Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece

Afterwards, the four others likewise disembarked from the carriage and moved forward.

Those who are coming from the south have to go through the Crati River. They have two choices to enter the city of Thurii: First is to enter the southern part of Thurii and take a boat from the port to the main port of the city of Thurii on the other side, which is mainly used by the Theonian citizens and visiting envoys from other city-states. The second, like Cariades, through the wooden bridge in the west of the southern part to reach the Delta where the two rivers meet, then through the wooden bridge to reach the north bank of the Crati River and finally into the main city.

Nicostratos, who passed the checkpoint, stepped on the wooden bridge. However, Lycasis, unlike his teacher, did not act reserved as he stamped his feet with curiosity, patted the bridge's railings, and from time to time, craned his neck to watch the boats passing under the bridge…then he suddenly cried out, “Look, what are they doing?!”

In the direction that Lycasis pointed, Nicostratos could see a group of teenagers swimming in the river not far from the bridge. However, they were not playing around. On the contrary, they lined up to swim from the north bank to the south bank one after another and then returned. The Greeks were mainly seafaring race, with a lot of them being great swimmers, but it is rare to find any place where children swam around while wearing leather armour and still find it exciting.

“Is it a race?” Strasippus said with uncertainty.

“They are currently doing military training.” A middle-aged man with a maimed right arm who had been lying on his back on the bridge's railing and watching for a long time interjected.

Strasippus looked at him and asked curiously, “Military training?”

“They are all students from the Akademia of Theonia. Per the requirements of 《Theonia's Education Act》, besides learning knowledge, they also need to do military training…” Explained the middle-aged man.

“That's cruel, letting such young children do such dangerous sports by force! What if they run out of strength and drown?! What if they get hit by a boat?” Said Nicostratos with discontent.

In fact, besides the instructors who were accompanying the children in the river, there are also several boats on the river ready for rescue. However, the middle-aged man didn't explain it much and just said faintly, “Ruthless enemies won't let go of anyone because he is young. And only through strict training could we kill the enemy and not be killed when going on the battlefield.”

Nicostratos became tongue-tied for a while and could only walk away quickly. ‘Whether they are young or middle-aged, the Theonian men all spoke with an aura of disgust, and their methods were cruel!’

The middle-aged man ignored the departing foreign men and continued to pay attention to the children's training in the river until the instructor beckoned them all to the shore. Afterwards, he hurriedly crossed the bridge and descended to the river bank.

“Oh, Periandorus, my brother!” When the instructor saw him, he came forward and gave him a warm hug. Both of them were soldiers under Amintas' brigade of the first legion, so naturally, their bond ran deep, “Your boy is still doing well as usual, and today he won first place in his group in armed swimming!” The instructor was not stingy in his praise.

“I witness it all on the bridge.”

“Periandorus, it seems that you are so concerned about your child's performance in military training recently. Are you going to let him replace you as an adult and let him become a soldier of the Theonian army?” the instructor said jokingly.

To his surprise, Periandorus seriously nodded and said, “I want him to enter the first legion.”

The instructor was astounded and then said, “My brother, although Patroclus performed well, he does not have enough combat experience, and the number of reserves of the legion now exceeds ten thousand, so he will have a harder time entering the first legion. Moreover, he is still under eighteen, and even if he were of military age, the officers would not be so eager to send a new recruit like him into battle. So it is better to let him work himself into a competent soldier in the legion reserves first.”

Periandorus thought about it and admitted that the instructor was right. However, he was still worried, so he asked, “I am not familiar with the current situation of the legion. How long do you think it will take for Patroclus to enter the legion once he joins the reserve? Especially the first legion?”

The instructor laughed and said, “You should hang out with our brothers of the first legion more often, especially our strategos, Aminstas, who cherished past friendship the most. Did you know that he has just been appointed as the legatus of the second legion this year? So if your son wants to enter the second legion, only one word from Amintas is needed. And even if you insist on making Patroclus join the first legion, with Aminstas friendship with Antonios, the legatus of the first legion, he would still only needed few words.”

Periandorus just silently listened to his comrades. Indeed, since the time he was injured, his contact with his comrades and officers have been much less. But now, for the sake of his son, he needs to make some changes.

“By the way, haven't you been studying in the Akademia recently? Are you preparing for Thurii's assessment and become a village chief? How are your studies?” The instructor suddenly remembered and asked curiously.

