《Spartan Reincarnation》


 Chapter 1: Rebirth Chapter 1

    <h4>Chapter 1: Rebirth Chapter 1</h4>


    <strong><i>CRASH</i></strong>


    <i>"Someone call 911!" </i>


    People ghastly yell and cry around me as Iy on the road after getting hit by a Ford truck and each breath bes fainter and fainter.


    <i>"My Son!"</i> I see my dad running to me with the rest of my family close behind, Is this the end of my life? I had so much more to do...


    "D-d-d-ad am I going to be okay?"


    "Yes son, <i>don''t </i>close your eyes!" Everyone around me starts screaming for help and the rest of my family also centers around me as every single secondes by harder and harder. Until I close my eyes for thest time and everything falls silent.


    <i>.</i>


    <i>.</i>


    <i>.</i>


    <i>"Is this death? just silence..." The peacefulness is suffocating and painful...</i>


    <i>.</i>


    <i>.</i>


    <i>.</i>


    <strong><i>"Child you are not too worry"</i></strong>


    "Is that a <i>voice</i>?" I start to look everywhere in this abyss until suddenly a pure light shines through, piercing my eyes and making me look away.


    "I don''t understand, why just why did my life end like this?" I scream for a response and the blinding light dims allowing me to eye the 7-foot figure in front of me. A beautiful feminine body and face with ever-expanding wings of pure glowing white an angel through and through.


    <strong><i>"Child this is not your end this is just your beginning."</i></strong> the angel says to me lightly, so light it is hard to hear.


    Everything then disappears and I close my eyes praying for the angel to exin more...


    <i>Until</i>


    <i>I open my eyes again</i>


    <i>I am being held and my vision is limited</i>


    <i>I see my small arms; I must be a baby again</i>


    <i>I just died yet... I''m here?</i>


    <i>I just turned 18 and received a full-ride schrship to the college of my dreams</i>


    <i>I was supposed to do great things... but I lost it all through death.</i>


    Wait, maybe this is another chance, maybe this is my new journey the angelic spirit is talking about! Maybe I''m reincarnated back when I was a baby, if so I can make sure our family invests in Te or something bringing us the richness we never had!


    Suddenly someone begins speaking! I try to see the person that is speaking yet my infant eyesight renders me unable to do so. Thenguage ispletely foreign to me as well, maybe I just have to relearn English? Albeit that doesn''t make sense..


    <strong><i>*Dumps*</i></strong>


    I scream and kick as a form of protest while being submerged while the taste of wine enters my being. I double-check and taste it again and indeed it is wine. I doubt my parents would ever do this. Maybe this <i>isn''t </i>reincarnation? Am I in hell then it would make sense for this situation but I thought I lived an honest life and the angel told me this was just my beginning.


    They continue talking in anguage I don''t understand. As I am held in the wine bath by these strangers, I feel multiple hands testing me.


    I start kicking at the men and biting so I can be taken away from the wine and the hands to try to start my new life with peace. The strangers continue speaking in an alien dialect until I am then released from the wine but now I feel as though I''m being transported somewhere else. They travel for several minutes, I act calm and try to look around yet can''t see anything useful with my limited senses.


    All the voices begin to resume their muttering until theypletely stop walking. They all speak hard and gruff, seemingly taking whatever is going on dead seriously. Then one of them gets close to my face and I see their Mediterranean features and wearing a Corinthian helmet! This can''t be happening. My family would never do this.. does this mean I''ve been reincarnated with some type of <i>cosyers</i>? Maybe my parents just had some very weird habits before I could start to remember, yet only one thing is for certain and that is I''m hungry and this feeling is horrid.


    I begin to w at the man wearing a Corinthian helmet carrying me and once I''m put down, I arch my brow inward and start kicking and punching air fiercely hoping to retrieve food. Yet I stop once my senses kick in at the acknowledgement the only food I will be able to havees from a woman, not a filet mignon or even Tofu.


    The men continue to mutter all in varied tones of praise I reckon. They pick me up and I get brought back to my original surroundings and am ced in a woman''s arms presumably my mother''s.


    She speaks in seeming words of praise like the men from earlier, her voice having a tone of masculinity. After she finishes speaking and ces me in the arms of a man in spartan armor he then speaks passionately to me. He raises me high not with a smile but instead with a sad face, the man then leaves the house with me in what could only be described as an ancient crib.


    I fall asleep due to my infant urges and ept my current predicament. Perhaps this is just a rocky start to my new beginning. The next day then follows and I am picked up and fed by my mother. It is deeply embarrassing to have regressed to this point if only I could''ve spawned in as at least a 10-year-old.


    Father remains nowhere to be seen as I am switched from the hands of my mother to instead to another young woman. The woman cradles me extensively allowing me peace in what seems to be apletely different world. From my limited senses, everyone wears simple cloaks and the houses hold nothing modern.


    As the weeks go by I begin to pick up on more social cues between my mother and what hase to be my main caretaker. Her name seemingly being Anastasia and she calls my mother by some honorific following with the name Laurel. As my sight grows the furniture around me presents soft andfortable shapes none being stic or modern all being wooden or leathery. The walls all being dried mud and the ceilings seemingly being y.


    I must not be reincarnated in my world! Is this potentially like one of those anime with magic? Perhaps I''m in a different time period if so I will be at an advantage due to my studious background.


    The weeks turn into months and I can begin to understand phrases and the social hierarchy between the two women that care for me. Anastasia mainly cares for me and does all the duties of the house while Laurel, my birth mother mainly practices instruments like a lyre. She also bosses Anastasia around and frequently yells clear profanities at her, sometimes even dealing out a smack.


    Laurel even begins to purposefully put me in the dark but whatever method of parenting she is trying to ce on me holds no use. My face turns to stone as I just find the darkness as a yground for my imagination. She turns proudly to me though after she finishes her parenting every single time and then she leaves me with Anastasia.


    Eventually, my legs grew strong enough to allow me to walk. On this monumental day of my newfound freedom, I walk outside with the supervision of Laurel.


    .


    .


    I look out and see everyone wearing the same cloaks as we do. Not just that but the aged men wear Corinthian helmets the same helmets worn from the 300... Am I in Sparta? I turn to Laurel and she makes a rare polite face.


    "Ma-ma we Sparta?"


    "Yes, my son!" She picks me up proudly and then quickly puts me down.


    I sit in disbelief...

 Chapter 2: Helots Chapter 2

    <h4>Chapter 2: Helots Chapter 2</h4>


    <strong><i>Year 3</i></strong>


    <i>Sparta, a famed city-state known for its militaristic culture and having its own children thrown off the cliff for not being strong enough. They rose into power in the ssical era and almost controlled all of Greece and then in the end they practically became a little vige with famed mercenaries.</i>


    <i>A hell hole where I have to be a soldier until I''m 60 and leave my home at 7 to be an expert in such. My whole life belongs to the state, whoever that "angel" is they must beughing their ass off inside the pearly gates.</i>


    <i>In my 3 years, I have mastered the Ancient Greek tongue and have adapted myself to acting my age. In my past life, I nned to major in history and despite Ancient Greece not being a key learning point for the major I still had a distinct interest in it. So at the very least, I can know what to expect in the future and hopefully not dawn too much of a painful existence.</i>


    <i>Laurel has enjoyed giving me wine baths with the frequent statement of them being beneficial for my health as I try to reason with her on how that makes no sense. My rebuttals get rewarded by my thumb being bitten.</i>


    <i>My primary caretaker and the housemaid Anataisha is a helot. I havee to learn this from the slurs Laurel dishes out. I feel horrible for the helots as they do no wrong and are the backbone of Spartan agriculture and outnumber us by a heavy margin around 7:1. They cannot rise in social sses only in the most obscure cases they can rise to even artisans. They were conquered by the Spartans in pre-700 BC and have been treated as halfway between ves and serfs ever since.</i>


    <i>I have been learning their ancient alphabet, numerical system, and all other things associated withmon knowledge in the real world. Anatasha being my teacher and listening to my request for this to be kept secret. It doesn''t need to be kept secret but I would prefer this to be kept to my advantage in case there is a future test where I would be underestimated in this sense.</i>


    <i>Not only mentally have I been trying to hone in advantages but also physically as I always eat like a starving animal and make sure to pick the healthiest options to foster a physical presence. In my previous life I took the liberty of undereating and in turn, always being picked on. Now knowing my mistake I will not allow that to happen again.</i>


    "Young master please wake up, it''s time for breakfast." Anastasiaes into my room as I sleep, she is a beautiful woman that would turn the hearts of any man. I''m under the assumption that she works as a domestic servant instead of aborer like most helots due to her fragile build.


    "Thank you Anastasia" I nod my head and smile.


    "Oh you are too sweet young master, I just might eat <i>you </i>up for breakfast haha." Sheughs and Iugh back until her stomach grumbles.


    I travel to our in dining room and eat with my mother across from me. Anastasia doesn''t eat breakfast with us as there is no kind dynamic held by Laurel with her so she instead is likely sweeping my room. Eventually, we finished and Laurel waved me to head out.


    Food is still on the table to spare and I am much too full. Anastasia must be hungry herself. I walk to my room and look up at Anastasia. She is not by a far shot a tall woman but I am the tender age of 3.


    "Anastasia I ate all of my food and there is nothing left. Are you proud of me?" I hand her a bowl of ssic spartan blood soup and she gives me wide eyes.


    "Now you know I can''t ept that, I already have rations from my family back on thend."


    "ept what? There is no food left!" I thrust the bowl in front of her.


    "Okay, I understand young master. You are much too sly for your own good." She then bends over and hugs me, warming me up with a smile. I then ran off to Laurel to make up for lost time.


    "Damon, it''s time for us to visit the markets. It will be great for Anastasia to make her pork soup for dinner." Laurel tells me with her striking brown eyes that leave no sign of warmth.


    "Ok, Mother. Sooo when can I expect to see my father?" I ask while we walk through the city without holding hands since it is a sign of affection and in Spartan society such outward emotion can be a bad omen or my mother is just a cruel individual.


    "Damon, he will be able to live with us in a few more years. Just be patient and walk more proudly." She answers devoid of emotion and her fierce gaze makes me listen to her demand.


    "Yes, mother... Mother, do you yourself know how to cook?" I look out and see the enforced garments to be worn by helots passing by us consisting of poor animal skins as clothes and leather caps to mark their social ss allowing any willing person to assault them if they find a private ce too.


    "Yes, but there is no need to. We have Anastasia to do it for us, her family has worked for our admittedly smaller plot ofnd for centuries. They are some of the best of the helot lineage one can ask for."


    We continue to scroll to the markets and purchase our items from the perioeci. They are middle-ss citizens,monly merchants and artisans. They are able to join the military on their own will but they are not able to participate in any sort of politics in the Spartan diarchy. The Spartan diarchy is a monarchy with 2 kings instead of one. This is so one king can defend our city while another can go and conquer anynds they deem fit or die trying to. Yet the main leading figures are the ephors who run for only one year and control the actions of the state.


    We continue walking and see amon pastime of a couple of boys aged 13-17 kicking arge-sized helot man constantly in an alley.


    "<i>Please</i> stop, I''ve done nothing!" the helots scream but the boys smile while kicking him, others pay no mind no matter what social ss.


    "You see the helots, you will be like them if you can''t show your pure Spartan lineage. It will be your first taste in warfare by killing some of the helots for sport most likely. Just because you have trained well for your toilet duties since you were walking doesn''t make you a true Spartan" she says chuckling.


    "..Why isn''t the helot fighting back he has a chance of winning?"


    "Well that''s simple, a Spartan can beat a helot but a helot can never beat a Spartan. Since if a helot did beat a spartan that is a criminal offense for a spartan could never lose to one unless a helot found a non-honorable way to win."


    This shows how in ancient times people found a way to divide themself into sses and justify being better than a group of people. Ancient Sparta shares many characteristics of a Jim Crow USA or a modern-day China against the Uyghurs.


    Sadly I do understand the benefits of this as it weakens the helots and shames them to the point they never get the idea to use their numbers and take out the Spartan oppressors. Just like imperialism when ves were brought over and not allowed to read so they saw nothing beyond their now which made them mentally weak.


    Yet I firmly believe there are much more moral ways and better ways to go about leading people through differences. Like Martin Luther King jr leading the civil rights movement or Nelson Mand. Maybe though this is why I''m here, to make a different history of Sparta. Instead of a war-loving and eventually war-torn nation, I can instead make it and of equality and prosperity. From here on out I want to put myself in the proper political situation to undo these early time acts of degeneracy, no matter how many aristocrats and opposers want to go against me.

 Chapter 3: Agesipolis Chapter 3

    <h4>Chapter 3: Agesipolis Chapter 3</h4>


    <strong><i>3 yearster</i></strong>


    <i>My sizepared to others my age is slightlyrger than most yet it isn''t anything to note. I also have mastered how to read and write in theirnguage yet so far all my work in this skill has yet to have been of any use.</i>


    <i>Laurel has taught me much in gymnastics, dancing, and throwing none of which I have had any clue how to sessfully do previously. While Anastasia who I see most often and have the closest rtionship with has taught me much. She has taught me how to cook ancient cuisine and has also taught me about helot customs which are substantially different then spartan ones.</i>


    <i>I still have not seen my father and this is thest year to see him. I am not saddened though as none of them are my real family. I''ve now lived here for 6 years yet I have not built any true friendships besides Anastasia, every night I remember my real family and how I miss them.</i>


    <i>*Knock*</i>


    <i>*Knock*</i>


    "Mother, do you want me to open the door?"


    "Quickly"


    I stand up and quickly go to the door being knocked and open it. A man stands and quickly enters with what possibly could be a tear going down his face even if it is though he quickly wipes the side of his face. The man wears a stubble with long blonde hair and fair skin. He has notably striking blue eyes that lock onto my own pair of eyes.


    "I''m d you look so excited, Darius you must''ve turned 30, yes?" Laurel enters from just around the corner and he immediately smiles.


    "Yes my love, I have yearned for your touch ever since getting reprimanded!"


    He then closes the door and picks me up.


    "Tell me son what have I missed! I can see you have my hair and your mom''s eyes." He tells me at eye level, allowing me to notice his many scars as he takes off his gear. I noticed an extremely long one from his shoulder all the way down to his wrist.


    I then told my father everything he missed. Unlike Laurel, he seems to show more affection. Laurel eyes him to put me down, so he instead ces his arm over my shoulder.


    "You have been so sessful; in a couple years you can achieve anything I''m sure of it" My father brings a wide grin and starts patting me on the back.


    "He is going to the agoge next year" Mother interrupts, causing his face to flinch.


    "That''s fine, that just means this year will be special, I can do anything you want until that thing happens."


    "Can you teach me how to use the spear and sword?"


    "Of course, it''s important for us to do this due to my permament stationing in the barracks. I''ve not been able to teach you and for us to share those happy expierences which is something I feel sorry. Unlike many other fathers in the barracks haha.. Laurel may I excuse myself"


    "Yes, also once you go outside don''t be so affirmative, we don''t want to lose more of our family''s honor by silliness."


    "I know my dear"


    He then takes me outside and shows me three weapons the 7ft spear, 16-inch spartan short sword known as Xiphos, and 25-inch curved sword known as the kopis.


    "That''s a kopis yes, What are they used for?" I say my interest peaked.


    "Yes, my son, this is a kopis used for cutting meat and a great hacking and thrusting weapon. Which weapon would you like to use"?


    "May I use the kopis"


    "Of course, I am quite good with the kopis, don''t tell anyone but I don''t like the Xiphos short sword because sometimes I feel unprotected due to its shortness" he whispers in my ear for others to not hear and chuckles.


    He then starts instructing me on how to use the kopis we use silver despite my young age because other citizens watch us with nces from what I can infer my family isn''t that notable and my father getting caught sneaking out and having me while he probably was supposed to be in the barracks hasn''t helped.


    "You''re not attacking quick and strong enough if others keep on viewing, they will question you privately lowering your possible social rank in the future... You don''t want to be a spartan like me, son."


    "I''m sorry Father I''ll do better"


    I then try hitting and thrusting harder with nods of approval being sensed by the spartan citizens passing by.


    The young king King Agesipolis then approaches unapanied, many citizens look at him admiringly. In Spartan culture, maturity is reached at age 20 and so he is still under his regency for three more years. His regent must be allowing him to travel unapanied and as he is king to be.


    Luckily for him, he is a first born born meaning he never has to or had to attend the agoge. Likely due to fear of the royal blood dying while attending the 10-year-long hell.


    He reced his father Pausanias just 2 years ago due to leading a horrible loss that shamed Sparta causing him to be exiled. He was already on rocky ground due to emcing democracy back in Athens after the military general Lysander reced their traditions with a pro-spartan autocracy. This brought outrage in Lysander''s sphere of influence to which the other king Agesus belonged. Due to my knowledge of ancient Greece, the other king Agesus had a romantic rtionship with the general and so he and the former king Pausanias were nemeses.


    "Outside the barracks hmm." the young kingments to my father with, his well-fed muscles popping out in his red spartan cloak.


    "Yes just training my boy young king" my father nods his head respectfully.


    "It''s best to leave the teaching to mentors which the boy is too young to receive. Yet he can already learn from his mother, Athena knows I learned much from my own!" The young king chuckles heartily at his ill advice.


    "You must be right, King Agesipolis, is that all?" my father starts to noticeably sweat from his brow.


    "No"


    The young king then walks over to me and kicks me in the stomach with my father watching.


    <i>Kick...</i>


    <i>Kick...</i>


    <strong><i>Kick...</i></strong>


    Everything in my body hurts as Iy on the dirt in a fetal position praying for it to stop.


    <i>.</i>


    <i>.</i>


    <i>.</i>


    <i>Why, just why am I here? What does that angel want from me?</i>


    "Now that is all. You were training your boy too lightly, every single time he trains he must return to his home with fresh bruises showing his work."


    "I understand" My father clenches his fist behind his back as I slowly stand.


    "Thank you King Agesipolis" I look him dead in the eye and his own eyes seem to open a little. This is why I''m here.. ce this country under my boot and will it into a <i>utopia</i>.

 Chapter 4: Diamastigosis Chapter 4

    <h4>Chapter 4: Diamastigosis Chapter 4</h4>


    "You will make a fine spartan someday," he tells me and then walks off afterward. I notice some crowding after the whole ordeal.


    "Oh my, your boy really took some. He must have been doing the proper prayer to a god. Which one have you been praying to, boy?" An old spartan asks me with his eyes sparkling.


    I firmly don''t believe in the polytheism of the ancient Greek world following a womanizer in Zeus and a family with more drama than the gossip girls back in the modern day.


    "None that you are thinking of." I coolly reply and everyone makes a surprised expression due to my pragmatic answer. My father and I then make the walk back home.


    "Son... I''m sorry about what happened."


    "It''s okay I understand that it''smonce" I then walk to my room and hurl over from my pain.


    The next day begins like any other as we eat breakfast. Anastasia has a much more rxed posture in the presence of my father.


    "Have you heard, Darius?" Mother waits for a response as Father gobbles down his bread and cheese.


    "No, what is it, my dear?"


    "Diamastigosis is today. We will go to the temple of Artemis to watch the bravery of the young boys."


    Father coughs a little on his food and responds. "Well that''s grand, we must go" he ushers in a polite smile.


    "Maybe you can even join Damon, wouldn''t that be an honor" Mom eyes me for a response.


    "Well-" I start to speak but am interrupted by my father. "That wouldn''t do much good, he is but a boy."


    "Well, we will go and see." She ends the discussion and we then venture out to the Artemis temple for some time all by sandals and feet.


    Arge number of Spartans attend the eventpletely crowding the temple. Eventually, everyone settles and the leader of the event steps forward.


