Show of Strength

Standing before the city gates of Sparta. I can't help but reminisce about the time I stood in front of this gate as a new Spartan warrior, yet today I come back as someone who has once again braved the world to come back stronger.

Getting into the city, I head straight for the palace to see my old friend.

"At … Atre … ATREDIES!!!" I hear a voice scream my name as I make my way to the palace.

"Daedalus! What, are you afraid to see ghosts? What have you done now that deserves such shock?" I replied to my very first friend among the Spartans.

"When did you get back? Forget that … what did you bring from your travels … you had better go back if there is nothing good,"

"Haha … how am I to know what you consider good? I brought some things I will show you later."

"When did you get sneaky, I hope you have not learned anything bad while on your travels," he said spotting a cheeky smile

"For one, I am not you. I know what I am doing … haha"

We laughed and talked for a little while, both of us avoiding the topic of my current destination. Leonidas respects his father with all his heart, this loss may have hit him harder than we think, but we can only be there for him as he works through it on his own.

"I must announce my return to our king. Let us have a bout when I am done there … bring the men" I said before leaving.

In the palace yard

"Atredies, when did you arrive, after 7 you only come back now?" said Leoidas

"My apologies my king. As soon as I heard of the war, I left Epirus at my fastest speed to join you … but"

"Speak no more about this … sigh … for my first act as king I make such a mistake … sigh … let the topic rest. Tell me how was your journey"

I told him of my journey and the unique people I met along the way. From my encounter in the forest with the liger, the merchant Zed, Percy, Vilo, the ship captain and the pirates, my teacher in Lesbos, all the way to my study on Mt Olympus, and finally at Epirus where I was last.

"Haha, I can only imagine what it was like. Seeing the world might help with understanding how to rule better." Leonidas says as he laughs.

"You must not go out to see the world, you can bring the world to Sparta …" I said refraining from bringing up the latter half of what I wanted to say.

"Huh … what do you mean"

"Let me hold unto that for now my king … I will inform you when the time is right."

"Hmm … then I will wait to see what you mean"

"Will you come to our camp to watch as I put the others down in a spar?"

"Oh … you think you are the only one who has trained their skills during this period? Haha … you are in for a shock … come let us go, I want to see where this confidence of yours comes from."

We leave the palace together heading to the training camp. I notice that some of the people we pass by, even though they maintain their respect for the king, they gave him a few odd looks. Turning to see what Leonidas thinks of this

"Let it be, it was my mistake in the first place." As if reading my mind, Leonidas turns to me giving that answer.

With this, I know that what happened at Olympia, is not as straightforward as I had expected. We reach the camp to see many of the men waiting for something. Upon asking, we found out that Daedalus informed everyone that there is to be a show to watch.

"It seems that you are expected," Leonidas starts laughing as he says this, he is waiting for me to receive a shock.

Walking to the ring, I am greeted by all those who know me, and right in the middle of the ring is Daedalus waiting for me.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I hope I am not too late?" I smiled as I said to Daedalus.

"No no, come let us see if your travels bear fruit." As he said that he stood up, holding his spear and shield. I can see, he is ready to break the tie Leonidas, him, and I have had all these years.

"hahaha … very well let me indulge today," I said as feel my will to fight getting released.

It has been a while since I last fought anyone with my glaive. I have not had anyone really make me fight since had my breakthrough. This is why I love Sparta, it allows me to challenge myself against those that have honed their craft for many years.

Removing all the things I am carrying, I unwrap my glaive.

"Put all you have into this, my friend, I will come at you with everything I have," I said to him as I rushed into the ring.

Holding the weapon in one hand I swing downward at him, which he dodges. I grab the tail of the glaive with my other hand, changing the direction of the swing. He blocks the strike with his shield.

"Haha … GOOD!!"

He stabs out with his spear, I stab out also at him. Using the tail for leverage I move it a little, causing the blade end to flail out of the way while hitting his spear off course. He sees this, and with a clever move, he steps in, and deflects my strike to the side, coming in with his own strike.

'This is what I have been missing' I think to myself

I feel the wind coming off his spear, long before the spear actually reaches me. I know the angle at which it is coming, I know where it will strike, and I know the force contained in the strike. I take a step back, pivoting my body out of the way. The tail end of my glaive hits the body of his spear.

Using the momentum of my body, I transfer all that energy to a swing straight into his shield.

*Boom*

Daedalus is thrown off his feet into the air a few meters away, as he falls on his back. There is no noise among the warriors, Daedalus looks up at me in shock. I just stand there…

'Is this what it means to be one with nature.' Thinking to myself, I try to recall the feeling as best as I can