Bow

*Swoosh* *Swoosh* *Swoosh*

Two men are fighting, with the weirdest of weapons for close combat, bows. The shorter man steps in and slashes out with the sharp end of his short bow, stepping back the taller man notches an arrow into his bow and fires it in one smooth and fast motion. Dodging the arrow by crouching down, the shorter man sweeps for his opponent's legs forcing him to dodge by jumping, giving him the chance to notch an arrow at the same speed that his opponent had done before.

Vilo and I have been doing battle now for about 30 mins, we started out at a slow ad measured, but now it has started heating up. Seeing the arrow coming for my bow hand while in the air, I have to make a choice either to sacrifice my hand or my waist, at least that is Vilo's reasoning.

Making the skin around my hand contract making it denser, the arrow deflects off my hand, leaving a red line on it. I lock my sights on him as he is now on the ground, firing at him immediately, he uses the ground for leverage to flip out of the way. I was waiting for him to make such a mistake, I have learned that giving your back to your opponent is a bad idea.

Taking out another arrow and aiming for his landing point, I shoot. Little did I know that he also has his plans, during the flip he already had an arrow notched in his bow, so when he has yet to complete his flip, an arrow is already on the way towards me. Pivoting out of the way and closing in on him, I slash with the end of my bow downward, he ducks sideways and down to avoid and set up his next attack which I beat him to it by slashing upward with the other end of my bow.

He sees this coming and side rolls out of the way, I notch an arrow and am just about to fire it when I see an arrow notched and aimed at me. Though this might seem long, it all took place within 10 secs.

"Atredies, you are getting better at this, and you said no one will be able to do what I do," he said with a smirk while having an arrow pointing at me.

"Well, my friend, I am the exception, but the biggest mistake you have made is that you talk too much," I said to him while thinking to myself 'Black'

I saw from his muscle arrangements, he will not be able to turn his position anymore to his right. I move to the right out of his possible reach an arrow right at his neck, my aim is true and although he tried to retaliate, he misses and my arrow grazes the skin on his neck.

"F*ck, how did you know?" he asked me.

"Hahaha … that is for me to know and for you to find out," laughing at him I said.

"That is just a fluke, let us go again, you know you cannot defeat me," he said gnashing his teeth together

"Do not be sour in your loss, it is a given that I will defeat you one day, my body is better than yours," I said while he is being a sour loser.

"F*ck you, how is that a given and my body is trained well enough to match even Spartan warriors," he said in defence.

"Spartan warrior huh! I do not know about that, but yours is not better than mine. An archer needs a lot of flexibility in their motion, I am bigger than you yet still move better than you do, not because I am faster, it is because I know my body better than you do yours." I said to conclude this argument.

Little did I know that what I just said will bring about one of the most dangerous units to have ever lived. I have stayed in Athens for more than a year and it is time for me to move on. It has been an eye-opener to see something that I would have thought was impossible: a man bedding another man. Although not a common sight, I felt sick in my stomach, I almost killed them both when I saw it.

Me being from the 21st century, allowed me to accept a lot and thought I am a progressive man, but this just showed me that I am not. Other than that, the people in Athens remind me of the excessive behaviour of the 21st century, drinking, dancing, eating, and copulating like there is nothing else that needs to be done.

Looking back and remembering Sparta, it is not what I see, the young prefer to enjoy their lives instead of doing something. There is no sense of a collective goal to strive for as a nation. I say all this, but who am I to judge when the people are happy with their lives.

"Vilo, I shall be making my way to Melos dawn tomorrow. I have learned what I must but it is time for me to leave." I said to Vilo as he cooked our meal for the evening.

"What are you going to find in Milos, only traders like to go there?" he asked.

"One must see the world to what you must do in life."

"Very well, do not slack off because I will start training some boys to join me, I will keep a place for you within my men for you to join us," he said to me.

"Haha … I will wait to see what you can come up with at that time," I said dismissively.

The next day at first light I went to the docks to board a ship that will take me to Milos. The captain of the ship looked more like a pirate from Pirates of the Caribbean to me, but his crew are very swift and organized. We set sail soon after with other passengers, mostly merchants going to Milos to buy or sell their goods.

The journey will take us 10 days and I don't want to sit throughout this period so, every morning I fish and towards the evening I practice with my glaive. My glaive training on the ship put me through much, adjusting my position with the swaying of the ship is a challenge, but I am getting the hang of it.

7 days into our journey, I spot a ship coming towards us while I practice with my glaive.

"Captain, you had better come take a look at what I am seeing hear," I shout to the captain who is at the helm.

"What has got you shaking young man," he said.

"There!"

Not saying much, just looking at the flag of the ship that has a skull and cross bones on it.

"Well, this is not good," the captain said having a shocked look on his face.