Alexios

Gleaming gold, dazzling and impenetrable, sculpted with ideal musculature and covered in intricate, dense engravings. At first glance, it seemed fit for the noblest of men—until the interviewee interrupted to correct us: only the most fearsome deserve to wear it.

Its blade bears traces of ancient forging techniques, hinting at a gift from the gods—bestowed upon a warrior who could not be defeated. To face it is to divide the strong, who rejoice, from the weak, who wail.

A triangular shard which embodies Pythagoras' theorem through the combination of precise angles of point, line, and plane—a work of geometric perfection. More crucially, it affirms its bearer's "identity" in a subtle but authoritative way.

"Decades ago, a small group of people gathered around a theory. They believed it could be used to control the space. To them, the world moved between two forces: order and chaos."

But some among them fell too deeply into chaos. From that descent, the Cult of Kosmos was born.

Wearing masks, black robes, and the image of a serpent that devours all, they made no effort to hide their ambition and greed. They claimed to desire order, but sought to build it through war—an order that served only themselves. And so, the Greek world was plunged into endless conflict.

To prolong the war, they orchestrated an event in 446 BCE. Within the smoke-filled temple of Delphi, a trembling, feverish female voice delivered a sentence upon a newborn boy:

"To prevent Sparta's fall, the child must fall first."

Bound by the divine will of the oracle, the Spartan Gerousia left the family no choice. One rainy night, the infant was cast from Mount Taygetos.

Though he survived the fall, his descent through life never stopped. As if swallowed by the serpent itself, he no longer belonged to his family—or to any place under the Sun.

[<space=0.15em>A damaged wax tablet from ancient Greece]<line-indent=9%>

I. Anthesterion, Seventh Day

Seeker: Spartan ephor Evagoras, son of Aristomenes

Question: Should we promise the people of Potidaea our support in invading Attica?

Response: You must. "One city will rise, one will fall."

■. Elaphebolion, Seventh Day

Seeker: A certain Spartan mercenary ...

Question: I lost my mother as a child. I have to find her. Where is she?

Oh gods—it's the child from the mountain! No ... Lord Deimos will kill me if I tell—

[A long portion of the record has been harshly scratched out]

■. ■■■■■, ■th Day

Seeker: ...

Question: Should we invade Athens during the plague?

Response: Of course. I've already seen it in the artifact fragment. Heh ... heh heh ... and while I'm at it, I'll kill that fool Perikles.

■. ■■■■■, ■th Day

Seeker: ...

Question: The Battle of Amphipolis has begun. It seems Kleon can no longer win the support of the Athenians. What's our next move?

Response: I've seen it. I'll go to the battlefield outside Amphipolis and silence those two mutts who won't stop barking. As for Cleon ... hmph.

Pandora Wilson: Hello, Mr. Alexios, I'm—

Alexios: ... What is this?

Pandora Wilson: Delighted that you're curious. I'm the editor-in-chief of UTTU, a magazine covering lifestyle, current affairs, fashion, and arcanum—

Alexios: No one's foolish enough to talk to a floating mouth.

Pandora Wilson: ...

Alexios: Even fewer would be naive enough to believe what one says.

Pandora Wilson: Mr. Alexios, I think there's been a misunderstanding about some basics of arcanum. First, I am a respected editor of a well-known publication. Second, I am not "just a mouth."

Alexios: And what is it that you want from me?

Pandora Wilson: ... Nothing, really. A formal interview usually begins with a few questions, that's all.

Alexios: What kind of questions?

Pandora Wilson: We've heard that you refuse to reconcile with your sister, that you won't return to your family. I'm curious—how do you feel about Kassan—

Alexios: ... I knew that you could not be trusted.

Alexios: No comment.