    "<i>Spartans</i>! This year we will have 10 children for the altar to have the honor of cing the goddess Artemis on our sides! May she bear healthy Spartan warriors and grant us enough food to supply ourselves in the continued conflict against our enemies!" the announcer yells making the whole temple echo despite there being no closed walls, only an open space ofnd.


    The crowd erupts and the announcer makes expressive hand gestures to formalize this useless ritual. Then on duty, young Spartans under the age of 30 begin taking every child in the area up one by one. Eventually, I get brought up too in the center stage next to several other young boys. This is not my first time attending Diamastigosis but it is the first time to be ced in the center.


    "Out of all these boys, the 10 with the loudest cheers will have the honor of this celebration!" then one by one every one of us gets about 10 seconds worth of cheers. The boys smile at the gesture, happy for the apuse and the honor of standing in the center. Once it gets to my turn my cheers are noticeably loud. Many probably heard the rumor of my encounter with the young king Agesipolis.


    "Thank you Spartans and now I will announce who has been <i>chosen</i>!" the announcer yells at the top of his lungs pouring his heart into this useless event as every boy gets picked.


    A medium-sized boy with arge Greek nose gets chosen next to me and then it bes my turn.


    "And <i>you</i>" the announcer points at me "These young Spartans are chosen for the altar!" the crowd rumbles and it feels as if my body is melting. I still feel horrible after the beat down by the king himself and now I''m chosen to get beaten until I die or draw sufficient blood.


    "Isn''t this exciting?" The boy with therge nose looks me up and down.


    "Sure, if you are suicidal.. wait no yes this is <i>super </i>fun." I fake my excitement as I would be the only boy chosen to be disappointed and as eyes watch me I need to outwardly embrace their barbaric traditions to foster a sphere of influence. At least for now as I can''t gain any notoriety any other way, all the other boys are exploding with excitement as I just scratch my head.


    "So what is ya name fellow Spartan chosen warrior brotha?" Therge-nosed boy continues speaking.


    "My name is Damon what about you"


    "Nikos, good to meet ya!" We shake hands and then the announcer shows he is ready to continue to speak after he worries he lost his voice for a moment.


    "Now are you all ready!'''' The crows scream yes thus bringing outrge priests out of the shadows and into the limelight with whips fit to draw blood from children.


    "Then let''s <i>gooooo!</i>" the announcer finishes and leaves the arena leaving us boys.


    At first, the priests from the shadows just crackle their whips, any boy showing a flinch gives the audience a murderousugh. Then they start to whip us one by one at first lightly bringing us some bruising. Next, they bring out buckets and put each one of us into one.


    The first true whip strike finds its target, a boy immediately falls down on all fours but does not give up any more ground inside his bucket. The whips find each and every one of us and most boys find the strength to stay silent. I manage too as I feel blood start to drain from my back and into my own bucket.


    The whippings continue as more and more boys begin to fall with only a few left standing including Nikos. I begin to lightly groan from the pain as what feels like electricity climbs into and spreads throughout my whole body after every single hit.


    Buckets begin to fill and some boy goes unconscious, I fall onto one knee leaving Nikos as the only one left standing. He releases a painful smile and holds it, not allowing any noise to leave his mouth. As a chronological 24 year old I bring myself back up not just wanting to win this ceremony for notoriety but also to oust someone 1/4 of my experience.


    Finally, Nikos falls both his and my bucketpletely filled, unlike many other Spartan boys whose bodies failed them at the halfway mark.


    "The event is finished! Our Spartan boys showed the best show we could ask for, Lycurgus the inventor of the event himself couldn''t be more proud as he wreakswful havoc for Hades!" Both Nikos and I drop into our own blood pool, I know for sure I have fully extended myself and lost more blood than I ever should have allowed myself to.


    Every boy is taken out of their altar andid down with what seems to be a celebratory cloak for some rest.


    "Hey, good job out there ya really made me push myself for Artemis. She must be giving Sparta gifts as we speak!" Nikos smiles this time rxed.


    "Yes, she must truly give Sparta some good cheese next year!" I know she won''t as Artemis isn''t real but if she was it would be a great gift as the Spartans have no clue on what tastes good as I yearn for the taste of mozzare cheese or jpeno cheese.


    Nikos startsughing at myment and we look over and see two boys being carried by parents looking down.


    "They must-a not have made it..." Nikos starts to frown and so do I, this pointless ritual has caused the death of two 6-year-old boys for nothing. I pat Nikos on the shoulder avoiding any whipping marks so he doesn''t wince from pain. Our parents thene up to us minus the appearance of Nikos''s father giving us delighted expressions.


    "I''m so d your ali-served Artemis so well my boy. One day you might even be an Olympian for Zeus himself!" my father says, rubbing my hair.


    "I agree, you truly made our family line proud up there. May our family line be on the side of the gods" she prays.


    We then eventually headed back home and I then had to bear the pain of hearing my parents having intercourse through the whole night. After the event, I noticed a change in the ways others treat my family. As we get more items we head to the market for the same price and get approving nods. This brings a jovial mood yet it still doesn''t make up for the mountain of scars that span on my body.

 Chapter 5: Siles Chapter 5

    <h4>Chapter 5: Siles Chapter 5</h4>


    <strong><i>8 monthster</i></strong>


    <i>Every day I train with my father Darius after he does his own training in the barracks outside our town to continue the Corinthian war. It is a blessing that he made it back home. The year should be 393 BC meaning there is a year of no fighting between the city-states so both sides can regroup.</i>


    <i>This war started only 9 years after the Peloponnesian War, Sparta obtained hegemony over Greece through its aggressive imperialism encouraged by Lysander. In the Peloponnesian War Corinth and Thebes allied with Sparta under the Peloponnesian League against Athens due to its own imperialism.</i>


    <i>Once the Peloponnesian league won the spoils majorly favored Sparta leaving her allies with little causing a bad taste in every city-state''s mouth. So with the sway of coins from the Persians to the disgruntled city-states, they found it suitable to gang up on the aggressive Spartans. </i>


    <i>If the main timeline holds true the Spartans will hold off against the Corinthians, Thebians, and Athenians as Persia flip-flops sides for their own benefit.</i>


    <i>Thus allowing the Greeks to grow weaker and the Persians always being the deciding factor in their affairs. Once my wish to grow in notoriety and be a leader holds true I am sure I will need to vanquish any ability of the Persians to contest my ns.</i>


    Today is just another normal day as I dart to breakfast with Father already heading out the door to go back to the barracks to eat with hismunal group of syssitia as required in Spartanw. Laurel rubs her belly now already being 6 months into her pregnancy meaning I will have a younger sibling.. like I did back in my past life.


    I quickly eat breakfast and Anastasia gives an approving nod to my eating habits. My diet mainly consists of eggs, cheese, and bread but I also venture outside to find any herbs which my father told me are good to eat, giving me a well-rounded diet.


    "Mother, may I go out to y with Nikos?" She gives me an approving nod as she knits and so I run out to find my hard-nosed friend.


    Despite chronologically being in my mid-twenties I would admit I mentally have not grown past 18 and physically I am 6 1/2. So being friends with a 6-year-old is a necessity since there are no boys my mental age to befriend as they are all in the agoge plus it''s just being like an older brother to Nikos.


    "What''s up, Nikos!" I wave at Nikos and he runs over. I expect a handshake or a chest bump but instead, he gives me a nice push to the ground. We go at it for a while testing out different moves on each other ranging from double leg, single leg, sweep the leg, and other moves that cause a lot of abuse of the legs, specifically the knees.


    "Hey, can I y" a little red-haired boy walks up to us and Nikos scratches the back of his head.


    "What''s yur name and age boy? Nikos looks him over and spits on the ground.


    "I''m Georgios and I''m 6 years old but I''m turning 7 pretty soon."


    "You can join, we should be attending the agoge the same year so it''s good for us to get to know each other." I go up and shake his hand with aforting smile.


    "Are ya sure we should y with him, Damon? He is quite small, I reckon he can break easily." Nikos chuckles at the redhead making him blush.


    "Yes I''m sure and all about you test your theory out!" I yfully push him to the ground and he scrubs the dirt off. The three of us all go to war with each other to no end and eventually add sticks to ourbat. With the added weaponry I easily dismantle both Georgios and Nikos.


    "Woah how are you that good?!" Georgios turns wide-eyed and even Nikos can''t hold in a stoic face.


    "My father trains me whenever he can, all about your fathers?" They both quickly look down, making me regret my question.


    "My father died during the battle of Haliartus, he died a spartan death and died the best way a Spartan could ask for. I like to believe he died fighting right beside Lysander against the nasty Thebian traitors!" Nikos beats his chest and picks up his stick, shing at what seems to be a Thebian.


    "I''m sorry for his absence" I pat him on the shoulder wishing to tell him it all could be avoided if either side had any true respect for human life.


    "How about you Georgios?" I look at him up and down his appearance being akin to a rabbit instead of a future bloodthirsty warrior.


    "Well I''ve only ever seen my father a few times. My mother tells me he has been enjoying mentoring an Agoge boy so that''s where he spends much of his time." Georgios begins to twiddle his thumbs while looking down away from us.


    "Hey, all about we continue ying" I yfully punch both of them and we all continue until the day ends. I feel ignorant for asking the question, history doesn''t poprize telling personal stories of sadness.


    Theck of father figures should be expected as there was little to no father figure presence in Spartan life. I walk home alone feeling drenched in sweat and soreness.


    "Hey kid" I look over and see a very old preacher approach me.


    "Yes sir?''


    "I just wanna tell you that I foresee great things ahead for you. I sense you will be a warrior for the gods and aplish all you set out to do!" The old preacher gives fanatic hand expressions and grabs my shoulder.


    "Thank you, how many people have you told this to?"


    "Just you but I n on telling all that will listen."


    "Your visions will prove not wrong preacher, I promise you that." I wave goodbye to the preacher and then enter my home drained from the busy day. I fall asleep quickly being put to ease with my routine life of ying and learning.


    The next day no one greets me leaving to wander into the dining room with no breakfast apparent. Seems as though everyone decided to stay in? I then hear groaning from my parent''s room and venture off into it.


    "Oooh" Laurel groans holding her belly as she tries to release my little sibling to the world. Anastasia is right in front of her being ready for anything at y.


    "Your okay honey" my father reassures her passionately rubbing his hand against her.


    "Get him out I don''t want him seeing me like this!" My mother yells in agony pointing at me and my father gives me a worrisome look. I exit the room and use up my time by heading over to y with Georgios and Nikos.


    I then travel back to the house once the sun sets and once I enter my house my father is in the corner holding liquor in hand. "Ya know boy I tell ya-your uh-mom was the prettiest- *burp* woman I everid my eyes on." he slurs his words together and has dried tears in ce.


    "What happened, father?"


    "She died during childbirth son, she failed her duty as a Spartan woman to bear as many Spartan warriors as the <i>damned </i>state wants."


    He throws his bottle across the room and stands up. "Anastasia bring me <i>my </i>son!" he growls and Anastasia slithers in appearance with a newborn baby.


    "The Gerousia are waiting to inspect the baby. I alerted the local Spartans about his birth; they cane any minute to take him." Anastasia looks up at the drunken man in worry, the same as I do.


    "They <i>will </i>try." Darius leaves and enters his room once hees back into sight he is fully in his uniform and equipment.


    "Father, whatever you n to do, please be rational. What would happen if the baby has no parents?" He ignores my question, whatever he is nning is not going to be good for my little brother.


    Eventually, the local Spartans knock on the door waiting for it to be opened. Father readies his spear as Anastasia and I stand at the side with my newborn brother.


    "Open up, Darius, we are here for the new Spartan youth and to transport your wife to a proper resting ce. She won''t have a proper burial though due to her death in childbirth" an old-sounding spartan speaks and my father''s face pours into anger.


    "This is <strong><i>MY </i></strong>family. None of you will take any more of them from me."


    The Spartans kick the door down and ready themselves for battle against Darius my father. Dariusunches at them thrusting his spear without reason against them.


    Each attack does nothing as his breaths be more and more rugged and strung out.


    The Spartans then turn to the offensive first striking deep into his leg and then into his arm. Thest thrust aimed for the neck leaving Anastasia to break her silence.


    "Please spare him!" She yells with tearsing down and my own face having a tear fall.


    "By the love of Aphrodite shut the hell up, helot!" One of the Spartans yells and he finishes the thrust into his neck. The Spartan then pulls out his spear and remains calm with therge scar across his face showing his warrior past. Darius dies instantly at the strike, and the baby cries being unsettled by all the chaos.


    The Spartans take turns spitting on the dead man that was once named Darius holding no sympathy for their brother in arms.


    "He never was a good soldier."


    "Yeah, he alwayscked tenacity and was always so quick to leave our syssitia."


    "Yup, still a shame he went out this way, what do you think As?"


    "It''s because he couldn''t hold his liquor and have self-control. Just turned into a womanish Athenian. <i>Boy</i>," the man with the scar points at me "let this be a lesson don''t ever be like your father. Now we are going to take your baby brother and see if he is proper Spartan material. So far it isn''t looking so good based on... your lineages now <i>wed </i>history of following Sparta.'''' The old scarred Spartan speaks gruffly, his leg on top of my dead father''s chest.


    The Spartans enter and take out what are now two dead bodies and take the baby to Gerousia, a group of old and respected Spartan leaders to see if he fits the criteria.


    They leave Anastasia and I alone to our thoughts and our thoughts alone.


    "Young master Damon I shall follow you in any way you need me to." She hugs me and I fully ept allowing myself to sink into her small arms.


    "Anastasia I know I can''t just live with you as that would make me revoke my Spartan hood and I need it for what I n to do down the road. I''m going to try to live with one of my friends'' families for thest few months and I want you to return to your family." Anastasia nods.


    "What about your little brother?"


    "If he gets passed by the Gerousia I''ll see if he can be adopted by one of my friends'' families but if not would you be willing to adopt him as a helot?"


    "Yes, but are you really willing to let him live his life as a helot?"


    "Yes, I do because I''m going to be the leader of Sparta one day. I will free the helots of their non-citizen status and take away the discrimination they suffer from the ruling minority."


    "Are you really sure you can do that? Your not even 7 years old master Damon!"


    "<i>Yes</i>! Just trust me!"


    "...If he doesn''t get passed by the Gerousia we should be able to find him in the woods. When the Spartans reject their spawn they don''t kill them they instead allow Mother Nature to have its way with them. Helots have found and taken Spartan rejects before."


    I thank her as we await for when the Spartans will arrive to bring news of the result. As we wait we both clean up the house perhaps as a coping mechanism either way it gives us something to do as we wait for the same Spartans that have killed Darius. The blood on the floor needs to be scrubbed as I help Anastasia with the task we both take turning trying to keep down our stomachs. Eventually, a loud knock on the door urs and we open it to see a new sole Spartan standing. The same one that pointed at me as Dariusy dead.


    "The infant was much too small to pass so we have released him." the Spartan coolly replies and walks away.


    "We need to go now!" Anastasia loudly demands ignoring her supposed inferior helot status. I follow Anastasia in the woods and we don''t discuss any worry about the potential dangers other than the loss of my sibling.


    <i>1 hour goes by and we continue searching anywhere and everywhere for him.</i>


    <i>We need to find him! I would never forgive myself if not... I have already lost this world''s mother and this world''s father.</i>


    .


    .


    <i>2 hours go by and we w our way into every ce he could possibly be with desperation.</i>


    Anastasia begins crying as each moment passes by. We run and run to find him eventually splitting off from each other. I fall multiple times but waste no second in getting back up. I can''t fail!


    .


    .


    .


    <strong>3 hours go by</strong>


    "Where is he?" I yell in the deep darkness of the night as Anastasia wipes her tears. Then we fall silent trying to regain ourposure. A small crying noise then enters our ears.


    "Do you hear that?" Anastasia eyes pop out waiting for my response as she already starts to walk over.


    "Yes, I do." We both dart to the noise and spot his fragile figure covered in his dirty nket. I pick him up and he shivers into my arms and so I ce him under my shirt with his head above my cor.


    "Poor baby! We need to head home before all else!" Anastasia rubs his face and I nod in agreement. We both chase our home now aware of the pitch-ck darkness no child or woman in their right mind would ce themselves in our location. Eventually, we head home without trouble and realize theck of a name for the baby.


    "What do you want his name to be?" I ce my hand on Anastasia''s arm.


    "No, I mustn''t, he is your blood."


    "Yes he is my blood brother, but he is your son Anastasia."


    "Damon... His name shall be Ss"

 Chapter 6: Eiren Chapter 6

    <h4>Chapter 6: Eiren Chapter 6</h4>


    We venture back to the house and separate. Likely thest time I will see Anastasia for a very long time and same for little Ss. I travel to Nikos''s house and tell his mother and him everything but rescuing Ss. His mother epts my temporary stay as in just a few short months I will be heading to the agoge.


    "Are you okay Damon?" Nikos asks, his face showing softness a very rare urrence.


    "No but I will be since my father would''ve wanted me to live a strong life."


    Nikos gives me a hug and I ept the embrace once he detaches his face remaining droopy.


    "I''m sorry about your brother, it''s sad he couldn''t make it..."


    I wonder if I can trust Nikos and tell the truth? No not yet he won''t be able to keep secrets likely but once he ages I n to tell him and Georgios as well.


    "... I will do everything I could ever dream of aplishing this life as a way to overe the sorrow I feel for the loss of time we could''ve spent together." This is the truth I want to make up for what could''ve been. He would''ve eventually entered the agoge and I could''ve fostered him to be a future supporter and good man.


    "I understand." Nikos gives a slow nod as we both fall asleep. It takes much longer than usual for me as I have never had to see someone else''s blood to that extent... it is horrifying.


    <strong><i>3 monthster</i></strong>


    <i>Today is the day to enter the agoge with Nikos and Georgios. Many look at me with disdain instead of respect due to the actions of my father and failure of my mother to bring a strong Spartan into the world. Even Nikos''s mom shows disdain as she doesn''t interact with me in any way whatsoever.</i>


    <i>Nikos''s caretaker does take good care of me through cooking and even tells me the status of Ss and Anastasia. Whenever she has the ability to contact them back in Laconia where they reside with other helots. Ss has turned healthy due to the parental care of Anastasia and she even found a proper suitor.</i>


    <i>The loss of my Darius and Laurel hurts plenty as much of my stability broke on that night. A regr 6 year old would likely have been distraught and not know what to do. Yet I never saw them as normal parents more so as mentors. I cared deeply for Darius though as he would''ve made for a good man in any other circumstance</i>.


    "I will miss you Nikos and when youe back I expect a warrior." His mother gives him a hug as I stand at the side watching. A carriage then arrives with a few other boys our age one of them being Georgios. We hop in from the orders of the Spartan officer riding it and the three of us boys start smiling at each other.


    "You boys ready to fail?" Nikos jokes making Georgios red in the face.


    "What do you mean fail, I''ll make twice the Spartan as you!" Georgios''s response causes Nikos tough heartily.


    "What do you think about that Damon?" Nikos yfully punches my shoulder.


    "I think we should pay attention to our surroundings."


    "Ugh you''re more tactical than Lysander and I reckon more boring also!" Nikos makes his bold im while crossing his arms.


    "Shame he passed," Georgios adds with a low hanging head.


    "Opposite of shame Georgios as he died a hero and brought Sparta power and more strength!" Nikos raises an arm with his fist closed.


    The rest of the ride goes peacefully apart from Nikos putting Georgios in submission holds. "Alright paides time for you all to get off" the Spartan looks back at us showing no time for any hold up. We all jump out and I stretch out from what felt like a day long ride.


