Journey 2

Separating from Zed, I continued on my way to Thebes, although I tried my best to avoid people along the way, it would seem that it is an impossibility. I meet a bard that sang of our victory against the Athenians, a stonemason moving to Thebes to apprentice himself to a master, and a father and son who couldn't get along for even a minute.

Forced to hold conversations with them I learned that, we Spartans have a much more fulfilling life, at least from what I have seen. Sparta uses division of labor in everything that it does, be it fighting, industry, housework, or even governance. Though not everyone will agree with that point of view, it works for our society as it is now.

I arrived at Thebes when the sun was down already, with no coin, I had to sleep outside the city for the night. I will have to find a job tomorrow to further interact with the culture. I plan to start with stone carving, this will allow me to develop fine motor control, while also allowing me to build a creative mind.

The next day, walking around in the city listening to all the chatter going around, I caught word of a stone macer that is not too popular but can give me a job. The man is from house Apulos, named Percy. His business has been going down for a while now because he is having difficulty securing materials.

"Hmm, you want to work for me? How did you even know I am looking for someone?" said Percy

As someone in his late 50s, Percy is quite large with tanned skin from working in the sun for too long, and bulging muscles in his arms, standing at 7ft tall, he can be considered to be a giant.

"The talk in town is that you need someone who can secure materials for you. I am strong and in need of coin, there is a benefit for both of us" I said to him

"How does one like you come to be in the situation, with no coin? I hope that I will not have people looking for you in my employ." He said suspiciously of me.

"Non shall come looking for me, I left my home to find a better life for myself," I lied without even blinking.

"Very well, do you know how to recognize the various types of stone used to craft?" he asked me

"I have no idea, but I can learn from you"

"Get out of my place, how can you seek work without knowing what the basics are. GET OUT" ending in a shout, he is fuming at me.

"How can I know the work if I have not been taught? Teach me and I will do the heavy carrying for you for free, as long as you can give me a place to lay my head." I tried to salvage the situation.

"OUT"

After I was chased out of Percy's shop, I went around to find another person that will be willing to give me work, and by sunset, I have no such luck. Leaving the city to my place outside the gates, to rest and come up with a different method of doing things.

'I can just do what Laicard did for me when I was young, although the people here seem not to put much stock in their soldiers'

Proceeding through my routine of exercises and meditation, I slept off to rejuvenate for what is to come tomorrow. Going through the town I start to wander around, without any particular job in mind to do, just going to every shop that is looking to hire people.

A week goes by in this manner, hunting for food in the forest during sunset, and going to the city every day to find work. Doing my rounds around the city, I see some people moving in some large slabs of rock, observing them I found out that this is the type of rock they mainly use for carving art. This type of rock is plentiful outside the city, knowing that I quickly went out to find them, maybe I can sell the ones I bring in.

"Atredies, where are you going in such a rush," said someone from behind me.

'I know that voice, is that not Percy'

"What can I do for you Percy, I recall you chasing me out of your shop, what could you possibly want with someone who does not know about rocks," I said still a bit angry at his tone with me that day.

"That is just me teaching you something, how can you not appreciate that." He said looking at the stone slab being shipped off to someone else.

"Alright, I have come across a large slab of stone that is heavier and tougher than our usual stone, I have a contract to fulfill. You can help me and you will earn some coin, what do you think?"

"Very well 10 gold coins will be my payment," I said fully expecting him to reject the offer

"Are you mad, the price of moving a slab is only 20 silver coins, what do you mean 10 gold coins" he jumped and answered like a cat that had its tail stepped on.

"What I mean is, you can pay the in gold or you can teach me all about the craft and provide me logging, only then will I take the silver you have offered," I said smiling at him

"When did I offer you any silver … fine, we are leaving right now, let me get my tools." He said clearly in a rush, for reasons I am not aware of.

Leaving the city together, we go towards the cliffs east of the city. The stone needs to be carved out of the cliff before it can be moved. Percy got to work removing the slab according to the size he wants. Watching him allowed me to understand that this can allow me to get more knowledge, understanding, and experience controlling materials, knowing their vulnerable points and how to process them.

Percy finished his work about halfway after the had passed its midpoint, with a height of 6ft and width of 4ft, it is a rectangular cube that weighed about 3 times my weight at 510 kg. I drag it back to the city with ropes attached to a wooden board.

Each step involved me putting just the right amount of pressure on the ground while making sure that my back doesn't get too stressed by the weight. My whole body had to get involved in the movement giving me a good idea for another form of training.

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Authors Note:

The training of the MC's body is going to continue through this arc.

MC is also not aware that he is special, because even with his seemingly improved physic, he still does not win against other Spartan warriors.