005: Fleece

The three-fingered phalanx walked through the darkness of the labyrinth, illuminated by tiny flames summoned by Laconia that floated around the group, they advanced calmly and silently until Asterion's stomach rumbled through the walls.

-Sorry, I forgot to steal food from the sack.

Niko shared half of the bread that he did remember to take.

-You are quite absent-minded for a strategist. Are all polemarch like that?

-I don't know, I only know myself. What about you Laconia?

-You know that I have only worked with you.

Niko looked at her strangely.

-When did you two meet? Miss Laconia's exploits are repeated throughout Helena but if you say that you have only worked with Asterion, shouldn't your reputation be better?

-Aah, I wish it were that simple Niko, Laconia steals all my achievements, everyone thinks that I take advantage of her.

Asterion said this, hitting Laconia's shoulder with all his might, but the bestiary did not move a finger.

-Your only achievements are sleeping the whole mission and saying “Laconia, take care of it.” I met Asterion the last year of the academy, he was just as pathetic back then.

-Laconia had already gone on multiple expeditions supervised by teachers by then, I even think you met the five archons in person, quite a star.

Niko was surprised, but very happy to be able to work alongside such a legend, the unbeatable bestiary and the future of Helena.

-And what were you doing, Asterion?

-Surely sleeping under the shade of an olive tree while the rest trained as always. At that time I was just a bad omen but I still didn't have the fame I have now.

-Infamy, you say.

Laconia replied, pinching his cheek.

-What did you do?

Niko asked, confused that Laconia followed Asterion, even despite everything he had been through he could not imagine a situation in which the polemarch would earn so much respect from someone like her.

-I'll tell you when we're in Skiathos, for now I'll just tell you that Miss Laconia not only had an audience with the five archons, they wanted her to join their phalanxes and she rejected all five.

Niko couldn't believe Asterion's words, any soldier would give anything to serve under the wing of any archon, they would only offer such a position because they want to train a disciple; power, fame and riches for a lifetime assured someone like that.

-You're not going to tell me that she rejected all that to be with you, right?

-It sounds even romantic when you say it like that, you're going to make her blush.

Laconia spat a small flame on both of them and then continued on her way.

-HAHAHA, let's not say any more Niko or we'll end up like the myrmekes, she's just keeping a promise we made at that time, she's too faithful to her word, she should lie more often.

-What promise did they make?

Laconia began to walk faster.

-It's a secret.

Niko thought he heard that with a tone of shame but the fast walk turned into a light jog and he didn't have enough time to think about the warrior's reaction, instead he kept his mind busy thinking about what promise would be capable of catching someone like Laconia.

-We arrived.

Asterion said as everyone watched a huge crack that could be seen in the corridors of the labyrinth. It looked as if a wall had been dug and a natural route had been built. The walls were made of an unknown stone, completely reddish and seemed to slowly crack. Along the way there were numerous corpses of myrmekes cut with surgical precision.

-The archon has already passed through; I think we have already missed the show.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Niko watched the cuts on the ants closely.

-Incredible, they are such fine cuts, it seems like they were made of papyrus.

The three-fingered phalanx headed towards the nest and the stench of death became more and more unbearable, the walls of the cavern became increasingly red and in the distance a single flash of light was seen that went out in a single blink, the group approached while the tunnel became increasingly larger until it formed a large room, they witnessed a man with extremely fine and marked features with long, completely blond hair that combined with a golden wool coat that seemed to be attached to the man's armor; a golden fleece of unmatched beauty, he looked completely immaculate and the only thing stained with blood on all his equipment was the tip of his hispaniensis(1), completely out of place with the cloud of corpses that surrounded him, the man turned and upon observing the group he recognized the faces of the three.

-Asterion, Laconia, Niko, I'm glad you're okay.

His voice was extremely sweet and intoned, like a soft whistle, as he approached the group the faint light radiating from the man's body spread a warm sensation, similar to that of a sincere hug.

-I'm very sorry that only you three could go, the mycenaeans have been causing a lot of trouble lately, in fact I would like to ask you a favor.

Asterion closed his eyes and, disgusted by what was coming, he wasted no time in complaining and getting upset.

-I assumed that you wouldn't call me just to exterminate a nest and rescue three men, you seem very noble and all but you are more cunning than I would like, you need us in Skiathos, right?

The archon couldn't help but laugh.

-You always know how to read me young Asterion, Skiathos is safe again and now I'm heading to reinforce Helena's defenses, I need you to clean up the mycenaeans that must still be roaming around the island since as you know I'm good at fighting not tracking, I'm sure it will be an easy task for you.

While this exchange was happening, Niko was amazed to be able to witness the archon of light, Jason of the Argonauts, a true hero of legend casually chatting with his group, the young thracian smiled while he was unable to take his eyes off the fleece and noticed something strange, Jason did not carry a blessed ring with him. Did the archon fight without using favors? That was impossible. They all decided to return to the paths of the labyrinth and at the moment Niko was about to ask about the lack of a ring, numerous sounds similar to bones hitting stones reverberated through the tunnels of the room, quickly appearing dozens of furious myrmekes that pounced without any doubt against the group.

