ME-ST-3 The River of No Return

Medication and suppressants that need to be administered on a regular basis, fresh from the Rhodes Island office.

I heard the Astynomos' Office has lifted the detention order on Xanthos and his apprentice, and does not intend to press charges against you for helping them escape.

Yes. I learned later that Lydia had guessed our plan and intentionally made things easy for me. Stands to reason she wouldn't pursue the matter.

......

But the three of you still intend to leave Athenius?

Yes.

Staying will only give my old classmate ideas. He needs to see more places, meet more people, do more things.

Yes.

I rarely see you so honest, Lykeion. I wouldn't have had three operators keep an eye on you, if you were like this when you were my patient.

Sorry for the trouble I caused...

Looks like Xanthos's actions at the First Temple had a considerable influence on you.

How about you wave the white flag and admit that Oripathy doesn't sap the heroic spirit at all?

In your dreams.

Talk about a hardhead.

You should go, or you'll miss the ferry. Xanthos's substitute is not as flexible about late passengers. He won't wait for you.

Skata! Let's go, Lykeion.

Thank you for the medicine, Kyría Athopoulou. May we meet again!

Hey, stay off the lawn! I just worked on it—

Well, I suppose two young men won't be nearly as destructive as a whole herd of burdenbeasts.

The flowers and grass they ruined haven't been cleaned up yet. Too bad about the blue boronia...

*sob*... *sob*...

Don't cry, Lydia...

If bad guys ruin your house like they ruined my old home...

We won't have a home to go back to. What would we do?

Don't worry. I'll never leave you behind, even if the house is gone, even if we're separated!

I know! Look for this garden if you're far away from home and don't know the way back.

Garden...?

Yeah! I'll plant blue boronia here, so that you'll know you're home when you see it.

And if you find the way first, mark it the same way, won't you?

Alright... it's a promise, Lena.

So many blue boronias... you think of the past too, don't you?

Thank you, Lydia. I'm home.

I brought this year's apples, Kassandra!

The portion set aside for the temple's offering has been sent to the cellar. I saved this for you and the others at the temple to share.

Thank you. It's very kind of you, to do it every year.

Our good harvests are all thanks to the help of everyone in Athenius. Besides, you helped so much with coordinating the temple.

You seem to be in a good mood today.

To us, nothing matters more than the harvest, and a good harvest brings happiness.

Nothing matters to us more than everybody's happiness, and the harvest is an important part of it.

We're counting on you! I'll take my leave now. The pomegranate will be ripe for harvest soon, and there are branches waiting to be trimmed.

Sweet apples and bright sun. What a lovely day!

The ceremony at the First Temple was successfully concluded, and the ferryman that you were caring for has found hope.

All is well, isn't it, Hiéreia? Why do you look so sullen?

You're the one I'm worried about.

Me? Why?

I've been thinking about what you said when you came back to Athenius.

......

You said you saw the beginnings of Minos in your dreams, saw Kereseira and her First Temple.

You said you thought a lot about Minos's past and future, about your own goals and direction.

All this is why you came back.

The events of recent days seem to corroborate my interpretation of the divine revelation. It is not a beautiful future of smiles and flowers. The unease lingers in my heart.

Divine revelation is simply the direction that the spirit of heroes has shown us. It is not an inevitable future. We learned about that in priest school.

That's true for ordinary revelations, but...

For example, I wanted the harp to return, but the peculiar manner of its return makes it seem so inevitable and unchangeable...

Look at it from a different perspective. While the final goal was the return of the harp, the manner of its return was wondrous. Perhaps it's the same for my revelation.

Or perhaps, your interpretation is not the final goal. It's only one of the trials during the process, and the goal lies elsewhere.

...I hope you're right.

Besides, the recent events have demonstrated that it was right for me to come back. Minos needs me, and I need it.

But you don't want to take over the First Temple, despite the fact that the bulk of the work is done.

Is it because you believe your Oripathy will be an obstacle to priesthood? But Xanthos has told me about the vision he saw on the temple square. I thought you didn't worry anymore.

