Amora's Odyssey ✅

δύο {2}✅

Amora

18, who would have thought it would mean anything? It's just a number, after all, a symbol that mankind created and stuffed with what could be argued as false meaning. All my life I've been told my 18th birthday will be one of the most important days of my life. "Amora you're destined for legendary things," they say. "Amora, storytellers and even the goddesses above will sing of your name once you unlock your true potential." For me, perhaps 18 meant I get freedom, but that was 7 years ago now, and here I was still sheltered on the lonely isle of Kythera. It truly is a magnificent island, surrounded by none other than the beautiful ocean. Not to mention the magnificent statue of Aphrodite in the centre of the island.

I have no idea why but for as long as I could remember, I've always felt a special connection to the statue. Some nights, almost all, I'd find myself unable to sleep, when this happens, I'd climb to the palm of Aphrodite's hand and lay and watch the stars. being that high, so close to the goddess calmed me and always helped me sleep. Others see my night-time detours as a lack of discipline...' others' can also be defined as Kyrina; my guardian, who from what she's told me, was very close friends with my mother. Both of my mothers.

Despite that fact, she's never really told me much about them. I hope more answers come when I finish this training session. Which by the way is a brilliant way to spend my 25th birthday, don't you think? According to Kyrina, these lessons are mandatory, if I miss one I have to face the wrath of a skilled spartan warrior and I doubt at this level I'm prepared for that at all prepared for that.

I was however prepared for her to jump from behind me, quite nearly piercing my skin with her spear. Spartans had many weapons, a spear was most definitely my least favourite, it slowed you down in my opinion. The wisest choice was to be fast, quick on your feet, which is why ever since I trained with Kyrina I always requested my main weapon be a sword. She never let me have a real one though, once again, I had to wait until I was 18.

Now here I was trying to defend myself with a measly iron sword held together by lazy craftsmanship, rope and spit. I dodge her blade, jumping out of her way, and before she could react I break her lousy spear with my arms. I smirk, sticking my tongue out just to rile her up, which probably wasn't the greatest of ideas as she picked up her heavy shield. She swung right but I dodged, and again left thankfully I recovered in time to dodge again.

The heat of the mediterranean sun burns on my back, and my light armour sticks to my torso and makes it harder for me to stay nimble which meant soon I was screwed. Being nimble was my advantage against this malákas old hag.

I love the Greek weather; I'm a huge fan of it. Its a huge contributor to my light brown tanned skin. I've been told by many island folk that my hazel eyes are mesmerizing, I believe once even the word hypnotizing was used to describe them. My long dark brown hair also sticks to the sweat on my back. I had no time to tie my hair. but strands hung in front of my eyes annoying the shit out of me. I puffed out a large amount of breath causing it to fly back up hoping that would do the trick. It did for about a second, but then it falls back down in front of my field of vision. I sigh slouching, Kyrina took this as her moment to pounce, holding her shield in front of her and enthusiastically screaming, "THIS IS SPARTA!"

I'm knocked off my feet and to the uneven and loose rocks beneath me.

"Argh, you malákas!" I winced in pain at the new scar I'd be welcoming on my arm. "There was no need for so much enthusiasm."

"A spartan has every need, however, you need to stop giving me openings to strike you down. Other than that, you did okay." She crouched in of me offering her hand.

Being told I did okay was the best I could get from her. Rarely when she was in a good mood I'd get a pat on the back, she'd tell me she was proud, and I wouldn't have to go hunting for dinner.

I took her hand and she pulled me up, "I was thinking about my hair." I shrugged.

She rolled her eyes. "Aye Amora...." she rolled her r's which meant her thick Greek accent was coming through, I'm very observant and now know that I'm about to sit through a lecture on how "I'm now of age" and I should take things seriously, blah blah blah something about the fate of the world being in my hands, which made no sense so it's probably time I zone back in.

"Rewind," I interrupted her speech, "the fate of the world?"

She glared at me, enough to strike enough fear in me that I felt ashamed I wasn't listening. Then she simply just sighed. "Amora, you're no ordinary girl,"

"You're the heir to the throne of Sparta."

I laughed. "Then why am I here, on the crappiest island in Greece, where I could be in Laconia," I cleared my throat "Living it up," I say in quotation marks.

"Because you're not safe in Sparta, your parents-"

"They died because of me?" I cut in. I looked over at her and she gives me those sad eyes. "It's not like that Amora," she struggled to get out her next words as if the reason was too painful to remember. "They had their reasons, reasons they thought would benefit Sparta, and if Sparta had not benefited then there would be nowhere for you to come back to."

My initial thought was how selfish that came across as. What about me? Wouldn't coming back to my parents alive be better?

"I understand," I lied to somehow help move the conversation on from this.

"They are expecting us by sunset, gather your things, we leave after you're ready." Kyrina quickly ended the conversation.

I huffed dropping my iron sword to the floor and taking off my battered and bruised breastplate. Hm, if I was royalty don't they think they would've given me better armour, something much better than a rusty iron sword to play with all these years? I stopped up the stairs of our stone house.

Maybe I would miss it here, I've grown very comfortable in life here and I don't think the change will be welcomed that easily. I opened my room door and saw a set of clothes on the bed. The robes were dark blue with brown and gold linings around their neck and sleeves. the trousers were the same colour and had the same lining but were baggy and comfortable enough for me to manoeuvre around quickly in them, just how I liked it.

The golden arm guards shone brightly in from the hot sun of the island, it looks like real gold, which could only be afforded by the richest of the richest. Along with the boots that sat at the bottom of my bed, they were brown leather, apart from the fact that my gear would probably sweat if they were perfect for moving around quietly.

In admiring my new clothes, I noticed a note beside it.

"Her highness always deserves the best, I've been watching over you for 18 years now, watched you grow into the beautiful and strong woman you are today; your mother would be so proud of you Amora, I know I am. I'll always be with you, my child. And I'll be waiting for you. - A"

Somehow as I read the note, I felt the same odd connection as I felt with the statue of Aphrodite. My heart was warm, and my mind was at ease. Kyrina was way too stuck up to play a trick like this. Plus, it required her to be nice, definitely not one of her strong points.

I wasted no time in putting on the very generous gift from A. Despite all the gold, I felt as light as a feather.

"Amora, get your ass down here now you little shit," Kyrina demanded from below.

I grabbed the note and swiftly placed it in a pocket as I ran downstairs and outside.

"Malákas," I murmured under my breath.

-

NEW A/N : Follow me on Instagram (writings_of_artemis) and twitter (artemis_writing) for updates and sneak peeks of my WIP's and future projects!
Don't forget to vote comment and share!!
Love y'all
-Artemis
Ciao✨