"...For glory!"
"Uh..."
Rhys did not really know what to do as the people started swinging and flailing raw guts in front of his face. He just wanted to walk away, but it was impossible as he was now being surrounded by more than a dozen, almost naked muscular men; their sweat and the blood of the giant boar, just stuck to Rhys as they cheered and pushed each other.
"...I don't really want to—"
And before Rhys could even refuse to eat the raw guts being brandished in front of his face, all the sweaty muscular men, the citizens, and even the children all stopped eating the boar as they just suddenly glared at him — the expressions on their faces, extremely offended almost as if Rhys had just stepped on the statue of their god.
Rhys had a feeling that if he refused this bloody meal in front of him, he wouldn't be welcome at all inside the joyous city — and that shouldn't happen since he did not even have a map of this new world he found himself in.
And so, Rhys just momentarily closed his eyes as he took a very deep and large breath. And after a few seconds, he nodded his head and grabbed the raw... whatever organ it was from the man in front of him and just ripped it with his teeth.
...The taste was not really very welcoming; it had a taste of heavy rust. But it wasn't the taste that caused Rhys to pause, it was the slightly slimy texture. But he just let out a small grunt and started chewing the organ — the blood oozing out from it, seeping from his lips.
But Rhys did not throw it up, as everyone was just watching him quietly while he was chewing it; their eyes, very slowly widening in excitement. And very soon, Rhys just took in one giant gulp to swallow the entire thing.
"..." But even after he did so, he noticed that the muscular men surrounding him, as well as everyone there still continued to stare at him. He wondered for a few seconds what they wanted, but as soon as he saw the man in front of him with his mouth open, Rhys did the same.
And as soon as they confirmed that there wasn't anything in his mouth...
"For glory!"
Everyone just once again rushed toward the giant boar and started tearing its flesh and guts — some even entering inside it to lavish in its blood. For some reason, however, the entire scenery did not look sinister or evil at all — perhaps it was due to the fact that everyone was just celebrating.
And as a matter of course, Rhys took this chance to finally find his exit and entered to the city — and true enough, everyone seemed to be celebrating some sort of festival as there were people just dancing in the streets and laughing with each other.
Unlike Ithaca, the people of Calydon wore bright clothes. But like Ithaca, most of the men were still barely wearing anything but a cloth and tunic.
"Now..." Rhys let out a small sigh as he felt the blood still dripping from his chin. Fortunately for him, he quickly saw a pail filled with water on the side of the street.
Rhys looked around to see if anyone was using it, but after waiting for a few seconds for someone to get it, Rhys just decided to start washing his face and hair with it.
"What are you doing!?"
And as soon as he did so, he heard a woman's voice just angrily approaching him.
"I'm sorry!" Rhys quickly dropped the pail as he was about to pour it all over him.
"That was gathered by the children for the hunters! Why are you—"
Rhys then looked at the woman, causing her to just instantly stop talking as she noticed Rhys's silver eyes... as well as the water dripping along his sharp jaw and neck, and down to his collar bones.
"I have eyes, Princess — I see how that man could swoon even the gods with his face."
"That's... that's blasphemy!" Princess Clio shook her head.
"Oh, how can a man look so beautiful, and so strong at the same time?"
"Sshh! Cease... cease that talk, right now," Princess Clio whispered before just once again glancing back, only to see Rhys being escorted by the guards, "What... will they do to him?"
"You are going to get married to one of the Princes of Thebes," Phaedre clicked her tongue several times while shaking her head, "I also heard he is gallant, smart, and incredibly handsome. You do not need to be looking for some measly commoner."
"...More handsome than that man?" Clio squinted her eyes.
"That..." Phaedre cleared her throat, "...I suppose we would know in a few days time."
In the span of a few moments, Rhys was forced to eat raw guts, and now he was thrown into some sort of worn-out shed by several guards.
Mikkos sure did point him in the right direction — and now, the sack Mikkos prepared for him was being checked and stolen by the guards.
"This... where did you get a gryphon's talon!?" One of the guards slammed the planks serving as Rhys's window.
"I... killed it, Sir," Rhys just sighed.
"...You're a hunter?" The guard then squinted his eyes as he looked at all the blood on Rhys's tunic, "Were you here for the boar, then?"
"...Yes," Rhys nodded, "I didn't do anything, Sir. Please, just let me go."
"It is your fault for even looking at the princess," the guard scoffed before just turning around, "You'll be staying here until they decide what to do with you — and since everyone's preparing for the arrival of Princes Ducetios of Thebes...
...You'll be here for a few days."
And with those words, the guards just left him in the dilapidated shed... taking all his treasures with them.
"...Should I just break out?" Rhys let out a long and deep sigh as he placed his hand on the wall. But after a few moments of thinking about it, it was best not to become wanted yet in this world where he knows nothing.
And so, he just sat on the ground and waited for something to happen — and as the moon covered the entire sky, something did happen.
"..." Rhys quickly stood up as he heard someone approaching the shed — only to see someone covered in robes moving toward him.
"I... brought you some food."
And of course, it was none other than Princess Clio.
"What do you want, Princess?"