    "I can''t believe it! We are finally here to train and be Spartans!" Nikos yells out and all the children quickly nod in agreement.


    I look out and see many other boys numbering over 100. All the boys giddy with excitement and even start ying with each other. A man stands in the middle of all of us in a red tunic, his face devoid of emotion. I decided it would be good to walk up to the man to make my presence known as he must be the paidonomos also known as principal meaning he controls the whole agoge.


    "Are you the paidonomos, if so I am Damon it''s a pleasure to meet you" he looks down on with no warmth and only gives a half hearted chuckle.


    <i>"SILENCE!"</i> his yell loudly bringing all 100 plus of us boys into silence everyone into silence. "You all are now paides and you will all stay that way until your 14th year in our glorious State. Now choose your Eiren!" He points to 2 men appearing to just enter their 20th year in this world.


    Eiren basically holds the same meaning as teacher and so the paidonomos must be allowing us the choice of who we want to learn from. One man has sparkly Spartan gear of a clear top quality making everyone ooo and ahhh at him while the other holds nothing special just a hard face and a full beard with it having a traditionally shaved upper lip.


    I walk back to Nikos and Georgios with Georgios still stunned and Nikos having a confused expression.


    "Which one do you reckon we should choose?" Nikos gives his question with a spit onto the ground.


    "It shouldn''t matter as we are only 3 out of 100 plus."


    "What does that mean? Stop speaking like an Athenian queer Damon!" Nikosughs and Georgios reims consciousness to respond to him.


    "No, you just speak dumb!" Georgios sticks his tongue out to Nikos thus making Nikos give him a noogie.


    We all then walk over and stand at a random line as the two men walk down counting our heads. The sparkly man and bearded man then stand next to the paidonomos.


    "I have 91 boys, you?"


    "64"


    "That''s down fromst year and the year beforest... Well you won Adonis, good job." The Paidonomos looks at the shiny Spartan with a sly smile and the losing Spartan epts his defeat with gratitude by handing out a strong handshake.


    "Well seems like I''ll be your assistant this year Adonis." Therge man sighs but gives out a handshake to the Sparkly Spartan.


    "Shouldn''t be that bad Leander" the sparkly Spartan named Adonis epts the handshake and clearly it is overbearing as he noticeably grits his teeth, shrinking more against the towering man.


    "I''m going to leave unless I''m needed. Since I need to see an important event for the other sses. Make sure to work these boys into proper Paides youth." The Paidonomos then walks away until he is unseeable by the eye.


    "Paides, I am your Eiren and you will follow my every order and task and the same holds true from Mr.Leander! Our first task is to make beds!" Every boy''s face turns upside down at the word bed and then Eiren Adonis continues. "We will now travel to the Evrotas river all by foot!"

 Chapter 7: Reeds Chapter 7

    <h4>Chapter 7: Reeds Chapter 7</h4>


    Now all the boys keep their faces permanently upside down as we begin to walk in disarray to the Evrotas river. Many start to fall behind allowing Nichs to yell into their ears as they struggle. Up front leading being our Eiren Adonis inplete silence.


    Eventually we make it to the river that leaves most of the children scratching their head not knowing what to do further. I look on as the river rushes harshly if a child gets in too deep they very well may get swept away. The river''s only noticeable attribute being the reeds near.


    "What do we do?" Both George and us tell me in union, making them side-eye each other.


    "They want us to make our beds from the river''s reeds." I answer them and step up to the river bing the first boy out of everyone to start picking the tough reeds from the river. Others then begin to follow after me as we all work trying to have our way with the tough reeds.


    Tying the reeds up into a bed became a whole other issue. George struggles picking the reeds but makes exceptional time tying the reeds and the exact opposite urs for us.


    "us, George if we all team up we can make our beds faster. us you pick the reeds and George you tie the reeds together while I do a mix" both of them nod in agreement.


    We all work tenaciously, putting our heads down and making good use of our small dainty hands. Until hourster our tied up reeds eventually begin looking like beds. After a few more hours all 3 of our beds bepletely finish.


    "What do we do now?" George looks at me and us.


    "Well shoot I bet we can just sleep on our beds and get a night''s sleep before the others finish." us sits on his bed but then immediately gets up from the clear difort.


    "Lets just tell Eiren Adonis" they both nod their heads in agreement. Us finishing so much ahead of everyone else should give us some type of benefit. We walk up to Adonis leaving our formed beds behind.


    "What do you Paides think you''re doing?"


    "We are just here to tell you that we finished weaving our beds Eiren Adonis" I answer him with us nodding while George nervously looks back.


    "Um Damon our beds are gone.." George scratches his head and his head meets a low gaze.


    "Get back to work, Paides! It would be impossible for you to have finished so quickly." We leave Adonis and all of us hang our heads low.


    "What happened to our beds!" us yells holding George by the cor.


    "I don''t know!" George cries and us lets go of him and makes an apologetic face.


    "Someone stole them from us. Let''s search for 10 minutes and thene back together if we don''t find them we just make new ones." I tell them and they both nod.


    "I don''t know what 10 means but I do know whoever stole our beds has iting" us punches his fist into his other hand with even little George nodding in agreement. We all separate from each other hastily, all 3 of us desperately wanting to regain our hard work.


    I ask any boy I see if they saw anyplete beds with none giving any answer making me almost fume from my ears. I must stay calm though and stay as perceptive as possible though. Eventually I see a teenage group allying on 3 beds of reeds.


    "Hey, why are you guys here!?" I ask them and the biggest of them stands making me have to fully extend my neck up.


    "We are here to assist your Eiren Adonis now <i>leave.</i>"


    "Okay well how did you get those beds?"


    "From you and we thank you sincerely for the gift." This causes the group of 5 older boys tough loudly. "Best be on your way now.." He walks up to me and grabs me under both armpits and throws me several feet.


    "agh!" I pick myself up as I walk back to find George and us with my tail between my legs. Eventually I find them and they all seem to be heart broken while looking at the other starting to finish.


    "Guys I found are beds." I tell them and all their eyes begin to sparkle.


    "That''s awesome! Lets get them" us answers and George gives a thumbs up.


    "Problem is they were stolen by a group of older boys assisting Eiren Adonis."


    "How old?" George questions with us showing no interest in their age.


    "Too old for us to fight." My reply hurts George more than any fist yfully thrown by us as he voices a heavy sigh.


    "Well we got to at least try!" us never one too back down. Suddenly a light bulb pops inside my head.


    "We will fight but not the way you are thinking of. us picks the reeds and George weaves them into three bags. I''m going to find rocks." They both nod and we immediately get to work. Any boy looking at us gives a confused gaze but doesn''t say anything, only focusing on their beds.


    Eventually the three of us have our 3pleted bags and multiple rounds of rocks.


    "So now what Eiren Damon?" us smilesrgely, throwing a rock into the air repeatedly.


    "We go on the offensive. We all ce our rocks into our newly formed bags and head to the boys. You guys will be in the open and fire at the boys while I retrieve our beds and take them to Eiren Adonis. Once you both are able to trying back to me."


    "But what if we get caught?" George asks with his legs shaking heavily.


    "Then we get caught but if one of us goes down we all go down together guns zing!" I reply to him and his legs stop shaking as we now have a spirit of unity between the three of us.


    We start walking towards the teenagers with many of the boys giving us concerned looks as we are armed with rocks and the spirit of perseverance. Once we see the teenagers Iy down in the grass covering myself into dirt. While George and us then approach the teenagers chucking our rocks at them.


    The teenagers instantly get angry and start chasing George and us. George and us throw their bags onto the ground allowing them to roll out and make some of the teenagers fall. They run into the many boys weaving disappearing from my sight, unless they got a good look there''s no chance for them to be caught likely. I take advantage of the absence of the teenagers and grab all three beds using tooth and nail to drag them.


    Eventually I''m able to see Eiren Adonis and make my way to him. Just before I''m able too though a teenager pushes me down.


    "You think you could escape with our beds? If the others get here your going to be in the worst pain of your life little Paides."


    "If" I then kick his chin and stand grabbing a rock from my bag and thrust into his jaw. The teenager gets on one knee and holds his jaw in agony. I dart towards Eiren Adonis being only 40 paces away.


    <i> Until...</i>


    <strong><i>Wham!</i></strong>


    I get kicked in the middle of my back leaving me unable to get up. I roll over and see the culprit being another teenage boy chuckling.


    "I believe these are ours." He grabs the beds and begins to walk away making me close my eyes at my failure. us and George did their part yet I couldn''t do mine...


    "Hey I think you got that all switched up asshole!" I hear us''s knuckle headed voice and look up to see my savior with George as well both with my bag full of rocks. Theyunch the rocks with rtive uracy making the teenager drop the beds to cover his face.


    "Quick we got him! You bring the beds to Eiren Adonis!" George yells with vigor,pletely changing his demeanor to make the mission sessful. I run as fast as I can with our beds I <i>must</i> not fail!


    <i>Their sacrifices can''t be in vain!</i>

 Chapter 8: Nero Chapter 8

    <h4>Chapter 8: Nero Chapter 8</h4>


    I now stand face to face with Eiren Adonis, my teacher who is chronologically around half a decade younger than me.


    "Ahh you''re the boy from earlier, I see that you have finished. Are these the beds from you and your friends?"


    "Yes, Eiren Adonis."


    "Well, you and your friends may now eat dinner and eat as much as you want. Bear in mind the more you eat the less there is for the others. The dinner is inside the barracks just traveling further South."


    "Yes, Eiren Adonis" I repeat.


    I look back and see Nikos and Georgios taking a beating from the teenagers but they don''t whine from the pain instead they smile. Knowing that this is something none of us will ever forget. The teenager then looks and eyes me for what feels like a minute.


    "Fine job boys, you all did a great job." The teenager then stops his beating and walks away acting as if nothing ever happened. Georgios and Nikos then run and we all hug each other then jump into our prickly beds.


    "That teenager was gonna lose if we had just <i>one </i>more rock! Ain''t that right Georgios!" Nikosughs and ps the back of Georgios.


    "Not a rock, just a pebble you hard-nosed brute!" Georgios replies, returning the rewarding p.


    "That''s <i>genius</i>, you red-haired devil!" They bothugh together and even I join in.


    "Great job boys and Eiren Adonis says we get to feast for our victory!" We all chest bump each other and spit out and snot out any blood we gained from our bout.


    I tell them the directions given by Adonis and we venture off for what felt like an hour until we arrived while carrying our beds and regaining our bags. A half dozen helots direct us to our living quarters and so we ce our beds in the corner but I make sure no one leaves their bags in the room. Then the helots show us to the dinner while an older Spartan stays standing watching over us.


    "I take it you boys took your chances with directions instead of waiting for everyone else?"


    "Yes sir" We answer while gouging ourselves with the in dinner. The dinner consists of 100+ pieces of in bread and 100+ blocks of feta cheese. A dinner that equates us with what meals we are going to expect.


    "Are we able to venture out before the others arrive sir?" I wonder if there is any opportunity to find fruits and vegetables in the wild as night approaches.


    "Ideally no but if you want a wolf to kill ya then be my guess."


    "Why would we do that Damon?" Georgios whispers before Nikos is to likely scream the same thing.


    "Bread and cheese isn''t aplete diet, we need greens too. Yet before we leave we need to stuff our bags with the feta cheese and bread to keep us full since we don''t know how much we will be fed in the uing days and years." I tell them this as in Ancient Sparta the youth were given just enough food to always be a little hungry to encourage discipline to hunger pains this idea of course is stupid as I don''t want to feel hungry.


    "What about the others? Isn''t that less food for them and wouldn''t they be angry towards us?" Georgios whispers as Nikos already follows the n.


    "Yes there would be less to eat for them but we need it ourselves too don''t forget that. Also, they would never know we took more than our fair share as they never saw how much food there was at the start. Just make sure none of you take too much food from one location." I then follow in Nikos''s steps also taking food into the bag and Georgios also joins with lots of hesitation.


    We then all walk out hiding our bags inside our cloaks turning our backs on the older Spartan but he seemingly couldn''t care less as he blinks slowly and seems to be able to fall asleep any minute. Once we leave the simplistic dinner hall we first enter our living quarters and ce our bags under our beds, even digging them a little into the Earth to mask any potential scent.


    Then after we venture outside we search for any edible foods. I teach Nikos and Georgios about many edible species as I was a boy scout in my past life which helps a little and my dead father taught me much about nature here. We search continuously until any other kid arrives and we find many olives, grapes, pomegranates, and even peppers. We eat many and enjoy them thoroughly and bring as much as we can back to our living quarters to ce in our little food stash.


    Finally, others begin to arrive, and Eiren Adonis heads in the middle of the group of 100-plus boys.


    "3 of you paides youth have fallen today, dying not by sword but instead by water... <strong>Water! </strong>Paides, all of you performed poorly and have made your fallen Spartan brothers ashamed... Yet I promise all of you that you will grow into proper Spartan youth in our year together!" Eiren Adonis makes every Spartan boy quiver and ce their gaze low.


    "You all will eat for 10 minutes and then enter your sleeping quarters. Any one of you Paides that get caught beingte can expect to be punished.. with no leniency."


    Leander adds on and every boy races to the dinner rations. Eiren Adonis takes his ce next to the older Spartan while Leander hovers over many boys eating the same, holding true with the teenagers. The teenagers constantly take bites out of many boys'' bread and smash in their feta cheese.


    "Well, what should we do?" Nikos waves his hand in my face for my attention.


    "I reckon we make friends and allies. We can''t just be a group of 3 for 13 years."


    Georgios answers his question and Nikos makes a confused face.


    "We don''t need anyone else, the three of us can do <i>anything </i>Georgios," Nikos tells him and I shake my head.


    "You both are right but overall Georgios has the right idea, we need to make allies. We don''t want to limit our future social standing by having no connections." Both Georgios and Nikos make a confused face as I have revealed too much and forget they are only 7 years old.


    "Scratch that it''s just what else are we going to do? just stand around?"


    "Well, shoot ain''t nothing stupider than just standing around!" Nikos immediately showcases himself as not the type to stand around by doing jumping jacks.


    We all then start to walk around analyzing essentially our ssmates. Many of the boys chomp down any food they are able to as no food is left on the table. I look over to see any boys not eating and eventually spot one.


    "Hey, what about that guy?"


    "Him?" Nikos points at the boy I spotted. "Why him?"


    "He is lonely. I would hate to not know anyone.." Georgios answers Nikos allowing me to just walk over with both following behind.


    "Hey, what''s your name bud?" When the boy looks up his face shows dried tears on his cheek.


    "Name''s Nero.."

 Chapter 9: Literacy Chapter 9

    <h4>Chapter 9: Literacy Chapter 9</h4>


    "What''s up with you? Ya cryin'' cuz ya can''t get food?" Nikos smiles through his question.


    "<i>No</i>."


    "Then what''s wrong?


    "The 3 paides that died today were my friends and I''m the one who informed Eiren Adonis about it. I <i>saw </i>them wash away and cry, screaming for help as I just stood there.." Nikos instantly goes silent and Georgios ces a shoulder on the sad boy.


    "It''s not your fault and it wasn''t their fault either.." I add a hand to his shoulder as well.


    "Then who''s is it?" Nero brushes his hand through his dark hair.


    "That will be revealed in due time," I tell him and he nods as do the others.


    "Well thank you all for consoling me. What are your guys'' names?"


    "I''m Nikos and the short red-headed demon is Georgios"


    "And I''m Damon." I extend a handshake and the smaller-sized boy epts.


    The time to eat closes and we all then head to our living quarters. Georgios, Nikos, and I all sleep close together and invite Nero to do the same which he epts. His stomach noticeably grumbles and so Georgios slyly gives him some of our extra rations. Then after a night''s rest we awake early in the morning by the waking of our Eiren Adonis.


    "Get up paides the initiation has ended now you will join with the rest of the Paides order. You can expect them to teach you all a thing or two."


    We all then walk out and into a field where over half a thousand boys reside and several grown Spartans observe with other Eirens instructing. Eiren Adonis then turns to us.


    "You all are going to learn how to read and write. A literate Spartan is a well-rounded Spartan. What''s good of a Spartan that can''t outthink, outpower, and outmaneuver a traitorous Thebian or even a boy-loving Athenian. I expect you all to form small groups numbering two hands with an older Paide and an eligible assistant."


    All of us nod and every ssmate runs off to find an older Paide. The oldest Paides are up to 14 just at the start of puberty. My group tries to do the same but there is no reason to as I have learned how to read and write at a more than-qualified level.


    I grab Nikos by the back of his cor before he can dart off and then I begin to speak. "Guys there''s no reason to beg a Paide to support us or even an assisting Spartan."


    "What do you mean?" Georgios asks with both Nikos and Nero sharing the same confused expression.


    "I am already proficient in reading and writing. I want us all to form a circle and bring me a stick."


    "What if it''s required of us to work with a Paide and assistant?" Nero questions with Georgios nodding.


    "Well, we will show them we don''t need either through our progress." Ideally, it''s best to just follow orders but there is an opportunity to separate myself and bring back lost notoriety by leading kids my own age. So when the Eiren or anyone elsees up to question our group I can impress them.


    "Well alright then" Georgios sits down first followed by Nikos and Nero first finds a stick and then sits down himself. I then take the stick from Nero and start making letters from the mud and teach my 7-year-old friends. I present them with all the faucets there are for reading and writing and all of them catch on quickly. Especially Nero and Georgios as Nikos gets distracted by any roaming bug near us. Eventually, Eiren Adonis himself begins to walk towards us.


    "Why is there no older Paide and assistant working with you boys?"


    "None needed sir, I myself am capable of teaching them," I reply and continue my lesson but he stays hovering over us.


    "Well, I expect my orders to be followed." He then walks away and eventuallyes back with arge older boy and a Spartan to assist a group.


    "These two are going to take over from now on and I''m going to watch very. <i>very.</i> closely." Eiren Adonis says with crossing arms and stands stiffly.


    The older paide immediately gets to teaching but forgets many letters of the alphabet causing the assistant to pause him to inform. The example words get spelled wrong by the older paide causing the assistant to again correct him.


    "Alright. Alright enough of this, you boy" Adonis points at me "I want you to take over"


    "Will do sir" I then begin teaching with conviction and directness. I stumble on no word nor letter and even the older paide boy begins to listen closely to my lesson.


    "What is your name, young Paide?" Adonis gets on one knee.


    "Damon sir"


    "Damon.. Good job, I expect many things from you down the line" he then gets up and walks away with strength in every stride.


    I continue my lesson in stride and even gain respect from the older Paide. After the lesson, we then head back to our living quarters with our rations.


    "How are you so good at reading and writing?" Nikos questions and both Nero and Georgios give an intrigued face awaiting an answer.


    "I taught myself. Being literate is an integral skill it means you have mental strength and power. For example, if you are a ve and you are illiterate it means you have no way to know uing events or non verbally tell anyone about your disposition. It cripples you into being mentally weak making you not able to fight for your deserved freedom."


    All three boys awe at my words trying to wrangle their meanings and the lessons they should give them. My words remind me of the trans-Antic ve trade where the ves were broken mentally and so despite holding physical advantages due tobor and a numerical advantage in the ntation where they worked almost none ever organized a proper revolt for freedom.


    "So what you''re saying is Damon that because our helots can read they are more liable to revolt." Georgiosments with Nero nodding with agreement while Nikos tries to understand.


    "Yes, that is the exact truth."


    "Then shouldn''t we ban them from reading to be put in less jeopardy?" Nero furthers the conversation, Georgios not nodding his head but instead rubbing it from overthinking.


    "No Nero because every person deserves the right to pursue knowledge." I ce a hand over Nero''s shoulder.


