Confusion and Memories

I moved on after a short 3 months stay at Melos. Taking a ship crossing to the other side of Greece, to arrive at an island called Lesbos. Lesbos is almost the same as Melos, although because is closer to the mainland, it has more merchant shops than relaxation spots. The majority of the people there seemed to be rich as they all wore cotton clothes.

This is just a stop for our ship to resupply and rest before going to the great city of Troy. While here I decided to do something that had not crossed my mind until now. I realized that I could not read, this didn't bother me so much while I was in Sparta, as it was not really pushed on us. I have been so focused on increasing my strength, that I forgot one of the basic founding blocks that make a civilization, written language.

I quickly noticed that there are many scribes on this island. I went around looking for a teacher like I did in Thebes, with no results like I had hoped. Changing tact, I paid for the services of a scribe to teach me. A slow-talking man who likes to behave like an intellectual. I didn't bother to remember his name as all I needed from him is to teach me the meaning of each letter and subsequently its various combinations.

"Now … I remember telling you … the 'X' … means 'Chi' … what are you … unsure of? … hmm." He asked in that annoying way of speaking.

"Leave me be for a while I shall understand this on my own. Leave!" I shouted at the end at him.

You can't blame me for that, try listening to someone speak to you like that while you pay them, and worst of all, that condescending tone of his, 'FOR 2+ MONTHS!!!'. Anyway, I don't need his help any longer, I have figured out most of what I need, and I can just study the rest when I want to. Interesting observation though, for me to learn a written language that I have never used before, in only 2 months, makes me think I am much more intelligent than I think.

Leaving for troy was a short journey. Upon arrival, I finally understand why we had such trouble destroying it.

'Wait, had? Why had?' I thought to myself in confusion.

Shaking my head to wear off the confusion, I enter into Troy's great city. I mean there is no other way to call it. With the structures, the design, the arrangement of buildings, and even the waste disposal methods, Troy is ahead of every other city I have been to.

The people have organization, everyone is going about their day with purpose, and I can see them smiling at each other while they carry out their activities. Strolling around the city, visiting many shops, I arrive at what could be called a book shop, or in these times a scroll shop.

*Clingggg*

I walk in to see an old man with a young girl helping him out.

"How may I be of service sir," said the young girl

"I would like any scrolls you have on the history of Troy, any and everything that is in your record."

"You must be a scholar if you want such scrolls, but I must say you don't look like one. Where did you study? Who is your teacher? What is your focus of study?" the old man said as he cut into the conversation.

"Grandfather, slow down, do not drive away our customer, with your constant questions," the little girl went to his side pulling his clothes, signalling him to quiet down.

"Haha … old man it would seem that this one here knows more than you do … haha," I said, laughing at the antics of the 2.

The old man's name is Castor and the little girl is named Sophia. The old is a true scholar, as immediately after I introduced myself, he went off on me. He talked about how most of the innovation happened in troy. He spoke about a prince that once nearly caused the kingdom to fall, with his actions against Sparta.

As riveting as his words were, I read all the books I needed and left the store with haste. I took a tour of this great city, immersing myself in the culture and activities. Music, art, and dancing, where I go to, enjoy dance well, I have never seen such flexibility in my life, not even I can accomplish something like that, in both lives.

Leaving Troy, I made a long 6-month journey back to the other side of Greece. Then I began what I would consider my toughest challenge yet, that is to climb Mount Olympus. I first took my time to get used to climbing a mountain as this is the first time, I am doing such a thing. I was able to get to the summit and back in just a day and a half.

'Let's see how short I can make this trek.'

To challenge myself, I found the steepest parts of the mountain to free climb it. Free climbing is really as hard as I thought it was. All that is needed is a strong grip, good observation of terrain, and stamina to achieve.

The journey on and off the mountain was just a small part of what I did there. I realized that I have been only using the growth energy to only on my muscle development and very little on my mind, that needs to change. Sitting on the mountain top, I meditate day in and day out, trying to find the same feeling I had at Melos.

After 6 months of meditation practising and diverting growth energy to my brain

*Boom*

An explosion went on in my mind. Like a barrier was broken, memories of my past life came flooding back into my mind. Things that I am sure I had already forgotten, memories from the moment I came out of my mother, seeing the look of my parents, my brother, and my sister.

Random things I had learned started coming together to form cohesive thoughts and ideas. Then I started getting memories of my life as a Spartan, from birth to now. The two memories come together further developing my ideas, training plans, construction, machinery, and lastly all my school knowledge.

Who said what you learned in school doesn't help in real life? The very reality we live in is a function of math, physics, chemistry, and biology.

'I can use this!'