Second Chances 1.38

Warning

This week I am going to publish chapters until Thursday 12-30-2021 and then the publications will be resumed until Monday 01-03-2022.

I think, it is enough to say that it will be the end of the year and we must celebrate it as God intended.

-o-

The Sparta market was two parallel paths back and forth separated by an island of beautiful flowers, elevated one meter from the ground of the street. The island of flowers was bordered with red rock carved forming a rectangle fifty meters long and five meters wide.

In Sparta, war and discipline were all-encompassing while trade was considered a luxury or a labor for servants. So, the number of people working in the Sparta market did not exceed thirty people. Mostly, they offered condiments such as pepper and salt, clay pots and wells, all kinds of colourful fabrics and beautiful carpets. Meat, fruits, and other vegetables were also sold, but they were in smaller quantities and mostly only bought by outsiders. Such as Ana, Sakura and Viggo. These three advanced through the market, sheltered by an awning that the government of Sparta put to encourage trade. It wasn't much, but you also couldn't expect much from a country almost 100% dedicated to war.

It had been more than 5 YEARS since Viggo had arrived in Sparta. In all this time the old Xiao never appeared and Viggo, between seduced and convinced by Kiara, stayed in Sparta. Most of the time he spent training, polishing his fistfight and his bow handling. At this time Viggo could reach a bird in mid-flight about three hundred meters away. However, as proficient as he had become with the bow, he was still worried about being away from his family. However, thanks to the company of Sakura and Ana, life had become much easier to carry.

Both girls are twins, daughters of a Polemarca (General) of Sparta. The ephors (evil priests of the gods) asked the girls to serve them, to which the Polemarca reluctantly accepted. However, Kiara arrived around that time and asked the girls to serve her. The ephors know well the backgrounds of this world, especially the diplomatic and supernatural ones. So, they would never face Kiara. Queen Hetera is said to be as old as the gods. Although it is also said that she is a person educated by the previous queen Hetera and through dark arts takes the same physical form as her predecessor. The most distinctive are those long, demonic dark horns with fuchsia engravings. Something that draws attention wherever you go.

Both girls have purple hair, with delicate female features and a slender appearance. However, while Ana has a shy and gentle attitude, Sakura is all smiles and enthusiasm. Another differentiating feature is that Sakura likes to carry her hair up to her shoulders, while Ana has never cut it and it already reaches her calves. The two dresses in pink dresses with a white stripe in the center. Well, according to Viggo and her discreet looks, Sakura develops in the part of the bust while Ana in the part of the buttocks.

-Are you doing well, Viggo?- asked Sakura to the right of Viggo. The latter carried a vessel on each arm, both more than 60 cm high and 30 cm in circumference. The one on the left was filled with wheat, while the one on the right had olive oil. Today, he had the tanned skin of always walking with his torso bare. He wore a red tunic at his knee-deep waist and a large leather belt with straps hanging around him. On the front of the belt has the design of a roaring lion made of bronze.

-Yes, I'm fine, Sakura- Viggo replied with a smile. Sakura looked down and blushed. Thanks to that she collides with Spartan hoplite that was making its rounds through the market. Sakura almost fell on her back but managed to balance herself.

-Look where you're going- the hoplite screamed, raised his hand to slap him, but Viggo got between the hoplite and Sakura and stared into his eyes. The hoplite stopped his hand and frowned. Viggo at no time did stop looking at him. So, in the end, the hoplite spit to the side, turned his back on them, and went on his way.

-Be careful, Sakura- Viggo said in a worried tone of voice -you almost fell-

-I'm sorry, Viggo- Sakura replied with blushing cheeks, somewhat because of the clumsiness and the same for feeling excited about the care.

-Sakura, we'd better continue- Ana said with a burlesque look and a smile on her lips. Sakura became even more colourful and nodded. Then she began to walk mechanically ahead, trying to ignore the heat she felt at this time.

Viggo and Ana followed her closely, making sure that no one is going to hit her again.

-Are you sure you don't need help?- asked Ana in a voice soft as the murmur of the breeze

-I'm going well, I'm going well- Viggo said with a big smile. Different from the little Ana and Sakura who only measured 1.30 meters. Viggo was already measuring 1.60 meters at age 13, not to mention that his body was changing to a more masculine and athletic one. He was a little taller than the average for his age, but considering Kain, his father, who was almost a 2-meter giant, he never gave it importance.

-Conceited- Ana murmured, and Viggo let out a chuckle accompanied by a big smile. Ana looked up, watching as Viggo's red hair fell like a waterfall to his shoulders. She looks down and blush like Sakura.

