Linus couldn't sleep that night. He sat in his small room at Acadia Academy, the candle in front of him slowly melting, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. The echo of the great bell still echoed in his ears, and the voice of the messenger announcing his father's fall stabbed at his heart with every memory.
He held up a white cloth, a gift from his father on the day he left for Acadia. He held it up to his face and closed his eyes. He remembered King Silius's smile, his deep voice saying, "One day you will be a leader, my son, but remember that a leader is not measured by the might of his sword, but by the righteousness of his heart."
He couldn't stop the tears. They streamed down his cheeks, hot and heavy, as if carrying the weight of an entire nation. He tried to hold back the tears, but he couldn't. For the first time in years, Linus cried like a child who had lost his father, not like a crown prince who had lost a king.
Romulus entered the room quietly, not knocking. He stood for a moment, watching his disciple, then approached and sat beside him. He said nothing at first, only placing his hand on Linus's shoulder.
Linus said in a trembling voice, "I thought I was ready... that I was strong enough. But now I feel like a lost child."
Romulus answered in a calm tone, "Even mountains weep, Linus, when storms batter them. Weeping is not weakness, but rather an admission that the heart still lives."
Linus raised his head, his eyes reddened with tears. "But my father died treacherously... and here I am, far away from him, powerless to do anything. How can I forgive myself?"
Romulus sighed, then said, "Don't blame yourself for a sin you didn't commit. The betrayal didn't come from you, but from black hearts that coveted the throne. Your duty now is not to wallow in remorse, but to rise up and prevent them from stealing what remains."
Linus was silent for a moment, then slammed his fist on the table:
"I will return to Athens… I will return, no matter the cost. I will not allow them to defile my father's legacy."
Romulus smiled a small smile and said:
"This is the voice your people must hear. But remember, my son, anger alone does not build a kingdom. You need wisdom, patience, and to choose your battles carefully."
Linus stood, wiped his tears away with his hand, and then looked into the mirror before him. He saw a tired face, but a new sparkle in his eyes. He no longer saw himself as just an excited young man, but as a man about to embark on a journey that would change his fate and the fate of his nation.
He approached the window, looked out at the distant sea, glittering in the moonlight, and whispered:
"Wait for me, Athena… Your son is coming."