Chapter 23: The Hole Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Hole Chapter 23

Georgios and Nero gather fruits and vegetables from bushes and trees While Nikolaos and I go by a creek collecting rocks.

"Nikolaos have you found any large rocks to sharpen off of?" I ask while holding a good-sized 6-inch rock fit for sharpening. Nikolaos holds out a 2-foot rock with a smile and nods. I approach the rock and start hammering them into each other until a sharp 3-inch blade remains.

"Why is it so small?"

"Nikolaos we are only using this to cut up Georgios's cloak and maybe Nero's large blade made from two rocks won't be sharp enough to smoothly do it." He nods and we begin to walk back to the agoge.

"Damon, are you sure we should go back so soon? We should collect food as well since we finished so back." Nikolaos questions and his points hit their mark as he is right.

"You're right Nikolaos. It would just be honest laziness to go back so soon." Nikolaos and I both begin to search for food ourselves eventually finding a whole bunch of olives. Nikolaos eats them while we continue searching with a trend of him and I eating them all as we go. Once we found a substantial amount to bring to the group we started walking back.

Georgios and Nero arrive at the same time as us with two armfuls of fruits and vegetables allowing us to feast leisurely. The barracks being quiet and hospitable bringing us a delighted peace. Many people not being present: likely playing games or still searching for something they want.

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"Hey can we have some? I understand one of you is the Bomonike and all but still don't you all want to share?" A boy and three others stand with their faces showing visible sweat and looking completely down with hands behind their backs, all being relatively small. Georgios and Nero offer soft gazes and I can't help but feel inwardly conflicted. Sharing would help with the respect of the class but also would make our little group worse off. Maybe it's best to teach them how to find better and work more cohesively.

"Nah we are good" Nikolaos the honorable Bomonike answers and eats a fistful of berries.

"Well that's a shame we really wanted to be civil." The 4 boys turn into bandits as they put their hands forward showing short hand-crafted spears via sticks and sharp rocks.

"We take their Stone Age spears and break them. That is all." I stick my hand out to a fallen boy giving a show of peace. They accept and eventually, they all stand in front of us. The one that reached for their spear likely obtained a broken hand as he holds it with it being completely swollen already.

"Thank you for the mercy!" They all cry and I look over to see that we have food left over. I throw branches of grapes at them and they all run off screaming about how thankful they are. Nikolaos notably eyes me with his eyebrows inward but his gaze turns back normal.

"Huh, even I would've struggled to have been so kind Damon!"

"I wasn't kind to them Georgios... It was strategic; they would have attacked us at night if we let them go without food. If we tied him to the bed we would have likely looked like the perpetrators. Plus those grapes didn't taste as good as the olives." Georgios can't hold back a gasp and Nikolaos chuckles.

"You're right those grapes did taste a little funky." Nikolaos immediately starts gorging himself again with Georgios giving an ample sigh.

"Guys remember we have to cut the cloth now." Nero reminds us and we begin to lounger around carefully taking turns cutting out cloth from our cloaks. Eventually, we cut enough cloth for us to hide in our garments. Their color will supply a nice contrast to the green ground or brown paths.

"Goodnight guys."

Nikolaos lays down and we all follow. Eventually, we rest all of our minds at ease.

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"Wake up paides! It's time!" Our new Eiren yells waking us all up. We all wake up and when we walk outside in a line the sun barely being seeable. What awaits us is a dozen carriages ready for our departure. "March towards a carriage and one more thing... Take off your loincloth, you boys are going nude!"