For her part, Sakura rushed to buy five apples and several jars with spices. Then she returned with the group and together they went around the entire market and returned where they came.

Most of the world knew the Spartans for being bellicose brutes, but Sparta's infrastructure and distribution was one of the best among all the cities of the Peloponnese. Proof of this was the road that connected the Agora (meeting place of citizens) and the market. It is a flat cobbled road, with islands of flowers in its center, lined with metal railings so that no one steps on the flowers. On the sides stand large bronze columns, which serve as a platform for beautiful statues of Spartan warriors. Each wears a helmet with mane, bronze armor, shield, and spear. Magnificent design, which shines with the afternoon sun.

However, what Viggo likes the most is Leonidas Square, next to the road. As is the statue of the ancient king made of black stone more than twenty meters. If his master were here, he would say that he was a good man, a great warrior, and the perfect king. Someone who remained disciplined and focused on what was important to Sparta.

-Come, Viggo- said Sakura with a kind smile and blushing cheeks, as they advanced along the road -let's see the statue-

-It's getting late- Viggo said, looking up at the sky. By the sunset and the color of the light, it should be like seven in the afternoon.

-I agree- replied Ana, who now carried the spice jars in her arms.

-Look- Sakura said with a cute smile and showed her a beautiful red apple. Ana's eyes flashed as if she had stars. Sakura walked ahead holding the apple at the height of her face and Ana followed her as if she were hypnotized. Viggo just smiled and followed them to Leonidas Square. The large statue was in the center, and although to Viggo he looked like any Spartan in armour, but everyone said he was the great king of Sparta. For her part, Ana held the jars with her right arm, while holding the red apple with her left and eating it in a good mood. Sakura looked at her sister and smiled happily at seeing her so pleased.

At that moment, one soldier was standing in front of many others, with the statue of Leonidas behind him as he gave them words of encouragement. He looked excited, as if at this very moment he was going to touch the battlefield. At the same time, women and men prayed at the foot of the statue as if it were a god. Other children slept in the back, on the cobblestone floor. Among the younger ones it was said that if you slept near the statue, you would grow strong. Viggo smiled and wondered at what point a king became a god.

-Come, Viggo, if you keep looking at the statue, Ana will eat your share- said Sakura, taking Viggo by the arm towards the back of the square.

-I wouldn't do that- Ana said, licking the sweet taste of the apple from her lips. She followed them to the back of the square. They took a path to some grasslands covered with wildflowers and came to a lake. The water mantles moved with the gentle afternoon breeze as the shadow of the night spread little by little.

Sakura invited Viggo to sit three meters from the lake. Viggo sat on the grassland and placed the vessels between his legs to prevent the contents from falling. Sakura sat next to him and leaned his cheek against his left arm. While Ana sat on the right side and rested her cheek on Viggo's arm. This was for two things, one, because the natural heat emitted by Viggo's body was too pleasant. And the other reason is because both girls were in love with the redhead. Viggo was tall, kind, athletic and strong, what else could two girls expect? However, both kept their fate of Heteras in their minds. Maybe, they could make Viggo their favorite, but an apprentice Hetera like them had to know how to attend to the guests that their master invites. Maybe, Viggo would dislike that, they both thought.

For his part, Viggo sensing what they felt and understanding the complicated position, never spoke about it. Well, there was also the fact that he lacked the courage to say, "I love you." Viggo felt that these were when his father was most lacking. He was a man with numerous wives, he must have a lot of experience in the process. Viggo let out a sigh, stretched out his right hand to Sakura and she put a red apple in his hand. That way, the three sat in front of the lake until night fell. Only there did they get up and walk back to the temple of Apollo, which was now fully restored with Kiara's funds. The temple itself was disabled for apollo prayer and worship. It had now been converted into a luxurious one-story house, with several bedrooms, a bathroom, and a terrace. The Ephoros and the kings of Sparta were not very amused by this transformation, but Kiara did not even listen to them. She only had to give them a single look and they were silent and scared to death. It was as if she had seen through their fears and occupied them against them.

As the three children moved south through a dirt road that crossed the grasslands, they could see in the distance the hill where the fires of what was once the temple of Apollo shone. A figure of white clothes stood between the two large braceros in flames. Its slender silhouette was illuminated by the moon, giving it an ethereal and even phantasmagorical glow.

The figure raised his hand in greeting, while the night wind moved making his robe flutter and long hair. Only Sakura raised her hands in response, as Viggo and Ana were leaving with their hands full.

-Do you think she got angry?- asked Sakura in a funny voice.

-I doubt, anything will anger that woman. It's as if everything slipped on her- Viggo replied with a smile.

-I agree- Ana added -she's always bothering us-