    "Even the helots? My family told me they are poor warriors and havepletely relied on our superiority for centuries." Nero''s statement being filled with Spartan propaganda against the peasant ss Helots.


    "No, they aren''t justpletely reliant on us as Spartans rely on them for food production and manufacturing while they rely on what should be us defending them. That makes us Spartans and them helots reliant on each other, Nero."


    "So what our mothers and elders always told us were wrong about the helots?" Nero interjects and Nikos stares deep into my soul for the response.


    "Yes my friends but if you don''t agree just keep an open mind instead of a closed one as you gain more knowledge." All boys then start to nod in agreement with understanding as we begin to fall tired and start to fall asleep one by one. The uing years shouldn''t be so bad with my little allies.

 Chapter 10: Bomonike Chapter 10

    <h4>Chapter 10: Bomonike Chapter 10</h4>


    <strong><i>4 years and 10 monthster...</i></strong>


    <i>Theing years were bearable with my group as predicted. In our early years as paides the curriculum majorly taught us reading and writing. Yet the most prized points throughout the years were our physical growth documented under our Eiren which changed from year to year. Our day-to-day activities are a mirror of a boot camp with running miles taking ce every day and so as sporadic bouts of strength. Our food rations encouraged the secretive lesson of stealing and my group learned that lesson very quickly.</i>


    "<i>Aye</i> Damon, Georgios is talking to you!" Nikos shakes me, bringing me back to our situation. Today under the encouragement of our Eiren Tobias we haze all the new paides.


    "Alright Alright, Georgios what did you say?" I try eyeing him in the dark and eventually see the outline of his red hair as we stand outside the living quarters of the 7-year-old paides.


    "I have a n!"


    "What is it?" I ask with Nero cing his hands on us.


    "Nero, what are you doing?" Nikos pushes his hand away.


    "Man, you know how I am in the dark!" He reces his hand and Nikos gives a sigh.


    "Guys focus on Georgios." I flick Nero''s hand and push Nikos.


    "Thank you, Damon, I think we should just water them down with my buckets! The water well is just a few yards away to fill them all. Then we of course escape before the observing Spartan finds us." Nero tugs my shirt in agreement and Nikos gives a loud scoff making sure we all hear.


    "That''s too boring. I say we dump containers of bugs on them!" Nikos speaks noticeably too loud making Georgios give an annoyed sigh.


    "Where will we find the bugs?" I can''t help but put my palm on my face.


    "Oh... That''s a good point, let''s just go with the Red Demons'' idea then." Nikos finally agrees and ces the whole group at ease. We then enact the first part of Georgios''s n, cing the buckets in the wells and filling them up.


    "Sooo how do we get the Spartan away from the entrance?" Nero and Nikos both question.


    "Simple gentlemen. Since I''m the lightest and fastest here I will throw the rocks around us to distract him. Then you all will drop the water buckets on the boys and we return as heroes in our ss! Not only that but also get Eiren Tobias off our backs." Georgios answers and the rest of the group get put at ease.


    Nikos, Nero, and I all hide in the nearby shrubbery with the water buckets and Nikos even ces some leaves in his two buckets. While Georgios steadies himself and then aims! He hits the Spartan with his rocks making the Spartan noticeably angry and he begins chasing after Georgios in the dark.


    "Quick!" Nikos tells us already halfway to the living quarters with much of his water spilling out.


    "Nikos, your water is dropping!" Nero nicely tells Nikos and he also nicely replies:


    "Shut up and keep up!!"


    "You brute." Nero turns angry and whispers as we make it inside the living quarters. We then dump water onto the clumped number of boys as they groan from theirmon tournament. The same tournament we faced for years albeit at a much worse level.


    "Alright let''s get out of here!" I tell the group and begin running until Nikos grabs my hand.


    "Let''s get more water in the buckets!"


    "No way Nikos, the aura of surprise is lost, it''s time to report back in with our ss. Plus the Spartan guard might already being back aftering to his senses by trying to find Georgios in the dark!" Nikos stubbornly epts my words as we exit to make it back to our quarters.


    Our own Spartan guard stands yet he doesn''t know we already have dug out the side of the lengthy building that has enabled us to sneak out for extra food. We then crawl under and make our way in with Georgios and our whole ss awaiting.


    They all thrust us in the air and silently cheer. Nikos, Georgios, and even Nero all being excited at the embrace.


    We then cover up our hidden digging holes and fall asleep with smiles on our faces. Until Nero gets payback on Nikos and rips yful blows into him. Nikos returns it with a simple headlock and falls asleep with him in it.


    .


    .


    "Hey, wake <i>up</i>! Eiren Tobias is expecting everyone at this moment." Georgios pinches me through my deep sleep.


    "Alright Alright, I get it I''m up Georgios." I dust off my overused and raggedy red cloak that I received 10 months ago. Only 2 more months for a recement.


    I walk out with Georgios as Nikos and Nero stand tall awaiting for further orders. Only paides our age and up are in attendance as well as our paidonomos whose hair is nowpletely gray.


    "Paides! Today is the day for Bomonike. Veterans of our war against the traitorous Corinthians and the other enemies that faced our wrath will be in attendance to watch!" Our Eiren Tobias informs us, a small-sized Spartan withmon features.


    "<i>Thebians...</i>" Nikos whispers in disgust with Georgios poking him to stay quiet. An army of Spartan men approaches in an orderly march.


    "<i>Attention</i>!" A man at the forefrontmands. All the men then halt and our Eiren walks up and speaks with the man. Then the man walks up to us with a limp making hime in the middle of almost 500 boys.


    "I am your king Agesus and you boys will march with us to the goddess Artemis'' temple." The smaller-sized man then leaves us and starts marching towards the temple.


    We follow trying to replicate the movements of the grizzled and hairy veterans before us. They all don the Bronze breastte, bronze helmet, and sandals. With unkempt long hair and lean physiques, their beards with a shaved upper lip. They also hold whips instead of the usual spear apanied by a kopis or Xiphos.


    We eventually reach the temple ustomed to reaching long distances with ease. No boy speaks louder than a dangerous whisper as we have been instilled in what is modernly called Laconic phrases and silence unless spoken to.


    "<i>Paides</i>! Form a linear line" our Eiren Tobias demands. We quickly reciprocate forming a long line in front of the altar of the temple for Artemis. On top of the altar prepared cheese of all different types. My group stands in the middle with a perfect view of the altar unlike many, allowing us to smell it as our bellies grumble from theck of breakfast.


    "Spartans line up behind each and every paide!" The graying king orders before standing next to the altar and his soldiers quickly answer. "On counts of 3, we strike them until thest one stands to be titled the great Bomonike! Not only that but thest paide who stands gets to feast on the altar and I will join him."

 Chapter 11: Rations Chapter 11

    <h4>Chapter 11: Rations Chapter 11</h4>


    All boys hide any worry in their faces as my group and I look at each otherforted by being close to one another. Once we face forward we meet eyes with the king as he dips his hand into a cheese.


    "One... Two... <i>Three...</i>" The king looks left to right as whips sh with our young flesh. A few boys groan lowly and many find the strength to holdplete silence.


    "One.. Two.. <i>Three</i>.." Another round releases on our backs as many begin to clench their teeth from the pain.


    "One. Two. <i>Three</i>." The third round causes a few of the smallest to fall down with their Spartan tortures giving a look of shame on the boys. As the round goes by more and more fall. I need to win this, if I win this I''m not just a paide I''m Bomonike! This will greatly help me down the run I feel and even if I''m not able to attain it I at least hope one of my group can.


    Another round flies out into the air and Georgios is the first of our group to fall as his still small body meets its breaking point.


    Then Nero falls after another round leaving only 50 or so boys left. I look over and see Nikos barely hanging on but not showing any quit. Another round of whipses through leaving now half of the 50 standing. The remaining boys all stand with towering stature and lean physiques. Nikos and I stand being the only paides in our ss to be standing.


    "Hey, you best not go down before me ya hear!" Nikos chuckles already being prepared for the next sh.


    "Same thing to you psycho." I yfully say and for a second forgetting the stinging pain the whips have left.


    The whipsunch again and bring more boys to their knees with their backs bloodied and scarred. The pain rushes through my body as I crave toy down in even the tough reed beds we have slept in for the past 5 years.


    Finally, things trickle down to just 5 boys and the king orders us to all stand next to each other allowing him to focus on us 5.


    <i>One...</i>


    <i>Two...</i>


    <strong><i>Three...</i></strong>


    "<i>Agh</i>" I cry and fall to the ground in defeat. Losing my chance to eat with the king yet Nikos still stands. His posture softens after my defeat, perhaps losing some of his bravado.


    Instead of staying quiet and watching my friend potentially lose due to his shake of being all alone I need to support him!


    "Nikos, if you win I''ll give you my rations." I lightly speak, allowing him to be the only one to hear.


    "By Apollo, I <i>will </i>win" Nikos speaks and puffs out his chest seemingly asking to be whipped again. The king begins staring at Nikos leaving the both of them to start smiling.


    "<i>One...</i> <i>Two... Three...</i>" Two more boys fall leaving only Nikos and thergest boy in the whole area still standing. The boy standing a foot taller than Nikos who himself is rtively tall. In thest 4 years, his normal height vanished as he rapidly grew into a human ox.


    "If I want to, I can go all day!" The boy yells allowing the king to hear and Nikos beginsughing.


    "And I can go all week you pig!" Nikos proudly exims, making therge boy groan and many boysugh pointing out therger figure the towering boy possesses. Even the king himself noticeably chuckles, Nikos will likely never let us forget what has urred today.


    Rounds begin flying left and right both being at the breaking point. Then Nikos begins to slip!


    "<i>Not</i> now, <i>not </i>ever!" He screams and makes a forward lunge regaining hisposure.


    "Hey, he lost!" Therge boyins but to no avail as the king continues his steady countdown. The king stands now a few feet away from the two boys showing clear interest.


    "One... <i>Two... </i><strong><i>Three</i></strong>!" Thest round flies out and therge boy tumbles into the ground. His back is covered inshes as Nikos stays standing.


    "Remember the rations, Damon! '''' He cries out to me as I distanced myself from thepetition as everyone else.


    Nikos then takes his turn falling and the king awaits for him to stand. Yet Nikos stays on the floor with his eyes closed.


    "What is this boy''s name Eiren!" The king asks with a demand and Eiren Tobias quickly replies


    "Nikos sir, the boy''s name is Nikos."


    "Nikos through the great courage I saw and the grand title you have received from it makes me inclined to say this...<i> I want you topete for my daughter''s hand in marriage!"</i>

 Chapter 12: Honey Wars Chapter 12

    <h4>Chapter 12: Honey Wars Chapter 12</h4>


    Nikos looks up slowly at the response and then right back down. Everyone cheers for the chance of our ssmate Nikos to be wed into the royal family.


    <i>King Agesus from a modern age context is one of the longest-ruling Spartan king''s ever and one of the most famed due to many written texts from his friend Xenophon. Known as a warrior king despite being physically limited yet that was about it as he diplomatically allowed Sparta to stagger out of its hegemony. </i>


    <i>He also was a passionate lover of Lysander who supported his reign likely to foster his own. Most importantly though being that he has two daughters both by the spread of ear being unmarried.</i>


    "Once this boy rests, I request him to be under my mentorship." The king then orders his army in formation and they begin marching on their way leaving us. Georgios and Nero assist Nikos as we all walk back. Many rely on others to help them along the way. Eventually, we make it back into our living quarters and our Eiren announces that it is a rare free day.


    "Bomonike! Bomonike! Bomonike!" Our ss yells in celebration after our Eiren exits with Nikos raising a faint thumbs up. Eventually, everyone settles in their own groups notably no one fights or even wrestles due to the physical stress dealt today.


    "Nikos you''re going to be wedded with the princess!" Nero can''t hold back his excitement yet Georgios holds off from the notion.


    "No Nero the king didn''t say he is betrothed to her, he said he canpete for her hand in marriage.." Nero''s face bes rxed at Georgios''s words.


    "Well, that''s true... But still, the king himself is going to mentor him!" Nero returns to his excitement and Georgios nods in agreement.


    "That is true, Nikos how do you feel about this?" Georgios questions patting his bed instead of his back.


    "I don''t know anything about the princess... But I do know everything I can about the king!"


    "Nikos, there are two princesses." I inform him and his head turns over to me.


    "Wait so I get two wives? Hah, you guys got to step up especially as you''re in the presence of the great Bomonike!" Both Georgios and Nero make faces of annoyance.


    "No, Nikos. You can expect the king to bethrow you to only one of them if I''m correct. The older one should be in her 15th year while the other is two years our junior."


    "Huh well, I want the older one." Georgios then flicks Nikos on the head but Nikos doesn''t move to get payback as he ispletely immobile.


    "Guys, let''s go out and make sure we prevent any infection from the whips. Nikos you stay here and rest... Don''t try anything." Nikos nods at my words and everyone else follows my lead as my own back cries in pain as everyone seemingly forgot that I stayed standing until the top 5. We then enter into the Greek forest that we have grown ustomed to.


    "Group, remember Eiren Adonis?" I question and both nod their heads.


    "Well one of the things he taught us was the use of honey for disinfection. I want us to find a beehive and take its honey."


    "Alright, but I don''t want to be stunned by them. I nominate someone else to do the part of taking the honey. I hope you all understand my hesitation of getting stunned." Nero makes Georgios roll his eyes at the statement.


    "Nero there''s no need to get stunned at all or at least in the way you''re imagining. What we want to do is build a fire underneath the hive and that will drive most of them away. Then one of us will climb up and take out the honeb.


    Lastly, we squeeze the honey into a bowl, and vo we have our honey." Everyone nods at my words with Nero already running to get a bowl from our quarters.


    "I''ll climb Damon since I''m the lightest. I should be able to get on the branch or something with ease."


    "Smart Georgios." I give him a thumbs up and Nero returns with arge bucket. We then venture out trying to find a hive. Eventually, after 10 minutes of searching, we found a hive 20 feet up high on a tree branch.


    "Georgios, can you climb that?" My question is received with a quick nod.


    "I can''t take a whip beating like you and Nikos but I know I can do something like this at a level none can match." He then starts climbing despite the fire not even existing yet.


    "Woah there Georgios, we haven''t even set the fire."


    "Oh, you''re right." He hops down and we begin cing wood inside an array of rocks. Then ce dried leaves and other mmables inside. We all then begin using friction to start the fire and after half an hour of grueling work, the fire starts.


    "Ugh finally, Eiren Adonis must be proud of our work hahaha." Neroughs and Georgios widens his mouth.


    "Eiren Adonis would''ve been too busy running away from Leander," Georgios tells us, making us allugh as we remember therge man. Georgios not being one to waste time begins climbing with much struggle.


    "You got it, Georgios?" Nero asks as many bees begin flying away from the hive.


    "Yes! Just let me focus!" Georgios begins making way until he gets 15 feet high.


    "Woah this is quite interesting..." He looks down and noticeably sweats from 15 feet away.


    "Hey Georgios you can stille down, maybe we don''t need the honey!" Nero''s kind remark restores vigor into Georgios as he begins reassuming his first climbing journey.


    "What now?" Georgios cups his hands for us to hear as he stays straddled on the branch with the hive.


    "Go ahead and stick your hand in the hive. You can just throw the honeb pieces down to us and we will catch them!"


    "Alright!" He yells out as I take off my cloak.


    "Quick!" I tell Nero as I motion him to take the other end of my cloak as we stretch it out ready to catch the honeb. Georgios begins dropping the honeb ignoring any bees lurking near him. After a while, Georgios then beginsing down as we have caught all the honeb.


    "Right on guys!" Nero high-fives the both of us once Georgios makes it down. We then start squeezing the honey out of the honeb into our bowl.


    "So do we just throw this stuff away?" Nero asks, pointing to the honeb wax, I shake my head no and grab a piece. Then I eat it, enjoying its sweet vor and the others join in.


    "Woah this is so different from bread!" Georgios can''t hold back a smile as Nero keeps his face down scarfing down the edible snack.


    .


    .


    <i>"Hey, you got our honey!" </i>We look over and see 3 older paides approaching, all appearing to be aged 13 except one.

 Chapter 13: Fight! Chapter 13

    <h4>Chapter 13: Fight! Chapter 13</h4>


    "What do you mean your honey?" Georgios asks with an offensive tone. The boys then stand a few feet away from us.


    "Clearly you don''t know who I am..." the youngest of the 3 speaks.


    "Who are you then?" Nero enters abat stance.


    "I am the son of the great general Lysander!"


    "Wait? What?" I blurt out not remembering any Lysander son meaning he must have beenpletely insignificant.


    "Yes! Now give me the honey!" The boy demands now trying to grab our bowl.


    "By the gods no!" Nero yells showing his vigor for his now much-loved honey by blocking the teen''s hand.


    "Do you haVe no respEct?" One of the teenagers screams with a voice crack.


    "Do yoU" Georgios mimics him and the insecure teen replies with a fist to Georgios''s face.


    Georgios falls to the ground and I m myself into the teen making him fall to the ground. The other two then join into the brawl. One gives a right hook to my face making me reply with my own.


    "Nice punch I almost felt hurt." The teenagerughs and I take the opportunity to kick his stomach. I look over and then see how Nero and Georgios fight back to back against the supposed son of Lysander and another teen.


    I run to Lysander''s son andunch a double-legged kick sending him to a tree. Then the teenager I fought earlier suplexes me into the ground making me groan in agony.


    I look on and see Nero throwing inurate punches to the teens while Georgios throws urate punches that do little damage. They both eventually get thrown down as well making me look up at the beehive.


    The bees have reappeared plentiful already getting to work on repairing their colony... I grab a rock from nearby andunch it into the hive! My aim holds true and the nest breaks releasing a swarm of angry bees.


    The bees descend upon us all causing the teenagers to run without thinking while we regain ourposure and collect our earned honey.


    "Aghhh they''re biting me!" Nero screams running the fastest he has ever run.


    "Me too, we should''ve never done this!" Georgios also cries as he outpaces us making it into the living quarters first. We then enter our corner and see Nikos eating in our food storage.


    "I hope you enjoyed your rest." Georgios sighs andys down on his stomach immediately taking a nap.


    "I have, thanks for asking my redheaded friend. So have you all gotten the stuff or whatever?"


    "Yes, we have gotten honey to put on all our wounds to elerate healing and help us disinfect," I answer him and Nero also falls down into his own bed.


    "Thanks, could you put it on my back for me? Then I can do you Damon and um the rest of you since you all went out for this for me too." Nikos says with hesitation and hepletelyys down as I ce honey on his back. After the process, he then does everyone else''s back and we ally down to rest.


    "Damon?" Nikos turns to me on his bed half asleep.


    "Yes, Nikos?"


    "Do you think if I marry the king''s daughter I can have our group eat tasty food and we can sleep on thosefy beds we slept on when we were kids?"


    "Nikos we still are kids?"


    "Then why doesn''t it feel like that..."


    "Nikos we are and not just that... One day we will all eat the greatest delicacies known to man and we will sleep on beds fluffier than the clouds in the air."


    "Do you promise Damon?"


    "Yes, Nikos."


    "I''ll believe you. I''m d you became my first friend and you don''t have to worry about the rations hahaha." Nikos then falls asleep and so do I with a tear falling down knowing I don''t have to cut my precious food intake.

 Chapter 14: Pederasty Chapter 14

    <h4>Chapter 14: Pederasty Chapter 14</h4>


    "Wake up paides!" Eiren Tobias screams loudly and our sleeping quarters unit all walks out. We look around and see we are the only ones to be called outside.


