“General Chlorus, we had checked every troops and guards in the palace and the grand temple. We unable to find the man in your description. And every man given the name Hector, they are all not within your description.” A soldier reported to Chlorus.

“Alrgith, back to your duty.” Sighed, Chlorus waved and let the soldier go. He was studying the records written by the scribes, trying to learn about the arrangement after their complete conquest of Syracuse. Economic disruption and heavy taxes on the Syracusean, Lord Amiran executed, but there was no record on the Syracusean soldiers who did not surrender? How about those who surrendered?

“You looking for me? General Chlorus.” A man with Roman helmet covering his face came into his study room. He was the one Chlorus met in the tunnel. The one with Hector’s body.

“Hector!” Chlorus immediately walked towards the door and shut it. “I know you’re my brother, Hector! What happened to your voice? Do you have any information where are the rest of us?” Asked Chlorus. He was in better condition compared to that day in the tunnel. And he suspected that Hector must had been acting as a stranger to him, since the Three Elders were in the tunnel with them.

“I am not Hector. Hector? He dead. He already dead.” The muscular man replied.

Chlorus stunned, he was sure that the man was Hector. That armour on his body, that triskeles badge on his thick leather belt belonged to the greatest Syracusean warrior. When the man noticed that Chlorus was looking at his badge, he took it down, and crushed it with his bare hand.

“My name is Aster. I am from a peasant’s bloodline.” He gently pat his hands, removing the crushed pieces of the broken badge. “I am disappointed, I wasn’t chosen by the Elders. I ask, why?

I’ve worked my way up, I now own this perfect body! Yet, I wasn’t given the opportunity to be the greatest. But you…” Aster walked close to Chlorus, facing him and staring straight into his eyes. “You are chosen simply because you’re a descendent of some fallen kingdom. You’ve been born with that privilege. That Eugene heritage. But have you gone through what I’ve gone through? I will do anything to become greater!”

Sensing danger, Chlorus jumped back to dodge Aster’s sudden attack. Missing his target, Aster’s axe smashed the nearby study table into pieces.

“What is this all about?!” Chlorus shouted, clueless about what Aster just said. He had to pull out his sword to defend himself.

“I should be the chosen one! I will suck your royal blood dry, and claim the power I deserve!” Aster replied with another deadly blow against Chlorus.