Periandorus smiled bitterly, “I don't even know how to read a word before, and now I am old, and my memory is not as good anymore. And just remembering those letters alone is enough to give me headache…”

“Then you have to work harder. I will wait for your entry into the Senate so that you can take good care of our brothers and me.” The instructor said jokingly.

Periandorus gave a rare smile.

“Father!” Patroclus, who had changed his clothes, came over.

“Class ended?”

Patroclus nodded. He was now almost seventeen and was already taller than Periandorus. Although he was not as strong as the instructor, his body was well-proportioned and sturdy. And for students like him, who would come of age, the school's afternoon classes were no longer about sports but more about rigorous military training and actual combat so as to prepare for their military service.

“Periandorus, don't forget what I had just said.” Seeing the father and son walk away, the instructor reminded him loudly.

And Periandorus waved with gratefulness.

“Father, what did you and the instructor talk about?” Periandorus asked curiously.

“About you joining the first legion…” Periandorus honestly told his son.

Patroclus gave a long whistle and said, “I heard from Sthephilos that it is impossible for a recruit like me to join the first legion in the first place. Still, I believe that no matter which legion I get assigned to, I will be the one who would hold the flag in the Triumphant Return!”

Periandorus patted the child's shoulder with satisfaction. Although Patroclus had a jumpy personality, he is an extremely confident child.

When the father and son left, Patroclus suddenly stopped and called out, “Hey, Cynthia!”

Cynthia, who was going home with her classmate, turned and smiled at him.

Patroclus winked at her, “The band on your head is loose.”

Cynthia reached for her hair and found that she had been tricked. She spat at him and said, “I have you, Patro!”

Patroclus laughed and continued to watch Cynthia. Only when she went away did he withdraw his gaze.

As someone who had experienced this, how could Periandorus not understand his son's thought? It's just that most people in Thurii know the identity of the girl, she is the adopted daughter of the archon, but Patroclus is just an ordinary Theonian citizen who had just obtained citizenship. There is a huge gap between the two sides. It's just that his son is stubborn and has his own ideas since he was a child, so it is hard for him to give him advice. He just hopes that it's just a simple child's adoration.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cynthia said goodbye to her friends and went into her home.

The slave then came quickly and took her schoolbag, while Cynthia immediately gave her greetings and expressed her gratitude.

Now, the residence of Davos was enlarged and divided into three courtyards: the front, middle and the rear. The front yard was the residence for the ordinary slaves, and the stable was also located here. The middle courtyard was the place where Davos worked and discussed the union's affairs, and it is also where the rooms of those managing the slaves and the office workers. And the rear courtyard was the residence of Davos and his family.

Cynthia walked straight ahead, and everywhere she passed, the slaves greeted her, and Cynthia returned their greetings. This is Davos' household rule. Even though Cynthia doesn't understand it, she had already formed a habit.

After entering the middle courtyard, she had also encountered Aristias, who she feared among his father's attendant. She always felt that his eyes, which were less black and more white, seemed to have some kind of ability to see through the people's heart. In comparison, she preferred Aristocrates, who was a former scribe, among the followers of Davos. Unfortunately, he has become a Theonian citizen, and has passed the examination of the union under the advice of Davos, and has now become a judge of Thurii's court.

Cynthia pushed open the door to the rear courtyard and then heard a familiar voice, “Oh, Cynthia is back.”

Cheiristoya stood by the garden and looked at her with a smile while Azune was bending over and pulling the weeds.

“Mother!” Cynthia let out a cry and ran up to hug Cheiristoya. After years of living together, this sexy, elegant and kind woman has replaced her mother's fading image.

“Be gentle! Don't scare your sister, you little imp!” Cheiristoya subconsciously covered her protruding belly and flicked Cynthia's forehead.

“Sister, I apologise for disturbing your sleep.” Cynthia leaned close to Cheiristoya's stomach and said in a quirky tone.

Then she suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “She kicked me! Mother, sister, she kicked me!”

“Yes, I felt it as well.” Cheiristoya was also happy. Even though this is her second pregnancy, she still doesn't know whether it is a boy or a girl. However, after having little Kro, she began wanting to have a daughter; thus, everyone started calling the baby as if it were a girl. And this is the first time that she felt the baby move.