Bear School Astartes

Barnabas remembered that the mission of the Adrestia was not to eliminate Athenian warships for the Spartans.

Their goal was to land at Megaliss.

In the distance on the sea, two Athenian warships still shot arrows like sharks patrolling; they might not have noticed what became of the ship struck by a wave of javelin throws.

This gave the Adrestia enough time to turn.

”Turn around! Full speed! Let’s sink these bastards!”

Barnabas loudly communicated with the rowers in the cabin.

”Don’t slack off! Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, heigh-ho...” The rowers shouted rhythmically, rowing back and forth with increasing pace.

This repetitive rhythm urged the rowers to paddle, and the speed of the Adrestia became increasingly astonishing.

As the bronze ram speedily headed toward the hull of the heavily battered Athenian warship, Cassandra and Lann widened their eyes; this was their first sea battle and first kill.

The Athenians on that ship were shocked.

”Brace yourselves!” Barnabas roared.

The wood forming the ship’s hull cracked explosively! The Adrestia trembled violently, then pierced through the symphony of screams, splitting the Athenian warship in half like a wide-open door.

The main mast fell; the crew clung to the wooden mast to save themselves. This commotion came and went quickly.

Only then did the two distant Athenian galleys react, urgently turning their bows to approach.

”They won’t come over.” Lann pulled Barnabas up from the command deck’s railing, calmly assessing. ”We are too close to shore; Athenians won’t risk this for a small ship.”

His feline eyes scanned the white sands of Megaliss.

On the beach, a group of Spartans watched the situation at sea threateningly.

They looked like figures from a movie, wearing bronze armor crafted with abdominal and chest muscle patterns.

Compared to their Athenian adversaries, Spartan armor appeared strong and fierce.

They wore Corinthian helmets with horsehair-like red plumes. Their shields bore the red Lambda symbol, like a red arrow.

The beach was already a scene of slaughter; Athenian and Spartan ground forces were locked in brutal combat.

Athenians from the sunken warship drifted with the wreckage to shore, becoming a form of ’reinforcement.’

Yet even facing enemy reinforcements, Spartan soldiers charged silently toward their prey, thrusting spears to pierce enemies’ chests, with blood sprays forming a mist over the battlefield, leaving only cries of the wounded.

On this battlefield, a young Spartan officer performed exceptionally well. An elderly Spartan general, helmetless and with graying hair, stood on a nearby cliff, overlooking the battleground.

That must be Sparta’s ”Blood Wolf,” Cassandra’s father?

Lann turned to see the woman’s expression beside him, noting her staring intently at the old general on the cliff.

”This is your family matter, I won’t interfere.”

The Demon Hunter gently patted Cassandra’s shoulder, speaking softly.

”I’m planning to head into Megaliss’s interior; if you need help with your mission, feel free to find me.”

Cassandra nodded silently, her gaze fixed.

Lann prepared to leave but turned back after two steps to pull Phoebe, who peeked from the cabin, along with him.

”Hey hey hey! What are you doing? I want to stay with Cassandra!”

The girl protested, but Lann’s grip didn’t loosen.

”I know you want to stay with Cassandra, that’s why I’m taking you away; it’s her family matter.”

”But I’m also her family!”

Phoebe retorted defiantly, but Lann pointed to the old general on the cliff.

”Yes, you’re her family, no one can deny that. But this whole thing isn’t that simple; there’s family ties, vendettas, bounties... Anyway, kid, you’d best not get involved in this mess. It’s for the sake of your relationship with Cassandra.”

Some things can’t be meddled with, or one might not even remain friends.

Lann tried to impart this lesson to Phoebe.

Fortunately, though Phoebe didn’t grasp it and was quite independent, she was also smart and receptive.

Facing unfamiliar concerns, she would not directly resist.

So under Lann’s persuasion, she turned her head, waving to Cassandra.

”Remember to find us if you need help, Cassandra!”

”Mainly find me for help; you’re not much use.”

Lann calmly teased.

As the two left the beach, they saw the bold young officer from the battle approach Cassandra, beginning a conversation with the mercenary who suddenly appeared and aided them.

It seemed the Spartans had a decent attitude due to their sinking of an Athenian galley, allowing friendly interaction.

Beyond the beach lay a clearly man-made road.

This marked prosperity in a world of early civilization.

In remote areas, animal paths were considered fortunate.

”What are we aiming to do, Lann?”

Phoebe jumped around the Demon Hunter, looking delighted.

In her eyes, Cassandra, who tamed divine birds, was a demigod, barely worth worrying about.

So she could fully enjoy the adventure now.

”We’re entering Megaliss’s interior not for fun, Phoebe. We’re gathering intel, solving troubles to fulfill the mission swiftly.”

The two walked on Megaliss’s soil, surrounded by the fragrance from olive and lemon trees and unknown wildflowers under the Aegean sun.

”Whatever Cassandra’s plans for her father, she must approach alone. To secure time with a military commander, earning trust from the entire army is essential.”

Even without participating in Cassandra’s dealings with the young officer, Lann’s education and analytical skills hinted at the discussion’s nature.

Under Phoebe’s awed expression, Lann continued with an obvious air.

”Spartans will have Cassandra work for them, until she achieves undeniable merits for trust.”

”I’m here to lay the groundwork for those tasks.”

Phoebe promptly interjected.

”It’s ’we’!”

”Alright, ’we,’ whatever makes you happy.”