I groaned as my sense slowly came back to me. The first thing that I could grasp was the smell. And it made my stomach grumble and my mouth water. Food. It smelt like a fresh home cooked meal. My stomach cramped, begging for food. I tried to make a whimpering noise.

The next thing that came back was the feeling in my skin, my brain grasped onto the softness under me and around me. It wasn't grass, or rocks, or the back seat of a stolen car. This, from my guess was a bed. An actual real bed. With a pillow and a warm soft blanket. I felt the warm sunshine on my face and I felt every muscle relaxe.

I took a few deep breaths. My hearing was back. It didn't come back all at once, it was like someone slowly turning up the volume and playing with the dial, at first it was a quite fuzzy static and then it grew louder and louder until I heard the banging of pots and pans, people laughing in the distance. I heard the rythmic smack of wood poles on wood. There were more noises that seemed familiar, like the flash of metal on metal, like swords on shields. I paused trying to remember why it sounded familiar. How would I know those sounds?

Lastly I slowly and reluctantly peeled my exhausted eyes open. It took me a few times to adjust to the bright light and adjust to the room I was in. I looked around. It was very different from the last room I had stayed in. Lady Kore's home had been dark and gothic, very lady of the dark. This was warm soft and gentle, very cottage grandma vibes.

I pushed the soft warm flowery blanket off and swung my legs off the bed. I realized with a start I was wearing very different clothing. All my dirty ripped gross clothes were long gone and I wore simple grey sweat pants and a white tank top. All the dirt and grime I had collected along the 2 weeks was washed clean and my skin had a healthy glow again. My hair was also cleaned and washed. I ran my hand through my hair and it was soft and silky. All my brocelets had been removed, and I panicked for a moment before I saw them on the wood dresser beside the bed. I put them all back on, feeling safer with them on.

I stood up, expecting to feel weak and shaky. I felt rejuvenated and rested. I looked around the room again. Sitting on the side table where my bracelets were was a juice box. With a weird deja vu moment I pick it up and read the front.

NECTAR AID.

Frowning at the little juice box I turned it over and I had to sit down. I felt a stab of pain in my temples. I've had this before. Many times. But I couldn't remember where. Or why. But I turned the juice box over and read the back.

NEW PRODUCT!

NectarAid

Liquid of the gods! Is it in you?

Grown in the fields of sunny valley of Olympus. Made with all natural and fresh ingredients.

Fighting monsters? Better do it with NectarAid. Nectar on the go. Now a new and more satisfying taste!

Help restore lost electrolytes and keep a demigod hydrated, during intense activity. Also excellent in healing purposes during times of illness, and injury.

*Please drink responsibly. Drinking too much Nectar Aid can result in fever and in serious cases, burning death and/or incineration.

Now available for bulk order. Please contact Hermes; god of messengers and all roads travelled, head representative of GodFX.

Any questions or product related inquiries or questions on the ingredients in NectarAid please call the toll free number 1-300-Olympus.

It didn't seem all that far fetched. I shrugged and sipped the juice. It tasted like mint chocolate ice cream. I wondered why it would taste like that. I had just placed the box down when I heard light footsteps outside the door.

I was on my feet in a moment as the door opened slowly. Standing in the door was a tall and thin beautiful older woman. She had light delicate features and a very kind face.

"Oh my child, you are up! I expected you to still be sleeping! I told Mithras to put you in a quieter room. Those boys and training so loudly all the time." Even her voice was soft and gentle as she scolded this Mithras person.

I felt a weird shiver run down my back. I didn't know who Mithras was, but his name made goosebumps appear on my skin. I stood awkwardly in the room, I slowly lowered my knives. She didn't seem like a threat.

She had long dark hair, but it was greying and turning silver, half of it was pulled back into a loose bun. She wore simple jeans and a button up light pink shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a flowered apron over her clothes.

"Umm...well..I'm up." I said awkwardly.

"Yes, it seems so. How are you feeling my child?"

I pulled my eyebrows together and frowned. How was I feeling...that was a loaded question.

"Umm. Physically? Hungry. Mentally? Very confused. I have a lot of questions. Emotionally? We shouldn't go there. It's a bit dangerous."

"Well I can help with the first two. Come down to the kitchen I have supper almost done."

"Umm...where am I?" I frowned. The older lady had turned and floated out of the room. Unlike Lady Kore when she walked, who was more other worldly, this lady was light and airy, like she danced down the hall.

"Mithras's centuries saw you approaching with the Beast on your heels. They called for him as you came closer to the border gates. You slew the beast and then passed out from exhaustion and starvation, you poor dear. Mithras took you to the barracks. I scolded him, no young child such as yourself should be in the military barracks. I insisted you stay in our home so I could attend to you myself."