Traditions can be changed. You were right. I can initiate a vote at the council...

No, I didn't propose rebuilding the First Temple to become its priestess.

I wanted to unite our spirit, not just Athenians, but other city-states and Minoans too...

I heard Lachedamon and Corinia have changed a lot. I want to see them for myself.

So you did come to say goodbye.

Not quite yet. I want to see the temple project through to the end. I'm not missing the completion party that Kantia is already planning!

Carefree as always.

Thank you for the kind invitation. It was quite an unexpected play.

Athenius is about to depart along its planned route, and it's time for us to depart as well.

I hope you will excuse the unpredictable events that occurred. It seems I did not plan for every possible contingency.

On this, there is something I'm curious about.

The ferryman openly accused you of making secret deals with the Sargonians on the temple square, and you were summoned to the council yesterday for an emergency hearing.

Yet you are back in your office, safe and sound. Did you have a trump card up your sleeve? Or is there more to this matter than meets the eye?

More than meets the eye' is overstating it. I had simply made certain arrangements for the follow-up to this matter. The council heard the explanation and is satisfied that I remain competent to govern.

As for the details, I regret that I am unable to share them as yet. They will reveal themselves in due time.

All we need to know is that you remain the Astynomos of Athenius.

With sweeping authority over major matters of administration and governance.

I'm glad to hear it. And now, I have a formal proposal to make.

I'm sure both of you understand that dramatic changes are happening in Minos right now.

It is the case in Athenius, and it is the case in Lachedamon, where a new arena is being built, one that will host competitors from far and wide.

Perhaps the word 'tradition' is not quite music to your ears, Astynomos, but don't you think that now is the time for us to revive the old traditions?

Changes are happening across the land. How about the Three Poleis set aside their rivalries, return to the old city-state federation, and revive an ancient festival?

The scattered villages and minor poleis will surely answer the call, and the nation will grow stronger.

It will be the perfect opportunity, to restore Minos's glory, and to spread the sacred flame across the land.

What do you think?

Is this why you've been snooping around Athenius? You were investigating us.

Old merchant habits die hard. Can't go into the market without doing research. I apologize if I caused any offense.

You're good at causing accidents. I'm afraid I can't give you an answer right now.

That's not a problem. It's right to be prudent.

What about you, priestess Cynisca of Lachedamon?

I cannot make decisions for Lachedamon by myself. However, there is one thing of which I'm sure—

Lachedamon never turns down a challenge.

I'll take you across the river, then you should go directly back to Sargon.

Man, I feel like a prisoner being deported—

Just kidding.

......

I understand your friendship towards Minos. But you are still Sargonian, nonetheless.

And I have a hard time abiding Sargonian feet upon the soil of Minos.

...I understand.

I've been thinking whether there's anything else I can do for Minos, for the mistakes of my forefathers.

Whether I should leave the engineering notes of the Three Poleis and bring only the blueprints back—

After all, the padishah only told me to bring back 'blueprints'.

Then I thought, it wasn't enough—it's just a half-hearted compromise, an excuse to run away from my responsibilities and lessen the feeling of guilt.

I should bring them back and display them in my museum, so that the Sargonians can see it and know that their history books are lying.

Your padishah won't be happy about it.

Who cares? My family wasn't ever particularly good at making the padishahs happy.

Besides, I met with your Astynomos, that shrewd Vulpo, yesterday. I learned that she had already made preparations in advance.

She had scholars compile and photocopy all the documents and even wrote a paper on it, to be published in a Columbian journal once the exchange was complete and I brought the documents back.

......

She asked me to write a foreword, from the perspective of a Sargonian, providing endorsement for the paper.

And she wanted to leverage the connections I built while studying in Columbia to invite experts to study these invaluable historical records.

She said she would name me an honorary Minoan for this!

...I admire your courage.

Just doing what my father couldn't.

Besides, I enjoyed my time in Athenius. I went to see the priestess of Endymion Temple yesterday, and she said the vision I saw on stage was a divine revelation!

