The sun climbed high over Selymbria, its rays glinting off the distant waters of the Propontis. The small city was filled with unusual excitement as throngs of people gathered for the Panathenaea, the grand festival honoring Athena. Lucian stood at the edge of the crowd, his brow furrowed in confusion as he took in the spectacle unfolding before him.

The procession began to wind its way through the streets, a river of color and sound that seemed out of place in this Thracian colony. At the head marched respected elders, their white robes billowing in the sea breeze. Behind them came young men, their muscular bodies glistening with oil in preparation for the athletic competitions to come.

Lucian's gaze was drawn to a group of maidens carrying elaborate baskets filled with sacred offerings. Their movements were graceful, almost dance-like, as they made their way toward the makeshift acropolis.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?" A familiar voice startled Lucian from his reverie.

He turned to see Mira standing beside him. "Hey. Whacca doing here?"

"Selymbria's hosting its own Panathenaea this year."

"Since when does Selymbria host the Panathenaea? I thought that was Athens' thing."

"It is," Mira nodded, her gaze following the procession. "But things have changed. Athens... well, let's just say they've got bigger problems than festivals right now."

"What kind of problems?"

"War. The conflict with Persia. Athens can't spare the resources for the full festival this year."

"So Selymbria just... decided to host it instead?"

"Not exactly," Mira explained. "The city magistrates saw an opportunity. With Athens preoccupied, they figured hosting our own version of the Panathenaea could bring in trade, showcase our loyalty to Athena, and maybe curry some favor with the Delian League."

"Clever," Lucian leaned back. "But won't Athens be offended?"

"They might be," she shrugged. "If they notice. But right now, they've got bigger fish to fry. And who knows? Maybe they'll appreciate the gesture."

As they talked, the procession continued its winding path through the city. The crowd began to shift, following in its wake. Lucian's eyes were drawn to a group of musicians who had joined the parade, their lyres and flutes filling the air with melodious tunes.

"It's smaller than the real thing," Mira admitted, "but we've done our best. Look there—" She pointed to a chariot pulled by two horses. "That's our version of the sacred peplos for Athena."

Lucian leaned forward, straining to get a better view of the robe. "It's beautiful. What happens to it now?"

"We'll take it up to the temple and dress our statue of Athena. It's not the Parthenon, but it's ours."

A group of young athletes jogged past, their bodies lean and taut.

"You thinking of competing?" Mira asked, noticing his interest.

"Me? No, I'm happy to watch. What events are you holding?"

"We've got footraces, wrestling, boxing. No pankration though - we decided that was a bit too brutal for our first attempt. There's a small chariot race planned, and we're quite proud of our mousikos agon."

"Mousikos agon?" Lucian repeated, the term sparking a memory. "The musical competitions, right?"

"Exactly. Singing, lyre-playing, poetry recitation. We may be a small colony, but we've got culture."

Lucian nodded, impressed by the scope of the festival despite its scaled-down nature. As they talked, the procession continued its path toward the temple. The crowd began to move, following in its wake.

"Come on," Mira said, tugging at Lucian's sleeve. "Let's get a better view. I know a spot where we can see the footraces. It's not the Stadium at Athens, but it's got its own charm."

Lucian grinned, falling into step beside his friend. "Lead the way. I have to admit, I'm curious to see how Selymbria pulls this off."

As they made their way through the crowded streets, the excitement in the air was palpable. Vendors called out, selling everything from grilled fish to small clay figurines of Athena.

"So, what really brings you to here?" Mira asked as they navigated the throng. "Don't tell me you came all this way for our little festival."

"No, though I'm glad I happened to be here for it. I'm just taking a little break. I thought the festival would be a great way to calm my mind from my usual shenanigans."

Mira chuckled. "Yeah, I heard you and Stephanos did that heist thing the other day."

"We did. It went well. We got what we wanted."

"You mean the ledgers?"

"Uhmm, yeah. You knew about that?"

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"My mother told me about it," Mira said with a sly smile. "You know her. She knows everything around here."

Lucian rubbed the back of his neck. "I suppose that's one word for it."

They reached a small rise overlooking a cleared area where the footraces would be held. The roar of the crowd was growing as the competitors took their positions.

"Gods above," Lucian breathed, feeling the familiar thrill of anticipation. "You know, I think Selymbria might just pull this off."

"Welcome to the Selymbrian Panathenaea. It may not be Athens, but we've got heart."

As they watched the festival unfold, Lucian's gaze drifted to Mira's side. A faint discoloration peeked out from beneath her chiton, drawing his attention.

"Hey, how's that wound healing up?" he asked, gesturing toward her side.

Mira glanced down, her hand instinctively moving to cover the spot. "Oh, this? It's fine, don't worry about it. Almost completely healed now."

"I'm really sorry about that. I never meant to hit you with the spear. It was just—"

"Hey, stop," Mira cut him off, placing a hand on his arm. "We've been over this. You were defending yourself. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It happens."

"Still, I feel like shit about it," Lucian muttered, kicking at a pebble near his foot.

Mira rolled her eyes. "Well, don't. I'm fine, you're fine, and we're both here enjoying this knockoff Panathenaea. So let's focus on that, yeah?"

"Yeah, you're right," Lucian nodded, forcing a smile. "It's just... you know."

"I know," Mira said. "But seriously, it's okay. Now, can we please talk about something else? Like how ridiculous Cleisthenes looks in that tiny loincloth?"

