family, she’s considered one of the leaders of Athens' metalworking industry. If only she wasn’t quite so eccentric.”

“And at times blasphemous,” Rhei joked, glancing toward them from where he led the group through the crowds. The next cobblestone tipped down as he stepped on it, tripping him. Rhei fell flat on his face, clearly encumbered by the layers of fabric he was drowning in. He got up, rubbing at the redness where his nose and cheek had made contact with stone.

“My fault for looking back,” Rhei laughed nasally. He peered over at Asteria, eyes dark and warm. Rhei threw an arm up in a sweeping gesture, his long scarf flaring out behind him. “Welcome to the South Gate!”

They were impressive: barracks and training grounds with top-end facilities stretching out for a distance in the shadow cast by the wall. They even had their own smiths and forges, Asteria noted, which was another point to Hester’s reputation. It was a well-functioning operation, with older guards clearly living in the barracks while younger generations would come in for shifts. Asteria noticed Aerin and Alexander making the trek up a long stairwell to the top of the wall, probably just starting their shifts. Alista explained various duties as they walked, even delving into a riveting discussion of the history of the wall, which Rhei had clearly heard numerous times before.

Eventually they stood before the gate itself, built from massive slabs of marble, which, though utilitarian from the exterior, was elaborately carved with a panorama of the city and flanked by six-meter winged statues of the goddess of victory, Nike.

“And this,” Alista began proudly. “Is one of only four entrances to our Lady’s city, and what we protect with our lives. Come on.” She gestured, heading through the massive arch. She raised a hand to set the soldiers at ease. Once they'd emerged into sunlight on the other side, Alista pointed outward. Asteria followed her finger to the faint shimmer of the force field. It flickered slightly. “Athens has been continuously under siege for thousands of years. While some groups, like Ares’s tribe, prefer to take offensive measures, our city has persisted defensively and predominantly peacefully due to the efforts of Our Lady, our soldiers, and our barrier. Once you join the Guard, Asteria, you are taking on part of our legacy and responsibility to protect Athen’s independence from the titans.”

Asteria nodded absentmindedly. She still planned to leave as soon as she got a chance to speak with Athena.

“General!” Aerin's sudden shout rang out. He leaned far over the parapets hundreds of feet overhead. “Soldier Cycla has returned from reconnaissance, but she is wounded and surrounded by three unknown hostiles!”

Alista slung her shield forward. “Understood!” She barked back, heading back to the gate. “Soldiers, prepare a support squad for Ferazia.”

“Alista.” Aerin interrupted, his voice strained. Alista looked up at him, querying and followed his gaze toward Asteria. She pointed a finger at herself, confused. The general’s expression turned grim.

“If they’re titans, we can’t risk a single second of delay,” she murmured to herself, seemingly coming to a decision. “Shut the gates!” Alista roared, signaling the guards. They hesitated, confused. “That’s an order!” she commanded.

They couldn’t trust the barrier anymore, Asteria realized. Because Asteria had passed through it without permission. The gates shuddered. With a monstrous creak, it fell shut, trapping the three of them and whoever Ferazia was trapped outside.

Alista turned to Rhei and Asteria grimly. “Lochagos Rhei, with me. Trainee, you stay here. The barrier will keep you safe,” she injected false cheer into her voice, not wanting to share her doubts about Athena’s protection with a newbie, unaware that Asteria was able to see the barrier flickering in the sky over Athens for the past few days.

“It is fine,” Asteria dismissed. “I will fight with you.” Her fingers itched towards her daggers, ready to try them out. Alista drew up to her full height.

“It was not a suggestion. It was a command by your general.”

“I will do as I please.”Asteria scoffed. “I have not sworn myself into service yet.”

Alista’s expression tightened. “You may never, with that attitude,” she warned. “But we don’t have time to argue.” She glanced at Rhei. “Lochagos, I’ll leave her in your care. Keep an eye on her, and this can serve as an impromptu entrance exam for the guard.”

Rhei nodded sharply, pulling his scarf up, and with that, they were off, racing across the hard, sandy ground toward Ferazia and the assailants.