Bear School Astartes

Cassandra helped Pericles twice.

First, she found a missing political ally of Pericles, then discovered that the politician was tied up in his house, surrounded by venomous snakes.

It didn’t take her long to find the perpetrators with her extraordinary senses. They were a group of refugees brought in by Pericles’ ’Long Wall Policy’.

And it was a mercenary wandering outside the city who provided these refugees with the snakes.

Cassandra didn’t make things difficult for the refugees who hadn’t harmed anyone, she just went and killed the mercenary.

Later on, she also helped Pericles to alter the result of an ostracism vote.

She had one of his friends, who was under the watch of political enemies, exiled from Athens for ten years as a form of protection.

After accomplishing all this, dusk was falling, and Cassandra was standing in front of Pericles’ grand mansion as agreed.

Three lightly armored Athenian soldiers stood at the entrance of the mansion.

The one leading them scrutinized Cassandra with no hesitation.

”Keep your hands clean, mercenary. We’ll be watching you.”

A nearby Athenian soldier tugged at his wrist: ”Hey, at least welcome her, she’s a guest.”

”Alright,” the leading soldier nodded indifferently, stating mechanically, like reciting lines, ”Pericles will warmly welcome you, mercenary.”

I don’t want a welcome, I want information and answers.

Cassandra mentally repeated.

She wasn’t in the mood to chat with the guards. After parting ways with Lann, she saw scenes in Fergus she never dared to imagine in this lifetime.

She saw her brother, whom she thought long dead! He had been deceived and controlled by a group of sneaky individuals!

And these sneaky people were plotting to capture her long-missing mother.

All this sudden and shocking information made Cassandra feel an immense sense of crisis.

And Athens, just a day’s encounter with this city, left Cassandra somewhat unaccustomed.

Herodotus once told her, ’In Athens, people’s most powerful weapons are not blades, but wisdom and networking.’

This was a field Cassandra was never familiar with.

In Sparta, no one taught her these, and in Cephalonia, there was even less need to pay attention to them.

The unfamiliar way of doing things left her feeling constrained in this city.

Let me get the information quickly, or let me see Phoebe again, get Lann’s help.

Cassandra felt only these three situations could ease her current tension.

Just inside the entrance was a hallway, Cassandra intended to walk straight in, but a familiar voice from the side made her stop in surprise.

”You should take off your weapons and armor first, Cassandra.”

The Hawk Trainer turned her head in pleasant surprise, and there was Phoebe, standing with hands behind her back, chest out, and a smile on her lips, looking at her.

”Phoebe!”

Cassandra looked up and down at the little girl she hadn’t seen in months.

She noticed the changes were quite significant.

Phoebe was no longer wearing a cloth with three holes that barely counted as clothing; now she wore a white linen top, a leather belt with a metal buckle around her waist, and a blue skirt.

Phoebe had grown taller, and her exposed arms showed some muscle definition.

This was even healthier than I was at her age!

Cassandra felt genuine happiness for the little girl’s changes.

She happily approached and lightly punched Phoebe’s shoulder, like a warrior’s greeting.

”How are you here? And...” Cassandra excitedly held Phoebe’s shoulders and looked her over, ”You’ve changed so much! Looks like Lann’s taken good care of you!”

Phoebe stood a bit prouder and raised her head slightly.

It seemed Cassandra treating her like a warrior was very pleasing to her.

”I’m here helping Aspasia. It’s a long story. I’ve learned a lot from Lann, I may surprise you in the future! But for now... I think you should not only take off your weapons and armor but also change clothes.”

Phoebe walked in a circle around Cassandra with her hands behind her back, surveying her with a scrutinizing gaze.

Cassandra stood with her hands on her hips, smiling, feeling that being examined by Phoebe was quite refreshing.

”I don’t get it, why do I need to change clothes?”

”That’s how it is in Athens. I wasn’t used to it at first, but you’ll soon forget about it.”

Phoebe had a wise expression, like a little adult.

”You need to wear Athenian clothes. Athenians love to see foreigners adapting to their culture. You’re here to consult, aren’t you? This will make your conversations with them much smoother.”

Cassandra looked at Phoebe with surprise: ”Is this your analysis of Athenian character? Hard to believe, how long have you been here? Are you becoming a philosopher, Phoebe?”

The little girl puffed out her chest even more: ”Of course, I... ouch!”

A pickled olive flew out from the hall, striking the little girl’s forehead, leaving a greasy mark.

”When quoting others’ words carelessly, make sure they’re out of earshot, Phoebe.”

Lann stepped out from inside the hall, slightly lowering his head, scolding Phoebe while smiling at Cassandra.

”And also, long time no see, Cassandra. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

The Hawk Trainer stood dumbfounded, looking at the Demon Hunter she had fought alongside months ago.

The Demon Hunter now wore an Athenian-style robe, revealing his entire right shoulder and chest.

His sculpted, aesthetically pleasing muscular build was on full display, making Cassandra feel it was worth paying just for a glimpse.

Lann didn’t adorn his exposed neck or arms with gold or silver as the Athenians would.

But with his hair, like molten silver, draped over his shoulders, Cassandra felt nothing could be more luxurious and noble.

”No hug?”

Lann slightly bent down, opened his arms with a smile, and beckoned to Cassandra.

Only then did the Hawk Trainer snap out of her daze, stepping forward to embrace Lann’s back.

”Ah, it’s great to see you again too, Lann. We’re both safe and sound.”

Cassandra was somewhat reluctant to admit she couldn’t resist inhaling deeply when close to that molten silver-like hair.

”Seems like you’ve adapted well to Athens?”

After the embrace, Cassandra teased Lann’s attire.

The Demon Hunter didn’t feel embarrassed; he even spread his arms to give Cassandra a proper view.

”When on someone else’s turf, whether out of respect or aiming for a good impression, trying out the local style is a good thing, isn’t it?”

”And your rapport in Athens is alright?”

Lann tilted his head with a smile: ”Just so-so.”