    "Today is very important! Today you all will hunt and whoever has caught the biggest game will be awarded with the fact that you are better than everyone else!" Everyone looks at each other as Eiren Tobias''s word marks home for many. Many boys puff out their chests eyeing theirpetition, many side-eying Nikos.


    "The hunt will nowmence! No weapons are allowed from the base, only the ones you make yourself!" Eiren Tobias finishes his speech pointing his finger to the forest East of our camp. The boys all begin to follow the finger with likely no other thought but topete and win. The group then turns to me with Nikos scratching his head and Georgios rubbing his head.


    "What should we do?" Nero asks, looking back and forth between the forest and us.


    "Well, we could get hurt if we split up... I say we all stay together and so we can work as a team and take down thergest animal we can find. Once we return we can then return and offer it to Eiren Tobias." Everyone gives me a confused face and a nervous smile.


    "He didn''t say for us to work as a team though Damon... and also even if we did do that wouldn''t it mean he only would give one person credit?" Georgios asks and I ce aforting shoulder on him.


    "That''s why when he tries to give one person credit we then cut the hunt into fourths. They have been teaching us to work as a unit not as a singr consciousness so why would they switch that up now?" Everyone''s faces switch up and even Nikos gives an unusual dopey smile messing up my hair.


    "Alright, so should we catch up with everyone else?" Nero asks and I shake my head no.


    "No, because they are scaring all the game away by stomping and loudly trying to oupete each other. We are going to go in the opposite direction." I point south to the forest that everyone else in our whole sspletely neglected.


    Everyone nods and we begin to walk south and make it deeper and deeper. I pick up a sharp rock and carve marks on the tree to make sure we don''t get lost and notice Georgios doing the same.


    "Remember guys we need to be silent. Yet before that, we need to all find sticks and rocks." No one questions my statement as we all quietly search and find. We then all huddle up showing what we have found. Nikos carries aicallyrge tree branch with no rock while I carry arge-sized stick and a rock fit for whittling it. Nero and Georgios both return with medium-sized sticks and good rocks as well.


    We all begin to whittle our sticks with our rocks into wooden spears while Nikos practices his swing giving a nice whoosh each time. Eventually, we all finish and begin to walk forward in a triangle position. I stand in the middle with Georgios and Nero covering my nks. Nikos hovers in the back like an unsung golem ready to go on a rampage.


    After hours of patiently walking silently, we hear a break in the wind. We motion each other in the direction and set our eyes on a stray female deer. It''s massive size easily being over 200 pounds.


    I motion Nikos to take the lead if he can properly throw his branch onto the deer''s head it could likely stun it long enough for us to all stab it. Nikos readies his aim with sweat dripping down his tanned head until..


    .


    It hits! The deer stumbles dazed as we all run at the deer. Even Nikos grabs a stray rock to help as I stab her deep in the neck. I use all my strength thrusting it deeper and deeper as she winces in pain. She finally drops as we all soak in sweat lying down for 10 minutes.


    "By Zeus we are lucky!" Georgios pumps his hands into the air whileying down his hair now out of his face.


    "I agree, just imagine if it was a male we would''ve been goners!" Neroughs with a nervous tone as he looks at our sessful hunt.


    "Hah I beg to differ! We could have easily taken a male down and if we were lucky we could keep the awesome horns as well! Like those cool hunt stories they used to tell us!" Nikos can''t hold back his excitement and we all begin to stand back up. We all grab a leg of the deer with Nikos and I being on opposite sides to make up for theck of strength Georgios and Nero have. It takes a stressful amount of time and we take several breaks as we make it back to our camp with the help of Georgios and I''s tree markings. We all give relieved smiles and then drop the deer in front of our Eiren.


    "So you all worked together?"


    "Yes sir!" We all say in union with private smirks while ncing at our hard work.


    "Hmmm I didn''t expect this..."


    "Sir we can split the game 4 ways as each one worked to kill it!" Georgios shouts breaking the usual silence in front of instructors bringing Eiren to nod in agreement.


    Eventually, after the day begins to set everybodyes back. Most return with nothing or a few old hares. Leaving our group with the victory with our reward being our time spent together furthering our teamwork.


    "Now there is another reason why we have hunted today..." The Eiren patiently speaks, leading us all to hang onto his next words. "Tomorrow we are expecting to have guests and thanks to the few that managed decent results we can properly satiate them. Now everyone go ahead and retrieve your rations!" We all pick up our more meager rations and eventually fall asleep.


    "Wake up paides! Today is just as special as yesterday!'' Eiren Tobias screams loudly making us all wake up. We walk out ready for what the day holds apart from all of us holding in our yawns. As our eyes look onward we seerge tables with food and even the rare appearance of our paidonomos like yesterday.


    "Two days ago the king himself requested to mentor Nikos our agoges Bomonike. The same will happen for all of you today! A dance will take ce for the whole day for your male suitors to interact with you paides. The same males that saw all of you yesterday during the day of our Bomonike. It is your choice to ept the men that want you or not but beware it is required to find your erastes." Eiren Tobias finishes and a group of Spartan men equal to our own approaches us by march with the king Agesus at its head.

 Chapter 15: Erastes & Eromenos Chapter 15

    <h4>Chapter 15: Erastes & Eromenos Chapter 15</h4>


    Erastes meaning older and experienced while we are eromenos meaning youthful. Overall being ancient Spartan pederasty... Yet Spartan pederasty isn''t all bad like other forms of pederasty in Greece since in Sparta the older erastes is a mentor and like a father figure instead of a pedophile. There even exists Spartanws against homosexuality to encourage reproduction due to the leaders noting the poption decline. My main goal must be to find a mentor who has had a great past or a great future so I can be in a position of strength. Nikos already found the best situation with the king Agesus albeit hopefully Agesus doesn''t see Nikos in the same light as thete Lysander.


    "Spartans! At ease." The king tells his men and all break up and start approaching us.


    My group next to me all have varied expressions with Nikos being ecstatic, Georgios having a polite smile, and Nero looking nk. Perhaps he is nervous.


    "Guys tell me who approaches you all," I tell them and Georgios makes a confused face.


    "What why?" He asks.


    "We all need to find the best and I have an eye for these sorts of things."


    "Oh okay, I still want the final say of course."


    "Absolutely" I give Georgios a thumbs up and he nods.


    "King Agesus is approaching King Damon" Nikos announced with the king being 20 paces away.


    "Ha Ha Ha very funny Nikos" I respond and the king finishes his walk cycle now face to face with Nikos.


    "May we enjoy ourselves Bomonike?"


    "Of course, King Agesus" Nikos answers to the king both giving polite smiles.


    "Who are your friends?"


    "Well, the tiny redhead is Georgios, the dark-haired dude is Nero, and the blonde is essentially our leader Damon." Nikos''s answer makes the king raise his brow.


    "Oh, so you''re not the leader Nikos?" The king says with confusion eyeing Nikos with almost open eyes.


    "No king, I''m the muscle." Nikos begins flexing as the king turns to me.


    "Who are you, your birth parents'' names included."


    "I''m Damon like Nikos said and my parents'' names were Laurel and Darius."


    "Hmmm I don''t recall either of those names... You used past tense for their names as well, have they both passed ?"


    "Yes." I calmly tell the king and remember the night as if it was yesterday. Yet my brother should very much be alive and be aged 5 now.


    "How Damon"


    "My mother died through the birth of my now dead brother and my father died for him to stay with us."


    "I''m sorry for your losses. Since your brother in arms with the Bomonike I will assure that your erastes is of good prospects."


    "Thank you, King Agesus." The king then leads Nikos away from us leaving all of us boys alone.


    "Woah look at all that food!" Georgios''s mouth starts to water his love of food almost matching Nikos.


    "You''re right Georgios!" Nero''s own eyes glisten and we all walk together and start to gobble down food. The variety of cheese and fresh bread go down our stomachs with ease until we eventually get full.


    "Oh no, I think I ate too much.." Georgios holds his stomach and Nero''s brows arch.


    "What do you mean? Are you sick?"


    "No... It''s just remember when we first came in here and all the little fat boys got weeded out by the older paides to be picked on."


    "Yeah?" Nero tightens his gaze, being interested in what Georgios will say.


    "I don''t want that to be me!" Georgios''s face turns sour and my face turns nk making me intervene between the two.


    "Georgios, if you''re so worried just hold your stomach in," Georgios responds to my solution by taking a deep breath and expanding his chest.


    "Hahahah" We look over and see a beardy Spartan of average statureughing. "Little boy you could eat Olympus himself and still be skinnier than that boy to your left!" The Spartan points to me, the boy on the left. My build is by no means fat making my face noticeably sour.


    "Chris you old brute that boy is just well built more so than you." Another man says but not in Spartan gear but a cloak.


    "Xenophon excuse you but shouldn''t you be in your estate?" Chris asks the famed philosopher, historian, and military leader Xenophon! My eyes immediately widen now I''ve met 3 historical figures that are known throughout time. Xenophon is the figure who led his Greek army out of Persia with her army on his tail for 3 years. Also being the man who wrote down almost everything known about Ancient Sparta.


    "No, since my eldest will be joining here in years time. I want to get acquainted with what will be his future home." Xenophon answers with a powerful voice that fits a veteran of the Ten Thousand.


    "So will you not be partaking in finding an eromenos?" While Chris speaks he eyes Georgios making Georgios give a nervous smile.


    "If Sparta allows me to then I might but only if someone impresses me." Xenophon with hands behind his back looks at me once he finishes.

 Chapter 16: Xenophon Chapter 16

    <h4>Chapter 16: Xenophon Chapter 16</h4>


    "And you are?" Xenophon asks me with everyone now turning to me.


    "I am Damon. You marched your mercenary army the Ten Thousand out of Mesopotamia with the Persians on your tail, yes?"


    "That is right Damon. What else do you know?"


    "You live in an estate with your two children after aiding Sparta in the year 394. Leading to the exile of your homnd Athens."


    "What do you mean year 394?"


    "Oh sorry I meant 2 years after the 95th Olympic games!" I forgot the way time is tracked is greatly revolved around the Olympics.


    "Hmmm ignoring whatever you just said you know a lot about me.. How?"


    "Simple sir, I enjoy learning about our modern heroes and past ones, you being one of them." I say with truth as without Xenophon I couldn''t ever have known what I was getting into when I got reincarnated.


    "<i>Me</i> a hero? Thank you boy but all I did was retreat from enemy lines and eventually after years of being cheated can now just rx in my estate courtesy of the Spartans."


    "That is a hero though as you led your men from death and into safety."


    "Hmmm so that''s your definition of a hero... Well then yes I''m a hero, are <i>you</i> a hero?"


    "If my men ever fell back in enemy lines then yes I''ll be a hero."


    "Hey Xenophon, are you impressed with that boy?" Chris chirps in as I notice everyone near eyeing us.


    "We will see. Damon follow me, let us separate." I follow Xenophon as we take a stroll through the woods.


    "Xenophon, your said your oldest is going to join the Agoge soon right?"


    "That is right Damon."


    "Why is that?" Xenophon takes a breath as he looks at the greenery.


    "As you know I was exiled from my homnd Athens and fought with the Spartans in the Corinthian war. In that war, I grew rtions with King Agesus and was offered essentially an early retirement where I could develop ideas like my mentor Socrates and perhaps even write. My sons need a professional education and the agoge is one, like yourself children of the agoge grow to be humble, obedient, and physically capable. All virtues, don''t you agree?"


    "No, I believe the agoge is too harsh for boys of age 7 to make beds out of reeds from a raging river."


    "Is that all?" Xenophon raises his brow likely unimpressed for my sole reason.


    "No sir, the very social constructs that Sparta upholds are wrong since Sparta lives only for the strength of the state instead of living good lives for the people."


    "I disagree what if Sparta gets conquered due to its light poption and now normal military power due to your theory? Sparta for the lives of its people needs to stay militarized and have their people live for the state so they can live free."


    "Living for the state isn''t living free."


    "What if the state holds the best interests of the people"


    "If" Xenophons politely chuckles at my response.


    "So do you not see Sparta fit for you?"


    "No, but it will be once I establish myself."


    "How do you n to do that boy?" Xenophon''s eyes now widen awaiting my answer.


    "That n is to be kept private hopefully, you understand."


    "Well, it would be spoiling it if you told me. I''m interested now though... I''m going to pull some strings with King Agesus. I want you to be my erastes, do you ept?"


    "Yes sir." We make our way back and see many partnerships already forming. Georgios hears Chris talking leading to him listening with great focus. Nero talks to a tall and lean man with coal hair matching Nero''s. While from a distance one can see Nikos and the king strolling together.


    "Don''t you see Damon?" Xenophon looks down at me not in a harsh way but in a way that shows his stature in height and the worldpared to mine.


    "See what?"


    "Positive dynamics forming between a man-to-be and an experienced one."


    "Yes, but what would the difference be between this and a father-son one?"


    "A father-son one is not by choice it is by birth while this is by choice. The choice to choose who you would like to be or make happy."


    "I can see your reasoning Xenophon but still what about any form of abuse of the man to be?"


    "That is indeed a problem but can''t the same be said about a father-son?"


    "Not nearly asmon I can assure you."


    "<i>Silence!" </i>Our Eiren shouts bringing everyone to silence including the Spartan men as this is the Eiren''s battlefield, not theirs. "Every paide shall now be partnered with their erastes. Anyone who isn''t must do so now! Partners can now start exiting the premises and you will be with each other for two months to learn from each other and grow! "


    "We are going to meet with King Agesus soe with me." Xenophon pats me on the head as we make our way to the king. The king turns to us with a smile, just like Nikos.


    "Xenophon I see you found yourself an eromenos!" The king chuckles in disbelief and Xenophon nods at the statement.


    "Yes, I have. Will your ephors allow me to, my friend?"


    "They don''t have to; all you need is to find someone else here to publicly be his eromenos. I know someone not well interested in these affairs. I''ll call him over." The king leaves us to retrieve the man. Eventually, hees back with a small man with arger figure than all Spartans in the area.


    "This is the boy all you need to do is publicly have him be your erastes and for the next two monthsy low to avoid any suspicion. I trust you with this assignment any shorings on the battlefield hold no value after aplishing this."


    "Yes my king, this is an honor!" Xenophon turns to the man and gives him a nod.


    "Alright, Damon it''s time for us to leave. King Agesus, I am deeply indebted to you."


    "As I''m to you." The king responds to Xenophon and we walk away to leave. I look back and see Georgios, Nero, and Nikos all looking back at me as well. We all exchange looks and give a nod of heads knowing in two months time we will meet again. Xenophon then introduces me to his carriage as he begins riding to his estate.


    "Would you like a turn to ride?


    "Xenophon I never rode on a carriage before so I don''t know how." Xenophon acknowledges my response and begins to exin how. Eventually, I held the reins and at first it was ufortable but with the help of Xenophon it became like riding a bicycle.


    "These mules that are carrying us derive from the same gics ofdy Cyniska''s horses that won the 95th and 96th Olympics."


    "What are the Olympics like?" Xenophon begins smiling looking out in the wind.

 Chapter 17: Hound Chapter 17

    <h4>Chapter 17: Hound Chapter 17</h4>


    "I''m the representative for Sparta in the Olympics. You likely already know that the Olympics are held for Zeus and are the biggest event of every 4 years. Perhaps you don''t know though that the Olympics is not just a sacred religious event but also a way to announce alliances and give a sense of nationalism. The athletes that win also be heroes in their homnds, some even so great that all in Greece remember their name."


    "Since you are the representative for Sparta does that mean you pick the contestants?"


    "Yes I dictate all contestants to represent Sparta but only if I know they are right for the job and not as a pity y for them to possibly get killed."


    "How many die during the games?"


    "Weakpetitors both mentally and physically are the ones that die almost all in thebat games. Why do you want topete?" I nod my head and his eyes twinkle at the prospect. "Of which contests interest you?"


    "I''m not sure, could you exin?"


    "Of course, for your age group of under 18 there are 3 contests: stade, wrestling, and boxing. Unless the king himself maniptes Ephors in allowing boxing again until further notice it is banned for you."


    "What is stade andpetition wrestling?"


    "Stade is a race of up to 20petitors for a distance of 210 yards. While wrestling is first to throw their opponent three times, the throws have to have their upper bodypletely down, and throwing yourself with them doesn''t count. For the fun of it, I will exin boxing as well, all face shots and whoever raises their index finger admits defeat."


    Georgios would likely be the best for Stade while wrestling would leave Nikos and I... If boxing is allowed though then Nikos can quite literally smash thepetition.


    "Could you help train me for wrestling in the Olympics?"


    "Yes but don''t expect me to put you out there unless I know you can win." I nod my head and we meet our destination. "It''s nice isn''t it?"


    "Yes sir"


    "This ce is only 20 stadias from Olympia where the Olympics take ce. Perhaps we can even go there to worship."


    I nod my head and look at the impressive Greek architecture, his house beingrge yet not gigantic fitting for Sparta''s distaste for luxuries. 20 stadias should be the equivalent of around 13,000 feet or only a few miles meaning I could jog and see one of the old 7 wonders of the world.


    We begin walking to the house and eventually make it inside. Put together ves greet us and exit to take care of the carriage then Xenophon waves me over. I then see his wife knitting giving a polite smile to the sight of Xenophon.


    "And who is this boy?" His wife asks and Xenophon nods to her question.


    "This is Damon. I was further acquainting myself with your city-state Philesia and this boy endeared me into forming apanionship."


    "Ahh well, it''s good for you to not justy around in your room all day with just your writings."


    "Well if anything Damon is going to encourage me to write even more!"


    "Alright well make sure to greet your sons they have been waiting to see you again." Xenophon nods and we walk outside and see two boys yfully chasing each other.


    "Gryllus! Diodorus! At guard!" Both boys quit ying at their father''s word and stand ready.


    "Attack this intruder!" Xenophon points at me and both boys sprint towards me with clear intention to take me down. The oldest reaches me first leaving to snap down his neck leaving him to fall onto the ground and the second one I dash to the right and trip.


    "Very good, all of you. At ease boys I''m d to see you all are so brave. Nowe Damon I would like to go hunting with you but first to the hounds! It''s still midday, an adept time for a short summer hunt." Xenophon leads me to a pin full ofrge and lean hunting dogs showing gics for use instead of cuteness like my past life.


    "I have raised these dogs to be proper aid to huntsmen such as I and to help youth like you be warriors on and off the battlefield." I nod and then he continues "I have thoroughly researched hunting dogs since entering this estate and learned the ideal traits for hunting dogs. Hunting dogs need arge build, proud chest, and light feet."


    "Do you reckon your hound dogs are the best in Sparta?"


    "I reckon they are the best in the whole of Greece, my boy. The temple of Delphi herself might agree with that statement. Many huntsmen are hindered by their improper hounds with droopy snouts,ck of proper training, and bluish eye tents showing a lower level of vision. They will continue this trend as they allow their inferior dogs to breed and live poorly, making their value lower and lower than mine."


    "Do you have any favorites?"


    "Yes, this is my favorite." He waves over arge dog with a short snout and darker-colored coat. "This is Lance, he will lead the other hunting dogs on our hunt, and in the winter months he gets the first pick to mate with the bitches once they enter heat."


    I nod and then Xenophon ces the cors on the hounds and puts them on leashes. All listen to him attentively and follow his lead with no problem. Xenophon brings me a hunting dress and we both switch into it and he even gives me footwear something I''ve not enjoyed for a long time. He also gives me a bow and a spear while he carries the same adding a hunting bag.


    "Do you know how to use the bow?"


    "No, but it would be an honor to learn." He nods as I lie since in my past life my older sister was always passionate about archery leaving her to either have me be her target or join her in shooting when she watched me when I was younger.


