Chapter 72 Isaac and Perseus
Canaan, the wilderness.
Isaac followed behind his father and old Tyr, greeting the guests who had traveled from afar…
The carriage was large and luxurious, more magnificent than any Isaac had seen in Canaan… This naturally piqued his curiosity about the identity of the people inside…
A burly man stepped down first. Isaac was startled when he jumped down; he had never seen anyone so strong, like a bull, radiating heat just by standing there…
At this moment, his father, Yara, stepped forward, embraced the burly man, and teased:
"Pan, why aren't you married yet? I remember you said you liked a noblewoman?"
"Is your current status not good enough for her?"
Pan paused, then shook his head and said:
"That girl fled Argos with those nobles…"
"I haven't seen her since."
Yara was silent for a moment, patted Pan on the shoulder, and said nothing more.
Just then, two more figures emerged from the carriage.
A man around thirty years old, and a boy of about fourteen or fifteen.
"Hey, brother! Long time no see!"
Seeing Yara, Dick's face lit up considerably.
However, a few stray gray hairs at his temples betrayed his weariness of recent years…
"Long time no see, Dick!"
Yara stepped forward and hugged Dick.
Then Yara noticed Perseus standing to the side. Perseus seemed even more taciturn than before.
Although his clothes were brighter and he was more handsome.
But Yara noticed that he didn't seem as happy as he had been when Dick was still in the shantytown…
"Perseus looks a little unhappy? What's wrong?"
Yara asked curiously.
At this moment, Dick pulled Yara aside, sighed, and whispered:
"Perseus...sigh..."
"Not long ago, under political pressure, I married..."
"And several children were born smoothly..."
"Perhaps...he thought that after I had a direct heir, I wouldn't love him anymore..."
"But that's not the case. He's my eldest son..."
"Whether it's the right of succession, or anything else..."
Yara shook her head, equally helpless.
This is quite complicated, especially since Perseus is at such a sensitive age...
As he spoke, Old Tyr approached and exchanged pleasantries with the group. Led by Yara, they returned to Canaan. Along the way, they didn't dwell on the troublesome matters, but instead talked more about everyday matters and the changes in Canaan and Argos...
"The Hall of Heroes has recently promoted over thirty Golden Warriors... Now, the number of Golden Warriors is greater than when the former King of Argos was on the throne... and most of them have undergone bloody trials..." "Refining, accumulating merit bit by bit..."
"Also, we purchased a batch of magical weapons and tested them on a group of troops; the results were astonishing..."
"That kid Zack, the laborer you rescued before, I plan to appoint him as the High Priest of the temple. He's exceptionally capable; one bottle of holy wine attracted about one-fifth of the city's believers... He's here this time also to ask for another bottle of holy wine; he's almost finished."
"..."
The adults were discussing important matters in front.
The two children stood side by side behind, heads bowed, walking forward in a somewhat silent atmosphere…
Isaac had been curiously observing the boy beside him, who was two heads taller than him. He wanted to break the silence, to say something, but couldn't find a topic…
Just as Isaac was about to follow his father, disappointed…
Perseus spoke. He noticed the wooden sword at Isaac's waist:
"You know how to use a sword?"
Isaac was taken aback. He looked up at the boy with golden-brown hair and eyes as blue as the sky. He touched the sword at his waist, nodded, and said:
"Yes."
"But you're still practicing."
"Grandpa Tyr is still teaching me…"
Perseus nodded as well, seemingly recalling something, and said:
"Master Tyr was a very skilled swordsman…"
"He followed your father on a great adventure…" Isaac shook his head:
"I've heard about it, but my father never told me anything about it…"
Perseus pondered for a moment, his azure eyes gleaming. He said:
"Your father is a very respectable man…"
"He is the Messiah…"
Isaac frowned, pouting:
"You say so too…"
"Everyone says so…"
"What exactly is the Messiah?"
Perseus shook his head. He didn't actually know much more than Isaac. He changed the subject, saying:
"Never mind that for now…"
"We'll practice later. I can use a sword too."
"Let's see who's better!"
Isaac's eyes lit up, his eyebrows curving into crescents. He said:
"Okay…"
"Although you're a little older than me, you definitely can't beat me."
The children's competitive spirit was still quite strong.
Back in the village, Yara led the men off to drink, leaving Isaac and Perseus at home.
They were looked after by Hiaga and Sarah.
Yara initially wanted to expel Hiaga, since she had summoned the evil god. It wasn't that he feared the god's return; Yara believed that as long as he was there, no supernatural force would dare approach. But what would happen after he left? He wasn't sure if he could always protect Canaan after ascending to heaven…
However, at his wife's urging, Yara decided to keep Hiaga.
Firstly, she was the victim in everything.
Secondly, Yara had said that as long as their faith was firm, God would protect them. Wouldn't trying to drive away the threat be a sign of wavering faith?
Therefore, in the end, Hiaga stayed, accepting a long-term job with Yara's family as a nanny to care for the children and help with household chores.
Shiaga was tending the backyard garden, while Sarah was mending clothes.
The children, playful as ever, used their experience to their advantage. Isaac, with Perseus in tow, slipped away from the adults' watchful eyes.
They found an open space.
Perseus, lacking a sword, picked up a stick.
Little Isaac, however, held the small wooden sword his father had given him.
The wind blew across the field, bending the grass.
Excitedly, Isaac, sword in hand, took a step forward and swung at Perseus.
Perseus, with a gentle tap of the stick, deflected the wooden sword.
Isaac plopped down on the grass.
Then the wooden stick was pointed at Isaac's forehead...
Perseus, seeing this, was somewhat disappointed. He said,
"No..."
"It seems you don't know how to use a sword at all..."
Isaac was stunned. He got up from the ground, picked up the wooden sword that had fallen to the side, mustered his strength, and swung it down again with both hands. Once again, Perseus easily cleaved it in two...
"You are the son of the Messiah..."
"How can you not even withstand one strike?"
Perseus's voice was filled with doubt...
But to Isaac, it sounded nothing less than mockery...
A strange anger rose within him. Isaac tried countless times, falling and getting up again, but he could never withstand a single blow from Perseus...
Tears welled in his eyes as he suffered defeat after defeat.
Isaac felt wronged. He gritted his teeth and retorted,
"I am the son of the Messiah…"
"Then whose son are you!"
Upon hearing this,
Perseus fell silent instantly…
The atmosphere became heavy.
Even the sky seemed to darken slightly.
...