It was a surprise, because the books said Minoan divine revelations only happened in dreams.

Divine revelations can occur in the form of dreams, visions or voices, but dreams are the most frequent form they take, because they are an important way for us to interact with the spirits of the heroes and the departed.

That's what the priestess said. I told her about the vision I had on the stage, and the dream I had at the burdenbeast ranch. She gave me a very detailed analysis.

Finally she told me, in that solemn and mysterious tone, 'You may not believe it now, Kyría Mashayer, but I believe your revelation is a sign that you will one day become a padishah.'

How did she get that? She wasn't messing with me, was she?

I'm an honorary Minoan now. I'll actually believe what the priestess of Endymion tells me!

...You're free to believe. Divine revelations are simply a form of guidance. Believe in it, and it will bring you strength.

Perhaps a lot of tragedies could have been avoided if a padishah like you ruled over the Sargonian border.

Hm, I think I understand now.

Then I'll take it as a sign of the responsibility I may have to bear in the future—I'll do my best.

This public announcement... is it a referendum?

Yes.

I'm going back to Athenius after I take you across the river.

The citizens of Athenius will vote on whether to banish me from the city for my recent actions.

But you did it for Minos—

Regardless of the reason, I must face judgment for my actions. It is the responsibility I must bear.

......

It's time. Let's go, Kyría Mashayer.

I saw Ithakos again in the vision, as well as the river of my homeland.

Was it still red with blood, as it was in your dreams?

No, it was quiet and gentle, as I remembered it; not pristine, but carrying the sand and mud that nourishes the soil and life.

A beautiful revelation. You'll be able to take up poems again, no matter where you go.

...Yes.

Look at this letter from a Lateran scholar—'A most stunning revelation. The study of history is a continuous process of seeking the truth by eliminating misconceptions. I am impressed by the courage that your nation has demonstrated.'

And this editorial in a Columbian newspaper—'Sargon shows integrity through proper recognition of history.'

I've been calling in favors every single day to repair the damage you've done, ever since that special exhibit that you held after getting back from Minos!

I hope you understand that such maverick methods only work once.

If anything like this happens again, you'd better think about what you'll do once you're removed as curator of the Varjavandabad Museum.

Is this your will, or the padishah's?

Is there a difference? My will is the padishah's will.

I thought we had a consensus before we left Minos—

The success of the exchange ceremony and the mission of friendship with Minos is all thanks to your leadership. In turn, it will be your responsibility to explain things to the padishah.

However much or little you say is entirely up to you, as long as the padishah's happy.

The exchange ceremony was completed under my leadership to begin with! Besides, how was I to know that you would be so audacious as to...!

Don't think you're in the clear just because I smoothed things over for you this time. There won't be a next time.

Besides, and don't you dare say I didn't warn you—this matter has had a significant impact far and wide. My connections have told me that the City of Gold has sent a herald to Menat-Ha'mait.

You WILL watch your words and behavior from now on.

......

I see that news of my mission precedes me.

...!

S-Such noble elegance and dignity! You must be the herald of the Shahanshah!

Your presence honors this humble museum. Have you come to see the exhibits?

If you want to see the new special Minoan exhibit, I can...

You stay put! I will guide the exalted herald.

The exhibit can wait. I came to communicate the Shahanshah's will.

His Majesty has heard of the mission from Menat-Ha'mait to Minos, and he is most interested.

...!!

Y-You came to escort me? I-It's my greatest honor!

My family is one of the most honored houses in this land. It was always my greatest dream to serve the Shahanshah in the City of Gold. I knew that one day I would...

It's not you I seek, effendi. Kindly close your mouth, for it is making too much noise.

Medjehtiqedti Nasutu Mashayer. His Majesty awaits your presence in the City of Gold, that the King of Kings might hear of your time in Minos, in your own words.

You should make your preparations quickly. The Shahanshah is eager to hear from you. Do not keep him waiting.

Of course!