She talked as she led me down the hall and then the stairs. This had a very cottage feel. Bright happy flowers in bright cheery vauses, pictures along the walls, carpets in the floor, floral and lace curtains fluttered in the warm breeze. The smell of fresh bread and cookies and roast beef floated through the house. My stomach couldn't take it and it frowned so loud the lady turned and gave me a knowing smile.

"Umm...sorry. It's been a while since I ate properly."

"No need to be sorry my child. You are now safe in my home and in the borders of Mithras, the Beast won't give you any more trouble."

"Umm sorry, but who are you? Where is here and who is Mithras?" I asked, stopping on the stairs. I stared hard at the lady. Her skin had a natural tan to it, but I saw natural pink to her skin, making her cheeks and lips look permanently pink. Her ears were slightly pointed, and her nails were short and clean, painted a natural pink.

"My name, dear child is Nana Calantha. My husband is Mithras."

I felt the shiver again.

"And Mithra's...he's some kind of...god, isn't he?" I said slowly and cautiously.

She hummed and waltzed into the kitchen, "what makes you say that?"

My answer died in my mouth as I followed into the kitchen, which was loud with happy voices and laughter. A small child raced around the big island in the middle of the kitchen. There was another boy maybe about 10 who chased after him.

"Get back here Maximus! I'll get you for that!" He cried. The small child shrieked and raced out of the kitchen.

"Cato, dear, please tell your grandpa supper is ready."

I stood in the doorway from the hall utterly confused.

"No need, My beautiful flower, I called drills early, those lazy worms wouldn't know how to push up if it smacked 'em in the face." A gruff gravely voice called from the back door. I watched as the woman twirled around, like a graceful dancer, a soft living smile on her face. The huge gruff General stood with his feet planted and his fists on his hips.

"My dear Mithras..." She lifted up onto her toes and kissed his cheek. His dark eyes softened as she lowered down as she gently cupped his scruffy cheek. "You need to go wash up." She chidded.

"Yes my flower." He grumbled. "How is our newest orphaned flower?"

"See for yourself, my husband." She said and twirled around and swept a delicate arm towards me.

"She's up!" He cried.

Mithras didn't have his sunglasses on, or his military hat, revealing close cropped white hair. He was clean shaven, and scars on his face. It must have been the next day or something, he wore a grey muscle shirt and grey camo pants, his huge muscles arms recieved scars and he was sweaty and covered in dirt. His one arm had an old looking army tattoo.

He stomped closer, his face pressed hard and into a tight line. His dark eyes looked at me hard, like he was exraying me. I straightened my back and lifted my chin. He was huge. Tall as he was broad. He reminded me of Raph. Dark broody and tough, but deep down in the core he was a big softy. I stood still and silent, every muscle in my body stiff and ready for a fight. He didn't do anything other than glare down at me. For a solid minute we stared at each other. Then, I saw his cheek twitch and the corner of his mouth twisted up.

"I like this one." He growled. He looked away and back to Nana Calantha. "She's got spunk and smarts. She reminds me of Artemisia."

"Hmm. Quite possibly. But right now, please go wash up. The boys will be coming in right away. Go. Leave the poor girl, she has many questions." Calantha chided again and shoes the huge general out of the kitchen. She winked at me as she used her dish towel to show him out.

"Come my child. I'll bring you to the table and you can ask all the questions."

She led me down the hall which seemed to seamlessly go from a cottage-like home to a traditional Roman style military Barrack. She led me towards a room at the end, where there were two long tables set up. With benches on each side, plates and cups lined up and down. I heard a conch horn and instantly a rumble of footsteps stormed up the steps. The door flew open and all kinds of guys came storming in.

"It smells delicious!"
"Nana out did herself again!"
"Dude I'm so hungry I could eat a Pegasus!"
"Old Mithras had us doing drills all day!"

"Boys!" Nana Calantha called. Her voice was so gentle and soft I was positive there wasn't going to be anyone who heard her. But to my shock every single body in the room froze.

"Boys, go wash up. And I hope all those spears and swords were out back properly. I don't want to be tripping on helmets again." She scolded all these grown men, her delicate hands on her hips.

"Yes Nana." They all mumbled and tromped out of the dinning room and into the other room to wash their hands and faces.

"So this is the dinning room, clearly. Normally the boys in the turma will eat a bit later, but tonight Mithras and our family will eat with everyone."

I just nodded, not really sure what to do or say. My brain was hurting. There was something about this Mithras General. This was clearly a Roman military barracks, but in Europe. As I tried to piece all the puzzle pieces together I heard the unmistakable sounds of the guys coming back. They all bowed their heads low in Calantha's direction. Few curious glances were cast my way, but no one said a word. I noticed only 2 female warriors or soldiers in the group. A mostly the classic Greco- Roman warrior, but there were a few others; the world war 2 guy from the wall, there were a few modern military men, there was a Viking or two in the mist, there was a few saxion warriors and I think I spotted a Crusader or two.