Lucian snorted, following her gaze to where a portly man was attempting to oil himself up for the wrestling competition. "Gods, my eyes. I didn't need to see that today."

"None of us did," Mira laughed. "But hey, at least he's got confidence, right?"

"Is that what we're calling it now?" Lucian grinned.

They watched as the first race began, cheering along with the crowd as the runners sprinted across the makeshift track. The sun beat down mercilessly, and Lucian could feel sweat beginning to bead on his forehead.

"You know what?" Mira said, turning to face him. "I'm starving. Want to grab some snacks?"

"I thought you'd never ask. What are you in the mood for?"

"I saw a vendor selling some grilled octopus earlier. Smelled amazing."

"Lead the way," Lucian said, gesturing for Mira to go ahead.

As they made their way through the crowd, he found himself grateful for the distraction. The festival, with all its noise and color, was exactly what he needed to take his mind off recent events.

They weaved through the throng, dodging excited children and harried parents. Lucian's mouth watered as they approached the food stalls.

"There," Mira pointed, "that's the one I saw earlier."

They joined the line, watching as the vendor grilled tentacles over hot coals. The sizzle and pop of the cooking meat added to the noise of the festival.

"So," Mira said, leaning in close to be heard over the noise, "apart from your usual 'shenanigans', what else have you been up to lately?"

"Not much, honestly," Lucian shrugged. "Been laying low since the whole ledger thing. Trying to stay out of trouble, you know?"

"You? Staying out of trouble? That'll be the day."

"Hey, I can be good when I want to be."

"Sure you can," she laughed. "And I'm secretly Athena in disguise."

As they bantered, the line moved forward. Soon, they were at the front, ordering their food. The vendor handed them each a skewer of perfectly grilled octopus, the smell making Lucian's stomach growl even louder.

"Gods, this smells amazing," he said, taking a bite. The meat was tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of char. "Okay, I take it back. Selymbria might not have the real Panathenaea, but they've got the food down pat."

Mira nodded, her mouth too full to speak.

They found a quiet spot near a low wall to enjoy their snack, watching as the festival continued around them.

As they savored their octopus skewers, Mira's eyes darted to the wrestling area where a small crowd had gathered. She nudged Lucian with her elbow, nearly causing him to drop his food.

"Hey, want to get a closer look at the wrestling match?" she asked.

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "You want to watch the wrestling? I didn't peg you for the type."

Mira rolled her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean? Because I'm a girl?"

"No, no," Lucian backpedaled, realizing his mistake. "I just... I don't know. You've always seemed more interested in other pursuits."

"Well, prepare to have your mind blown," Mira grinned. "I've been fascinated by wrestling since I was a kid. Come on, let's find a better spot."

They made their way through the crowd, Lucian following Mira's lead as she navigated the throng of spectators. They found a spot near the edge of the wrestling area, close enough to see the sweat glistening on the competitors' bodies.

"I have to admit, I'm surprised," Lucian said as they settled into their new position. "How'd you get into wrestling?"

Mira shrugged, her eyes fixed on the match unfolding before them. "I was never really into the typical 'girl' activities, you know? Weaving, playing with dolls, all that stuff. It bored me to tears. But when I saw my first wrestling match, I was hooked. The strategy, the physicality, the raw power... it's like a chess match, but with muscles."

"I never thought of it that way. I always just saw it as two guys trying to throw each other around."

"Oh, it's so much more than that. Look at how they're positioning themselves. See how that guy on the left is trying to get a grip on the other's waist? He's setting up for a throw."

As they watched, one of the wrestlers indeed executed a perfect throw, sending his opponent crashing to the ground. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Mira joined in, pumping her fist in the air.

"Damn, that was impressive," Lucian admitted, finding himself caught up in the excitement.

"Right? God, I wish I could compete," Mira sighed.

He turned to her, surprised. "You want to compete? In wrestling?"

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"No, no. I mean, yeah, it's a bit unexpected, but... why not? You'd probably be great at it."

"Thanks. But it's not exactly something girls are allowed to do. At least, not here in Selymbria."

"That's bullshit. You should be able to compete if you want to."

"Yeah, well, tell that to the city elders," Mira shrugged. "For now, I'll have to settle for watching and dreaming."

They turned their attention back to the match, where a new pair of wrestlers had taken the stage. Lucian found himself more engaged than he'd expected, asking Mira questions about techniques and strategies.

They continued to munch on their octopus skewers, the flavor of the grilled meat mingling with the excitement of the match. The crowd around them swelled and ebbed with each move, cheers and groans rising in waves.

"You know," Lucian said between bites, "maybe we could set up our own little wrestling match sometime. Just for fun, you know? No stuffy elders to tell us no."

"Really? You'd do that?"

"Sure, why not? It could be fun. And who knows, maybe you'll teach me a thing or two."

"Oh, I'll do more than that," Mira grinned. "I'll wipe the floor with you."

"Big talk for someone who's never competed,"

"Just you wait," she laughed. "You'll be eating those words along with your octopus."

As they bantered, the match before them reached its climax. One wrestler managed to pin the other, holding him down for the required count. The crowd erupted in cheers, drowning out their conversation.

Lucian and Mira joined in the applause, their half-eaten skewers momentarily forgotten. As the noise died down and the next pair of wrestlers took their positions, they settled back to watch.