The first rays of dawn spilled over Thebes, casting long shadows across the cobblestoreets. The city had not yet woken, the usual m bustle still a few hours away. But Helios was already awake.

  Sitting on the edge of his bed, he g the empty side of the room that as expected, the swordsman was gone. Not that it mattered—Sephiroth could do whatever he wanted.

  Stretg zily, Helios washed up, grabbed his jacket, and stepped out into the air.

  The Colosseum loomed ahead, its grand structure bathed in golden light. Helios strolled in, hands in his pockets, sing the area.

  It didn’t take long to find who he was looking for.

  he training grounds, a short, stocky satyr with a scruffy beard and small horns stood, arms crossed as he yelled at a group of struggling trainees. “e on, e on! My grandma lift more than that, and she’s been a statue for twenty years!”

  Helios smirked slightly. ‘Yeah, that was definitely Phil.’

  Deg to make his presenown, Helios approached. “Good m, I’d like a moment of your time.”

  Phil whipped around, eyes narrowing as he sized up the newer. “And who’re you supposed to be?”

  Helios put on his best polite smile. “Helios. A friend of Zack’s.”

  Phil’s expression didn’t ge. “Yeah? You here to cause trouble?”

  Helios held up his hands in mock surrender. “No, I actually need your help.”

  Phil’s eyes narrowed further, but there was a glint of curiosity. “Oh yeah? With what?”

  Helios answered, “I o buy a house.”

  A long silence.

  Phil blinked. “A house?”

  Helios nodded.

  Phil gave him a once-over. “Kid, you sure you’re not lost? This is a pce for warriors, not real estate.”

  Helios chuckled. “Yeah, well, I’m not picky about where I get my information from. Zae you’re the guy to talk to if I hings done quickly.”

  Phil rubbed his , still skeptical.

  Helios decided to sweeten the deal.

  “Of course, I’d be happy to pay for your help.”

  Instantly, Phil’s demeanor ged. The satyr grabbed Helios’ hand and shook it with surprising strength. “Now that’s what I like to hear! You should’ve led with that, kid.”

  Helios sighed internally. ‘Figures.’

  Phil let go and motioned for Helios to follow. “, I know just the person for the job.”

  Phil led Helios down a side street to a modest-looking building with a wooden sign hanging above the door. The sign read: “Ophelia’s Real Estate & Geifacts – Best Deals in all of Thebes!”

  Helios raised an eyebrow. “Geifacts?”

  Phil grinned. “Don’t ask.”

  Stepping inside, Helios found himself in a cluttered office packed with scrolls, statues, and various tris of questiohenticity. At the desk, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes, curly dark hair, and a shark-like grin as she smelled a great deal approag.

  She was chewing gum loudly and tapping her nails against the desk. The moment she saw Phil, she grinned wider. “PHIL, BABY! You finally buying that vil I told ya about?”

  Phil rolled his eyes. “Not for me, Ophelia. Got a big fish for ya.”

  Ophelia’s eyes lit up as she looked Helios up and down, already calg his worth in her head.

  “Ah-ha! A pleasure, a pleasure! Name’s Ophelia, best real estate broker in town—scratch that, best in Greece! You looking for a home, a temple, a pce to hide from the in-ws? I got it all!”

  Helios chuckled. He liked her already.

  He took a seat in the chair she offered. “I hear you’re the best. I need a house—something with a lot of room, enough to fit about eight people.”

  Ophelia leaned forward, intrigued. “Oh-ho! Eight, huh? Sounds like a family man. You got a wife, kids?”

  Helios smirked. “Something like that.”

  Ophelia winked. “Say no more, I respect a guy who pys his cards close to the chest.”

  She grabbed a scroll from a nearby pile and unraveled it with a dramatic flourish. “Alright, so you want something big. That ain’t a problem. Location preference?”

  “I don’t mind if it’s a bit outside the city,” Helios said casually.

  “Ah, eveer! Quiet! Sic! Perfect for raising a bunch of little warriors!” Ophelia beamed.

  Helios tilted his head. “I also don’t mind if it’s in a dangerous area.”

  Silence.

  Ophelia’s eyes sharpened. She stopped chewing her gum for the first time since he’d arrived. “Run that by me again?”

  Helios smiled as he repeated. “I want a pce surrounded by monsters. Dangerous, isoted, something nobody else would want.”

  Phil’s mouth hung open slightly.

  Ophelia, however? She was grinning like she’d just hit the jackpot.

  “My, my,” she purred, leaning ba her chair. “That is a very iing request, kid. You’re not looking for a house—you’re looking for a fortress.”

  Helios shrugged. “Something like that.”

  Ophelia drummed her fingers on the desk, calg.

  Only an idiot would ask for a house in a monster-filled area, … a very rich idiot.

  She smelled opportunity.

  “Well, well, well,” she said, folding her hands together. “You are in luck, my friend. Because I happen to know of a beautiful property just outside the city—stone walls, spacious interior, and yes—plenty of moo keep out the uninvited guests.”

  Helios grinned. “Sounds promising.”

  Ophelia’s grin matched his. “Now, of course, something this unique es at a premium price.”

  Phil muttered, “Here we go…” under his breath.

  Helios leaned forward, his expression unreadable. “I don’t mind paying, but I don’t like being overcharged.”

  Ophelia feigned offense. “Overcharged?! Me?! Please, sweetheart, I’m practically giving this pce away! But… since you seem like a smart guy, I’ll cut you a special deal.”

  Phil rolled his eyes. “Special, my hooves.”

  Ophelia ignored him.

  She scribbled something on a scroll and slid it across the desk to Helios.

  Helios g the number. Ridiculous.

  He smirked and slid it back. “Cut that in half.”

  Ophelia whistled. “Ooooh, tough guy, huh?”

  Helios shrugged. “You want to sell it or not? I doubt anyone besides me wants that pce.”

  A pause. Then, to Phil’s shock, Ophelia ughed.

  “I like you, kid.” She scribbled a new number. “Seventy-five pert of the inal price.”

  Helios smirked. “Sixty.”

  Ophelia sucked her teeth. “Seventy.”

  Helios leaned back. “Sixty-five.”

  A beat of silehen—Ophelia stuck out her hand. “Deal.”

  Helios shook it.

  Phil exhaled. “’t believe it. You actually haggled with Ophelia and won.”

  Ophelia smirked. “I let him win, Phil. Gotta reward a man who knows how to py the game.”

  Helios chuckled. “So when I see it?”

  Ophelia stood. “How’s right now?”

  Helios grinned. “Lead the way.”

  And with that, the deal was sealed.