Cornelius

Cornelius entered the Senate building, led by a soldier, his heart a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Ever since Amendolara had been captured by the Lucanians, Cornelius's life over the past half-year had been pure hell. By day, under the watch of the Lucanians, he herded cattle, chopped wood, and hauled supplies. If he slacked off even a little, he was berated, beaten with sticks, or even denied food. At night, he was locked up in the Temple of Zeus with everyone else. Though the temple was large, over a thousand people were crammed together, eating, drinking, and relieving themselves all inside. The air was foul, the space cramped, and with children crying and adults wailing, he couldn't get a decent night's sleep. The miserable conditions were beyond imagination. Worse still, the Lucanians fed them only enough to keep them half-full every day, leaving them weak, with people constantly falling ill and dying.

During that long captivity, Cornelius, like everyone else, had his physical and mental resistance worn down. He resigned himself to his fate, thinking he would just drag through life numbly until he silently slipped into the Underworld…

But yesterday, they were hurriedly gathered, told to prepare carts and load goods, and kept busy until evening. Even the fierce Lucanians worked with their own hands. From their panicked expressions, Cornelius sensed something was up.

Sure enough, some people who understood the Lucanian language quietly passed on what they'd overheard: the Lucanians were talking about how "…the great army of Grumentum was wiped out by some Greek mercenaries," "those Greeks are bloodthirsty beasts, terrifying," and things like that.

This news lifted the spirits of the people of Amendolara. They saw hope of escape. Many tossed and turned well into the night, unable to sleep, and then they heard faint sounds of fighting in the distance…

What was happening?! The sensitive citizens of Amendolara got up, went to the temple entrance, and peered through the cracks in the door. The Lucanian guards were panicking, shouting frantically to each other—words the people inside could clearly hear: "The Greeks have entered the city!"

The people were ecstatic. The archon Grattabavlos, always decisive, saw the guards leaving one after another, apparently reinforcing the enemy forces fighting down on the hillside. He immediately organized the citizens to fight back. The people of Amendolara, who hated the Lucanians with a passion, worked together to break down the door. They surged out, using stones and fists to knock down the few remaining Lucanian guards, who had no will to fight.

But just as the people emerged from the temple, they ran straight into returning Lucanians. (In fact, the Lucanian warriors had been completely unable to withstand the mercenaries' assault. In desperation, Vespa had thought of the thousand-odd Greek people imprisoned in the temple—perhaps he could use them as hostages to bargain for his tribe's survival.) The unarmed, weakened citizens of Amendolara were no match for the Lucanian warriors. But they had just broken out of their cage, with reinforcements on the way, and filled with anger and hope, they refused to surrender again. As a result, Archon Grattabavlos was the first to die, and the strong citizens who had charged to the front were nearly all lost. Just as the Lucanians, unable to control their bloodlust, were about to slaughter the remaining trembling citizens, the Greek mercenaries arrived.

Right before the eyes of the Amendolara people, these sturdy, towering soldiers displayed their might. In an instant, they routed the vicious enemies, who were forced to kneel and surrender.

When these battle-hardened soldiers approached the citizens of Amendolara, the people couldn't help but tremble. To their surprise, the soldiers helped the weak to their feet with great care, prepared clean beds, served steaming hot barley porridge, and had doctors carefully examine and treat their wounds. It was like stepping from hell straight into the Elysian Paradise!

Cornelius wept tears of gratitude more than once. Like everyone else, he began to ask about the origins of this force—fierce in battle yet full of love for their fellow countrymen. The soldiers, the doctors, the women called "nurses" who bandaged their wounds, and even the slaves told the people of Amendolara everything about themselves without hesitation. So Cornelius learned: this Greek army came from Asia Minor. They had once followed the Persian prince Cyrus the Younger deep into Persia to fight against the Great King's army. Then they had marched a thousand miles, safely returned to Byzantium, accepted an employment from Thurii, and came to Magna Graecia. After the Thurii-led coalition battle was lost, the mercenaries joined forces with reinforcements from Tarentum to take on the whole burden, annihilating the Lucanian tribal alliance. Without resting, they attacked Amendolara that same night and saved them…

The story of the mercenaries seemed as legendary and fascinating as the epic *Odyssey*. What amazed Cornelius even more was their leader, Davos. According to the soldiers, this young leader had started as an ordinary soldier with nothing special about him. But during the battle against the Persian King's army, he fell and knocked himself out. When he woke up, his personality had changed completely. He became clever and wise, solving many difficult problems. The soldiers believed he had gained the favor of Hades, the King of the Underworld, and received divine inspiration, setting him apart. So they elected him as their leader. Davos did not let them down, creating miracle after miracle: leading the soldiers out of encirclement and back to Greece; standing alone against opposition to accept Thurii's invitation; and when the battle was lost and everyone was pessimistic and disheartened, he resolutely attacked the mighty Lucanian coalition, destroying the enemy with vastly outnumbered forces, creating an almost impossible miracle. Then, when others thought the mercenaries needed rest after the great battle, he launched another attack on Amendolara within a single day…

So when the mercenaries told Cornelius that Leader Davos wanted to see him, he was so eager he could hardly wait. He desperately wanted to meet this young leader who commanded such a unique army, who was so respected and admired by his soldiers, and whom they called "the God-Touched One," "Son of Miracles," "Our Davos."

As soon as he entered the hall, a young man with a beaming smile strode quickly toward him, calling out warmly, "Lord Cornelius!"

Cornelius was taken aback. "You are?"

The escorting soldier said proudly, "This is our leader, Davos!"

Even though Cornelius had heard from the mercenaries that Davos was young, seeing him in person still surprised him with how young he was and how easygoing he seemed. It was nothing like the battle-hardened mercenary leader Cornelius had imagined. For a moment, he was caught off guard.

Davos, for his part, appraised this senator of Amendolara's Senate. He had learned that Cornelius's family was one of the original founders of Amendolara over two hundred years ago and had continued to this day, producing countless archons and senators. It was truly a noble house of Amendolara. And although Cornelius himself was only a senator, he was kind and helpful, with a high reputation among the people. That was why Davos had chosen him first. Looking at this middle-aged man, emaciated from long captivity, Davos asked with concern, "I heard you were injured last night. I hope you're feeling better?"

Cornelius touched the bandage on his abdomen and said gratefully, "Much better, much better! Your doctors are very skilled! Leader Davos, it was thanks to your timely arrival last night that we weren't all finished off!"

Davos's heart skipped a beat. He studied Cornelius closely, but his sincere expression showed no deception. Last night, when Davos learned that the Lucanians were engaged in fierce fighting with the escaped citizens of Amendolara near the temple, he had deliberately slowed his advance. This led to most of Amendolara's young citizens dying in battle. He felt a twinge of guilt and quickly said, "Um… Lord Cornelius, I asked you here today because I have news for you. We'll be leaving soon."

Cornelius was shocked. "Why?"

"Although the Lucanians have suffered a heavy blow this time, they still have vast territory and many people. I hear Potentia is preparing to aid Grumentum. So Thurii has urgently called us back to help defend their city." Davos's earnest expression made it seem like this was true.