    We eventually make it into the woods and he begins to tie his hunting dogs to trees and I offer to join which he epts. Eventually, all the dogs are tied and he turns to me with his index finger over his mouth.


    "Now we must be quiet and wait to not scare any game away. Just take in everything thoroughly."


    I give a thumbs up and we wait patiently with Xenophon citing prayers to Artemis. Eventually, a dog starts barking, leaving Xenophon to release Lance to chase the game with us following. Soon the game starts to slow down and therge hare enters view.


    "Take the shot boy."


    I steady my bow and release with my best efforts and almost hit the hare. Xenophon then takes his turn and releases his arrow with the aim holding true.


    "For that being your first time you are a natural your hand cement and release are already adept. You have a great foundation to build on." He messes up my hair and then retrieves the hare giving it to Lance much to therge hound''s enjoyment.


    The rest of the hunt goes the same and eventually, I manage to take down some hares as well. All the dogs leave happy but under no haste to bring Xenophon any difort. Once we make it back to his estate dinner is already prepared and I bring proper ancient Greek manners by slurping the semi-rare opportunity to eat meat down. Then Philesia Xenophon''s wife brings me to my sleeping quarters which are a guest room. I manage to rest easy and dream of how the rest of the group might be doing.

 Chapter 18: Xiphos Chapter 18

    <h4>Chapter 18: Xiphos Chapter 18</h4>


    "Wake up young sir." A female ve girl patiently wakes me from my slumber leaving me to yawn.


    "How does it feel to be a helot?" The girl turns red at my question.


    "What do you mean sir?"


    "How does Xenophon treat you?"


    "Well he doesn''t overwork any of us but he does enjoy testing our smartness strenuously."


    I nod at her answer and she leads me to the others all already eating. I sit down and enjoy the rich and nutritious food to indulge in.


    "Today I want all of you boys toe and care for the horse''s with me!" Xenophon tells us and once we finish we then start to follow him to the stables. The stables holdrge and beautiful horse''s with ves brushing their hair.


    "I want us to first groom these horse''s before we go any farther. Son''s I know you both have experience but Damon do you?"


    "No sir"


    "By Apollo I''m d for you to be here! You have yet to learn the ways of being aplete man." Xenophon then grabs a brush and starts stroking thergest one''s hair with his son''s following suit. Eventually I grab my brush, copying Xenophon''s movements. The horse first starts huffing and puffing but eventually turns silenced and situated. Xenophon starts smiling and soon puts down the brush and lifts the horse''s hooves. He starts cleaning and wing out anything undesired and then starts to journey to us boys to assist us. Eventually he makes it to me and helps me clean the horse''s hooves and eventually I start to move on my own. Afterwards the horse than prances in ce looking upwards.


    "Good job boys now let''s start riding!" Xenophon starts to ce straddles on the horse''s with them being inplete obedience and stillness. He then starts lifting his youngest Diodorus on his own horse and then Gryllus on his. I managed to get on my own horse after a few tries trying my hardest to stay in control.


    "Hold the reins of the horse loosely and allow them to feel joy riding with you." Xenophon tells us and eventually all the horse''s begin to move at a slow and steady pace. For several hours we rode on top of the horse''s my heart rate became less and less fast and instead the horse became more and more fast.


    "Good job boys now let''s take a break." Xenophon leads his horse back in the stable followed by us and we head back to the house. "Sons, go ahead and y amongst yourself. Damone with me into my writing room."


    I walk upstairs in his estate and head into a small room with a view of the outdoors. The room holds many scrolls and much papyrus to write on.


    "As a writer I would like to keep my works safe and having one copy of them is not enough. So I would like you to be my scribe and copy my work down." I nod my head and he extends a scroll to my hand which I ept. I begin copying the scroll on another piece of papyrus and while doing so he leaves me on my own after giving a small smile.


    For the rest of the day I copy the scrolls and learn much from his book. Learning about what is expected of a cavalry officer, caring and riding horse''s, hunting with dogs, and his own early life events during the retreat from Mesopotamia. In my past life I read the outlines of the books but now have gained a more adept knowledge.


    The next few weeks follow the same structure: hunting, riding on horse''s, and scribing his works. During the hunts my aim hits more often then it misses when targeting hares and when riding the horse always obeys me and even keeps up with Xenophon.


    Scribing out details of war strategies of skills of advanced outhinking and creativity. Such as when Xenophon recruited fame slingers with far range and allowed the enemy to get in close range so when they retreated they used the long range topletely mangle the Persian army with their backs turned.


    "Damon." Xenophon takes me from my trance at the breakfast table and I gulp down a mouthful of soup.


    "Yes?"


    "Today you and I are going to visit the king. I have requested to put his life to pen and papyrus in which he has epted. During our visit you can meet with your friend and even his betrothed if I heard right."


    "Wait, are Nikos and the princess officially betrothed?" The sons of Xenophon in unison start ooing.


    "Well the king has him as the favorite and so far the princess seems to be in agreement." I nod my head with gratitude due to the gained knowledge and once we finish breakfast Xenophon brings me outside. We retrieve our carriage and with his directions as I ride we make it in good time.


    The king''s residence is muchrgerpared to any other Spartan housing but I doubt it would be bigger than a rich artisan in Athens. The helots working seem to be more put together than any type of helot back in my pre agoge town. They quicklye and lead the carriage out of any way or danger as we make it into the house.


    We knock on the door and eventually another domestic helot opens it. The house holds few decorations but instead many war trophies and sets of armors. Also quality Xiphos short swords and hoplite spears.


    "Wee my friend!" The king darts out with arge limp wielding a Xiphos approaching Xenophon.


    "Aww yes one of your famed introductions" Xenophonughs and pulls off a Xiphos sword off the wall and the two begin to trade blows.


    "Still practicing I see." The king states to Xenophon and gives a harty swipe at Xenophon that just misses.


    "If I don''t I might get bested by an old man!" Xenophon strikes with vigor and the kingughs.


    "You''re getting up there in age too my friend!" The two continuously keep going and a small teenager walks across, eyeing the scene with a smile.


    "Hey, do they do this every time?" I ask her and she stops walking across and I walk forward to her.

 Chapter 19: Princess Chapter 19

    <h4>Chapter 19: Princess Chapter 19</h4>


    "Yeah they do this every time." She says with a strong yet very feminine way making me remember what it feels to find a female attractive. Her dark hair being medium length and wavy. Her thin cloak and short skirt exposing her cur-wait no I got to focus. I p myself and see her back turned from me and starts walking away again in what seems to be slow motion.


    "Who usually wins?" The teenager then chuckles at my second question.


    "My father says before his leg went almostpletely useless that he would win but I never saw. So far the record is Xenophon winning but they both seem to enjoy it." She shrugs and I quickly respond.


    "So uh what''s your name?" I avoid the idea of making my voice deeper but I do straighten myself to pinpoint posture standing eye to eye with her with my arm on the wall. My unintentionally burning from thisw of attraction.


    "Arent you cute?" She chuckles and pinches my cheeks. "My name is Eupolia and you should know I''m much too old for you paide. Maybe one day you can grow into a marriable young man but you should really still be thinking about ying swords."


    <i>If only she knew...</i>


    My insides feel more beaten than ever before as she walks away each step feels like my heart goes further and further away from my body. I shake myself to remember my goal as to why I''m here and see that Xenophon has his Xiphos sword across the neck of king Agesus causing him to yield.


    "Ahh so you have bested me today!" The king leads us through the residence and eventually Nikoses into sight. Xenophon waves me off and I walk to Nikos. We give each other aradery hug and he smiles.


    "Pleasure to see you Nikos."


    "How''d you get so proper?" He punches me in the arm and he leads me outside. Arge grassfield full of wooden swords, spears, and discs.


    "What would you like to do Nikos?" I ask my now evenrger friend now standing only a few inches shorter than most men.


    "I challenge you to spar! Pick up a Kopis sword my friend."


    "Of course Nikos. So what have you been up to?" I pick a wooden Kopis and we both begin circling each other.


    "The king mainly attends to his duties as one of the Gerousia council but when he is around he trains me in the art ofbat!" He unleashes a hard downward swing making me block with my legs bent 90 degrees due to the force.


    "Quite the swing my friend!" I take my turn with a hard array of blows making a direct hit on his legs.


    "You as well.." He groans in pain but regains his footing. "So what have you been up to?"


    "I spend my days with Xenophon hunting, riding, and scribing down his works." After my brief answer Nikos takes his turn now widely swinging his kopis in every direction eventually his breathing bes rough and ragged.


    "Ahh that sounds quite nice so you have yet to learn further in Spartan warfare?" His leg shows pain as it drags from my blow and his body angled from being tired. This is my chance to end the bout!


    "Seems as though I have learned more than you my friend!" I take my chance and swing at his leg. The swing looks as if it is in slow motion and eventually...


    It hits and Nikos falls like a little giant onto the ground. He lets go of his sword and looks around like a straymb then up at me with hands moving around frantically.


    I extend a hand to help him up. "You have done a great job Nikos, we can now just converse normally."


    "You have as well..." Nikos then throws dirt out of his hand. The dirt hits my eyes leaving me blind and in a split second I''m thrown onto the ground with my own kopis turned onto my neck.


    "Shoot Nikos don''t you think that''s a little too far?"


    "Yes but on the field nothing is too far king Agesus taught me that himself!" He gives out his hand and I ept. We then sit down side by side underneath the shade of the back of the house.


    "Nikos you know the Olympics areing in 4 years right?"


    "Yeah, what about it?" Nikos chuckles and brushes his hand through his short light brown hair.


    "Are you going to aim to be one?" Nikos''s eyes pop at my question and responds quickly.


    "I''d love to yeah but I don''t even know what I would do?"


    "I''m going to train for boy''s wrestling, the other two are stade and boxing."


    "Hmmm I''d be good at boxing!"


    "You would but it''s currently ouwed... You should try to tell Agesus to make an exception for the time Olympicse around. Plus by that time you should already be built bigger than any man!"


    "You''re right! I''ll ask King Agesus and I will be an Olympian for Zeus!" Nikos turns excited and punches an invisible opponent.


    "I heard you and the princess are enjoying each other''spany?" I question my friend with a different topic while looking out at the non-polluted sky and flourishingnd.


    "Yeah she''s pretty great, her name is Prolyta. We are already great friends and we y every game you can think of out here!"


    "What''s her older sister like?" My question makes Nikos turn to me with a smirk.


    "Why have you met her yet?"


    "I didn''t know there was a pretty girl that was past paides age."


    "Then that''s her. Seems like you got a crush, you hound dog!" Nikos startsughing at my now disposition of a 11 year old making fun of me.


    "No-no I don''t!" I push him and heughs even harder.


    "You don''t what?" A voice says both Nikos and I turn to each other with confused faces. We step out and see from the house on the second floor the girl from earlier Eupolia looking at us from the balcony. Her face being held up by her hand as she leans off the ledge.


    "Nothing miss!" I instantly exim and instantly regret now acting like a little boy in front of a young woman.


    "Hmmm" She then jumps off the balcony and stands in front of us. "Would you boys like to y a game?"

 Chapter 20: Prolyta Chapter 20

    <h4>Chapter 20: Prolyta Chapter 20</h4>


    "Sure! I''ll go get Prolyta you two go and have fun!" Nikos runs away with a wink and Eupolis lightly chuckles.


    "I never asked your name so like what is it?"


    "Oh, I''m Damon, nice to meet you." I extend a handshake and she epts and pulls me in. She then hooks her other arm underneath my shoulder throwing me onto the ground. "Hey, what are you doing!" I squirm underneath trying to escape.


    "Your friend always talks about how skilled you are so I''m just testing you out." She begins to ce me in a headlock cing her chest onto mine not allowing me to escape. Then again do I need to? It''s highly unlikely I gain anything by showing her my capabilities since they aren''t yet at an Olympic level anyway.


    She finishes cing me into her headlock with a tight grip as I give up just enjoying my time on the ground rxing. She looks at me with confused eyes and then looks me over.


    "Ew, you pervert!" She jumps off me and I raise my eyebrows because I don''t understand.


    "What do you mean?" Her face turns red and she ps me.


    "You were enjoying yourself weren''t you!" She reorganizes her skirt and ces herself into her own arms.


    "Well yeah?" Whatever I did must be a misunderstanding but she probably just needs to think it over. Plus I''m not even physically a teenager so I can''t seem like a real threat.


    She ps me again, her face now befitting a tomato instead of olive skin. Nikos reappears with a girl standing almost a foot shorter than him.


    "Damon! This is Prolyta and Prolyta this is Damon." The girl stands close to Nikos distances herself from me and waves. I wave back and Eupolia inches herself away from me giving a face of disgust.


    "So what are we doing? Since you do know I''m supposed to be practicing my lyre Nikos." Prolyta looks up at the towering boy and he gives a kind chuckle.


    "We are going to y a game.. A game of tug of war!" Nikos raises his hands and then runs away from view. We all look at each other confused until he eventuallyes back with arge rope. He then ces a tree branch directly in the middle of it.


    "What are the teams?" Eupolia asks with her hands on her hips eyeing all of us.


    "Eupolia, you and Damon will be on the same team while Prolyta and I will be on the same. Since I am the biggest and Prolyta is the smallest." Nikos gives a wink to me and Prolyta joins him on his side of the rope.


    Nikos is many things but a homie blocker is not one of them. It''s been over a decade since I have found someone attractive and that someone is the princess herself. I ideally would''ve wanted to marry her anyway even if she looked like a horse all to potentially help raise my legitimacy the day Iunch my power y.


    "Grab the rope, Damian!" Eupolia bends over picking the rope in front of me and I look down to pick my end. Nikos stands opposite too me holding his rope tight while Prolyta stands in front holding the rope with bent knees. Eupolia digs her feet into the dirt and I begin to wrap myself into the rope.


    Tug of war is a very familiar game for Nikos and I as in the agoge we extensively yed it. Our team was always prone to winning due to our leadership and everyone listening. Now at this very moment this very game I n to win. Nikos has already beaten me with dirt in my eyes earlier and they still sting. I mustn''t let my friend win again.


    "Eupolia," I whisper and she turns her neck looking at me.


    "What?"


    "We tire them out by just throwing our weight backward and then once they start to give we pull on counts of 3." She nods at my request and then Nikos starts to smile.


    "1... 2... 3!" Nikos yells and the game starts the opposing team immediately starts pulling. Nikos''s team continuously pulls us hard as we bend back being dead weight.


    "Pull Damon! Stop being scared!" Nikos yells as his teammate Prolyta grunts.


    "<i>Hell</i> no Nikos! You already beat me once, not again my friend!" Mypetitive spirit shows as our line holds and their line shows visible sweat.


    "What''s a hell?" Eupolia breaks her silence with sweat falling down her toned arms from the hot sun.


    "Yeah! What''s a hell!" Nikos yells his breath and his voice now rugged.


    "It''s nothing! Eupolia we pull now! 1.. 2.. 3!"


    We begin jerking the rope pulling it farther and further to our side. Until they eventually cross the line and Prolyta falls over the branch but Nikos jumps to fall under her. Shends in his arms and Nikos turns a slight hue of red.


    "Are you okay Prolyta?"


    "Yes Nikos"


    They look each other in the eyes and I see Eupolia roll hers and she walks away to the house but then looks at me.


    "Hey!" She shouts at me with her eyebrows inward.


    "What?" Her face softens and she politely smiles.


    "Good n." Shen then walks away finishing her walk into the house.


    "Damon!" I look over and see Xenophon exiting the house right after Eupolia entered.


    "Yes sir?"


    "It''s time to go. Hopefully, you have had a bountiful time with your friend." I nod and we walk out to the front and retrieve our carriage. I ride the horses back to Xenophon''s house as he sleeps through the ride.


    I wake him up and he enters the house while I take the chore of handling the carriage. The horses lick me excessively as I group them back into their stable. Once I make it into the house I see everyone eating dinner and I join quickly eating my food to show my manners.


    I enter my guest room I have be well acquainted with andy down. Nikos is a good friend, his strength and now unyielding attitude in battle is a great blessing. His rtionship with Prolyta is also advantageous if they get married and he supports me down the line. My power y for rule will garner more support within the Spartan social ss.


    "Wake up Damon today is time for you to properly train in wrestling!" Xenophon knocks on the wall and I exit the room. Today will be an important one!

 Chapter 21: Baukis Chapter 21

    <h4>Chapter 21: Baukis Chapter 21</h4>


    "Are we going to train after breakfast?"


    "Yes but not with me. I am just the Olympic representative so I have brought a past Olympic victor to train you for the rest of our time together. It has been a process with the ephors but they have allowed him to enter Sparta to train with you. It''s been a while since Sparta has had a victory in multiple events so in 3 years we n to fix that issue."


    We walk down together and a foreign man stays sitting feasting on hisrge breakfast. The man has a bulked build and a towering presence from just sitting down with olive-brown skin showing a life of working under the sun. We join him and all eat with pleasant conversations taking ce.


    "So you''re the boy Xenophon wants me to train." The man''s voice booms the whole room, startling all except Xenophon.


    "Yes sir!" I respectfully answer his question with Spartan youth courtesy of answering when spoken to.


    "My name is Baukis and I''m from Troizen not too far from Sparta. I was the 400 BC winner for wrestling if you don''t know which would be stupid if you''re wanting to be a winner."


    I indeed did not know as I haven''t taken the liberty to know ancient Olympic winners preferring to learn about the social and political statuses of the city-states.


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you Baukis, I''m Da-"


    "Enough of that I need no name from you until youpete and win. Until then you are just Boy." The man walks out with a nod to the cook and exits each step having a thunder.


    I finish not too long after and take my leave after Xenophon hints that I''m supposed to be trailing Baukis. I dart out and catch the sight of the man walking out to the woods and follow.


    "I see you have finally caught up to me.." The man states and we walk for dozens of minutes until he finally smiles. "Now this is the perfect ce Boy!"


    The area holds arge puddle of Mudd amid a grasnd. Baukis walks in the middle of the mud showing a boy-like enjoyment for the subsistence in between his feet.


    "Come, Boy! Show me what you got!" He raises his arms in the air awaiting my physical response. I dart out to the mud and thennd first face into it after slipping.


    The man thunderouslyughs and I stand back up showing no give. I then finish my dash and release a st double takedown. I pull his legs inward and thrust my head into what''s supposed to be his chest but is instead his stomach. He remains standing and insteadughs loudly.


    "Is that all you have?"


    "Yes sir?"


    Baukis grabs my lower back and pulls me up with my whole body now dangling upside down.


    "Now Boy, you have two choices. One quit or two youplete any form of takedown on me today!" He lets go of my dangling body. I fall into the mud holding my arms out to catch myself instead of breaking my head on the mud. The fall dirties my clean body thetter I''m not being used to in this life.


    "One isn''t an option sir!" I try throwing myself into him but all it does is make me fall into the mud hard making me wince in pain.


    "You have no talent! It''s best for you to quit, Boy!"


    "I can''t!" The thought of not being an Olympian hurts to my core. I need to be famous and respected to do anything in this ce!


    "Take. Me. Down."


    I stand back up and try again and again trying anything to make him fall.


    "Why! Just why can''t you be taken down!" I yell and he crosses his arms.


    "Whenever you try taking me down your chest is down and you make a stupid face whenever you go on the offense."


    "What face?"


    "Your mouth goes wide and your eyes m shut.. Like my wife!"


    I take the criticism into ount after heughs for several minutes and I try another takedown. It does nothing and I fail again but I seed in getting mud into my mouth.


    "Huh, that was better. Maybe you''re not so bad after all!"


    I gag at the mud but feelforted by what can be called as words of affirmation.


