Liberi Reader

Are you moving or not?!

No!

Are you moving or not?!

NO!

Wh-What a passionate debate! I can feel the heroic blood in their voices!

...But they're not actually saying anything.

They're just yelling at the top of their lungs. I don't even know what they're saying.

The dispute over Athenius's route has been brewing between the fruit farmers and the temple builders for ages.

Embarrassing, really, to make a random tourist off the street try to solve our dispute. Heck, even I couldn't tell half of what they're saying...

You said you wanted to know what they're saying...

Stop looking for trouble, Titi.

This 'random tourist off the street' has an idea.

Hey! Don't just wander in there! Things could get rough!

Well, well, well! The militiaman looks lean, but he's got skill, and he takes round one when the big guy loses focus for a second!

You—

Shut it! Loser doesn't get to talk!

New apples can't get out with all the stone piled up at the crossing! The orchards are all in the mountain's shadow, and the apples that haven't ripened yet don't get any sun! The whole harvest's going to the dumps at this rate!

One-nil. Round two.

Hey, all those muscles ain't for nothing! Looks like hauling marble is good exercise!

We can't move the stone until the apples are out of the way! Besides, the building of the First Temple was inspired by the Minoan heroes! Who's gonna take responsibility if the work's delayed? You?

One-all. Next!

Apple harvesting and hauling stone... I see.

Minoans sure are fun to watch! But things will get less interesting when they start getting tired...

Hey, why did they stop?

They've realized the arm-wrestling isn't about determining a victor, but giving them an opportunity to hear each other out.

When you're angry, your ears stop working, and even simple things become complicated, much less long-standing disputes.

You're more thoughtful than you look.

But how do you solve the core problem, now that you've gotten emotion out of the way?

*pant*... *pant*...

*pant*... *pant*...

Looks like a draw.

Young lady...

Call me Titi.

It's not like we screwed the fruit farmers on purpose, Titi.

We've got a lot of hands in the rebuilding, but they only quarry stone when they please, where they please. I brought fifteen tons of marble down the mountain by myself yesterday, and it's still far from enough.

Look, we understand. But the apples don't care.

Increasing quarrying efficiency, while getting enough sun for the apples... why don't we meet in the middle, then?

What do you mean?

Just remove the peak that's blocking the sunlight.

...

...

Hahahaha! Some 'middle'! That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!

It is intriguing, though.

Out of personal curiosity, I studied the urban planning and natural environment of Athenius on my way here.

The peak that's in the way of the sunlight is only a secondary peak, with soft soil at the top and a large marble layer underneath—it would make an excellent quarry.

You mean we can get sunlight to the orchards by leveling the peak, without having to change the city's route? Is that even possible?

The fruit farmers must join the quarriers.

Adding more hands is the quickest way to increase efficiency. We'll also need to get the craftsmen scattered across the mountains together.

If you can carry fifteen tons of marble a day all by yourself...

Then leveling the peak is not impossible.

The rebuilding of the temple was the collective decision of the citizens of Athenius. We certainly won't complain, if we can solve the sunlight problem at the same time.

I'll go talk to the farmers!

Problem solved!

All thanks to you, Titi.

Don't mention it.

It looks amazing, even in its incomplete state... Now, I'm even more curious about the one running this project.

Speaking of which, we still have a problem.

What is it?

The original proponent of the First Temple project, Pallas, went missing last night.

'...Our joy was for both of us, but now eternal peace is yours alone.'

'The breeze in the mountains of Heria and the rivers of the Agnes Plains shall shine in your eyes no more.'

'Neither shall my heart know the tranquility of night and the leisure of day again...'

It's been seven years, Ithakos, old friend.

...

You're late.

I'm simply passing through, on my way to a burdenbeast ranch with a view.

You can find all the excuses you want, but you know you can't let it go.

Neither can I.

...

You haven't once visited the Endymion Temple in your five years in Athenius.

The first and last time you came was when you brought Ithakos's bloody chiton.

I don't need the guidance of the heroes.

But you continue to dream the same dream. You blame yourself for sending Ithakos across the river, to the battle where he died.

The river runs only in my dreams now, since the Sargonians built a dam upstream.

It brought the melting snow from Heria's peaks to my homeland, and it brought him...

Ithakos was one of the few true friends that I had, one who was never concerned for who I am or what I can do.

His family was tormented by the fires of war, and his father lived most of his life as a broken man. But he would not accept the same fate. His eyes were bright and eager when he received divine revelation.

Whatever the outcome, he found a friend and a brother in you. Did he ever visit you in your dreams, telling you not to mourn him anymore?

...

It's your place to interpret dreams, and mine to mourn and remember. I will soothe my rage in my own way.

The war is over. Sargon has signed a non-aggression pact with us, and this visit by the Sargonian mission is a symbol of our new relationship.

I know that. Lydia made a point to put me in my place.

The first Astynomos in Athenian history elected by popular vote, empowered to handle diplomatic matters and certain public issues independent of the council and the priests...

She's caused you a fair share of trouble, hasn't she?

Endymion Temple has not been affected yet, but some fringe clerics and the roles of their temples are being marginalized. Besides...

Kereseira's First Temple is nearing completion. There should be a ceremonial play organized by the priests to call the spirit of Kereseira into the temple and grant Minos her protection.

Now, the play is being organized by the Astynomos' Office.

The Astynomos purported to assent when I discussed this matter with her a few days ago, but she was evasive when it came to the program we'd choose...

To her, the priests and their ceremonies are just props to promote Minoan tourism.

Your insistence on using canonized classical drama will only be seen as an act of aggression by the priesthood.

I understand that reform is inevitable, but...

Some things will not and can not change.

Lydia's little power plays on the administrative side are none of my business, but I won't stand idly by if the Sargonian visitors have ill intent.

...

I'm no hero, just an ordinary Infected, and I don't need the guidance of divine revelation, but I still dream.

If I tell you that I dreamt of a river running red with blood, as Ithakos did nine years ago...

How would you interpret it?

Xanthos!

Excuse me. I have work to do at the crossing, and an apprentice waiting for me.

...

You're really too kind, Titi. Not only did you solve our dispute with the fruit farmers, you're also helping us look for Pallas.

It's nothing. Besides, I want to meet the one who came up with the temple project, face-to-face.

This Pallas was last seen at the crossing?

Yes.

She was sitting on the docks, drinking and muttering in the direction of distant Mt. Hymnoi.

She's helped us with so many things since the rebuilding of the temple began. Although she doesn't hold any position in the temples of Athenius, and Kassandra from Endymion Temple is the one in charge of the responsibilities that are above-board...

Pallas was the one who took care of everything behind the scenes, from the division of labor to procurement to smoothing things over with the right people.

I see. It's certainly concerning that someone so reliable would go missing all of a sudden...

Ah, well... it's not the first time.

Almost forgot to ask. What does she look like?

A small Forte lady, always seems like she's half-asleep. She wears a little flower on her head.

A little flower... the kind with two leaves, and petals so red you can't see the wrinkles?

Yes! How did you know?

Does it look like that?

Yes, it does... but that's one of the apple farmers' crates, isn't it? What's a flower doing there?

Wait, there's something inside! Duck!

Mm... who are you?

We meet at last, Pallas, first proponent of the rebuilding of Kereseira's First Temple.

I'm Medjehtiqedti Nasutu Mashayer, ambassador from Sargon.

Medj...?

My friends call me Titi.