“We shall camp near the river for about a week. Once the people are getting better, we need to move further from the river banks to prevent flooding during the full moon…” Arete instructed the group of men, including Hepasthos.

“We shall prioritize clean water supply, self hygiene and food sources. Those who are healthy, may use the river water as they wish. But for the sick, we shall carry tubs of water for them. The water they used shall be disposed of to the ground, not back to the river. We must follow this practice strictly!” Arete continued to explain in detail about the reasons and proper planning for the villagers. She learnt the knowledge from her late father Amiran and her teacher Apollodorus.

After they laid down all the procedures, they dismissed the meeting and moved on to their indicated tasks. Hepasthos went to the nearby riverside, sitting by the riverbanks, dipping his finger to the flowing water. As he saw his own reflection, he pulled out his fingers as if in fear. He looked to his left and right, there was nobody nearby, the villagers were busy setting up their camps. He removed his cloak; he saw his reflection on the river water.

He had a deformed face, sometimes, excess crusted mucus gathered on his left eye. But he feared cleaning himself up because he must endure his reflection. He picked up some water from the river and washed his face.

“That’s refreshing, isn’t it?” Arete appeared to be on top, sitting on a tree branch.

Hephastos quickly covered his head with his cloak.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t see your face. I was up here looking at the landscape. This place is good to set up camp in for it won’t get flooded during the full moon. But we still need to move further away since we cannot predict nature.”

“You are very knowledgeable…” Hephastos replied.

“I learn them from my father and my teachers.” Arete jumped down from the tree, and she handed him a bag of ashes and medicated oil.

“I am thankful that I can use the things I’ve learned to help you and your people.”

“But there is something only you can overcome by yourself.”

Arete removed her cloak and uncovered her face, she looked at Hephastos, and he did get her message.

Arete closed her eyes and let her face facing the morning sun.

“Morning sunlight is warm to the skin. Why don’t you try it too?”

Hephastos uncovered his face, the morning sunlight was indeed soothing to his skin. Half of his face was deformed by another half and was as elegant as a typical Eretrian standard.

“You need to learn a lot about governing the village.” Arete pointed out without covering her words. She felt that Hepasthos was not an experienced and knowledgeable leader.

“Yes, you are right Madam Arete. I was formerly a mere blacksmith. And most of us here in Kataratos, were inexperienced commoners.”

“Blacksmith? Is that why you were named after Hephasteus?”

“Yes, indeed. Eretrians, we… no… they were slightly… delusional.”

“Delusional?”

“Huh…” Hephastos grinned.

“Imagine a city full of people behaving like Caligula. That’s how bad it is in Eretria.”

“I had a personal mission I had to accomplish in Eretria. So tell me, Hephastos. Does the Teleios of Eretria really exist? The one who is known to be immortal?”

“Tele-ios? Immortal? What are you talking about? Do you mean Heracle of Eretria? ”

With his reply, Arete knew that he did not know about anything. She took a deep breath, and she worried that the immortal Teleios of Eretria might just be another delusional person who claimed to be the incarnation of some deity.

“Probably, you should ask Pryne for the information you need.”

“Pryne?”

“Yes, Pryne is our forager, we were both from Eretria and she came to Kataratos with me. She was previously in the grand temple, and might know more about the Teleios you’re talking about.“

Meanwhile, Pryne was arranged to stay at an isolated camp which was a distance away from the riverbank. Suddenly she heard a chicken screaming, which didn't sound like a morning cuckoo. She opened her eyes and realized someone was shooting a stone at a chicken with a sling. Pryne was still in the thick white clothes after she was attacked by a bear the previous day, but she had fully recovered.

She saw the villagers far away; they were all busy setting up their newfound settlement.

“What’s her name again? Oh, Matea, we were here since when?”

Matea shot another stone to the bush, and birds flew in flock out of there. A chicken caught the shot and dropped to the ground.

“Since 12 chickens ago…”

“Huh? What are you doing?” Pryne asked.

“Ma’am ask me to hunt for food for the villagers.” Matea replied.

“Oh, it’s very impressive of you, able to take down a bear and the wolves! Were you a hunteress?”

“No, a Hoplite.”