    "Same for you!" I yell and know I''m going to try one more time...


    I try for the final time now trying to trip him but his body doesn''t budge in any type of way.


    "Now you should know well that won''t work but then again it''s you." Baukis then ms me to the mud once more and I get right back up. Just one more time...


    I try to hook my arms over and under his shoulders to throw him down yete to the crushing reality I can barely even reach them. He returns with a basic push making me fall back several feet away againing side by side with mud.


    "Bring it on Boy!" He yells and I pick up the mud around me and throw it in his mouth. He begins to spit it out and while he is distracted I use my opportunity and throw my whole body into a takedown down making him fall. Seems as though I could learn a thing or two from Nikos.


    "Well, shit," Baukis mutters as hisrge body gets engulfed in the mud and I take my turn tough. "You''re going to be an Olympian my boy but it won''t be easy I promise you that."

 Chapter 22: Stone on Stone Chapter 22

    <h4>Chapter 22: Stone on Stone Chapter 22</h4>


    "Damon..." Xenophon looks down at me while I stand out the door now ready to ride back to the Agoge. "In these two months, all your skills have improved and you have even won Baukis over." My face turns surprised and Xenophon heavy hands my hair messing it up. He begins tough and we then enter our carriage riding back.


    "Have you enjoyed your time Damon?"


    "Yes, Xenophon." Xenophon begins to smile and the rest of the ride goes peacefully. Eventually, we make it back to the Agoge with everything being the absolute same. Everyone seems to already be back and engaging with each other happily.


    "Whoops, it seems like I held you too long!" Xenophon hands out a firm handshake and I ept. I hop off and he rides away and then looks back. "Next time we see each other you will face me as an Olympic participant! Also don''t you dare get into any trouble or I am liable."


    Xenophon then continues until I can see him no more. I look forward and see my group running towards me.


    "Damon! You got so much taller, how?" Georgios motions his hand over his height vs mine. Next to Nikos Georgios stands a literal foot shorter and Nero stands several inches over him as well.


    "We ate meat regrly my friends! As you all know, a high protein diet in turn makes you grow better."


    "You talk way too much about diet man." Nikosughs while Nero and Georgios seem to take my words very seriously.


    "So what have you guys done since west saw each other?" Nikos and Georgios smile at my question while Nero''s face turns upside down.


    "Nero, what''s with the sour face?" Everyone turns to Nero as he does not show any form of amusement.


    "Well over my break my erastes just had me constantly clean his armor and he consistently had me swimming with him. After the two months, all I have learned to do is chores, cleaning armor like no other, and I''m a pretty good swimmer I think?" Nero scratches his head as Nikos holds in a cruelugh showing some courtesy.


    "It''s okay Nero, mine wasn''t much better. I had to climb trees every single day to bring him his favorite foods. At first, it was fun but eventually, it became rtively nerve-wracking when having to climb a steep mountain for a handful of olives. Yet he did allow me to constantly race him despite him losing most of the time after the first month."


    "Speaking of running... Georgios, would you like to be an Olympian?" Georgios''s eyes pop out of his head and so does the rest of the group.


    "Georgios an Olympian?" Nikos let''s lose a loudugh making Georgios''s face turn red.


    "Yes, I''d love to be an Olympian! I want to run the boy''s stade." Georgios confirms my theory and seems to already gauged the details of the Olympics.


    "Alright well, it''s my turn. Basically in the two months, I got close with the princess herself! I also learned more about fighting and ummmm"


    "Is that it?" Georgios questions and Nikos nods his head with everyone now turned to me.


    "What did you do Damon?" Nero asks, nudging me.


    "I trained in formalized hunting, archery, horse riding, and wrestling. I also havee to the conclusion of entering the Olympics for wrestling!"


    "Damon, one of those things is not useful. The Athenians use their long-range firing sticks to avoid danger. We are Spartans, not Athenians!"


    "Nikos what if one day those long-range sticks fire rounds of sharp projectiles and can kill anything in sight?" Everyoneughs at my oundishment I must now look like a buffoon.


    "They already made that Damon you must not have been paying attention but we were taught about that form of weapon. I believe it was created just 3 Olympics ago by someone is Syracuse. It''s still very much just a theory weapon though..." Oh yes, Ipletely forgot! Early forms of the ballista are bing present yet still, they have not been properly used in war.


    "Well, what if that theory can one day be held by a man''s two arms... A much smaller version you can call a gun instead of arrows it''s a small lead ball!" I have no clue how to invent a modern-day gun yet in theory I should be able to create an early form. With the proper resources and engineers helping. I look around and all my allies just look confused perhaps my idea sounds ludicrous.


    "I don''t quite understand all that but it''s great to be back with you guys!" Georgiosughs and pushes us around everyone smiling.


    <strong>"Silence!" </strong>Eiren Tobias yells bringing everyone''s attention onto him. He begins to walk in front of us with a poker face. "Congrattions all of you for now making it to year 12 of the agoge. As a gift, you all will now receive this year''s new cloak!"


    Assistantse out of the shadows bringing out carts full of the ssically famous cloaks. My own cloak is in tatters, especially this year as it has transformed into a brown-colored mess with arge cut that almost makes itpletely divided.


    "About time." Nikos takes off his own cloak which has seen just as much abuse as mine and everyone else follows.


    We all take turns taking the cloaks, all being one size fits all. Making Nikos''s cloak look more like a cape and Georgios beingpletely wrapped up. Eventually, everyone picks up a cloak and the Eiren stops dozing around.


    "This is not the only reward though... Starting tomorrow all of you will spend the whole year in the wilderness! You all will be transported into a carriage with your heads covered. With your garment for this year being the only thing you have not even any of your ssmates! You will know when the year ends based on your own tracking of each day. Paides you may now all partake in today''s soup. Do know though that this is your only meal for the whole day."


    Every boy''s face is of a different tone and expression, many frowning, some turned pale, some smiling, and some with their eyes popping out. Our group heads in line and eventually receives the soup. We then head to our quarters andy on our old beds. Nero holding a frightened expression and Georgios massaging his head.


    "Hahahaha we just saw each other and now we are going to be split again!" Nikosughs at the irony but then his face flips with a frown which he quickly covers with a hand.


    "We can''t be split up again?"


    "We won''t!" Georgios quietly yells, taking the words out of my own mouth.


    "I agree with that statement, Georgios. What ideas do you have?" Georgios nods at my response and now everyone in the group eyes him including myself.


    "My cloak is too big, we all know that." He eyes Nikos as he chuckles with his hand over his hair. "That means if we can cut pieces of my cloak and smooth it out after we can throw it over on the path. If we do this sporadically we can track the cloth all the way back to the agoge and meet back with each other."


    "I understand what you are saying and I agree we should do that." I smile at him and he smiles back with Nero nodding in likely agreement.


    "What if they see though?"


    "We don''t travel by the paths they take us. We travel by the forestry so they can''t locate us. For us to locate each other I will climb on top of trees to help group us together."


    "Huh, you''re a really smart Spartan to be Georgios!" Nikos puts Georgios in a headlock messing up his hair.


    "I agree Georgios, I couldn''t have thought or dreamt of a better idea!" Given time I might''ve but Georgios is highly smart so it would have taken too much time. The group being together can allow us to work on multiple tasks like catching food, finding a safe ce, and a stable drinking source.


    We feast on our measly-sized soup with enough nutrients to grow but leaves us all still hungry. Eiren Tobias appears with another man around his age meaning he is likely our new Eiren.


    "My time as your Eiren is up for your 11th year. Your new Eiren is Eiren Damian." Ex-Eiren Tobias walks out and our new Eiren with a strict posture begins to walk around us.


    "Today is a recess day." He then walks out leaving us to do any activities for the day.


    "Man, I can kill for more food!" Nikos groans his growing body must be much more unsatisfiedpared to the rest of us.


    "It''s not that ba-" Georgios stops speaking he must''ve realized as well that his consumption probably has a 1,000 caloric differencepared to the man-sized boy.


    "Let''s go get food and we can sharpen rocks for cloth cutting," I tell the group and begin walking outside with the rest following. We head into the deciduous forest and split off.

 Chapter 23: The Hole Chapter 23

    <h4>Chapter 23: The Hole Chapter 23</h4>


    Georgios and Nero gather fruits and vegetables from bushes and trees While Nikos and I go by a creek collecting rocks.


    "Nikos have you found anyrge rocks to sharpen off of?" I ask while holding a good-sized 6-inch rock fit for sharpening. Nikos holds out a 2-foot rock with a smile and nods. I approach the rock and start hammering them into each other until a sharp 3-inch de remains.


    "Why is it so small?"


    "Nikos we are only using this to cut up Georgios''s cloak and maybe Nero''srge de made from two rocks won''t be sharp enough to smoothly do it." He nods and we begin to walk back to the agoge.


    "Damon, are you sure we should go back so soon? We should collect food as well since we finished so back." Nikos questions and his points hit their mark as he is right.


    "You''re right Nikos. It would just be honestziness to go back so soon." Nikos and I both begin to search for food ourselves eventually finding a whole bunch of olives. Nikos eats them while we continue searching with a trend of him and I eating them all as we go. Once we found a substantial amount to bring to the group we started walking back.


    Georgios and Nero arrive at the same time as us with two armfuls of fruits and vegetables allowing us to feast leisurely. The barracks being quiet and hospitable bringing us a delighted peace. Many people not being present: likely ying games or still searching for something they want.


    .


    .


    "Hey can we have some? I understand one of you is the Bomonike and all but still don''t you all want to share?" A boy and three others stand with their faces showing visible sweat and lookingpletely down with hands behind their backs, all being rtively small. Georgios and Nero offer soft gazes and I can''t help but feel inwardly conflicted. Sharing would help with the respect of the ss but also would make our little group worse off. Maybe it''s best to teach them how to find better and work more cohesively.


    "Nah we are good" Nikos the honorable Bomonike answers and eats a fistful of berries.


    "Well that''s a shame we really wanted to be civil." The 4 boys turn into bandits as they put their hands forward showing short hand-crafted spears via sticks and sharp rocks.


    "What should we do guys?" Nero asks now standing with his knees turning inward. Georgios and Nikos also stand but in abat stance showing readiness.


    "Is this really how it''s going to be? Thest day of being in this ce for a year and the four of you want to fight spears vs fists?" I ask the boys trying to offer a soft posture. Two of them begin to pull back their spears while the lead makes a quick nce at them. They both bring them back up quickly and all begin to close in.


    "Yes, because we are scared. We are already hungry and we all know we will struggle to capture food in the wild.... If you give us the food we will let you all off easy!"


    Hmmm, perhaps but it would be embarrassing to be submitting like this. It''s tough to put a spin on being good-willed with des approaching my throat.


    "Through the hole!" Georgios yells and climbs to our hole quickly with Nero following.


    "I''ll hold them off, Damon!" Nikos yells but I stand side by side. Our only choice now is to fight now. Georgios must not have thought about it but Nikos is way too wide to travel easily through our little makeshift hole that so far has allowed us to escape at night.


    Nikos and I turn back to back. I pick up my bed of reeds as a shield and Nikos follows. The four boys target Nikos perhaps for the glory of taking down the Bomonike. Nikos groans as his old bed begins to crumble in his arms as their dull spears wreak havoc. I Thrust my body with my shield ramming into the boy causing him to fall and lose his spear. His hand reaches for the spear and another boy begins his release on a blow to my now exposed face...


    <i>BOOM</i>


    Georgioses out of nowhere and throws a punch at the potential killer allowing me to stomp my feet on the boy''s hand. Nikos has bodied both of the other boys into the ground with the notable appearance of Nero ready to help him.


    "Nikos, Damon I''m sorry for my quick leave. I thought the both of you could also make quick leave allowing everyone to go unharmed... When I remembered how long it took both of you in months past, Nero and I sprinted to help."


    "Don''t worry Georgios, it was a genius move! You just did an ambush!" I pat Georgios on the back and he smiles.


    "Genius? I almost got my arms broken?" Nikos shows his sore arms and Georgios''s face switches to a frown. "... Maybe I''m being too much of a conniving and scared Thebian... You ced a nice punch on that dude Georgios." Nikos looks down at the boy with his jaw wide open on the ground. Georgios smiles at Nikos and the two bros hug it out with Nero just standing making sure none of the assaulters get back up.


    "Damon, what should we do with them?" Nero asks as the assaulters plead their case of innocence.


    "We take their Stone Age spears and break them. That is all." I stick my hand out to a fallen boy giving a show of peace. They ept and eventually, they all stand in front of us. The one that reached for their spear likely obtained a broken hand as he holds it with it beingpletely swollen already.


    "Thank you for the mercy!" They all cry and I look over to see that we have food left over. I throw branches of grapes at them and they all run off screaming about how thankful they are. Nikos notably eyes me with his eyebrows inward but his gaze turns back normal.


    "Huh, even I would''ve struggled to have been so kind Damon!"


    "I wasn''t kind to them Georgios... It was strategic; they would have attacked us at night if we let them go without food. If we tied him to the bed we would have likely looked like the perpetrators. Plus those grapes didn''t taste as good as the olives." Georgios can''t hold back a gasp and Nikos chuckles.


    "You''re right those grapes did taste a little funky." Nikos immediately starts gorging himself again with Georgios giving an ample sigh.


    "Guys remember we have to cut the cloth now." Nero reminds us and we begin to lounger around carefully taking turns cutting out cloth from our cloaks. Eventually, we cut enough cloth for us to hide in our garments. Their color will supply a nice contrast to the green ground or brown paths.


    "Goodnight guys."


    Nikosys down and we all follow. Eventually, we rest all of our minds at ease.


    .


    .


    .


    "Wake up paides! It''s time!" Our new Eiren yells waking us all up. We all wake up and when we walk outside in a line the sun barely being seeable. What awaits us is a dozen carriages ready for our departure. "March towards a carriage and one more thing... Take off your loincloth, you boys are going nude!"

 Chapter 24: Man in the Woods Chapter 24

    <h4>Chapter 24: Man in the Woods Chapter 24</h4>


    <i>NUDE!?</i> We have always had to only wear a loincloth and a cloak but now just the cloak? Our manhoods will now all be exposed. We are only one step away from that naked reality show in the wilderness.


    By the orders of our Eiren, we march one by one into a carriage. The group and I shuffle to the same carriage with luckily no pushback from the Eiren or any observing Spartans. Eventually, everyone is ced into a carriage and the Spartan in front throws us blindfolds.


    <i>"Put them on! Now!"</i> We listen to his words and all ce the blindfolds making sure we stay to the sides to throw out our red cloth to track each other''s location. The 6 other boys in the carriage seem grateful now for being able to ride in the middle avoiding any dangers of falling off.


    The carriage rides for a long time. I count each second by flickering my finger with routine. By now it should be 2 whole hours of justying around. One by one we get thrown out by a separation of 5 minutes each. Once the 10th time the carriage stops, it is my turn making me thest one. The spartans throw me out like a pet owner pushing their dog off the couch. I brush the dirt off my legs and see my sporadic trail of red cloth. The sun is more in sight. It is likely the Spartan that rode us here won''t see any part of our n unless he is outwardly looking for them.


    I begin to track the cloth as the minutes go by slowly. Eventually, I''m out of my starting location of low grass and instead on a dirt path. In ancient Greece, the best ''roads'' were made of partial stone and Sparta especially would make sure it''s only partial. I jog on the dirt path picking up more and more pieces of cloth. The others ahead are likely doing the same thing by jogging to the agoge. The only one I might catch up to is Nikos if he also was thrown outte. Overall I''m in the worst possible situation since they might all be far ahead or at least near each other. Asst, it means there is only one way ahead to find people and that is in front of me not behind me.


    I run and I run to the point of losing track of time. The red cloth helps me know that the dirt path is reliable. The bright sun makes everything visible if everything goes to n reaching the agoge will be inevitable.


    Eventually, the red cloth bes more and more frequent as I pick it up, meaning one of my group members has at some point crossed here. I ce the red cloth into my own cloak by tying it on my back like a backpack.


    My stomach feels hungry and my mouth feels like the desert. All this running and still I''ve not seen anyone.<i> How long has it been?</i>


    .


    .


    .


    2 hours? 3 hours? Being alone is not afortable feeling at all... Hopefully, the rest of the group has already met, maybe they are even backtracking for me.


    I continue on now feeling the wrath of the sun on my youthful skin. Eventually the annoying irks and pains be irrelevant. My jogging pace remains and I begin to quicken remembering my distant past in the modern world. The fading modern ideas in my mind and myplete eptance of this environment.


    With no eyes the nakedness makes me feel free! Unless a bee evernds on my exposed tool then I would not know what to do. I wouldn''t be able to swat it, run, or anything. I''d just have to wait for it to fly off to vite some other boy.


    No phones, noputers, no proper toilets, and no toilet paper. Some might find it hysterical but I found it horrifying at first. Remembering the first year here having to be a literal baby and then a toddler. Now a tween if my age gets tallied up together that would make me <i>30... </i>I should be entering the life stage of being settled down and having my own kids yet here I am essentially being in public school again but worse.


    <i>"Damon!! You''re about to enter the agoge!"</i> Georgios yells dashing out and tackles me down. I look over and see the Agoge and our not-too-distant living quarters. All empty except for a few Spartans wandering around.


    "Thanks, Georgios," I tell Georgios quietly and he takes out his hand. I ept and dust off the dirt from my bare legs. We travel back to where only Nikos lies. Both stand in nothing but their cloak also. All of us nervously make sure our eyes wander not below another''s neck.


    "Have you seen Nero?" Georgios questions and Nikos crosses his arms ready for an answer.


    "Not at all... I was thest one off so I''ve been running for hours."


    "So you didn''t see him <i>at all?"</i> Georgios questions further and I shake my head.


    "He must be lost or worse he could''ve been attacked or hunted." After myment both nod in agreement.


    "What should our n be?" Nikos looks at both Georgios and me awaiting for an idea.


    "I think it would be best for us to prepare for the worst. We need to craft weapons and then find him. Let''s head to the creek we were at earlier. It will also supply us with adequate water after burning any bacteria or viruses."


    "What are bacteria and viruses?" Nikos questions with Georgios also looking confused.


    "It''s a name I came up with for the invisible things making dirty water. We know the water is dirty but the reason why I feel is because there are things we can''t see."


    "What do you mean?" Georgios ces his hands on his hips both his feet pointing towards me now. I pick up a branch and raise it up.


    "Do you both see this?" They nod and I then knee the branch in half.


    "Is that it?" Nikos asks, scratching his head.


    "No." I repeatedly broke the branch until it was too small to break further.


    "So what you''re saying is that if you could keep on breaking it eventually we wouldn''t be able to see it or even feel it?" I nod at Georgios''s smart question and Nikos''s mouth drops.


    "Yes, the atom theory rtes to us not being able to see what will kill us or make us sick from the unfiltered water." Democritus was the inventor of the theory in around 400 BC so the theory is still in its rtive infancy in terms of spreading.


    Yet it would never spread far enough due to a not even born yet Aristotle, who would shape the world for centuries For better or worse. Notably being against the Atom theory and saying women were disfigured men.


    "<i>Woah</i> Damon you''re a genius!" Georgios ps at my grade 6 science exnation.


    "It''s like you''re an old man living in a boy''s body!" Nikos gives a nice shake of excitement before I tap him on the wrist to stop.


    <i>Ouch...</i> That hits close to home besides 30 isn''t old at all it''s the new 20! Or well the new 12 in my case due to my mistimed death.


    <i>"Guys</i> we need to save Nero, remember!?" Georgios snaps at us now remembering what trouble Nero might be in.


