After years of whispered tales, days spent at sea, and hours of exhausting hiking along the cliffside, it finally stood there, on the rock opposite the path. Pure white and towering, the stone titan of the goddess Athena appeared to guard a long-forgotten city, her gaze fixed on the horizon, her spear lifted toward the sky.
Behind the statue, a temple sheltered a sculpture whose golden glow shimmered in the sunlight. Encircled by marble columns, a sacred bowl seemed meant for ancient rites. Higher still, the cliffs continued to rise, crowned by a lone lighthouse that overlooked the empty drop below.
Though centuries had passed, the buildings remained untouched, and the gardens were kept in flawless order. And yet, not a single sign of civilization appeared anywhere around them. The guardian of the place, standing firm on the rocky height, seemed to shield the site from the elements… and from thieves.
On second thought, approaching any closer might not be the wisest idea.
