"The earth belongs to people, the sky belongs to gods.
And me? I was born somewhere in between—just a little boy, carrying a name too big for me."
.....
Sparta was renowned for its strict military upbringing and its glorious reputation on the battlefield. In every war, they always claimed unforgettable victories, forcing enemies to retreat or at least remain wary of possible counterattacks.
Every neighboring region knew of Sparta's reputation. They worked together, exchanged military knowledge, and built solid alliances, whether in defense or when launching attacks against their enemies. This was Sparta's golden age in military history.
Surrounded by mountains and small rivers, Sparta had many advantages when defending its territory from sudden enemy assaults. Their soldiers could set traps, surround their enemies, and launch preemptive strikes before the enemy's plans even took shape.
Their border walls were lower than those of their neighboring regions, but their defenses were known to be strong and unshakable. Even though they often faced conflicts with foreign travelers or mountain bandits, their borders never faltered nor were easily breached.
The borders were under the command of a Marshall, a war leader known for making quick decisions and for his exceptional skills in long-range combat, especially archery. Every arrow he shot would surely claim its target's life.
Even the king himself respected and entrusted the security of Sparta's borders to him.
Commanders from other regions who had worked with Sparta often said that Sparta was lucky to have such a dependable Marshall. Great hopes were pinned on his only son—a little boy who cheerfully followed his father's every step.
"Elarion!"
Elarion Thalior Thalassides, his only son.
He had dark brown hair inherited from his father, though it often turned lighter with reddish streaks from the scorching sunlight. His bright spring-blue eyes were a gift from his mother, a woman renowned for her wisdom in managing territorial affairs and her skill in finding solutions.
The Marshall and his wife shared more than just a marriage—they were partners who perfectly complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Elarion's little feet staggered to the right and left, struggling to keep his balance. Barefoot, he stepped on the damp grass and tiny pebbles, feeling the morning dew's cold touch and the playful breeze as he circled the large tree before him.
The pain from the sharp pebbles and twigs would soon fade, leaving no trace behind. Soft glimmers of light often appeared whenever Elarion got injured. Sometimes, these tiny lights would swirl around him, as if inviting him to play chase.
"Elarion!"
The voice called out again, louder this time. A hand waved to make sure Elarion noticed. From a short distance, the call was loud and clear.
Elarion, now two years old, often made the adults around him anxious whenever he was allowed to play. It only took five minutes of unsupervised play for him to vanish. Even the nanny, who spent the most time with him, often struggled to keep track of him.
For Elarion, the adults searching for him were simply playing hide-and-seek.
The little lights always accompanied him each night—guarding him from bad things, even from the tiny monsters that tried to disturb his sleep. Especially when winter came, they brought warmth and comfort, shielding him from thunder and storms. They were like protectors... though at times, they felt more like overbearing watchers.
His innocent gaze fixated on one particular light—the brightest among the rest. That light always seemed to notice his every step, his every wound. Whenever Elarion was hurt, the injuries would quickly heal—vanishing completely before they had the chance to worsen.
To Elarion, that light was both a guardian and his very first friend in times of struggle. He smiled widely, his tiny hands reaching out to catch the shining glow. When he managed to touch it with his small index finger, he laughed with joy.
"Apollo," he called, finally able to name the god he believed was watching over him—protecting him.
Elarion rolled in the damp grass, laughing freely as the little lights swirled around his body, playfully tickling him again and again.
"Elarion!"
His laughter stopped. His head lifted, turning toward the familiar voice that called his name. His bright, sky-blue eyes landed on a little girl waving at him from a distance.
To Elarion, it felt like an invitation to play—not a signal that playtime was over.
He smiled widely and squealed happily, carefully waddling toward the girl who had been calling for him.
"Elarion!"
When he reached her, Elarion's small body was lifted high into the air, as if he were flying with the birds passing by. His laughter echoed as he clapped his tiny hands in delight, while the glowing lights continued to dance around him.
"Elarion, you're so adorable! Who's the prettiest in all of Sparta?"
Elarion's pale skin had now turned pink from the sun's heat, and his dark brown hair had lightened, streaked with red at the tips. His big, round eyes stared at the girl, who was five years older than him. He blinked in confusion, then cheerfully answered, "The princess!" before bursting into giggles as he was tossed higher again.
"Huh! How can you say it's the princess? You've never even seen her in your life!"
The girl's words halted when her mother gently tapped her shoulder, signaling her to stop. Anything related to the royal family had to be spoken carefully to avoid serious trouble.
"Huh… Even my mother's taking your side, though I've always loved you, Elarion."
She hugged his chubby little body tightly, her excitement overflowing as she nibbled on his plump cheeks like soft steamed buns, making Elarion cry loudly from the sting on his now-reddened cheeks.
"Eh? Don't cry!"
She panicked, not expecting Elarion to cry so hard, and became even more flustered when her mother stepped in to pick him up and soothe him.
"Sweetheart… who was being naughty? Hmm? Bibi will scold them for you!"
Elarion, still sniffling, slowly opened his tear-filled eyes, revealing the soft blue sky of spring after the rain. "Oh great Zeus… you're as adorable as Prince Hyacinth was when he was little!"
"Ugh… Penelope…"
Elarion whimpered softly, still complaining about his sore cheeks.
"Alright! Bibi will scold her and punish her properly!"
Elarion's face instantly lit up with a bright smile, while Penelope stared at him in disbelief. "Elarion! You always take my side! Why did you sell me out this time?!"
"Penelope!"
Penelope flinched, meeting Elarion's intense gaze. "Ugh… Forgive me, Elarion."
Elarion paused for a moment, then laughed and clapped his hands as if celebrating his small victory in their playful quarrel.
"Ma! Did you see his expression? He's such a cunning little man! He's not even three yet, but he's already this sly! What will he grow up to be—Ouch!"
Penelope winced as her mother flicked her forehead.
"Why are you arguing with Elarion when he's not even three years old yet, Penelope?"
"Ma!"
Penelope was sure that behind Elarion's innocent face, there must be a wicked grin and a triumphant laugh hiding. "Hmph! I swear, I'll never marry a man as cunning as him!"
Her mother chuckled, gently rubbing Penelope's nose. "Never swear on things you can't be sure of. If you face it in the future, you won't be able to take back the promise you made today."
Penelope sighed softly. She wanted to protest, but when she saw Elarion's wide, innocent smile, her heart melted again. She hugged him with affection, gently holding his tiny hand.
"Promise me you won't grow into a cunning, annoying man, Elarion. I'll be very mad if you do!"
"Penelope!"
This time, Penelope just let out a soft, nervous laugh.