    We initiate our n and spend time collecting branches and rocks. Once we have everything needed we use the red cloth from my being and tie it around. Eventually, we have 4 stone-aged spears and an extra for Nero. I even sharpen a small rock to carve on trees to mark ourselves.


    We then start traveling away from the agoge and into the wilderness. The woods remind me of the Eastern deciduous forests of the USA and all the beauty it had. The soft breeze and all the scurrying squirrels everywhere.


    "By Zeus, it''s been half an hour since we have been searching!" Nikosins, dragging his spear in the dirt.


    "Hold on, <i>silence</i>." Georgios puts a hand up hushing us into silence and he then starts walking towards an area. We follow him trying to obey his words and wey our eyes on Nero...

 Chapter 25: Litos Chapter 25

    <h4>Chapter 25: Litos Chapter 25</h4>


    Nero is tied to a tree from his own cloak and brutally beaten up. His nose shows a harsh crack in the middle and his eyes closed. He was perhaps knocked out or praying to idol gods. His whole body shows bodily harm from blunt punching and kicking.


    "I don''t see anyone! We need to save him!" Georgios runs out and Nikos is not too far behind.


    It might be a trap... But even if it is we could take them, we must help our fallen friend. I run out with them and eventually, we reach him.


    "Nero, are you alive?" Nikos questions and Georgios punches him in the shoulder.


    "Y-y-ea..." Nero softly speaks, his head hanging low.


    "Nero your nose is badly broken, it needs to be put back in ce..." I softly tell him and wave the others off. I''ve never done this before but if I don''t, his nose will be a zig zag. The only experience I have in these types of situations is my past father doing something simr to a patient. He couldn''t stop talking about it while having dinner causing the rest of my family to get some early shut-eye. Good times...


    <i>*POP*</i>


    <strong><i>"Aghhh!" </i></strong>Nero screams but he is still roped up by his cloak allowing me to correct it... He cries and we take off the tied-up cloak and heys on the ground.


    "What happened Nero?" Nikos bends down with his fist clenched.


    "Remember the boy that said he was the son of Lysander?"


    "Who?" Nikos''s face turns confused looking over to Georgios and I. I send Georgios a nod and he replies.


    "Yes. Please exin further.." Georgios offers a soft gaze also bending like Nikos, I join in on the act of solidarity.


    "I was following the n of tracking the red cloth and saw him just sitting underneath a tree. I asked him what was wrong and he talked about how lonely he has been since his friends have ditched him for some reason. I offered him to join me and perhaps even join the group. He epted and we began to travel together... Eventually, he walked behind me, and boom he kicked me to the ground. We fought until he eventually got the best of me and tied me up here."


    "Why did he do this?" Georgios''s question is the same as mine. Just why would a 12-year-old already be so ruthless?


    "Once I got tied up he exined how he is doing this because we are the reason he lost his friends. He figured getting me tied up at the very least makes things even..."


    "How long ago was thest time you saw him?" Nikos questions likely wanting a quest for vengeance for our battered friend.


    "He left 15 minutes ago... I"m sorry this has all happened guys..."


    "It''s not your fault! That damn <i>kid </i>is the one to me!" I yell now not being able to hold back a scowl.


    <i>"He''s dead!</i>" Nikos yells as well even Georgios has his fists clenched.


    "Nero, onest question. What direction did he go in?" Nero thinks deeply of my question and eventually raises his hand north of us opposite of the agoge.


    "Thank you, Nero. Georgios, I want you to bring Nero to the creek and try to build a fire. Nikos, you and I are going to get our get back." Nikos smiles wide and Georgios hands the extra spear to Nero.


    Nero slowly gets up and uses his stone-aged spear as a crutch with Georgios helping him. Nikos and I both look at each other and start running north.


    "I don''t care who his daddy is, I''m still gonna make him regret what he did to Nero!" I nod at Nikos''s statement, our speed making our heads of hair fly in the air.


    "He could be lying, Nikos. Just think about it, did Agesus ever mention Lysander having a son?''


    "He would talk about Lysander a lot...Not one time did he mention him having a son?!" We run in silence as Nikos mauls the new information he has received over.


    "That''s what I expected. He''s been lying about himself to gain respect. I bet that the teenagers ditched him once they realized he is nothing special just a scheming kid."


    "You just might be right Damon what a pu-hold on I see something!" Nikos points to arge boy in a red cloak trying to climb a tree. We run to the cloaked boy until we are a few feet away.


    "Turn around now!" Nikos yells and the boy stays looking away.


    "Why would I do such a thing?"


    "Why wouldn''t you" I bud in and the boy stays turned around. Nikos gets impatient and walks up to the boy grabbing his shoulder to turn him.


    <i>*WHAM*</i>


    Nikos blocks a small rock straight for his head. If he got hit he likely would have dropped unconscious. The culprit was the same boy from months earlier trying to steal our honey. The same boy who assaulted our friend and left him tied up.


    Nikos follows his block with a punch to the face. The boy takes the punch with grit and returns one of his own. Nikos smiles at the blow as they both begin to trade attacks.


    There''s no need to join in for this bout if I do Nikos would likely get mad at me for stealing his win. Nikos maintains his strong punches constantly making the culprit''s body hit the tree.


    <i>"Alright! Alright! I give up!"</i> The boy slumps down on the tree and holds his hands up. Nikos continues throwing blows now switching to kicks. The boy begins to cry at this rate he will likely die.


    <i>"Please!!! I''m Sorry!!</i> I''m not even Lysanders son, my name is<i> just</i> Litos!! Just let me go!" He cries and cries at Nikos''s blows now even coughing.


    <i>Should I stop it? Nero has never been anything less of a good person through the 5 years of us knowing each other... To think a person would beat Nero and leave him stranded makes my heart harden and my blood boil...</i>

 Chapter 26: Tanning Chapter 26

    <h4>Chapter 26: Tanning Chapter 26</h4>


    <i>But not to the point of killing.</i>


    "Nikos it''s <i>enough </i>we need to take him back and make him pay proper dues to Nero."


    <i>"...Fine."</i> Nikos spits on the boy as he continues toy down crying.


    "You areing with us, Litos. You tried to kill our friend yet we offer you the mercy of not doing the same to you. Now get up now."


    He tries to stand under themon of my words but constantly drops.


    "It''s okay Damon. Let''s get going." Nikos starts walking away dragging Litos by his cape. Litos refutes it by quickly standing albeit limping as we begin to take the walk back to the creak.


    The trip goes smoothly as we three 12-year-olds walk through arge forest to find a creek. Eventually, we make it back to a set fire and a darkening sky.


    "So it''s Lysanders son? How could someone like him father someone like you?" Georgios stands by the fire eyeing Litos.


    "It''s because I''m not, my family is nothing but poor Spartan warriors of no importance," Litos answers and Georgios walks up to him with his fist clenched. Eventually, he releases it to instead add dry wood to the fire.


    Nero avoids Litos and instead stays slumped on a tree covering himself. Nikos stands right beside Litos eyeing him showing a clear difference between the two. Litos is big standing several inches taller than I but Nikos is huge and he is <i>better</i>.


    "Nikos your job is to watch Litos while you both go out to find building supplies for a camp. Georgios I want you to scavenge thend for any sort of food. While I cleanse the water and once I''m done I will join the scavenging." Everyone nods and gets to work.


    I begin to think of ways to make arge bowl to hold the water above the fire when Nero limps toward me.


    "What would you like me to do?"


    "I want you to rest Nero. Litos is making his dues by making up for the work you can''tplete."


    "He''s injured too, shouldn''t he rest then also?"


    "NO, because he hurt you and left you for dead. You are our friend, we almost lost you so rest and heal up."


    Nero epts his fate andys down as I begin to find arge log lying around. I begin to dig a hole into it with the sharp rock I used earlier to mark our location. Eventually, it gets dug into enough for a few pounds of water for each visit. I pick up the log then submerge it under the creek and bring it out full of water.


    Once I set it down I pick up a few rocks from the fire with sticks and rinse them into the creek. I set them into the water log for several minutes. Once it finishes I offer Nero a drink and he gratefully obliges.


    "Woah this water tastes pretty good!"


    As to how water can taste good I don''t know but clearly he is grateful as he smilesrgely. I take my turn gulping down the water until it is all gone. Leaving me to repeat the process.


    I then go out of our little creek and begin to scavenge as well. I collect all sorts of food and even a rabbit through the urate throw of my spear knocking it out and then putting it out of its misery.


    "Is that a rabbit?" Georgios appears out of the nearby shrubbery.


    "Yeah, did you catch any meat?" I look Georgios over as he holds nothing but vegetation.


    "Hahaha nope, hopefully you can share yours."


    "Sure I''ll give you a foot!" Georgios chuckles at myment as we walk back to our creek. I skin the pelt of the rabbit and then ce it on a stick. I ce the stick over the fire as both Georgios and Nero eye the meat.


    "Could you both find something to hold the stick up? This is tiring ya know!" Nero lightly touches his nose as Georgios runs off toplete my request. He eventuallyes back with two nice stumps to ce the stick over.


    "When will Nikos and <i>him </ie back?" Nero''s question leaves both Georgios and me to ponder.


    "Probably any minute?" Right after Georgios responds Nikos walks back with arge log with Litos helping.


    "I found this baby and decided they would be perfect to build on!" Nikos drops the log making arge thump noise.


    "Hmmm, Nikos do you see those two trees?" I point at two trees fit for the log to hang on top of. Nikos nods and begins to start the trek with Litos to ce it over.


    "Georgios, you and I are going to findrge sticks to hang off the log." Georgios nods and we both grabrge sticks. Eventually enough to where we ce them on the now hung log.


    "What now?" Nikos''s question leaves everyone to look at me.


    "Find smaller sticks to ce over therge sticks. Then ce dead leaves and even mud over them! After that ce inside the shelter more dead leaves and perhaps sticks under them for us to sleep on top of. " Everyone nods at mymand and soon we have arge shelter for all of us to rest in.


    "Great job guys! Now who''s ready for the rabbit!" Everyone smiles, even Litos. I cut the rabbit into 4 pieces leaving Litos left out. We gorge on our found vegetation while enjoying our dinner. Litos''s belly growls yet everyone ignores it except Litos himself and Nero hesitating to finish his rabbit piece.


    We all head to bed but before doing so Nikos ties Litos by his own cloak onto a tree. Likely for the best in case he tries sabotaging us. The night is a war in itself as we all struggle through the cold.


    Getting to the point of us having to stay body to body. Cupping our manhoods to avoid any awkward conversations to have with each other.


    Eventually, morninges and we all groan and yawn our way outside of the shelter.


    "Last Night was horrible..." Nikos rubs his eyes and immediately looks over to Litos.


    "Did you get any sleep?" Georgios questions the boy as hees in and out of consciousness.


    "No..." Nikosughs and Nero offers a soft gaze, his kindness being iparable.


    "What should we do today?" Nero looks towards me and to be honest 365 days in that shelter would be torture...


    "We hunt! We need to find deer and other prey so we can give proper flooring and even nkets. Also.. clothes." The whole day was painful as we all maintained formal eye contact so finding something to cover ourselves would be most ideal. Unless we eventually get used to our nude states which would happen eventually as the Olympics are taken nude based on my prior knowledge.


    I show them my rabbit pelt from earlier and begin to take the steps of tanning it after a few days it will be ready. Maybe more due to theck of proper materials but everyone gauges an understanding of the skill now ready to hunt.


    "Then let''s get to it!" Nikos grabs his spear and gives a few hoo-rahs while gulping down some of ourst grapes. We untie Litos and make him join us on the hunt with his job being to track our location. I give him my sharp little rock and the likelihood of him making us lost is close to none as Nikos would make him live or die to regret it.


    We walk silently for hours walking in a loose formation to spot anything. Our appearance is akin to cavemen, the days of wearing a backpack and hoodie just trying to make it to the next ss are long gone.


    I will be more Spartan than an American in only 6 more years, a disturbing thought. I need to start writing to remember my modern past and the modern inventions that came with it.


    Georgios taps me on the shoulder bringing me to the attention of a fallow deer and her fawn. Everyone else seems alerted as we begin to circle the two deer ready to ambush them.


    "Now!" Nikos yells as we spring into action. The fawn starts running with the mother trying to stand over it for it to escape. Thus allowing us to give blows to the mother as she eventually falls to the ground.


    "Should we allow the fawn to live?" Nero questions as I hurl my spear to the fawn knocking it out.


    "No, it will likely die by something else without its mother." I walk over and quickly twist the neck of the fawn giving it a quick death. No need to make it suffer longer than it has to.


    "It''s time to walk back now. All this meat canst us weeks if we properly preserve it fast!" If we don''t cool down the deer meat in an hour it could spoil. We could dig a hole in our shelter and wrap it in a cloak perhaps to ce it under.


    We need to travel as fast as possible to our creek to avoid any bacteria growth which would make the meat unusable.

 Chapter 27: Areithous Chapter 27

    <h4>Chapter 27: Areithous Chapter 27</h4>


    "Hey, is that a dead deer!?" A group of five boys approach all havingrge eye bags and one of their bellies grumble. Hmmm even if our game is preserved correctly ourbined catch probably weighs upwards of 90 pounds which is a lot of meat for the five of us.


    "Yes, we are heading back to our creek to cool it down and try to preserve it. You are wee to join us for the meat!" All the boys smile happily and follow us even taking over to carry it.


    "Thank you so much, sirs! What are your names?" A blonde-haired one with blue eyes steps forward, perhaps being the leader of this depraved troop.


    "I am Damon, the one with red hair is Georgios. The dark-haired one is Nero and therge one is Nikos."


    "Ahhh the bomonike! And you were one of the finalists! Who is that one though?" He points to Litos who essentially is an indentured servant for what he did.


    "That is Litos. He attacked our friend Nero and now we have him with us forced to make up for his crime." The blonde nods and the rest of the group offers no sympathies for Litos, two of them even spit at his feet.


    "Well I''m Areithous and it''s a true pleasure for us to join you all!" I nod and so does the rest of my group apart from Nikos. Nikos even stands beside me and taps on my shoulder.


    "Are you sure we can trust these guys? What if they are dead weight?" Nikos whispers the lowest he has ever spoken to me and likely anyone else.


    "They won''t be dead weight in the future Nikos. Our game is much too big to eat between the four of us before it spoils."


    "Ahh, so you are just gaining easy respect due to our abundance of resources." I nod and he parts as we make it to our creek.


    Our shelter appears much too puny, a bit of a gut punch on my ego. Perhaps if Nero and Litos never crossed paths we could''ve built a proper shelter fit for us.


    "Everyone! To prepare for our meal we need to cool it off and cut the meat into pieces. Does everyone understand!? While I tend to the meat I need all of you to begin to build shelters. My 3 friends can teach you the steps if need be!" Everyone adheres to my words and starts building their own shelters.


    I begin to cool the meat off by using the creek''s water and as it cools I begin to build a deep hole into our shelter. I grab sticks and dried leaves that will be ced over the hole. Eventually, the meat is ready and I separate the meat used today and the extra. The extra being ced into the outside side of my cloak now makes mepletely buck naked.


    "Everyone grab a piece of meat! I have specially prepared 10rge strips of meat for our meal." Everyone grabs a stick and sharpens it quickly then cleans it off into our clean water. As someone has made another hole into the water log, one for drinking and another for cleaning.


    They poke their sticks over our fire and we all huddle in a circle. No one notices that Nero sneakily grabs one of the meat stripes giving one to Litos. I see no reason to interrupt his act of kindness for his assaulter. Litos stays in his corner avoiding any eyesight as he nibbles he soon notices my pair of eyes and quickly looks down.


    "So how did your group meet?" Georgios questions Areithous giving him a courteous smile.


    "We met all the way back when we had to make beds, jeez that was a tough day. I can barely remember it but we all were struggling and had augh when seeing how behind we were. Eventually, we decided to team up and finish before being thest ones hahahah." Their whole groupughs loudly remembering the event.


    "Remember the face of the boy that finishedst!! Hahahah" One of the boysments and then takes a look at Litos at the corner his meat strip already gone. "Heyyy I remember you! You''re that boy!" They all hoot and holler making Litos turn red.


    Perhaps if he was in a better condition he would have made the boy regret it but instead he just shamefully hangs his head low.


    "How about your group? How did you guys meet?" Areithous questions and Nikos gives a devious smile.


    "I remember it like yesterday! Damon and I met during Diamastigosis 6 years ago! He and I didn''t fall down once and they had to quit with both of us standing... two boys did die though. Anyways! We then met Georgios who was a pity party back then and he begged us to y. Finally, the three of us met Nero who was crying over his dead friends..." Nikos''s remembering of the events turns the whole mood sad.


    "Huh, so you guys have been through a lot.."


    "Yup, but this big buffoon softens the blows!" Georgios yfully hits the hulk making him smile again. We all eventually finish our meal and I begin to instruct everyone on tanning the pelts. It will likely take a week so it''s best to get this process started now.


    The whole process takes hours and the vice leadership between Areithous with his own group allows them to further the construction of the shelters. The unstable and ufortable shelter of our own yesterday is now more wooden logs instead of wooden sticks.


    Eventually dinner timees and we cook more meat with Georgios offering expert scavenging allowing us to have fruits and vegetables. Our water log even bes water logs as many people enjoy having more and more clean drinking water after my exnation of how beneficial it is.


    "It''s night time so we should all be getting rest." I yawn and my group nods with the neers offering confused faces.


    "Really I thought you guys just wanted us to help build you all more living spaces and in return we receive food?" Areithous scratches his eyebrow waiting for my response,


    "No, not at all. In this area, we have the opportunity of fresh drinking water, hunting game, and now shelters to live in. You are all wee to join us but of course, I want you all to listen to me." My group stands beside me showing their stance with my statement while theirs all look at Areithous.


    "... It would be an honor to join all of you." Areithous enters his imed shelter and the rest of his group follows. My own group enters our now pimped-up shelter.


    "Do you reckon they could steal from us?" Nikos pokes me as Iy down with Nero shaking his head.


    "They seem nice, why would they do such a thing?" Nero questions Nikos making his face red.


    "It''s just a question, Nero!" Nikos then turns towards me.


    "No, they won''t steal from us because they have shelters, food, and water. If things ever get bad it''s a possibility but for right now we stand in benefit befriending these boys."


    "Do you n on epting anymore?" I nod to Nikos''s question since ideally, it would be good to gain a friendship with everyone in my ss now. With Georgios''s climbing and scavenging skills and Nikos''s muscle, we could do anything now!


    "Welp, goodnight everyone!" Nikos exims loudly making Georgios who was already in slumber jump but then head right back to sleep. Tonight is much more bearablepared to yesterday, with the instion keeping us warmer. Perhaps in theing weeks, this can progress into a proper log cabin.


    "Damon, wake up! Everyone is wondering what to do. You don''t want Nikos to decide that, do you?" Georgios nudges me as I begin to stand.


    "Don''t worry Georgios, I know what we need to get done..." I stand and walk out still nude to see nine boys all waiting for my orders.


    "Everyone! This is not just the n for today... No, this is the n for this year! One, we are going to find and recruit every boy in our ss to join us and we are all going to work together to create a propermunity. Two we are going to find a consistent food source and perhaps even expand to farming. For now, we build spears, swords, and if possible Bows."


    Everyone cheers before I can finish my speech. Nikos begins to hush everyone leaving silence in the ecstatic crowd.


    "We will have pottery for our water, houses for our safety, and clothes for ourfort! I want everyone to now tell me what they are good at so I can delegate the jobs." All 9 p and begin to form a line under mymand.


    My first step of leadership was forming close bonds with Nero, Nikos, and Georgios. Now it''s time for the next step,unching my leadership of the whole ss and gaining power.


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