“Hoplite? Doesn’t sound suitable for a woman… Have you thought about doing other things for a living?”

Matea stopped swinging the sling, as she didn’t know how to answer the question.

“I mean… err… Tell me what you want in your life?”

Life, a thing she never wanted to think much about. A question she did not wish to answer. Those thoughts she had kept locked deep in her mind, was told and taught not to uncover it ever again. She took a gulp, swung the sling harder, and threw out the stones towards a deer, instantly killing it.

“You should just be a hunter instead! Most of the villagers are farmers, the livestock does not survive the disease.”

“I’m a gatherer, I do most of the forest foraging, you do the hunting! We can work together and live a hunter-gatherer life! We can make a good living here.” Pryne continued.

Matea blushed, she nervously picked up and collected the chickens into a basket, carrying the deer, she ran to the village settlement.

“You know Mate, that day I saw my kitchen helper uncover his glove, guess what I saw!”

Agave was cooking while chit-chatting as usual. While Matea helped her to prepare the chickens.

“He got six fingers! I saw it clearly, six fingers!”

“Hey, you know there is a girl who covers from head to toe including her eyes?”

“Her name is Pryne… the word means toad.”

“Rumour said that she looks just like her name, she looks like a toad!”

Arete walked into the tent where they were cooking and heard what Agave said.

“Agave! Watch out for your mouth, it is disrespecting the villagers!” she rebuked Agave with a stern voice.

“Everybody knows about Kataratos, the cursed village full of deformed monsters…” Agave continued, she ignored the warning.

Arete angrily shoves a piece of bread into Agave’s mouth and said: “Didn’t I already say that?! SHUT UP!”

“Hehe, why cuzie? I’ve heard the rumour about you and her husband Hephastos…”

“You! You really never learn to respect others! You… what?” Arete was surprised by what Agave just said. Those might be rumours and gossip, but it meant the villagers might be more willing to share without limiting themselves when the information was about simpler daily life.

“Tell me everything you heard!” She grabbed Agave’s by her collar, and demanded her to give her more useful information which she gathered while chit chatting with the villagers.

“Huh? People told me that both of them came from Eretria and they had known each other since childhood. They were married, but they never stayed together because Pryne is extremely ugly like a toad.”

Hearing that useless information, Arete bursted into anger and shouted, “And... that... is... none of our business!”

“C’mon! All the men who went out to the jungle with her ended up eaten by wild animals! The animals were scared of her and lost their appetite, and that’s why she survived.”

“That’s the most ridiculous rumour I’ve ever heard!”

“It’s true! Mate’s gonna be her next target!”

“Target what?” Arete questioned. Matea, who was in the middle of preparing the chickens was surprised to hear that.

“Hehe, for the first time ever there’s a person who came back to the village safely with her. Surely she will want Mate to stay with her, right Mate?”

Matea was nervous after she heard what Agave had said.

[We can work together and live a hunter-gatherer life! We can make a good living here.] It did sound like a proposal. Matea suddenly felt bad as she just ran away from Pryne without saying anything to her.

“That ‘s your own theory! If she wants Matea, she has to pay me for the transfer right! And Matea ate a lot, she is not cheap!”

“I'm a Theban! I’m filthy rich! Tell me the price!” said Agave.

Hearing the argument between Arete and Agave, Matea continued the work on her hand. What life did she have when she was just a servant? Only freemen may decide where their life should be. It was best for her to give up any dreams or desires, after all, the system has no escape. Although Syracuse had fallen, the invisible and unenforceable rule that binds them remains.

That night, Matea went out to collect dried vines and some white flowers and she made a wreath. Perhaps living in a village as a huntress was preferable for her. Carrying a food portion prepared by Agave, she sent them to Pryne’s tent.

“I… do wish to stay, but Ma’am Arete is heading to Eretria to find someone…” she place the breads and fruits in front of Pryne's tent.

“Eretria?” Pryne was clueless about everything.

“It’s not far away from here… I’ll borrow some gold from Lady Agave to redeem myself after this mission. I… I wish to come back here and be a hunter…” She held the wreath tightly and her voice became nervous.

“Redeem?”

“Hope you… don’t mind waiting.”

To be continue…