The remnants of the night had faded, and dawn had broken.
As the feeble morning light penetrated the crevices of the window lattice, Luo En, who had enjoyed a good night's sleep, yawned, got out of bed, pulled back the curtains, and gazed out over the entirety of Knossos City.
Through the streets and alleys, the thin mist that drifted in from the sea had not yet fully dispersed, but there were already people and vendors emerging from their homes or setting up their stalls, commencing the usual rhythm of life.
Wisps of cooking smoke rose from nearby homes, carrying the scent of food, which diluted the terror and unease that had loomed over the city the previous night.
The number of city defense soldiers, who had been stationed at street corners to maintain order, had visibly decreased.
It appeared that, after a night of settling, the situation had gradually calmed down, and everyone's life seemed to have fallen back onto its old track.
Their Goddess, their sovereign, would, as usual, shelter the people of Crete Island, enjoying days of prosperity and stability.
However, after scanning the surroundings, Luo En's eyes gradually narrowed.
The blockade at the city's coastline had not been entirely lifted;
The number of patrol teams within the city had decreased, yet the quantity of soldiers in the barracks had increased;
And the defense force at the Astrological Observatory, the palace, the temples, and the sacrificial grounds had been reinforced, with personnel coming and going even more frequently...
A relaxed exterior with a tight core?
Luo En arrived at a conclusion in his mind, shook his head, calmly closed the doors and windows, and went downstairs to the kitchen to start a fire.
Leave professional matters to the professionals.
The current state of affairs on Crete Island hadn't deteriorated to a matter of life and death, so it wasn't yet his turn to worry for the Minosians.
Instead of fussing over these things, it was better to eat well, drink well, and do what he was supposed to do at the moment.
Luo En, as always, had prepared breakfast for Little Medusa and Hestia, who had not yet risen, and afterward, he took his farming tools to the backyard to continue tending the land, replanting, and... sword training!
The ancient longsword of aquamarina hue repeatedly hacked, thrusted, and sliced through the empty yard...
Over and over again.
~~
For several days, all was calm.
The horrific tidal wave that struck at dusk seemed nothing more than a fleeting nightmare.
The Minosians, gradually emerging from the shadows, resumed their usual activities: some went out to sea, some set up their stalls, some tilled their fields, and life returned to its peaceful tempo, with the city regaining its usual bustle and noise.
And the only news of late that might be considered a bit sensational
was merely about the Prince who had been out on assignment, summoned back in a hurry by the King for failing to adequately manage the disaster.
Of course, considering King Minos's reputation for strict enforcement of laws, these Princes, with their noble Divine Blood, couldn't escape their father's whip. They were each flogged half to death, stripped of all authority, and then sent into the temple to pray for the Goddess's forgiveness.
It was said that they hadn't come out for several days, with their daily meals having to be delivered inside by Princess Ariadne.
Luo En listened to the rumors from the neighbors, living his daily life as usual.
Since ancient times, whenever a major event occurred, nations needed to operate as a whole, a unified law to unleash unparalleled potential and cooperate to face risks.
Although the political systems in the East and West are different, the basic principles of operation are mutually intelligible.
Clearly, King Minos, not shying away from making a big fuss, intended to take the opportunity of negligence to call his sons back for punishment, with plans to assert his authority and reclaim power.
In doing so, he could prove that his influence remained strong, deter those slightly restless voices, and then focus the collective strength of the cities of Crete to prepare for the approaching trouble.
Luo En thought of Athena, whom he hadn't seen since their parting, and his brows drew together in concern.
As expected, it had come to that point...
While Luo En was calculating the next developments, a petite purple figure darted out.
"Anna, where are you going?"
Hestia peeked out from the kitchen, her eyes showing surprise.
"To tell everyone not to go out to sea!"
Little Medusa spoke without hesitation.
"It's useless."
A low voice came from behind, rational and detached.
Luo En wiped the bronze longsword in his hand, his gaze deep and penetrating.
"Minosians cannot live without the sea, just like fish cannot live without water. They have to make a living, and until the crisis truly arrives, until they feel the real pain themselves, nothing will stop them from going out to sea..."
"I know..."
Little Medusa nodded, her gaze as resolute as ever.
"But, if I can persuade even one person, that's one less person in danger!"
With that, the petite figure rushed out of the room decisively, not looking back as she sped towards the coastal camp.
Luo En looked at his own empty hand and at the small figure disappearing at the end of the road, somewhat bewildered.
Some people, having been caught in the rain themselves, don't want to see others running in the rain without an umbrella and wish to shelter them.
And some people, because they have been soaked themselves, want to tear apart others' umbrellas, leaving them exposed to the rain as well.
Perhaps, Luo En wasn't one of the latter.
But Little Medusa was certainly one of the former.
What a fool...
In the courtyard, Luo En shook his head, reminiscing about the intense battle with Athena that evening and the insights gained, gradually entering the state of "Infinite Martial Refinement", his sword continuing to swing forward.
Each time faster than the last, each time more powerful than the last!