act48side

Medication and suppressants that need to be administered on a regular basis, fresh from the Rhodes Island office.

I heard the Astynomos' Office has lifted the detention order on Xanthos and his apprentice, and does not intend to press charges against you for helping them escape.

Yes. I learned later that Lydia had guessed our plan and intentionally made things easy for me. Stands to reason she wouldn't pursue the matter.

But the three of you still intend to leave Athenius?

Yes.

Staying will only give my old classmate ideas. He needs to see more places, meet more people, do more things.

Yes.

I rarely see you so honest, Lykeion. I wouldn't have had three operators keep an eye on you, if you were like this when you were my patient.

Sorry for the trouble I caused...

Looks like Xanthos's actions at the First Temple had a considerable influence on you.

How about you wave the white flag and admit that Oripathy doesn't sap the heroic spirit at all?

In your dreams.

Talk about a hardhead.

You should go, or you'll miss the ferry. Xanthos's substitute is not as flexible about late passengers. He won't wait for you.

<i>Skata</i>! Let's go, Lykeion.

Thank you for the medicine, Kyría Athopoulou. May we meet again!

Hey, stay off the lawn! I just worked on it—

Well, I suppose two young men won't be nearly as destructive as a whole herd of burdenbeasts.

The flowers and grass they ruined haven't been cleaned up yet. Too bad about the blue boronia...

*sob*... *sob*...

Don't cry, Lydia...

If bad guys ruin your house like they ruined my old home...

We won't have a home to go back to. What would we do?

Don't worry. I'll never leave you behind, even if the house is gone, even if we're separated!

I know! Look for this garden if you're far away from home and don't know the way back.

Garden...?

Yeah! I'll plant blue boronia here, so that you'll know you're home when you see it.

And if you find the way first, mark it the same way, won't you?

Alright... it's a promise, Lena.

The public garden's lawn, once filled with flowers and herbs, is now filled only with burdenbeast footprints.

Even if it has temporarily lost its beauty, however, the blue petals remain in the soil.

So many blue boronias... you think of the past too, don't you?

Thank you, Lydia. I'm home.

I brought this year's apples, Kassandra!

The portion set aside for the temple's offering has been sent to the cellar. I saved this for you and the others at the temple to share.

Thank you. It's very kind of you, to do it every year.

Our good harvests are all thanks to the help of everyone in Athenius. Besides, you helped so much with coordinating the temple.

You seem to be in a good mood today.

To us, nothing matters more than the harvest, and a good harvest brings happiness.

Nothing matters to <i>us</i> more than everybody's happiness, and the harvest is an important part of it.

We're counting on you! I'll take my leave now. The pomegranate will be ripe for harvest soon, and there are branches waiting to be trimmed.

Sweet apples and bright sun. What a lovely day!

The ceremony at the First Temple was successfully concluded, and the ferryman that you were caring for has found hope.

All is well, isn't it, Hiéreia? Why do you look so sullen?

You're the one I'm worried about.

Me? Why?

I've been thinking about what you said when you came back to Athenius.

You said you saw the beginnings of Minos in your dreams, saw Kereseira and her First Temple.

You said you thought a lot about Minos's past and future, about your own goals and direction.

All this is why you came back.

The events of recent days seem to corroborate my interpretation of the divine revelation. It is not a beautiful future of smiles and flowers. The unease lingers in my heart.

Divine revelation is simply the direction that the spirit of heroes has shown us. It is not an inevitable future. We learned about that in priest school.

That's true for ordinary revelations, but...

For example, I wanted the harp to return, but the peculiar manner of its return makes it seem so inevitable and unchangeable...

Look at it from a different perspective. While the final goal was the return of the harp, the manner of its return was wondrous. Perhaps it's the same for my revelation.

Or perhaps, your interpretation is not the final goal. It's only one of the trials during the process, and the goal lies elsewhere.

...I hope you're right.

Besides, the recent events have demonstrated that it was right for me to come back. Minos needs me, and I need it.

But you don't want to take over the First Temple, despite the fact that the bulk of the work is done.

Is it because you believe your Oripathy will be an obstacle to priesthood? But Xanthos has told me about the vision he saw on the temple square. I thought you didn't worry anymore.

Traditions can be changed. You were right. I can initiate a vote at the council...

No, I didn't propose rebuilding the First Temple to become its priestess.

I wanted to unite our spirit, not just Athenians, but other city-states and Minoans too...

I heard Lachedamon and Corinia have changed a lot. I want to see them for myself.

So you did come to say goodbye.

Not quite yet. I want to see the temple project through to the end. I'm not missing the completion party that Kantia is already planning!

Carefree as always.

Thank you for the kind invitation. It was quite an unexpected play.

Athenius is about to depart along its planned route, and it's time for us to depart as well.

I hope you will excuse the unpredictable events that occurred. It seems I did not plan for every possible contingency.

On this, there is something I'm curious about.

The ferryman openly accused you of making secret deals with the Sargonians on the temple square, and you were summoned to the council yesterday for an emergency hearing.

Yet you are back in your office, safe and sound. Did you have a trump card up your sleeve? Or is there more to this matter than meets the eye?

More than meets the eye' is overstating it. I had simply made certain arrangements for the follow-up to this matter. The council heard the explanation and is satisfied that I remain competent to govern.

As for the details, I regret that I am unable to share them as yet. They will reveal themselves in due time.

All we need to know is that you remain the Astynomos of Athenius.

With sweeping authority over major matters of administration and governance.

I'm glad to hear it. And now, I have a formal proposal to make.

I'm sure both of you understand that dramatic changes are happening in Minos right now.

It is the case in Athenius, and it is the case in Lachedamon, where a new arena is being built, one that will host competitors from far and wide.

Perhaps the word 'tradition' is not quite music to your ears, Astynomos, but don't you think that now is the time for us to revive the old traditions?

Changes are happening across the land. How about the Three Poleis set aside their rivalries, return to the old city-state federation, and revive an ancient festival?

The scattered villages and minor poleis will surely answer the call, and the nation will grow stronger.

It will be the perfect opportunity, to restore Minos's glory, and to spread the sacred flame across the land.

What do you think?

Is this why you've been snooping around Athenius? You were investigating us.

Old merchant habits die hard. Can't go into the market without doing research. I apologize if I caused any offense.

You're good at causing accidents. I'm afraid I can't give you an answer right now.

That's not a problem. It's right to be prudent.

What about you, priestess Cynisca of Lachedamon?

I cannot make decisions for Lachedamon by myself. However, there is one thing of which I'm sure—

Lachedamon never turns down a challenge.

I'll take you across the river, then you should go directly back to Sargon.

Man, I feel like a prisoner being deported—

Just kidding.

I understand your friendship towards Minos. But you are still Sargonian, nonetheless.

And I have a hard time abiding Sargonian feet upon the soil of Minos.

...I understand.

I've been thinking whether there's anything else I can do for Minos, for the mistakes of my forefathers.

Whether I should leave the engineering notes of the Three Poleis and bring only the blueprints back—