"Their all different..." I stammered.

"All backgrounds sure, yet all fight bravely and pledge allegiance to upholding the brotherhood of warriors and honour of fighting." A deep voice said behind me.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Mithras standing behind me.

"And we all pledge allegiance to you, Mithras!" A Saxon warrior called.

Every man in the dinning Hall stood up and formed a fist and thumbed it over their hearts twice, kissed the fist and raised it into the air.

Mithras bowed his head to the men and they all sat. Instantly there was a swirl of wind and plates and platers of food swept into the dinning Hall.

"Come, my beautiful spring flower bud." He held his huge arm out for Calantha and she looked her arm with his and he guided her to the table. She kissed his cheek before sitting down. She waved me over and I slowly made my way over. She patted the seat beside her. I sat down and saw the two young boys from earlier come racing into the dinning Hall.

"Boys!" Mithras backed. "Your late!"

"Sorry grandpa! Maximus took my-"

"Don't give me excuses! I want results!" He barked over the boys excuses. "Your Nana and mother worked hard for this meal. You will show them the respect they deserve and show up when the food is warm. Now drop down and give me 20!"

"But ...grandpaaaaaa!" The younger one whined.

"I don't wanna hear it!" The old general barked. As the boys whined they got down onto the floor and started pushups.

The entire room started counting.

"One! Two! Three...four..."

What I saw though wasn't an aggressive humiliation. The general was instilling core values of being on time and respect for the woman in these boys lives. And the entire traum of warriors cheers these young boys on. The older boy, Cato finished his push ups and sat and cheered and encouraged his younger brother. He was struggling, he looked maybe 6. And he was struggling. In an instant 4 huge warriors got up and dropped down and started the push ups with the young boy. And continued to do them until the child finished to a wild round of cheers.

"Now. Cato. Maximus. What do we say to Nana?"

"Sorry for being late." They mumbled.

"And what did we learn?" Mithras demanded.

"Come when supper is called." They said in unison.

"Right. Now take a seat you've been working hard, you need food to grow big."

They scurried to the other end, where a young woman started to dish out food. I watched the whole interaction with wide eyes and all kinds of questions.

The couple finally turned their attention back to me. I gulped.

"So. A little Sun flower wanderers into my territory, being hunted by the Feast Bull, slaughters it, and by the looks of it, not the first time. And then asks for auxilium."

It took my brain a second to translate the word auxilium to English meaning a few different things ..and as I thought about it I was asking for all of it...aid, help, assistance, support, backing, military force.

"Umm ya. Summed up." I shrugged, shoveling more food into my mouth.

"I haven't seen a delicate flower eat so fiercely in a long time. Your going to make your self sick!"

"Haven't eaten anything really in two weeks, not since I left Lady Kore's Vila."

"THE Lady Kore? This is a story I need to hear!"

"Is there more than one Lady Kore? But... umm can I ask a question?"

"Depends."

"Well three questions actually."

The old general nodded his head.

"Who are you? Where am I? What is going on?!"

"All loaded questions. The simple answer, I am Mithras. The Persian Greco-Roman adopted and adapted god, popular among Roman soldiers. I am the Military god of bravery, strength, and associated with the sun. As of right now, we are in dinning hall of one of the Roman erected Barracks which used to be Britannia, which runs along the Roman Hadrian's Wall. And lastly which is the most tricky what is going on? You called upone me for help, and I do not leave a lone warrior behind."

I opened and closed my mouth a few times. It took me a few minutes to process what he said.

"You...you were the statue in Elgin!" I whispered, the realization hit me like a punch in the gut.

"It's actually a statue of one of our sons, he was stationed there to attract lost warriors and send them in the right direction. And now here you are."

I felt a sharp pain in my forehead. My mouth moved without guidance.

"Septem domus iter est dum lux solus ambulat.
Antiquus in Occidente exoritur aemulus;
Dissimiles socii spem tutam servant ante lites, Maxima clades tua fit."

"Seven is the journey home while the light walks alone.
An ancient rival arises in the West;
Unlike partners, they keep hope safe before strife, your greatest defeat." Calantha translated. "That's an old prophecy."

"My prophecy..."

"I need your story Sun Flower. How did you come to call upone my name?" The gravelly old General asked. The room had gone quiet listening.

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Some fun reading facts if your board. This story has so much history and detail I'm trying to get right...a lot of details I don't want a mess up. Each chapter has a lot of research done, but if I mess up I'm sorry- it's definitely a lot.

I hope it's making sense so far though. The Roman influence in Britain..were slowly getting into that a bit more.

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/chesters-roman-fort-and-museum-hadrians-wall/history/absence-of-stables/

🔆

Here are our two new characters. They are in the Authors notes at the beginning of the book- with a bit more detail, if you need a reference.

General Mithras- God

Nana Calantha