- Τζιτζίκι -

Jason words lit up the fleece and from it emerged countless bright cicadas that flew around the archon as he began a soft rhythmic whistle, the whistle seemed to control the cicadas that headed straight for the myrmekes flying in completely straight lines and; as if they were tiny suns, immediately incinerated the place where they passed, in just a few moments silence returned and the archon's favor disappeared from sight.

Niko suspected it but he had yet to see it for himself, a common heleny asks for favors from the gods using a ring as a messenger, but they say that the warriors most loved by the heavens evolve their ring into a divine weapon, which seems to come from the very home of the superior beings, less than ten heleny from around the world must have something like that and of the five archons, only Jason possessed this blessing.

-I am addressing to the beautiful Helena warriors, you know what to do, I trust you.

When a heleny is born he is blessed by one of the five gods who favor our race, but by experiencing an odyssey it is possible to "change" the rank of your blessing and in other cases, receive the favor of a completely different god, transforming the soul of the blessed one into a demigod, this is why Jason is the only one of all the heleny to be blessed by Apollo. The paths of the captain of the Argonauts and the half phalanx separated, although Niko was still excited by the encounter.

-I'm not gonna lie to you, when Miss Laconia mentioned that you were the polemarch I thought this would be my end, but man, it was worth fighting all those myrmekes if it's for this. Did you see how he eliminated all of those with that favor, how do you even defend yourself against something like that? It's incredible.

Asterion and Laconia did not seem to share the same spirit while they marched, at first the thracian thought it was only because they had already seen his strength and perhaps had numerous encounters, but the silence strangely remained until he could not help but ask.

-Is something wrong?

-It's nothing Niko.

Laconia answered, Asterion seemed to doubt whether to speak or not until they glimpsed some rays of light in the background that predicted the exit from the labyrinth.

-For now don't worry boy, just keep some skepticism against the archons, I don't deny that their strength is something admirable, but... No, nothing, let's continue.

The group came to the surface and were greeted by the last rays of sunlight of the day, they entered a small temple adorned with symbols of the goddess Amphitrite, queen of calm and serene seas, the place was empty and was located on a small plateau in front of a beach, to the left at last was Skiathos, it was barely defended by a simple wooden palisade but thanks to the help of the archon it had managed to be successfully defended from a mycenaean siege, the phalanx headed to the polis along the beach while the sun slowly set on the horizon.

The half phalanx entered the city along the coast until they found a humble kapeleia(2) in which they decided to spend the night, Asterion took out several tetradachmas(3) for the owner.

-A room.

The owner looked at Niko and Laconia, accepted the coins and took them to a room with a large bed of hay and quickly walked away.

-Hey Asterion, is it necessary to sleep all in the same bed? I was taking more respect for you but it seems that you are just a degenerate.

Soft laughter came from the polemarch.

-The bed is for you, you earned it, I will sleep on the floor and I have tried to make Laconia sleep in beds but-.

-But since the imbecile of our leader likes to sleep like a dog to save expenses, I am forced to share his suffering.

-I already told you that I do it out of habit, I cannot sleep in those things at height.

-Go to bed and go to sleep quickly, I still haven't forgiven you for the time you made me sleep in that stable.

-I told you I would pay for a room for you, stop insisting on sharing my suffering, I'm doing this cause is more comfort.

Laconia dropped her black greatsword on Asterion who was unable to bear the weight and fell to the ground.

-Okay, I understand, good night, Niko, Laconia.

Laconia withdrew the greatsword and closed her eyes leaning against the wall while hugging her weapon, Niko contemplating the absurdity of the situation simply prepared to leave with Morpheus and as he fell into his sleep he felt the hay becoming warmer and warmer, he immediately understood that this was the work of miss Laconia and a smile covered his face just before falling asleep.

…

In the middle of the night, white bull horns reflected the moonlight against the sea, a huge six-elbow-high mycenaean rested on the shores of the beach while contemplating the sea, his body full of scars and muscles relaxed as he received the gentle ocean breeze until another of his companions approached slowly, trying not to disturb the tranquility of the minotaur.

-My lord, the archon has already left the island.

“That was quick” He thought as he rubbed his chin with his giant hand that occasionally gently touched a huge ring that pierced his nose.

-Shall we begin the siege, my lord?

-No, it is still too early.

His voice was hoarse and deep, but he maintained a strange calm.

-But our allies at the front will attack soon, we have to take the city.

The mycenaean put his hand on the messenger's head.

-We will take the city; not with savagery, but with patience.

-My lord, I trust in your strength but we are running out of time, the soldiers want revenge.

-Don't worry warrior, I swear on the honor of my name that the Heleny will pay for their crimes.

-It's okay my lord, Theseus.

…

Hispaniensis(1): Straight double-edged sword.

Kapeleia(2): Tavern hidden like a house.

Tetradacmas(3): Silver coins.